blood will have blood

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. He wasn’t prepared, he isn’t prepared. Especially not now. Not after James failed to drink and is moments away from falling over. They need to get back, they need to  find somewhere that James can rest while he takes care of this. 

Regulus can run fast. Very fast when he needs to. Part of him, at the back of his mind, regrets not drinking anything when he had the chance. A perfectly good wrist was right in front of him and he passed it up. Thinking he would have more time. That he could down a few blood bags before a fight came. Moody was meant to still be a day or so out. Unless he miscalculated or underestimated the hunter. Less likely of the options is that he overestimated his own skill. 

Though perhaps he did. He won’t admit that to anyone. He just needs to make it as far away from here as possible. The problem with this though, is that as fast as he can run with his vampire speed, carrying James slows him a bit. 

The whole time he doesn’t let himself look to see how James is. He can hear his continued spitting and coughing. Out of the corner of his eye he can see the red, almost black, spots of blood. A few drops come up and land on him in the spray. Regulus licks his lips and it’s hard to tell what the taste is. A mix of Frank’s blood and James’. Mostly just rotten. 

He’s only tasted vampire blood a handful of times. More frequently his own. Anytime he’s gotten hurt, even just little cuts that heal within a minute, he brings the blood to his mouth. Really it’s the curiosity more than anything. Vampire blood isn’t nutritious to them, it’s not really anything. It’s like when humans taste their own blood, stopping the bleeding when they get a cut on their fingers. 

As he runs he tries to think of all the places they could go. Now isn’t a good time to bother wondering if Sirius could be at any of the safe houses they have as options. Sure that would be a nice and welcome surprise to stumble upon him, but it’s not the goal. He just needs to get James somewhere safe to stay while he goes back out to kill Moody. 

There’s quite a few places all around the southern part of the country where they are. Never too close, at least a few towns apart. His running is sporadic, turning and then turning back not much farther ahead. Regulus knows that no one is directly on their tail, but if their scent isn’t linear, there’s no direct path for them to follow when they catch up. He’s thinking ahead. He’s always prepared to do that.

A clearing comes into few, kicking them out of the cover provided by the trees. It’s a crossroads where he needs to really make a decision. He wants to go right, he knows more places the further west they go. So he takes a breath, grips James tighter, and starts off running again to the left. 

Towards the first house they moved to after turning. 

It’s been abandoned since then, he thinks. Unless Sirius has gone back, but he doesn’t particularly have fond memories there. Abandoned might be an exaggeration. Considering that Regulus routinely checks on all of the different places he’s lived to make sure he can one day go back if he needs. This one though, hasn’t been touched for at least a few decades. There is no store of blood waiting for them. 

The one place he’s lived that has seen less traffic than here in all of the years he has lived, is the house they grew up in. Regulus can’t go back and neither can Sirius. It’s too much for either of them. Once they were both, well for lack of a better word, dead, they ran. They had to get away otherwise their parents would know something was wrong. They would know that neither of their sons could provide an heir to the family, and they would never understand that an heir would never be needed. Not when both of them would live forever. Their family wouldn’t truly die out even without an heir.

He went back once, years later just to see what came of their family. They died, is what happened. And both brothers were declared missing, presumed dead. Nothing left of their family name. The house doesn’t even have anyone living in it or taking care of it. Maybe one day they can go back there together. Back to where it all started, make better memories to cover the old ones. Even if those are centuries old now. 

It takes a little while before they get there and he’s ready to drop James and go on without him. He doesn’t, he’s just thinking about it. Sirius better be fucking grateful that he’s doing this at all and especially so since he’s trying as hard as he possibly can. Staying here should buy them at least a day, if not more. 

The door opens when he kicks at it, helpfully telling him that no one has moved in here unwanted. It’s dusty and the air is a bit sticky, but it’s better than still running or being caught. In his arms James is fading. He’s barely there, not quite asleep, not quite awake. Something in between and it’s honestly worrying. the pang in his chest growing and tightening. 

“I’m gonna have to run out and get myself some blood. Are you okay on your own?” He asks, as if there is really any other way around it. 

“Mm jus tired.” James mumbles while rolling over on the couch. 

It doesn’t reassure him in the slightest, but what choice does he have? Before leaving he locks the door and makes sure it doesn’t look as if anyone is in there. It would be difficult to explain to Sirius that his friend was killed because he had been careless. In all of this, Regulus has put in more effort than he needs to or should, he won’t mess it up further with a mistake. If anything when it’s all over and Moody is dead, then he can stop trying. 

Maybe. The thought swirls in his mind of what things will be like after. When he can go back to not being on the run with a skilled hunter tracking him. Sure there will be more one day, there always are. People haven’t just given up and decided to allow vampires to do as they please, even if they should. There have been hunters that find him in the past, all of which he or Sirius have killed, and so there will be more in the future. Not something they can change. 

