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Sirius always comes back happy after his little rendezvous in the human realm. It is not unusual for the gods to interact with the humans. Though Orion and Walburga Black had expressly forbidden it of their family, many others from the Sacred 28 viewed the rules as mere suggestions that existed solely to be broken and humans as playthings or something akin to pets. As such, they found delight in interacting with them, causing chaos, interfering in their lives—primarily out of boredom.Regulus has never degraded himself in that way.Sirius has always been the defiant one, the beautiful one, willing to do anything and everything possible to go against his role as a god. Regulus is content to go along with his parents’ wishes, to do what is expected of him. He has tried to explain to Sirius that it’s simply easier that way, but when has Sirius ever chosen the easy way? He is far, far too stubborn.Usually when Sirius leaves, Regulus chooses to stay behind, lounging in the sunlight and reading or making music with his lyre. This time, though, he chooses to follow Sirius.Call it boredom.Call it curiosity.Call it fate.Whatever the reason, Regulus follows at a safe distance, watching as Sirius pulls the hood of his cloak closer over his face, hiding himself in the shadow of it, and darts through the veil connecting this world to the human one. Casting a nervous glance about, Regulus flings himself after his brother with much less grace and composure than he usually possesses, moving through the veil in a series of flailing arms and legs.He emerges behind Sirius, who has glamoured himself to disguise any trace of godliness. This, too, is fairly common among the gods when interacting with humans—it took away a bit of the fun of toying with them when the humans were able to identify the Sacred 28 on sight.Regulus takes a moment to look around, assessing. They appear to be in an olive grove, the massive twisted trunks surrounding the columned temple where the veil exists. Sirius darts quickly down the hillside, the tail of his deep red cloak flowing behind him like a banner. Regulus ducks behind a column, observing as Sirius rushes over to a human, a broad smile on his face.The human male—tall, broad of shoulder, with messy dark hair, glows a lovely golden bronze. He clearly spends a good deal of time enjoying the sunshine. Perhaps he works in the olive grove, making a humble living pressing the oil from the small stone fruits.But why does Sirius seem so familiar with this person?Regulus leans closer, peeking from beyond the pillar. The sun is trickling through the leaves of the olive trees, causing golden light to dapple on the stone steps of the temple as the sultry breeze blows. Regulus, fortunately, is cast in shadow and remains hidden as the human turns in his direction to greet Sirius.And oh.Oh.Regulus’s heart flutters at the sight of this human—a feeling he quickly squashes, ignoring the thud of it as he observes this person’s straight white teeth and full mouth break into a smile at his brother, as he strides over and grips Sirius’s delicate hands in his own large, strong ones.“James!” his brother bellows. “It’s good to see you.”“You as well, my friend,” the one called James says, smiling in return.
Friend?
Sirius pulls off his crimson cloak, throwing it to the ground before dropping down himself. He lies there, sprawling out underneath the olive trees, letting the sunlight warm him. His arm is thrown over his face as he basks, and James sits beside him, the hem of his ivory exomis riding up his muscled thigh.Not that Regulus notices.Regulus suddenly feels like a voyeur, lurking behind this pillar and watching the two relax together, talking and laughing and having a fairly innocuous rendezvous, all things considered. They seem to know each other well, and have the easy comfort that comes from time spent in one another’s company.Perhaps too comfortable.Could this James be more than a friend to Sirius?Not that it matters, really—Regulus has absolutely no reason to care one way or the other. He tries to ignore the funny little flip in his stomach as he watches James tilt his head back and laugh at something Sirius murmurs, the way his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he does, the way Regulus longs to bottle that sound up and keep it close, live inside of the warmth it inspires—a warmth that causes Regulus’s skin to flush, making him shiver in the salt-scented breeze.It doesn’t matter.Technically, neither he nor Sirius are supposed to be here fraternizing with a lowly member of humanity. It goes against literally everything Walburga and Orion have ever instructed them by doing so.Bellatrix would have a bloody field day with this—she would toy with this handsome stranger and then find a way to completely shatter him at the last moment, not being happy until she saw humans eviscerated in a flash of brilliant light.That was something his parents would find preferable to this, though, for at least it showed a sign of power.Regulus somehow doubts that Sirius is planning to lure James into a false sense of security so that he can destroy him later. No, Sirius would enjoy knowing that he was defying his parents, even in this small, simple act.As the late afternoon sun gleams off the bronze doors to the temple, James lies down beside Sirius, their heads touching as they look up at the soft aura of golden hour.Unable to resist the unpleasant wrenching in his stomach any longer, Regulus turns and makes his way back through the veil. ***** Sometime later, Sirius emerges from beyond the veil, his cheeks flushed. He is wearing the same soft, secret smile that he always wears when he returns from the human realm. Now that Regulus knows who Sirius is meeting on the other side, he tries not to let his imagination get the best of him. Nevertheless, as he sits there, his brain goes through loads of possible scenarios that involve his brother and a golden-skinned man with messy hair rolling about on a scarlet cloak in an olive grove.Not that it matters.Regulus tries to go back to the book he’s been reading, but as Sirius passes the balcony where he’s perched under the moonlight, Regulus finds he can’t resist.“Did you have a good time?” he drawls, his thumb marking his place in the book that he brings to rest over the leg now dangling casually from the balcony.He’s not fussed one way or the other, really. It’s just that Sirius should be a bit more careful, a bit more discerning.Sirius jumps at the sound of Regulus’s voice. He had clearly been so caught up in his own thoughts that he wasn’t aware of his brother’s presence.