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Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 1755
promises painted on his skin
James watched the sunset from his porch, his hand curled around a tumbler of whisky. He only allowed himself a single tumbler per night, less it become too much of a crutch, but it helped to take the edge off.
With the war cutting a devastating pattern through the British Isles, James knew that he didn't have much to complain about.
So he was a little lonely sometimes.
When he thought about what others were going through, their families dropping like flies, their bodies injured beyond repair, their homes torched to the ground… when he thought about them, it made him feel guilty.
It didn't make him less lonely. The loneliness simply made room for the guilt like the world's worst bed partners.
As darkness fell, his lights came on automatically, a handy charm Lily had taught him when she helped him decorate his cottage. Once upon a time, he'd hoped to share his home with her, but that was before the words came and they weren't hers.
He'd known they wouldn't be. His own arms had been blank when he turned seventeen, but Lily's had been littered with words, her soulmate—Marlene McKinnon—having turned seventeen only weeks before.
James didn't get his words for another year, and when he did, he'd been left desolate and despairing—because his soulmate was on the opposite side of a war James felt like he had to fight in, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Now, months later, there was only one line of words not his own still left on his skin, and it was on his thigh, somewhere unlikely to be discovered unless either of them were already in some kind of trouble.
We can't be together. If they found out, I'd be killed. You'd be killed.
James brushed his fingers over his left thigh where he knew the words were. On his other thigh was his address, followed by the words, I'll be here. I'll be waiting for you. If you come here, you'll find me. I promise.
It had been the most he'd been able to offer, the most that would be accepted, and he refused to let the words fade, renewing the charm that kept them stark on his skin every few days.
He knew the same must be happening on the other end too, because the words on his left leg never even faded.
It was a small sign of hope. Almost miniscule really, but it was what James had to hold onto, and he kept it because it was there.
It was his.
He sipped at his whisky slowly, savouring the taste at the mild burn when it slid down his throat.
When his glass was finally empty, he rolled it between his two hands for a moment and then sighed, standing up. With nothing else to do with his night, he may as well settle into bed with a book and hope sleep came to him at some point.
…
He was just drifting off when the first knock sounded.
War had made it so that the slightest noise could wake him, and his wand was in his hand before he'd even fully opened his eyes. He stilled in the bed and waited until a second knock sounded.
Summoning a jumper, he pulled it on as he walked cautiously down the stairs, testing his wards. They didn't seem to think that the knocker was a threat to him, but threats weren't always visible these days.
Wand at the ready, pointing out in front of him, James spelled the door to swing open.
He wasn't expecting to find Regulus standing there, drowning in a robe that seemed to swallow him whole, a lost look on his face.
James frowned but waved him in, waiting for him to pass into the living room before he stepped up to the open doorway, checking the street both ways, just in case there was anybody watching.
He closed the door and added extra wards, just to be safe, before he took a deep breath before he followed Regulus' path into the living room. He found the younger man standing by the fire, his head down, his hands twisting together.
"What are you doing here, Regulus?" he asked, his voice soft.
"You said… you said I could come," Regulus said, and his hand drifted across his right thigh, exactly where James had written his promise. "You said—"
"I know what I said," James replied. "I'm glad you're here."
Regulus nodded. "If they find me here—"
"They won't."
"But—"
"If they do, I'll protect you," James said, taking a step closer. "You'll be safe here."
"I… yeah. Thanks, James."
Hearing his name falling from those plush lips was almost James' undoing but he kept control of himself. Spooking Regulus now wouldn't do anyone any good, and Sirius would kill him to boot.
"You can stay as long as you want."
"You don't know me," Regulus pointed out. "Why would you—"
"I might not know you," James interrupted, "but that doesn't mean you're not mine. If you want to be."
Regulus bit his bottom lip and nodded. "Okay."
James smiled slightly. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat, or get you a drink or something?"
"I'm okay, just… tired."
"Bed, then," James replied. He gestured for Regulus to follow him, and led the way up the stairs to the small landing. "My room is through that door," he pointed to one door. Pointing to the second, he said, "bathroom," and then finally the third, "and that's the spare room. It has a bed freshly made up. It's completely up to you where you want to sleep."
Regulus nodded, glancing at James' door. "Thanks."
James returned the nod and then hesitantly reached out to squeeze Regulus' hand. "I'm glad you're here."
He returned a hesitant smile. "Me too."
…
James lay in his bed, listening to the water run in the bathroom. He was on tenterhooks, waiting for Regulus' decision on where he'd sleep. James wouldn't blame him for it if he stayed in the spare room.
