blood will have blood

It’s relatively calm for the rest of the night. If that’s possible given that they are still being tracked and are essentially sitting ducks. Even still, things are easier and lighter all things considered. Something broke or snapped or really just fundamentally changed between them and it’s not possible to ignore it. Though Regulus tries. It still makes things simpler though, neither of them are dying and it’s a bit hard to pretend like they are complete strangers anymore. 

He doesn’t mind it actually. This is better than trying to figure out how to tell Sirius that his best friend is dead because he couldn’t save him. That definitely wouldn’t go over well. Whatever is happening now has saved him from that fate, so he can’t really be too mad at it. Though his feelings on the matter, or more specifically on James, are undecided. 

James seems intent on making that easy for him with the way he, after hours of peace and simple coexistence, has started to pester him with personal questions. Some more intrusive than others. He will happily discuss his interests like books or places he has lived or what he does to make hundreds of years not feel like so long. These topics don’t seem to be enough for James, he wants more. 

Every time they settle into silence with each other, he makes Regulus regret every thing that lead him here. He starts asking about how he found him and why he helped him and what he’s so intent on doing now. The answer to almost every question that he refuses to entertain is simple and complicated and everything in between. Sirius. 

The thing is he knows that at some point between here and finding Sirius he is going to have to talk about it. Regulus isn’t sure why it’s so hard. It just got to the point of ignoring it that now bringing it up feels wrong. With not bringing it up any of the first few times James mentioned him, it’s just awkward now. He let James prattle on about him and tell him where he likely has been hiding out, and said absolutely nothing. So now its… too late in a way. 

He’s also still a bit furious with Sirius, though they can just have it out when they see each other again. Nothing to really bring James into. Even if he is the reason he’s angry, it’s not actually his fault. He wasn’t the one to make and break a promise. Maybe he’s not blameless, Regulus does’t know the story, so he has no plans apologize for how he treated him before just yet.

Sirius is bound to make a stink about it when he finds out that Regulus was mean to him. It’s not unexpected. He’s hardly nice to anyone. It will not be a surprise. And yet, his brother will whine about it. Not even considering the fact that Regulus actually saved James’ life. It’s not as if he could just ditch James after this, he doesn’t get to win and have Sirius to himself again. 

This whole time James has been talking. For about twenty minutes non stop. Hasn’t even paused to see if Regulus wants to say anything. He’s using is new found energy for absolutely nothing helpful. They could be doing what Regulus suggested, which is prepare for at least one, likely more, hunters to show up soon. They’re both strong again and will be able to easily overpower them, but still. There are things they could be doing. 

“-and that was when the cat literally fell into my arms.” He comes to a pause in a story that he could not tell you any part of. “Are you listening?”

“Not even a little bit.” 

“Oh, well that’s your loss. Great story of the cat we had for a few years. I miss him.” James hums to himself. 

Every time he says we, Regulus’ chest tightens. We as in James and Sirius. James and Sirius as in not Regulus and Sirius. As in the years that he wanted to be with his brother that he didn’t get because of James. It’s hard to think about. He hates it all. In all honesty maybe he wouldn’t hate it if he knew about it, if he had been there to meet James before he turned, if Sirius had been the one to tell him about it. But that isn’t how it went, and he can’t change that. So it stings. 

“We should prepare in case he shows up during daylight.” Regulus suggests, changing the topic. 

“How do you suggest we do that? The house is missing a wall at the moment.”

He sighs. “I’m well aware. We could set some traps in the yard as a start.”

James shrugs and wanders off to look for materials. It’s the best they can do given the circumstances. This is not at all how Regulus prefers to deal with idiotic hunters. They all think they are so smart and so much better than vampires, but they’re easy to catch and take care of. At least for someone like him who has experience and a network of vampires that can do the tracking and investigative work for him. 

Which reminds him that once he has a phone or tablet back he should thank Lily for the work she did. It was helpful, even if they had to change their plans. It’ll all work out in the end. She isn’t usually the type to hold people to owing her for favors, but he wouldn’t mind helping her out if needed. It would be easy enough. 

He goes off on his own to gather whatever he can find too. There should be a lot scattered around the house, they were much more cautious back when they lived here. They didn’t know what might happen so they prepared for everything. Back up weapons in every room just hidden enough for no one else to be able to find. Not that they relied on them much, but it’s when Regulus started carrying a knife which comes in handy. Especially when he needs to do some damage from farther away. 

“Reg!” He hears from down the hallway. 

He freezes for a moment, wondering if James somehow found something linking the house to Sirius. That can’t be it, they always sweep their places clean of personal things. But the thought still lingers. He wanders down to find James who is now holding a reel of barbed wire. 

“I had no idea that was even here.” 

“Hm, anyway, I think this could be a good trip wire out front. We would hear him scream when it cuts him, and it would incapacitate him at least for enough time to prepare to attack.” James logically suggests, surprisingly. 

“We should also try to shield ourselves somehow in case it’s daylight. Any ideas?” He asks. 

“You’re the older one you should have more ideas there.” 

“Right well, the sun doesn’t exactly get nicer to us the older we get. Still burns just as much in case you forgot how I was on fire not even a full day ago.” The memory brings a crease to his brow and his face scrunches up. 

This brings a laugh from James, annoyingly so. He apparently finds burning to death amusing. Perhaps he should push him out into the sun now that he’s healthy again and see how it feels. Regulus won’t, he knows that he couldn’t get himself to, but it would be absolutely deserved because of that laugh. 

The best bet they actually have is umbrellas, which can only do so much for them. Most hunters, at least those that Regulus has encountered either himself or adjacently, have enough decency to work at night. They keep fights fair. In a way. Hunters, or humans of any kind are always at a disadvantage, that’s just how it is. Given that they are in an environment that both vampire and human alike can stand and be.

Once the wire is set, not too far from the house but far enough that it gives them a buffer of time, they settle in upstairs. Where there are four walls and no windows that allow in sunlight. It would be preferred to not have a repeat of last night. There are two comfortable chairs up here and he has to hold back from stopping James from sitting in the second. That’s Sirius’ chair. But really if he were to allow anyone else in it other than Regulus, it would unfortunately be James. 

He bites his tongue and looks out the tinted and protected window, seeing that the sky is just beginning to lighten. The stars above start to blur without the stark contrast agains the late night sky. Something tells him that they will have to have a quick fight, racing the sun. Moody isn’t going to wait another day, it’s already been over two weeks since he first attempted to kill James and Sirius. This will be the last night of this fight, whatever happens. 

But for now they just sit and wait. Just as they have been doing. This time though, they are ready. For whatever comes. They can easily take it on and kill any hunters they need to. If they have no problem killing vampires that are doing no harm, then they can also do the same with hunters. It’s a game to them really. 

“Ready?” James asks, his leg bouncing. 

“Yeah, ready as we will be. Just want this to be over.” 

“Me too. Er- do you think I could have some…”

“James, I said no.” He harshly interrupts even knowing he means well. 

He doesn’t push. Regulus expects him to. To say something like he needs to build up some more strength after weeks of nearly dying. To simply ask nicely a second time. Really, he wouldn’t have it in himself to deny him over and over again. It would be cruel seeing as he is the only source of blood that James has right now. Though he could use a blood bag himself right now and it would be rude and hypocritical to do that. 

They both settle for nothing. Or Regulus does. It’s not as if James will just jump up and attack him at the neck or wrist to get what he wants. He stops looking over at it, instead just staring out the window waiting. He’s almost certain he’s doing the same thing next to him. 

It will be great when this is all over with. No more awkward hours spent in each other’s presence but only barely. Things can be normal again. Regulus can go off on his own, if he can’t be back with his brother, and James can have his best friend back. Possibly only friend, he mentally notes. Perhaps James should make some other friends and leave Sirius be. Just a thought.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

“Is that-” Regulus finds himself saying as a figure comes into view between the trees. 

