(no subject)
Title: Once upon a time…
Challenge: White Christmas
For: Sparkles
Ship: implied James/Regulus
Standing at a corner in Muggle London, waiting for work in the twilight hours, Regulus watches the snow-covered city. