I Promise You Don't Have To Be Afraid ** (ROYAL)

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@royal
<3

Jonah felt like it had been forever since he had seen Royal. They had sent owls to one another here and there, but he felt like something was off. Jonah wasn't sure if he had said something wrong, or if Royal was now doubting the relationship, but he was getting worried. And since Jonah was stationed at Hogwarts this year for the Tournament, he assumed he might see Royal around a few times. Having him working was making it even more difficult, but Jonah missed him. Even if they met just for a quick chat and a hug, but he wasn't sure if he'd be able to see him.

It was his turn to patrol the dungeons and around the Hufflepuff and Slytherin Common Rooms. It made him smile, remembering his years here and in his own common room, as well as always waiting for Royal to get back to his common room. He had his hands in his pockets as he walked along the dungeons floors, his eyes glancing at every nook and cranny that a student or anyone could be in and making sure everyone was where they needed to be. So far being back at Hogwarts wasn't bad, and he hoped it would stay that way.

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There was a flaw in Royal's plan to do a Daily Prophet spot on orphans: most of them were at Hogwarts, and that wasn't the easiest place to get into at the best of times. The fact that he was there on business loosely related to the Ministry had helped his case, as had his last name, but by the time Royal had jumped through all of the hoops to gain admittance to Hogwarts, it was after curfew, which made his entire visit purposeless, unless he could find a way to get into the Hufflepuff common room to talk to one of the orphans that had been difficult to adopt. Considering Royal didn't know the pattern for the vinegar barrels, nor did he desire to be covered in vinegar for the rest of the night, he assumed that he'd need to find a Hufflepuff, or at least someone who knew the pattern. Royal was walking through the basement corridor, a badge on his chest proclaiming that he was an approved guest, when he heard footsteps. Probably one of the Aurors that was patrolling, he figured. When Royal turned the corner, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Jo?" It had been a long while since he had seen his boyfriend, and most of that was Royal's fault - he had made about a hundred excuses for why he couldn't see Jonah, why he couldn't let him in. It looked like all of those excuses were for naught, though, because Jonah was in front of him, and there was no way Royal was getting out of a conversation now that he had spoken.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

Jonah heard footsteps and his demeanor changed, his hand now clenching onto his wand in his pocket, his eyes narrowing as he walked closer. The familiar voice calmed him down, he let go of his wand, and his whole body relaxed. It was just Royal. Royal? Why was he down here? And so late at that? Jonah tilted his head to the right, looking him up and down. He hadn't seen him in...well, too long. Just looking at him was making Jonah slightly emotional. He gave him a charming smile. "Royal." Jo would move forward, would wrap him up in a hug, but they were in a public area. There was no one around, no students, but Jonah was still respecting his boyfriends wishes. But another reason he chose to stay where he was, was because he wasn't sure what Royal was feeling anymore, and it scared Jonah to death. "How are you?"

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Jonah smiled at him, and Royal wanted to flinch away. He didn’t deserve that, the way Jonah still looked at him like he was a good person despite the fact that Royal had been keeping his boyfriend at an arm’s length. Jonah asked how Royal was, and he shook his head slightly. “I’ve been a lot better.” Addie was beginning to worry him with her fling with the Lestrange boy, and he hardly seemed to know Abby any more, and that was before he factored in his troubles with his friends, who had coupled off, leaving him the odd one out, and…It was just a lot. And Royal wasn’t able to change any of it, and that was frustrating. “I didn’t know you were working today.” It was a simple statement, but Royal felt like small talk, or small-ish talk, was the best thing for him to do at the moment.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

His tone of voice, and the shaking of his head made Jonah want to just go over and hug him, let him know it was okay. He even moved forward, his arm moving out slightly, before he realized what he was doing and stopped, letting his arm fall down once more. Jonah looked down at his hands, then back up to Royal. "What's wrong? Did...did I do something?" Jonah's voice was quiet, but it did not waver. He wanted to know what was wrong, what was going on, but he hadn't seen Royal in so long that he had no idea what he could've done. Did going to the cemetery make things move too fast? Jonah really hoped not. "Yeah, I've got the night shift down here tonight. Pretty quiet...easy place to think."

