Chapter Text
Hogwarts, two weeks before the Bhutan elections
The darkness of the office welcomed him at this late hour.
Even though he knew all too well that all meetings with Headmaster Black always dragged on, he found himself equally mentally exhausted every time. That he never learned.
That man had a knack for making every subject drag on, and it was worst during the evening meetings with the school staff. Albus saw no point in staying when things that didn't concern the school or his own role as a professor were being discussed, but the Headmaster insisted. Every time. So he stayed. Every time.
This evening, or early night, however, he had managed to get away with the excuse that he needed the weekend to plan new advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts courses for the new term. The request was granted and Albus slipped away gratefully before his colleagues began to bombard him again with questions about why he was still single, how come he hadn't chosen a partner? Didn't he want to start a family? He could get any witch he wanted, with his looks.
The problem wasn't that he didn't want a partner, a relationship, or a family, because he wanted that as much as anyone else. The problem was that he didn't want a witch, but that absolutely couldn't be known to the public. He just wanted a very special wizard.
A quick smile crossed his lips as he imagined Gellert's reaction if the man had heard the comment about his looks.
'Hmph, superficial people are beneath you, Albus, you shouldn't mix with such a scum. Don't get me wrong, liebling, you are sinfully attractive, but you are also so much more than your looks. What do they know about your brilliant mind? What do they know about your fascinating thoughts? Why do you continue to hide your power, who you really are?'
Albus could really hear the German accent in Gellert's cultured voice thickening, could easily imagine the indignant look that would shine in those beautiful eyes; after all, it wouldn't be the first time his youthful love had been offended on his behalf, when he himself didn't attach much importance to that particular issue.
The smile died away as the train of thought ended. In another society, perhaps men like them would be accepted. In another society, perhaps he could take the other's hand in the open without risking imprisonment. In another life, this resentment wouldn't taste so bad on the tongue, because it hadn't existed.
In the silence, he stood half-facing the closed door, half-facing the room. A deep sigh and a muttered lock-and-silence spell later, Albus turned so that his back was fully against the door.
He ran a hand over his face and ruffled his hair in frustration before he pushed himself up and sent his jacket to the coat rack to the right inside the door. Finally being able to loosen his tie a little at his neck, undo two shirt buttons, and roll up his sleeves made things a little easier. Who cared what he looked like when he was alone?
His mind suddenly went on high alert. Coming home to silence was commonplace, absolutely. But this silence was... oppressive. Like the calm before the storm, like the silence in the forest when all the animals have realized and taken shelter from the danger before it got close enough to do any harm.
Albus unconsciously stretched and let his eyes wander around the office. Everything was in its place, everything looked exactly as it had when he left several hours ago. The realization of how long he had actually been gone made him sigh to himself inwardly. He must have been more tired than he realized.
With that excuse, he went on into the adjacent library and headed for the bookshelf with books that should have stayed in the past... only to stop mid-step. The fireplace in front of the small sofa to his right was lit, which it hadn't been when he left.
"I thought you might appreciate coming home to some warmth. It was surprisingly cold when I arrived, and since you prefer to do things the Muggle way, I thought it appropriate to at least have a fire ready for you. It took a while to get a fire going, and keep it going, in the misery, but... it wasn't that bad, really. Welcome home, my love."
Albus circled to the left and spotted Gellert, leaning casually against the very bookshelf he was supposed to go to. He faintly registered that the man had just complimented him on something non-magical, but that would have to wait.
"What are you doing here?!"
He whispered and looked around quickly, only to be reminded that they were both in his private chambers. Alone. The horror.
Frozen in place and with his heart in his throat, he watched as Gellert pushed himself up from the bookshelf and slowly walked towards him, an appreciative look in his eyes. Like a predator sizing up its prey. Albus felt a slight blush form over his cheeks as he followed the man with his eyes and found himself backing away towards the office. The man in question had been watching him with an amused smile the entire time, but it slowly faded as the look in his eyes shifted from amusement to something resembling thoughtfulness as Gellert clearly examined his face.
He must look truly miserable for the other to look at him with a hint of worry.
Albus turned his back on those observant, indescribably beautiful eyes and instead walked over to lean against the desk in the office. Gellert joined him, of course, and mirrored his posture. Both men stood silently, their gazes out the large window on the opposite side of the room, their focus on the winter darkness.
“Would you believe me if I said I was here because I missed you?”
Albus raised his eyebrows at the unexpected question before looking down at the floor and smiling shyly. He could feel the shimmer in the air between them vibrate, a clear indication that the man next to him had caught the smile. He glanced at Gellert, who was still looking out the window with a small smile of his own playing on his lips, and felt his blood rushing through his veins.
Damn, that wizard had a way of making him feel both nervous and excited at the same time.
“Would you lie if I countered with the question of whether you missed me, or whatever always happens between us?”
