train
Here’s the thing about the Hogwarts Express—it takes hours.
The journey from London to Middle of Nowhere, Scotland, isn’t a quick one. Most students spend their hours in compartments with their friends, while others wander in search of sweets.
James is usually in a compartment with his friends, but Peter disappeared in search of sweets and Sirius climbed into Remus’ lap, and well—James needed to be anywhere else but directly across from them.
Besides, he has his own…activities.
“I missed you, love,” James says, tucking a stray black curl behind the soft curve of an ear. God, he loves them. Kisses them sometimes and thinks, Who would’ve thought I’d love such an insignificant body part?
“I sent you letters,” Regulus reminds him, palms warm on his neck. He sits in James’ lap, their robes tossed on the seat across from them. The compartment door is locked, the window sufficiently blurred with a spell from Regulus.
It’s just them, and the Scottish countryside blurring past.
James slips his hands under the hem of Regulus’ jumper to grip his waist. “And I read every one of them.”
There’s a burst of laughter and running down the train corridor. Regulus’ eyes flit nervously to the compartment door, but no one stops to bother them.
“Hey, look at me.”
Regulus turns, gray eyes wide.
“We’re going to have such a good year. I promise. And when you’re ready, we’ll tell the world.” James forward to kiss him, chaste and soft. “I’ll wait as long as you need.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“Your brother is going to kill me the second he finds out. I’m prolonging my life, you know.” James flicks the tip of Regulus’ nose when he rolls his eyes. “I mean it. I’ll wait.”
Regulus drops his forehead into the curve of James’ shoulder and breaths deep. “How much longer until Hogwarts?”
“Mm. I think an hour or two. Why?”
“Do you have to go back to the Gryffindor compartments?”
James turns to nuzzle Regulus’ curls, nipping at his ear. “No, love. I can stay here for a little longer.”
“Okay. Good.”
Then Regulus takes James’ face between his palms and kisses him. The noise on the train fades, and their eyes shut to the blurring Scottish countryside, and there is only them in this little world they’ve made.