It’s really just a few annoying days, a few weeks at most, when they are running. This is hopefully on the shorter end of things. But once it’s over, soon, what will come of James? There isn’t any blood that he’s able to drink. There isn’t a way for him to continue living. Part of Regulus doesn’t want to accept that, it feels like he’s failing. He’s not sure why he even cares. 

If poisoning them was all it took, hunters would have started doing this a long time ago. It really would be a much more efficient way of “dealing with them”. He’s certain there is something they missed. Or he missed rather. James hasn’t exactly been able to help on any front. And if there is something he’s missing he wants to figure it out. That way when he can get back to Sirius he won’t have it all on his conscious. 

He can convince James to go a different way, keep him from getting back to Sirius, but at least he would get a second chance at live. A third, maybe would be more accurate. 

His feelings on the matter haven’t changed, not really. He doesn’t like James. He hates that he was ever turned. But he doesn’t deserve to die. He’s already died once and any more would be cruel. Especially to die because the only thing that keeps him alive poisons him with every taste. No one deserves that. Regulus has never thought that any vampires deserve to die. Some should be handled with care before they can be trusted, some should have more restraint, but no one should die for being turned. 

A lot of them never wanted this, it’s not their fault. 

From the time they spent in this house, he vaguely remembers a medical facility not far away. It’s been a long time since then, but he’s sure the old facility would have been replaced by a modern hospital. He just has to get there, slip in and out. With a few bags of blood. At least two or three for himself which he can ration for now until they are about to leave again. And well, a fourth just to be safe even if James can’t have more than a drop. if that. 

The hospital is right where he expects it to be, because society is and always has been predictable to him. Everything changes and everything stays the same. It’s just how it goes. Luckily they’re in a quiet area so there are only a few people on shift at night. No one guarding the doors or anything of the sort. 

He hides and watches through the glass doors that there is a woman sitting at a desk and one or two people walking the halls. There may be more once he gets inside, but not all that many. If he had taken the time to plan for this, which he would have in any typical situation, he would have gotten a map to plan his route. He wasn’t given that luxury tonight, so he has to go a different route. 

He shakes out his hands, ruffles his hair, and walks through the front doors. “Excuse me? Would it be alright if I use the toilet? Got a bit lost and this is the first place I’ve found to stop.” 

“Oh sure, sir. Right down the hall, third door on the right. If you need any help with directions before you leave, just let me know!” She’s chipper for a night nurse. 

“Thank you, you’re very kind.” He nods, overdoing it on the pleasantries and heads there. 

Hospitals label every door, making it quite helpful to him. There are two patient rooms on either side of the hall, followed by a supply closet and then the bathroom. Just past the door he’s meant to go in is a lounge, but across the hall he sees the door he’s looking for. The blood bank. Easy enough, they really shouldn’t make it this accessible. 

From there it’s really quite easy. He slips into the bathroom to avoid suspicion and swiftly grabs a keycard from a member of staff also in there. Once he’s out the door again and out of sight he can use some speed to get in an out of the bank without notice. He goes back in the bathroom once more, just in case they look up to see where he exits from. Not that he’s given anything away as a reason to suspect. 

“Alright?” A man coming out of a stall asks. 

“Oh yes, I thought I left my phone when I was in here a few moments ago.” Regulus looks around, knowing he hadn’t left anything. “Guess not. Have a good night.” 

The man’s keycard is returned without him noticing and Regulus is already back at the front by the desk. He makes up a destination and asks for directions to the nearest shop that may have something for him to eat at this hour. She believes it easily and obliges, sending him on his way. Blood bags hiding in his pockets and under his shirt out of view. Like he said, too easy. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

How the night still hasn’t ended, he’s not sure. It’s been the most eventful night in a while. As he gets back to the house the sky is finally starting to lighten. He’s quite frankly exhausted despite sleeping all day yesterday. He just needs to sit. Running across the country wasn’t exactly in the plans, though none of this was. they could still be back at the flat with the rest of his things had James not gotten ambitious. He’ll circle back there before getting to Sirius and clean it up for future use, it just would have been nice to be prepared. 

In the house there isn’t a single sound. James is passed out, though there are more specks of blood scattered on the ground next to where he lays. There’s nothing to do about it, he’s at a loss now. He thought for sure drinking from the vein would have been the fix. Unless he’s somehow now allergic, for lack of a better word, to all blood. Bit of an annoyance as a vampire if he’s honest. 

The good thing about this house is that since he and Sirius lived here for an extended time, they had the windows treated. They can see the sun, indirectly at least, during the day if they want to. For that reason, he settles into a chair that is not quite as comfortable as it used to be right next to the east facing window. He has time before James will come to, he might as well enjoy the sunrise. 

It proves difficult and not relaxing as it should be. James mumbles in his sleep. Nothing quite coherent enough to understand, but he doesn’t shut up. Sometimes, really it starts out as, sounds. No words just little groans and grumbles. Once he even laughs. But after that a few words here and there can be picked out. One of which, feels like a stab in Regulus’ chest. 

