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It comes quietly at first. The first admission of love. The two had just been lying in bed, James stroking Regulus’ hair, when he hears a small mumble coming from Regulus, who had been lying on his chest.
“muff yu,” James heard, and instantly froze. He dipped his head down to find Regulus asleep. He gently shook his arm, moving Regulus under it. Did Regulus really say…
He couldn’t have. Despite the two being together for nearly 7 months, Regulus was still reserved in expressing his love verbally. It’s cute, really, seeing him get all flustered but refusing to put the loud thudding in his chest into syllables, admitting the love he feels deep in his core. James knows, he knows that Regulus loves him. Regulus is not the type to waste his time, to do things he doesn’t want to do. So he wouldn’t be with James if he did not feel some type of warm feeling.
Still, he wants the reassurance. To know that all he’s giving and all he’s feeling is reciprocated. He would do anything for Regulus, of course, and if that included having to feel Regulus’ love silently, he would. But James had always been a loud person. His feelings are loud, coming out in bright, all-encompassing smiles, hearty laughs enough to bother everyone around, and guttural sobs when grief is weighing on his chest. James feels loud, and he loves loudly. Even if it's just a whisper, any admittance of love from Regulus rings in at a high decibel in James’ ears.
“Love, can you repeat that?” James asked.
Regulus instead shuffles underneath the movement and burrows his head deeper into the crook of James’ arm. He continues to mumble nonsense.
“Arrr yu Sirius”
Sighing, James resigns himself to accepting the fact that Regulus is asleep. He could’ve been saying anything. Maybe he just wants a muffin really badly? And now he’s dreaming about his brother? James knows that dreams can result in the most ridiculous of storylines. Trust him, he’s had his share of dreams of getting chased by elephants in his flat. But honestly, having his boyfriend dream about his best friend while sulking in his self-imposed rejection is harsh. Regulus couldn’t dream about him, instead?
“Why don’t you talk about me in your sleep?” James grumbles jokingly.
Letting out a small huff, James huffs and then shuffles, getting more comfortable in his bedsheets. He turns to switch off the lamp when he hears what his heart has yearned for, for the past 8 years of his life.
“I love you, James.”
James snaps his head back down towards Regulus, his face adorned with a small smile. He couldn’t believe it. Did Regulus really just…
James continues to gape at Regulus with his mouth open, not even realizing that Regulus has just opened his eyes. Regulus reaches up and closes James’ jaw for him with the palm of his hand.
“Did I say something?” Regulus asks with an innocent look on his face.
James begins to smile, big and bright and loud just like his soul, and grabs Regulus and pulls him into a hug.
Although he knew it all along, Regulus was being a smart piece of shite playing with him like this. James' heart beamed, knowing his worst fear is finally dispelled. Regulus finally said I love you.
“I love you, Regulus,” James repeats like he does every night.
“ I love you, James,” Regulus says back, just as bright.