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Auction Prompt - JamesRegulus

Word Count - 543

Things It Was (Things It Could Never Be)

It was a secret.

"Sirius will kill you, you know?"

James nodded, biting his lip. "I know. But… I tried. So hard, I tried to stay away from you."

Regulus nipped at his jaw. "Don't try any more. What Sirius doesn't know won't hurt him."

It was stolen moments in dark corners.

James wrapped his arms around Regulus from behind, whispering "Shh" in his ear before Regulus could shout out in alarm. Pulling him under the invisibility cloak, James led Regulus into a darkened alcove.

"Being a prefect is handy," Regulus murmured against James' lips when he found himself backed up against the wall.

"Hmm. Being Headboy is even better. Instant excuse to be out after curfew."

Neither of them did much patrolling that night.

It was kisses that left them wanting more.

Regulus moaned into the kiss, as James' hands skimmed the waistband of his trousers. Pushing forward to he was pressed against James body, he pushed James hand down, showing clearly what he wanted.

James groaned in approval, but as he moved to follow Regulus' need, a sound in the distance made him freeze.

Footsteps were coming closer, and the soft murmurs of voices were getting louder.

James pulled away, a look of regret etched on his face.

"I'm sorry," James whispered. "Next time."

Regulus sighed but nodded. "Next time."

It was arguments with no end in sight.

"You don't have to join him!" James shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. "Let us protect you!"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "You're going to come out with me then? Tell my brother, your precious Lily, that we're together - that we've been together for months?"

The fight, as quickly as it had come to James, left. "If that's what it takes to save your life, then yeah. That's what I'll do."

Regulus shook his head. "I won't do that to my family. Not… I'm not Sirius. I'm not brave, or rebellious. I'm the good son. I won't let them down."

James pulled him close, burying his face in Regulus' hair. "You know we're going to have this argument again, right?"

Regulus pressed a kiss to his neck. "Of course we are. I just wish it could have a different ending."

It was wanting, wanting so much that it hurt.

Clothes were torn as they were stripped from bodies with hasty hands. Flesh was stroked, gripped nipped and licked.

Weeks. It had been weeks since they'd seen one another.

"I missed you," James gasped, pleasure rolling through him. "I missed you so much."

Regulus could only gasp and moan, but the way his hands held onto James' arms, he knew the younger man felt the same.

It was battles and healing.

"Hold still," James murmured, wiping away the dried blood.

Regulus did as he was told, wincing when James cleaned up a particularly vicious scratch.

"You weren't supposed to be there," James whispered, his voice pained.

"Would you tell the Dark Lord no?" Regulus retorted angrily.

James sighed. "I already have. I wish you had done the same."

It was pain.

James fought to keep himself together long enough to comfort his best friend, but inside he was breaking into tiny pieces.

Regulus was missing presumed dead.

And James' heart was with him.