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—A FEW WEEKS PASSED. Rigel was back home and he was actually feeling better than he had been for years and it was all thanks to—
"Here." said Tom, pulling a hair-tie he somehow had on his wrist and giving it to his boyfriend when he noticed him looking for one.
"You tie your hair?" Asked Rigel, taking it and starting to tie his hair.
"No, I don't. I had it on my wrist just incase you ever needed one." shrugged Tom as if it was nothing as the younger boy laid his head on his lap, making him smile.
"That's actually so thoughtful of you." mused Rigel, not bothering to stop the smile growing on his face.
Tom's smile just grew wider, not looking away from the boy as he put his hand on his cheek, taking every inch of his face in— as if it'd disappear any second. He wanted to memorize it. Memorize the face that he fell in love with. Memorize every inch of it.
Rigel took his boyfriend's hand and started playing with his fingers, looking like he was in thought.
"What's bothering you, my love?" asked Tom in concern.
Rigel sighed. "It's near isn't it?"
"Five months."
"But— can't you do something about it? I don't want you going into war." said Rigel desperately, sitting up.
Tom shook his head sadly. "I can't. It's been arranged for months. Both sides know this."
Rigel became quiet, suddenly in thought. Tom, already knowing where this was going, sighed. "Love, don't even think about it—"
"I wasn't." defended Rigel, but it was clear it was a lie.
The older boy sighed again at this, frowning when Rigel stood up and tried walking away.
Tom immediately pulled on his hand harshly, making the boy land on his lap, which he smirked at. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked.
Rigel went beet red, trying to stand up, but was pulled back onto his lap again.
Tom looked obviously amused as he stammered, at a loss for words.
"Fuck off." Rigel groaned, noticing his obvious amusement, his head now in the crook of Tom's neck.
Tom let out a fond laugh, kissing Rigel's neck lightly. "Rigel?"
He hummed questioningly, playing with his boyfriend's hair.
Tom looked at him, looking confused. "Why do you love me?"
Rigel stopped and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean.. literally anyone else is better than me. I don't deserve you. All I've done is hurt you."
"I haven't hurt you any less, love." Rigel pointed out with a sad frown.
"That still doesn't answer my question— why do you love me?"
Without missing a beat, Rigel replied with, "..how can I not?"
••
That night, Tom was busy planning a raid in bed when his door opened and a frowning Rigel came in. "Love? Are you alright?"
Rigel shook his head with a faraway look in his eye.
Tom walked over to him and pulled him to his chest, kissing his head lightly. "Nightmare?"
The boy in his arms nodded, still not saying anything.
"Come, you can fall asleep in my bed with me tonight." said Tom softly.
A few minutes later, when Tom was finally done with his paperwork, he put it on his bedside table, and laid down next to his boyfriend, pulling him to his chest, smiling when Rigel immediately relaxed. "Go to sleep, dear. I'll be here."
"Thank you." whispered Rigel, his head on the older boy's chest.
"I'll protect you with my life."
Rigel let out a soft chuckle. "Tom, you're literally immortal."
"Exactly."
It took merely a few minutes for Rigel to fall asleep, and for the first time ever— he looked peaceful.
Tom pushed his hair back and kissed his lightning bolt scar.
It was something he did whenever he comforted Rigel when it was getting bad or he had a nightmare, which worked immediately.
They didn't sleep in the same bed together every night, because of Remus (who warned them about that), and Tom just went along with it— wanting their approval.
However, Rigel seemed to have nightmares almost every night, and after that— he'd always go to his boyfriend's room and sleep there with him, knowing his worries would vanish as soon as he was in his arms.
It was adorable, really, how Rigel only felt peaceful around Tom and could finally sleep well enough to the point that there would be no bags under his eyes the next morning.
••
The next morning, Remus looked at the couple in suspicion, which they both ignored as they started to eat breakfast.
Not wanting to hold it in anymore, Remus abruptly asked, "Did you guys shag?"
Sirius smirked into his goblet.
Rigel's eyes widened.
Tom, however, merely rolled his eyes, knowing this question would come sooner or later.
Cierra looked confused, so she sat up straighter and asked, "What's shag, daddy?"
Rigel put a hand over his mouth to stop the laughter that threatened to come out, while Sirius looked horrorstruck, Tom looked extremely amused and proud, and Remus.. he was as pale as a ghost.
"Nothing, Cierra. Don't think about it too much." said Remus, glancing at his four-year-old daughter.
Cierra was growing quickly and was almost 5 years old. She was exceptionally smart for her age, which wasn't actually surprising.
She frowned at the lack of answer, so she looked at her brother, who was avoiding her eyes, knowing what he would be asked. And he was right when she asked, "Bubba, what's shag?"
Rigel's eyes widened. He looked like he wanted to disappear into his chair right then and there. Tom, noticing this, let out an amused laugh.
