Pushing Buttons || Rodolphus & Theo

[VIVIAN HOPE BLACKWELL]

News that Vivian Blackwell and Theodore Nott had shagged in the Slytherin changing rooms spread faster than Vivian could have imagined. By the time they made it back to the common room that night the whole house knew, and by breakfast, the whole school. Of course, everyone already thought that Vivian was a slag, and it was no secret that Theo slept with his fair share of girls, so really it shouldn't have caused quite the stir that it did. But this was Vivian and Theo. The pair of them had been joined at the hip for years. Until a few weeks ago, when a rift appeared between them... that had been the source of a lot of gossip, too. And then Vivian started allegedly sleeping around, and then it seemed like Rodolphus Lestrange had gotten his claws into her... and now she was shagging Theo? Practically in public? Well, you couldn't really expect the student body to pass over something that intriguing , could you?

And then Vivian and Theo were joined at the hip again, like things used to be... except now it was different. The pair of them kissed when they could find each other between classes, spent frees and lunch breaks lying by the lake, and sometimes passed evenings in the Slytherin common room entwined in the same arm chair, away from everyone else, talking quietly and laughing together. Vivian refused to hold Theo's hand as they walked around, like she couldn't get anywhere on her own ("I'm not a toddler!") but apart from that... Vivian Blackwell and Theodore Nott were clearly a couple.

Vivian gave cold, terrifying looks to any girls who dared fawn over Theo now, and Theo had made it clear that any of the boys who had been thinking about taking a shot at Vivian should rethink things pretty swiftly, if they wanted to keep all their teeth. Only one boy seemed not to listen, and even he was being discrete; surprisingly discrete, actually. Rodolphus Lestrange had never been one to bother hiding his actions before.

But ever since he had caught them in the changing rooms, and Theo had clocked him one, Rodolphus was determined to have Vivian. Maybe it was just because she was Theo's, maybe it was that glimpse of her he'd caught before she'd managed to cover herself, or maybe it was just like everyone said; Lestrange was deranged. Vivian didn't know, she didn't care, but he was starting to get to her.

Lestrange was cornering her at every possible opportunity, flirting with her, making comments... and just the other day he had found her alone in a hidden corridor, taking a short cut, and not until she shoved him hard against the wall did she manage to get away. She hated his comments, hated the feel of his eyes on her, like he knew exactly what was beneath her clothes; and he did know, at least had some idea from his glimpse, and there was nothing Vivian could do to stop him mentally undressing her. Of course, she told Theo what was going on, although he wasn't happy about it. But she wasn't going to keep it from him. Why would she? To protect Lestrange? Besides, once Lestrange got Theo at Quidditch practice, she didn't think it would take long before one or both of them snapped.

[RODOLPHUS ROBERT LESTRANGE]

Rodolphus walked into the changing rooms for the first Quidditch practice since he had caught Theodore Nott with Vivian, smiling. This was going to be a good one. Nott had sucker punched him, like some dirty muggle, and since then Rod had been determined to pay him back. Not only that, but he had been determined to take Vivian from him. He didn't want a relationship with the girl, but he did want to shag her. He'd put in enough time already, after all. He wasn't going to give up reaping the benefits just because she was with someone else.

Because apparently she was with Theo now. Actually, properly with him. It hadn't just been a sex thing. Well, Rodolphus didn't care about that. If anything it just made things more of a challenge. And that just made them more interesting.

He had cornered Vivian as often as possible over the past week, determined to wear her down, to seduce her. He was going to make her want him- he wasn't going to force himself on the girl. But so far she'd proved resistant. When he'd tried to kiss her in that hidden corridor she'd shoved him so hard he'd hit the wall behind him. But he wasn't going to give in that easily. If nothing else, he knew it would annoy the shit out of Theo.

Rod made sure to smirk at Theo when he saw him. And then the team were ready, and practice began.

He started by making Theo do the grunt work; bringing out the trunk with the balls, getting some towels, fetching his water bottle. Then he made the team fly laps, but said Theo's were sloppy. Do them again. Then he thought that the beaters could do with a little extra challenge; get the two spare bludgers, throw those into the mix too. What's the matter, Nott, scared of getting hit? Rodolphus made the other beater do laps while Theo handled the bludgers on his own for a while. Theo got hit a lot then, even got knocked off his broom at one point.

