Tournesol

Eva Stratt, meanwhile, is a stain. Graffiti tucked away in alleys and under bridges, forever painted over by the powers that be. A name meant to be forgotten. Stratt has always known this was part of the deal: after all, humanity needs a villain just as much as it needs its heroes. The best she can hope for is to be erased entirely on Earth.

Don't they look slick together?

Yes

Imagine for a second you are Adrian surname The Eridian. Your spouse has been missing and presumed dead for around a decade, and suddenly one day an alien spaceship comes into orbit. And you cheer "Yay alien species have realized we have the same problem and have come to either give us a solution or join or efforts, too bad my mate is still gone."

Except he is not actually gone, because the eridian equivalent of a carebear decided to save them. And he doesn't want anything in return, in fact he is well aware that he might die A PAINFUL SLOW DEATH, shortly after fighting just to get the love of your life back to you. But it's ok :) because Rocky (yes he gave them a silly name) is my best friend! Oh- Are you ok-

So like she gets the recordings and realizes Yao and Ilyukina are dead before he wakes up so he’s got no pilot, no engineer, and no memories.

And then you also have to remember that the EXISTENCE of these recordings and the fact they were accompanied by the Taumoeba means that an amnesticized Grace somehow managed to save earth without a pilot or engineer and shoddy memory that only vaguely gives him enough to work with as he works.

Because poor Dr. Grace was never meant to be up there with a dead crew and no memories :,)

Grace sends this off as a "fuck you" to Stratt and unintentionally eases 40+ years of horrific guilt.

(40+ factoring in the Hail Mary mission, then the time it would take to get back to Erid and the time it would take for the message to get to Earth. Probably closer to 50+ actually).

First, Previous

Luckily for Regulus, his sixth formers didn’t really seem to care about Sirius’ antics, after all, it wasn’t a secret that Regulus was gay, or that Sirius Black was an utter fool, in an annoyingly, loveable way.

When the last bell of the day finally rang, Regulus packed up his things in his office and tried to walk as quickly as he could to his car, without looking like was actually running.

He said goodbye to the few students and teachers he passed on his way out and just as he dove into his car, his phone pinged.

James Potter: Saw you running to your car…got exciting weekend plans, Mr. Black? 😉

Regulus scanned the carpark and the school windows he could see from his car but could not see James anywhere.

You: Are you stalking me, Mr. Potter?

James Potter: …no comment…

Regulus shook his head as he chucked his phone down and headed home to pack his weekend bag.

An hour and a half later, Regulus was mid-way through checking he had everything he needed when the buzzer to his flat went off. He checked his watch. That bloody man was early. Or was he? Did they even set a time? Wait…

The buzzer went off again and Regulus jumped as he realised he hadn’t actually moved, so he ran to get the door.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me.” James’ beautiful voice rang through the speaker.

“Come on up.”

Regulus buzzed James in and left this door on the latch whilst he went back to his room to grab his bag.

He was just staring at the contents of his top, bedside drawer, considering if he needed to bring anything with him when he heard James call out through the flat.

“Reg, sweetheart, you here?”

Regulus slammed the drawer shut. “Yeah. Just coming.”

He expected to turn around and see James in the bedroom doorway, but when he left his room, he saw James standing on the other side of the flat, just in front of his front door.

“You can come in further you know.” Regulus teased as he made his way over to the taller man.

“Firstly, never walk into someone’s house when they’re not there, especially when you don’t have permission. Secondly,” James said as Regulus reached him and he pulled him into a hug. “I didn’t know what the rules were on shoes.”

Regulus chuckled as he wrapped his spare arm around James’ neck and pulled himself up to plant a gentle kiss on James’ lips. “Hi.”

James returned the kiss and smiled down at him. “Hello.” Regulus pulled away. “You good to go?”

“Almost. Is there anything for the beach you need me to bring?”

“Just your gorgeous self.” James made to grab at him again, but Regulus jumped out of his reach.

“James Potter, keep your hands to yourself for another two minutes.” Regulus chastised as he walked back towards his bedroom.

“Where are you going?” James whined.

“I need to get my suncream.” He called out over his shoulder.

“You know I have suncream at home.” James called after him. “I would never let you get sunburnt!”

“Better to be safe than sorry.” Regulus replied as he came back out of his room and put the bottle in his bag.

James was looking at the picture of Regulus with Barty, Evan and Pandora stuck to his fridge and he looked so confused.

“You alright?” Regulus asked.

“Yeah, just, can’t believe we could have met ages ago, is all.” James replied with sadness.  

Regulus moved swiftly to his side and held his face in his hands. “We’re together now.”

James kissed him softly. “Yes we are.” They looked at each other for a little longer before James sighed and pulled away. “Right, got everything?”