“Looks like it. Is he alone?” 

“Looks like it.” He repeats back. 

In silence, holding their breaths, they watch as Moody approaches tentatively. The wall is obviously still broken, something he’s not expecting. The hunter he sent died before they could send any kind of report back. Still, Moody seems to be a more trained and skilled hunter; he watches his every step. How do people fall into training to be a vampire hunter? Seems like an odd career choice, he thinks. 

The barbed wire lines the grass out front. Not just a single strip, but essentially a field of it hidden in the tall blades of grass. It would be nearly impossible to side step every single barb. It’s only a matter of time. Both of them lean forward, but not in view of the window from below, watching intently. 

He steps over the first line of it, intentional or not. Just as he gets to the second line, his foot wavers. As if he’s trying to place it in exactly the right spot. The wire isn’t visible enough, especially in the dwindling twilight. An hour from now, it would be plain as day, but it’s not right now. So as hard as Moody tries to step correctly, guessing correctly that they trapped the yard, he still missteps. Which works out perfectly for them. Foot going right down on a barb. It looks as though it goes clear through to the top of his foot. 

The smell of fresh blood takes a few seconds to reach them, but seeing it start to gush speeds that up a bit. As soon as it hits his nostrils he’s jumping up. James follows suit and they rush down stairs one after another. It only takes a few seconds before they are standing in the yard, watching their steps, carefully avoiding the spikes. 

“You’re dead! I might not be able to walk again but you will be dead.” He yells from the ground. 

“Already dead. Thought that’s why you hate us.” Regulus smirks, arms crossed.

As if they have been a team for years, James follows suit. “Exactly. Not to mention you already tried and failed to kill me. So, check mate.” 

Normally he would hold back the laugh. Especially at a quip so rudimentary, but he doesn’t this time. It hardly matters. All of this will be over with soon and no one will ever have to know that he has let down his walls at all. Moody glares at them from the ground while wincing in pain. He will commend him for how well he tolerates the pain, even though he knows he won’t go easy on him now. 

Wordlessly he and James talk through glances. Regulus isn’t sure what exactly he is waiting for. There’s only a few steps between him and biting into the hunter. He doesn’t lunge forward, he hesitates. He’s frozen there waiting. Waiting waiting waiting. Waiting for it to be just right. Waiting for James to nod him along. That’s what it is. He needs him here, he needs him to help. 

“Go on,” 

Regulus slowly nods back, opening his mouth but not finding the words. 

“I’ll keep you from going too far.” James confirms and that seems to be exactly what his body and mind were waiting for. 

He hasn’t lost control for a while. He doesn’t want tonight to be the time he does. It wouldn’t do anyone any good, especially considering it’s James he’s with right now. A vampire who can’t even drink human blood anymore, after being borderline addicted for he’s not sure how long. The odds would be stacked against them at getting better, at gaining control again. At least when it’s only the two of them it would be difficult. 

“After I get a taste, you kill him. Got it? I’m not going to drain him.” He speaks it more for his own comfort than anything, but James doesn’t even wait a beat before agreeing. 

Of course, exactly as he expected, Moody tries to fight him off. Though every time he tries to get a hit in Regulus has already vanished to the other side of it. After the first two times it becomes a game. Popping up behind him with a smirk and then again on the other side waving innocently. Oh how Regulus loves the game of it all, the rush that comes when it’s easy like this. The chase can be fun too, though this time he was the one being chased and he’s not a fan of that at all. 

After a few taunting minutes, he tires of it all and vanishes only to appear over his shoulder, fangs at the ready. His tongue grazes over them, pricking himself with the tip of the teeth. Then he grabs hold and sinks his fangs into Moody’s neck. Blood rushes into him and he can barely hear the scream coming from him over the buzzing in his head. He keeps the hunter steady, though he tries to fight his way out of his grasp the best he can. 

The warmth of the blood sliding down his throat swarms his whole body. Overtaking him. He’s at peace like this. No wonder it’s been so easy to lose control before. he forgets why he even fights to keep it when this is so nice. There is nothing like this feeling. Even the other night when he drank from the man in town, almost a week ago now, wasn’t as good. The wrist is easy, clean, efficient. But the jugular artery is bliss. Even more so when he loses himself in it rather than keeping it controlled. 

Faintly he can hear James’ voice. He didn’t know he knew the sound well enough to recognize through his thoughts and fuzzy head. His vision isn’t all there either, he’s too focused on the blood. It’s not as sweet as some people he has tasted, but it’s better than the bags he had the past few days. Fresh is always going to be better. It really doesn’t compare. 

“Regulus!” He continues to yell, but he doesn’t want to listen. No he would rather enjoy the blood dancing through him. 

With a breath in he continues drinking. The body in is grasp grows weaker and eventually limp. He just can’t stop, not when he hasn’t had this much to drink in so long. Nothing else matters, this right now is all he can think about. The weeks he has prepared to kill this hunter all lead up to this. Regulus is getting to reap all of the benefits of this kill. It’s delicious. Why would he stop?

“Stop,” James yells, not for the first time. 

His hand yanks his shoulders and he’s pulled back. Fangs dragging in the hunter’s neck with a  trail of blooding marking where he’s been. It takes a moment for Regulus to get his bearings again. He’s disoriented and well, a bit distracted by the droplet of blood rolling down from the corner of his mouth. His tongue darts out to lick it up and he hums, pleased. 

Just for a second is he pleased, then the fog clears and he sees the mess in front of him. “I did that didn’t I?” 

“Well it wasn’t me.” He scowls back at him. 

“Is he dead?” Regulus clasps his hands together, rubbing his thumb into the palm of his hand to keep himself focused. 

The thing is, he knows the answer. He just can’t look at what he did. It’s not that he feels remorse for it, he really doesn’t especially with this particular man. He just hates knowing that he couldn’t keep himself under control. Moody, if he’s not already, will be dead very soon. With or without further intervention. He was going to die anyway, this just messed up Regulus more than it should have. 

He knows what he has to do now. Or more accurately, not do. No blood for at least a few days. Maybe longer. Which is fine, he can handle that. He’s done it before and he unfortunately knows that he will do it again. Regulus just hates that this is how he’s going to see Sirius again. Still a disappointment to his brother, still out of control. The only other option is to run now, let James go find Sirius on his own and be left behind again. 

He won’t do that, he doesn’t want that. James wouldn’t let him either. 

“I tried to stop you. I couldn’t get you to listen.” He weakly says as they walk toward the house, leaving Moody in their wake. 

At least something is crossed off his list. Two things actually. Heal James and kill the hunter. All that’s left of the original list is to find Sirius and run off to a new place together. Regulus knows it is no longer that simple. He also knows that there is a new list he has to make. It’s one he keeps for all of the times it’s been used. Never fully crossed off, always in rotation. It’s the rehabilitation list. Though it starts off with the problem, triggering him to go through the motions. 

1. lose control, check
2. dry out
3. wait another day after thinking you’re ready
4. start drinking again in small doses and only from a bag
5. get better without needing to call Sirius
6. if all else fails, call Sirius

He hates this list. He hates how often he comes back to it. The only possibly saving grace this time is that James is here and going to help. At least he assumes he will, he understands what this is like or so he says. That will keep him from needing to call Sirius for help on this. It will also keep him from falling back to step one once he’s dried out. Sometimes it takes a few loops through this list before it sticks unfortunately. 

Like he’s said, Regulus was content becoming a vampire, he just wasn’t cut out for it the way some people are. Sirius is the one who never wavered in his control over it. At staying true to himself and keeping hold on reality no matter what. Things just slip from Regulus sometimes, like knowing when to pull back and let go. 

“It’s not so easy to stop me.” He sighs. “Should have warned you that before you agreed to help.” 

