Black
"So. Tell me you bad girls. What did you do to land in here?", he asked jokingly. James sat leaning at the wall but with his head tilted forth so that the wound wouldn't get dirty. The girls shared a short glance before Lily started replying. "Well for one, I tried to steal food because my mother earns just enough money to pay the rent and the enormous taxes.", Lily said sadly.
"Yeah no. That seems plausible. I'm really sorry for that, sweetheart." James said sympathetically. "Okay James-who-ever-you-are, call me sweetheart one more time and I'll rip out your tongue", Lily snapped at him.
"Okay, Lils", James smiled weakly. "What about you, Mary?" He asked tilting his head in her direction. "I was working at the kitchen in the Palace. Some vegetables were missing and they accused me of stealing them. I didn't but.. I'm black so that was a done deal for them." Mary sighed, looking at the air.
"Is that a thing? Why wouldn't you believe someone just because of their skin colour?", James said, clearly trying to reason in his head. "James. Where have you been living? Of course that's a thing", Mary exclaimed with a shocked face expression. "Yeah, James. Why are you in here anyway? Your clothes look rather expensive." Lily said, now suspicious.
"That's a long story.", he sighed, looking at floor. "Basically I'm the heir of the kingdom of Potter, but I ran away. I just came here when I heard Lily screaming. Now I am here I guess", James said rather rapidly. "Wait what? You are The James Potter?" Lily shouted bewildered
"Yes", James groaned. "Keep your voice down, will you?". "And you ran away just now? And you wanted to help me? Why are you even.. like here?", she gestured around her. "It's the Black's territory. Oh my gosh that's so.. what is it like in a Palace?", the sentences bubbled from her mouth. She was quite exited and had a twinkle in her eyes.
"James?", she said as the boy didn't answer any of her questions. "Oh fuck, Lily. Look at his back. It's full of blood. He is fucking bleeding out!" Mary shouted, jumping to her feet. Now Lily was seeing it too. "We need to get help!", Lily said in such a serious tone as if she had been changed. "Oh why didn't I see that?" Mary said to herself, frustrated. "Hey! We need help! Hey! He's bleeding out!" Lily shouted through the fence, hoping someone would hear them while Mary took James' pulse.
"His pulse is weak, Lily. I can't stop the bleeding, I need help", Mary stated, focus on James.
When no one came, the girls started panicking properly. "He's the fucking heir of Potter you ignorant fucking pigs!" Lily shouted angrily, then she fell to the floor as she had given up the hope. A few minutes later some guards arrived, dragging James' unconscious body out of the cell. "Thank you.", Lily said sarcastically.
~
"My Prince. I bring news for you.", a guard said, standing in front of Regulus' door. "Come in", Regulus replied without looking up from the book he was reading. "Your services are required. We captured the heir of Potter, but he is injured. He has lost a lot of blood. Your mother thought it best that you take care of him.", the guard statet blankly.
Now Regulus was looking at the man. There were so many questions inside his head but he knew better than to ask them.
"Well,", he put his book away while standing up "then we shan't let my mother wait, shall we?", he clapped his hands and gave the air a fake-smile.
When they arrived at the infirmary four guards as well as his mother and his brother were already there. And a shirtless James Potter was lying on the table. He was unconscious and very pale. Regulus immediately saw the bloody wound between James' black curls. "So firstly, why is James Potter here? Secondly I need some space and he is seemingly unconscious so he won't hurt me.", Regulus spoke politely while preparing his instruments.
His mother then nodded and all guards left the room. "He was a prisoner in our lower dungeons. He was there because he wanted to help a dirty thief", she spat out. "Thank you, mother. I will help him the best I can", he said looking firmly at her. His mother just nodded and also left the room.
Now only Sirius, his brother was left. "Can you help him?", Sirius said uncertain of James' fate. "Yes. It is just a little wound. It needs to be stitched and cleaned. He hasn't lost enough blood for him to die." Regulus replied firmly while cleaning James' wound. Even though his hair smelt of blood it was still so soft with a slightly sweet note despite the blood.
"Good god, Reggie. I'm your brother, will you stop talking to me like I'm our mother?", Sirius said annoyed. "Will you stop calling me that?", Regulus snapped back. "What do you think happens to him after I'm done here?" Regulus asked apathetic. "I don't know, maybe they will ask him about their military plans and kill him afterwards. Maybe they will sell him to his parents.", Sirius said thoughtfully.
