Rough Talk

A/N: Here's the next chapter of my first all-out slashy fic, and I'll warn you it's a bit smut-ridden. ;) We'll get some more plot squeezed into the next chapter, but at the moment, I'm afraid Severus and Ron had other plans.

Thanks to everyone who has taken a moment to review, it means a lot to me, and big thanks to Broomclosetravenclaw for helping me tidy up a bit after the fact. Once again, this chapter has not been beta read and any mistakes are my own blasted fault! (Or 'basted' fault, as Broom and Wolf Moonshadow were kind enough to point out to me in the last chapter.) :)

Disclaimer: They are not mine; I just take them out to play. Sometimes they play with each other.

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When Ron woke up the next morning, he found Severus propped up on one elbow, staring down at him. Though he wasn't glaring exactly, the expression in those black eyes was very intense and Ron thought he detected a hint of uncertainty in their dark regard. Why uncertain? Severus was hardly shy about speaking up when he was unhappy about something, so it was unlikely that he regretted Ron's pouncing on him the night before. Bits of the previous night's argument sifted through Ron's mind as he blinked sleepily up at the wizard staring so intensely at him. Ah! Remembering that Severus had rather backhandedly compared himself to the giant squid, Ron decided that the staring wizard was most likely unsure about his reception now that they lay here in the light of day, so to speak.

"Good morning, sunshine," he drawled in a husky voice that had little in common with the cheeky manner in which he usually made that statement.

Though Severus rolled his eyes, Ron could see that uncertain expression begin to fade. "I absolutely loathe it when you call me that," he groused.

"Well, I suppose you'll have to make an effort to get used to it," Ron teased playfully. Sliding a hand into Severus' black hair, he drew Severus down into a heated kiss.

Soon Ron was experiencing a hands-on version of the image that had driven him to distraction during his early morning wanking sessions. While they heatedly explored one another's mouths, Severus pressed close against Ron, unashamedly grinding his erection against Ron's hip.

"Sweet Merlin, love," Ron murmured as Severus left his mouth to trail kisses down Ron's neck. "You have no idea what you're doing to me. I've imagined this...every blasted morning when I've snuck off to..." Ron's voice trailed off in embarrassment.

Stopping his assault on Ron's neck, Severus raised his head to smirk down at his young lover. "And exactly what do you think I've been doing every day when you politely leave me in the bath?" he drawled.

"You've been wanking over me?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Indeed," Severus answered simply as he dragged the blankets off Ron's chest so that he could eye it appreciatively.

"Brilliant," Ron murmured, his eyes closing as Severus licked him from sternum to chin. The two men lapsed again into silence as they continued to kiss and caress each other. The quiet was broken when Severus tried to slide further down in the bed and stopped suddenly, hissing in discomfort rather than pleasure.

Immediately concerned, Ron asked, "What is it Severus? Are you all right? What the hell was I thinking...you aren't well enough for all of this..."

"Rubbish!" Severus snapped. "I assure you that I am perfectly fine. It's only bloody frustrating not to be able to move as I wish. We managed fine last night. More than fine..." His voice trailed off as he bent his head to taste Ron's mouth again.

When Ron got the use of his mouth back, he spoke again. "You're right. We were more than fine last night. What did you want to do, love? Tell me...let me help."

One of Severus' hands slid down Ron's stomach and curled around Ron's pajama covered erection. "I want to taste you," he growled.

Pressing his cock eagerly into Severus' hand, Ron said, "I think that can be arranged." Unable to keep himself from throwing a worried look at the door, Ron whispered, "Do you think we have time? What if one of the Healers walks in?"

"It is still early...we should have time enough. To be quite honest, I couldn't be arsed if the entire Wizengamot parades through here in the next ten minutes so long as I get your cock in my mouth," Severus growled.

Answering only with a throaty groan, Ron pushed the blankets off the bed, stood long enough to yank off his pajama pants, and climbed back into the bed, arranging himself so that he and Severus faced each other head to crotch. Tugging Severus' nightshirt out of the way, Ron took a moment to eye Severus' impressive length hungrily.

"You...you want to..."

Taken aback by the hesitant tone in his lover's voice, Ron looked down and met Severus' eye. The uncertain expression was back, which almost broke Ron's heart. Determining that he would do all in his power to erase that uncertainty for good, Ron kept his tone light as he said, "Hell yes! You don't think I'm going to let you have all the fun, do you?" That said, Ron turned his head back to Severus' cock and sucked it greedily into his mouth. The hiss of pleasure this drew from his lover was music to his ears. When Severus soon returned the favor, Ron hummed happily around the cock in his mouth and began to bob his head in earnest.