Well, if you can't stay on your broom Nott, stay down there and run some laps. Five times around the pitch. If he liked acting like a muggle so much, he could run laps like a muggle. What, done already? I didn't see. Five more. Unless, of course, you can't? Nott was stubborn as a mule, it was too easy to get him to do what he wanted without making a peep. None of the rest of the team commented on how hard Rodolphus was riding Theo. They knew how things were run. This team wasn't a democracy. Rodolphus got results. They'd win every match, if it wasn't for Potter catching the snitch practically every damn game. In fact, the only time Rod gave Theo a respite was when he was focusing on training up their seeker. He wasn't going to let his team suffer, just for the sake of Nott. But Theo wasn't dumb enough to slack when Rod's attention was elsewhere. If he had Rodolphus would have jumped on the opportunity to make him work twice as hard.

When practice was finally over, Rodolphus and the rest of the team headed back to the changing rooms... except for Theo. Rod gave Theo the job of rounding up all the balls (with the exception of the snitch) by himself. The four bludgers should prove particularly tricky. The two that weren't regularly used were a bit wild. Those had been the ones that gave Theo the most bruises. Rod took his time in the changing rooms, and so was still there long after the rest of the team had left, when Nott finally made his way back in, carrying (or rather, half dragging) the crate of balls.

"What's the matter, Nott?" Rod said, an eyebrow raised. "Tired?" he chuckled, standing shirtless by his locker, shoving his pads inside.

"So," he said, like it was normal, locker room talk, "Vivian, eh? Finally got a taste of the action. Took you long enough, mate, we were all starting to wonder if you were man enough..." he glanced at Theo, an eyebrow raised, smirking. "She's nice, hmm? I mean, you think that face is as good as it gets, and then..." he let out a low whistle. He chatted on, like everything was great, just mates talking about some dumb girl... "She looks like a screamer, once you really get her going. Get the ice queen good and hot. And hey, a natural blonde," he looked again at Theo, the same smirk plastered on his face, "that's always good, right?"

[THEODORE JACOB NOTT]

It had been a few days but Theo knew he couldn't escape it. It was the first Quidditch practice since Lestrange had caught he and Vivian in the changing room, and Theo knew that Rodolphus would keep good on his unspoken promise to make Theo's life a living hell. Whether it was for being able to shag Vivian before he could or because he punched him in the face he wasn't entirely sure. He suspected it to be a little bit of both. But what he was in for he was pretty much completely unaware of. He knew Rodolphus would push him, but how hard he simply wasn't sure.

But then practice began and Theo was well aware from the beginning that this was going to be pretty shit. First he was forced to carry out the case of equipment, which he didn't really care about. Rodolphus was trying to make a statement of some kind, but Theo didn't let that bother him. Someone had to do it, and if it was him so be it. Whatever Rodolphus' punishment was for him he wasn't worried about - what he was doing to Vivian on the other hand, got under Theo's skin like there was no tomorrow. And, to be quite honest, he'd been itching for this practice to arrive since that day in hopes of getting Rodolphus alone to give him a piece of his mind, and possibly another piece of his fist if need be. His blood boiled at the very thought of Rodolphus anywhere near Vivian, let alone trying to kiss her. But he pushed those thoughts to the back of his head for now. Right now he needed to concentrate on getting through what was sure to be the worst Quidditch practice of his life alive.

And as soon as practice began the shit really seemed to hit the fan. They started off by flying laps, which was fine. But, naturally his were sloppy and he'd need to do them again. That was fine, too, considering flying itself didn't actually take much out of Theo. He actually found flying just to fly rather enjoyable. It was when they actually started doing work that things got worse. Extra bludgers were thrown into the mix, and Rodolphus sent his other beater to fly laps while he took care of them all on his own. His blood started to boil, and he was infuriated that Rodolphus would abuse his power like he was. But Theo said not a word as he was struck time after time after time in the chest, shoulder, and back. On particularly nasty hit had even sent him sailing off his broom. While he was bruised and battered and vehemently angry, he was still thankful he hadn't broken anything. He wondered what Rodolphus would do if he threw the next game, claiming he was 'so exhausted' from practice. The thought was tempting, but he knew he'd never go through with it. He'd not give Rodolphus that kind of satisfaction.

And after he'd hit the ground Rodolphus was still shouting out orders for him to run laps. Five times. Around the pitch. He inhaled angrily through his nose, but complied, and by the end of it, because he put his all into everything he did and running was no exception, his legs felt like they were on fire. But then Rodolphus claimed he didn't see, and that he had to do five more.

