Nothing Else Matters
Instinctively James lurched forward, grabbed Regulus before he smashed onto the rocky surface on either side of the protective circle, and flung himself backwards onto the ground behind, smacking his head with a sickening crunch.
“Reg. Regulus? Kitten?” James said frantically. Regulus didn’t respond. A dead weight in his arms. “Fuck.”
Pandora dropped onto her knees beside the two men. “He’s okay. Not dead. Not quite. That’s a relief.” She looked around. The green mist in the circle had dissipated. Willow and Tara were nowhere to be seen. In their place stood a ten foot tall, green and black, Cobra
Regulus moaned. “Need to let go of me now.” He said hoarsely. Surprised, James did as requested. Regulus, forcing the pain wracking his body into yet another box, rolled off the solid chest and struggled to his feet.
James was up an instant later. “Oh shit.” He gulped when he saw the green and black Cobra, writhing and pushing against the circle. James glanced over his shoulder. Creatures of all shapes and sizes lay in messy piles between his friends and the cave walls. Remus and Sirius grinned triumphantly. Lily looked like she wanted to throw up. The three continued to watch the space around them. James turned back to Regulus. “What now?” He asked.
“Now, you stand behind me, and wait for me to fall.” Regulus said. He was beyond exhausted. Regulus waited the moment it took James to get in place, looked at Pandora who nodded grimly, and cast the most powerful cutting spells he knew to slice the giant snake into pieces before setting them on fire as the pieces squirmed to rejoin. Again. And again. And again. An almighty roar filled the cavern. The circle exploded showering everyone in dark green ichor, dried blood, and pellets of rock. Regulus collapsed back against James, who held him firmly.
“I’ve got you.” James whispered. Regulus closed his eyes for a second, breathed in the strength, the warmth and safety, nodded, and stood up straight again as Remus turned towards them.
“Nothing left alive.” He growled, voice thick.
“Then we’d better go, before the dead return to take us with them.” Regulus said. “Sirius, Lily. Time to run.” Regulus looked at Pandora. She held his gaze, then leapt forward to hug him. He caught her automatically, grateful for the steady hand James had placed in the centre of his back.
“You were brilliant.” Pandora breathed. “It was magnificent magic. So many colours. All working together. And the demon stayed put. So did the goddess. And your James. He glowed. I didn’t know he could do that.” Pandora looked at James with wide eyes. “You were perfect.”
James smiled, confused. Regulus hugged Pandora. “Thanks Pan. We’ve really got to run. You can tell us all about it back at the house.” He said, disengaging. “Let’s go before this place collapses as well.”
“Can we aparate?” Lily asked
“Unfortunately not. Too much wild magic in these caves.” Regulus said. “Remus, can you take point?”
Remus grinned wolfishly. “With pleasure. Lily you’re behind me, Sirius and Pandora in the middle, Regulus and James you bring up the rear.”
“My favourite position.” James and Sirius said in unison, which was greeted with a collective groan. Regulus didn’t even have enough energy to roll his eyes.
Remus set off, Lily, Sirius, Pandora hot on his heels.
“Come on.” James urged.
Regulus forced himself to stop shaking. “I’m right behind you. You need to hurry.”
James snorted. “That would have fooled me a few months ago. But not anymore.” He paused thoughtfully. “Do have enough energy to turn into your cat?”
“Only if I use some of yours.”
James instantly pulled Regulus to him. “Do it. I’ve got you.” Regulus took a deep breath and shrank, becoming a sleek black cat looking up at James with silver blue eyes. James smiled softly. “You are a very handsome Kitten. Now hold on tight.” He said, scooping up Regulus, and draping the cat around his shoulders. A moment later, James was scrambling up the broken cave path as fast as he could go as the cave began its collapse.
It was another helter-skelter escape. Even the ledge past the treacherous lake was traversed with less caution than was wise. James didn’t care. The cat around his shoulders wasn’t breathing. He had to get somewhere safe. James almost fell over Pandora when he finally emerged onto the beach.