“… Sirius… you, shut… erghh” 

He ignores it. When he gets restless and tired of hearing James, he gets up and finds some likely expired tea bags and makes himself a cup anyway. It’s not like it could kill him, and he’s not in a position to be picky about the taste. Even if it stopped tasting exactly right a few centuries ago, he will still always want a cup of tea. 

The difference now is that he has it beside a cup of blood. Regulus carries both mugs back to the sitting room and settles in again. Both drinks soothe him. One makes him feel more like himself, and the other makes him feel more alive. He sees James eyeing the latter as soon as he wakes up, still in a daze. 

“No, you can’t have any blood.” He firmly states. 

He pouts, and squints his eyes slightly. “But why? Oh come on I’ve been good, just a sip.”

“James.” He warns crossing his arms. 

He mimics. “Padfoot.” Padfoot? Who and what is a Padfoot?

He doesn’t press, he honestly doesn’t care enough. “No, you’re just going to throw it up again.” 

“You’re annoying. Just because I got a little bit too blood drunk the other night. Honestly Sirius, you act like I killed someone.”

Oh. Oh. Padfoot must be Sirius and James thinks that he is him. It’s taken until now for him to be mentioned. He’s been anticipating it, but this is not what he expected. He was going to try to control the conversation about his brother. Keep it simple, keep it impersonal. Convince himself that it’s not the kind of friendship he fears it is. That he doesn’t care about James. He just needs to go back to how things were before. He would understand. He would have to. 

Except now he’s talking about it. They have nicknames for each other. they aren’t just acquaintances. They know each other intimately. Sirius has helped him through hard times. Times were he’s been out of control and creating messes that he leaves in his wake. He’s not sure if James is talking about recently, possibly the reason a hunter caught on to them, or if it’s never happened. Or if it was a long time ago. 

He doesn’t ask. 

“It’s Regulus.” 

“What?”

“I’m Regulus, not your friend. James, it’s not him.” He says again. 

In front of him James starts rubbing at his eyes. trying to see more clearly, trying to figure out how he twisted things up so much, most likely. He understands. It happens like that when you don’t always have control. Never quite sure what’s happening and it’s a shock when things aren’t how you think they will be. As much as he gets it, Regulus can’t stop the tightness in his chest. 

“Sorry, my head’s a bit foggy.” James brushes it off. 

“It’s alright.”

Silence falls around them. Neither of them have much to say, or rather not much they would like to say. There’s something morbid in the air and he knows it’s only going to get worse. The longer they are here, the closer they will be to James dying. It’s only a matter of time at this point. He’s pretty sure they both know it now. 

Why worry about it though? Regulus leans back and sips on the blood he worked hard to get. It’s nice to enjoy it slowly. Over the years he’s found that is the best way to curb his cravings. Not that the blood bags impact him nearly as much, but if he has too much all at once there’s always the risk that he’ll lose control. He’s good at stopping himself, he has to be. He didn’t used to be. 

There are some books on dusty shelves in one corner of the room. Very old books for that matter, but still. Regulus opts to pick one up to pass the time. Next to him James comes in and out of sleep for hours. Whenever he’s awake he doesn’t say all that much, usually just mumbles. Sometimes he thinks that he’s Sirius, but comes back to reality when he blinks a few times. 

At least they have that in common. They would both rather Sirius be here than each other. 

Nothing keeps his attention, not even the thoughts in his head. He hates it. This is really just a waiting game now. For Moody to come, for James to die. For Sirius… And there’s not much he can do to speed any of it up. He’s at the mercy of the universe. Maybe the hospital will report missing blood and the hunter will be on his way here by tomorrow. It makes them sitting ducks once again, but at least it will help them to keep going. Regulus will be able to cross something off his list, successfully. 

“There’s not much still in this house, it’s been a long time since I was here. But feel free to do anything you like.” He offers a bit helplessly. 

“I’m not really up to doing anything. Not enough energy.” James weakly looks at him. 

“I might have cards laying around somewhere.” Regulus suggests, though he’s not sure why. It’s not like he really wants to spend time with him, but there’s nothing else to do for now. 

He shrugs, so he goes looking for the cards. The house has so many drawers in every room and he has no idea why. It’s not clear in his memory who picked out this house or who decorated it. He’s sure it was Sirius, but back then it was just a miracle they were going together. His brother took longer to adjust mentally. 

As much as Regulus struggled with handling himself and keeping composure as a vampire, he was well adjusted mentally. Not too thrown by having died or being turned. He was almost excited to have a reason to leave and start a new life. Albeit an eternal one. On the other hand, Sirius could drink blood no problem, not even a chance he got close to losing control. It came easy to him. He just wasn’t ready to die. He had friends he had to leave behind and a whole life that wouldn’t mix with his new affliction. He resented his brother for a long time, even if they did travel together right away. 

Wandering through the rooms gives him flashes of that time. Chairs are still where they used to be, paintings that were crooked then are still crooked now. It’s like walking through a museum. All that’s missing is Sirius laughing in the next room over. It takes a few minutes to find a deck of cards, but he does and then takes his time wandering back to James through the halls. 

