Random OneShots

I would give you the moon

By: mraudersmoon on Ao3

Jegulus

~~~~

Regulus really doesn't expect to find James on the astronomy tower at this hour of the night. Usually, it's the other way around; Regulus is looking at the stars at two in the morning and James somehow finds him sitting on a ledge and he tells him to get down from there before he falls.

It's just a bit odd to find James up here all alone. If he's up here, he's either with Regulus or Marlene or Peter. But he's alone . Alone and not even looking at the sky, just sitting against the wall with his knees pulled up to his chest and the sight causes worry to pool in Regulus' gut as he quietly approaches James.

"Usually you find me sitting up here at two in the morning, Potter," Regulus jokes, his voice flat as he crouches down in front of James, watching the boy lift his head slightly. "What are you doing up so late, hm? It's cold, love," he points out, reaching out to ruffle James' curls softly.

He takes note that James is in his pajamas, soft red striped pants and a Bowie shirt with rips in the collar that Regulus assumes he stole from Sirius. Regulus furrows his eyebrows as he settles on his knees, his feet under his bum as he places his hands on top of his own legs.

James finally lifts his head after a few moments, chin resting on his knees as he looks at Regulus, his eyes tired and glasses crooked and oh , Regulus feels his heart wrenching in his chest at James' disheveled state; dried tear tracks down his red cheeks and his lips bitten raw, like he'd been chewing on them for hours .

Regulus grits his jaw, his eyebrows knitting together worriedly as he moves a little bit closer to James, his hand coming to rest on his calf. He hears James take in a shaky breath and his stomach lurches as he watches James' lip tremble.

"Regulus?" James croaks out softly, his eyes pooling with tears again. Regulus watches the way they rim his eyes, the way they threaten to spill down his cheeks and the empty, dark look in his brown eyes.

Humming a response, Regulus rubs soft circles against James' calf and leans forward to press a tender kiss to his forehead, lips gently grazing the warm skin. The temperature of his skin makes Regulus' gasp a bit with worry. "What's wrong, baby? You feel a little bit warm, are you feeling ill? You might be running a fever-"

"Can," James starts, his voice cracking painfully, voice hoarse. "Can I have a hug?" He asks, a tear spilling down his cheek quickly, and Regulus doesn't even answer, he just surges forward and pulls the other boy into his chest, feeling James collapse in his arms.

Regulus gets them situated on the ground. He has his legs crossed in a pretzel, James in his lap with his face pressed into the crook of his neck, soft sniffles and hiccups falling from his lips as he cries. Regulus just nods, pressing gentle kisses to James' forehead and rocking him back and forth, murmuring okay, baby, let it out as his heart just breaks for this boy.

"It's okay baby," Regulus whispers, and James just chokes out a rough sob in response that shakes both of them so hard that Regulus is sure James' bones are trembling. "Crying is good, love. Let it out, it's okay. I'm right here, my lovely boy," he mumbles soothingly, smoothing his hand down James' back. James makes a noise in disagreement, and Regulus hums in confusion. "No? No what, baby?"

"Don't wanna cry."

"You don't wanna cry?"

"I don't like being sad," James whispers, his voice shaking, getting cut off with hiccups. "I don't want to be sad anymore, I don't like it. I don't like this . I want it to stop, why won't it stop? I don't even - I shouldn't be sad-"

"Okay, James, stop that," Regulus chastises gently, pulling away a little bit until James looks up at him, his brown skin flushed red from the force of his crying. Regulus brings one hand to his cheek, the pad of his thumb wiping stray tears off of his sweaty, sticky face. "Being sad is okay. Do you hear me? You're allowed to feel sad sometimes - hell, you're allowed to feel sad all the time. You don't have to hide, baby, you don't have to be happy for everybody," Regulus says, eyebrows pulled together as he searches James' eyes before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to the space between his eyebrows, then one on the bridge of his nose.

With wide, shiny eyes and trembling lips, James looks between Regulus' eyes and bites the inside of his cheek. "But," he starts, and Regulus nods, stroking his cheek softly and leaning down to kiss his nose. "But if I'm sad, then what can I do? What - what if Remus is sad when I'm sad? What - what can I do? What am I good for if I'm sad?"

And oh , that just makes Regulus' heart crack even more , if that was even possible. He wraps both of his arms around James, pulling him into his chest tightly and fighting the urge to cry as he holds his boy against his own body, hopefully pressing all of the love he feels for James into the hug. "Everything, baby," Regulus croaks, one of his hands tangling in James' hair as James begins crying again, soft sobs in the crook of his neck.

"You're more than good enough - you're more than enough . You're good, so good. Good for everything . You don't have to prove that."