James offers him a half hearted smile. He seems to understand. It’s not as if Regulus had to try and pull him off of anyone’s neck, but from just this look he is certain that Sirius has on more than one occasion. He doesn’t even know the irony of it, any of it. 

There’s still a rush coursing through him, adrenaline pumping if that’s even something vampires still have. It’s a high. that’s why he struggles with control. Maybe if there was nothing good that came of bleeding a person dry, he wouldn’t do it. At least not like this. He can feel every hair on his body, every movement of air, he can hear and smell the leaves rustling outside of the house. Everything is hitting his senses at once. This is when the addiction really kicks in and he absolutely needs more as soon as possible. 

The closest sensation to this, the way he’s explained it to others, namely Sirius, is when you first turn. The first time you feel the new senses and experience all of the sensations you never had before. Or the ones that are so minuscule, but you’re now hyper aware of them. It’s overwhelming, sure, but it’s also incredible. It’s intense and it’s a high you will forever be chasing after that. Which for people like him and James, that’s exactly what they do. 

“What now?” He looks almost at it, but just to the side not meeting his eyes. 

“I assume you want to get back to S- your friend, right?” 

“Yeah, I’d like to. I meant with you. Do you have somewhere you have to get off to? Other vampires to save?” James teases. 

Right, that’s technically what he’s been doing. Saving James over and over again. He still doesn’t know why. For Regulus it’s simple, Sirius wouldn’t forgive him if he didn’t. And really, he only ended up there at the right time to be able to save James at all, because he was under the assumption that it was Sirius lying in the rubble of the house. He’s still not sure if the two had split up before or after James was poisoned, not that it matters. But Regulus isn’t in the business of saving anyone unless it’s for his brother. 

“As if I would do this again.” He answers instead, because really this was a hassle. 

“Well, you’re welcome to come with me if you like. I think you’ll like Sirius. Or well, he would like you that’s for sure. I’m not sure what you like.”

He ignores the first half, only responding to the second. “Exactly.” 

With the sun now shining in the sky, they spend the day resting. James is good at this, he settles in and leans his head back as if he could just doze off at any second. On the other hand, Regulus is wired. He is able to sit still, but only if he focuses all of his energy on that. Otherwise he would be running around the house trying to find some way to let off steam or somewhere to attack someone. 

It’s a really long day in the end. Even longer than the days the two had previously spent doing absolutely nothing other than James spitting up all of the blood from his body. Those went by faster than this. Regulus hates it. If it were night and he had the darkness on his side, he would be out and running off as much of this energy as he could. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

Eventually James wakes up, after somehow falling asleep in broad daylight. He hesitantly looks at Regulus, as if trying to decide whether he is a bomb ready to go off or not. Regulus is undecided on the matter himself, but he’s about ready to get up and do something. There is still a few hours before he can go out unprotected, and surely James will have something to say about it when he goes for the door. 

He’s itching for more though. The high has subsided mostly, and he just wants to chase it before it’s gone completely. The sun is out but he really doesn’t care right now. He could manage just to get some more blood. They’re in the middle of no where, it wouldn’t even matter who he picks to drink from. None of it matters. 

At first he gets up just acting normal. With the hope that since James is like him in this regard he won’t be watching out for the signs. Not the way Sirius does. He’s always hyper vigilant when he’s trying to dry Regulus out. He’s seemingly everywhere at all times and it’s infuriating. Here though, James is just sitting in his chair waiting for the sun to go down. That’s it. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” He calls once his back is to him. 

“None of your business.” 

“Get back here.” He demands, surprisingly Regulus listens. “You’re not going to find another person to bite into by any chance, are you?” 

“Well no, I’m standing here with you.” He snipes back. 

“Let’s keep it that way. And since you think you deserve more blood, let’s reverse it. I want more.” James reaches his hand out, palm up, inviting him to place his wrist there. 

Regulus shakes his head. He’s not a fucking blood bag, he did his part already. Now they know what James is able to drink, he can go and find a different vampire to take a sip of. He’s sure his brother would be happy to be of service. Though he thinks he could make this into a deal. 

“If I let you drink, then when the sun goes down I get one too.” He puts it simply, then as James opens his mouth to likely negotiate further, he adds, “A real one. Not a blood bag. Vein for vein.”

“Fine. Vein for vein, now hand it over.” 

This time James doesn’t meet his eyes. He purposefully avoids them. He lines up his fangs to press into the veins and pierces the skin. They both suck in a synchronized breath as the blood starts to flow. It doesn’t exactly feel different after this morning’s activities, but the difference as he drinks is more noticeable. He can feel himself getting weaker. Odd considering he has more blood in his own system, but it’s really just further dulling the high he felt. Making him crave more. 

Regulus studies him. It’s fascinating watching him drink, or well watching someone drink from him. It’s not the first time, no that would have been Barty. Before he turned Regulus and before he was killed. He didn’t drink from him all the time, but it was frequent enough for the memory to still be clear all of these centuries later. This is different though. 

He wasn’t gentle, James somewhat is. A version of gentle that toes the line and he can’t quite place the sensation it brings. But with Barty it was rough, it was intimate but not soft. Often sexual but definitely not sensual. He would leave trails of blood when he pulled away from his wrist or neck, further marking Regulus. He can’t place how it makes him feel, either way. 

His drinking is slow. He can feel as the blood leaves him little bit by little bit. James is pacing himself, all the while making this take longer. Regulus doesn’t protest, he just observes. Almost as if he’s on the outside of all of this, not quite part of it. This, whatever this is, is between his wrist and James. Not quite made for his eyes to see though he couldn’t look away even if he tried. 

Eventually he stops, delicately pulling his fangs away from his skin and licking the remaining drops of blood from his lips. It sends a shock through his system when James leans back down and presses his lips over the two punctures. 

“Still delicious, by the way.” He leans back into his chair with a smug grin on his face. 

Regulus can’t focus anymore. He still can’t take his eyes off of him, though briefly he look back down to his wrist expecting to see blood. There’s nothing, all covered by the softness that James handles him with. He’s not sure what to do with that, there isn’t anywhere in his brain to file these thoughts away in that’s readily available. 

He’s broke out of his haze by James who continues to talk, though he only picks up bits and pieces. “-not too far from here. Think we could get there tonight to get one.”

“Get what?” 

“A car. One with proper windows that won’t let in any sunlight for us.” He chuckles through his words, much to Regulus’ annoyance. 

“Oh, alright. Sure.” He waves him on to continue, still hardly paying attention. 

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

It’s not that he fully zones out or blacks out or anything. Though it’s maybe two hours later when they are finally sitting in a car that Regulus is finally able to register what is going on around him. At least more than he was. The first thing he notes as James drives isn’t that he’s driving or the music he is playing. It’s that he was not given the opportunity to go out and get a drink. 

“Pull over.” He demands after having been silent for a while. 

James leans over to turn the volume down and stifles a laugh. “What’s wrong?” 

“We had a deal. I gave you blood now I get to have some too.” His hands are almost starting to shake but he refuses to let that be seen. He clasps them together in his lap and stares ahead. 

“And I don’t care about that. You should know that.” He states and returns to singing along under his breath. 

He’s seemingly not as easy to trick or manipulate as he had thought. Regulus just wants a drink, not to drain anyone else, just a little jolt to his system. Enough to hold him over for now. He knows, quite well actually, that he should be letting himself stay thirsty. No blood. That’s how it works to get control back. He would just really rather have a nice warm neck to bite into sometime in the next few hours, preferably. 

“I’ll be less irritable if you get me to the nearest town where I can get some blood.” 

“You’ll never be less irritable.” 

This earns James a glare, drawing yet another laugh out of him. “I liked it better when you were dying.” Part of him might even mean it, him dying was less complicated. 

