Chapter Text
August 7th, 1649.
The rain fell steadily, drumming against the tiled roofs oft he palace and pooling in the narrow grooves of the stone courtyard. Regulus stood alone beneath the eaves, his black robes soaked at the hem. His gaze was fixed on the sky, as if he could find answers in the dark clouds swirling above.
„Drenched again, Your Grace?“
The voice was deep, steady, and too familiar. Regulus didn’t flinch, but the faintest tightening of his jaw betrayed him. He turned slowly, meeting the piercing gaze of James Potter. The captain of the royal guard and Regulus’ husband, he stood tall and unyielding, his crimson sash stark against the dark tones of his uniform.
„I wasn’t aware my actions required your commentary“ Regulus said, his tone clipped, though the words lacked real bite.
James stepped closer, his boots splashing lightly against rain-soaked stones. „They don’t. But when my husband insists on wandering the palace grounds in the middle of a storm, it becomes my business.“
Regulus let out a bitter laugh, a sound as sharp as the raindrops pelting the courtyard. „Still playing the dutiful guard, I see. Tell me, James, do you ever tire of following orders?“
James‘ eyes darkened, but his composure remains steady. „Only when they concern you.“
The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, the kind that had been lingering for years. James‘ words hung in the air, and for a moment, Regulus wished for James to hug him and never let go. But no, James Potter was too disciplined, too controlled, to let his feelings slip so easily.
Regulus turned his gaze back tot he courtyard. „You’re wasting your time“
„Am I?“ James stepped closer still, his presence impossible to ignore. „You act like nothing touches you, but I know better. You think you’re carrying this burden alone, Regulus. You think your past and those stupid rumors define you.“
Regulus‘ lips tightened into a thin line. „And what would you know about my past?“ he asked, his voice sharp as a blade.
James hesitated, just for a moment, before his reply came low and steady. „Everything“
Regulus froze, the weight of that single word pressing against him like a physical force. James wasn’t lying-he couldn’t be. But that truth only deepened the ache in his chest, the ones he tried to bury. The one that happened very long time ago-and the one that happened recently.
„Knowing doesn’t change anything,“ Regulus said finally, his voice barely audible over the rain. „I made my choices, James. And you made yours. We’re both exactly where we deserve to be“
„And yet, here we are,“ James said, his tone softening. He reaches out, as if to bridge the gap between them, but stopped short. „Standing in the same storm, carrying the same weight. When will you let me help you?“
Regulus turned to him, his expression unreadable. The rain had plastered his hair to his face, but his blue grayish eyes burned with defiance that James knew all too well. „You can’t save me from this, James. You never could… I wish I didn’t come back:“
Before James could respond, Regulus stepped away, his figure disappearing into the curtain of rain.
James stood there, his fists clenched at his sides, watching as the man who haunted his every thought slipped further out of reach. The storm raged om, but it was nothing compared to the tempest within his heart.
He loved Regulus, more than anything but after that accident, everything changed. He doesn’t blame Regulus in the slightest. He blames himself, he blames so called „graceful and brave men“ who couldn’t protect Regulus, who couldn’t protect their women. Even after they saved themselves, no one accepted them. No one. And James as their future King and captain of Royal Guard, can’t and won’t forgive them.
As James made his way to his chambers, he looked over at Regulus‘ chamber just to find him asleep. Oh, how James wished to hold Regulus through the nights and not have separeted bedrooms instead.
He made his way over to the wooden bed. He slayed down, facing Regulus‘ bedroom. One thin wooden wall is all it took to separate them… What would Sirius think of him now? He doesn’t know how to comfort Regulus, if only his father or his mother were here and not at the end of the damn world. He has his aunt, yes, but that’s not the same. Don’t get him wrong, he loves his aunt and she would do anything for him and Regulus, yet he still longs for his parents.
James drifted to sleep soon after, with the thoughts of his husband. He dreamed about the past, how happy James, Sirius and Regulus once were.
10 years ago
The summer breeze rustled through the tall grasses of the palace gardens, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers and freshly turned soil. In the clearing near the lotus pond, Sirius was already perched atop the low stone wall, his feet swinging carelessly.
