“I wish you didn’t.”

James lets out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “I know,” he says, squeezing Regulus tighter. “But I do, I always will.”

And God, Regulus hopes that isn’t true. Hopes that one day James Potter forgets all about him. That he goes on and lives his beautiful perfect life. That he isn’t weighed down by everything dark and heavy that sits inside Regulus’s skin. James deserves more. Deserves better than that.

“Look like what?” James whispers.

Wrinkles appear at the corners of Regulus’s eyes. “Right,” he says on his next exhale. “I’ll never look right. I’ll never belong. No one will ever look at us the way they look at you and her.”

And James doesn’t know what to say—there are so many things that his brain almost short circuits—by the time he opens his mouth he has no idea what’s coming out of it.

“I will,” he says simply. “I’ll look at us that way.” Maybe that sounds stupid, he doesn’t know.

Regulus lets out a shaky breath. “Oh,” he says weakly.

James knows they’re in the hallway. Knows it’s Reckless. All of this is reckless. But before he can stop himself he leans over and places a kiss on the top of Regulus’s head. Quick and chaste. And when he pulls away Regulus chases him, leaning into his side.

“You will always belong with me Reg,” James whispers against his temple. “Always.”

Regulus sighs, pressing into him like he can’t be close enough. “You really mean that,” it’s more of a statement than a question, but it’s said with enough awe that James feels compelled to answer anyway. Just to make sure Regulus believes it. Make sure he hears it.

“Yeah,” he says softly, placing another quick kiss on the side of his head. “I really do.”