This will be a nice enough activity for them. They can do something to pass the time and they don’t have to keep up the pleasantries or push for any more than that by talking the whole time. Besides, they might only have a few days at most. These might be James’ last days, and impossibly hard thing to grasp once knowing immortality. 

“Found them. What should we play?” He sits opposite the couch where he is still laying. 

“Gin?” 

So they play. Only talking about the game, only looking at their cards. Through the windows he can see the sun passing through the sky, painfully slow. It’s not even afternoon yet. Hopefully the hunter at least gives them a fair fight and waits until dark when they can meet him outside. It won’t be a pretty one and he would hate to mess up this house. 

After a far too high number of rounds, or well in the middle of one, James finds the energy to talk again. Just small talk. “How old are you?”

“Bit of a big question.” He teases. 

“Oh bite me.” He laughs weakly. “Just thought we could get to know each other after we’ve already spent so much time together. And you know… You’ve saved my life more than once already.”

“I wouldn’t say I saved it you’re still dying.” He regrets saying it as soon as he does. So he quickly brushes past it. “I was turned at 21, but that was almost 300 years ago. I’m older than you by quite a bit.”

“Only technically. Or well, literally. Technically I’m older than you. I was turned at 24. But only about 70 years ago.” If the first comment bothered James, he doesn’t let on. 

“In your almost 100 years, what’s your favorite place you’ve been?” 

They go back and forth sharing brief bits about themselves. He isn’t sure why he keeps it up. It would be easy enough for Regulus to go off and do his own thing in another part of the house. It would be easy enough to just not do any of this. There’s no point really. 

James is nice though, his voice is soothing and his laugh even as weak as it comes out now, is a nice sound. He for some reason wants to keep hearing it, he wants to be the reason he hears it. He barely pays attention to the words being said as James talks about a time he was in Italy. Supposedly his favorite place, but he’s loved almost everywhere he has traveled. Regulus’ heart clenches and he’s hyper focused at one point. 

“I still haven’t been to France, I’ve always wanted to.” Always wanted to. 

He is never going to. Why does that hurt him? Why does he care? Oh but if he could get James to France before he dies, he would. They just don’t have the time or means right now. Not with a hunter on their trail. Not with James unable to retain any blood. He would bring him if he could. They grew up in France, and as much as they may have hated the house they grew up in, it was never the country’s fault. He doesn’t go back nearly enough. 

“I love France. I don’t know if you would, I’d hope so. It’s beautiful.” He almost mentions Sirius again, about how they are French, but he doesn’t. 

This time the silence is just as morbid as before, but perhaps a bit lighter. Less uncomfortable to be sitting in the same room not saying anything. They know each other better, not in ways that matter. There really would be no point in getting any closer. He’s lost enough people before he doesn’t want to get attached to anyone else. besides, he doesn’t like James. If he could just get back to thinking about how his brother broke his promise, then letting death take him would be easier. 

“Can- Can I ask you for something?” His eyes shift to anywhere but Regulus’ eyes. 

“Sure, what is it?”

“If… I mean when, I guess. When I die… can you find my best friend and tell him?” 

And there it is. Of course it comes back to Sirius. “Yeah, I can do that. Was he with you the night I found you?”

“He was supposed to be, but got caught up and said he would meet me. I assume it wasn’t a pretty sight when he got there so he would have run.” Sounds like him, which is oddly comforting. 

“Do you know where?” 

“Either back to our flat, we’ve been in London for a bit. Or if he thought there would be trouble to follow, a little cottage we own up in Scotland.” 

His head rushes with all of this information. It could have been so much easier to find Sirius.. If he really is at either of those places, he could go. He could go right now. Regulus could leave and run and be done with all of this. With his brother waiting for him. Well, not him. He’s waiting for James. Maybe he would still be happy to se his brother anyway. 

All words are caught in his throat, so he nods. He nods to let James know that he heard and will do as he wants. It was already his plan to go to Sirius once this was settled. It’s number three on the list. What he hasn’t decided yet is how much he says about the past few days.

Does he tell his brother about the hunter? About spending time with James? About finding him dying and not being able to save him? Because of that part of it, it would be better if he didn’t. Right? Why upset him as soon as he gets him back? The easiest story would be he went looking for him, found another vampire dead, not using a name at all, and that he has been searching for Sirius this whole time. 

“I’ll find him, don’t worry.” It’s not a lie. He will find Sirius. For one reason or another. 

“Thank you. I mean it, thank you. For everything.” 

He wants to ask more, he wants to pry. He wants to know what he means by everything. It’s not like he’s been particularly kind to him. Saving him is now a lost cause. Regulus hasn’t done anything worth thanking. Even the one thing, telling Sirius that he died, won’t be for the reasons he thinks it will be. He doesn’t ask for more. It wouldn’t be wise unless he wants his lies to unravel. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

The talking stops again. James lays the cards back down on the table and dozes off. While he sleeps, Regulus takes the opportunity to do some work around the house. He checks the reinforcements that they had set up a long time ago. Making sure that the trip wire to let him know someone is here is set and ready. He can check the receiving end of the alert now, but will have to risk running outside as soon as it gets dark to confirm. 

