Chapter Text
“Hey, Reggie, give me your hand,” James says softly as Regulus' hand wanders in the direction of the gash raging across his waist again. Regulus obliges and James intertwines their fingers under the surface of the water as it continues to turn red around them.
“Don’t look there, look at me.” James averts Regulus’ gaze from the water by untangling their hands to tilt Regulus’ face towards his. He channels every last bit of equanimity he possesses into smiling at Regulus and pushing a curl out of his face. “Pretty, isn’t it?“ James’ eyes water and his lip trembles as he contorts his face into the playful smirk Regulus always liked. Regulus hums and brushes his hand lightly across James’ cheek. James catches his hand and holds it against his face, trying to engrave the feeling of Regulus’ warm palm into the most precious part of his memory while he still has it.
Regulus always liked to roll his eyes and pull a face when James flirts with him like this, but now, his lips only curve up faintly, and he gazes upon James with eyes unfocused but fond. James knows he wants to roll his eyes and scrunch his nose—even seems to think he is—so he murmurs, “Hey, don’t you look at me like that.” He helps Regulus turn his head towards the setting sun. “Look at the sunset, instead. Isn’t it pretty?”
“Yeah,” Regulus says, his voice barely above a whisper.
They’re quiet for a while.
“I love you,” James says, feeling Regulus lean further into him. He presses a final kiss to Regulus’ cheek and intertwines their fingers one last time.
They watch the sunset from inside the water together, blanketed by a tranquil silence, until James finally feels Regulus’ hand fall slack.