Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

Ad Infinitum

Evan Rosier startles awake in the middle of the night in a cold panicked sweat. At his side, Reggie sleeps peacefully, one arm slung loosely around Evan's waist. Blinking into the coal black darkness, Evan tries to slow his frantic breathing and calm himself.

Nightmare -

I think I just had a very intense nightmare.

... Don't remember what about though.

Whatever it was, the contents of it seem to have rattled him to his very core. And if it was a bad dream, it certainly wasn't a normal one. Because in addition to feeling a deep sense of dread, he also feels oddly electrified.

Almost as if ... 

Screwing his eyes tightly shut, his hand grabs at the pillow closest to him as he tries to shake his mind clear, an unconscious disavowal of the sensations he presently feels. 

It's a disturbing conflux of opposing emotions.

All in all,

Completely disconcerting.

Evan's so lost in his thoughts that he hasn't realised he's been shifting about agitatedly in the bed. Beside him, a whisper and the signs of Reggie stirring awake, "... Evan?"

"Sorry, Reg."

"Everything alright, Evan?"

Don't know.

I really don't know.

"... Nightmare."

I think.

"Oh, Evan."

It's the sweetest possible whisper, one that's soft and comforting and empathetic. Bringing the crown of his head down to meet Evan's shoulder, Reggie sighs and nods against him, "Come. Turn and I'll hold you?"

The sound of the bed creaking, of blankets being shuffled and adjusted. As a blue grey light filters in through the shuttered windows the two of them lay there together. For a long while, neither of them speak, instead listening to the sporadic sounds of estate creaking and settling. 

"I honestly don't know what all that was about ..."

"It's alright, I understand. Dreams are like that sometimes. Anything else troubling you?"

"Just ..."

"Yes?"

It's difficult for him to talk openly about his troubles, his feelings. He's not at all like Reggie who's so naturally inclined in this regard. But with gentle prompting he gets there.

"I miss her."

"Soon. We'll be back together soon."

"Have you written to her? Heard from her?"

"Just yesterday, in fact. Told her we're still here, though naturally I couldn't go into all the details."

"And she's alright?"

"Oh yes. Get this: James Potter and Lily Evans got married! Isn't that something? She says they surprised everyone - a completely lovely day though, an intimate outdoor ceremony in front of all their closest family and friends."

A very long pause before Reggie clears his throat and finishes the thought, "... My brother was there. Of course. Obviously."

"Oh?"

"Oh yes. Apparently ... apparently he's very happy these days. That's what she always tells me whenever I ask."

And even though Evan dislikes Sirius, it's easy enough to forget that, to put his personal prejudices to the side when it comes to Reggie. And so, smiling encouragingly at this, Evan leans in and whispers back, "See? We knew he'd be alright."