couch
Regulus is having a staring contest with the blinking cursor on his screen when the first of the sniffles start. By the time the girl two tables down has progressed to full on sobs, Regulus is already halfway through packing his bag. How is anyone supposed to get anything done with all this racket? She could at least have the decency to go cry in the restroom like everyone else. It’s just common courtesy.
As if giving up his perfectly good spot at the packed university library wasn’t enough, his phone starts incessantly buzzing while he’s leaving, and he almost drops the books he’s holding as he’s trying to fish it out of his pocket.
“What?” Regulus snaps. He makes his way down the steps outside the library and starts to cross the quad.
“Now is that any way to answer the phone? Honestly, I raised you better than that,” Sirius responds with a tone of mild indignation.
“I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, don't!” Sirius quickly says. “Are you coming to the party this weekend?”
“No.”
“Reggie,” Sirius groans, drawing out the last syllable. “It’s the end of term! We have to do something to celebrate.”
“We don’t have to do anything. Besides, I am too busy to be thinking about stupid parties right now,” Regulus replies, glaring at the back of a cyclist that passed by too close.
After a moment, Sirius says, “How are you?”
“I still have my exam in Linguistics and have this paper to finish for English Lit that I’ve barely made any headway in -”
“Regulus,” Sirius says, cutting him off. “I didn’t ask about your coursework. I asked about you. How are you? Have you been eating? Getting enough sleep?”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Siri. I’m not a child anymore,” Regulus grumbles.
“First of all, I will always worry about you. That is literally in my job description as an older sibling. Secondly,” his voice softens as he says, “you’re worth more than what you can do.”
Regulus gears himself up for an argument, the practiced responses ready on his tongue, but Sirius beats him to the punch.
“No, don’t start with me. Plus, I already know that you have top marks in Linguistics and your English professor loves you, so you’ll be fine in both. Your health comes first, Reggie.”
It’s as if the words break the dam that Regulus has hidden all of his stress behind. He suddenly notices how tired he is. He recognizes the tension in his shoulders and drag of his feet. The more the words he was going to say echo around his head, he realizes that they’re in his mother’s voice. He watches the lines on the sidewalk as they pass. He steps on a crack.
“Fine. Is that all?” Regulus asks.
He hears Sirius sigh in response. “Yeah, that’s all. Let me know about the party when you get a chance.”
“I’ll be there,” Regulus says. “Now stop bothering me.”
“Bye, love you!” Sirius gets in before Regulus hangs up the phone.
--
Regulus stops dead in his tracks at the sight that greets him when he opens the door to the apartment. James is sprawled out on the couch, face squished against one arm, glasses askew, and chest rising and falling slowly.
Regulus closes the door with a quiet click before he makes his way over. He sets his bag down at the foot of the coffee table before taking the remote out of James’ outstretched hand. He turns off the football game playing on the tv and turns to the sleeping boy. Up close, Regulus can now see the way James’ eyelashes cast shadows over the tops of his cheeks. His mouth is slightly open as he softly snores. Regulus’ heart skips a beat in his chest. He bends down and reaches out to gently remove James’ glasses. The other boy’s eyes flutter open, and he squints up at him. As Regulus gets up, James lets out a small noise of protest and grabs his shirt.
“Stay,” James croaks, voice heavy with sleep.
James shuffles over on the couch so that he’s on his side, back pressed against the cushions. Regulus hesitates for a moment. James tugs on his shirt again. Regulus gives in and folds himself into James. He tangles their legs together and tucks his face into James’ chest. The smell of sandalwood and cinnamon envelopes him as James’ arms circle him and pull him closer. It’s impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.
A gentle kiss placed in his hair and another whispered, “Stay.” Regulus closes his eyes and melts into the embrace.
The paper can wait a little longer.