Chapter Text
It seems as if Scorpius managed to find a way for the rest of the day to avoid Albus anywhere and everywhere he can. Flitting between the rooms of the house confidently, as if it were his own home Managing to avoid Albus at breakfast, occupying Lorcan’s attention; some distant conversation about Quidditch, seemingly so interesting that even Albus’ parents join in. Then Scorpius, under the guise of helping his father, slips out of the room before Albus can even say a word to him. And as it is Christmas Eve and people start piling gifts under the tree and preparing for dinner, they both keep busy. Scorpius, doing so in avoidance and Albus because he was forced to. Albus wonders what exactly this really means. Sure it was obvious Scorpius was embarrassed, and Albus would expect most of them to sit through one short, albeit awkward, conversation before the tension would naturally resolve.
But something about this interaction felt different. The intimacy of the set-up; the way Scorpius had bared himself the night before, asking Albus not to leave him with the added physical exposure, the closeness of their bodies in the moments before, knees thrown over each other and the domesticity of touching without realising. The way Scorpius clearly hadn’t realised that he was gripping Albus’ hip or thought about the way his hand travelled Albus’ body. He hadn’t meant to touch Albus’ bare chest, but he did, and if he did so without thinking, without considering, without even really waking up, Albus can’t help but assume he had done it because he wanted to. Scorpius wanted to touch Albus, to feel his skin, he wanted to press them together like they were meant to. Scorpius wanted Albus.
Of course, the realisation is late. Albus begins to realise that. That he should have known before. All the signs and indications, were there, between the entire pretence of a relationship that was ironically mutually desired and yet dishonest. That they were both lying about their intentions. Albus hadn’t said he and Scorpius were together to make coming out easier, but because he wants them to be, and because he was in love with him and being together made sense .
But why did Scorpius say it?
Albus continues to autonomously braid Lily’s hair as he looks over at him from across the living room, Scorpius is discussing something over the newspaper with Charlie. His body is hunched over, eyes flicking between Charlie’s finger which is pointing things out as he speaks and his face. Albus can see that he’s tucked one leg in on the chair while the other taps against the ground. The lights strung across the living room twinkle prettily, shining red, blue, and green, down on Scoprius’ light hair. Albus watches as it moves when Scorpius nods or shakes his head. Usually, at school, he gels it slightly in place but now it's soft, dangling gently over his forehead and dipping into his eyes. He’s beautiful. Albus has known this for years now. But his high cheekbones and his pretty pink cheeks that light up when the room is warm or when Albus kisses him there, and his grey eyes that are always brightest in winter, their beautiful and Albus keens at the thought that he’s gotten to watch Scorpius grow into himself. He’s been there for the growth spurts and the hormonal acne, he’s been there for the awkward sex talks at school, he’s helped Scorpius sew the pockets closed on their roommate's robes and he got to watch Scorpius turn from shy and reserved to an excitable Quidditch player. He’s known every version of Scorpius, through every phase and interest, through all his insecurities and his accomplishments, and he’s gotten to love every version of Scorpius. So why not this version too? Why not love Scorpius as a lover ? Why hold back or pretend that they haven’t seen enough of each other? Why lie and say there’s a risk of broken friendships when it has always been Albus and Scorpius?
This, what they have, Albus decides. Cannot be broken so easily.
“Albus! Too tight!” Lily whines and his attention shoots back to her, releasing the grip on her hair and mumbling an apology.
He must tell Scorpius as soon as possible.
—
As soon as possible seems to be turning into at all if possible with the way Albus’ night is going. The number of odd jobs and family photos keep him impossibly far from Scorpius. Not to mention he’s disappeared and Albus hasn’t been able to locate any one who can directly tell him where to find him. But then dinner comes, and he slips James a tenner to heard Scorpius into sitting next to him. Which works, Albus silently laughs at his adult brother’s inability to ever be anything but obvious.
By the time Scorpius sits they’ve traded glances, but Albus sees how tense his shoulders are. It feels wrong, sitting so close but not speaking to one another but Albus worries that if he opens his mouth he won’t be able to control himself from confessing to Scorpius that second.
Different family members trade off the opportunity to give speeches, Rolf even, and then Draco.
“I didn’t think, erm, that I would go through with this but thank you Ginerva for encouraging me,” Draco looks awkward with the wine glass in his hand and his straight posture but it’s endearing if anything, “I just wanted to say a thank you to you all, for welcoming Scorpius and myself into your family in this way. For always taking kindly to him, despite our, well— you get it. I would also like to say thank you to Scorpius for choosing a friend so,” Draco pauses as he looks between Albus and Scorpius, “Perfectly suited for you. Because I think he has made you better, and you have made me better.”
The dining room is silent, air dripping with emotion as even uncle Percy seems a bit more touched than usual. Albus looks at Scorpius whose eyes look glossy and his heart drops to his stomach.
“Right, Enough. Food!” Draco raises his glass and everyone breaks from their trance and cheers.
Albus stares down at his hands in his lap and closes his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose. He extends his right hand under the table, dropping it on Scorpius’ knee, just below where Scorpius’ left hand rests on his thigh. Scorpius looks at him immediately, and Albus sees his hand twitch.
Their eyes meet and Albus frowns, beginning to speak but not managing anything more than Scorpius’ name. Scorpius remains dumbstruck.
Albus squeezes Scorpius’ knee before bravely taking Scorpius's hand into his own and intertwining their fingers. Scorpius’ eyes flit down at their hands and then back to Albus’; they soften.