"I don't care about his fate but I won't patch him up just for mother to kill or torture him", Regulus clarified.
When Regulus started stitching the wound, James began to twitch "I think he's waking up.", Sirius commented. "Yes, he is. I need some Painkillers for him." Regulus replied blankly. Regulus stopped in his motion to take James' pulse. Sirius was starting to leave to get the painkillers Regulus asked for.
"Am I dead?", James asked weakly, slightly opening his eyes as he tried sitting up. "No, you're not dead. You need to be careful. You probably have a concussion. My brother is getting painkillers for you." Regulus replied dryly. "Where am I and what the fuck happened? Am I back at the Palace?", James groaned.
"Stop all those questions. Indeed you are at a Palace. Just not your own, little Prince. You're in the Black Palace. And I don't know what happened. It doesn't matter anyway.", Regulus continued his monologue. James looked even more stunned than before. "Am I a prisoner? Who are you?", James kept his questions going, now sitting on the table instead of laying.
"Sweet Jesus. James Potter stop the questions I'm just here to make sure you won't die.", Regulus groaned annoye while watching James sitting on the table.
"Just this one thing because I'm in a good mood today. Maybe they are going to interrogate you. Maybe they will kill you or maybe they will just send you home. Be careful. I can't and won't help you any further", Regulus whispered indifferently.
"That's bad, isn't it?", James said while fluctuating. "Yes, that's bad for you.", Regulus said dryly. "How are you even asking.. ah yes well, your brain is a bit of a puree right now, isn't it?", Regulus noticed.
"You are so nice", James smiled at him. "I'm not actually", Regulus corrrected him coldly "And you're so pretty, I wish I could hug you", James proceeded to grin at Regulus.
Regulus maintained his cold facade however he was flushing on the inside. "James, really. Be careful", Regulus said earnestly although the corner of his mouth almost lifted.
Sirius came into the room with some Painkillers and two guards. "Regulus, I've got the pills.", Sirius waved them in front of Regulus. "Good,", Regulus took them, "here, take three of them and be prepared for a few stitches." Regulus explained.
"Ouch", James groaned "Don't be so soft. It can't hurt that much", Regulus shushed him.
"That's it. Keep it clean and I might as well say it. Don't bang your head on walls or something like that." Regulus said putting his hand on James' shoulder. "And remember what I said earlier.", Regulus said in serious tone.
The guards took James away, who stupidly waved at him and Sirius.
~
James was just so confused. Who was this pretty boy who just stitched him up? What will they do to him? Where are Lily and Mary? Are they okay?
He was tied to a chair in a very dark room. The walls were all black and dark green. He sat there alone when the door suddenly swung open. One of the boys from earlier came in as well as an old, unpleasant looking lady.
James looked up at her, deeply afraid. "James, dear boy. I'm sorry about this..", she gestured to the ties and looked back at him, "..safety measurement", she finished her sentence and gave him a cocky smile.
"Why don't we get you home where you belong?", she continued to smile. "For now my eldest son will keep you company", she waved and went away. "She's a busy woman." Sirius laughed dryly. He untied him. James stood up and asked "Who are you now exactly? And the boy who stitched my wound". "I'm Sirius Black, crown prince of the kingdom of Black, though I'm not proud of it. The boy was my little brother Regulus. He very much is proud to be a Black but atleast he's really good at patching up people.", he told James casually.
So Regulus was his name. James smiled to himself. "What now?", James asked looking back at Sirius. "Hmm I guess we go to my room. But one question, did you really run away from your own kingdom? I mean that's so, that's so..", Sirius stuttered. "Irresponsible? Well, I took one of our ships and just went away. And then I landed here. So I guess it was rather stupid.", James said looking on the floor.
"I meant to say that's so brave. I wish I could just run away.", Sirius looked at the ceiling dreaming of adventures. "I mean technically you can run away. We would just need to get a ship, food and clothes.", James said with hope in his voice.
"James, I only just got to know you but I've got the feeling that we will do great things", Sirius said theatrically. "No, actually.", James now had a serious tone of voice. "I don't want to go back home.", he pleaded.
"Oh no..", James suddenly remembered Mary and Lily. "What's wrong?", Sirius asked. "When I was in the dungeon there were two girls. I can't leave them", James exclaimed.
