Severus awoke to the sound of pain. For a moment, he struggled to orient himself, and then came awake fully. His body was stiff from the awkward position. He groaned as he straightened, but his only concern was for Regulus. A soft, wet sound escaped as Regulus rolled over and his healing body protested the movement. The sleep spell had worn off, leaving him the troubled, restless slumber of any injured man.

Softly, so as not to wake him, Severus ran long fingers across his chest. Where before there had been a dozen bloody slashes, now there was only the faint crisscross of healing tissue. He traced the line of each newly forming scar, mapping his guilt onto Regulus' smooth, perfect skin.

"Severus." The sound of his name startled him, and he looked up into bright eyes full of amusement. He pulled away, embarrassed to have been caught in his weakness. But Regulus caught his hand and held it, and he could not bring himself to pull away from that touch too. "Don't go."

And so they stayed, joined only by the touch of a hand, though they were only inches apart. Severus could not meet his gaze, and so he studied the floor, thinking of potions and healing remedies and a thousand other things that were not the feel of fingertips against bare skin.

"Please?"

He couldn't ignore the whispered plea, though he had nothing to offer. He looked up, and the intensity in those in-between eyes terrified him. Regulus tugged on his hand, pulling him downward, and Severus found himself obeying without thought. His hands found the soft yielding of smooth skin, and he watched the path of his fingers. The moment seemed fragile and unreal, like a dream easily shattered, and he focused intently on his hands lest it break apart around him. Regulus was watching him still, and it was too much to bear. He couldn't meet those eyes which held so much in their depths. There was so much that he didn't comprehend, or could not admit.

Then came the feel of soft hands in his hair, and he was lost. He closed his eyes, and there was only sensation. Severus made no conscious decision to surrender, for in that moment he was incapable of it. He let go and abandoned himself to the feel of another's touch.

*/*

The sun eased its way past the horizon and the shadows reached for things they could never hold. Slowly shifting patterns draped them in darkness, hiding them from one another. Severus was motionless, caught in the moment between light and shadow. He longed for the light, desperate that this day would not end, and their time together fade into memory.

The last rays of sunlight slipped from their bodies, and Severus was left in shadow once more, where he belonged.

Only now did Severus dare to look at his companion. With the fall of night, he could cloak himself in deceptions once more, and escape the unraveling of his defenses.

He tensed his muscles to move away, but Regulus caught him. One arm tightening across his shoulders to keep him in place.

"Stay."

And with that single word, everything between them changed.

"We're not boys any longer. You don't have to be ashamed."

"I... I'm not ashamed. I..."

"Then don't go."

Fear stuttered in his heart, and he could not move, torn between a million contrary impulses.

He wanted to run. To retreat into the safety of his own thoughts, his comfortable routines and carefully formed mannerisms, where his sharp tongue and clever criticisms kept him safely apart.

But somewhere, deep within, he wanted to stay.

In the end, Regulus made the decision for him. One gentle hand traced across his cheek. His lips. Then moved to his neck, and pulled him into a kiss.

Soft lips touched his own, and it was more magical than anything he had ever known. Every charm that had tingled across his skin. The pull of apparition sweeping him to another place. The ripple of transformation as potions shaped him into something new. Everything paled beside the magic of that one gentle kiss.

*/*

Severus came awake to the sound of an opening door. He staggered across the room and wrenched Regulus away from the door, sending him reeling as he tried to catch his balance.

"What are you doing?"

"Finding something to eat."

Severus struggled to control himself, but adrenaline flooded his system.

"What's wrong?" Regulus stared, wide eyed. "What is this place?"

"Nothing. Nowhere." He was babbling, and it only increased the concern on Regulus' face. Severus could see the wariness return and the muscles tense in readiness. He kept his next words as calm and reasonable as he could manage, under the circumstances. "You're injured- you need to rest. Stay, and I'll find food."

Regulus wasn't a fool, but he let the lie stand. "Okay," he agreed, still curious. But nevertheless, he put his trust in Severus blindly, without explanation. The realization unnerved Severus as much as the house lying in wait.

Outside the doorway, Severus listened, but it was late and the house was silent. He heard only the sigh of an old house settling ever deeper into its decay. No sound came from the room down the hall, and Regulus was hidden behind silencing spells. He told himself that the faster he found what he needed, the faster he could return to his wards, and forced himself to move. He crept down the hall, stepping carefully over the floorboards that creaked.

When he reached the open doorway, he heard the rough sound of snoring, and forced himself to keep his movements slow and quiet. The rhythm did not vary, and only when he was safely past the danger did he speed up his movements, covering the last dozen meters to the kitchen twice as quickly as the rest of the journey.

Dim moonlight filtered through the cheap curtains, lighting the tiny kitchen enough to pick out the shadowed shape of the electric stove and weathered table, exactly the same. He shook the nervous tension from his shoulders and went in. He would take only what Regulus needed, and be gone.

Severus frowned, hesitating over the lone can of beef broth in the pantry, but it was necessary. The sight of Wizarding money would only bring punishment, and he had nothing else to leave for her. When he returned, he would convert his knuts to muggle money, and send it to her with an apology.