When there’s nothing left to do to prepare for the inevitable attack, he finds himself in front of the fridge. The only thing here is the blood he retrieved, three and a half bags. He only let himself have half earlier. Even if there were food he likely wouldn’t be able to eat any. His appetite hasn’t been present since he drank from a vein. It always happens like this. 

His hand reaches for the half drank bag and empties it into a mug. He doesn’t need any more right now, but he wants it. Call it a safety measure in case Moody shows up tonight. He’s toeing the line and he knows it, but he won’t go over. He knows exactly how much he can have before it becomes a problem. 

This first mug is gone in a second. Much faster than it should be, but it’s his fault for not using a straw. Regulus grabs another bag and takes it with him. A straw now too, he can pretend he’s just sipping on this one. There’s nothing to worry about, there is no one he could hurt if he drinks too much. Better he has the strength to fight and kill Moody than letting a stupid hunter win. 

He didn’t think about James when he sat back down to relax with the blood bag. Why would he? Except it’s clear when his eyes open again and immediately go wide looking at him. Of course he would want some. Of course he would be thirsty. He wasn’t thinking. 

“You shouldn’t have any, not after… well you know.”

“I know, I just don’t like it.” James admits sleepily. 

“I can go somewhere else until I’m finished, if you prefer.” He’s content either way really, it’s not like he’s itching to spend more time getting to know James. 

“It’s okay.” The way he says it seems like he means different, but everything comes off a little half hearted with James. “Do you have a plan?”

“For the hunter?” He nods. “Sort of. Mostly we just wait, I build up strength, you rest. I’m sure Moody will show up here ready to kill both of us soon enough. I’ll be ready and he won’t touch either of us.”

To his surprise, James fully laughs. A good laugh, not a weak one as he’s been doing. It’s not a quick chuckle either, he truly full body laughs for a minute. Though it seems like it takes a lot out of him by the time he stops. He’s leaning over, propping himself up on his elbows against his knees trying to catch his breath. Regulus doesn’t press, but he’s quite curious what he said that was so funny. 

“You do realize that he’s already tried and basically succeeded in killing me, right?”

“Well, not exactly.” Not yet, he doesn’t say. 

You’re not going to die, he doesn’t let himself even think. 

That’s the thing isn’t it, he is starting to not actually want James to die. He would rather prefer that he didn’t die, in fact. It will be a while before he admits that to himself, but it’s true nonetheless. Maybe it would still be easier if he did. If he could accept that there’s likely nothing left for him to do to help him. It would absolutely be easier fi he would just give up, James pretty much has. 

He just can’t. Getting rid of the hunter that did this to James is first on his list now. Even with things crossed off, he hasn’t exactly accomplished anything. It’s more than he’s crossed them out because he can’t do them. They’re no longer part of the list, because he doesn’t take on impossible tasks. Regulus is good at what he sets his mind to, he doesn’t fail. 

1. Heal mystery manJames
1. (figure out why Sirius is a traitor)
2. figure out how to accept that he’s dead

1. Find and kill the hunter

2. Find Sirius

1. (tell the traitor his best friend is dead)

3. Run away to new country

“I’m a dead man Regulus. Not in the way I’ve been as a vampire, I’m dead overall. A dead man walking… or coughing for now. It’s okay, I’m… I’m accepting it.” His voice falters and the words sting. 

I’m sorry, he thinks. It’s not his fault this happened. He didn’t set the hunter on them, he did everything he could to get there in time. Even worse, he’s still glad that it was James to be poisoned. Better him than Sirius. Would be better if it wasn’t either of them. 

He thinks a million things but doesn’t say any of them. There’s no point. James has to know what he’s thinking. He hopes that he doesn’t feel alone as he dies. Regulus may not be his brother, and he may not be a comforting presence, but he’s here. No one should die alone. Besides, he has nothing to do for now. Through every silence he’ll sit here. Waiting for something to happen. Thinking about and dreading the conversations he’ll have a few days from now. 

His hands fidget with the bag he’s holding. Taking sips slowly and smoothing it between his fingers. He drinks slowly, though he knows he’ll finish the whole bag in a matter of time. At least within the hour, likely sooner. He’s never great at pacing himself. Though this is all he will do tonight, he might as well try. Otherwise go through all of the bags he stole last night. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

That’s what he does. The latter, that is. Why not drink all of the blood in the house when he has the chance. Drink it so that when the hunter shows up, he can just rip his head off without a second thought. He can do it before he can even try to scream. On the very real chance that he brings back up this time, he could do the same to all of them. However many there are, he’s fast enough and strong enough with four bags of blood swirling in his system. 