“There you are. I sent the others back to run a hot bath and make strong tea.” Pandora said. “I’ll aparate with you two side-along. Hold him in your arms in case he falls off though.”
James was confused. “I can aparate us both.”
Pandora shook her head. Long white braids flying. “No. You need to conserve all your energy. It’s the only thing keeping him anchored right now.”
James blanched and gently moved Regulus into his arms. Pandora kissed the furry black head, as she slipped her arm through James’s. “He’s very cute as a cat.” She said and they were gone.
The household erupted as they walked through the front door. James had managed to get Regulus to wake up long enough to change back to human and stumble along beside him.
“Merlin, Godric and Rowena! That was fucking amazing magic! Reggie, you’re a bloody hero!” Sirius exclaimed, throwing his arms around James and Regulus.
“Fuck off.” Regulus mumbled. He was overwhelmed and overstimulated. Everything that wasn’t frozen was screaming in pain. He just wanted to lie down and sleep. Preferably somewhere dark and warm. Forever.
“Prongs? Reggie?” Sirius stepped back, hurt by the lack of response.
“You’re right. It was amazing magic. Hopefully the girls have made it home in one piece. Right now I need to get our genius somewhere warm. He’s gone blue.” James said, using his free arm to give Sirius a quick hug. Sirius brightened up, then looked more closely at his brother, tucked under James’s other arm.
“Bath is ready.” Lily announced walking into the kitchen where Remus had poured large mugs of strong, sweet tea. “Do you want me to take him?”
“No.” Regulus snapped. “I can manage.” Regulus forced himself to disengage from James, swayed violently, and moved slowly towards the door.
Sirius went to help only to be stopped by Remus. “He needs to do this.”
“Yes he does.” Regulus snarled, furious at himself for becoming so weak in public.
“James. Go with him. Make sure he actually gets into the bath. It’s in the back sitting room by the fireplace.” Said Pandora. “I’ll bring the tea. Do we have any cakes left?”
Emotions warred on Sirius face. Hurt that he was rejected by his brother and stopped from helping by his lover. Confused by the easy way James navigated Regulus out into the hallway without actually touching him.
“He needs James right now. Like you do sometimes.” Remus said, wrapping strong arms around Sirius and kissing the top of his head. Sirius tipped his face up and smiled gratefully. “James does tend to make things better somehow.” Sirius said “Not that you don’t. It’s just different.” He added hurriedly.
Remus laughed. “I know that, love.” and kissed the perfect mouth until he felt Sirius melt into him.
“Will you be long?” Lily asked. smiling at Pandora
“They will. I won’t. Probably time to vacate the kitchen in favour of the bedroom.” Pandora responded as the boys kiss deepened.
“See you up there.l” Lily said, grabbing two mugs of tea and heading upstairs to the room she shared with Pandora.
Pandora smiled brightly and went to the cozy sitting room tucked away at the back of the house. James was sitting on the floor, Regulus curled up beside him, head on one knee.
“I can’t Pan. My brain is too messy to have to deal with being submerged. The demons won’t let be me.”
Pandora, carefully set the mugs on the wooden coffee table, lay down on the floor and put her head on James’s other knee so that she was looking at Regulus.
“How many trips did you take past that lake?” Pandora asked gently
“Nine. Possibly ten.”
“How many times did the inferni taunt you?”
“Every time. They remember me. I got away.”
“How many times have you been caught by them!”
“Never again. Once was enough.”
“Are they the reason you won’t take the bath?”
“Yes.” Regulus whispered.
“Would you like me to sit in there with you?”
“No.”
“How about James?”
“He’s more a shower kind of guy.”
James chuckled. “You need to promise not to say anything to anyone, but on the very, very rare occasion I get the house to myself I completely fill the bath, put in heaps of oils or herbs and even flowers sometimes, and float in the scented warmth for as long as I can.” He sighed. “It’s been a while since I had a good long bath. I’m happy to share with you if it helps.”
“Why a bath? A bed will warm me up just as well.”
