#astronomy nerd regulus my beloved

[static-radio-ao3]

@jegulus-microfic // august 25 // prompt: gold // words: 453

March 8th, 1986

“Come on, James,” Regulus calls out from the hallway, “we can’t be late!” 

“Reg, darling, angel, the sun hasn’t even set yet. I’m sure we won’t miss it.”  James is still tugging on his shoes, hopping a little in place to not lose his balance completely. 

“See, this attitude is the reason why you missed your Mind Healer’s exam last year,” Regulus intones. He shifts the picnic basket he’s holding to his other hand so he can reach out to grab James by the elbow to keep him steady.

“I distinctly remember being late because someone kept me up at night.” 

James has his shoes on, moving swiftly to pull his coat and striped scarf off the hook. Silver and green, because even though Gryffindor pride never dies, James likes belonging to Regulus more.

“Slander and lies. I was only trying to tire you out so you’d sleep through the night,” Regulus says. When James opens his mouth to contradict him, Regulus says loudly, “But that’s not what we’re talking about right now. Hurry up.”

It only takes James another minute or so before he’s ready to go, during which Regulus continues to fret about being late, muttering under his breath that he should have known better than to shack up with a Potter.

Once they’ve settled on the grassy hill that would provide them the best view of the night sky, Regulus and James start pulling blankets, food, and a telescope out of the picnic basket Regulus had packed them after charming the basket with an Extension Charm.

And then they wait. The sun is setting in the background, casting Regulus in a warm glow. And Regulus talks. Tells James all about Halley’s Comet, how it’s only visible every 75 years or so. How Merlin himself probably saw this same comet in his lifetime. And James listens, perfectly content to exist in Regulus’ orbit.

It doesn’t take much longer for the sky to fully darken. Or maybe it does - James never keeps track of time if he can keep track of Regulus instead. And then it happens; Regulus is mid-sentence when the comet streaks across the sky, brightening up the dark night.

Regulus is completely entranced, gazing up at the meteor and its golden tail with unbridled excitement and adoration.

I love you, James thinks suddenly. They’ve said it to each other before - many times, even - but James keeps it to himself just this once. He doesn’t want to distract Regulus from this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. Although James secretly thinks their love is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon as well.

I love you, James thinks, and the thought is as clear in his mind as the bright meteor shooting across the sky.