Next to him, hours ago now when the sun was still up, James lay asleep. Much to his own embarrassment, Regulus has checked if he’s still alive more than once. It’s harder to tell as they don’t have the same heart beats or breathing patterns as humans, but he knows how to tell. the faint signs letting him know that James hasn’t died yet. There’s still a chance. Even if he doesn’t have a clue what could help him now. 

Part of him wonders if the poison is just against human blood. If he could go out and hunt for a deer or some kind of animal. If whatever he brings back would be able to sit well with James. He would be able to drink something. Maybe that’s what he’s missing. He just has to get away long enough to test it. Risking leaving him alone is not a great idea though, Moody could show up at any time. If they can get through dealing with him, then they can try animal blood after. It’s been a long time since he went hunting, but it could be the answer. 

The night goes by quickly and the day brings more of the same. Waiting, sitting, trying not to think about the way James keeps getting paler and weaker. He keeps his spirit up, or at least Regulus assumes that’s his goal. They play cards again and it eases the tension if only slightly. When James needs to sleep again, Regulus pulls out another book and reads. 

As the sun starts to set again, he almost wonders if Moody didn’t track them here. If he somehow got lost or misjudged. It would either give them unlimited time, or a few days. The  problem is that he won’t go anywhere after here until he’s sure no one is tracking them. Absolutely no way is Regulus potentially bringing a hunter right to his brother. 

With this train of thought, no part of him even entertains the possibility that whoever Moody works with is already tracking Sirius. That he could already be dead or dying in whatever house he’s currently at. What good would thinking about that do? None. He has to focus on the list. The list and James. 

Neither of them are watching when it happens. There was no way to see it coming. The sun is still out, just barely above the horizon. Between that and the crash of something flying into the window gets their attention though. Their heads whip over and Regulus acts fast. He shoves James out of the light, but gets caught himself. 

It burns. He’s burning. If he had the strength he could pull himself away. But it’s his whole body, not just his hand. It burns, but that’s not all the sun does to him. It weakens him, it dulls the powers coursing through his veins. That’s why they can’t just heal the burns as they infect the skin. No one, not one creature, can be fully immortal. Everyone has to have a weakness, vampires are no different. 

It burns and his ears are ringing. 

“Reg!” The scream breaks through and they lock eyes, James cowering in the cover from the sun. 

“Go, James just go!” It wouldn’t be worth him getting burnt too. 

“I’m not leaving you. There’s- there’s someone approaching the house. We have to do something. I can try to-”

“Okay fine, just stay blocked by my shadow.” 

That sometimes is enough to block the sun. Not always, a person’s shadow is’t stationary enough to be proper shade, but what other choice do they have? James comes over and he can feel every cell of his skin burning for every second it takes him to reach him. His hand reaches out, it’s so cold but right now all he can think about the relief that brings. 

“You’re okay. It will take a bit to heal over, but you’re okay.” He reassures, sounding a little panicked looking over the extensive burns. 

“We shouldn’t have been so close to the windows during daylight.” He forces a laugh. 

“Maybe not.” Air blows from his nose in an amused manner. “Oh shit, you- you have shards of glass in your arm.”

“Take them out, it’ll heal. I just… need to get up and rip whoever thought they could get away with that’s head off.”

Everything hurts as he stands. James stands with him and begins taking the glass out. They both, more so Regulus than James, watch as the tuner approaches. It’s not Moody and for one he’s disappointed. Or a bit worried. He would prefer it be him, then they could really get all of this done and over with. 

He sucks in as the glass comes out. It surprisingly hurts a bit. His body is in overdrive trying to heal the burns, it doesn’t have time for this too. It’s been a long time since he had an actual wound like this. He can faintly feel blood dripping out and down his arm. He doesn’t have time for this, he needs to heal and take care of this hunter. 

They’re approaching with a stake in their hand. Regulus needs to act fast otherwise he’s dead too. While it’s never his preferred way to kill anyone, he always has a knife on him and can aim and throw well enough. That is when he doesn’t have a gash on his good arm and burns all over his body. Still, he gives it a go. 

He slips the knife out, almost wincing as he does. He looks at it for a moment, catching his reflection in it, realizing he looks dreadful right now. With a flick of his wrist he releases it and it goes flying through the air. With insane precision, considering he couldn’t tell you the last time he used the knife, it lands right in their chest. Straight to the heart. 

“How did you…”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Regulus admits as he watches the hunter fall over, presumably dead. 

When the sun is fully down he’ll have to confirm, but as long as they can’t get back up and attack again then they are in the clear. For now he just catches his breath. He watches as the burns slowly sop bubbling and the skin begins to mend. It’s never a fun process but at least he didn’t go up in flames. There’s still a prickle in his arm where the glass was, that will come next. 

“Well, I’m glad you did. Otherwise we would be dead.” James half smiles. 

“I’m not exactly a picture of health right now.” 

He shrugs. “That makes two of us. I’ll be right back.”

James returns a minute later with a bag of blood for him. As much as he wants to down it all as fast as he can to help the healing, he should pace himself. He doesn’t grab for it as soon as he’s within reach, he waits. He keeps it together. Though the first drop of blood on his tongue is heavenly. His eyes nearly roll back in his head at the reprieve that comes. 