Pandora waited. Regulus already knew the answer. He’d been avoiding it since he came back with the locket horcrux.
“Acacia, thyme, nut grass, hogweed, and winter cherry.”
“Urrrgh.”
“Come on Reg. Let us help heal you, even a little.” James said, smoothing away the strands of dirty hair from the dreadfully grey face resting on his knee.
Regulus closed his eyes.
“It might even be romantic,”
Regulus snorted. “A Jamaican god and his broken inhuman toy, floating peacefully in a pool of water scented like Sunday dinner.”
“That’s unkind. You’re mostly human.” Pandora said, moving gracefully to kiss Regulus on the head and James on the cheek as she got to her feet. “Don’t forget to drink your tea.” She added and glided out of the room.
“Dressed or undressed?” James asked a few minutes later.
“Provided I don’t have to move, I don’t care.”
Smiling, James carefully stood and vanished their clothes down to shorts, before picking Regulus up and carrying him the five paces to the bath.
“You ready?” He asked tenderly.
“No. But don’t let that stop you.” Regulus said.
Showing far more dexterity than Regulus was used to, James cautiously stepped over the rim and sank into the water. Regulus allowed himself to be turned so that he was leaning back against the broad chest and they could both stretch out their legs. The water was the perfect temperature and depth. The bath was the perfect length and height.
“Where did this bath come from?” James asked, once they were settled.
“It’s Pandoras. She brings it with her whenever she goes away. It’s designed to fit whoever uses it.”
They sat in silence for a little while. Regulus drifted off. It was pleasant. Tranquil after months of turbulence. He sank deeper into sleep, trusting James to continue to keep him safe.
“Reg. Kitten.” James murmured as Regulus grew heavier in his arms. No response. James felt a frisson of panic. Then a slight snore came from below his chin. He chuckled. Regulus would be horrified to know he snored. It was so utterly adorable. James breathed in the calming, healing scents of the water and floated a mug of tea over, catching it deftly. He sipped his tea contentedly, making sure to keep one arm firmly wrapped around the sleeping Regulus. This was bliss. One of many ways he wanted to spend time with his beloved. The sex was great. Amazing in fact. But this quiet time. The ability to just be. James wanted that as well. He imagined a life of libraries and crazy discoveries, of being curled up in front of a roaring fire, and Regulus cheering him on as he led England to another victory in the World Cup.
Regulus was at a crossroad. His labyrinth was an unruly mess again, though nowhere near as broken as when he’d fought the Lamia. Then, he had wanted to die. To end the misery and disappointment that made up so much of his life. This time he had fought to stay in control. To keep the demons inside locked behind their walls. This time he had something, someone, to live for. In fact there was a whole group of someones. He didn’t know what to do. And it unsettled him. He felt the heart beneath his ribs pulse in time with the heart beneath his head. Perhaps he didn’t need to make a decision. Not yet. He smiled ruefully to himself. In that moment he knew he’d made his decision. His path was still set. The crossroad faded. He would come back to it again. That was a certainty. For now, Regulus was determined to enjoy the next few days. Nothing else mattered.
———
Willow landed with an almighty thump on something soft and hard at the same time. She lay for a moment staring up at a white ceiling in a sunlit room.
“Tara?”
“Yep.”
“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
“We’re not in Cornwall either.”
Willow rolled into her side. Tara lay beside her on the pale carpet of their living room. “You okay?” She asked.
Tara turned her head and grinned “I hurt like I’ve been thrown into and through a solid cliff.”
Willow laughed. “Do you think it worked?”
Tara winced as she took in what little she could see, “Well it looks like our place. So maybe,”
A shriek came from behind them.
“And it sounds like our place,” Willow continued
“Tara! Willow! You’re home!”
“Bloody mad genius that goth-boy.” Tara ginned. “I hope he stays alive long enough to see him again.”
“Yeah. Me too. If only so he can gloat about how clever he is,” Willow agreed. “Hey Dawn. Care to give us a hand. My body appears to be ignoring me.”