He hadn't been wrong when he said that James didn't know him. Not really, anyway. There was a solid feeling in his chest though, that told him that wasn't wholly true.
Regulus was his soulmate, and something deep inside did know the younger man.
The door twitched and then opened, Regulus slipping inside before he closed it again with a soft click. James smiled at him welcomingly, and shifted slightly on the bed to leave a little more room for Regulus.
When Regulus climbed beneath the sheets, James felt an almost primal desire to scoop him into his arms and hold him close, never letting him move away again, but he didn't.
"You can touch me, you know," Regulus said eventually, turning on his side with his head pillowed by his hands. "I won't turn to ash if you do."
James chuckled softly. "I… am terrified of scaring you away."
"You won't," Regulus replied. "I knew what I was doing when I came here. I'm not… like them. I don't like torturing people, I don't like senseless murder. I don't like who I have to be when I'm there."
James reached out beneath the covers and gripped at Regulus' hip carefully, pulling him closer. "Then stay right here with me, and we'll forget the rest of the world together."
"I don't think that's how war works, James."
"It does tonight."
…
James thought about spelling his hair into something that resembled a style and then wrinkled his nose delicately. There was no point trying to impress Regulus with styled hair; his hair was a messy disaster and if Regulus was going to be around for a while, he'd have to get used to it.
He wandered downstairs and then paused at the door when he found Sirius sitting in the living room, facing his brother. Neither of them were talking and James wasn't sure what he was actually walking into.
The contrast between the brothers had never been so obvious. Sirius was practically vibrating with hidden energy, while Regulus was almost frozen still, watching Sirius with wary eyes.
"Hey," James said, breaking the tension a little as he entered the room. He purposefully leant over the back of the sofa to ruffle Regulus' hair as he shot Sirius a warning look overhead. "What's with the metallic jacket?"
"Remus wanted to see me in something other than leather," Sirius replied, shrugging. "He's regretting that decision now, of course."
"Of course," James agreed. "You want coffee?"
Sirius nodded, and James nudged Regulus' shoulder. "Come help me in the kitchen?"
Regulus looked up at him and then stood up, practically hightailing it for all he walked at a normal pace. James arched an eyebrow at Sirius.
"Behave," he murmured before he followed his soulmate.
"You okay?" he asked, as he spelled the kettle on and got three cups from the cupboard.
Regulus nodded silently and then grimaced. "I guess. I just… I don't want him to be mad at me. I know I messed up but… I'm trying to fix it."
"Hey," James murmured, reaching out to cup Regulus' cheek. "The worst he's going to do is shout for a while. He'll run out of puff eventually, and you know Sirius. His bark is worse than his bite."
Regulus chuckled.
"I heard that," Sirius said from the doorway, glowering at James.
"Thought you might have," James agreed. "Stop being an asshole and welcome your little brother home."
Sirius looked between them for a moment before his eyes settled on Regulus. "You're serious about this?"
Regulus looked at James and then nodded. "Yeah. I am."
Narrowing his eyes, Sirius didn't answer for a moment, and then, just as James was preparing to throw a tea towel at him, he nodded.
"Kay. Welcome home, Reggie."
James reached out and squeezed Regulus' hand.
…
"Reg! What were you doing?"
"Doodling," Regulus replied innocently. "Why?"
James stared at him and then cracked up laughing. "On your face?"
"And yours," Reg agreed, grinning widely.
"You and Sirius aren't allowed to spend time together anymore," James complained, rolling his eyes as he stepped closer. "Everyone in the Order meeting was laughing and I didn't have a clue why until Remus conjured a mirror."
Regulus snorted, and then pulled James down by his shirt for a kiss. "I was bored."
"Well," James murmured, so close their lips brushed as he spoke. "Let's see if we can remedy that, shall we?"
Written for:
Bromance to Romance: 2. Plot Point: Running away to stay with the other
Book Club: Grendel: nighttime / Regulus Black / lonely
Lizzy's Loft: 16. Guilt
Liza Loves: 19. Soulmates
Angel's Archive: 8. Contrast
Forecast: 3. Messy
Geek Pride: Final Fantasy - Prompt 2: Dialogue: "I'll be here. I'll be waiting for you. If you come here, you'll find me. I promise."
Founder's Says: Helga Says: 7. Stay right here with me, and we'll forget the rest of the world together.
Brand Wars: Winter Soldier: "You don't know me." / Metallic / Regulus Black
365: 179. Regulus Black
Fantastic Beasts: 182. Thestral: Regulus Black