Sunshine
Regulus
Sweet.
That was the first word that came to Regulus’ mind when Death’s touch reached him, slowly starting to take away the pain of the Inferi’s claws digging in his flesh.
Its cold embrace seemed to be whispering to let go, to leave all the pain behind, to give in to an eternal, dreamless sleep. And he was tired. So, so tired. That was everything he wished for: peace. Strength left his body second after second as he drifted to darkness.
And time stopped existing.
The Inferi’s high pitched hissing, and roaring ceased, replaced by quiet.
However… something was wrong. Regulus still felt weirdly conscious.
Was this really how death was supposed to be like? Just darkness and silence, for eternity?
Was he really dead? Perhaps his heart still hadn’t stopped beating. Maybe he was still on the verge between life and death.
Then, a sense of cold slithered throughout him, like the deadliest of snakes. Regulus shivered, trying to distinguish its source in that dense darkness. Then, something brushed against his cheek, like a hand grazing his skin. That touch burnt, but at the same time it brought him a strange comfort, something he’d never experienced before. The cold halo that had surrounded him shifted closer to his right ear. A voice like a whisper, cold as ice, sharp as a blade, though sweet like honey at the same time.
“It’s not your time, Regulus Black. Not yet”.
Fear crept inside him. Who are you?, he wanted to scream, though no sounds left his mouth.
Another caress on his skin, made by fingers of ice. The raw, frosty feeling petrified his limbs, freezing him still, seizing his body in a tight embrace. The invisible fingers moved to his chin, gently tilting his head up.
“You’ve been craving my kiss for so long, haven’t you? And yet, I can feel it: the life inside you, begging not to be blown away like a candle in the wind”.
Panic aroused inside him. Regulus wanted to fight to be set free from the clutches of that eerie, inconsistent being, though his body didn’t seem to be responding to his will.
“You should feel honoured, Regulus Black. Only a few have ever waltzed with Death and escaped it. I’ll come visit you again, although many years are destined to pass by before that moment. I hope you’ll greet me like an old friend in the moment of your final bow. But your show must go on”.
He shivered again as the frost seemed to be settling in his bones before vanishing into thin air, all of a sudden.
Then, another voice.
Different from the unearthly whisper.
Warmer, loving, familiar.
“Regulus!”.
It sounded so distant, as if coming from miles and miles away.
“Regulus!”.
Hands gently shaking him by the shoulders. The voice started to feel closer and closer every time it called his name.
“Regulus, please, wake up!”.
His lips parted as he grew conscious, and he started coughing out the water that had flown inside his lungs. Someone patted his back, helping him catch his breath. Regulus waited for it to steady, ensuring he wasn’t risking choking on the lake’s waters anymore, then blinked to adjust his vision. There, looking down on him, was James Fleamont Potter, hazel eyes flickering with worry. “Are you okay?”.
“Never been better. Anyway, this place should be illegal. I wouldn’t recommend it to visitors-” James’ lips crashed on his, interrupting him. His eyes widened for a moment, then closed as he kissed him back.
Regulus hadn’t realised how much he’d missed the softness of James’ lips, the sweet taste of his mouth, the excitement shooting inside him every time their lips met, until that moment.
He cupped James’ cheeks, pulling him closer. The kiss turned from slow, hesitant, to desperate, devouring, as if they feared someone might draw them apart once again.
He was there.
He was really there.
He’d come for him.
Regulus had no idea of how he’d found him, but it didn’t matter. They pulled back to catch their breaths, and their eyes met. “James, mon amour”. He leaned forward to kiss him again. They both needed that. To breathe. To survive. James drew his head back, and slicked his wet hair out of his forehead. “I’m sorry” he said. “I’m so sorry”.
“There’s no need to apologise anymore. We’re here now. Nothing else matters”.
“I’m never leaving you again, Reg. Never again” James whispered, resting a hand on the back of his head. Above them, the moon started peaking from the clouds, its rays enlightened the shore. The Inferi had retreated, and from James’ wand lying on the ground beside them Regulus understood it must have been him who cast the light he’d seen before passing out.
“Thank you”.
“For what?”.
“For having saved me”.
Those words meant so much. And James understood.
He met Regulus’ gaze again, holding his face between his hands. He rested his forehead against his. Finally. A ray of sunshine breaking the darkness.
And he smiled. For the first time in entire months. He was safe now. That was only the beginning of a long, long, path, but it was something. Perhaps nothing was so broken it couldn’t be put back together, after all.
Chills travelled down his skin as a gust of wind blew, loaded with the whines and wails of the creatures of the lake. “You’re cold” James observed.
“Those waters are fucking freezing”.
He took off his jacket and wrapped it over Regulus’ shoulders. “It’s not much but it will do for now”. He helped him up, his gaze fell on the still open wounds made by the Inferi’s claws. “I’m sorry it took me so long to arrive”.
“I’m fine. The pain will pass”.
“I’ll take care of it”.
“James, they’re just cuts” Regulus said. “Don’t worry”.
“I don’t care. You’re still hurting. And I don’t like that. I’ll make you feel better, I promise. But now, let’s go home”.
‘I already am, James. I finally am’.