One hour
One hour. That’s all Regulus asked for. One undisturbed hour of laying on his towel, bathing in the sun surrounded only by the warm and the sound of the sea. One hour. It’s not a lot to ask, isn’t it? Well apparently, it is for James Potter.
It could be only 10 minutes of silence and Regulus feels James already restlessly fidgeting beside him. He doesn’t need to look up. He can feel James gaze at him. He hears how he switches position on his towel every 30 seconds. He hears how James loudly inhaled several times but, in the end, he kept himself from speaking.
It could be only 20 minutes when James gets up and goes for a swim unable to stay in the same place. Regulus relishes in it. He likes the calmness of a day at a beach. It’s one that’s hidden from strangers so only a few other people are there, but all of them are far enough so he doesn’t hear them. The sun is sinking into Regulus’ skin warming him.
It could be only 30 minutes when James comes back from the water and with him the restless energy. He doesn’t sit on his towel for more than 5 minutes before he is up again and walking towards the bar for a drink.
It could be only 50 minutes and Regulus is surprised that James calmed down. He can still feel his presence next to him, but the boy has been quiet for the last 20 minutes. Strangely quiet. Suspiciously quiet. But Regulus refused to look up in fear he will snap his boyfriend from whatever trance he got himself into. He let his mind clear of all thoughts. There is only the sound of waves hitting the nearest rocks and the squawking of seagulls in the distance.
It could be only 55 minutes when Regulus is woken up from his relaxation by a careful whisper of his name.
“Reggie…”
“Mhm?” He mutters.
“I’m sorry. But can you move a little?” James asks.
“What? Why?” An hour. That’s all he wanted.
“I need you to move. You are in the way of the dragon’s tail.” For a second Regulus thinks he didn’t hear him correctly. Or maybe he was in the sun for too long he’s making it up.
“Wha-“ Regulus’ question gets stuck in his throat as he lifts his head to look at the boy next to him.
“I didn’t estimate the size correctly, so I need you to move a little.” James gives him a sheepish smile as he gestures to the body of a dragon made from sand right next to him. The dragon lies right next to a big castle with at least four towers James obviously build in the 20 minutes he was quiet.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” James smiles and gestures for Regulus to move because once is James set on a task even if it’s building a sandcastle nothing can stop him.
As Regulus moves James is already focusing back on his dragon. “I think I will build a village next to it, what do you think?”
“Sure, Mon amour, whatever you want,” Regulus answers with a smile. Great, that means that James gets to be happy and more importantly busy, and it can give Regulus maybe half an hour on top.