He saw from the corner of his eye how Gellert’s smile widened before he crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the floor anyway.
“You know I never lie to you.”
"I know. Maybe I would believe you if you said you missed me."
Albus noticed a faint blush forming on the man's cheeks. The faint glow from the torches on the walls cast soft shadows over the other, shadows that outlined the silhouette in a most appealing way. He had always had a soft spot for Gellert's broad shoulders and chest, a soft spot for the feeling of security that always came whenever he leaned his head against said chest and felt the strong arms wrap around his waist.
Oh my God, he had lost control of his thoughts.
"Of course I miss our private affairs, because honestly, they're fantastic, aren't they? But, they don't beat you. Get that you, you who make up one half of our.. situations together."
That Albus managed to stay on his feet was miraculous, as much as they shook at the meaning of that sentence. He understood exactly.
He turned to Gellert, placing one leg on either side of the man's and placing his hands on previously daydreamed shoulders. Only when Albus made the eye contact he sought did he speak.
"You mean that that inner peace you experience now is never present when we are apart. You mean that your mind is finally quiet, your being is still. Every fiber of your body relaxes, even when it feels like you are burning up inside at our every touch."
Albus spoke in a low voice, emphasizing his point by letting his lips brush lightly against the other's the entire time. One hand moved up to play with the hair that fell softly at the nape of Gellert's neck while the other slowly caressed its way down his chest and landed on the man's heart. The most misunderstood heart he had ever encountered, and it belonged to him alone.
The truth of this fact made his own, Gellert's, heart sing in his chest.
"Please, darling, would it really be that hard for me to understand? Have you come to underestimate my brain in our older days?"
He nibbled gently on the tempting, full lower lip, enjoying hearing his love's breath fade away. A small smile tugged at his lips as he felt the man shiver and watched him close his eyes. Gellert placed his arms around Albus' waist to pull him close to his chest and instinctively leaned against the man's shoulder, perfectly shaped for his head. It was as if their bodies were sculpted to fit flawlessly against each other, in every way imaginable.
He felt his love brush its nose against his hair and take a deep breath, as if to keep himself grounded.
"The smile you wore when you came back earlier, was very... interesting. What were you thinking about?"
Oh no. Albus hadn't even considered that Gellert might have seen that. It wasn't something he really wanted to share. Not because he had anything to hide from the man who held him so lovingly in his arms, but because he knew what reaction this revelation would provoke.
Gellert tightened his grip on him before he spoke again.
“Albus.. ?”
Again the air between them vibrated and of course he was right; jealousy took over Gellert's entire being before he could even utter a word.
“Oh Gellert, let go of your jealousy. Don't even try to deny it, I felt that mental shift in your mind as clearly as if you had glared at me. I smiled because I managed to avoid the usual.. interrogation my colleagues have taken to always ending all staff meetings with.”
When no answer came, he continued.
“They usually ask questions and make comments like ‘why are you single?’, ‘don't you want a partner?’, and ‘you can get any witch you want, with your looks’.”
The only reaction was to be pulled even closer to his chest and although he was secretly a little delighted by Gellert's jealousy, he was not willing to see the other suffer. Albus let the fingers of one hand slowly caress their way up Gellert's hair, twisting it between his fingers just as he always did when they were younger and his partner needed help finding peace again. Jealousy or frightening visions made no difference.
"Hmph, such superficial drivel is not something you should degrade yourself to, Albus. Vermin is not worth your time. Don't get me wrong, liebe, you are sinfully attractive, but you are so much more than your beautiful face and distracting body. Do they know your mind? Can they follow your intelligent, unique train of thought? Why do you continue to hide your power, who you are?"
Laughter bubbled up from his throat and gave him a thoughtful look in response as he pulled his head back to look up into the mismatched eyes that were examining him.
"That was almost exactly the answer I expected from you. Very amusing, I must say."
A soft smile tugged at the other's lips as their foreheads leaned together.
"Maybe I should hone certain qualities, if I've become so predictable."
"I'd rather not. I prefer you like this, like my strong, unwavering rock. Even if I don't always like your choices, Gellert, that doesn't change your importance to me."
Speaking of choices... a previously overheard rumor came to mind.
"Is it true that you're running for the next Supreme Mugwump?"
Gellert slightly raised an eyebrow and observed him carefully before opening his mouth.
"What do you know about this?"
Albus smiled and waved his free hand lightly in the air, as if he were waving away a fly.
“People talk. Besides, I know you, Gellert, so it wouldn’t surprise me. But, if it makes you feel better, we can pretend it was just a wild guess based on everyone knowing about your need for power.”
He managed a snort in response, which was both charming and indignant at the same time. Only Gellert could make a snort seem captivating. Merlin help, Albus was pathetic.
