The Prefects' Bathroom echoed with steam and sin.
White marble. Golden taps. And silence—broken only by the slosh of water as Severus Snape shoved the door open, robes damp, fingers twitching, burning with the weight of what had just happened in the library.
He needed to cool down. Drown it out. Purge the ghost of Lucius's scent from under his skin.
But fate, as always, was cruel.
Lucius was already there.
Shirtless. Leaning against the edge of the bath, silver hair loose around his shoulders, towel slung dangerously low.
Severus froze.
Lucius didn't turn.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," he said calmly, dipping fingers into the water like a serpent testing temperature.
"What are you doing here?" Snape spat.
Lucius finally looked at him. And that look—pure Alpha—sent heat right down Severus's spine.
"You followed my scent here, didn't you?" Lucius murmured. "You always do."
Severus's hands clenched into fists. "You're delusional."
"Then why haven't you walked out?"
Lucius stood slowly, water sliding down his chest, his scent thickening—commanding. The heat suppression rune Severus had drawn hours ago burned uselessly against his skin. He could feel it faltering.
Lucius was too close.
Again.
Always.
"I warned you," Severus whispered. "I told you not to push."
"I'm not pushing," Lucius said, voice dark silk. "I'm inviting."
And then—
Fire.
Lips crashing. Teeth clashing. Snape grabbed Lucius's wet hair and yanked. Lucius growled—growled—and pushed him against the cold marble, hands gripping like iron.
It was not gentle.
It was not sweet.
It was raw.
Snape bit his lip bloody, and Lucius licked the taste from his mouth like a spell. They kissed like enemies, like addicts, like boys trying to break each other open.
Clothes were ripped.
Water spilled.
The marble floor steamed from the heat they poured into the space between them.
"Still think I don't know what you want?" Lucius hissed into Severus's throat, licking the rune that tried to hide scent, now smudged and flickering. "You smell like need."
"I hate you," Severus gasped.
"I know," Lucius whispered. "That's why it's perfect."
And then Lucius bit him. Right over the fading rune. A claim. A brand.
And Severus broke.