Regulus jolted awake, heart pounding and eyes wet with tears. The vivid nightmare still clung to his mind: James, his beloved boyfriend, had been talking about how he wished Regulus were a girl. The words had cut deeper than any blade, and even now, awake in the dim light of their bedroom, the pain lingered.
He shook, silent sobs wracking his body as he tried to steady his breathing. Next to him, James stirred, roused by Regulus's distress. Barely awake, James instinctively wrapped his arms around Regulus, pulling him close.
"Shh, love, it's okay," James murmured, his voice heavy with sleep but filled with concern. He pressed gentle kisses to Regulus's temple, his hands rubbing soothing circles on his back. "I've got you. It was just a dream."
Regulus clung to James, finding solace in the warmth and familiarity of his touch. The nightmare began to fade, replaced by the comforting reality of James's embrace.
