fics_by_maple | (no subject)

For my

50_smutlets claim, that belongs in my Within You, Without You universe.

Title: The Glass Onion
Pairing: George/Lee
Word Count: 1051
Rating: PG-13 R-ish
Warning/AN: EWE, Beta by

mrsquizzical and

queenb23more
My Table

40. Solo

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Lee smiled with polite interest while Mr. Weasley demonstrated the purpose of his newest gadget, a Muggle measuring instrument he’d charmed. As he explained to Lee, he would try the device on Harry and Ginny’s new house later in the day where they’d be meeting with the rest of the family.

Mrs. Weasley, however, remained tight-lipped. She was perfectly cordial, but George felt her piercing glare every time he turned his back.

“Mum, you keep looking at me like you want me to turn out my pockets. I haven’t got any contraband on me.”

“I know when you’re keeping something from me. Why don’t you just have out with whatever it is you wanted to tell us? Then we can have our breakfast.”

His mother always knew when he’d been up to something. He had sort of hoped she would just guess. It would be easier. But she rather seemed to prefer making him confess.

The auld cow.

“You always were one for getting to the point, weren’t ya, woman?”

“You’ve never exactly been one for being coy, have you?”

George felt the prickle of adrenaline in his palms. It was normally a feeling he relished, but just now, he had a fleeting glimpse of being scorned and turned away and imagined grabbing Lee’s hand and running off with him in a fit of rebellious gallantry.

Well, now or never.

“The thing is Mum … Dad … I thought it was about time that I …”

Somehow he didn’t think they needed to hear how he had a penchant for broad chests and deep voices, which was only marginally better than explaining that he simply loved arse play and sucking cock.

“I’ve decided, I’ve realized, that is to say I reckon I always …” His parents were looking at him with befuddled expressions. Lee was focused on him intently, his head inclined as if willing the words to come out with ease. Then George realized he was actually still speaking and had no fucking idea what he was saying! “… not like Wilde, exactly, more like Edward Carpenter, only without the sandals and not a vegetarian.”

“—Vegetarian?” his mother shrieked. The horror in her voice snagged him out of his ramble. “You’re not a – a vege?”

“No! God, no, Mum. What do you take me for? I’d never do that to you! I’m just queer, that’s all.”

There it was.

His dad went red in the face and sunk into a chair. His mum was congruently pale, gripping her stomach as if his words had just punched her, and she moved into the chair next to her husband. George still wasn’t sure if it was the fright of vegetarianism or actually being gay that had her looking so startled.

He caught Lee’s eye across the table, looking bemused and flustered, but the tiny smile that creased the corner of his mouth was of full of support. It felt good that he wasn’t solo in this. There had never been any question that Lee would be with him today.

“What was that word you used, son?” Mr. Weasley asked.

“Ah, queer.”

“Right. I thought so.”

“Don’t be vulgar in my kitchen, George Weasley!”

“I’m not being vulgar, Mum! He asked.”

“The word is ho-mo-SEX-usal,” she said with emphasis on each syllable. “And the concept is not so lost on your old parents as you think. And it doesn’t excuse the use of coarse language.”

“But-” He’d been prepared for admonishment on the unnatural offense of sodomy or some such, not a scolding for his choice of verbiage.

“Didn’t I say so?” she said in an undertone that was intended only for her husband.

His dad nodded and took her hand.

“Are you certain?” Mr. Weasley asked again.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m certain.” George’s eyes flickered from his dad’s face to Lee, and then back again.

“Oh.” Mr. Weasley said. “Oh!” he added again looking up at Lee, finally putting it all together. “I see.”

Lee smiled, the one that imbued serenity. He wasn’t afflicted with his family’s inability to hide their emotions. Lee could keep his eyebrows from creating lines of shock on his forehead and his mouth relaxed and neutral.

Lucky bastard. It’s what made him so charming.

“Well, that’s that, then and whatever else it is won’t be changed by missing breakfast, will it? Lee, dear, can you butter the toast?”

“No problem, Mrs. Weasley.” He obediently began his task.

Mrs. Weasley always believed work was the best solution to any troubling news. George didn’t for a minute think this was over with, but having Mum cook was at least a sign of normalcy.

But George was still watching his dad. Mr. Weasley didn’t have that terse expression that he’d been prepared for. Instead he had a tiny line of concern between his brows and his shoulders slumped slightly, adding to his age.

“Dad? Are you really hacked off?” George asked, taking a seat across from him.

Mr. Weasley looked up at him with a clouded look in his eye before he shook his head.

“No, son. Not angry. You respect the law and keep your nose clean, and I’ll be proud of you. Isn’t that what I’ve always said?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“It’s only that … I’m just so disappointed, George.”

George’s short-lived sense of relief evaporated. His dad had never said that to him, not even when he left school.

“I’m a simple man, son. I haven’t anything to pass on to you. No money, nothing of real value. I just hoped you would find someone to spend your life with and have a family like I did. My children are my true happiness. I regret that you won’t know that yourself.”

George reached out and put his hand on his dad’s forearm. “Might be a different life, but I can still be happy.” Besides, George wasn’t quite ready to dismiss the idea of family just yet either but maybe now wasn’t the time to discuss it.

Mr. Weasley sighed and smiled, giving George a weary nod. “Well, be that as it may, then. I don’t envy you, son. You’ll be telling your brothers then?”

“That’s right. Today at the picnic.”

That’s right, he thought, thinking again that running off with Lee might still be a good idea.

~^~
A/N:
Oscar Wilde
Edward Carpenter