Chapter Text
Prologue -
Everything has a start and everything has an end, you just have to learn where to begin. Regulus understood where he began but he never found his end. He was never able to pull the thread enough for it to break off.
So when Regulus was alone he would tug and rip at his thread, trying to find the end, trying to bring his end closer.
“Look at the ocean Reg. It's all ours” James grinned, raising an arm to rest around Regulus' shoulders. Regulus lifted his arm up and held out a pinky finger which he curled around James'. “I love you” James murmured into Regulus' dark hair, placing a kiss on the top of his head.
The dark waves curled around them, sinking away to the depths. A low hum could be heard over the vast garden of water, spreading across like a blanket, covering everything there was to grasp within its hold. To rock and cradle it in such a way of normality.
Light danced its way over the sea, moving gracefully above the waves trying to engulf and trap it, so captivating it was to witness light jump from rock and ridge above the ever raising tide.
They stood together on the edge of a cliff hanging over the beach. The sun was hanging low, dimming ever so slowly. James' arm was tight around Regulus' body, holding him upright.
Once, Regulus had said he would never be foolish enough to fall in love, he would never be dazzled into silly tricks and games.
Once, Regulus had never met James.
After their first encounter, Regulus wanted to and would forever be chasing the love that the boy so foolishly poured away.
As if he had a forever filled bucket to garnish people with, James would share his love and happiness. Many would try to take and borrow from that bucket, James would let them. He had more than enough love to share, Regulus was sure of it.
Sometimes, when Regulus was alone he let his thoughts wander in the hidden valleys and the corners of his mind. He'd ask himself if he truly thought he was James' person, like James' was his. These thoughts crept over Regulus like the shadow of a tree branching over a paddock, weaving itself in and out of him, twining into his veins.
Even just being a person who James cared for was enough for Regulus. For Regulus who'd never been taught how to care for or how to show your worry, for Regulus who thought he'd end up dead in his father's study before the age of sixteen, for Regulus who was never loved and never longed for before James had arrived to save him.
“Are you tired?” James asked tentatively, brushing a dark strand of hair from Regulus eyes as he yawned.
“Mhm” he responded, turning inwards into James' shoulder. Burying his face in James' woolen jumper. He relaxed and let his bones loose from their iron grip.
James once again kissed atop of his head and took Regulus into his arms. This was new for Regulus, being so unguarded around a person. James of course you was not just a person, he was Regulus' person, the one who truly understood him, and could pick at him without unraveling everything.
After growing up with so many protective walls and barriers, it was difficult to break them, corrosion of those walls would simply never happen. If Regulus ever wanted to show himself raw and unshielded to somebody, he would have to learn how to deconstruct those walls, brick by brick.
Regulus was prepared to do all of that and more for James.
The pair stood together for a long time, watching the moon arise, shining over earth. the stars glimmering beside her, bright and full of life.
Maybe it was that people were like stars, they're golden and joyous until they start to flicker, each part of them slowly fading and burning away until they are left with simply the crust of their past. Still there. Always there, but dull and becoming forgotten.
Regulus stood witnessing the stars, imagining how many nights they had watched over, how many wars they had witnessed, how much life they had consumed, Regulus so dearly hoped they had earned more love than they lost.
“Reggie,” James said quietly beside the boy, “It's late, love. It's time for bed.” His voice was so hauntingly soft and sweet.
Regulus just nodded and let James guide him to their tent, the wind was howling and the waves crashed upon the shore.
—
Now, when Regulus looked back at their time spent together he wondered if things had ever started to fizzle or fade. He didn't think so. Their love was so solid, so built up and plastered together that it was hard to break apart.
So much peace was floating around them that night.
Everything was dim.