They don’t move again from where they are. The sun still has a few rays coming into the house so it’s better to be safe than risk getting burnt again. Regulus’ arms rest on his propped up knees as he slowly drinks. It’s almost a constant stream into his mouth, but still slower than just sucking it down. He needs it anyway. 

While he recovers, because Regulus has somehow become the weaker of the two for the time being, James starts to clean up. There’s glass everywhere it will take a bit to get it all. Next to him is the bloody shard. It’s weird to see blood that came from him. For hundreds of years, there have only been a handful of times he has seen it if he’s weak enough to be injured. And its definitely never been this much. 

“Need anything?” He calls from the other side of the room. 

“‘m okay. It’ll just take a little. Hopefully we have enough time.” If another hunter came here, it must mean that it’s only a matter of time before Moody shows up too. He would have told them to call him and when they don’t… Yeah it’s at most a few hours. 

They go back to silence for a moment before Regulus adds, “I thought of another possible way to heal you or I guess to let you drink something.”

“Oh? What’s that?” He tries to be nonchalant about it, but really a mix of excitement and disappointment flow through the words. 

“Animal. I was just thinking that if I’m right that he was trying to cut off a blood source, humans in all forms, then maybe animals would still be okay.” He spews the thoughts he’s been hiding in his mind. 

“You’ve been thinking about this?” James’ lips quirk up again 

“A bit.” 

“I don’t have a lot of hope, but when you’re feeling better we can go out and try.” 

He hears the way James dismisses it in his mind already. So sure that it won’t work. Not at all trusting that Regulus could be right. He may not have any reason to trust him, but he has been helping and doing anything he can possibly think of, so it’s gotta be worth something. 

He starts to feel a bit stronger and lifts his head up to observe. It’s totally dark now, making cleaning up easier without needing to avoid different patches of the room. With a little more strength, Regulus switches to small sips of blood. The burns are going down significantly, but when he reaches around to check the gash, it’s still bleeding ever so slightly. That’s weird. If it had been any sort of weapon that hit him, he would be concerned. But he’s probably just weaker from the burns than he thought. 

“Here, I can clean that for you.” He puts down the collected glass on the table and sits back down next to him. 

There’s this thing James does. His tongue goes to the side of his mouth and between his teeth, sticking out the tiniest bit. It happens when he’s thinking or concentrating. Regulus has only seen if a few times, and this is the first time he’s registered the pattern. He hates that he finds it endearing, almost cute. 

“Hold still. You’re usually good at that, like a statue. Why are you squirming so much right now?” He teases. 

Because you’re touching me. he doesn’t say that. “Maybe because I nearly died today? You tell me, dying doesn’t exactly go hand in hand with stillness.”

“Actually, it does. Have you seen a dead person move? Aside from vampires that is.”

He’ll give it to him, the jokes do take his mind off of the healing burns. It’s when he feels the soft pad of James’ thumb brush over the open cut that he sharply inhales. For two reasons, neither of which he particularly wants to admit to. The blood gets wiped away for the most part and Regulus almost misses the touch as soon as it’s gone. He hears a slight wet sound that he’s genuinely not expecting. 

His head whips around to find James sucking the blood off his own thumb. 

“Why would you do that?”

“Well, you had me thinking. If humans are out, maybe animals are fine. But what if they’re not, and it’s vampires I can still drink from?” He muses, seeming to only have believe himself. “Either way, it’s not like it will kill me. more than everything already is.”

“I- you might actually be onto something.” Regulus doesn’t have a rebuttal to the idea. 

He finishes off the layer of blood and licks his lips. “Guess we’ll see in an hour or so!”  

They finish cleaning up both Regulus and the house, which doesn’t take long now that he’s able to actually help. He wouldn’t be able to run like he did the other night or do much with any sort of vampire power, but he can do this. Just a bit slow. Getting this house fixed up again with a new window will be a later project, but they still need to figure out how to survive for now. At least it’s night now, they have nine or so hours until he’ll worry. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

He ends up falling asleep. Not the best idea, but as soon as he laid on the couch he was a goner. It’s a good thing that Moody didn’t show up during this time. Or any other hunter for that matter, they appear to be free game now. Anyone could be after them. Regulus looks around and the body is still face down in the yard. He makes a mental note to go and retrieve his knife. 

His eyes are tired, groggily taking their time to open fully. He turns toward James who has swapped places with him and is in the chair, blinks a few times until his vision focuses. There’s color in his face and he’s reading the same book he left there earlier. It’s hard to tell what time it is exactly and he’s not sure where his phone is at the moment, it’s still night though. 

Wait, there’s color in James’ face. There hasn’t been any the whole time he’s known him. He looks different, alive. Beautiful even. There’s colors in his face and he doesn’t look like he’s about to keel over and die at any second. How did he…?

“Have you coughed up any blood since I’ve been sleeping?” 