“Reggie,” he breathes, bringing a hand to his chest as he smiles in relief. “You startled me.”“I can see that,” Regulus says coolly.Sirius’s smile falters for a moment. He must see something in Regulus’s expression.“How did you—?”“I followed you,” Regulus interrupts.Sirius lifts his chin defiantly, tossing his beautiful hair back and narrowing his storm-cloud colored eyes.“And?”Regulus stands, walking up to his brother.“How could you be so stupid, Sirius?” he hisses. “If our parents find out—”“And how would they?”There is a challenge in Sirius’s expression—an awareness that if anyone were to tell their parents, it would be Regulus.“I saw you, you know. You and that—that—”Words seem to fail Regulus.For some reason, Sirius finds this amusing, a wry twist to his mouth as he raises an eyebrow.“James?” he supplies.“Yes, James,” Regulus says. “James, with whom you seem to have quite the rapport.”Sirius chuckles at Regulus’s sarcasm.“Of course we have a rapport—though not in the way that you seem to think. Is that what’s got your hackles up, little brother?”Regulus narrows his eyes, and Sirius sighs at him.“James and I have been friends since we were eleven,” Sirius admits, smiling cheekily.Regulus feels as if he’s being smothered.“Eleven?” he says faintly. “But then—but you—”“I’m surprised at you, Reg. You’re usually much more eloquent. Look. Sometimes I just want to live normally,” Sirius says. “Spending time with James allows me to do that. I met him the first time I went through the veil and we’ve been friends ever since.”Regulus inhales, trying not to spiral. He inhales again, reminding himself to exhale this time. “Sirius,” he begins, pinching the bridge of his nose, impatient as if he is explaining something to a very small child. “He must have seen you coming through the veil at some point—and honestly, your disguise isn’t very good.”Sirius laughs.“Regulus, I have to help him see. Poor bloke can’t see a foot in front of his face without a bit of assistance.”Regulus processes this. Being human sounds… unpleasant—there are problems even Regulus hadn’t accounted for, such as not being able to see distant things clearly. Well, not without assistance from his dear brother, anyway.“Besides, James is like a brother to me, Regulus.”Something inside of Regulus feels soothed by this, but of course Sirius doesn’t know when to stop.“I trust James as much as I trust you, Reg,” Sirius says. His eyes are eager, sincere, imploring Regulus to understand.And then it all clicks.Regulus narrows his eyes again, scowling as he realizes that this means that James must know who Sirius is. “So not only are you regularly consorting with a human, but he knows your true identity?” Regulus hisses. He presses a hand to his forehead, reeling slightly.Sirius rolls his eyes, placing a steadying hand on Regulus’s slender arm.“Will you relax? If James hasn’t told anyone by now, he isn’t going to—really.”Regulus releases a breath, feeling some of the tension in his stomach dissipate.“Why don’t you just—come with me next time? For real, and not like a little stalker,” Sirius teases with a wink.Regulus gives his brother an unamused sidelong glance, but feels the beginnings of a smirk playing about his lips.“Piss off,” he mutters, elbowing Sirius.Sirius throws his head back and laughs aloud, nudging Regulus with his own elbow. The two laugh together for a moment.“So will you, then?” Sirius asks.Regulus has never been able to refuse his brother much, in spite of the way that Sirius’s ideas always seem to be mischievous-bordering-dangerously-upon-reckless.“All right then,” Regulus sighs, rolling his eyes for Sirius’s benefit.Although truthfully, there is a part of him that is curious to spend some time in the human realm. The bigger part of him—the very stupid, foolish, moronic part of him—is more than a bit curious to spend some time around the man who looks like he swallowed the sun.Regulus knows this is unwise.Tell that to his foolish little heart. ***** Seven suns later, Regulus readies himself to travel with his brother to the human realm. He takes great care in his morning toilette—he is usually well-groomed so this isn’t anything special, he tells himself. He applies eucalyptus oil to his body, rubbing it in before dressing in his ivory chiton and lacing up his tanned leather sandals.Regulus slides on his gold rings and his serpentine armlet, adjusting his tousled curls before adding the finishing touch: a circlet of golden laurel and olive leaves that clash magnificently with the black of his hair.It’s important to him to look nice, to make a good impression. After all, it’s not often that the gods interact with humanity in a way that doesn’t completely upend their lives. Regulus feels an absurd responsibility to make up for that. It is unreasonable, of course—Sirius has clearly already established trust and respect with James. However Regulus acts shouldn’t matter, not really.But there was something about James that had been captivating Regulus’s attention for much of the past few days. Each time he lets his mind wander, it wanders back to James—to his warm laugh, his easy manner. Although it is probably foolish, Regulus finds himself excited to embark on this adventure with Sirius.Squaring his shoulders, Regulus takes a deep breath and exits his chamber, running into Sirius as he passes through the gauzy white curtain that billows in the breeze.“Ready, little brother?” Sirius gives Regulus his most mischievous grin.“Oh, I suppose,” Regulus sighs. He is trying to ignore the way his stomach feels as though it is the ocean, churning aggressively on a stormy day.“You look quite nice,” Sirius says. He cocks a brow at Regulus, perusing him from the wreathed curls to the woven sandals. He smirks slightly as he notes Regulus’s jewelry.“Well, I wanted to make a good impression,” Regulus drawls. “Now are we going, or not?” ***** When Sirius and Regulus arrive at the temple in Halcyon, James is already there waiting. Sirius bounds forward eagerly like a puppy, but Regulus is hesitant, shy somehow. He’s never been as outgoing as his brother or his cousins Andromeda and Bellatrix. Like his cousin Narcissa, he’s always been a bit more reticent, willing to remain in the background rather than front and center.Regulus tucks himself behind the pillar again, hoping James doesn’t hear the soft brush of his sandals against the tiles. He is worried, all of a sudden, that he has made a mistake, that nothing good will come of this.James’s shoulders stretch, the muscles rippling across his back as he stretches his arms out to embrace Sirius. The burnished shade of his skin glints in the hazy sunlight and Regulus feels a tug. James turns around, blinking in what feels like slow motion, his lashes brushing against his cheeks, and Regulus gasps. His imagination had been doing him—and James—a colossal disservice.James lifts his eyes in the direction of the gasp—Regulus chides himself for being so obvious. As their eyes meet, Regulus feels that for the first time in his eternal life, he understands what possessed his cousin Andromeda to give up everything she knew for a mere mortal. James’s gaze is magnetic, tethering Regulus to the marble tiles, suddenly the only thing keeping him from drifting away.