Chapter Text
Chapter 14.9
Summer time, it's easy to wake up by the heated temperature, but, in Gellert's case, it's by the one who is tightly spooning him from behind.
It wouldn't be too wrong to say that, ever since Albus came back from his travel, he started to live with Gellert at Bathilda's house. No one, except for Gellert, has ever made an effort to stop Albus or point fingers. Very soon, Gellert came to the understanding that their relationship has been transparent to and acknowledged by everyone in the family.
On one hand, it saves him the trouble to go through any process of social approval; while on the other, no one can act as an intermediary between them so that Albus could keep some of his clinginess at bay.
Albus doesn't even have the slightest reaction when Bathilda calls both of them to get up for breakfast. How much more does it need to be for Gellert to call this type of behaviour "shameless"?
And how tight is the spooning?
Gellert can feel Albus's nose right behind his nape; Albus's arms are circling around both his waist and his chest; and the worst of all, what's responsible for waking him up early every day, is Albus's entire torso pressing against his back.
Gellert wondered the following:
how does Albus manage to sleep like that through the night;
how can he not have numbed arms in the morning;
why is he so clingy or has he always been this clingy;
what can be done to stop Albus from continuing this;
...
One of the complaints, as much as being part of the communication from Gellert's side, is to explain that it's too hot for a healthy sleep, which is met with the response "but, honey, your skin is so sensitive that you need more practice to get used to it", with a big smile.
Gellert wanted to hit that face.
However, there's a reason why Gellert has invested in keeping Albus on his good side for the moment, and making a big fight out of something this trivial wouldn't work for that.
Another reasonable anticipation from Gellert is that he thought Albus would get bored of this closeness between them after making up for last year's separation. So he should be patient and wait it off. But more than a month has passed and Albus only seems to get more clingy instead of the opposite.
Time is limited. Gellert thinks he should change his strategy on the matter, prompted by something poking him from behind.
The conditions are working for him, and the "bastard" is awake.
"Good morning." Gellert holds onto Albus's hand around his waist.
"Morning." Albus leaves a casual kiss where his face is at, and strengthens the hug slightly. Gellert can hear the overloaded smile in Albus's tone.
"Any plans for today?" Gellert moves his hips a little, provoking a perkier reaction.
"That depends."
Gellert rolls over and turns the way how their bodies are placed next to each other, resting himself on top of Albus's as his legs going sideways around Albus's waist. "On what?"
Gellert being on top makes Albus's blood rushing faster and faster, dangerous for morning health. Under the fresh morning light, Albus can see the little twinkles in those mismatched eyes. Nothing can be more adorable, especially when he is clearly onto something. Albus softly brushes the blond curls back behind his ears. "On how different you'd like today to be."
Gellert leans down to offer a shallow kiss. As Albus is lifting his face up, the kiss falls onto Albus's nose, not the place where it should land. Wondering if Albus raised his alert to audit around his secret agenda, Gellert thinks the most important thing for now is to get Albus all worked up.
"You know, there are days I'd like to take charge." Gellert whispers next to Albus's ear.
The effect is immediate. Albus caresses Gellert's thigh and his back cheek from below, then lightly squeezing it.
A smirk appears on Gellert's face. "Unless you find it unexciting."
"On the contrary." Albus moves his hand to the defensive valley to arrange his raid. "It couldn't get more exhilarating." A kiss near Gellert's temple. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Judging by Albus's hoarse voice and his fastened heartbeat, Gellert would say that lust is getting ahold of Albus. "It's a treat."
Albus's fingers are approaching the soft petals. "In exchange for what?"
"A favour." Gellert wiggles a little to level up the bargain.
Albus takes in Gellert's earlobe by his lips with heavier breaths. "And I get?"
"Anything you ask." Gellert slides his palm over Albus's chest, down to somewhere burning and roasting.
"Then we've reached a settlement." Albus takes a proper kiss and slows down his pace. He carries Gellert to sit up, locking Gellert into his embrace. "Now, what is the nature of this favour?"
As expected, it wouldn't be Albus if he didn't double check.
"I'm taking up a graduate exchange program in Durmstrang about dark magic research, which will last two years. I'll be home for holidays during the period, and two years is a short time that will pass very quickly." Gellert doubles down on his strategy, closely looking into Albus's eyes while their breaths mingle with one another. "You already agreed."
Albus shakes his head slightly and smiles in vein, "So I did."
Gellert rewards Albus with a good kiss, thinking perhaps this is the first time he managed to acquire anything from Albus. It's difficult not to feel victorious. So the kiss is offered with extra sweetness.
"Then, in return, I ask..." Tightening his arms around Gellert, Albus suddenly pulls back his serious face, "a one-way ticket that you move in with me, starting at the end of this month."
"...!?" There is nothing but shock in Gellert's mind.
"You also agreed." Albus smiles, but serious still.
Gellert wants to push Albus away because this drastic turn is not anything he's prepared for, only to find that Albus has already locked him tightly and there isn't a chance to run.
Albus's tone of voice is now exempt from any lust. "I can't believe you just tried to trick me into agreeing on something so important that it affects both of us. We are supposed to make decisions together, or else I don't know how a better future could be built for us both." The serious stare from Albus feels like daggers cutting through Gellert's skin.
Gellert averts eye contact and lowers his head, because everything Albus said demands an apology out of him. Biting on his lips, Gellert doesn't know how to best phrase it.
Seeing this, Albus cradles Gellert's face to offer a little comfort. "As long as you promise there won't be a second time."
Gellert shuts his eyes and nods cutely.
"Lovely." Albus smiles and turns back to his earlier gentleness. "I was offered a job as an assistant teaching faculty in Hogwarts. I know you'd laugh at how much I couldn't leave the nest. But I also get to relocate to Hogwarts, which is where we'll be moving to. It will be our home until I can afford a better one." Lots of love in the renewed tone of voice.
"I think it's a good position, and you'll be very good at it." Gellert hugs back for Albus not pressing on the previous matter.
"Thanks. Your approval means the most." Albus also loves this side of Gellert very dearly, like a child being caught in a bad action but willing to change for the better after a small scolding. "By the way, for what it's worth, your seduction was excellent."
Gellert twitches, and then he realized something, digging his fingernails into Albus's back.
"Ow, that hurts! What..." are you punishing me for?
"For the 'double-cross' you just pulled on me." Referring to how Albus has effortlessly set Gellert up to dig his own grave.
"How I wished you wouldn't notice." Albus grins. As his own siblings said, he is a big weasel. "But one can only play fire with fire, is it not true?" Albus goes back to the flirting mode.
"For your information, I wasn't building an escape route." Gellert speaks of something serious, at least he thinks so.
Indeed, Albus always feels some unease deep inside his heart that Gellert might one day decide to leave him for something of a different future. "You couldn't blame me for being too cautious."
Hearing such a phrase, a normal person would immediately get angry and shout "you should trust me". But Gellert would never bring up such a tedious cliche, and he knows the trust or distrust between them are too complicated to be summoned up by words. Above all, it's never a fruitful argument. "Then, I suppose you wouldn't mind me walking away from the alternative offer that was on the table."
"Hasty, you are. The day starts just yet."
Reading into each other's eyes, they both deepened one of their understandings.
Gellert sees the uncrossable line in Albus's love, a phrase spoken in his ardent gaze, "I'll give you everything, only if you make yourself mine."
----- Fin -----