The man laughs lightly and turns to face him, shaking his head. “Not even a drop.”

“So, it worked?” Regulus’ eyes light up with hope. “It actually—”

“Think so.” 

So that’s it? He’s healed as long as he feeds from another vampire. So it seems. Which now that he thinks about it, or well considers what James annoyingly said earlier, makes sense. The poison he had in his system really changed some part of his make up. It made nutritious things fatal and ordinary things, the only thing he can safely consumer. Rather than letting him continue to feed on humans, he has to feed on his own kind.

If it wasn’t so barbaric Regulus would be impressed. Part of him is impressed. To think of that as a possibility even, no one has before. There’s a missing piece that he still doesn’t know and is afraid to ask. Why the hunter caught their trail and targeted them? Was it James’ fault, or did Sirius do something stupid? He’s pretty sure he won’t like either answer at this point. 

He’ll ask another time. Not now. 

“Let me guess, you’re itching to have more now that you know what you can drink?” He rolls his eyes. 

“Well, if you’re offering, I certainly wouldn’t say no.” 

He pulls his legs in and sits up with them crossed before talking in almost a whisper. “Come here.” 

It’s slow, hesitant almost or methodical and intentional. Everything feels intensified. From the way James stands to approach and settles in softly in front of him on the couch. The way Regulus runs the pad of his thumb over the veins on his wrist before holding it out directly between them. The way James looks down at it for only a moment before locking eyes with him. 

No one has done this with him, not like this. Not since he was human. They hold eye contact the whole time never breaking once. He takes a deep breath before letting his fangs pop. With the tips of them he grazes the skin of Regulus’ wrist almost teasingly. He pulls back for a moment to lick his lips and then punctures his skin. It’s a light shock, a brief buzz to his system, but then he gets comfortable and can breathe again. James is still looking right at him as he drinks. 

It feels… insane. There isn’t a better way to describe it. He’s euphoric, almost, and he’s not even the one drinking after almost two weeks of torture. It’s incredible he thinks. No wonder some vampires do this for no real reason at all. He never got it before, but now he does. Somehow he finds himself swimming through James’ brown eyes and he never wants to stop. He’s lost and all of the thoughts he’s been pushing down come bubbling up like his blood going into his mouth. 

Until he pulls away. Regulus finds he already misses the fangs latched in his wrist. They still look in each other’s eyes, neither able to pull away. A small drop of blood catches his attention, pulling his gaze from James’ eyes to his mouth. Just as pleasant to look at so it seems. His own blood is dripping down, and Regulus finds himself wanting to lick it from the corner of his mouth. 

Instead, he breaks the trance desperately trying to find a way out. “Feel okay?”

“Can I be honest?” James asks, worrying him, but he urges him on. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt better.”

“That good?” Heat threatens to stain his cheeks, knowing that he was the one to make him feel like that even if indirectly. 

“Oh yeah. I shouldn’t get addicted to your blood though, what if no one else tastes as good?” He turns away, leaning back to a moe relaxing position on the couch, kicking his feet up. 

“We wouldn’t want that.” Regulus doesn’t specify any further. He hopes that James interprets it as he shouldn’t get addicted to him, but what he really means is that he doesn’t want him drinking from anyone else. Rather possessive of him considering he doesn’t like that James even exists as a vampire. 

In response he laughs and the mood lightens even further. If possible. They’re both finally healthy and strong. No more wondering, no more uncertainty. At least when it comes to blood. The two of them together will have no trouble facing off with Moody when he inevitably shows up here. They might even have enough of an upper hand that they could taunt him and lure him here. 

The last time, only a few days ago, when they were confronted by him they couldn’t have been in a worse position. He won’t see two of them coming now for sure. He’s likely betting on James being essentially a corpse when they come across each other again. What a surprise that will be for him, that his attempts to poison him failed. Or well, they’re turning it around in their own way. 

That’s all that is standing in the way between them and running away to find where Sirius is and starting fresh. And then well, there’s Sirius to think about. Regulus doesn’t know how to bring that up to him, that he knows him. More than knows him, is related to him. And why he wouldn’t have said anything before. 

To that there’s two reasons. One he didn’t and still doesn’t particularly like him. He’s a bit annoying and somehow managed to steal Sirius away from him for far too many decades for his liking. Two, he was going to die. No point in revealing secrets or any information about himself at all. It’s not like there was a future where they could be friends. 

Now there is. Maybe. He doesn’t know if James would even want that, if he would want to stay in contact. Or become any sort of anything more than acquaintances more like. They haven’t exactly established what kind of relationship they have. If they have one at all. Right now they are somewhere in the territory of doctor and patient, or protector and protected, or whatever they became once James drank from him. 

“Just to be clear,” His voice echoes in the silence. “I will not be acting as a blood bag for you to sip from whenever you please.”

“What if I ask really nicely?” He pushes lightheartedly. 

“Not a chance.” Regulus laughs with him, but he’s not sure how much truth there is in his words anymore.