Chapter 1
Regulus stared ahead at the horizonfrom the cliff’s edge, hands at his side, calm and steady. Closing his eyes against the waves crashing below, he opens his arms wide to the wind, tasting salt in the air. Wind blowing dark curls into his face. If asked how he ended up here, he wouldn’t have an answer. Too many factors and in the end they all lead him here, to the cliff’s edge.
Alone.
The world goes on and the weight of someone else’s sins should not be his burden to bear, but when has that ever mattered?
“Regulus?” James called, breaking through his thoughts.
Regulus sighed, dropping his arms, “Go away, James. I’m fine.”
“I didn’t know, Reg. Please, I’m begging you, just come back off the edge.” James pleaded, eyes wide and frantic, hands trembling as he reaches out. “We can go anywhere you want. I love you, please. Please, just don’t go.”
“Stop,” Regulus chokes out, tears pooling, threatening to spill. Fingers twisting and pulling his hair.
“I’m not leaving you, not going away. Please, we can go. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise you’ll have a family that’ll show you love. I swear there’s better to come, let us show you, let me show you.”
“James-”
“Let us show you” James whispered, stepping closer.
Regulus smiled sadly, small and watery, “I’m sorry, Sunshine.”
“No, don’t be sorry. Be here,” James begs, reaching for Regulus’s hand.
“I don’t think I can do this,” He whispers back, stumbling slightly as James surges forward, sheltering the smaller boy against his chest, hands gripping his shirt, biting his lip as Regulus breaks, sobbing into his shoulder.
“You don’t have to do it alone.” James says into his hair, “You can lean on me. I’ll be your summer sun. All you have to do is stay.”
For a moment, they just stand there, in each other’s arms as the world fades away. James clings to the younger man in his arms as though he can save him if he just holds on tight enough. Pressing kisses to his hair between whispered reassurances, James scans their surroundings, tall grass cut off at the cliff’s edge, orange painting the sky.
“Okay, James,” Regulus picks his head up off his chest, tear-stained cheeks and red eyed, “Okay.”
James presses their foreheads together, sighing softly. Hazel eyes finding steel. Fingers carding through hair, curls twisting around gentle fingers. For a moment Regulus just allows himself to be held like he’s something precious. For a moment, he allows James to be something solid to lean on.