It gets quiet again between them. Better that way. James is recognizing that he doesn’t have anything to say that won’t come off snarky. He can’t tell where exactly they are from the scenery and his head is pounding too much to focus on the signs. It doesn’t matter anyway. He’s pretty sure that at the end of this drive will be Sirius and that’s a whole other barrier to get past. 

He licks his lips every minute or so, it does nothing. Regulus can still feel the pangs and nothing but fresh blood will satiate him. That or maybe a few days or a week of nothing before slowly letting himself have drops from a blood bag. It’s stupid is what it is. He’s not stupid for getting himself here, not exactly. Because he doesn’t regret the way he treated the hunter, he just hates that he has to reap the consequences. He hates that he has control issues to begin with. 

“Hey, speaking of,” James’ voice echoes out of no where. 

“We weren’t speaking.” He interrupts to correct him. 

“Maybe not just now. But earlier. Me, dying. You know? Right well, you still haven’t told me why you stopped me from dying.”

“Yes I’m aware.” 

“I want to know. We have a long drive, you could tell me now.” He suggests and Regulus isn’t exactly inclined to do so. 

Instead, he counters. “Answer me something first. Why was the hunter targeting you?” 

What he wants to hear is that Sirius did something stupid. He’s always doing stupid and reckless things that could get him into trouble. At least that version of the story he understands and he can deal with. When he sees Sirius again he’ll yell at him and make fun of him for being dumb enough to get into that situation, though he has some preservation instincts considering he got away hopefully unscathed. 

The less likely, from what James has told him unprompted, would be that James was in trouble and not with Sirius at the time. That he didn’t get there in time to save his friend, and it was Regulus who did get there. That he ran off to a safe house to wait for James to meet him there if he made it out. Unfortunately this scenario doesn’t sound much like his brother, so he hardly considers it. 

Next to him, he watches the smile drop from James face. “My friend and I were out one night a few towns over from where you found me. I may have lost control just a bit. Set a target on our backs, we didn’t know there were even hunters in the area. And then I fell into the trap they set.”

His vision goes again. Not from hunger, not from blood. From pure rage. He’s blinded by it and he has to keep from exploding. They’re in close quarters and he’d rather not deal with a car accident on top of everything else. But he can’t help it. He’s furious. 

“You put Sirius in danger.” Regulus seethes. 

“Not on purpose. He was going to help me get control back.” He almost, if he cared at all to notice, sounds ashamed. “I might have left a few bodies drained of blood in a bathroom of a club. Not my finest moment, but Sirius was—” 

“You put my brother in danger. I’ll kill you.” The words fly out of his mouth followed by him blowing out a heavy breath. 

“Your brother? What do you mean?” 

It’s out now, it would have been eventually, so he confirms more clearly. “My brother, Sirius. You fucked up and nearly got him killed along with you. Fuck you, you’re irresponsible and reckless and do you even care what happens to him?” 

“Oh you’re one to talk.” He spits back. 

“This isn’t fucking about me James. This is about you and Sirius and how idiotic you are.” Regulus throws his hands up in exasperation. 

A beat passes, then James lowers his voice back to normal or just below. “You’re his brother?” 

“Yes and you shouldn’t even exist.” 

He exists, well as a vampire, solely because of a broken promise. Regulus hasn’t forgotten. Not over the weeks they have only had each other as company, and definitely not now when he knows that he’s reckless enough to get Sirius in trouble. He put both of them on the radar of pretty skilled and trained hunters. He’s fucking lucky that Regulus was already on their trail to take care of this. 

“I— Whatever, I’m not going to argue about that right now. I don’t even know what you’re saying anymore Reg.” 

The anger beats steadily in his chest but he resigns in to himself. Arms crossing over his chest as he pulls his feet up onto the seat and his knees to his body. “I hate you.” 

“Okay Regulus. Just calm down or get some sleep for now, yeah?” 

Despite hating that the suggestion came from him and hating everything he’s said today, he listens. Without any more blood he doesn’t have much energy and he’s used a lot of it to yell at him. Which is worth it because how could anyone be that stupid? Later problem, he tells himself. The options when he wakes up are find his own way from wherever they are, though that likely means more time until he gets to see his brother again. Once again there are no good options for him. 

As he starts to let his eyes close, this time James doesn’t hum or make any noise at all. The music plays softly and occasionally he will hear the indicator tick, but that’s all. Decent conditions to fall asleep in. The motion of the car actually soothes him more than expected. If he’s stuck in this car, this is the best it can be. 

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He wakes again when the car jolts to a stop and he’s jerked forward, just barely catching himself with his hands before flying through the windshield. 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to do that.” James mutters. 

All he answers with is a grunt of annoyance. 

“Hungry?” He then asks softly. 

“Thirsty.” Regulus bites back, still refusing to look in his direction, opting for staring at the scenery instead. 

“Right well, I can’t help you with that right now. I’d like something to eat that isn’t you though, so I’m pulling off at the next exit.” 

He has nothing to say to that, other than complaints about not being allowed to bite anyone. It’s a few minutes more of driving and he tries to figure out based on road signs where they are. He’s unsuccessful in that. Not a single town name is recognizable to him, so he figure that they are somewhere east. Regulus knows that area of England the least. If they’re still in England at all that is. 

James seems to not have the same problem and knows exactly where they are meant to be going without any directions. Either that or he’s getting them lost on purpose. He doesn’t have the energy or the tolerance to ask him right now. Mostly in case he says he’s just driving aimlessly, because Regulus would absolutely want to rip his head off if that is the case. He can’t exactly promise that he wouldn’t give in to that urge either. 

Whatever positive or positive adjacent feelings he had toward him before are gone now. The sooner he can be rid of him the better. As unlikely as that is given that they both want to get back to Sirius. Perhaps he can convince Sirius that they should ditch him, leave him to fend for himself after all the trouble he’s been… It’s a good idea really. He might even go for it. 

The car slows and James turns to park in a small, essentially abandoned, car park. “You can stay here if you like, but I’m going in to eat.” 

“Aren’t you worried if I stay out here alone that I’ll kill someone?” He teases, half joking. 

“I don’t think you will.” 

“I might.” 

He shrugs and climbs out of the driver’s side leaving him behind. For a second he really contemplates. It would be easy to run off and leave him now. There’s a few hours until the sun will rise, giving him more than enough time to find some fresh blood and get to a safe house. He would just need to figure out where exactly they are and then he would be set. 

It’s only a moment, if that, where Regulus seriously thinks about doing that. In the end he follows James into the diner where there is only one other person sitting and eating and two people working. That makes it easy to find where he’s found a table to sit at. He solemnly sits across from James, not looking up for even a second. Even without doing so, he can tell there is a smug look or a stupid smile plastered on his face. 

“Told you so.” He confirms Regulus’ suspicions. “I got you a cup of coffee.”

“Don’t want anything.” He mumbles. 

A waitress comes by, putting down two mugs and filling them. He can hardly focus on that. What he can do, is dig his fingers into his palms in fists to distract from the smell. No one is bleeding, no his senses are just that heightened right now. Regulus lets the static fill his brain as much as he can to avoid losing control right now. It would just be so easy to with only a few people here. Hardly any witnesses, definitely not too many for him to just take care of. 

His gaze is trained on the ground, allowing him to see as the waitress walks away from them. He lets himself breathe again when she’s out of sight and out of smell range. Maybe it’s not as necessary, but he’s actually trying to be good. Not breathing in any scent from humans will make him potentially think about drinking their blood a little less. Now if any of the three humans here cut their finger or starting bleeding for any reason, well then he would get out of here as fast as he could. Or lose control and drain all of them. Whichever happens first really. 

“Are you sure you don’t want anything else?” His voice is soft which only makes him hate it more. 

“I don’t even want this.” 

He sighs and pauses. Finding the patience to deal with him it seems. “Pass it here.” 