Theo wanted to strangle Rodolphus Lestrange, whether it be with hands or wands he didn't really care. He narrowed his eyes at Rodolphus, who was so safely perched on his broom up at the rings. Ass. But he ran the extra five, his legs just about ready to give out from under him when he was finally done. Thank Merlin for brooms. He staggered back to his broom and headed up into the air again, when it felt like he could finally catch some small kind of break. Rodolphus was busy working with their new seeker, but he knew enough to slack off. While it was a lot easier handling the bludgers with the other beater around, he knew that he couldn't let his effort-level down.

But oh the temptation he felt just to send a bludger nice and hard right at the back of Rodlphus head. He grinned at the thought before deciding that he was angry, not suicidal, and sent a bludger flying in the other direction. Rodolphus was already making his life a living hell, he didn't need to provoke him any further on the field.

When practice finally came to a close sore wasn't even close to the word of what Theodore Nott was. His body ached in places he didn't even know could ache, and as he wrestled the bloody bludgers and extra bludgers back into their cases he vowed to try his damndest not to know that Rodolphus had indeed run him into the ground. He felt like if he closed his eyes he might never wake up, or, at the very least he'd not open them for a week. Pure exhaustion took over him as he dragged the crate back inside, the work that Rodolphus had done seemingly obvious. He'd carried the crates out after all, and now he was dragging it, his other arm free with his beater bat.

He was the last one into the changing room, but somehow it didn't surprise him that Rodolphus was still there, waiting for him, itching to see his own job well done. He tore off his soak sweat shirt, almost unwilling to examine the bruises that he had, but, he knew he had to, save for the ones on his back. His side seemed to have the worst of it, a giant bruise from his hip bone just about to his rib cage. He couldn't remember if it came from the bludger that knocked him off his broom, or actually falling off his broom, but he supposed that in the end it didn't really matter which. He heard Lestrange chuckle and he gritted his teeth, biting back several comments that he was just dying to use.

"Tired, but still alive," he said, grinning up at Rodolphus and chuckling himself, as if they were just two people joking after practice, not both seeking terrible types of revenge. He'd not give Rodolphus the satisfaction of seeing him entirely exhausted.


But then he started speaking about Vivian, and Theo froze in place. He'd just taken off his Quidditch boots so all he was really clad in was his Quidditch pants. He froze, his blood icy and hot all at the same time. Rodolphus didn't deserve to even say her name, let alone say some of the things that were coming out of his mouth. He spoke of Theo not being man enough, which Theo thought was laughable. And he could have stopped there... he should have stopped there because the next words out of Rodolphus Lestrange's mouth drove Theodore Nott absolutely mad. He stood up from his place on his bench and stormed over to Rodolphus, his wand in his hand and he shoved Rodolphus hard against his locker, holding his wand to whatever part of Rodolphus he could manage, which happened to be his stomach, to make sure his threat was crystal clear.

"You can do whatever the fuck you want to me, but stay away from Vivian or I swear you'll regret it if it's the last thing I do," he said angrily, his brown eyes narrowed hard at the man who he just wished would simply go away and never come back. He looked at him for a moment before shoving him against his locker again and returning to his things.

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[RODOLPHUS ROBERT LESTRANGE]

Rodolphus had been looking for a rise out of Theo, trying to provoke him, to get some sign that he had gotten to him, and he wasn't disappointed. The bruises Nott was covered in were satisfying enough, but Rod wanted to push him even further. And it was all too easy. It was obvious what Theo's button was; Vivian.

Rod barely even had to say anything when Theo was storming towards him. At least this time he had a wand in hand. Rodolphus didn't bother going for his own wand, and let Theo push him up against his locker. Rod was taller than Nott, and looked down at him smirking. He could feel Theo's wand pressing hard into his stomach, but he knew he wouldn't actually do anything. Rodolphus was just going to enjoy watching the fruits of his torment up close, playing out on Theo's face.

Nott threatened him, and Rod's smirk grew wider. Like Theodore Nott could ever get the better of him in a duel. It was an empty threat, Rod knew it. There was nothing Theo could do, no matter how angry he got. He couldn't make Rod do anything. That was the beauty of it.

He let out a slight laugh as Theo went back to his bench.
"I'm shaking," he said, still smirking. He sat down on the bench by his locker, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, staring at Theo. "If you're going to make every guy who wants your sweet little Vivian 'regret it', you're going to have a full time job. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. You've seen how she struts about, the pretty little Veela. She's asking for it." He paused, wanting his next words to really hit home. "At least, she certainly was when I was with her."

