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Godfrey pressed his arm to his face, biting down into the soft flesh to force back a sob at Voldemort's words. After a few moments he gathered himself up somewhat and used his other arm to help him scoot closer to Voldemort, giving into part of his desires as he tucked himself against the man's side, feet curled beneath himself.

"You promise?" He asked, pulling his bruised arm from his mouth and finding Voldemort's fingers with his own. "You promise you won't ever go away, won't stay away? Not like Papa, or Adela, or Dad, or...or like Josh?"

Everyone went away, everyone left him. Papa to the hospital, Harry to his work, to his drink, Adela to school, and Josh.... Josh hurt worst of all because he thought he'd finally found someone who would never go.

He loved Josh, missed him, but he'd recognized Josh's restlessness long ago and had chosen not to acknowledge it. He was too afraid of Josh leaving to help him to want to stay, and Josh's leaving was inevitable. In the end Godfrey couldn't be selfish enough to give Josh enough reasons to choose not to go.

Voldemort's robes smelled like spices and peppermint, like evaporated seawater and cold earth and stone. Godfrey pressed his face tighter against the fabric, holding Voldemort's opposite hand in his lap, between his own slightly smaller ones.

The sound of a heartbeat was pumping through his burning ears and he wasn't sure whether it belonged to Voldemort or to himself. Or perhaps the cave wasn't merely a cave but a living creature, Godfrey thought, and they had just happened to have stopped for a picnic next to its beating heart.

It soon became apparent that the pounding was coming from his chest and beating almost painfully in his blood-filled ears. And Voldemort's words only set his heartbeat pumping faster. He remained unmoving against Voldemort's side, knowing that if Voldemort were to look into his flushed cheeks and expressive eyes he would give everything away.

But what better time than this? Voldemort said he would never leave him, chase him if he had to, and Godfrey had never thought he'd hear words like this outside of a book or movie. Godfrey shivered a little, his heart feeling as if it were pounding faster. Too many consequences to one action, too much to lose if everything went south, too much of himself to give away. The possibility frightened him even as it gave him pleasurable thrills. Voldemort said he'd never let anyone keep them apart.

Including Godfrey himself?

Voldemort's fingers felt warm surrounding his, the shifting movement of skin on skin Godfrey's excelerated breathing caused sending jolts of electricity down his arm to his spine and throughout his whole body. He squeezed Voldemort's hand tighter between his sweating palms and wished this wasn't such a difficult decision to make.

If he didn't tell him now, he might as well never say anything and shove it all inside until it hopefully went away.

Godfreys shivered again and for the first time he wished he was an animagus so he could turn into a tiny mouse and scurry away. But he couldn't run, he had to make a decision and he had thought about it enough, written enough lists, laboured through enough sleepless nights.

All of these thoughts and movements took place along scant seconds, and it took even less time, despite all these weeks of deliberating, for Godfrey to choose.

"Voldemort?" The question was hushed, as his face was half-pressed still against the black robes.

I....." Godfreys heart was thundering in his ears. Loud. Too loud, so loud i hurt. But when Voldemort suddenly started touching Godfrey's fingers, everything stopped.

His breath.

The noise in the cave.

His heartbeat.

Everything came to a standstill. Voldemort had never touched him like that before. Every touch was accidental or brief. Affection was not given unexpectedly, but begged for and stolen. Comfort was not readily given nor physical comfort initiated by anyone but Godfrey.

" I haven't been distracted because of Josh." He said finally, his hand twitching once. His voice was quiet and mearly awestruck, like he had just spied a young deer ten feet from him in a forest. " I've been distracted from school because of you. Because.... oh... darn it."

He stood up on his knees and pushed his face towards the darkness of Voldemort's hood, pressing his soft lips together against Voldemort's, his ears flattening and his tail poofing out like a bottle brush as his whole body shivered.

The kiss left him whimpering and breahless. He felt foolish for making the noises but the kiss was like an electric shock down his spine.

Sitting still, staring into Voldemort's eyes, it felt like too much after the kiss ended and Godfrey was very aware he had taken up a lot of time today and they hadn't found what they were looking for yet. Plus... if he didn't do something, didn't move, he felt as if he might start something he might notbbe ready for yet.

Despite Voldemort's grip on his arm Godfrey stood, his heart restarting and pounding again. He suddenly felt restless and energized, and as suddenly as he was a weeping mess, he was all smiles and tugging at Voldemort's arm.

"Come on! Weren't we looking for something before.... before this?" Godfrey bit his bitten lip, a small grin spreading.across his face.

He slipped Voldemort's hold somewhat, trying to head off into he darkness of the cave and stepping on a forgotten sandwich in the process.

Finally free, Godfrey stepped back, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants before sticking them in his pockets. He looked down at the sandwich stuck on his shoe and suddenly laughed, taking in a deep breath, his tail curling and uncurling around his leg. Without a further word he darted off into he darkness of the cave, trailing his hand along the wall and looking back at Voldemort almost shyly before disappearing completely, the sound of his giggling echoing off the walls.

"Coming?" The words bounced around the empty cavern, echoing a tone twisted with undecipherable meaning.