Of course Regulus does not do that. He just stares. Not quite at James, more so past him. Just staring ahead letting himself zone out. It’s only out of the corner of his eye that he can see as James pulls the mug across the table and pulls a familiar bag out of his pocket. He pours a few drops into the mug. Staining the black coffee with specks of deep red. Without being able to stop it, he licks his lips, drawing a chuckle out of the man across from him. 

He thinks he can hear him mumble to himself, something like that’s what I thought, though he’s not sure. Regulus is too focused on the blood to pay him any mind. Not even giving him a glare or making a remark back. He would much rather fresh blood from any of the veins in the diner, but this is better than nothing. It will sate him for now. Not for long, but for right now. 

Quickly he pulls the mug back to his side of the table before James can think twice about his choice and take it away from him. If this were Sirius across from him, he would be drying him out for at least two more days. Sometimes a full week. Perks of being rehabilitated by another addict, perhaps? Regulus draws his knees to his chest, shins pressed against the table in front of him and picks up the mug. 

The moment it reaches his lips he is hit with an even stronger aroma of blood. The first sip is heavenly. He doesn’t care what the coffee tastes like other than the blood. It’s shitty diner coffee that right now is borderline cold but could have very well been scalding. It wouldn’t matter either way, not when it’s mixed with his favorite drink. 

“Slow down, you’re not getting any more.” James seems to have a death wish. 

“Fuck. Off.” He seethes in between gulps.

“You and I both know that I’m being much nicer with this than Sirius would be.” The death wish continues as he seems to test the waters with continuing the conversation from earlier. 

It does work, if only slightly. Regulus doesn’t down the entire cup in one go. He puts it back down on the table. His eyes flick up to finally meet James’ after hours of avoiding it. He might crack, in fact Regulus is banking on it. For now, he is the only source of fuel for James, so if he wants to keep drinking then he has to keep letting Regulus. It’s only fair that way. 

Without breaking eye contact, without letting his exterior crack, he taunts him. “You want to talk about Sirius?” 

“Yeah, I do. Actually.” 

“He was never supposed to turn you. And yet he did, and then you have the audacity to put him in danger with an entire network of hunters. Based on what you’ve said, it’s definitely not the first time you have, this is just the worst of it. How fucking dare you.” He keeps all emotion, or most at least, out of his voice, allowing only a slight edge. 

“I’ve never tried to, I never would. He’s my best friend I’m not ever trying to get him killed.” James all but cracks in two with the accusation. 

The thing is, his gut trusts him. Regulus doesn’t have a clue why, but… But. That’s all it is. He just does. He knows what James is saying and he knows the feelings. He’s been there. It’s been Regulus before that fucks up like that and he’s been the one that was a mess for Sirius to figure out how to clean up. 

Is he truly better than putting them in imminent danger of being killed, or was it just luck all along? If it hadn’t been James, could it have been him? 

Regardless, he doesn’t let his walls slip down again. He’s not weak. Even as he sits here, feet on the chair and knees huddled to his chest, he’s not weak. Tired and in need of more than just a few drops from a blood bag, sure. But not weak. Especially when it comes to this, he’s not going to back down from this. James can’t think that he can get away with being so foolish that he nearly got Sirius, and himself for that matter, killed. 

“You still nearly did.” He pointedly reminds him. “You also nearly died you idiot.” 

His mouth tugs outward, almost smiling at him. “Is that… Am I hearing you correctly?” 

“Whatever you think, you’re wrong.”

“No, Reg I don’t think I am this time. You care. You care that I almost died too and you didn’t even know me before.” James sounds downright giddy about this. 

And if he had any more energy he would be leaping across the table and ripping his heart from his chest. He doesn’t care, he doesn’t give a shit whether James lives or dies. The closest he is to that is caring what Sirius would say if his brother showed up and told him his best friend was dead. He’s lucky that Regulus did anything at all to help really. 

They end up in a stalemate. Regulus will not be giving in on this topic and it seems that James thinks he has won. His smile keeps growing and he laughs through it. Through a staring contest to be exact. Call it making up for lost time during all of the hours Regulus refused to meet his gaze, but neither of them can look away now. One vindictive, one wrongly triumphant. Ridiculous. 

The waitress comes back and places a stack of pancakes in front of James. An odd choice for this time, though not many vampires keep traditional schedules in general, let alone for meals. She senses the tension and quickly walks away again finding something to keep herself busy. Or at least she pretends to be occupied with something despite nothing else happening in the diner. 

“I’m still mad at you.” He states simply. 

“Sure you are.” His hands are already holding the fork and knife to cut into the stack. Once he has a bite ready, he grabs for the syrup and doses the pieces on his fork. With them in his mouth he decides to ask, “Wan’ some?”

“That was an ungodly amount of syrup.” 

The tensions seems to ease, though Regulus will not be letting go of his grudge. They’re able to sit there without bickering for an impressive amount of time. James stuffs his face while he slowly allows himself to sip the blood coffee. He really would like to add more to the cup, but he’s not going to ask for it. 

Asking for it is usually a trap. Asking for it shows all of his cards when he would prefer keeping them close to his chest. Asking for it tells him exactly what he wants, even if he already knows. Asking for it is weak. 

Regulus is not weak. Before when he was asking it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t being dangled in front of him meant to tempt him into asking. He made a deal that he unfortunately believed would be held up and he wanted to collect. He’s certainly not going to ask or beg for a few more drops from the blood bag tucked away in James’ pocket. That would be foolish and wouldn’t get him anywhere. 

“Sure you don’t want any?” James asks when the plate is nearly empty save for a few bites. 

“Just coffee is fine.” His voice is thick and quiet. 

A smirk crosses his face for a second that most people would miss. Regulus however is looking and hasn’t been able to look away, so he catches it. “Oh? Just coffee, well then I can take that from you and have her bring you a fresh mug without any blood.”

The speed at which Regulus snatches the mug is unmatched. He doesn’t use vampire speed to do it, he really just darts his hand out and pulls it back, nestling it between his chest and the crook between his knees. James doesn’t miss it at all either. Which is when it dawns on him, that this was the exact reaction he was hoping for. Regulus is mortified and fed up and… and. Well until now he can’t recall noticing how James’ nose scrunches up when he laughs, but only the smaller laugh he has, like right now. 

“Fine fine, I’m not taking the blood from you.” He holds his hands up in defeat. “Sirius would, you know. I’ll say it again, you should be grateful that it’s me who’s getting you back on track and not him.”

“No shot he’s ever been as bad to you as he has been to me. You don’t know the worst of it.”

He studies Regulus for a long minute. “So you- no never mind actually. Let’s just finish up and get back on the road.” 

He wants to protest but he doesn’t. He gulps down the rest of the coffee that is no longer hot and makes sure there doesn’t look to be traces of blood in the cup. Absolutely no way is he going to let any go to waste.. And maybe they shouldn’t leave any signs they have been here, like blood in mugs. James puts money on the table and waves to the waitress on the way out. 

Getting in the car and starting their drive again only takes a minute. James buckles himself in and starts driving without even contemplating directions. Neither of them have phones on them right now, they’ll have to get new ones soon. Or eventually make it back to where Regulus left all of his things before they had to run. But driving isn’t that hard and a lot of the roads are easy enough to follow if you know the general direction you need to head in. 

He’s simply been trusting that James knows where they are going. Not only that they are driving in the right direction, but that he is right about where Sirius is. Regulus has no idea why he trusts it, or why he believes that Sirius is just at some safe house he’s never heard of and didn’t know existed. Through the years even during their time apart they still used the shared houses, so this is… new. 

He doesn’t like it. Of course he can blame James for it and he absolutely will. Though there is something keeping him  from doing that. Something in him that doesn’t really care if they are going the right way. That doesn’t care if they make it to Sirius today or a week from now. What that could be, he doesn’t care to find dig through his thoughts and feelings to find out. It doesn’t matter. The whole trip with James won’t last long anyway. 