He heard the creak of a floorboard and whirled, his wand in his hand and a spell on his lips. His mother stood in the doorway, wraithlike in her ratty white bathrobe, and his hand fell uselessly to his side. She was bleary eyed, half asleep, and she gaped at him. Then she whispered, "Severus," and came to him, her tattered muggle slippers slapping against the floorboards.

She was so tiny, he thought, as she wrapped her arms around him, and he so unyielding. Her head came only to his shoulder, and he was monstrous. She clung tightly to him, murmuring inanities into the fabric of his cloak.

He moved away as soon as she released him. "Mother. I..." In the dimness, he caught the reflection of tears on her cheeks, and looked away. "I'm sorry."

She wiped her face with one hand, frowning fiercely. He said nothing when she took the soup from his hands and turned away. With crisp, efficient movements, she clicked on the stovetop and heated it through, putting it on a tray with a few pieces of bread. When she pulled two chipped porcelain cups out of the cabinet, he stopped her before she could reach for the tea tin. "Please don't." His hands covered hers completely and she went still at his touch. "I'll be gone in the morning."

She sagged, and he could feel her trembling. She didn't look at him when she spoke, turned away so he couldn't see her face. "You don't have to go."

"No, I..." There was a desperate plea in her voice, but he could never stay here. She knew that; she must.

"Things have changed. It would be all right now. Please, I just..." She seized his hand, clinging to it as her voice cracked. "I just want to see my son. Things have been better, since..."

"Since I left." Her words had stopped abruptly, but he knew what must logically follow. He'd never been willing to hide his skills, and he was a constant reminder of the magic that flowed in their veins. He endangered them both. "I can't stay. I'm sorry, but I... You know it would start again."

She nodded, pressing one closed fist against her mouth. He trailed off, not wanting to hurt her more than he already had. His mother shook off his hands and picked up the battered tin, fixing him with an iron gaze. "Let me fix you tea, before you go."

He sighed, and relented. A moment, then the air grew thick and steam softened her, the slightest curl to soften the hard angles of her face. As she leaned over the pot, the scent of tea came to him and memories drifted to him through the hanging vapor. He'd watched her so many times, memorizing her face as she leaned in over the pot, eyes closed, and breathed in the spiced air. She'd been beautiful to him then, plainness chased away by rapture, and in those moments he loved her fiercely.

Severus cleared his throat and turned away, the spicy scent of bergamot making his throat tighten.

He reached for an extra glass, and she hesitated, their ritual disturbed. "Is there someone with you?"

He kept his voice casual, filling it from the tap. "They're injured, and I needed a place to take them for a bit." He shrugged, as if there were nothing unusual about his actions. "We'll be gone before morning, I promise."

He could see the thin lines at the corners of her eyes as she frowned, knowing what it must have taken to drive him here. But she could do nothing to protect him. "Of course." She poured the tea into two cups, placing them decisively onto the tray. "Anything you need."

He stared at her, speechless, but she took the glass of tap water and stared back, daring him to argue. He cleared his throat, but found nothing to say. He took the tray and fled from the dim kitchen, past the open doorway, and back to the safety of his wards. He could picture her, standing frozen in the kitchen, alone.

The door locked tightly behind him, and he willed away the image, leaning against the closed door.

"This is your home, isn't it?"

When he opened his eyes, Regulus was studying him, sitting cross-legged on the bed with his hair poking out wildly in every direction.

He opened his mouth to deny it, but his throat closed on the lie. Instead, he went to him, offering nourishment where he could not offer truth. Regulus made room for him on the bed, and Severus joined him, made shy by the ease with which Regulus let him in. Their knees brushed against each other as they moved, the bed too small to accommodate two adults. Severus studied him as they ate, memorizing the sight of smooth lips against chipped porcelain. Steadying himself, he told Regulus what had occurred: his use of the mark, their flight, and the consequences that would await them. Haltingly, he told of the memories forced from him, and the bread turned stale in his mouth.

"But that's perfect!" Regulus exclaimed, scattering crumbs as he spoke.

Severus stared, dumbfounded.

"Don't you see? If the Dark Lord knows we're together, no one will suspect anything when we're alone."

"You don't care that they know?"

Regulus leaned in to kiss him, and the taste of tea was on his lips. "I don't care if the whole world knows I love you. Especially if it means they don't think we're plotting. Think about it. When Lucius and Narcissa sneak off together before a mission, does anyone think they're up to something? This is perfect!"

His enthusiasm was infectious, and Severus grinned back stupidly, though he'd heard nothing since that one word. Love. It was surely a slip of the tongue, as Regulus was caught up in the excitement of considering the new possibilities offered to them. Though it must be a mistake, it reverberated through his soul.

Severus was still reeling from the impact of that one innocent word when dawn approached. Together, they apparated away, and he gladly left that dismal, dusty bedroom behind him, where it belonged.

A/N: A huge thank you to notwolf and muse35, who have been faithfully reviewing every chapter of Secret Carrier as they read, as well as to those who've commented along the way. Your feedback means so much to me. :D

Also, I will be going back to fix formatting on a few earlier chapters, now that I've figured out ffnet's quirks. My apologies if it means duplicate notifications to those who've subscribed, but it should be a one time thing.