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Jonah closed a bit of the gap between them by taking a step forward, and Royal was tempted to take one, too. But Jonah stopped, and Royal figured it was better not to push anything. Jo had probably stopped because he thought it would make Royal feel better, and Royal didn’t want to send out any mixed signals. He didn’t know what he wanted, that much was true, but he didn’t need Jonah to be subject to his confusion, too. “No, Jo. You didn’t do anything.” Royal assured him, forcing himself to make eye contact with his boyfriend for a moment before dropping his gaze again. “My sisters are just…making bad choices, I guess you could say, and I really wish that they would stop and think every once in a while.” Royal didn’t want to have to pick up Addie again when the Lestrange boy eventually left her and she lost her only friend, or at least her only friend that Royal knew about. Jonah made a comment about the dungeons being an easy place to think, and Royal nodded to that. “Are you down here often?” There was plenty of other places in the castle to patrol, but Royal didn’t have any idea how the assignments worked, and he thought that maybe a position was permanent, and his question was therefore stupid.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

Jonah let out a big breath, making it obvious that he was relieved. It was one thing that had been on his mind for awhile, and it had been pretty much clouding his brain with anxiety ever since Royal had begun making excuses not to see him. Jonah knew he had his own personal issues, which was fine, everyone does, he just wished he'd speak to him more about it. But of course, Jonah wasn't going to force him. That wasn't the type of person he was.

He blinked a few times, staring into Royal's eyes. They always had their way of entrancing him. "I haven't got any sisters of course...but I can imagine that what you think are bad choices, they might not, which could cause issues between you and them." He really had ever spoken to Abby before, so he wasn't sure what Royal was saying was a bad choice, but Jonah knew he was probably correct in whatever it was.

"Not all the time, no. We trade off different spots to patrol, but I would say this is my favorite. Lots of great memories down here." Jonah smiled at him. He felt weirdly uncomfortable...not that they weren't showing affection, but it didn't seem right for Jo to wink at Royal like he always used to and he wasn't sure why.

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“Trust me, they know they’re bad choices.” How could anyone with the last name Lestrange be a good choice? Royal thought himself pretty open minded, but even he knew that some people never changed. Bad apples stayed bad, and so did Lestranges. And Theo – Abby had found out that he was a part of the group that attacked the school! She should have known long before then that he was bad news. He had the ego of a blood purist, or at least he had when Royal had met him. He had been one of those quietly condescending types, a stereotypical bad Slytherin, and Addie had disapproved of him. Why anyone would date someone their twin disapproved of was beyond Royal.

Royal nodded when Jo said that they traded off spots. That was nice, he guessed. They got to see all of the castle, a little bit at a time. When Jonah said there were good memories, Royal raised his eyebrows. Most of his memories from school were with Vic, but despite the fact that they lived in the dungeons, most of what Royal could remember took place in different locations in the school. “What kind of memories?” Royal prompted gently, surprised to find that he wanted to hear about Jonah’s childhood. Most of what he knew was about Jacob’s little brother, and that was different than Jonah, the person.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

Jonah just nodded his head. He didn't want to upset Royal, as he already seemed annoyed. And he definitely wasn't going to tell him he was wrong, as Jonah didn't know the entire situation. Whatever Abby and Addie were doing, or choosing, was obviously bothering their brother. Jo just hoped the three of them got it all figured out, they all needed each other and this wasn't the time to be fighting.

He smiled, glancing around. "Mostly just being with friends, and well...seeing you." Jonah's head moved to the side. As far as Jonah knew, Royal didn't know that this was a lifelong crush he's had on him. Jonah hadn't told anyone that, but he had always flirted with Royal whenever he got the chance, but he assumed it was taken as a joke and Jonah just being funny. Especially since he was his good friend's little brother.