When they get to their destination though, it could go a few ways. He and Sirius could get in another fight and not even last a day reunited. It’s happened before when they come back to each other too soon. That’s something a lot of people, especially newer vampires don’t realize. Forever, eternity, it’s a long time. Being immortal is a big commitment. 

That’s part of why they said they would never turn anyone else. When you get turned it’s not exactly a bond to the vampire who turned you. Not in a physical sense that links you to them or anything like that. It’s just knowing how big of a thing it is, you usually like to know at least one person who will be there forever. Regulus wasn’t turned because he really wanted to, it just happened. Sirius wasn’t turned because he really wanted to, he just didn’t want to lose his brother. Or Regulus assumes that’s still the reason. 

For a vampire to turn someone else, the more ethical of the vampires, will make sure the newbie won’t run off on their own and cause trouble. They turn them because it’s someone they want to spend a long time with. Which is what seems to be the case with Sirius and James. Though to his knowledge it’s not a romantic thing, he’s only referred to Sirius as his friend. That piece of information has been neatly tucked away in his mind for no particular reason. None whatsoever.

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“Why does that sign say South? I thought we were heading North?” Regulus looks to him pulling his gaze from the sign. 

“Oh, we are. Just have to get around some towns without good roads. Don’t worry, we’re on track.” He stumbles through an explanation. 

Not even part of him believes James. He’s taking them a long way around. Or well, he thinks that is what is happening. he can’t be sure because he doesn’t know himself. They both have said they miss Sirius, they want to be back with him. James nearly died and is probably itching to see his friend again to celebrate that he well, didn’t die. And Regulus? It’s been somewhere around 75 years since he saw his brother. Taking the long way doesn’t make sense, unless there is another motive. 

Still, he doesn’t fight it. “Alright. Let me know if you get tired of driving.” 

“Really? I can’t picture you driving.” 

“Just for that I think we should switch so I can show you.” He doesn’t frequently drive, but he can. How well is something he doesn’t plan to disclose. It’s not his fault cars didn’t exist when he first grew up. 

“Not a chance. But I will let you pick the music.” He flashes a smile, now that they aren’t about to kill each other any moment. 

The problem with this is that he would gladly pick the music if he had access to his phone. Or even CDs. All they have is the radio and they are in a spotty area so as soon as he finds a song or a station he’s content with, it gets all staticky. Incredibly annoying. He almost wants to just turn it off, but he has a sinking suspicion that James would start singing. 

As they drive he tries again to pick up on some of the scenery. Hoping to recognize a town name or somewhere he has been before. According to James, they are heading toward Scotland where Sirius supposedly is. From where they were would be around a 12 hour drive without stopping. He fell asleep for a bit, but it’s still night so he suspects they have a bit to go. Once the sun rises, as long as the windows do the trick and they don’t burn up, it shouldn’t take longer than daylight to arrive. 

Regulus does give up on the music, settling for the only station that doesn’t cut in and out regardless of what music plays. “So tell me James,”

“Anything you want to know. Open book.” He chimes. 

No one is truly an open book. “Why did he turn you?” 

“Ah, that’s a bit… I don’t know that it’s all mine to share. We can talk about it when we get to Sirius, yeah?” 

Interesting. He contemplates this, studying James’ face to see if it will give anything away. It could be a million different things. He doubts that it is that Sirius turned him against his will, but the thought does come to him. They stayed with each other though, so it can’t be that bad. He doesn’t push further though. If he needs to be patient he can be. 

“Now I get to ask something.” James adds. 

“You didn’t answer in the first place.”

He ignores this. “You keep saying I shouldn’t have been turned, tell me why.” 

Regulus does. Somewhat easily actually. As much as he wanted to be petulant, he doesn’t mind sharing this now. Especially after all they have been through and talked about. He understands James more, and he suspects that feeling will grow when he hears the story of how he turned. He might even be starting to like the fact that he was turned, but he doesn’t forgive Sirius’ broken promise. 

It’s a story he knows well. Just for the sake of it, he skips over his own story. He doesn’t talk about how he drowned or how he had been sleeping with a vampire knowingly. He does talk about waking up though, that’s where he starts. Waking up mostly confused, still feeling as though he drowned but with a new thirst. 

Sirius never left his side. Except for a few hours and he still doesn’t know where he went during that. The first night he made sure he was okay, he made sure his little brother wasn’t going to just die again. It was Barty to provide him with blood and to make sure he knew how to survive. 

From the driver’s side, James nods along to the story. He laughs a few times at Sirius’ reactions, but he doesn’t comment at all. Well, until he mentions how much Sirius hated that he was going to turn. It was his idea, he didn’t want to leave Regulus to do it all alone. They both wanted to get away from their parents, but he still hated the idea of it. Regulus wasn’t all that opposed to it, it gave him more freedom than he had ever had. His older brother was good at finding that on his own, he didn’t need to be immortal. 

That’s what gets James’ attention. “He didn’t want to turn?”

“Not really no. It just made sense for him to, I think. I didn’t turn him against his will or anything, he suggested it. He just didn’t want to.” That conversation plays in his head as he talks about it, as if it were currently happening rather than a memory from three hundred years ago. 

“Hmmm…” 

“What are you hmmm-ing about?” 

“Oh, well he rather likes being a vampire. He’s bloody good at it.” 

“That’s Sirius, fucking insufferable.” His head shakes in both fondness and exasperation. “Anyway, he didn’t want it and we didn’t need anyone else besides us. So no turning anyone else, that was the promise. I’ve only ever turned him and well, he turned you.”

There’s a beat of silence, it drags on for too long to be comfortable. 

They don’t keep talking about Sirius after that. Surprisingly. It’s the common thread between them. As soon as the secret was out, Regulus assumed that would be all there is to talk about. He and James would have nothing else. Other than their two weeks of time together, but there would be no point in talking about it all again when it just happened. 

So naturally it would fall to Sirius. It doesn’t. 

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Hours pass by. They can’t stop unless they absolutely have to. Just for fuel, but even then they have to be particular about where they go. It has to be out of the sun since it’s shining bright in the sky now. Of course they don’t luck out with a cloudy day when it would come in handy. He thinks it’s been about four hours, plus maybe two before the diner. They should be at least halfway there, more even.

They stopped once earlier, just after talking about the promise. Which means they are in need of stopping again. Every kilometer or so James seems to be intently reading the signs to find  petrol station until he does. More specifically they head in the direction of two, that way if one is uncovered they won’t be far from another. 

This however, is when he reads one of the signs himself. London 130 km east. When did they end up west of London? And how are they still so close when they should be more than halfway to Scotland now? Regulus wants to ask if they are lost. He’s pretty decent with directions, but roads are a different story. He can run them anywhere in the country but driving isn’t the same. 

The thing is, James doesn’t seem the least bit lost. He’s exactly where he wants to be. It’s all on purpose. They may not have a GPS system, but he knows what he’s doing and he knows how to get to Sirius. It’s just taking longer. A roundabout route. Now that he’s figured it out, he should argue. He should tell him to get back on track and drive straight there. He wants to see Sirius not the whole of England. 

But. See, there’s a but again. There always is now. He just can’t find the words to tell James. To tell him that he knows they aren’t driving the right way or that he knows it’s on purpose or that he doesn’t even mind. Regulus is okay with it. This is the first he’s hearing of this feeling too, and he’s just as shocked. He doesn’t want them to get there quicker. 

“What are you smiling about? It’s unnerving.” James is on the other side of the car filling the tank, almost staring at him. 

“Not smiling. It’s nothing.” He bites the inside of his cheek and relaxes his face to be sure. 

“Sure it’s not.” 

His face threatens to flush an embarrassing shade of pink, but he is saved by James turning to put the pump away. He doesn’t ask if they have enough to make it to their destination. They hardly have a destination anymore. Not one that he’s certain they are heading to at least. He knows that they will eventually make it to Sirius, really they will. Both of them want to. 