“Hello,” James smiles brilliantly, completely comfortable in his skin.Not that he has any reason to feel otherwise, of course. He’s beautiful, radiant, warm. And Regulus is… is…“This is my brother, Regulus,” Sirius sweeps forward, placing a bracing arm around Regulus’s shoulders.“H-hello,” Regulus stammers, cursing himself to Hades for his absolute idiocy.He imagines his mother’s reaction if she could see him, a stuttering mess in front of a mere mortal. How could he explain this tug on his heart, as if suddenly it was impossible to imagine being anywhere that this brilliant man was not?“Reggie caught me sneaking away last time, and the little bugger followed me,” Sirius smirks.Regulus casts a sidelong glance of irritation at his brother, wriggling out from underneath Sirius’s arm.James, for his part, looks surprised at this information.“But Sirius—I thought you’d be in trouble if anyone from back home found out?” he says.
Back home.
As if Sirius and Regulus just live down the road, or in the next town over, and not in an entirely different realm—a realm of gods and goddesses.James catches Regulus’s eye and grins, and something within Regulus flutters. ***** They spend the rest of the afternoon lounging and laughing amidst the olive grove, eating grapes and plucking ripened olives off the trees.Regulus learns that Sirius snuck through when he was eleven, curious about the rules their parents had established against interacting with the humans.“He was not very good at convincing me that he was just like I am,” James quips. “He had questions about everything.”Sirius throws a honeyed cake at James for that remark, but then they laugh and all is forgiven.Regulus is in awe of the ease with which Sirius and James navigate their friendship, sharing stories of their past and the mischief that they had gotten into together.Regulus feels a pang of jealousy at that, at his brother off on adventures without him, but he quickly gets over it as the afternoon fades into twilight, his time with James showing him how easy it must have been to be in his presence. He is absolutely magnetic, drawing Regulus into his orbit.Now, as Sirius clambers about in one of the trees, trying for a better view, Regulus is left seated beside James. Their arms brush, and Regulus notices James squinting slightly, as if he can’t quite make out his face in the dusky purple glow of evening.“I could make you glasses, you know,” Regulus blurts.Being in James’s presence makes Regulus feel like every thought that pops into his head must be shared.“What?” James asks, brow furrowing in confusion (which, Regulus acknowledges, is fair).“To help you see. Sirius told me that he has to help you see, that your vision is terrible.”“It’s not so bad,” James says nonchalantly.“He said you couldn’t see a foot in front of your face without his help,” Regulus drawls. “It seems that it would be a lot easier to navigate through life if you were able to see.”James looks at him for a beat; Regulus can feel his cheeks warm under the steady gaze. Finally, he slides his eyes over to look at James, at those soft brown eyes that are holding his own grey ones, at the black hair that is caressing his forehead, and suddenly he is too close, their arms touching, their hips pressed against one another, and Regulus forgets how to breathe.Can you feel it too? he thinks. Whatever this is—can you feel it too? James leans in slightly, his breath catching as Regulus bites down on his bottom lip, feeling his heartbeat thrumming madly in his chest.“Reggie!” Sirius’s voice calls from somewhere above them. “We’ve got to go!”Regulus exhales, rolling his eyes. James offers him a half smile.“See you next week then, yeah?” he asks earnestly.“Yes,” Regulus nods. “Yes.” ***** That night, as Regulus lies in his bed, surrounded by opulence, he feels restless. He tosses and turns, uncomfortably warm in spite of the kiss of silken sheets against his skin, the breeze rolling in through the gauzy curtains. He rolls onto his back, tucks his arm behind his head, and thinks of lying in an olive grove on a blanket, of a golden brown boy with an easy smile and a riot of messy black hair, and his heartbeat accelerates.The deep blue of the sky collapses into a hazy violet that soon gives way to the pink of dawn, and still, Regulus lies awake thinking. ***** Over the course of the next seven suns, Regulus spends a significant amount of his time lost in thought. Even as he attends meetings with his parents, or the lavish dinner parties they throw (on a very trying, nightly basis), his thoughts never stray far from James. Bellatrix has even gone so far as to call him “mopey”, admittedly not far from his typical moodiness—which is what Sirius says in his brother’s defense. But when Regulus ducks his head quickly from his cousin’s accusations, he sees Sirius watching him from behind the curtains of his long shiny hair, an eyebrow raised above suspicious eyes. Regulus busies himself with his goblet of wine and pretends not to notice his brother’s scrutinizing gaze on more than one occasion.In the between moments, where he isn’t being scrutinized by his cousin or his brother, Regulus works on developing a pair of spectacles for James. Gold, of course, to complement the lovely shade of James’s skin, and to avoid detracting too much from the beauty of his face—his sloped nose, his friendly, open brows, his inviting brown eyes.When the time finally comes to see James again, Regulus feels like he swallowed a cocktail of anxiety. His stomach roils with nerves, for now he knows what to expect, but he also worries that he read much more into the situation than he should have. What if James didn’t feel what Regulus did? Had he imagined the spark between them, or was it something real?And what of it, then?What if there was something between them?It’s not as if he has options. Andromeda had been disowned, banished from their realm to live a mortal life, to die. She took a risk—a risk that, according to Sirius, had paid off in the end. Regulus had been appalled to find out that in addition to spending time with James in Halcyon, he had also visited with Andromeda and met her daughter, Nymphadora (“She shows signs of mage abilities, Reg!”) and her partner, Ted. Even though it seems that no harm has been done, Regulus can’t help but worry about how many secrets he is carrying. It feels precarious, like balancing too many plates—at some point, Walburga will surely find out about her sons’ extracurricular activities, and then what? ***** When Sirius and Regulus return to Halcyon, he nearly turns around to go back through the veil, his hand tightly gripping Sirius’s elbow.