library - jegulus - discord server micropromt challenge - inspired by a tiktok - word count: 445
Regulus couldn’t help but smile as he crept into the Potter residence, following after Euphemia in the kitchen. It was a bit crazy to be here right now. Only two days ago, he’d been studying for his NEWTs in the library of Hogwarts, thinking wistfully of how he wished he could be home with James for his birthday, only to realize–he could be. Or, he could try anyway–sneaking to a fire in Hogsmeade and using it to Floo home couldn’t be that hard, could it? Instead of being stupidly disciplined, like he had been his whole life, he could live a little, and appreciate the love he now had in his life.
So he’d sent an owl to Sirius asking his thoughts.
It’d been Sirius’s idea to surprise James. At the time, it’d sounded like good fun, but now, as he continued to walk down the hall and heard his boyfriend’s voice in person for the first time since Christmas, his knees almost gave out from under him. It took everything in him not to run to him, and to instead continue tip-toeing like he’d been doing before.
“...present for me?” James was saying curiously. “Pads, you already got me a birthday present, mate, you don’t have to get me more!”
“This one’s…different. Unique, if you will,” Remus said lightly, making Regulus chuckle under his breath as he waited by the door to the sitting room.
“Yeah, just close your eyes, Prongsie, don’t ruin our fun!” Sirius added, voice loud enough for Regulus to know it was safe to start walking in the room behind Euphemia.
And there was James, sitting on the couch, surrounded by his friends and family, his eyes clamped firmly shut. “Fun?” he repeated, his voice a little suggestive. “You know I’m in love with your brother, Padfoot. Plus, my parents are here, you know, and–”
“Oh, do shut up and just hold out your hand, you prat,” Sirius chuckled, gesturing for Regulus to move forward.
Once James held out his hand, Regulus, heart pounding, shuffled forward and grabbed it.
James, eyes still closed, shifting around a bit as he grinned good-naturedly, tilted his head to the side, squeezing his hand. “What–is this a prank? Sirius, is this your hand?”
Then, all of a sudden, James stilled. “I–wait, I can smell–”
And then his eyes popped open.
The way James said his name just then would be forever seared into Regulus’s memory. Raw and worshipful, full of shock and awe.
Regulus couldn’t stop grinning. “Happy birthday, Jamie,” he murmured, waving giddily.
James laughed as he launched off his seat and pulled Regulus into a back-breaking embrace.
