@killedbyvoldemort

it sounds a lot like a challenge. then again, most things to come out of her mouth sound like a challenge to royce. and then again, most things sound like a challenge to sirius, so the imminent conclusion? it will be taken as a challenge by both.

" you wouldn't know what to do with us if we did, meadowes," is royce's spitfire response.

he knows she knows what to do with them, but as it is, IT'S A CHALLENGE. that's what they do for each other he thinks, assigning challenges that won't end in sudden death...for the most part.

" but i'd like to see you try anyway," sirius finishes, and he surprises himself with these words so cool, so composed, so UNLIKE sirius. there is no coy, no callous, no...any of the things he's grown accustomed to. whether it is a worry or not is yet to be seen.

and the bed seems smaller. the tangle of limbs no longer seems an innocent game of "sleep where you fall", and last night's ventures —more so all the energy they claimed— seem so distant, so irrelevant. but when sirius moves closer, royce mirrors the action in perfect synchronization without meeting the other man's gaze. dangerous waters they tread now, but that's sort of their THING.

" better not duck out though," sirius grunts, lips hovering just behind her ear, rough hands cradling a hip with steadfast grip as though fearing she would disapparate any moment. royce however seems to understand that if she's going to leave, she'll leave, and neither of them will be able to stop her. so he's taking advantage of her moment of settling, teeth grazing the tender column of her throat, hands spilling beneath fabric with INTENT. " i'm not in any place to be tricked about, meadowes. "

and royce grunts in what sirius takes as agreement, but neither will acknowledge it again. instead, sirius follows his lead, wondering to himself whether his old friend can still feel anything at all, much less anything like this, and with the likes of them.