„Hurry up, James!“ he shouted, his voice echoing through the garden. „You said you’d teach me how to throw that dagger properly, not stare at the clouds all day!“
James rolled his eyes at Sirius‘ childless, his wooden training sword strapped to his back. „Patience, Sirius. Not all of us have your endless energy. Even I need some time off.“
From behind a cluster of flowering trees, a smaller figure emerged, his steps quite but no less deliberate. Regulus was dressed in simpler version of the royal garb, his black hair neatly tied back. He hesitated at the edge of the clearing, his blue grayish eyes flicking between the older boys.
„You didn’t tell me he’d be here,“ Regulus said, his voice quiet but steady.
Sirius laughed, throwing a playful arm around James‘ shoulder. „Why wouldn’t he be? He‘s my best friend. And beside you could use a bit of sunshine in your life, little brother.“
Regulus bristled at the nickname, stepping into clearing with an air of forced confidence. „I’m not little,“ he said, glaring at Sirius. „You’re just tall and insufferable.“
James chuckled, crouching slightly to look Regulus in the eye. „For what is worth, I think you’re perfectly capable of being insufferable all on your own.“
Regulus blinked, momentarily caught off guard by James‘ teasing tone. He narrowed his eyes, unsure whether to feel insulted enough to insult James verbally or enough to punch him. „You’re not helping, Potter.“
James grinned and stood up straight, ruffling Regulus‘ neatly tied hair despite his protests. „I don’t know, Sirius. I think your little brother got potential. He just needs to lighten up a bit.“
Sirius rolled his eyes dramatically. „Good luck with that. Regulus came out of the cradle with a book in one hand and a scowl in the other“
„Maybe because someone had to make up for your lack of brains,“ Regulus shot back, crossing his arms.
James let out a genuine laugh, the kind that makes Regulus glance at him twice, his lips twitching as though he wanted to smile but didn’t quite know how. „All right, enough of this. Come here, Regulus.“ James gestured for him to stop closer, pulling the wooden training sword from his back. „You’re going to learn something useful today.“
„I don’t need to play games,“ Regulus muttered, though he stepped forward anyway. „I have studies, and besides, I mastered throwing daggers before you and Sirius.“
„And I’m teaching you how to wield a sword, not play games or throw daggers,“ James said, his voice turning more serious. „Even a prince should know how to defend himself.“
Regulus hesitated, then nodded. „Fine. But don’t go easy on me just because I’m younger.“
James smirked, handing him the sword. „Wouldn’t dream o fit, Your Highness.“
From the wall, Sirius grinned as he watched his best friend guide his younger brother through the basics of swordplay. Despite the teasing, Sirius knew this moment was important. James, for all his bravado, was patient with Regulus in a way that Sirius rarely managed to be. And Regulus, for all his prickliness, seemed to trust James in a way that Sirius couldn’t quite understand.
As the sun began to dip behind the palace walls, the three of them fell into an easy rhythm-laughter, teasing, and the occasional clang of wood against stone. For a little while, the weight oft he world didn’t seem so heavy.
Of course, that didn’t lasted long. The memory was fading, eaten by heavy darkness. Regulus stood in front of him with glass in his hand. „This is all your fault, James. You didn’t save me on time. Now look at me. Look at me, James. Look what you did.“ James steered in his sleep, tossing around hard yet soft wooden bed. He knows that, that thing was not Regulus, it was his mind playing with him. But the words, oh how true they were. It was his fault.
August 8th, 1649.
He gasped for air, looking around the dark room with only power of light coming from old candle.
Then he heard softs whimpers and cries. He stood up quickly and turned to Regulus‘ chambers, he saw his beloved husband having a nightmare. James‘ legs moved on their own, running to Regulus. Funny how it looks like he never thinks before he moves towards Regulus.
He had that effect on him.
„Regulus, my love, wake up!“ He shook him slightly. Regulus woke up in familiar way James did, panting and looking for some source of air. James held him in his arms until he calmed down.
„It’s been a year, Regulus,“ James said concerned. „Don’t worry, they’re not here.“
Regulus didn’t answer, he cried silently against James‘ chest.
„Why did I came back?“ Regulus asked- no he pleaded. James gave him same answer as he did for a year now.
„Because you survived, and there’s nothing you did wrong.