“Reggie, what’s the matter with you?” Sirius asks.Regulus sighs.“Do you not see the other man standing there, Sirius?” he hisses.“Yes. That’s Remus,” Sirius says simply. “Come and meet him. He’s… important.”Raising a brow, Regulus follows curiously behind his brother, who claps James on the shoulder and then moves to stand in front of Remus.Remus, who takes Sirius’s hands in his own.Remus, who stares into Sirius’s eyes, gaze never straying to Regulus.Remus, who reaches up one long, scarred hand to trace it down the side of Sirius’s face.They aren’t doing anything lewd or improper, but Regulus feels his cheeks warm. There is something so intimate about the intensity with which Sirius and Remus look at one another that has him looking away, feeling as if he is intruding upon something private.“Hi.”Regulus looks over at James. Somehow, he had been so caught up in his brother’s romance with a stranger that he had momentarily forgotten his own.James gives him a crooked smile that takes his breath away, and he flushes, smiling and looking away.“Hello,” he says, peeking up at James through his lashes. “I hope you’ve been well.”“Yes, I’ve been well,” James says, slightly imitating Regulus’s stiff tone.“I, er, I made you something,” Regulus says, reaching into the pocket of his chiton and pulling out the pair of gold wire glasses.“You made these?” James exclaims, taking them in hand, turning them over and admiring the handiwork.They were rather good, Regulus thought.“Yes, well, as I said, I imagine that things will be more effective for you if you’re able to actually see.” “Thank you,” James says, pressing a hand tenderly to Regulus’s forearm. “Truly.”“Well, put them on then,” Regulus prompts.James nods, eagerly sliding the glasses onto his nose, adjusting the curve of the wires around his ears—quite nice ears, Regulus thinks.“Have my eyes seen until now?” James says, looking about in wonder. “There are so many details. And—oh my gosh.”His eyes fall on Regulus.“What.”“You—just. You.”James’s stare is nearly as intense as Remus’s towards Sirius, and Regulus swallows, looking away. Why is he so bloody nervous?“Who’s that, then?” he lifts his chin towards Remus, mostly for something to say.“That’s Remus Lupin,” James says. “He’s a friend of mine, and works in the grove with me. We’ve been friends since we were eleven.”Regulus nods.“So I assume Sirius has known him since then as well?”James chuckles.“You would be correct. It’s only taken this turn recently though. I think it’s nice,” James says, watching the two of them fondly.“Mmm,” Regulus hums, reeling slightly at this update.
Will the surprises never end?
“We should probably leave them alone for a while,” James says. “Remus has been training hard—he’s a member of the Order of the Phoenix.”Ah.The Order of the Phoenix essentially exists to ensure that the gods don’t use their power to the detriment of the humans. There have been murmurings among his parents and their friends for quite some time, but none of them seem exceptionally concerned with it. It is laughable to them, the idea that the humans could possibly hold their own against even one of the gods, let alone all.“You’ve heard of them, then?”Regulus realizes he’d been chewing the inside of his cheek, lost in thought. James stares at him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.“I have,” Regulus replies. “Is that—are you—is that something you might do as well?”James nods.“Absolutely. Not everyone is like Sirius, you know. And no one is like you.”Regulus startles. What does he mean by that?!“C’mere,” James says, offering his hand to Regulus.Regulus takes it, James’s strong hand closing around Regulus’s delicate fingers, weaving them together. It’s nice, safe, natural, and Regulus answers James’s smile with one of his own.James leads him through the grove, stepping easily over the gnarled roots of the trees like it’s second nature, patiently waiting as Regulus picks his way over them as well. They’re still holding hands, and it does something to Regulus. This is how life could be, if he were anything like his cousin.They scramble down an embankment to the edge of the water, the smooth soles of Regulus’s sandals sliding across the sediment. He slips, inhaling sharply in shock.“Whoa,” James says, turning around to grab Regulus before he falls.“Indeed,” Regulus gasps, taken aback at the proximity.James’s forearm is thick and strong, the heat of it pressed against the small of his back causing Regulus to feel unfamiliar sensations in his core.“I’ve got you,” James smiles softly.Regulus looks up at him, then curses himself internally for doing so. With his chest pressed flush against James’s, their faces are much closer together than he initially realized. The air between them is charged, filled with the presence of this thing that is between them, unspoken but fully palpable.James isn’t smiling anymore. His expression is a mirror of Regulus’s, and the shallow rise and fall of their chests brings them closer, closer, an infinitesimal amount each time. James has purpose in his face, desire in his eyes, in the curve of his jaw. Regulus raises his brow slightly—a question and an answer all at once.And then James is on him, pressing his soft, full lips to Regulus’s, gently at first and then intensely, searching Regulus’s mouth with his own. Regulus presses himself frantically to James’s front, his feet scrambling for purpose in the sediment, his mouth desperate, pleading. Without breaking his rhythm, James reaches down and cups Regulus’s arse, lifting him fluidly into his arms.Regulus barely has time to swoon over the strength and ease with which James lifted him, because now there are new sensations happening as James slides his tongue along Regulus’s lips, weaving one of his bronzed hands into Regulus’s hair. Regulus parts his lips, his tongue dancing into James’s mouth, tasting the exquisite sunshine and earth of this man. Regulus emits a sound he wasn’t entirely sure that he knew he could make, pressing the front of him closer to James.And oh.