The next thing he knew, he was back with his back to the desk and Gellert mirroring his previous position.
“And what would you do about it, hm? We both know that you work best in the shadows and do everything you can to avoid the spotlight, sending your little puppets into the fire for me to deal with, Professor Dumbledore.”
The man spoke softly, in a sensual tone that was undoubtedly intended to distract him, and let his lips slide over his own the entire time. The distraction worked flawlessly.
Gellert’s one hand found its way to his throat in a clear gesture of ownership. Albus’s body betrayed him as it allowed a soft moan to slide over his lips before he placed his hands on the desk for support.
His sense of balance seemed to have suddenly gone.
“I won’t.. do anything, at all. You’ll have to play this game yourself.”
There was no point in trying to have a dialogue anymore, not when the man’s rough fingers were touching him so tenderly and lovingly, caressing his bare forearms and finally kissed him.
“So, you say? Do you think I’ll take you?”
Damn, this wizard knew exactly what he was doing when he pressed his hips against Albus like that. Instinctively, he pushed back and moved one hand from the desk to Gellert’s neck to let his fingers lightly, tentatively, tug at his hair. The man groaned softly and Albus automatically parted his lips to let his lover’s tongue in.
Desire flowed freely, replacing the blood in his veins, his heart sang with lust, and his mind became a fluffy, sparkling cloud where nothing existed except the love of his life. Not so different from everyday life, really.
Gellert pulled back just an inch to let them catch their breath. Albus wrapped both arms around the man's neck and nuzzled his nose against the other's.
"Will we ever be over?"
He made sure not to flinch from his partner's gaze after uttering the question that had eluded him since previous... meetings. Merlin knew that he was actually afraid of one of the answer options.
Gellert didn't answer directly, but just steadily met Albus's gaze, seemingly unaffected by the question and its true meaning.
"If you want it, yes. But then you need to tell me. Otherwise, no."
The German accent became clear, which only confirmed the determination Albus thought he, hoped, heard. When a stubborn, silver strand of hair fell over the icy blue eye, he gently pushed it back into place and gave the man a cautious smile.
“Well, is that so? Is it just up to me to decide?”
He caressed Gellert’s chiseled cheekbone with his thumb, resting his palm against the cheek that bore clear traces of the late hour’s incipient stubble. For a quick second, the air between them shimmered again, but before he could pinpoint what it was, or why it had happened, the man in front of him spoke again.
“I always want you, Albus. Not just like this, but otherwise too. No exceptions.”
Gellert turned his head slightly and kissed his palm, maintaining eye contact and wrapping one hand around Albus’s neck. His throat tightened at the thought and he had never been so sure that his heartbeat was drumming louder than a highland thunderstorm in late summer.
“I don’t think you understand how tightly you really have me wrapped around your finger, my love.”
Gellert made his point by grabbing Albus’s hand and pressing conscious kisses to each fingertip, all the while never looking away. This was a whole new level of intimacy, and he never wanted to lose it.
“Gellert..”
Albus didn’t get a chance to continue when his lover gently bit his lower lip. Gellert’s free hand resumed its previous place around his neck with a harder squeeze that sent him straight into a state of nothing but impatient anticipation. Not entirely unexpectedly, his hips thrust forward, seeking the friction that his now very tight pants proved to need. The other man's lips and teeth never ceased to caress him; his jaw, his neck, his collarbone, and all the while he felt his lover's own evidence of arousal pressing against him. Hell, he was going to cum in his pants if this continued.
It was too much. He needed Gellert, needed to feel him everywhere, all over his body, and he needed it now. Albus had let his free hand slide down from the man's neck to his shoulder, pressing hard enough to leave marks through both suit and shirt.
"Darling, please.. I need you, so damn much."
"Where do you want me to take you this time, hmm?"
The tip of Gellert's tongue traced patterns on his collarbone while two fingers gently tugged at the hem of his pants. A shameless moan tore from Albus' throat as he dropped his head back and wrapped his legs around her hips, slowly pushing him closer to the brink of orgasm by never stopping pushing against him.
He was absolutely convinced that at any second he would be pulverized into nothing but dust.
"Here. Now. Please.."
His lover's muffled laughter and hot breath sent vibrations straight into Albus's chest and throughout his entire body.
“Your wish is my law, liebe.”
Albus let the fingers of one hand grip his soft hair again, gasping his lover’s name, desperately trying to pull him closer. He would never get enough of the other.
When Gellert lifted his head to look at him, he saw not only his own desire reflected in those beautiful, mismatched eyes; there was something else there too, something no one but himself would notice. After all, they knew each other on a level deeper than the universe could prevent.
He didn’t get a chance to analyze what this something could be when Gellert’s lips once again covered his own, swallowing up every rational thought that remained.
Perhaps this new something was crucial, both for them and for the future.