Word Count: 824


Lucius can't help but look over his shoulder like someone might be there. Of course no one is. The pumpkin patch may be fairly open to anyone who wanders by, but the sun is setting, and most students have retreated into their common rooms or the library. Despite the publicness of the place, it's still amazingly private.

"Lucius?"

He'd been expecting Rodolphus of course. Why else would he be out here when he has studying to do. Even so, his lover's voice catches him off guard, and he gasps, jumping slightly. Lucius turns, eyes narrowed. "Don't do that!"

Rodolphus snorts, an amused grin playing at his lips. "Merlin, you're delicate. Didn't mean to startle you, princess."

Lucius growls, fingers curling inward and transforming his hands into fists. Sometimes he doesn't know if he wants to make Rodolphus breathless by kissing him or choking him. So far, he's always opted for the former.

Rodolphus' expression changes. The lightness and carefree curl of his lips fades, replaced by something pained, something that makes Lucius' heart ache in sympathy. "Father has contacted Cygnus Black," he says.

And just like that, Lucius' heart sinks to his stomach. If he were a weaker man, a man unworthy of the Malfoy name, he might cry. As it happens, Malfoys do not show weakness, and he stands there, stoic and statuesque. It doesn't matter that it feels like his world is ending. He will stand tall and proud. "I see. What do you want from me? Do you want my approval? My blessing?" he asks coldly.

Rodolphus flinches as though Lucius has physically struck him. "N-no. Nothing like that," he mutters. "I just… I don't want to marry Bellatrix."

Lucius understands that. His own father has begun searching for Lucius' future bride, though that won't happen for another few years. His father insists that starting early ensures the best candidates for the continuation of their bloodline. He doesn't want to do it. There's a part of him that almost envies those of lesser blood statuses, those who can love whomever they choose. Lucius wonders what it would be like to marry someone out of love rather than duty.

He could find out. He and Rodolphus could run away and start a life together. If he's honest, Lucius has fantasized about it more than he will ever admit.

In the end, that's all it is. A fantasy. It is a luxury that not even all his family's gold can afford. As much as it hurts, Lucius has come to terms with it.

"You have to," Lucius says with a heavy sigh.

He cannot let his emotions control him. If he does, he might do something reckless; he might actually defy his family and generations of tradition for the sake of his own happiness. As nice as it would be, Lucius cannot do that. He has to be the good son, the one who follows orders and does what his father says without question. This is what it means to be a pure-blood, to be a Malfoy. No amount of wishing can ever change that.

"But what if we don't?"

Lucius swallows dryly. This sort of talk is dangerous. Rodolphus is guided by his emotions now. He isn't think logically, and Lucius should shut him up before it goes too far.

But he doesn't. Instead, Lucius fans the flames. "What do you mean?"

"You have gold. I have gold. We could… We could start a new life somewhere, Lu," Rodolphus whispers.

Lucius sighs. Rodolphus really is too soft for someone like Bellatrix. She'd eat him alive without even a shred of remorse. Lucius doesn't want that for him, but what choice does he have? Can he really go against his father?

"We'd be disowned," Lucius says.

Rodolphus closes the distance between them, taking Lucius by the hands. "I don't care," he says. "I don't care about anything else if it means I can have you by my side."

Lucius has let this go on long enough. He needs to stop it, to put his foot down. But he doesn't. He doesn't know if it's because he can't, or because he doesn't want to.

Rodolphus captures his lips in a rough kiss. This is all Lucius wants, all he's ever wanted. Is it worth it to throw this all away just to make his father happy? Lucius isn't so sure anymore.

"Our families would kill us," he mumbles.

"Probably," Rodolphus confirms, sighing heavily. "I don't really care."

How can Rodolphus sound so nonchalant about the whole thing? Lucius is almost jealous. "I… Maybe," he says. "I don't want to give you false hope, Rod."

Rodolphus chuckles. "Maybe," he echoes, shrugging. "I can live with that."

Lucius doesn't know what will happen in the end, whether his heart or head will win. For now, he won't stress himself out over it. For now, he has Rodolphus, and they don't have to say goodbye just yet.