That was a lie, but it fell easily from Rod's lips. Silently, Rod slid his wand out of his bag, holding it casually in his hand, twirling it slightly, although he would be ready for any attack in seconds.
"If you wanted a girl all to yourself, you shouldn't have picked such a slut."

[THEODORE JACOB NOTT]

Rodolphus didnt seem threatened in the slightest by Theo, not that that surprised Theo in the slightest. Of course Rodolphus was going to act like a prick. Because he was a prick. Theo narrowed his eyes as Rodolphus said he was shaking. He probably thought Theo was joking, that he was just having a go of it. He didn't know who he was dealing with. Rodolphus Lestrange was confident and good at magic, but he wasn't invincible, and he certainly wasn't without error or fault. But he would let him think he was for now, and he continued to pack up his quidditch things inside his locker.

But then Rodolphus started running his mouth again and Theo clenched his jaw, listening as he spoke of Vivian like she was some kind cheap piece pf meat, like she was a whore. He narrowed his eyes, trying to ignore the words that Rodolphus was saying, knowing that Rod wanted Theo to cave into his words. He didn't want to give him that kind of satisfaction... but he knew that if Rod kept this up he would live to regret it. And then he said that Vivian was asking for it when she was with him, and Theo slammed his locker shut, glaring daggers at Rodolphus. His wand was in his hand.

"Maybe you didn't hear me the first time, Lestrange," he said, his voice loud, his absolute rage evident in his tone. But he just wouldn't stop, would he? Theo said nothing as he stared at Rodolphus, sitting there, twirling his wand. On the inside he was fuming, and he wanted nothing more than to cruciatis the little prick all the way to his death bed,but as he stared at Rodolphus, he realized felt some of his anger dissipate. It was replaced with a twisted kind of pity.

"You're pathetic, Lestrange," he said, trying his damndest to keep his temper in check. But he meant it. If the greatest joy in Rodolphus Lestrange's life was making fun of he and Vivian's relationship, and demeaning the girl he wishes he could have slept with, then Theo felt sorry for him. Because that was pathetic. "Why don't you stop wasting your time like some jealous first year, and go find a girl who actually will shag you? Because I'm sure as hell Vivian never did."

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[RODOLPHUS ROBERT LESTRANGE]

Rodolphus watched as each of his carefully chosen words hit Theo like a well aimed punch. This was so much better, and so much more satisfying, than if he and Theo had just fought it out. They could duel, go a few rounds, inflicting as much damage on the other as possible, and then walk away. That was how things should be settled. But Rodolphus didn't want settled. He wanted to draw it out. He had tortured Theo on the pitch today, and now he was torturing him with his words.

He could only imagine the sickening feeling Theodore Nott felt as he thought of Vivian being with anyone else but him. Rod wanted to prey on that feeling.

Rod derived a sick sense of pleasure from causing Theo this kind of pain. The realisation was a new one, although not entirely a surprise to him. But this wasn't real torture. What had happened to him as a kid, what had happened to his parents, that was torture. Rodolphus didn't feel the tiniest bit of remorse for toying with Theo as he was, and enjoying it. This was nothing. Rod had seen real pain. Theo didn't know what that was.

Then Theo turned to him and called him 'pathetic', and Rodolphus watched in amusement as Theo tried desperately to grab a foothold, to get one up on him. He said that he was sure as hell Vivian had never slept with him, and Rod felt a slight smile creep across his face. Of course, Vivian would have been sure to set things straight with Theo. She would have told him the rumours weren't true. But it clearly still bothered Theo that so many people thought that they were.

Rodolphus knew that what would hurt Theo most was the truth. Theo said that Rod was jealous, but that wasn't true; Rodolphus Lestrange had never known true jealousy in his life. But Theodore Nott had. Rod had seen it in his eyes at the party, when Vivian had been his. He had pulled her away from Theo and he had kissed her, and he had known that it was killing Theo. Rod wanted to torture him with that white hot, sickening feeling.

"You're right," he said, still smirking slightly, his eyes not leaving Theo. He stopped twirling his wand, and instead held it steady, pointing at nothing in particular. "I never had sex with Vivian." Rod paused for a moment, watching Theo watching him. That was the truth, pure and simple. Theo knew that. And Rod watched the realisation fill Theo's eyes, the realisation that Rod was telling him the truth, that he'd believe everything that came next, whether he wanted to or not. Because he'd know now it was true. "But I got close."