It just doesn’t seem as pressing. Now that they are enjoying each other’s company at least. Regulus doesn’t admit that, he never will. Though he has a hunch that James seems to already know or suspect it to be true. They could start driving the entirely wrong direction and he wouldn’t say anything. There’s only this drive left of things being how they are. He’s not sure he wants to waste it or rush through it. 

Luckily the tinted windows are doing the trick. It’s fully day time and the sun is high and bright in the sky and they just keep driving. Getting on the highway and getting off at random times. Whatever James decides to do. It hardly matters anymore. He finds that he can actually enjoy himself if he allows it. If he lets James make stupid remarks and laughs instead of scowling. Regulus lets himself go. 

Secretly, he’s hoping that this will get James to dish out more blood. He’s been keeping the one bag stored in his pocket so he can’t just grab it whenever he wants. Which, technically is fair. Because Regulus is not exactly holding his wrist out for him to latch onto whenever he gets thirsty either. They’re both the keepers of the blood the other can drink. So technically yes, it’s fair. But also it’s not and Regulus hates it. 

They get to talking about so many different things. From their favorite colors to even the things they miss most about being human. It’s weird to be getting to know him after the last few weeks they have had. They’re doing things a bit backwards. It doesn’t matter all that much though. Regulus shuts down the part of him that wants to think deeply about it all, he always over analyzes things. Instead he lets himself get lost between the laughter coming from James and the crinkles in the corner of his eyes. 

Until James just stops. Not the car, his face just drops for a beat too long. “What happened?” 

His head shakes it off quickly. “Oh, nothing. It’s fine.”

“No, something happened. What is it?” Regulus presses. 

“Well you see, the tank is almost empty again. And it’s the middle of a perfectly sunny day. None of the stations we passed had covering like the last one.” 

“How is it empty? It’s only been an hour or two since we filled it.” 

He flexes his fingers around the wheel anxiously. “I may have miscalculated. A bit.”

“A bit?”

James only shrugs playing innocent. He partly believes him. They are already taking the absolute longest way, there would hardly be a reason to add another obstacle. But Regulus doesn’t mind as much as it looks like. He’s most just playing with him. Acting upset to guilt trip him. As he pulls off at the nearest exit, Regulus thinks that it will work. His eyes are what give him away every time. 

“I really thought we had enough for a while longer.” He looks over hoping to find a forgiving face. 

He’s in luck, because Regulus doesn’t mind. “It’s alright. Let’s just find somewhere to park until sundown.”

“Are you sure? I know you want to get to Sirius.”

“It’s been seventy years, what’s another day?” He means it, he’s actually starting to enjoy himself. 

It’s almost as if he isn’t ready for this to be over. Everything will be different when they get to Scotland. Regulus has his own shit to work through with his brother and then there’s James. He might not want anything to change when he gets back either. He could just want to be with his best friend. None of this even takes into account what Sirius will say or do. As much as Regulus knows his brother better than anyone else, he can’t read his mind. 

They drive around for a few minutes, James carefully making sure that they will have enough gas to get to a station later. There are a few busier areas, which isn’t saying a lot really. They are in the middle of no where, just a few roads with consistent cars driving through. Not an ideal location for them to sit all day. They find a shaded area near some walking trails that has a car park and decide that is good enough. 

“So… What should we do all day?” James asks as if they have many options. 

“I have an idea. Give me the blood bag.” His arms are crossed on his chest but he lazily drops one hand out waiting for it. 

“Better idea. We play a game.” Across from him, the eyes he already could hardly look away from light up. 

“I hate that I’m even asking… What kind of game?” 

He pauses for a moment, then “Truth or dare or some variation.”

“How about, if I do the dare or answer the truth then I get a drink.” 

“Only if it goes both ways. You wouldn’t believe the thirst you can have after weeks not being able to keep any blood down.” There is a twinkle in his eye as he smirks and glances down at his wrist where there are two barely visible punctures. 

They both agree, seemingly more interested in blood than keeping their secrets close to their chests. regulus sits and thinks to himself, he could ask many different things. Some of which could be thrown right back at him and he’s not sure if he would answer them. Luckily or unluckily, whichever way you see it, he is asked first. 

“Truth.” 

“Hm, how many people have you killed?” James asks as if asking how many siblings he has, not like he’s talking about murder. 

Regulus doesn’t see it as murder exactly, it’s not good to kill anyone and he tries not to, but he’s done it. He knows the number. He keeps track of it. Always has, it eventually helps him to get back in control. At all times he keeps himself in check even if just by making a tally for another dead body. It’s most effective if Sirius isn’t there to clean him up. 

“I don’t know.” His gaze isn’t focused on James, he’s looking just past him. 

“Well, no drink for you then. My—”

“Hey, not fair. I actually don’t know. That’s my answer, pass the bag.” He lies right through his teeth, but he isn’t about to tell him the number. 

“Rough estimate and I’ll give it to you.” 

“I’ve been alive for centuries and this is what you want to know? Fine, more than a hundred.” Closer to three hundred… But what’s the point in saying that. 

He accepts this and holds the tube of the bag to Regulus’ lips, only allowing a single sip to pass through before it’s tugged back. His fingers came so close to him, almost brushing against his lips. A shiver runs through him and he really wants it to happen again. If he has to drink this entire blood bag by singular sips to have his hands practically on him, then he will answer centuries worth of secrets. No big deal. 

“Same question to you.” 

“Oh, I think it’s… actually never mind.” He shakes his head. “Pass.” 

His fingers find the two dots on his wrist and he rubs over it with the pad of his thumb. Somehow missing the feeling of blood pouring out of him. Missing his fangs stuck in him so prettily. Absentmindedly his other hand scratches the nape of his neck and settles right where his carotid artery is. Another place he wouldn’t mind James to explore. 

Purely for blood. Nothing else. Right? That’s what he’s been telling himself. The thing is that it doesn’t feel like that’s it anymore. If it were, he would have just made a trade again. Or attempted to. Hold out his wrist and take the bag in his other hand. Win win for both of them, they get to drink. 

They go back and forth a handful of times, the amount of blood drank stays even between them. Both not willing to share everything. It only intrigues Regulus more, because James seems like he wouldn’t keep secrets. 

“Alright then, I told you quite a bit about me already. More than most, so dare.” 

“Sure about that?” James raises a brow at him. 

“If I’m not then I won’t get more blood.” He reasons, though a pit grows in his stomach not knowing what he could possibly come up with. 

“Bite me.” 

Oh. Regulus stops. He stops breathing he stops everything at those two words. He- well he could. It wouldn’t do anything for him blood wise, not the way it would for James. It would just be— he would be biting him. And there is something so intimate about it, even when it’s not meant to be, it’s the closest you can really get to someone. In a way. 

He tilts his head ever so slightly studying James, who doesn’t falter. He holds steady and waits for him to react. Waits for him to close the gap between them. A pit of desire bubbles in his stomach and his chest. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, he wasn’t sure why he was starting to like being here with James, he wasn’t sure why he doesn’t want it to end. But maybe it’s been so simple all along. 

“Go on, bite me.” He repeats.

This won’t sate his hunger. This won’t even really be a test for him to stay in control, except that it is. Without the need to keep drinking coming from down inside him, if he’s only doing it because he likes it, then it’s hardly any different from how he’s lost himself before. Regulus has to stay in control here, he can’t lose himself for even a second. 

When he can pull his eyes back up to meet his, he knows what he is going to do. For a moment Regulus looks for reassurance, confirmation that he is okay with this. The same way James has been doing before he bites to drink from him. He edges him on, nodding with so much softness and trust. Laying himself out. Giving himself over for Regulus to do as he pleases. It’s intoxicating and really all he can take before his desire takes over. 