Oh.
This is an unexpected sensation, and the thin material does little to prevent the friction between them. He can feel James’s erection between them, his own responding in kind, and suddenly the silk of his own and the linen of James’s are simply too much.“Regulus,” James pants, his lips swollen and so kissable Regulus doesn’t know how he’s ever expected to stop.“Mmm?” he intones, kissing every inch of James’s neck, his shoulders, grinding himself against his front in the process.“Reg—” James begins again, and Regulus cuts him off with a kiss, biting his lip and making James moan.James carries Regulus towards a clearing hidden within the trees, laying Regulus down on the loamy ground and unfastening his sandals as Regulus removes his own. Regulus pouts, reaching towards James, displeased with the distance. The sultry breeze feels so cold compared to the feeling of James.All at once, though, he stops his complaining, because James is unfastening the lion’s head brooch he uses to pin his exomis, unwinding the fabric. His eyes never leave Regulus’s, whose throat bobs at the sight of James—his bare shoulders, the muscles rippling in his chest, his abs—who knew that working in an olive grove yielded such beautiful results? And then the creamy linen pools around his feet, and Regulus, propped up on his elbows, feels his mouth water at the sight of James alert and ready for him.James kneels gently, hovering slightly over Regulus.“Is this okay?” he asks.Regulus nods, not trusting himself to speak without his voice cracking.James reaches out and unfastens the shoulders of Regulus’s garment, Regulus’s heart pounding almost audibly at the proximity. James gently slides it off of Regulus’s torso, and the chiton sprawls around them, leaving Regulus bare save for his circlet, armlet, and rings.James smiles at him.“What?” Regulus whispers sharply, brows contorting into a scowl.“You’re so beautiful,” James says.Regulus closes his eyes, tilting his head back as James draws a finger across his jawline, his lips.“I can’t believe this is happening to me,” Regulus admits.Never, in all of this time, did he envision that someone would want him this way. Sirius is the beautiful one, the talented one, the funny one, and Regulus just… is. No one had ever even caught his eye, and little did he know that that’s because he was waiting for James. “Believe it,” James says as he cradles Regulus’s head in his hand, using the other to prop himself up.He kisses down Regulus’s body, sucking, biting, repeating the ministrations based on Regulus’s responses. When he gets to Regulus’s now-very-erect-dick, he pauses.“What are you doing to me?” Regulus murmurs, sitting up slightly.“I want to see your face,” James smiles devilishly as his eyes meet Regulus’s, and his tongue darts out to taste the tip.Regulus is fully unprepared for this, feels himself twitch, throws his head back, fists clenching into the grass.James chuckles softly, then begins the process of easing his mouth slowly down, down the shaft, pausing, sucking, tongue swirling against the velvet skin. Regulus sees stars, colors—how can anything possibly feel this good? As he releases in a torrent of pleasure and gasps of “James, James, James,” he lies quivering in the grass, his muscles melted down to puddles of goo.“That,” he pants, “was amazing.”“I’m glad you enjoyed it, love,” James says, running a hand through his hair.He raises himself over Regulus, kissing him, pressing into him, chest to chest. The taste of Regulus on James’s tongue is surprisingly arousing, and Regulus finds himself bucking his hips, trying to bring himself closer to James in every way possible.“Patience, love,” James smiles.He leans back, taking himself in hand and running a thumb over the tip, lubricating, and that’s all it takes for Regulus to be ready once more. James lines himself up at Regulus’s entrance, and Regulus runs his arms over his chest, shoulders, biceps, kissing wherever he can reach, only wincing slightly as James enters and pauses, allowing Regulus’s body to acclimate. They rise and fall together, and this is, somehow, more than Regulus imagined it could be. As James goes over the edge, so, too, does Regulus.He knows, somehow, in the depths of his soul, that this is it for him—that no one will ever make him feel this way again. ***** “You’re glowing,” James says.“Am I?” Regulus nuzzles closer to James’s chest.The light has fallen, creating a soft blue-purple dusk under the trees, the moonlight rippling off the water in spangles.“Does that happen often?” James runs a hand up and down Regulus’s arm.“What, mirroring the light of a dozen suns?”James is silent.“No,” Regulus says, finally opening his eyes. “Not to me, anyway.”“Oh?”“It’s a sexual thing, I think. I’ve seen it among others, usually after they’ve spent… time with someone… important.”“But not you?”Regulus lifts his eyes to look at James. His glasses are still discarded to one side, and his eyes seem earnest, large, like a deer’s eyes.“No,” he says slowly. “You’re the first person I’ve met whom I’ve wanted.”“I feel quite the same way,” James admits, pulling Regulus closer. “I had a crush once. There is a girl in Halcyon with the most beautiful hair, long and shining like bronze. I was a kid, really, and she wanted nothing to do with me.”Regulus stiffens.“I’m glad, though,” James adds. “All this time, I was waiting for you.”“I don’t know how to do this, James,” Regulus confesses. “My family, they have… expectations. I don’t want you to bear the brunt of me not meeting them.”“I’m not afraid,” James pulls Regulus closer, pressing a kiss into his curls. “My little king, asteri mou.”