He couldn't have stopped there even if he'd wanted to. It was too deliciously tempting to paint a picture of him and Vivian, knowing what it would do to Theo. He felt simultaneously sick and satisfied with his cruelty.
"I had her in my bed. I felt every inch of her. She kissed me like she needed me." His voice was low now, and he couldn't wipe the smirk off his face as he remembered. Maybe Vivian hadn't wanted him, but he had wanted her. She had known that, and she had fed his wants. "She didn't ask for it," Rodolphus said, admitting to his previous lie, prefacing what he said next with another truth to force Theo to believe it, knowing how it would twist the knife. "But there were moments when she wanted to."

Rodolphus didn't know what Vivian had been looking for when she was with him. He hadn't asked, he hadn't cared, he hadn't tried to understand. Now though he wondered. He wondered if Theo knew. He wondered if his understanding would make Rod's words hurt him more. Did he know why Vivian had sought him out? Did he know why there were moments when she lost herself just a little bit? Rodolphus thought that he did. Because when he had briefly turned his mind to why Vivian Blackwell was suddenly so accommodating, his instincts told him that it was something he himself was familiar with; she was looking for an escape.

ooc ; me at the start of this post, "I hope this ends up long enough..." me at the end, "never mind..."
also, Rod is such a sick little puppy

[THEODORE JACOB NOTT]

He saw that his words had no effect on Rodolphus and he only became more irritated. How was it that he was so prone to insult? So prone to feeling anything at all? What kind of sick, twisted pleasure did he get out of causing others pain? What kind of joy did it bring him? He narrowed his eyes at him, only becoming all the more infuriated as all attempts to get under Rodolphus Lestrange's skin failed. And then it felt as if he had turned on a dime, and all of a sudden Rodolphus wanted to be best friends. Theo was wary and his eyes remained narrowed at the man, waiting for whatever it was he was going to say. At first he admitted that Theo was right, which caused Theo to raise a brow but not to let down his guard.

He listened as Rodolphus paused, seemingly intentionally, knowing that Theo was hanging on his every word. Theo didn't like this, he didn't like it one bit, and yet he couldn't stop waiting on his every word. He had to hear what Rodolphus was going to say next, even though he got the sinking feeling that whatever it was Rodolphus was about to say was bad. Part of him didn't want to know what he had to say, but he'd come this far and it was too late to turn back now. Part of him wanted whatever it was to be over and done with.

"Well get on with it," he sighed out, rolling his eyes. He didn't want this to take any longer than it had to, but he knew Rodolphus was cruel and calculating and knew just what to say and exactly when to say it. He'd always been that way, there was no reason fro him to change now.

But then he started speaking again and Theo felt his heart sink as he spoke of having Vivian in his bed, how he touched every inch of her. The visualization made Theo sick to his stomach and in that instant he knew that was exactly what Rodolphus wanted. He wanted to make Theo sick, make him disgusted, make him hurt... and it worked. But his final words were the nail in the coffin. There were moments when she wanted to...

The thought of Theo being with anyone but him, especially in that way, made him... angry, frustrated and sick all at the same time. He stared at Rodolphus, and he knew as he stared at him that he had won. Maybe not forever, but he'd certainly won this round, and that was what made Theo angriest of all. He gave into Rodolphus' little game, and he let Rodolphus win.

"Go to hell, Lestrange," The said, narrowing his eyes and pausing. "You're a prick," he spat the words out as if they'd tasted awful. He slammed his locker shut, picked up his things, and left without another word. Rodolphus knew he'd won, Theo wasn't about to stand around and let him gloat.

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[RODOLPHUS ROBERT LESTRANGE]

It was so easy, there was almost no pleasure in it. Well, no, that wasn't true. Rodolphus Lestrange took great pleasure in watching Theo's face as he took his words in. He was sure that Nott would be regretting hitting him now. He had acted rashly, and was hot headed. Rod took his time, and was smart about his approach. Unless Theo wanted to quit the Quidditch team, there was nothing he could do to stop Rodolphus torturing him every practice. And there was nothing he could do to make him leave Vivian alone, reminding him that he had been with her.

Vivian herself was worth continuing his efforts, but Theo's reaction to him today only made it doubly so. Of course, if Vivian continued not to budge an inch then Rod was sure he'd get bored eventually, but until then there was nothing to stop him having his fun. And if Nott wanted to get back on his good side he should take Rodolphus' tortures like a man, and not threaten him like a hot headed child. If he couldn't do that, Rod would just push him until he snapped.

Rodolphus watched Theo leave with a smirk on his face, before getting up and continuing to change, taking his time.