His sights are set. Knowing that James will have no issue pushing him off and has enough strength right now to handle him if needed, he goes in. Not for the wrist, not the soft way that James does. He asked to be bitten, Regulus will be more than happy to stick his fangs in his neck. For too many days now he has been looking at the curve of his neck, the perfect golden brown skin. 

With most people, when he finds them to drink from the vein, he’s using his hands to restrain them, to make sure they won’t squirm away. Sometimes even to cover their mouths to keep them from screaming. Not always, but more often than not. When he’s drinking like this it’s in a bout of lost control, he’s not as concerned with finding willing participants. Right now though, he seems to have the most willing of them all. 

He holds his jaw, making room for himself right along the curve. Then he bites down. 

The skin pops under the pressure of his fangs and he feels almost immediate relief flood through his body. He’s not sure why. This isn’t the same thing he has been craving and nearly begging for. A warm is vein is all he’s wanted, not another vampire. 

As the blood spills into his mouth, he makes sure to keep it clean. Keep it controlled. The same as James has done with him. They can let it get messy with anyone else, but it takes away from whatever this is if they do the same now. He holds back from moaning when he gets the first taste of it on his tongue. 

The difference now is that he can enjoy the act. He can enjoy the bite and the way his fangs feel extracting the blood. He can enjoy the feeling of a body in his grasp. He can enjoy the pleasure that washes over him. 

With this he doesn’t even question if he can control himself. This is different. Regulus can lose himself in him without losing control. Whether that’s because this is a vampire or because it is James specifically, he has no idea. He simply loves it. 

Nothing has felt this good in a long time. Nothing. 

“Reg,” he mumbles and his voices reverberates in his neck, pulsing below him. 

Does he want him to stop? He would pull away if James asked him to, but that’s not what this seems to be. 

A hand comes up and rests on the back of Regulus’ head, holding him in place. He takes this as a sign to keep going. He can’t help but pull their bodies closer, earning him a better vantage point to bury himself in James’ neck. His tongue swipes between his fangs making sure to collect every drop of blood as his mouth remains on him. 

Yet when he pulls back, he can feel a drop sliding down the corner of his mouth, despite his best efforts. 

“You got a little something…” James points out. 

Before he can lick it up himself, which would be quite easy as he’s no stranger to mouth on his mouth, James is reaching over and wiping it up with the pad of his thumb. Their eyes stay locked the whole time, he can’t look away. It’s mesmerizing. And if he’s being honest he thought that James was exaggerating after the first time he drank from Regulus, but maybe he wasn’t. 

It’s intoxicating. The blood does nothing to him, but James? Oh James does things to him. 

“Enjoy yourself?” He teases. 

Regulus dips his head in a small nod. Words entirely escaping him right now. All he can think about, all he can look at is the two little red marks from him left behind on his neck, already starting to disappear. Before he can even look away they are gone and he desperately wants to put them back there. 

“That was…”

“I wasn’t exaggerating the other day.” James laughs with a certain air about him. He tugs at his own lip as he bites it for a quick moment. “Oh almost forgot. You earned yourself the blood bag.” 

His hand holds it out, waiting for Regulus to take it. He waits for his own hands to grab for it. He doesn’t. More than happy with what he’s already gotten, sure that’s part of it. But well, he wants something else. He has something he would much rather take for himself than a measly blood bag. 

It’s a risk, but he did just have his fangs in his neck. Right? What more could he do that would cross a line between them? 

And well, there’s nothing. So he closes the gap between them as he grabs James’ face in his hands again and pulls their lips together. Like a magnetic force. He’s been thinking about this, in a way, for days now. Just wanting to find ways to get closer, not necessarily a kiss just anything. He needs more. 

Regulus is met with just as much ferocity. The blood bag is shoved to the side, keeping it from spilling all over them and making a mess. Sure he still needs that to survive, but he’s drunk off of James. Whatever control he was starting to lose, whatever control he’s been trying to get back… It’s nothing compared to how he is and wants to keep losing himself in him. 

For a breath, though they could both get away without breathing at all, James breaks apart. He looks uncertain. He arches a brow, testing to see if this will all end up as a joke. Except it’s not. He wouldn’t do that, not when this would inevitably get back to his brother. Who right now, he really doesn’t care about. If they stayed right here until either of them couldn’t last any longer, it would be too soon. 

Ironically, it would be Regulus who has to cave first now. The only source of sustenance that James needs now is right here. Lucky him. They would eventually run out of human blood and have to leave. But they don’t have to rush anywhere. 

When James is content in whatever questioning he had for the kiss that was thrust upon him, he dives back in. Hungrier this time, ready for it this time. Grabbing Regulus back and knotting his fingers in the curls on his head. There’s a faint lingering taste of blood on his tongue that he’s sure James senses too. 

It sends him into a momentary panic, yanking himself back to his side of the car. “Fuck, James—”

“I mean, yeah fuck.” He replies in a daze. 

“No I mean, there’s blood in my mouth. You just— you would have gotten some. It’ll make you sick. I’ll have to drive us the rest of the way or get us to somewhere we can stop for a few days until you can get strength back. It’s, I wasn’t thinking…”

“Reg, calm down.” He puts a comforting hand on him, which Regulus promptly pushes away. “Hey, it’s okay. I won’t touch you right now. But it’s okay. It was my blood in your mouth.” 

He hears him, but the panic still courses through him. It is fine now but it could have been bad. It could have hurt him if he had taken the blood bag before kissing him. He shouldn’t worry that much but he can’t help it. Regulus just got him to be okay, it’s been a day or two really since he’s been strong enough to function. 

At this he looks away. A bit abruptly really. He stares off ahead of them. What did he just do? Why did he kiss him and why doesn’t he regret that part of it? Distantly, sounding as if he’s a world away, James tries to talk to him. It doesn’t even reach him. 

The thing is, he hasn’t had anyone else in his life. Not like this and not for a long time. There have been a few people here and there, but nothing real. Nothing that could ever possibly last. More often than not he will find people that he can spend a week with, a month at most. It’s just easier that way and he doesn’t mind it. Regulus doesn’t get lonely very easily. 

Loneliness is hard to measure. After centuries, it takes a lot to really feel alone. The longest relationship he ever had was a few months. Which resulted in well, his death and transformation. It’s not like he needs someone. He’s never turned anyone other than Sirius and none of the other vampires they have come in contact with are for him. There hasn’t been anyone that would be worth starting anything with. 

Nothing sparked, nothing clicked. He’s always been alright on his own, because he knows at the end of the day he has his brother and nothing is more infinite and permanent than that. 

Except now, here in this car, blood in his mouth, everything is clicking. There are sparks flying out of James’ mouth as he tries and tries to bring the attention back to him. To reach Regulus where he’s fallen into his head. He has no idea what to do with it. 

“What’s going on in your head? Come back to me.” He softly says, the words finally passing through the barrier. 

“Nothing. Just thought I heard something click.” Regulus doesn’t elaborate despite the confused expression painting his face. 

One second he’s finally twisting his neck to look back at James, except he’s not there. He’s jumped over the seat and is sprawled in the back. He arches a brow, inviting Regulus to join him and he can’t help but launch himself back. Gracefully though. He doesn’t slam into James, he softly lands pressed up against him. There’s a difference. 

“What are we doing back here?”

The corners of James’ mouth quirk up and his lips press softly to his temple. “Thought it would be a better view of the sunset for us before we hit the road again. Unless you had a better idea…” 

“I have a few actually…” 

Both of them really do want to get back to see Sirius for their own reasons. Both of them know they should get back to a life that isn’t built off of running from hunters. Both of them miss how things were before they met, in a way. Both of them are unsure what the future holds.

The problem is, both of them are also content just being with each other for a little while longer. Living in the in between for just a bit. Nothing else needs to exists while they’re on the road.