“Ilie mou,” Regulus responds, kissing James deeply.They don’t find a need to talk again for quite some time. ***** The moon is low when Regulus hurries back, skin glowing a luminous gold, having left James with the promise of returning later. He lingers as long as he can by the veil back to Hogwarts, pacing anxiously and looking around for Sirius. Finally, deciding that Sirius must have gone back without him, Regulus crosses through.Sirius doesn’t return until midmorning. Regulus would know. He spent the rest of the night and most of the morning sitting on the balcony, immobile, waiting.Sirius waltzes through, also shimmering gold, a private smile playing on his swollen lips.“Oh, really?” Regulus says, startling Sirius.“Brother, you really need to stop doing that,” Sirius says, clutching his chest.“Where have you been?” he hisses in response.“With—oh,” Sirius takes in Regulus’s appearance—he is still glowing like a bloody star—and erupts into a shit-eating grin. “Well, well, well,” Sirius says, crossing his arms.“Oh, do shut up,” Regulus snaps.Sirius continues to smirk.“And where have you been? I was worried I would have to cover for you!” Regulus throws his hands up in irritation.“Yes, but you would have,” Sirius says simply, examining a cuticle. “It’s probably for the best that you didn’t, given, well…” he gestures to the incandescence of Regulus’s skin.“What of that, anyway?” Regulus asks sharply, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Though really, he is concerned. How is he supposed to see his mother and explain any of this to him. “And why haven’t you come back like this before?”“You seem to move a lot quicker than I do,” Sirius says pointedly. “Considering you were appalled by the mere idea of James, you certainly seem to have gotten over that quickly.”“Yes, well, good thing, seeing as you’ve been having a torrid love affair for who knows how long,” Regulus snaps. “What was I meant to do whilst you’re off cavorting with someone I didn’t even know existed—or that he was going to be there?”“So naturally, bed my best friend.”Regulus’s cheeks warm, and he waves a dismissive hand.“How long does this last?”“It should fade eventually. If it happens again, it won’t be quite so… luminous. That’s only the first time.”“You can’t tell me we’re the only ones. I don’t remember seeing everyone else looking like the bloody sun all the time.”“No,” Sirius says slowly. “I think it has to be with someone very important. A mate. A bond.”Regulus’s stomach flips. This can’t be good—how is he supposed to make it work with a human, and fulfill his parents’ expectations?“Sirius, they’ll strike us down. They’ll kill them.”Sirius’s expression is blank, his grey eyes boring into Regulus’s own. There’s no need to explain who “they” is.“I’m not afraid of them, Reg.”They’re both quiet for a moment. Regulus fiddles with the tasseled end of his woven leather belt.“You’re not—are you mad?”Hmm?” Sirius hums.“James,” Regulus whispers, barely audible.Sirius runs an elegant hand through his long hair, pushing it away from his face. He traces his tongue along the inside of his cheek, raises a brow, sighs. So many emotions, yet Regulus isn’t sure how to read a single one of them.“Nooo,” Sirius drags out the “o” as he answers, still not looking at his brother.Regulus lets it lie there for a moment, waiting (rather impatiently, really) for Sirius to add to it. When he doesn’t, Regulus leans forward, waving his hand, beckoning for Sirius to continue.“No, and, what?”Sirius turns to face Regulus, bites his full bottom lip. His grey eyes search Regulus’s, and Regulus knows he is seeing the nearly-mirror image there, different save for a few features, the harshness in Regulus’s expression.“And nothing, Reggie, really,” Sirius says in his soft, musical voice. He presses a hand to Regulus’s forearm, his brows creasing in understanding. “You are such a—such a constant kind of soul. You are so set in your ways, I’d imagine it would take something pretty significant to create such a shift in you, and especially so suddenly.”Regulus swallows against the lump in his throat, the feeling of being known by someone he admires so deeply threatening to strangle him. He manages a nod.“It scares me,” he whispers, looking away so that Sirius can’t see the tears that fill his eyes.“Reggie, there’s no need to be afraid,” Sirius says. “James is a wonderful person—I honestly couldn’t have chosen someone better for you to love.”“Yes, but Sirius, how does this work? You may not be afraid of them, but what about Remus, and James? They’re merely mortals, Sirius. Do you really want to risk them with our mother? With Bellatrix?”Sirius juts out his chin—a familiar, defiant posture.“They’re going to be fine, Reg,” he insists.It dawns on Regulus then, and he’s clenching his jaw, shaking his head against the realization.“You’re going to join the Order, aren’t you?”“James told you.”It wasn’t a question.“No. You did, just now.”“Yes. I’m going to deflect and join the Order, give them a fighting chance.”“Sirius, they’ll kill you!” he exclaims, reaching out to grab his brother’s arm.Sirius shakes loose, his temper bubbling to the surface.