Chapter 10
"Done," James mumbled.
"Really?" Regulus wanted to know.
He was strangely disappointed. If he had his way, this moment could have lasted longer.
James, typically James, looked away from Regulus as he threw the sheet aside. It's not like James wanted to look away–
But the drawing was done, and James had no reason to look at Regulus, who got up to put his bathrobe back on.
Of course, Regulus hadn't missed that. The younger Black brother didn't think it was bad at all– that James was such a gentleman made him even more desirable.
Regulus walked over to James and looked at the drawing.
It was perfect.
Regulus looked perfect. Too perfect, Regulus thought.
James had drawn Regulus as if he were an angel. The shading made the drawing look mysterious, like it was from a dream or something.
James really had the talent to look into people's souls.
James put his signature under the drawing before handing the little folder containing the drawing to Regulus.
"Thank you," Regulus murmured.
Then he kissed James – because why not? And James, well, James was definitely okay with that.
Regulus broke the kiss and put the folder away.
"What are you doing?" James wanted to know.
Regulus didn't answer and handed the box with the locket to James.
"Will you put this back in the safe for me?" he asked.
James nodded and did what he was asked. He was amazed when he saw all the money that was just lying in the safe.
Then he turned around without even thinking about taking anything out of the safe.
~~~~
While Regulus got dressed again, James opened one of the windows on the large suit's private, small sun deck.
But it quickly got too cold for him, and he went back into the sitting room.
"It's getting cold," James said when Regulus entered the room moments later.
"You look nice."
Regulus was about to thank him when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Mr. Regulus?" the two young men heard Malfoy's voice.
Regulus wasted no time. He grabbed James' hand and ran with him to one of the other doors.
"My drawings," said James. But they didn't have time to take the drawing pad with them.
Regulus quietly closed the door to his bedroom before they continued.
James and Regulus walked down the aisle at a normal pace until they heard a door open.
They turned around and saw Malfoy enter the hallway. He had followed them through the suit.
James and Regulus picked up their walking pace slightly as Malfoy continued to follow.
"Come on!", then they started running.
The two young men ran straight to the elevators. They entered one, quite startling the operator.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
They helped the operator close the gate so the elevator could move.
"Go. Go. Down, down."
"Take us down, quickly. Quickly!"
Malfoy was too late and only saw the elevator go down. James and Regulus looked up at the older man and grinned at him.
In fact, Regulus was in a particularly good mood and made an improper gesture in Malfoy's direction.
"Bye."
The elevator hadn't even stopped on E deck when James opened the grate and stumbled into the hallway and nearly ran into one of the crew members.
"Sorry."
The two walked down more hallways and down one.
At the bottom of the stairs, James actually ran into a trolley.
"Sorry. Keep going."
"I've got it."
Still laughing, James and Regulus walked through the swinging doors. They stopped there, waiting to see if Malfoy continued to follow them.
"Pretty tough for a valet, this fella. Seems more like a cop."
"I think he was."
At the same moment, Malfoy came down the stairs. He glanced around and spotted the two young men through the small round windows in the door.
"Oh shit."
"Go!"
James grabbed Regulus' hand and together they ran on. It wasn't long before they hit a dead end.
"No, over here!"
"Quick!"
They backed up a few steps and disappeared through the next door, seconds before Malfoy would have caught them.
Malfoy tried to open the door as well, only James had locked it from the other side.
James and Regulus found themselves in an unbelievably noisy room. It was so loud that the two immediately put their hands over their ears– they had ended up in the engine room.
"Now what?" Regulus yelled. Or rather he was trying to call out over the noise.
"What?"
Regulus and James climbed down the small stairs to the machines.
The first thing Regulus noticed was the heat in the room.
Each of the boilers was fired.
And while it was interesting, Regulus could not stay here much longer. He hated heat.
"Hold up? What are you two doing down here?" one of the workers wanted to know. "You shouldn't be down here. It could be dangerous! Oi!"
James and Regulus just turned and ran the other way, across the boiler room.
"Carry on!" James shouted at the workers as he and Regulus ran past them.
"Don't mind us. You're doing a great job!"
"Keep up the good work!"
The two young men left the boiler room at the first opportunity.
~~~~
Sirius was nervous as he stopped in front of the plain wooden door. He heard voices from around the room, meaning Remus was there.
The young steward he had just asked where to find Remus had said that the officer was not to disturb.
The older Black brother wouldn't let that go and 'persuaded' the younger man to tell him Remus' cabin was.
"Thank you, Mr.-" Sirius said when the other man had stuttered an answer.
"Lovegood, sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Lovegood."
Sirius didn't hesitate and crept to the crew's cabins.
Maybe it's better if I go, Sirius thought.
But then he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Sirius heard footsteps approaching the door. Remus opened the door and seemed surprised to find Sirius at his door.
