"with Every Breath"

"with every breath"

word count: 279

“When we’re older, we should get married,” Regulus had whispered softly.

“Yeah?”James looked at his boyfriend, who had been hugging his chest as they lay in bed together. 

“Yeah.”

James pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to Regulus’ head. “What kind of flowers should we have?” He asked quietly.

“Roses,” the younger boy answered. “But, only red ones, those are my favorite.”

“Anything you want, love, it’ll be yours.”

“You promise?”

“With every breath from my lungs, every kiss from my lips, and every touch from my hands, I’ll love you forever and anything you ever want, I’ll make sure it’s yours.”

“Ugh, James! Quit being such a sap!” Regulus chuckled affectionately. 

—

James smiled at the memory as tears rolled down his cheeks slowly. 

He knelt down to the ground and placed the roses he brought with him down next to him. 

James stared at the grave and the ache in his chest was all he could feel. He heaved in a shaky breath and felt a pang. 

He didn’t bother with trying to stop his tears from falling as he retrieved the old flowers and replaced them with the new ones. 

James closed his eyes and repeated the same speech he gave every time he went to see Regulus. 

“With every breath from my lungs, every tear from my eyes, and every rose from my garden, I’ll miss you until the day I leave to join you. But until then, I’ll love you now as fiercely as I did then. And every day from the year will be a reminder of a day we spent together.”

With that James left Regulus’ grave. 

Today would have been their anniversary.

You know the the brainrot is bad when you randomly think “Wow, I bet James Potter would have liked Hannah Montana”

July 29: ignore | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 342

— 

Thanksgiving 1977

“Reg, love, you can’t keep ignoring me,” James pleaded with his boyfriend, who was pointedly looking anywhere but in his direction. He stood on the opposite side of the empty classroom they were in with his arms adamantly crossed. 

Regulus stayed silent, merely raising an eyebrow, giving James the go-ahead to speak. 

“Regulus…” James took a step closer to him, tucking a loose curl behind his ear, “I don’t want you to stay in that house. Please. My parents have already said they’d be more than happy to have you stay at ours. And Sirius wants you to escape before…”

“Before they inevitably force me to take the Mark.” Regulus snapped his head to glare at James as he talked. His eyes swirled with a thousand emotions that James couldn’t really put names to. “I know, James.” 

James pulled him closer to hug him. Regulus turned away from him but didn’t pull away from the embrace. 

“I-I know they’re awful, but James,” Regulus finally turned to look at him, eyes shining with tears, “they’re my parents.” He choked on a sob before continuing, “But, I know I have to leave soon.”

James rubbed his back comfortingly and whispered soft consolations as his boyfriend sobbed into his chest.

Regulus sniffed and shifted his gaze to meet James’ again. This time, James saw nothing but resolve and determination set into his eyes “This Christmas break. I’ll apparate. I’ll do it on the day before Christmas Eve. I promise.”

—

New Years' Day 1978

James frantically searched the train platform for signs of his boyfriend. 

He hadn’t come on the day before Christmas Eve. 

James had been worried out of his mind. Regulus hadn’t even sent a letter to explain why he didn’t show up. 

Then, James saw a glimpse of Regulus’ black curls. He left behind his bags and sprinted to where Regulus sat on a bench, eyes trained on the ground. 

“Reg.”

Regulus lifted his head. The second he saw Regulus’ eyes, he knew.

“I’m so sorry, Jamie,” Regulus whispered.

July 27: pressure | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 275

“Reg, watching the mailbox through the window isn’t going to make the mail come any faster,” James laughed as he gently pried his boyfriend away from the window overlooking their tiny front lawn.

“Jamie, the letter could arrive any day now,” Regulus protested as James pulled him away, lips turned down.

James led him to the kitchen of their flat. He pulled two mugs from the cupboard as Regulus retrieved two tea bags.

As James had finished boiling the water in the kettle, Regulus burst out, “The mail! James, it’s here!” His boyfriend took off running to their mailbox. “Come on!”

James quickly set the kettle aside and ran after Regulus. When he reached the front door, Regulus was already sprinting back to James clutching a thick envelope. 

“It came!” He exclaimed. Regulus’ face was etched with nervousness as he used his thumb to tear open the envelope. Regulus snatched the letter out and scanned it eagerly. His eyes widened and he looked right up at James. “Baby, I got in!” Regulus cried jumping into James’ arms. “I got into that law program at Oxford!”

James exhaled as soon as the words left his boyfriend’s mouth and he felt an invisible pressure get lifted from his shoulders. James caught him and spun them in a circle. He set Regulus down and grabbed his face. He kissed Regulus and drew away to look in his eyes. “I’m so proud of you, love.” 

Regulus’ face was glowing with happiness as he grinned from ear to ear. “I did it,” he mumbled, tears filling his eyes.

“You did it,” James murmured, stroking a stray tear from Regulus’ cheek. 

regulus with barty and evan

Regulus studying: James coming up from behind him and wrapping his arms around Regulus: Regulus: James, what are you doing? James: I'm being your personal blanket. Regulus: ...Can you be a blanket that helps me with charms homework? James shaking his head: Blankets don't study. Regulus smiling: sigh