“Then I’ll die doing the right thing, Regulus. I’m not willing to roll over and be their lap dog when I could be with Remus. And based on how meaningful your relationship with James is already, I’d think you would consider it too.”At that, Sirius turns and walks deeper into the palace, leaving Regulus alone with a torrent of swirling thoughts. ***** Over the next few moons, Sirius and Regulus reach an uneasy truce. They don’t talk about their conversation from that morning, but it’s never far from Regulus’s mind, nor, he assumes, is it far from Sirius’s. The tension amidst the civilians of Halcyon is nearly palpable, or would be, that is, if Sirius and Regulus ever dared to venture into the agora. There was one time, the two of them glamoured, Remus and James with them, but Sirius’s wild exclamations over every bob and bit he saw raised more than a few eyebrows.Instead, they have taken to meeting their lovers at dusk. James worried that he would get into trouble for missing so much time at the oil press, and Regulus was more than happy to accommodate.Besides, there is something about lying in a grotto with James, a sultry breeze ruffling their hair as their bodies press together, mouths searching, hands exploring, obtaining pleasure. In between, they talk. James is passionate, kind—he plans to take over the grove someday, preferably sooner rather than later. His parents, Regulus learns, are older, and he wants them to live a comfortable life. It’s part of what inspired him to join the Order. Regulus knows that he will do anything, be anything for James, to protect him. ***** Regulus is sitting in an alcove at the villa back in Hogwarts, absentmindedly playing his lyre. He’s picking out a sweet, mournful little tune, but his thoughts are on James, on the previous night. They had tried a new position, and—“Well, you certainly seem to be in better spirits.”Regulus was so lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed Bellatrix sashay over. He rolls his eyes.“What do you want?” he snaps.“What were you thinking about?” Bellatrix asks, getting closer. “Or who?” she whispers, leaning into his ear, her thick curls falling over his shoulder.He shrugs away from her, and she cackles.“What’s wrong, baby Reggie? You were smiling just a moment ago.”“That’s because I was alone,” Regulus sneers.“Deny it if you please, but I’ve known you for your entire wretched little life. You rarely smile, let alone while you’re sitting about moonily with that lyre,” Bellatrix snarls. “I will find out.”With that, she dances away, twirling and laughing like the bloody maniac she is. Regulus, however, is anxious over her words, and it takes him quite some time to quiet the racing of his heart. ***** Sirius laughs, dismissing Regulus’s fears and anxieties as nothing more than trivial nonsense. He spent the bulk of the day trying to convince Sirius of Bellatrix’s motives, and Sirius spent that time telling Regulus not to worry.“For the last time, Regulus, it’s not a concern,” Sirius says as he tugs Regulus through the veil to Halcyon. “You know how she is, Sirius,” Regulus insists again. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, she meant it.”They emerge through the doors of the temple, the bronze warm beneath their hands from the light of the sun. For a moment, Regulus forgets all else, because of course James and Remus are waiting for them.Regulus all but runs to James, who lifts him into an embrace.“Hey, love,” James says when they finally pull away, his glasses slightly fogging from the intimacy of their kiss.The openness and warmth of his face, the way he looks at Regulus, and the anxiety returns at the thought of anyone causing harm to this treasured soul. Regulus stares at James, unwilling to look away from him.“Are you all right?” James knits his brows.“Reggie has been worried all day about our moronic cousin coming after us,” Sirius calls over from where he is still pressed to Remus.“Rightfully so,” a voice announces.Sirius and Remus spring apart. James, for his part, holds Regulus closer. Bellatrix steps out from behind the wall, a grin upon her face as she smiles at her cousins and their lovers.Bellatrix emerges from behind the door, a sinister grin upon her face.“You should have listened to him, Sirius,” she crows, reaching out a small, thin hand.The olive grove bursts into flame, and James emits a sound of pain, shock, that cuts right into Regulus’s core as he watches the years of work and dedication covered in fire. Bellatrix cackles, her beautiful, evil face aglow in the light of the flames. She cackles, tossing her curls over her shoulders.“You bitch!” Sirius shouts, his face contorting into a mask of fury.She grins, runs a tongue over her teeth as she watches. Remus and James are silent, aghast at the turn the night has taken. A slight tremor in the ground indicates the shift of realms, and Regulus’s parents emerge from the shadows cast by the burning grove. They are surrounded by a number of the Sacred 28, apparently come down to condemn them for their romantic endeavors.Walburga steps forward, shrouded in shadows, and Regulus does everything he can to extricate himself from James.“I’ve no idea what you could possibly be thinking, but I expect you to remove yourselves from this situation immediately,” Walburga intones.“Like hell,” Sirius responds, not eloquently but certainly passionately.“You seem to underestimate the power we have, Sirius,” Walburga says, and with barely a wince, she inflicts a pain upon Sirius that has him writhing at his knees.Remus screams, reaching out, and is held back by Roldophus, Bellatrix’s alleged mate. Regulus panics, looking back at James, who watches the situation unfold with disgust.Sirius writhes and twists, shrieking in pain—an unholy, inhuman sound. Finally, Walburga ceases, and Regulus is disgusted with himself for how he just stood by and watched—how they all just stood by and watches.“I—I want out—” Sirius gasps, as he lies on his hands and knees.“What on earth do you mean?” Walburga sniffs, looking at her son on all fours as if it is nothing out of the ordinary.“I want—” Sirius breathes. “I want out.”He coughs, clutching his ribs, and Regulus, Remus, and James all reach forward.“Out?”