Chapter 5
Regulus looks at James where’s he’s sat on the windowsill, leaning back against the cool morning air streaming into the dark room, he picks at the paint, watching him toss and turn, the sun shining onto his closed eyes.
Beautiful.
It had gone just about as well as it could go, understandably he just wanted to be friends, whatever that meant. Regulus hadn’t had a friend in years, well he did have one, but that hurt to think about, so he didn’t want to compare it.
He had to be acting, pretending he wasn’t a vampire, just a mere human, who eats, and sleeps and goes to the toilet. All of which he doesn’t do. Aside from sleep, but that wasn’t going to happen with James snoring in his ear.
He wasn’t sure how long this would last, he’d eventually expose himself in some way, scare him to death, he’d run, most likely. Humans always did. They were always talking about the supernatural, but if they were to come face to face with it, they’d quickly find it isn’t interesting, it’s terrifying.
Regulus begins to make him breakfast, putting a plate on the side of the sink, to say he had already eaten, if he were to ask. He boils some water on the stove and makes some tea from the nettles outside, stirring in some old honey he found, he hadn’t been here since 1994, but honey didn’t expire, right?
Probably not.
He listens to James yawning awake, groaning as he stretches, Regulus licks his lips at the sound of his husky voice calling for him.
”Here you go,” Regulus says as he walks back into the now fully lit room, placing the plate onto his lap. “I’ve eaten.”
James blinks his eyes open wider, yawning again and looking down at the food and tea. “Thank you.”
”My pleasure.”
He watches him eat, pretending to busy himself in the room, folding clothes and then skimming dust with his fingers.
”So… what’s the plan here?”
Regulus looks over his shoulder, “How do you mean?”
”We’re stuck inside?”
”No,” He replies, smiling softly at the empty plate. It had been decades since he had cooked for someone. “You can go and do as you please, there’s a small town nearby, although I’d rather stay with you.”
James’ mouth twists, his eyes narrowed. “There’s no way anyone can find us here?”
Of course there was always a chance. But cars are pretty good at hiding scents with their toxic fumes and speed. No one knew about this place other than Sirius and his Mother, both of which shouldn’t be a problem.
But of course, he wouldn’t let him go anywhere alone. Maybe the bathroom, but he was always listening, not intentionally of course.
”No, you’re safe here.”
”I’ll look after you too… if anyone does find you. I’ll look after you.” James whispers suddenly.
Regulus heart crushes in his chest, if he could blush he’d be as red as blood. It made zero logical sense, as James is a hundred times weaker than him, but it wasn’t the logistics, it was the thought behind it. He smiles as he turns away from him, biting his lip like a giddy school girl.
He’ll look after me?
“There’s a stream nearby, perhaps we could go and swim.” He suggests, humans were bored easily, like dogs, they need their daily walks and talks to stay sane.
James liked the idea, he was up and ready in minutes whilst Regulus cleaned the dishes, humming his way through the mundane task, it was relaxing, plus he liked the way the porcelain smelt.
“You packed me… awful clothes.” James groans, from the other room. “You didn’t even pack me a jacket.”
Oh yes. He forgot humans felt the seasons. The cold. The heat. He had just packed him shirts and trousers, a few pairs of underwear and socks, it was a little rushed but he had forgotten that.
”Sorry, was sort of in a rush.”
James comes out and exhales, gesturing to the sun outside. “Luckily it’s sunny, can we go then?”
”We may.”
He leads him through the forest, silently enjoying his curiosity, the way his fingers skim tree’s, picking up branches and tossing them around. Regulus feels his hand reach for his shoulder, he turns and looks up at his face.
”Can you tell me more about you?”
”Like what?”
They reach the small lake, standing before it, drenched in sun, it was the first warm day of the summer, the irony of it wasn’t lost on him.
James shrugs. “Everything?”
”May we both share?”
”A question for a question?” James smiles, repeating what he had said the first night they had met.
God take me back.
Just for you.
”Okay, deal.”
They sit on the lakes edge, stretched out and covered by the tree’s branches and leaves, shading them from the sun.
”Where are you from… you said France, but tell me about how you got here?”
Regulus closes his eyes, leaning back further. It was stupid knowledge. It didn’t change anything so he wasn’t sure why he wanted to know.
”I was born in Toulouse, my mother and father were… chemists. They moved to England so me and my brother could go to school here, which we did, in… the south.”
James furrows his brows. “Chemists?”
”Yeah.”
They were Witches. They made potions to kill people. They liked to curse people. Jesus. How could he possibly explain that?
”Right.”
Regulus smiles, knowing he can ask away now. Knowing anything about James was heaven. “Tell me about your education.”
James groans, lying back against the grass, his hand covering his eyes. “That’s boring.”
”Tell me anyway.”
“I studied English and history at college, didn’t go to university… failed miserably at getting in. Got a job at the school I used to go to… thanks to my dad who taught there up until a few years back.”
