Control ? Ron Weasley [2]

V. A TWIN CONNECTION

      "You have been there for me, Mum. Every step of the way."

      She smiled again, the smile that a mother would give her child if they skinned their knee. "And I always will be."

      He had woken up with the ghost of her fingers on his arm and the taste of chocolate ice cream in his mouth.

      Casting a silencing charm on himself, he moved out of his bed, careful to not wake his sleeping dorm mates. He changed into some running clothes, leaving the comfort of the common room and making his way to the Quidditch Pitch. The sun was just starting to rise in the distance as he set off for a jog, trying to clear his mind.

      It didn't take long for another set of footsteps to join him.

      "You know, you don't have to get up and run with me," Theo said, noticing that Blaise was adorably out of breath from just a couple minutes of running.

      "Because hiding in broom closets and secret passageways is a completely healthy way to spend time together," Blaise replied jokingly. Theo grimaced, sad that it was the only thing he could offer Blaise at the moment. It was different when it was just Malfoy in the room, who already knew about the relationship and to the surprise of both Blaise and Theo, seemed to be taking their relationship rather well. "I was joking, Theo."

      "I'm sorry we can't..." Theo trailed off, the words getting caught in his throat. He frustratingly ran his hand through his hair.

      "Theo," Blaise said seriously, the both of them slowing down until they were standing still on the pitch. "I've fancied you since first year. I didn't even think I'd ever get this much. You don't have to feel guilty."

      "But I do. You deserve more," Theo huffed out.

      Blaise smiled. "Just hearing you say that makes me happy. Why can't you see that?" Blaise reached out and brushed Theo's hair out of his eyes. Theo wondered if he'd ever get used to the speed of his heart when Blaise did things like that. How could his feelings for his best friend change so fast? Whatever it was, he had never felt happier and wasn't going to let it go. He'd hold onto this for dear life.

      "One day," Theo promised, reaching for Blaise's hand, "one day when this is all over, I'm going to stand on a fucking podium and tell everyone how much I fancy you. And tell everyone who doesn't approve to fuck off."

      The promise, the vehemence behind it, seemed to be enough to Blaise. He leaned forward and kissed Theo, in that way that always made Theo's head spin. "I know," Blaise said when they pulled away. "But until then, I am perfectly fine with broom closet escapades. And if I've got to get up at the crack of dawn to spend time with you, I'll bloody do that too."

      Theo laughed. "Good. Because you are terrible at running long distances. You take off and then lose momentum. You've got to go at a steady pace."

      "Are we seriously discussing my running habits instead of snogging each other senseless? I can't believe you. What kind of boyfriend are you?"

      "One that cares about your exercise?" Theo tried, laughing when Blaise slapped him playfully in the side. "Don't be sensitive." Theo reached out to hit Blaise back when Blaise suddenly grabbed the outstretched hand, holding it in place. Theo's sleeve had been rolled up earlier in his jog, and the black ink on display. Theo tried to pull his arm back, suddenly more ashamed of the mark than he'd ever been, but Blaise pulled it back.

      "It's part of you now, Theo. And I fancy every single part of you." And then, in an action that left Theo completely breathless, Blaise reached down and pressed a kiss to the skin around the mark.