Knock on the door and The key
The last time James ever saw Regulus was in the middle of a battle. It was only for a second. He saw the familiar dark curls, that he could never forget. And then Regulus turned around and James could see the fire in those stormy eyes. One second, he was there and one he was running somewhere else. They were already broken up by then. They both picked their sides. Regulus took the mark and James joined the Order. The war split them up. It was the first time he saw Regulus after two years and also the last time ever.
Several months after this battle one horrible morning James read the article in Daily Prophet and his word was crushed down. Because Regulus was pronounced dead. His Regulus. His star. Was gone. They were already broken up but somehow James wished he could save him. That he would make him change his mind and run away with him exactly as they talked about. But Regulus was gone, and James was left alone shattered.
He still feels the smoke of that battle in his nose. He still sees those beautiful eyes. He still misses him.
That battle was the last time he saw Regulus until now. And he isn't sure if it's not a dream. He was woken up by the knock on his door. It had to be only someone he knows because of the wards. When he rushed to open the door in fear that someone is hurt his heart stopped.
Because here he is. Regulus. Standing at his door. Looking exhausted and beaten up. But breathing. Regulus. Breathing. On his doorstep. And it doesn't make sense.
“Hey. I...” Regulus says and oh how James missed his voice. “I'm sorry to wake you. I need a place to stay, and you were the only one I could think of.” Regulus says fidgeting with his hands nervously. James isn't sure what to do. His brain didn't yet catch up. “I did something and well...”
“They said you were dead,” James whispers because that's the only thought in his mind.
“Yeah, I had to disappear for a while. I can explain. Will you let me explain, please?” Regulus pleads and James was never able to say no to him. Not really.
James watches him, trying to make his brain function. “You are more beautiful than I remember.” it's the thing he says out loud. It's probably a stupid thing to say but true, nonetheless. James slowly reaches out his hand. He needs to touch him, to know he is real. Regulus seems to understand so he holds very still.
If this is a dream James probably won't survive waking up. He can't lose him again. Not when Regulus is standing here looking real.
When his hand finally touches Regulus’ arm, and he feels the strong, hot and very alive body under his fingertips he doesn't even try to fight the tears as they spill from his eyes. He pulls the boy towards him because after almost three years he can do that.
“I'm sorry, Jamie. But I will explain everything.” Regulus whispers as he buries his face into James' chest.
~.~.~.~.~
James abruptly pulls back as he remembers his training. They are in the war after all. He has to fight himself to let Regulus out of his arms. He clears his throat. Moody would kill him if he didn’t stick to protocols. Well, he has Regulus Black in his house, Moody would probably lose it either way.
Regulus tries very hard to mask the disappointment on his face. James reckons he has to be exhausted because he doesn’t do a good job. “Right. Sorry, I know it is probably you, the wards wouldn’t let you through otherwise, but I have to make sure.” Regulus nods in understanding. “So, question, something you would only know…” James wonders but his mind is blank. All he wants to do is take Regulus inside. He has no idea what happened but it’s apparent the boy went through hell. He is shivering, his clothes soaked. It’s raining but why didn’t you use magic to shealt the raindrops?
Regulus bites his lip waiting nervously. James wants to be the one that has his teeth on the lip… “Where did we have our first kiss?”
There is a flick of a smile on Regulus’ lips. “Well, the first one was behind greenhouses, but it was bearly a kiss since I ran away the second it happened. I always thought the one on Quidditch stands as our first. I like that one more, less panicky.”
It’s enough. The boy in front of him is really Regulus. “Come in.” James takes a step back letting Regulus into the hall. Regulus wraps his arms around himself still shivering. Here under the light, James can see how bad the boy really looks. Deep purple bags under his eyes, dirty ripped clothes, pale skin.
“What happened?” James asks as he reaches to him again to tug the strain of hair behind his ear. “Regulus, you are burning up. Why are you soaked? You will get sick.”
“It’s raining.” Regulus matters as the weather and James’ question offended him.
“There are charms for that.”
“I didn’t want to risk them finding me,” Regulus explains and looks down at the floor where droplets of water are dripping. James shakes his head. Priorities.