“Yup.” Regulus popped the p as he moved to pick his bag up.

“Great.” James beat Regulus to the bag and held his other hand out for Regulus to take. “Let’s go.”

First, Previous

Regulus was just dozing off when his phone started ringing.

“’lo.” He mumbled as he picked up, a soft chuckle on the end of the phone made him smile.

“Hi, love.”

“Hi, James.”

“Did I wake you?”

“No,” Regulus tried to stifle the following yawn, but he was unsuccessful and James chuckled again.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called so late.”

Regulus checked his watch and saw it was almost 11pm. “It’s okay, honestly, I’m glad you called. How’s Harry?”

James sighed heavily. “Pissed off and not talking to me. Well, after he was done shouting and cursing at me, anyway.”

A moment of worry passed through Regulus’ brain. “Because of me?” James paused for a second too long and Regulus sucked in a deep breath. “Because of me.”

“Yes, but not for the reason you’re thinking.” James rushed out, heading off some of Regulus’ panic. “He knows I’m bi, its never been a secret from him. It’s cause you’re a teacher at his school.”

Regulus didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t change the fact he taught at the same school.

“Oh.” Was all he could manage, so soft and quiet, he barely heard it himself.

“Sweetheart, don’t let it worry you.”

Regulus took a steadying breath. He didn’t want to say it, but he knew one of them had to.

“I’ll understand if you want to end things.”

“Absolutely fucking not.” James told him with such quick conviction that Regulus let out a quick bark of a laugh.

“But Harry,” Regulus started, controlling himself again.

“Harry is a little shit and will get over himself.” James grumbled.

“James.” Regulus used his best teacher voice to scold the other man.

“It’s true! I love him, of course I love him, but I’m not going to let one moody teenager dictate who I can and cannot date.”

“Are you sure?”

“Reg, sweetheart, there isn’t a single doubt in my mind about you.”

“You’re being silly.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

Regulus sunk back into the sofa cushions as he suddenly felt more relaxed. “No, I suppose not.” He answered with a smile.

“Good.” Regulus yawned before he could respond and James caught him. “Go to sleep, love. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Alright. James wait!” Regulus called into the phone before he could forget. “I left without the food you’d boxed up for me. Will you bring it in tomorrow? I was thinking we could have lunch in my office?” Regulus added a touch shyly.

“Already bagged up in the fridge so I don’t forget them and lunch sounds great.”

Regulus sighed happily. “Good. See you in the morning.”

“Sweet dreams, Reg.”

Regulus managed to drag himself up and into his own bed before he fell fast asleep, dreaming of what could have been if there hadn’t been any interruptions that night.

*

The next morning, Regulus was just getting out of his car when James pulled up next to him.

“Good morning, Reg.” James was bright and chipper and Regulus wanted nothing more than to kiss him. “You alright?” James asked quietly as he walked over.

“Yes,” Regulus pouted.

“Then why are you pouting?” James asked as they walked towards the doors into the school.

“Because you looked so sweet just now and I wanted to kiss you but remembered where we are.” Regulus admitted and then smirked as James nearly tripped over his feet.

“Reg,” James whined quietly. “You can’t say things like that just as we’re about to walk into the building.”

Regulus chucked. “Sorry.”

“N,o you’re not.”  

They both laughed as James buzzed them in and held the door open, letting Regulus walk in first and humming to himself.

“What?” Regulus asked.

“Nothing, just imagining what you’ll look like on Saturday, all wet from the ocean, in your tiny shorts.”

Regulus kept his voice low and breathy. “Will you help me stay afloat if I forget how to swim?”

James kept his smirk low, there weren’t many kids around, but enough to see them flirting if they weren’t careful.

“With pleasure.” James purred as they entered the staff room.

“Ah, Regulus, there you are.” McGonagall calling his name made him jump. “Sorry to pounce on you first thing, but Remus has been pulled into this morning’s Governor’s meeting at the last minute and I need you to cover his first period class.”

“Oh, um, yes, that’s fine.”

“Excellent, thank you. Here are the workbooks they need to finish filling in and a copy of Remus’ notes.” McGonagall handed him a stack of papers and swept from the room.

As he made his way over to James and the kettle, a name on the first workbook almost had him dropping them all.

“Do you want a coffee, Reg? What did Minnie want? Reg?”

Regulus put the papers down. “She needs me to cover the for Remus during first period.”

“Alright? Are they a shit class?” James joked.

Regulus shook his head as he pushed the stack of papers towards the other man.

There, at the top of the stack, front and centre, was the workbook belonging to one, Harry Potter.

Simon seeing Grace without the baggy clothes for the first time hahah 😀