In the corridor, a Healer paused outside the door to Ron and Severus' room to politely check the monitoring ward before opening the door. The Healers at St. Mungo's did their best to respect the privacy of their patients as much as possible. When the ward alerted Healer Patricia Cotton to exactly what was going on in the room beyond, she removed her hand from the doorknob. Well, that was unexpected. While she knew that the two wizards had been getting along better, she hadn't thought that they were getting along quite that well. It was nothing to worry about, at any rate. If anything, the exercise would do them both good. Aside from matters of their health and recovery, it was really none of her business. Leaving the door unopened, Healer Cotton went off to alert the rest of the staff that they should check room 309's privacy ward carefully before entering.

Within the room, muffled groans filled the air as the two wizards writhed together on the bed. When Ron lost control, spending himself deeply in Severus' throat, the husky groan that vibrated around Severus' cock encouraged his own release. After catching his panting breath, Ron gave Severus' spent cock a gentle kiss before turning around in the bed to wrap Severus in his arms.

Grinning at the smugly pleased expression on his lover's face, Ron said, "Now that was an excellent way to start the morning."

"Indeed," Severus answered. "But I wish..."

By now, Ron realized that though Severus was speaking more and more each day, there were some things he simply had trouble talking about. Mostly, he seemed to hesitate over expressing any personal desires. Oh, he could complain about trivial matters well enough--and did so. Often. However, Severus seemed almost incapable of giving voice to any request of a serious nature. It was as if the man thought he wasn't deserving of anything. Trying to be patient, Ron said softly, "Tell me, love. Tell me what it is that you want."

Glancing at Ron uncertainly, Severus silently took Ron's hand and drew it down his body, down past his spent cock and behind the soft swell of his balls where he pressed Ron's fingers against the tight pucker of his arse. Closing his eyes, Ron sighed shakily as he gently caressed Severus' entrance.

"You have no idea how much I want that...how much I want to make love to you...but not yet, love." Opening his eyes, Ron gave Severus a heated look. "Believe me, when you're stronger, I'm going to bury myself to the balls in that tight little arse of yours and fuck you until you beg me for release."

"I do not beg," Severus said haughtily, but it was apparent from his pleased expression that Ron had said the right thing.

With a regretful sigh that he made no effort to hide, Ron reluctantly pulled his fingers away from Severus' arse. "As much as I'm enjoying that," he said, "there is only so much temptation I can stand. Not to mention the fact that I'm lying here in your bed absolutely starkers and we are pushing our luck with the Healers. I'd best get dressed and then I expect we both could use a trip to the loo."

When Healer Cotton returned to the room a half hour later, she found both men demurely garbed in their dressing gowns. Severus was sitting propped up in his bed, and Ron had brought a chair close to the bed to sit near him. After checking the wizards with a simple diagnostic scan from her wand, she praised them both for doing so well.

"You are doing very well indeed, Mr. Snape," she said kindly. "Keep up the good work; just try not to overtax yourself. I don't think you are quite steady enough to try canes yet, so let your young friend continue to help you until you are steadier on your feet. In the meantime, try sitting in a chair more often during the day as it will improve the circulation to your legs and feet." With that said, Healer Cotton called a house elf to bring the men their breakfast and left the room.

It was with a spirit of celebration that Ron gallantly escorted Severus to the small table in their recovery room and they sat down to eat their eggs and toast in a civilized fashion. Chatting companionably during the meal, Ron realized he could not keep his eyes off the man sitting near him. As Severus seemed to be having a little difficulty keeping his eyes off Ron as well, Ron decided that Severus didn't mind the attention. In fact, he seemed to thrive on it. This left Ron wondering if the seemingly unfriendly man had truly changed so much or if he had never known Severus as well as he had once thought. In the end, he decided the answer to that question didn't matter. Ron was getting to know the present-day Severus more and more each day and he liked what he discovered--he liked all of it, good and bad.

What he liked best at the moment was the obviously pleased expression that lit Severus' dark eyes every time Ron reached out to touch him. Completely enchanted by this, Ron took every advantage he thought he could get away with. During the meal, Ron paused in his eating over and over to touch Severus' hand, his arm, and to reach out and tuck a strand of Severus' untidy hair behind a pale ear. Every time Ron did this, he half expected Severus to bat his hands away. Instead, Severus was subtly encouraging about the whole thing. He was quick to twine his fingers with Ron's or to lean slightly into Ron's caress and each time it happened Severus' eyes shone like stars. Ron wondered how this could happen. How could he have been so quickly taken out of the frustrated hell in which he'd been living and abruptly plopped down into heaven? Oh, he knew it wouldn't all be smooth sailing-- nothing worth doing ever was...Ron was simply unbelievably grateful that he was even being given a chance. He could only hope that he didn't cock it up too badly.

When the meal was finished, it was obvious that Severus was a bit tired. Helping Severus to bed, Ron handed Severus the book he was reading before going to fetch his own. Then Ron climbed in next to Severus and they spent the remainder of the morning reading and chatting as they sat propped up against Severus' headboard. After they had eaten lunch, Ron looked at Severus with what could only be described as a leer.

"Why, I do believe it's bath time!" he said saucily, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Though a bit surprised by Ron's blatant flirting, Severus couldn't help flashing his crooked smile. "I trust that my bath will be far more interesting now than usual?" he asked dryly.

