Falling in(love with you)
It had been two weeks since Sirius left, two weeks since he kissed James on the balcony. Regulus was convinced that it was hell, His parents were more mad than ever.
Embarrassed at the fact Sirius ran away, and the burden of being the Black family heir was now on his shoulders. Lucius as well had not let up, he had asked for his fathers blessing already, and he was going to propose tonight.
Tonight was the night the Malfoys held a ball for all of the town, it would be a perfect night for Lucius to propose and show off.
He had gotten several lectures on how he couldn't mess this up, and he was to say yes without any hesitation whenever Lucius finally asked. Regulus wondered if it would get easier after this, after he was a malfoy. Maybe he could find some light and continue doing what he loved. Lucius had made it clear that he intended to be the one who handled most of the business ordeal while the household would be up to Regulus to manage how he pleased with of course some limitations.
he wasn't going to argue, he would rather have an open space on his marriage than have to ask for it. He had been trying to avoid the subject of his upcoming engagement as much as possible. A summer wedding was what Lucius wanted. and with the season coming to a close end he was sure their engagement wouldn't last more than a month.
HIs father really had meant it whenever he said Regulus would be married off by the end of the season.
Regulus stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't enjoy what he saw, he was in a suit that his mother picked out for him. It was dark green, with a gold trim and a black shirt underneath it. He saw his mother. his father. his brother. in that reflection. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
He wondered if James would be there tonight. after him running away two weeks ago. as well as Sirius running away, and they were good friends. Sirius never told him where exactly he was going but he had to assume it was with that barron he had seen him with a few times. He had a feeling the man had something to do with it.
He had to go, he couldn't stay up here forever, his parents were waiting. He fixed his hair and straightened his clothes so that they looked perfect. "good enough," he said, staring in the mirror. He made his way down the stairs where his parents were waiting for him. He tried to act excited, he was getting engaged after all. and there were worse people in the world than Lucius Malfoy.
The family of three made their way out the front door and into the carriage. The ride was silent, he looked out the window the whole time.he thought about the future. what might've been different.
They soon arrived at the party, many were already there. The sun was close to set, making the sky a nice red color. Regulus smiled lightly seeing it. He had always loved sunrises and sunsets, the colors were warm and soft and reminded him of a love he knew that he would never have. a comfort that he had only a handful of times. most of the time with his brother. when they were children. While their parents were screaming and yelling, Sirius would always drag him away and distract him.
The other time was with James Potter.
They stepped out of the carriage and his mother looped her arm around his and led him up the stairs and inside the grand house. They were immediately met with a crowd of people. He spotted Lucius across the room and was about to go towards him when his mother grabbed his wrist, "Do not mess this up Regulus. Your brother did enough damage to this family. it's time you fix it."
He nodded.
His father came up beside him and grabbed his shoulder, "if you do anything stupid ill-" his father stopped mid sentence when he saw Lucius walking towards them.
"Hello my lords, lady" he said, "may i steal Regulus from you"
"yes. Please Mr.Lucius, He's been so eager all day to see you" his father said to him. gripping his hand on his shoulder hard as a warning to him. before pushing him forwards towards the man.
Lucius smiled at him, grabbing his hand and pressing his lips to it. Regulus needed someone to remind him to cut it off later. "We are just going for a simple walk in the garden, we'll be back eventually" He said to the Blacks locking his arm in Regulus's.
Regulus looked over at his parents, his mother gave him a look, and he nodded. He understood.
Lucius led him through the ballroom all eyes on them, out the back and to the gardens. the sun had set quickly "you know, I do enjoy this time of year. the air is still warm and the leaves are so pretty" he said to him.
"Yes, I like it as well." Regulus agreed,
"I was thinking maybe next year we could take a trip to France, I could show you around."
Regulus did want to see France. he had always wanted to go.
"i think that would be nice"
"It will be just us, no family, no responsibilities. you speak french very well do you not?" He asked
"Yes, I do, though i'm not fluent"
Lucius hummed, "I think you will like France. It will be beautiful"
They made it to the garden, it was lit up, a few torches lighting the way. reminded him that night of the first ball he ever went to, he wondered what would've happened if it was james that he danced with first. maybe he would have been able to stay away from Lucius or make himself not of his taste. Lucius wrapped his arm around his waist pulling him in close.
"Regulus, you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen" Lucius whispered into his ear.
he couldn't say he felt the same.
"I have a gift for you," he told him.
Regulus looked up at him. This was supposed to be a beautiful moment in his life, the moment he said yes to spending the rest of his days with someone who made him happy. someone who made him smile and laugh. picked him up on bad days, and he did the same. someone he felt connected to. though Regulus supposed he had never felt so disconnected to someone in his life. this wasn't supposed to be with Lucius. but now he had no choice. except to maybe stall his fate.
he gripped Lucius hand, "the water looks so beautiful, do you like it Mr.Malfoy?" he asked.
