a beautiful world | wolfstar

only they could

Sirius hadn't had the easiest life (growing up with parents like they both had done, that wasn't entirely unexpected). He was always smiling, laughing, talking too much and causing drama with his friends. Regulus knew better, though, than to believe Sirius was happy.

He wished Sirius would just... reach out and take Remus' hand. There was happiness right at his fingertips, but Sirius always stepped back from it. Always afraid of not quite being good enough.

These were the thoughts that were spinning circles in his head as he sat in the Slytherin common room that same Sunday night. Barty was next to him on the sofa, his feet in Regulus' lap.

The dark-haired boy was finding it more and more difficult to ignore his growing feelings for the other. But that was a battle for another day.

There was a sigh. "Reggie," Barty whined, looking at him with his bright brown eyes.

Regulus blinked. "What?" he muttered.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Love."

"Never heard of it."

Reg snorted. "That's sad."

Barty grinned, mouth filled with pointy teeth. "Aren't we all sad?"

Regulus raised his eyebrows, deciding not to reply. Keep pretending, he thought. Just keep pretending.

After a moment, Barty spoke again. "Why love, Reggie? Are you in love?"

Maybe. "No." Liar.

"Then why?"

Regulus huffed. "Do you ever shut up?"

"Hmm..." Barty thought for a second. "No."

"Dumbass."

Barty kicked him gently. "That's a very rude thing to say, Reggie."

Heart beating a little quicker, Regulus turned his head towards the frowning boy. "I'm not sorry about it." Those eyes. Those crazy, beautiful eyes.

Another smile. "I know."

No, he didn't. But that was fine.

Stretching, Barty tucked his feet even further beneath Regulus' leg. And Regulus made a promise to himself.

When Sirius and Remus got their act together, he would do so as well.

One day.

***

James loved Lily. Loved her red hair. Her green eyes. Her paint-stained clothes and funny faces. Her kind, genuine smile.

Lily loved James. Loved his glasses. His goofy grins and clumsy hands. His capacity to love people, which seemed so infinite, like skies filled with stars. 

They were lying outside on the grass [A/N: they weren't allowed to, strictly speaking, so don't tell anyone], hands intertwined, watching the night drift by in a mass of clouds and grey light. Their voices were soft and rarely used, and when they were, they tended to say something so ridiculous that perhaps saying it was unnecessary, and yet so required that letting the silence continue was wholly unacceptable.

Sighing, James moved closer to his girlfriend (what a wonderful thought!) beneath the blanket, turning to look at her properly. Her eyes were open, filled with moonlight.

"Lily."

She looked at him. "James."

Nothing more. Nothing else was needed. Just their names, hanging between them like a thread only they could hold. A smile curled both of their lips, and they leaned in, kissing each other in such a way that made even time slow. Every second was an eternity. Every breath could go on forever.

And when they parted, which they had to do eventually, they turned back towards the sky, their fingers weaved close together.