"Oh, I do believe that can be arranged," Ron replied with a smirk.

Severus' bath began much as it had before with Ron gently helping him get undressed and lowering him into the tub. The major difference was that--for the first time--Ron made no effort whatsoever to keep his eyes off the naked man, nor did he hide his obvious appreciation. Kneeling next to the tub, Ron picked up the soap, dunked it into the water, and began lathering his hands.

"You seem rather overdressed for this endeavor," Severus said, glowering at Ron's pajama pants.

"All in good time, love. I'm impatient enough as it is...it's best I keep my pants on until I give you The Royal Bath treatment." Not waiting for Severus to argue, Ron brought his soapy hands up and began washing Severus' lightly haired chest. His motions fell somewhere between washing and a massage. By the time he finished with Severus' chest, arms, and hands, Severus was practically purring.

"You have no idea," began Severus, his voice deliciously breathless, "how often I've imagined your hands all over me."

Moving on to give Severus' feet and legs the same treatment, Ron asked quite seriously, "Severus, if you fancied me, why did you cause such a fuss when I tried to help you into the tub that first time?"

"While I shall be forever grateful to Miss Granger for alerting me to your inclination, it did not necessarily follow that you were attracted to me. I could not tell whether you reciprocated my desires or you were only being kind. Because I was unsure, I was not eager to press the matter by being nude and unable to hide my obvious response to you."

"You had a stiffy over me?" Ron asked with a huge grin.

"Constantly," Severus growled. Taking one of Ron's hands, Severus drew it between his legs and wrapped it around his hard length.

Giving Severus' cock a firm squeeze, Ron then released it, which made Severus growl again. "Oh, no you don't," Ron teased. "I intend to save the best for last!"

Returning a bit impatiently to the bathing, Ron washed Severus' back and shampooed his hair. Once Severus' hair was rinsed, Ron quickly removed his pajama pants and climbed into the tub behind Severus.

Eagerly leaning back into Ron's embrace, Severus pressed his arse against Ron's erection for a moment before dryly saying, "As lovely as your bathing me has been, I do believe you've missed a spot."

"Never fear," said Ron. "I plan to wash that spot most thoroughly." Reaching down with both hands, Ron began slowly and firmly stroking Severus' cock. Hissing with pleasure, Severus thrust himself into Ron's eager hands. Leaning back, Ron drew Severus up until he lay completely on top of Ron's body. This was heaven. Ron loved the weight of his lover pressing him down, the way his cock was firmly pressed between the cheeks of Severus' arse, and the way Severus leaned his head back over Ron's shoulder, baring his neck to Ron's hungry mouth. The tub was not deep. With Severus stretched out on top of him, Ron had a delightful view of the cock he was stroking as it thrust up out of the water.

"Oh gods," hissed Severus. "Every blasted day I have lain here wishing it was your hands on me instead of my own. So good...gods you feel so good..."

"So do you, love," Ron murmured into Severus' ear. "I was going mad wanting this...wanting you." Slipping his tongue into Severus' ear, Ron earned another one of those delicious hissing moans that seemed to travel straight to his cock.

"Touch me," Severus growled. "Touch me...please..."

"Where, love? Where shall I touch you?"

Unable to speak, Severus took one of Ron's hands off of his cock and thrust it between their writhing bodies until Ron's fingers were pressed against the puckered opening of his arse. "Please..."

"Yes," moaned Ron. "Sweet Merlin, yes!"

At first, Ron simply caressed Severus' entrance, pressing and rubbing at the tight opening. When Severus ground down against his hand, Ron slowly slipped one finger inside. Though Ron had little room to maneuver, Severus immediately took over by raising and lowering his hips to fuck himself on Ron's hand. The complete abandon with which Severus moved against him was the sexiest thing Ron had ever seen. Still firmly stroking Severus' cock, Ron began thrusting his own hips up against Severus' arse as Severus continued to grind himself against Ron's hand. When Severus breathlessly demanded more, Ron slipped a second finger in to join the first.

"Oh, yes..." Severus breathed while thrusting down hard and fast onto Ron's fingers. "So good...so fucking good...ahhh...Ron...can't wait...going to..."

"Yes," growled Ron. "Come for me...come now, love...now."

Once again Ron heard that passionate, moaning hiss as Severus' cock twitched and jumped in his hand. He could feel the inner muscles of Severus' arse clenching around his fingers. Grinding his hips up against Severus, Ron came hard, Severus' name flying from his lips.

One good thing about sex in the bath was how easy it was for the wandless wizards to clean up after. In fact, they stayed kissing and cuddling in the bath until the water had gone too cold for comfort. Helping Severus out of the tub, for the first time Ron got to dry the front bits as well as the back. After getting them both dressed, Ron then gently helped his lover back to bed and crawled in next to him for a nap.

They were still napping in each other's arms when the door to the room opened. Minerva had arrived for her visit.