Work Text:
The moon watches the sun from afar, blinded by its light, basking in its warmth. The sun is magnetic, the moon finds itself drawn towards it. The moon chases the sun across the sky, hoping to make contact. However, the moon always finds itself in a sunless sky, always so close but never close enough.
Regulus watches James from afar. James exudes warmth, he's bright and magnetic. James is the centre of the universe and his friends adore him, circle him. James' smile has the power to expel any amount of darkness and he is kind, always so kind. He doesn't seem to notice the attention. Regulus doesn't think he cares. Regulus wonders if he notices him.
Regulus sits on the outskirts. His light is not as bright, his glow not as warm. He spends his time hopelessly seeking James out, wondering if today is the day he finally makes contact. It hasn't happened yet but maybe one day.
It started with a smile so unexpected and warm that Regulus blinked in the brightness of it and fought the urge to glance around and double check that it was HIM that it was directed towards.
A smile turned into a "hey, is this seat taken?", turned into a conversation, turned into an exchange of letters, turned into meetings in the Astronomy Tower, turned into an almost kiss late at night under the watchful eyes of the stars.
Then Sirius left home. For good this time he swore "I'm serious Reggie, I'm not going back". Everything crumbled under Regulus' careful, gentle fingertips. His parents became stricter, more vigorous in sharing their beliefs. Sirius stopped speaking to him, despite promising to keep in touch. James became distant, the meetings in the Astronomy Tower became fewer and fewer until they stopped altogether and Regulus was left out in the cold.
Now, Regulus lies in bed, brand on his arm tingling, thinking about the way James used to look at him. Always so close, never close enough.