Burning Promises

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts… it still burns."

Charlie had hoped for something different than paranoid chanting to wake him. He searched for the warmth of another body next to him in vain, finding nothing but cold and twisted sheets. Slowly opening his eyes, Charlie sat up and searched for the source of the voice in the darkness. His eyes slowly accustomed to the dark and he moved closer to the shape of a person he noticed cowering at the end of his bed.

"Draco?" The silvery blonde hair was clearly visible in the blackness of the night and tempted Charlie's hand to brush the silky strands out of the pale face. Grey eyes focused on him immediately, wide and frightened, not blinking once.

"It burns," Draco said almost inaudibly. His long fingers were wrapped tightly around his left forearm, palm pressing against the scarred contours of the Dark Mark but only hiding a small part of the huge tattoo that looked oh-so-wrong on Draco's smooth skin. "He wants me to come."

"Oh, Draco…" Charlie enclosed the thin wrist and leant closer. "I am the only one who still wants you to come, okay?" He pressed a gentle kiss against Draco's supple lips and only pulled away when he finally felt Draco relax. But the blissful expression that Charlie's kisses normally created on Draco's face was still missing.

"It burns. It'll always burn," Draco repeated absently.

Charlie frowned and moved his fingers over the mark, searching for a sign of physical pain. Eventually, he cautiously placed his hand on Draco's.

"That's only in your imagination. He's dead and won't Summon you again." Tenderly, Charlie stroked the back of Draco's hand and smiled softly when Draco's head came to rest on his shoulder. He swung his arm tightly around Draco's slightly shaking back and held him as close as possible, already hoping that they could go back to sleep when Draco said:

"He appeared to be dead before and returned. How can you say that it's different this time?"

"Because this time you have me." Charlie brushed his nose over Draco's as the younger man looked up. "I'll protect you from anyone who ever want to scar your perfect skin again."

The corners of Draco's lips twitched upwards and Charlie couldn't resist but kissing him again, not holding back his passion this time. Draco returned his kiss still smiling, pressing back against Charlie and wrapping his arms around him.

"Promise?" Draco breathed between the kisses, the only word he could manage to say before Charlie's tongue slipped into his mouth.

That was a promise he made for what felt like a life time ago, so Charlie simply nodded before he pushed Draco flat on his back on the mattress, moving over him with their lips engaged in a feral kiss.