"Please, call me Lucius. and yes. it is." He told him to try to move off of the subject.
"i think it's calming, the moon reflecting onto it, the nice cool water after a hot day, it's a wonderful contrast"
" I think it's ghastly and uncivilized, '' Lucius said to him. "I don't like the water, it smells like seaweed." he admitted
he didn't respond.
Lucius cleared his throat, and pulled a box out of his coat pocket, "Regulus, you will make me the happiest man on earth, and do me the honor of being my husband. " he said, getting down on his knees. Regulus watched as he opened it, in it was a ring.
he was going to be sick.
He didn't know what to say.
He didn't know if he could even form a coherent sentence.
"..I can't Lucius," he said.
Lucius's smile fell.
"I am sorry, but I cannot"
The man scowled at him, He did not seem to like the response, Regulus had to hold back his fear.
He swallowed his saliva in his mouth. It was too late to back out now. He didn't know what he was about to do, hit him, drag him back his hair back to his parents to deal with him until he could obey. Lucius got off of his knee and stood up, talking a step closer to Regulus.
"Excuse me"
Regulus didn't look at him. He was not stupid.
"I said, '' Lucius grabbed his chin and made him look at him. his hand was digging into his jaw. "you wil marry me." Regulus brought his hands up to Lucius's and tried to pry his hands away. Lucius let go and stepped back. "You will marry me" he said again.
"no. I will not."
Regulus's breathing was heavy, but he had already gone so far in defiance, he held his jaw, and ground out the words. He glared at Lucius, who was still seething with anger. The man walked closer and Regulus scrambled to get back but he was at the man-made pond's edge. He looked into the man's eyes pleading.
he saw the look on his face and the anger behind his eyes, Lucius reached forward grabbing Regulus's neck, and shoving him violently backwards into the pond.
his vision went blurry as he was plunged into the cold water. it was not a shallow pond. and the bottom was not within reach. Regulus kicked his legs and tried to bring his arms up, he had no clue where the top was, and he was panicking. he thrashed around trying to get himself up to the surface but his clothes were doing him no help and only weighed him down. he tried to pry the jacket off, but it did no good as he was running out of air. his lungs were burning, and his eyes hurt. He tried his best to swim, his arms were tired, and his head was spinning. and he could feel the darkness starting to surround him. and he closed his eyes.
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James Did not mean to walk outside and see Lucius’s Proposal to Regulus, he didn't mean to see the man grab the younger boy's chin and forcefully throw him into the pond. and he 100% "did not" mean to give Lucius Malfoy the punch of his life.
but what he meant to do was jump into the lake without hesitation and pull the younger boy up to the surface and get him out of the water.
He was not sure how long regulus had been under the water, but it had to have been a while. since the other was not conscious when he finally got him out. He tapped his shoulders, shaking him lightly. "Reg" he tried. but when the younger did not respond he yelled again "regulus!" and when the boy did not respond again. James places his hands on the boy's lower breast bone and began to push. Up and down, try to circulate the blood to the rest of his body.
he didn't stop until he tilted the others head and breathed out. When he got some chest rise he went back to pushing until some water spilled out of the younger one's mouth, he quickly turned him onto his side, to help him easily get it out and have none fall back in.
He waited a few moments before checking again. The boy was breathing fine, his chest rising and falling.
"thank god." he whispered.
He looked up and saw the party guests staring at him. A few must've thought that Malfoy had taken too long, or saw the man retreat back inside with a black eye. He wished that he was still out there now, because now that Regulus was okay he would give him something else to mourn tomorrow if he made it there.
"Someone, call a carriage, and get some blankets. He's going to freeze to death." He told the people.
Regulus coughed. and James looked down at him. He was breathing heavily, and shivering. James pulled him up so he was leaning against him, and pulled off his jacket, putting it around the younger. He heard a small "no" come from him, but ignored it. Regulus was most likely still out of it, not understanding that he was now out of the water and away from Lucius.
a carriage pulled up and James picked him up and placed him inside. a bystander brought out some blankets for him and he placed them on top of Regulus before ordering the driver to take him to his home, where he would have the doctor sent by another footman.
James sat down beside the boy. and looked over at him.
"Why is it always you," he said quietly.
The ride was silent and soon they arrived. He thanked the driver and picked the younger up and carried him into the house, up the stairs and into the bedroom. He stripped him of his soaked clothes and placed him into the bed. before wrapping the blanket around him. and waiting.
He knew that Regulus was probably freezing and was not awake yet. The doctor was sent for, and his housekeeper was downstairs waiting for him. He leaned back. He couldn't do anything except wait and worry now. He was safe. and with him, his parents and Lucius couldn't hurt him anymore.
or ever again.