“Like—like Andromeda,” he says, looking up at his mother defiantly.Walburga freezes, looking momentarily at her mate, Orion, who nods curtly.“Very well,” she says coldly.Regulus knows what it means, as his brother loses that certain glow that makes him immortal, as he is stripped of his god status to become merely mortal. He, then, is meant to inherit this kingdom, to be what Walburga and Orion hoped for, whatever they anticipated the spare would be needed for once they met and got to know Sirius.“I’ll be back, Reggie,” Sirius promises, stripped of his immortality, scrambling to his knees with Remus’s assistance. He reaches out, gripping Regulus’s face. “The Order,” he whispers.“Get out of my sight,” Walburga booms, and Regulus barely has a moment to grasp that she is being accommodating as Sirius and Remus are rushing away, presumably to regroup.James’s hand finds Regulus’s, and their fingers weave together, gripping tightly.“And what is this?” Walburga asks, her delicate nostrils flaring in disgust.“I’m not afraid of you,” James says, though his full bottom lip quivers.Regulus’s heart pangs.“We’ve no need for a mortal such as you,” Walburga sneers, and Bellatrix cackles in delight.The heat from the burning olive grove warms them, the shadows flickering in a dark, unnerving way. Regulus flicks his gaze to James, whose defiant face, not unlike Sirius’s, is ready to fight. Regulus knows the punishment for James’s indiscretion is death—would have been the punishment for Remus, for Ted, had they not had someone willing to step away on their behalf.Regulus certainly wouldn’t be allowed to step away. Not after Sirius. His mind races, trying to come up with a trade.“Take me instead,” he finds himself uttering, completely outside of his control.“What?” his father gasps, finally so shocked that he breaks free of Walburga’s expectations.“Take me—let Sirius go, let James go, and I’ll do whatever you ask,” Regulus pleads.“Oh, James is it?” Bellatrix mutters.“Do shut up,” Orion snaps.Walburga stands, chin jutting out in a position not unlike Sirius’s.“You ought to be killed for this, you know.”Regulus lifts his chin, imitating his older brother.“I’m willing to die, if it means doing what is right.”“Oh, very well,” she concurs. “As punishment, you, Regulus, shall be sent to Hades.”“No!!!” James shouts.Regulus closes his eyes, feeling the wrench of his soul being torn in two. James, his brows a slant of despair, pleads with him.“No, Reg, no, no, please NO!”Regulus knows that there is no way in hell that his parents will let him go as well as Sirius. Hearing James’s impassioned response breaks his heart, but it is better than letting anything happen to him. It’s better than his execution. It’s better than anything happening to Sirius, to Remus.Walburga sniffs disapprovingly. Orion intercedes with a frenzied whisper.“Very well then,” she says. “Your father has grown rather soft. He is inclined to believe that you ought to be allowed to live… with consequence.”Regulus perks up—this is better than he dared to expect.“Your punishment shall not be to die… but to live forever with your guilt, banished to the underworld of Hades for eternity.”It takes everything in Regulus not to look at James, but in spite of it, he can still sense the crumpling despair next to him. It feels like a win, no matter what. Sirius and Remus are safe. James is safe. Regulus is willing to sacrifice himself to prevent his parents from going after Sirius. He’s willing to sacrifice himself to prevent them from going after James.“Let them at least say goodbye,” Pandora says. She and Regulus were friends in their youth, and she steps forward now, her hair glowing in the shade of the moonlight. “It’s the least you could do,” she implores.Regulus sucks in a breath. He feels that he’s already exceeded his luck with his parents being willing to let James go at the expense of Regulus, though he dares not breathe a word. He chances a glance at his mother, who meets his eye, grey into grey, and nods curtly, barely perceptibly.Regulus turns to face James, gazing into his warm brown eyes and trying to convey the love and sincerity he feels—that he is willing to surrender his life, his immortality, if it means saving him—that he loves James that ardently.He steps into James’s embrace, knowing it will be their last. He breathes in his scent of salt and wind and sand, of earth—something so quintessentially him.James lifts an arm, reaches out a hand to grasp Regulus’s cheek.“Please don’t do this,” he chokes.“Try to think of me as little as possible,” Regulus replies.James knits his brow, leans in to kiss Regulus—it tastes like love, it tastes like forever… it tastes like goodbye.“You will live a good life, James. A happy life,” Regulus promises. “And one day, we’ll both be ashes in the wind.” ***** Regulus isn’t there to see James eventually wed a woman with long, copper colored hair.He isn’t there to see them give birth to a baby boy who looks almost exactly like James—except for his bright green eyes.He isn’t there to see Sirius and Remus and James, leading the Order of the Phoenix on an attack against the gods, insisting on equality, on fair treatment on behalf of the humans.He isn’t there to see James attempt to come to the underworld to save him.Because the moment he is banished to Hades, to Voldemort’s control, he accepts the only gift the nymph Pandora is able to give him—an escape, a reprieve from an eternity of misery.No one is there when Regulus surrenders his immortality.It’s worth it, really, to know that James is safe, that he can live a happy life—a life he deserves.No one is there when he plunges himself into the River Styx, knowing he won’t survive, knowing he will be mortal, that he will drift away like ashes in the wind…