forest
James unzips the tent with a flourish, throws open the flap, and sing-songs, “Good morning, sunshine!”
Regulus leans up on his elbows, squinting against the rays of sunlight beaming into the tent and across his face. “No.”
“What?” James drops to his knees in the entrance. “You said we’d go hiking with Sirius and Remus this morning. And the girls are going!”
“No.”
“Regulus, baby, my love, my very important and—”
“No.” Regulus pulls the sleeping bag over his head. “I don’t like hiking. I don’t like forests. I want to sleep. You kept me up all night.”
James grins, smug. “Yes, well.” He crawls on all fours across the tent until he’s hovering over Regulus’ sleeping bag-covered body. “You weren’t stopping me, were you? Coulda told me, ‘Hey, I want to sleep,’ but I distinctly remember it went something like, ‘Yes, James, right there, I’m—”
A hand darts out of the sleeping bag and smacks James’ jaw, then moves around until a palm is right over his mouth.
“Not sure what you’re trying to hide, love,” James says into the palm over his mouth. “I think you kept the whole forest awake.”
Regulus pushes the sleeping bag back down and stares up at him. His curls are wild, disheveled around his face, and there are slight indentations on his cheek from the pillow.
James wants to sink his teeth in and never let go. Regulus is always cute in the morning, even when he’s prickly. It’s the softness in his eyes before he truly wakes, the relaxed set of his jaw and lips.
“Fine. We’ll go on your stupid hike and—”
“Changed my mind.” James moves in a rush. He pulls the sleeping bag back, ignores Regulus’ startled yelp, and slots their bodies together. He tangles their legs and brackets his elbows on either side of Regulus’ head. “We’re staying here. They’re hiking.”
Regulus’ brows draw together. “You were excited about the hike.”
“And now I’m excited about you.”
“That’s very fickle behavior.”
James shrugs. He shifts his hips and grins at Regulus’ startled gasp. “I don’t think you’re complaining.”
“The tent is wide open.”
“Keep quiet, then. Don’t go telling the whole forest what I’m doing to you.” Then he ducks under Regulus’ jaw, bites and nips at soft skin, and forgets he ever wanted to do anything but this.
Somewhere nearby, Sirius stands with his arms crossed, a defiant and slightly irritated pinch in his expression.
“I’m not leaving without James and Reggie,” he argues. “They’re supposed to come with us.”
Lily frowns. “I don’t think you want to wait for them. It could be hours.”
Remus looks in the direction of James and Regulus’ tent. “Honestly, Sirius. It’s just better that we leave them behind. We could’ve been halfway there by now.”
“You know what,” Sirius declares, “I’m going to tell them to hurry up.”
Mary snorts. “You’ll regret that.”
“Sirius, don’t,” Remus calls after him in warning, but Sirius is already marching up the shallow hill to the circle of trees that hides James’ tent from view.
Lily puts her head on Mary’s shoulder. “How long, Remus?”
“A few seconds.”
And like clockwork, Sirius comes barreling down the hill at twice the speed he climbed it. He flies past them, shouting, “We’re are leaving! And I need to find acid for my eyes.”