Outed! (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael paused to read the letter, most of which he couldn't even remember writing, it was almost just a stream of consciousness.

Mom,

I know that you get the Daily Prophet, and so I know that you have probably already read everything in yesterday's issue, but some of the things need to be explained. Dare and I met a few months ago, and between the forest and drawing we connected. Yes, we are together, but the Prophet has taken it too far. We aren't lovers, however much we're together. I really love being with him, and so I hope that you aren't taking the news badly. I'm sorry for however Dad reacts.

Love,
Michael

Michael sighed and glanced over at Dare, the line about his father seemed so odd, but he felt it needed said. Somehow, he had the feeling that the man would have something to say to his mother about it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"I'm finished," Dare announced, though it was fairly obvious. It looked like Michael was finished too. Dare leaned over, stealing a quick kiss on the lips, then straightened, sighing down at his letter. "So, we'll go to the owlery, then I'm going to want to run by the dorm to pick some stuff up, and I'll come back. Then we can spend all night hiding out. Sound like a plan?" Dare was itching to get the outing over with, and praying the room would be open when they got back. He wanted to just skip to when they were back in the room and get on with the night.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"That's fine with me," Michael said, though he had no intentions of going to his own dorm, there wasn't anything he wanted from it that was urgent enough to need to get for the night. He read over his letter one more time before rolling it up carefully. "It could be a while before I get something back from her," he said, looking up at Dare. Especially if his father had anything to say about it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"I'll be waiting with you," Dare said. He knew that Michael's letter could be a shot in the dark, but firmly believed that it was worth sending, even if a reply never came. Of course, he hoped it would come. Dare stole another kiss before putting things back in his bag, his nerves tightening, stretching as he did so. He wanted to just stay here, but he knew he couldn't. He had to send the letter or it wasn't worth having written it. He had to get it over with for his peace of mind.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael hoped he got a reply, but he also hoped he didn't have to worry about anything bad happening, there was always the possibility that something could come through the mail he didn't want to hear. He pulled himself up from the couch and looked over at Dare, watching him silently as if trying to make a decision. Then, as though the decision had been made, he bent, laying his hand along Dare's jaw and giving him a slow kiss.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's nerves stretched tighter for one brief second, then loosened as he lost himself to the kiss. This was what he was doing all this for, a love that somehow knew what he needed, that gave him so much and asked so little in return. Dare's hand rose, slipping around the back of Michael's neck as he echoed the kiss. I love you so much, he thought. When the kiss had ended, Dare looked up at Michael for some long moments before breaking the silence. "We should go," he said softly. Within the minute, they made good on his words and headed together for the owlery.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael came back to the Room of Requirement before Dare, both to be sure it was still open for them to use and because he wouldn't have felt right waiting outside of the Gryffindor Common Room for Dare. There may have been Slytherins that had problems with Michael, but there were also Gryffindors that he had issues with. He looked down at the Prophet still lying on the table and narrowed his eyes. Behind him, a fireplace came up, crackling and inviting. So he obliged, picking up the paper and throwing it in, turning to watch as the words curled into nothing.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

When the door opened again, it was Dare, obviously tense, but bridling more from excitement than anything else. The moment he saw Michael, his lips curved into a broad grin. He stepped into the room, his stuffed bookbag over his shoulder, and shut the door, willing it to lock for them. Then he turned back to Michael, still grinning. "I gave the guys their present back," he said, eyes glittering with remembered mischief. It had been satisfying, and whether it encouraged the other Gryffindors to leave him alone or not, it had been worth it. Besides, he'd be safely out of the dorm tonight when they found it.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael turned away from the ashes that had once been the paper and tilted his head. "What did you do?" he asked, examining Dare's face for clues, like it could tell him what had happened. The glitter in Dare's eyes, so different from how he had looked when they had parted, made Michael raise an eyebrow as he tried to think of possibilities.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare swung his bag down onto one of the chairs, grinning fit to burst. "I threw back all their covers, and gave them each a share out of that bottle. Then I put the empty container on my nightstand. Put everything I own into my trunk and locked it. I almost wish I could see their faces." But he'd be here with Michael tonight. Dare opened his bag and started rifling through it, still grinning.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael watched Dare, stunned, before he was able to smile about it, even if the worry was still in his eyes. Then he shook his head, "You're mad." But he grinned to show he was only kidding. Yes, Dare was a little crazy, but Michael couldn't deny that the guys' faces were going to be priceless when they saw what Dare had done. "What all did you bring?" he asked, walking over to Dare and peeking over his shoulder at the full bag.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Everything," Dare replied. "We're here all night, so I've got the usual change of clothes, and a few other things." He paused in his digging and looked up from his bag to Michael. "How do you feel about a little party?" His nerves had gone through the roof the moment he'd walked into the dormitory, and sometime during his round of gift-giving he'd decided that if he was out, he may as well have fun with it. Dare pulled a small box out of his bag, gave Michael a look of teasing invitation, then moved to the couch, relaxing back onto it.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael raised his eyebrow but followed Dare, tucking one ankle under the other knee as he sat and looking down at the box. "What do you mean party?" he asked. And what did a party have to do with the little box? Michael was interested, if a little suspicious, and he glanced up at Dare's face. He knew how Dare was, but that didn't help him get any ideas on what his plans could be.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Hot sex, lots of it," Dare said, laughter evident in his voice as he opened the lid on the box. He pulled out a small blue glass bottle with a tall, thin lid and set it in front of him on the edge of the coffee table. Then he pulled out green, purple, red, black, and white, setting them in a crooked line before setting the box at the end. "What color do you want your nails?" he asked, looking back at Michael with a grin.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes widened slightly at the question. Dare couldn't be serious. But yes, yes he was, Michael could see it in his eyes. He broke into a smile, "You're not painting my nails," he said, laughing lightly. He had the feeling that he didn't have much choice in the matter, and that no matter what he said his nails were not going to be the pale pink they currently were by the end of the night.