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—THE BLACK FAMILY AND TOM WERE SITTING AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE. "—Rigel?" Sirius asked, trying to get the boy's attention. Rigel hummed questioningly, not looking up from his plate of breakfast that he hadn't touched.
Sirius and Remus shared a concerned look. "We just said that we'll go to the quidditch world cup tommorow." Remus pointed out.
Rigel's head snapped up. "What?" He asked in shock and a bit of joy.
"There he is." Sirius smiled, which started to slowly fade as he realized how little Rigel actually smiled. Honestly, he couldn't remember the last time his son had smiled wholeheartedly.
"Ri.. is everything alright?" Remus asked instead of replying, looking at him in concern.
Rigel nodded immediately, looking slightly confused. "Of course it is. Why?"
"No reason." Remus shook his head, trying not to think about the fact that he had noticed the same thing Sirius just did, but knew that if Rigel wanted to, he would've talked to him about it.
••
"Honestly, do whatever you want." Rigel said after Tom had asked permission if it was alright for him to go on his first raid in years at the world cup. "I don't even know why you're asking permission to do this."
Tom shrugged. "You like quidditch. I didn't want to ruin it for you." He replied.
".. Something's definitely wrong with you." Rigel raised his eyebrows, not knowing why the hell Lord Voldemort had just asked if it was alright for doing something he was feared for— going on a raid.
Tom shook his head in amusement. "I'll do it at the end of the game."
"Why the end?"
"So you enjoy the game." Tom pointed out as if it was obvious.
"I—" Rigel opened and closed his mouth a few times, starting to get used to the confusion he'd always feel when in a conversation with Tom.
Tom smiled softly. "I do care. I've got no idea why or how.. but I do." He shrugged, walking out of Rigel's room.
"But I don't want that!" Rigel exclaimed desperately, making him stop. "I want you to hate me so much and I've tried for years— what the heck is wrong with you?!"
"Honestly?" Tom asked. "I don't know."
As right as he was, he knew that Rigel wasn't as mean as he acted. From the time he had tried to figure out why Rigel acted the way he acted, why Rigel never smiled, why he was so cold... he came to one conclusion—: Rigel was alone.
Not the type of alone that was 'normal': which meant that he didn't mean the type of 'alone' that would happen when people left him.
No.
The type of 'alone' Rigel was... was shutting people out, and thinking that all he had was himself.
Tom, no matter how heartless he used to believe he was, had the heart to try to get Rigel out of that state.
And he was trying. God, he was trying so hard.
All Rigel had given in return was witty remarks and confused looks.
Which he understood immediately.
Rigel was confused as to why somebody, other than Sirius and Remus, actually cared for him.
Rigel gave witty remarks because he didn't want to get used to the feeling of being cared for, believing that it would be gone as soon as it came.
However, Tom would never rest.
Not until he finally makes Rigel see himself as the person Tom believed him to be:
Kind.
Funny.
Smart.
Never alone...
Tom could just.. feel it. He didn't know how to explain it, but he could feel it in his heart that Rigel still had an ounce of kindness and.. less hatred.. deep down in his heard.
And no matter what happened— he aimed to prove that one day.
"Please, leave me alone." Rigel said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Ah, there it was.
The desperation in the teenager's voice so evident that it was hard to miss. The longing of being alone again. The slight vulnerability shown at the fact that he knew that Tom was close to figuring him out. It was all obvious.
Tom didn't answer, but the sadness and pity in his eyes were clearly shown, making Rigel sigh.
"I don't want your pity, Riddle. All I've asked is for you to leave me alone. I get it, you're not heartless. Now, leave me alone."
"We made a deal, Rigel." Tom raised an eyebrow. "I'll leave you alone when I fully prove the fact that I'm not heartless to you."
"And until then: leave me alone."
"How can I prove myself if you keep pushing me out of the door? A chance, Rigel, is all I ask."
"I've changed my mind." Rigel glared. "I want you out of the door. Possibly, even in my life."
Tom tried not to let his heartbreak show, not thinking too much about it. "I will.. I promise. However, I need something in return."
".. You'll only leave when you finally figure me out." Rigel stated knowingly.
Tom nodded.
"Fine. But you've got to leave in the end."
Tom hesitated, earning a glare from Rigel. "Fine."