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Silence hung between Royal and Jonah, covering them like an uncomfortably heavy shroud, after Jonah said that his fond memories were of being with friends and seeing Royal. He didn’t know how to respond to that; if he was honest, Jonah had only come onto his radar as something more than Jacob’s little brother after he had graduated from Hogwarts. When they were in school, Royal had probably walked past Jonah hundreds of times without paying him any mind. Royal tried to summon something more interesting to say than that fact, but instead he found himself blurting out a question. “When do you get off?” It would probably be easier for them to talk when Royal wasn’t worried about keeping Jonah away from his job. At least Royal hoped it would be easier to talk then – he didn’t want to admit that the problem was entirely him and what he had already done.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

Silence. Complete, and utter, silence. Jonah glanced around the hall, back to Royal, and then down the hall again. He was just staring now, not sure what to do. Jonah was nervous. Yes, Royal had explained that it wasn't anything Jonah had done, but his actions were making that very hard to believe. Jonah licked his lips and took a deep breath. Royal finally spoke, and his eyes moved back to Royal. Jo couldn't tell if he was nervous or if he was just completely calm. Swallowing nervously, he looked down at his watch. "In about twenty minutes. There's another auror coming down to cover my shift so I can relax." Probably sleep, but if Royal wanted to speak to him, Jonah would not refuse. Sleeping could wait. There was obviously something wrong and he needed to know what it was.

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Jonah appeared to be just as nervous as Royal was, looking around, and the older man didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t ever run into this problem in any of his previous, short-lived, relationships. Royal had thought he would always know how to talk to Jo, but apparently he had been optimistic in that assumption. Royal nodded when Jonah said that someone was coming to relieve him in twenty minutes. “Should I, er…follow you while you patrol or something?” Royal suggested. “So that everyone knows that I’m not here illegally?” He already had his badge, but walking with an Auror, even an Auror-in-training, made everything seem a lot more official. Besides, that way Jonah could keep doing his job and Royal wouldn’t lose him in between now and when someone else came down to the post. Royal had no idea what was going to happen in the twenty minute interim, but he hoped that it wouldn’t be this awkward.

@jill3

[Deleted]

@royal
<3

Jonah hated this. He didn't want it to be like this, and he didn't even understand WHY it was like this. Nothing had happened, nothing bad at least. They had both gone on their date, but hadn't really seen the other since then and the two of them had been owling since. Yes, they seemed to have a little bump in the road, but even Jonah wasn't sure what that bump was or why it happened. However, Royal's words did make him smile his charming smile, and he nodded his head, chuckling quietly. "Of course you can follow me, Royal. I've always wanted you to." Jonah didn't know if it was a bad time to make a joke such as that, but maybe it would lighten the mood.

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Jonah said that Royal could follow him, so the Slytherin took a step towards his boyfriend, anticipating that Jonah would begin moving again. He didn’t. The Hufflepuff did smile, though, and Royal offered a nervous smile back. Jonah made a joke that Royal didn’t quite understand, but he huffed out something similar to a laugh nonetheless. “Are you going to start moving?” Royal prodded. Maybe this would be easier when they were walking and talking, instead of talking and facing each other like it was some sort of confrontation. “Other than working, what have you been doing?” Royal asked. Small talk was good, and it was easier to talk about that than the weather, since Royal couldn’t remember the last time he had been outside that day.

@jill3

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@royal
<3

Royal smiled, and Jonah felt his heart melt into a large puddle. That smile was one he hadn't seen in a very long time, and he was glad to see it tonight. Exceptionally glad. It had been too long, and Jonah wanted Royal to be happy, always wanted him to be happy. When Royal laughed, Jonah couldn't help but allow a large grin on his face. His mood was immediately brightening. Royal urged him to move and he rose his eyebrows. It hadn't even been a minute after he had answered that he could follow him, but Jonah didn't comment on the rushing. He began moving, walking side by side with Royal, his hands in his pockets of his robes. "Honestly? Really just seeing Jacob and trying to catch up on sleep. But being here is nice, nice seeing old friends and classmates."