"Hi, um- Mr. Lovegood told me I would find you here. I hope I'm not disturbing."
The young officer shook his head, stepped out the door and closed it quietly behind him.
"You're not disturbing," Remus assured.
Leaning against the door frame, he had to chuckle as he saw Sirius trying to hide his relief.
Remus reported to Sirius that Marlene had a fever and that was why he stayed with her most of the time.
Sirius nodded understanding. However, he couldn't help but notice how caring Remus was.
"Uncle Remus," the two heard a sickly voice.
Remus re-entered the cabin but left the door open and Sirius stood in the doorway.
"Where have you been?" Marlene murmured as Remus sat down on her.
"I only spoke to Sirius," Remus replied softly. "What's wrong?"
The young officer worriedly put his hand on her forehead. The ship's doctor said she'd be fine soon, but Remus was still worried.
"I can't sleep. Can you tell me a story?" Marlene asked, hugging her teddy bear closer to her.
Remus couldn't say 'no' – that was just impossible.
"What story would you like to hear?" Remus asked.
"One that I don't know yet," Marlene replied.
Remus looked at his niece. She knew exactly that he only knew the children's stories that Marleen had been told as a baby. Those were the stories that Remus' mother had told her children.
So, he didn't know any other stories. And he was bad at making things up, too.
"Um- okay, um-"
"I know a good story," Sirius said.
"And I could tell you if you like," he suggested afterwards.
Marlene was enthusiastic about this idea and when Remus also nodded, Sirius sat down next to the other young man and began to talk.
"Once upon a time–" Sirius began.
The blonde girl managed to stay awake until the end of the story and fell asleep before Sirius had finished the last sentence.
Only then did Sirius and Remus realize how late it actually was.
Remus escorted the other young man to the door and said goodbye to him – they intended to meet again tomorrow.
Sirius turned away and took a few steps down the hallway before turning back and gently pressing his lips onto Remus's.
"I– I should–"
"Yeah."
~~~~
Eventually, James and Regulus ended up in one of the huge storage rooms that housed a few passengers' cars, heaps of large boxes, and other luggage.
It was cold, so you could guess that there was no heating here. But that wasn't necessary anyway, since normally no passengers came here.
"Look at what we have here, huh?"
The two young men looked around the storage room until a car caught their eye.
James opened the door and offered Regulus his hand. Regulus rolled his eyes but had a smile on his lips.
"Thank you."
He took James' hand and sat in the padded backseat.
James closed the car door and sat in the driver's seat.
Regulus opened the front window and leaned forward slightly.
"Where to, sir?"
Regulus smiled. It was the moment of truth.
Regulus didn't have to think about it, he had already made up his mind before they ran away from Malfoy. To be precise when he sat on that sofa– Regulus looked up to James and James smiled at him.
"To the stars," Regulus replied.
He then wrapped his arms around James and pulled him into the back seat.
James landed next to him and directly put his arm around Regulus and pulled the younger one closer to him.
Regulus leaned in and gave James a quick kiss.
"Are you sure, Reggie?" James asked.
"I've never been so sure in my life."
Then the two men kissed again. Regulus slid further into the seat, James leaning over him.
That night, James and Regulus traveled to the stars.
~~~~
James opened the door and he and Regulus walked onto the deck laughing, drunk with love.
"Did you see those guys' faces?" James wanted to know with a wide grin. "Did you see them?"
Regulus put his index finger over James' mouth. James was instantly silent.
The younger man had to say it now, or he would not dare. He also thought it was the right time.
The two stood together, James' strong arms wrapped around Regulus. The sky was starry and the sea calm.
It was perfect.
Regulus wished for many more moments like this. Moments spent in James' arms.
"When the ship docks," said Regulus. "I'm getting off the ship with you."
He had questioned all the decisions he had made in his life until now. Only with this decision Regulus didn't have to think twice.
"This is crazy," James said softly.
"I know. It doesn't make any sense. That's why I trust it."
Their next kiss was cut short by the ship ramming something.
The two men stepped closer to the railing and saw a large iceberg swimming past them.
~~~~
James and Regulus were just climbing the small flight of stairs to the first-class sundeck when Captain Smith, Mr. Andrews and a few crew members passed them.
"Boiler room six is flooded eight feet and the mail hold is worse", said one of the crew members.
"Can you shore up?"
"Not unless the pumps get ahead."
"Have you seen the mail hold?" Mr. Andrews asked.
"It's already underwater."
James and Regulus stopped and looked after the group of men.
"This is bad," James murmured.
The two young men looked at each other in concern. That something was under water, which was bad, very bad even.
"We should tell Sirius– and the others," Regulus suggested.
James nodded.
He might not get along with Walburga and Severus, but they had to let them know.
After all, Walburga was Regulus' mother and Severus – well, he was just lucky, Regulus thought.
Regulus would like to let the other man drown. But he knew that James would never allow it.