"That won't be a problem. And a ship needs a crew.", Sirius smirked at James. "What about your brother? ", James asked, hoping he could see the pretty Prince again.
"I can ask him but I'm fairly sure that he won't come with us.", Sirius said with a slightly sad voice. They proceeded to talk when they entered Sirius' room. The next day they planned to get Mary, Lily and a ship.
"I'm so happy to have met you, James.", Sirius said while laying next to James. "I'm so happy that you didn't kill me. Your brother said that that's a possibility.", James laughed. "He wasn't wrong.", Sirius turned on his stomach, watching James "I expected my mother to torture you", Sirius laughingly replied.
~
When Sirius was asleep someone knocked on the door. James was alert and nervous as to who that could have been. He swallowed his fear because he was James fucking Potter. He went to the door with the intention of opening it, when it suddenly opened itself. And there stood Regulus in his Night clothes looking as perplexed as James.
Regulus quickly put his facade back on. "You are not dead.", he deducted in a cold voice. "How is your wound?", Regulus asked firmly.
"I'm not bleeding anymore so I guess that's a win", James replied sarcastically with a soft smile, lookingdown at Regulus.
"Anyway, what are you doing in my brothers room?", Regulus asked, closing the door. "Your mother is going to send me home. Sirius let me stay with him in the meantime.", James replied, now self conscious though he didn't show it.
"Good, then I won't interrupt..", he glanced around the dark room "..whatever it is you're doing any further.", he finished his sentence and retreated. "Goodnight, Potter", Regulus turned to leave the room.
"Wait!", James struck out although he didn't know what he even wanted to say. "Thanks for helping me", he gave Regulus a soft smile. "I appreciate that", he finished.
"You're welcome. Just know that something like that won't happen ever again. You're the enemy.", Regulus replied threateningly. With that he left leaving James Potter stunned standing in the dark.
~
"Hey, James. Wake up", he heard a distant voice. "It's time to go. Come on", Sirius jolted him. Suddenly James was wide awake. "What time is it?", he asked tiredly. "About 4am", Sirius answered. James just groaned.
"Okay. So we have some food and clothes.", James spoke to himself. "We need to get Lily and Mary"
"Yes and the most important thing is that we need to hijack a fucking ship.", Sirius corrected him. "Allons-y", James said bubbly whilst getting himself ready.
They had four bags with clothing, food and common things like medicine. One might wonder how two stupid boys remember packing medicine, the answer is quite simple. James didn't want to experience an untreated wound ever again.
They decided to sneak out and get their things on their future ship. After that they would try the get the girls.
As they were sneaking out of Sirius' room, they heard fake coughing behind them. James thought that he would now be killed even though his face remained unchanged.
"What are you doing in the middle of the night with all those bags?", Regulus stood behind them, demanding answers. "Well ehm we are going... for a pick-nick", James answered confidently while turning to face Regulus.
"Yes and I'm the Queen of England.", Regulus said sarcastically. "I didn't know you had humour, little Prince", James said charmingly. "Sweet Jesus, you really have a concussion.", Regulus said exhaustedly. "Sirius?", he now turned to his brother, looking stunned because of the stupidity of them.
"James, plan B.", Sirius instructed James. "But.. he's your brother?", James said in disbelief. "Doesn't matter. The risk is too high", Sirius stated. "Wait what the fuck Sirius?", Regulus took a few steps back as Sirius approached him. "I'm sorry, Reg", he smiled sadly at his brother. "Hey no wait", Regulus' eyes were full of fear. With that Sirius hit him against the head and Regulus fell unconscious.
"This buys us some time", Sirius clarified. "He would have told our mother. If she caught us I would never see daylight again.", Sirius said in a serious tone. "Okay, okay. I'll get him back to his room and you take the things to the ship.", James instructed. "Yes, okay.", Sirius said perplexed. "Bye, Reggie", he glanced at Regulus one last time before he ran down the hall.
James took the unconscious boy in his arms and carried him into his room, which was next to Sirius'. He laid the boy on his bed. He admired the younger boys beauty as his gaze fell upon the many rings Regulus was wearing.
Stupid as he was, he took Regulus' hand in his, which send electrical impulses trough his own hand. He took one of Regulus' rings as a souvenir and quickly wrote a note.
You get your ring back when we shall meet again, my prince
~JP
And with that he was gone, trying to find Sirius.