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“Padfoot, mate. I’m headed off to pick your brother up from Pandora's, another fainting spell apparently…” he trails off, practically darting around the room in search of his Spiderman jumper.
It’s Saturday afternoon, which means that James is over lounging about at Sirius' for their weekly private bonding time, as Remus likes to describe it. Though, all they really do is just dance around to ABBA and messy up the apartment while waiting for their take-out delivery to arrive.
Remus usually takes this chance to visit his parents or stop by the florists to pick up some fresh flowers that Sirius insists they change out every week.
“Ah, yes, my baby brother, the anaemic! How did he even get past you this morning? He must’ve looked like a bloody reincarnation of the Grim Reaper…” Sirius jokes, eyes crinkling at the sides at the thought of his brother dragging a scythe past an oblivious James.
“Explains why I woke up to him already gone, I guess” he grumbled, tone laced with both unease and annoyance. James is rarely ever deterred, but when it comes to the love of his life…let’s just say the ghost of Poppy Pomfrey takes him over.
If it wasn’t for the rapid pacing or the exasperated sighs he keeps letting out while in search of his keys, even Sirius, his literal other half, wouldn’t have guessed James was worried.
“Prongs relax, I’m sure he’s fine. Besides,” Sirius stands, palming something from under the pillow he was leaning against. “Pandora’s been dealing with his blackouts even before you came along. She’s probably already got him up and talking already, yeah?” Sirius reassures, walking over to place James’ missing keys into his sweaty hands.
Faintly smiling, James allows himself to calm down a bit as he fists his keys to ground himself. “Thanks mate, I’ll update you when we reach home.” voice coming out more shaky than he intended.
He waves Sirius goodbye as he fumbles with the doorknob, shutting it behind him lightly. Click.
“He’s gonna be fine!” is the last thing he hears before he practically sprints down the stairs, heart hammering loudly in his ears. Who is James Fleamont Potter if not a nervous wreck?
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Blinking awake, Regulus’ hands practically shoot up to shield his eyes from the sudden sharp pain the sunlight has plagued him with. What the fuck? He thinks. His mind is all over the place as he fights to get rid of the pounding headache forming at the back of his head.
This wasn’t really unusual for Regulus, years of suffering with anaemia and little interest in taking care of oneself definitely results in waking up all confused and disoriented.
This time though, there isn’t a warm body of sunshine to weigh him down and stroke his curls in an attempt to calm his nerves. And there surely aren’t any painkillers anywhere in sight for him to gulp down.
As if his thoughts could conjure up a reality, he hears a worrying clinking sound all the way from the kitchen before a bright red jumper comes into view in front of him. “Jamie?” his voice barely sounds, a cough threatening to escape if he speaks any louder.
“Hello, love” his boyfriend says from the door, his soft grin soothing the ache in Regulus' head. In his hands, he’s holding up two mugs of what Regulus hopes is 7 shots of coffee. “You’ve been out for 3 hours. I was getting kinda worried there.” James quips, smile slightly faltering.
Fabric rustles against his skin as he slowly sits up, black dots emerging before him and blurring his vision. Weakly, he lets out an oh. He would say more, but honestly? What was he supposed to say? “Oh, sorry babe, I’ve been neglecting my health these past few days. Please don’t be mad!”
He really needs to work on his attitude.
Across the room, he feels James coming towards him. His steps filled with what Regulus can only think of as irritation and displease. Don’t worry, you’re not back at home. He ponders, eyes closed as he braces himself for the inevitable lecture he’s going to get. Maybe even a beating. Regulus did not have the energy for this right now.
A shaky huff escapes his lips.
It never comes though; instead, he feels large arms engulfing him into a hearty hug. Regulus immediately melts and untenses his muscles, dissolving into his boyfriend’s embrace. He isn’t one for physical touch usually, but James is different. James is an orange muffin on a serene summer morning, pure warmth and solace in the form of a person. Regulus savours him.
“Can we just stay like this forever?” he mumbles, situating his head in the crook of James’ neck. “You’re so… warm…”
Regulus often feels guilty every time he associates his worries with the horrors of The Noble House of Black. It haunts his every living thought. Pooling at the bottom of his feet, dragging him down every step he takes towards ecstasy. Fortunately, James and his brother pulled him out right before it buried him whole. Patching him up with every ounce of love they could give. For that, he is eternally grateful.
A chuckle. “I want nothing more, Reg. But you’d strangle me if I let a steaming cup of chai go to waste”
Regulus perks up at this, failing to hide his enthusiasm as his eyes land on the mugs James had previously set down on their bedside table. “Thank you, Mon Soleil” he croaks out, cringing at the sound of his raspy voice. It wasn’t coffee, but he’d take Effie’s famous chai over it any day.
“What would I do without you?” he laughs, palming the warm cup of happiness. It’s warmth practically radiating into his bloodstream as he swallows down small sips.
“You know, sometimes I think you like my mum’s chai more than you like me,” James starts, eyes twinkling with bemusing mischief. Regulus doesn’t miss the sneaky hand snaking around his waist, earning a few goosebumps across his back. “I’ll let it slide this once though, since you’re all…poorly…” James drags on, brushing a chaste kiss against his forehead.
Regulus blushes. Maybe it’s the fact that he just fainted or the calming atmosphere around them, but Regulus swears he just fell in love with James all over again. Sirius would practically gag if he could hear his thoughts right now.
The wide grin on Regulus’ tired face doesn’t go unnoticed by James because he practically scoops Regulus up and manoeuvres his frail body on top of his to take him into his wide arms, cradling him like a baby. “Let me go, Jamie” he coughs out, nose scrunching in disbelief. “I’m gonna spill this all over the bed!”
He’s laughing now, body vibrating with content. His addled thoughts slowly wash away as James leaves a trail of soft kisses down his neck. Mumbling words of affirmation into his ears after each one.
Pulling away from James, he sets his mug down. Only to turn around and stare straight into the brown eyes he calls home. “I love you, Mon cœur”
His boyfriend looks up to meet his gaze, eyebrows softening as he speaks, “I love you too. So much, Jaan.”