“Come on.” He takes his hand and leads Regulus upstairs to his room. The house is empty with Sirius and Remus on the mission. He opens the door to the bathroom gesturing Regulus to go there. “I’m gonna give you some of my clothes after you take a bath.”
He quickly searches his wardrobe. He picks up shirt and trousers and a warm knitted sweater, which he is sure is Remus’. He comes back to the bathroom only to find Regulus still standing in the middle of the room. He puts a hand on his shoulder, so he can walk around him when Regulus jerks away. James never saw the boy this terrified, and all it took was James to touch him. What happened to you, love?
“I can’t,” Regulus says looking at the bathtub eyes filled with fear, his whole body still.
“What? Reg, you are hypothermic, we have to get you warmer.” James explains confused about what is the problem. Does Regulus not want James to see him naked? He can leave him here alone, even tho he doesn’t want to. It feels like if he let him out of his sight Regulus would just disappear. Maybe Regulus would let him stay if he just turned around or…
“I almost drowned,” Regulus whispers, and James can see the shiver run down the boy’s body. “I… can’t. James, I can’t…” He helplessly gestures to the tub.
How could this happen to us? What kind of world do we live in, where we have to fear for our life? He almost died. My Reggie. Almost died. I nearly lost him. We are too young for this.
“How about we don’t fill the bath but use the shower?”
“Will you stay?” As soon as the words leave Regulus lips James can see the regret. He refuses to let Regulus take it back.
“Of course, I just got you back. I’m not leaving you.”
Regulus sits in the bath, his knees tightly pressed against his chest. He looks small and fragile. Something Regulus rarely looked like. James is kneeling next to the bath shower head in one hand and foam in the other, the sleeves of his sweater are getting wet.
James hasn’t noticed how skinny the boy is under the coat. As he washes Regulus' body, he sees dark bruises all over, but especially on his right side. But he is more concerned with the deep scratches on his arms and shoulders.
“Reggie…” James whispers as he tries to clean one of the cuts. Regulus shifts to the side and rests his forehead on James’ chest. He can’t see his face, but going by the shutter breaths, he guesses Regulus is either crying or on the verge of tears.
“I wanted to come back to you. That’s why I didn’t give up. I needed to see you one more time. James…” Regulus chokes up a sob. “I just wanted to see you. Just once. I thought I was about to die, and all I could think about was you. I miss you.”
“I’m here and I'm not leaving.” James nudged Regulus to lift his face up. There was such grief in his eyes, tears streaking his cheeks in constant stream. James leans in to kiss his forehead. “Reg, what happened to you?”
“I stole something from him. Voldemort. And then I hid until they pronounced me dead. I think he didn’t expect anyone to survive that.”
“Why didn’t you come here right after?”
“I wouldn’t put you in danger. I was even afraid to use magic in case they could trace me. I found a ruined building and I stayed there, but then it started to get cold and…” Regulus looked up at him and James’ breath was caught in his throat. Because Regulus is here, talking to him and touching him. James will never let him go. He made that mistake once and he would rather die than see the boy leave again. He will take care of him.
“I wasn’t sure I was allowed to come,” Regulus admits and looks at the dark mark on his forearm. James covers his hand with his own. He helps Regulus get out of the bath and wraps him in a warm towel. He feels relieved the boy stopped shivering again.
“On what side are you on now?” James asks instead of answering. Regulus frowns and he looks tired.
“If I say against Voldemort, would it be enough?” He says nervously. James kisses the top of his head again.
“What did you steal?” James remembers. Regulus slowly crosses the bathroom to his coat. Without a word, he pulls out a silver locket. Jewelry? Really?
“What is that?” He asks and reaches towards the locket. Regulus snatches it from his reach like it would bite James.
“Don’t touch it!”
“You are touching it.” James objects.
“It doesn’t matter what it does to me. I just refused to let you touch it. You… you are light, and this is dark. Nothing dark should touch you. Ever.”
James looks at the locket more carefully. Most dark objects have this aura around them, if you train your senses enough you should be able to feel it. But this doesn’t feel like anything James ever saw. “What is it?”
Regulus shifts his gaze towards the locket with such an intensity James is surprised it doesn’t burst into flames. “The key to defeat him.”