It was boring. Unfortunately. How could such a beautiful bright person live such a terribly dull life? Sure all Regulus did was eat and sleep, but he had an eternity to live, James didn’t.
”You’re lonely… no?”
It was obvious. In the month of knowing him he’d seen him talk to no one but the children at his school.
James tuts, clicking his tongue rudely. “Thanks, yeah… I am.”
”I didn’t mean it as insult.”
”Well it felt like one.” James whispers, looking away from him, a frown crowding his face.
Regulus’ stomach twists at the sight of him upset. He didn’t mean to offend him, it was only an observation. Fucking humans.
”I’m lonely too.” He tells him instead of apologising. “Sometimes I feel so alone… like I could disappear and no one would even notice.”
James moves his hand, sitting up and staring into his eyes, as if it was shocking someone might feel the same way to him. It was a different loneliness. His was eternal. James’ was just temporary. But still, he understood.
”I’d notice.”
Regulus feels the terrible urge to scorch his mouth with a hot kiss, to feel his skin on his, but they’re no longer that now, they’re friends.
So he can only offer a smile.
”Your turn.” He whispers.
”Do you have any friends?”
”No.”
James laughs. “Me either.”
”It isn’t funny,” He laughs as well though, he can’t help it. “It’s really sad, James. You should have friends.”
“I did used to in school, but everyone moved away, found their feet in new cities.”
”God James, when we can go back I’m taking you elsewhere.”
James grins. “Where?”
Regulus thinks deeply, narrowing his eyes at the lake. “Somewhere like… new york. A city full of life and unbearable beauty, expensive coffee and labels.”
”I’d go broke in a day.”
”I’d pay… I will quite literally set you up and leave you to it, if I must I will even hold your hand to cross the street.”
James snorts a laugh, toppling backwards as his laugh floats like honey into his ears. He had such a beautiful laugh.
”Where will you go, wise and knowing one?” He dares, raising his brow, his brown eyes look golden under the sunlight.
It was painful to look at him like this.
”To my cave.”
”Can’t join me?”
”No, you will meet a million people and you’ll forget me in an instant.”
James’ smile fades, he laughs with a straight face. “Unlikely.”
”Hm?”
”I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget you.”
Regulus’ fangs try to drop, he looks away quickly, swallowing until they stop aching to bite him. Whenever he was sweet Regulus wanted to devour him.
James must notice his odd behaviour, because he’s standing, he doesn’t look, but he hears him taking off his clothes, so of course then he has to look.
His muscles stretch as his top falls to floor, stepping out of his trousers.
“What are you-“
”I’m swimming, coming?”
Regulus frowns. Fuck.
“I can’t swim.”
”You’re joking?”
Vampires do not like water. Well… at least he didn’t.
”Do I look humoured?”
James snorts, showing his pearly teeth in a grin, “Come on, undress. We’ll paddle, and if you must I can definitely help you if you drown.”
He’d say no. Because he really does hate water. But watching him step in with a giddy laugh, all he can do is enviously stare at his body, wishing he was closer.
So he’s stripping too, leaving his boxers on as James has too, stepping in and clutching to his wrist.
”Don’t be scared,” James mocks him, but he doesn’t let go, he simply pulls Regulus closer to his body, until they’re deep in, the water at his neck. “Freezing isn’t it?”
He couldn’t feel it.
”Yeah.”
James had his hand on his waist, holding him up, he felt pathetic, it was pathetic really. But he was close to him, and that was worth the shame.
Regulus had never liked the sun, even pre vampire him, he was always sickly pale, cursed with a love of the moon, it’s been years since he’s purposely chose to bathe his body bare under it.
He’s on fire. James’ skin is warm, hot almost, he’s stood with his head tipped back, his eyes closed up at the sky.
Fighting a sigh Regulus can’t help but feel his chest pounding. He always considered himself a pretty stoic person, but all he wants is to profess his intense desire to be consumed by him. To be fucked senselessly. To feel their soul’s dancing. He was suddenly unbearably hungry. So hungry he’s practically bouncing out of James’ hands, away from his skin, away from his neck, his arteries.
James is calling for him as he scrambles out of the water, biting back his fangs, his blood is rushing to his throat, aching painfully as the smell of James’ blood becomes practically unbearable.
”I need a little air!” He calls, assuring him all is absolutely fine. He is fine. He just feels like killing him, or fucking him.
He can’t tell.
”We’re outside?” James says getting out of the water, approaching him, looking at him like he was an alien.
Which was exactly what he knew would happen. Not this fast! But having only eaten 4 rats yesterday he found near the towns sewer, he was ravenous. He hadn’t had sex so he was unexplainably horny. And nothing about James being close and bare beside him was helping any of that.
Regulus tries to pull himself together, smiling weakly and standing up straight. “I‘m fine, I just don’t like water.”
”You should have said. We can just sunbathe.”
Ah vampire sunbathing.
”Sounds… nice.”