—
After dinner, they both manage to eat only with their dominant hands, Albus attempts to get them out unscathed but dancing has begun in the sitting room and James and Teddy seem adamant about making Albus and Scorpius dance together. Albus shoots his brother a dirty look because now his intervention is entirely unhelpful. There are other pairs of couples already busy and Albus is astounded by how many people fit in his house. They dwindle awkwardly on the side for a moment, Scorpius again ignoring Albus’ eyes.
“Albus? Care to dance?”
Albus looks to the side where Lysander has situated himself between Albus and the wall, pushing closer to him when Albus acknowledges him
“No,” Comes Scorpius’ voice, he takes Albus’ hand into his and pulls into his side, “That won’t be necessary.”
Then just as Albus’ own parents leave the floor does Scorpius step in to dance, pulling Albus in as well and bringing his empty hand to rest on Albus’ waist.
“You didn’t let me answer him.” Albus says, tone light but Scorpius gives him a look, “You took away the gratification of saying no to him.”
A smile ghosts Scorpius’ lips and Albus sees it before Scorpius pulls his face straight again.
They step to the music with ease, both having attended enough banquets, dances and balls to know their way around their own feet.
“Why did you answer for me?” Albus asks then, he watches as Scorpius’ eyebrows convey confusion before his mouth can catch up.
“Well, I—” Scorpius halts, “We’re— No. You don’t like him and,” another pause, Albus grins, “You’re playing with me.”
Albus shrugs, “You’re letting me.”
Scorpius gives him a look as if to say, I always do .
“Then answer me this,” Albus says, disconnecting their palms that lead the dance and connecting his hands behind Scorpius’ neck, as their bodies become flush and their dancing switches to a sway. “Why did you tell those guys at school we were dating?”
Scorpius inhales deeply, both his hands gripping into the fabric of Albus’ shirt around his waist, “I told you—”
“And why did you go stone cold on Lysander when he flirted with me after the match? Why didn’t you tell me that he liked me? Why did you pull me to dance when you couldn’t look at me all day?”
Scorpius huffs, sucking his teeth before giving Albus a hard stare, “What are you trying to get at?”
“I want you to tell me,” Albus feigns innocence, “Or I could tell you what I think it was.”
Scorpius's jaw clenches and he shoots a look around the room. Before Albus can continue he feels Scorpius’ hands on his waist turn and guide him off the dance floor. He lets himself be directed as Scorpius drags him into the staircase and up to his bedroom. He halts before the door. The music from downstairs can still be heard in the hallway where they stand but it's muffled and the laughter and banter are being drowned out by the heartbeat in Albus’ head.
“What are you doing right now Albus? Are you being cruel on purpose?” Scorpius spits, pushing Albus against the wall and laying his arm across Albus’ collarbones, holding him in place.
“I’m hardly being cruel,” Albus says, extending a hand to pull on Scorpius’ belt loop, bringing their bodies together again like before, and smiles up at Scorpius whose eyes go wide.
“I think you did all those things I said earlier because you were jealous,” Albus comments nonchalantly, “I think you wanted people to think I was yours.”
Scorpius eyes him carefully, Albus can tell, so he makes a show of it and looks at Scorpius earnestly as he traces his hand up and down Scorpius’ middle.
“I think you agreed to this, and you hate Lysander because you like me .” Albus teases and Scorpius sets his jaw.
“Oh yeah? Why did you tell your parents we were together then?” Scorpius presses his arm harder into Albus’ chest.
Albus reaches up and holds onto Scorpius’ arm, “Because I’m in love with you.”
Scorpius seems to let up at that, arm going lax and lets Albus pull it away, blinking in surprise, “What—”
Albus chooses instead to reach up to take Scorpius’ collar into his hands and tug his face closer to his own, pressing their lips together. Scorpius takes a moment to awake from his cloud of confusion but once he does he pushes into Albus, crowding him against the wall, caging him in with his arms. Albus keens when Scorpius nips at his lip, gasps, and pulls Scorpius’ dress shirt from his trousers, slipping his hands under the fabric. Scorpius grunts when Albus’ cold palms make contact with his warm stomach and Albus smiles into the kiss.
“You copped a feel this morning, it's my turn,” Albus mumbles against Scorpius’ mouth when they separate to breathe. Scorpius flushes all over and hangs his head, Albus can’t help but laugh.
“Don’t get shy on me now, we haven’t even started,” Albus says, pressing a kiss to Scorpius’ pink cheeks.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Scorpius says, “I really didn’t mean to go so far—”
“Scorpius,” Albus groans, “You have me an instant hard-on I’m really not that mad.”
Scorpius blushes impossibly brighter, “You! You can’t just— say that!”
Albus laughs into Scorpius’ neck and litters some kisses there, a shiver goes up Scorpius’ back.
“You need to stop kissing my— Ah! — Neck.” Scorpius mumbles, throwing his head back. “When you did it yesterday I nearly toppled over.”
Albus grins, “You felt that?”
Scorpius nods, “When you touch me, it’s like I get hypersensitive. I feel you on my body long after you’re gone. It’s like you’re printed on me.”
“Oh, you really like me.” Albus teases, pressing another kiss to Scorpius’ Adam's apple.
“Don’t say that,” Scorpius exhales, cupping Albus’ face with his hands and meeting their eyes, “You said you loved me, why would you think it’s not mutual. I don’t like you, Albus, I love you,” Albus feels his face and neck go hot at the confession. “I’ve loved you for so long. I thought you’d never let me have you.”
Albus smiles, kissing the side of Scorpius’ hand, “Y’know for such a smart guy it really has taken you forever to realise I’ve always been yours to have.”
“Why did you borderline antagonise me on the dance floor and not just kiss me or something?” Scorpius whines.
Albus shrugs, “What's the fun in that?”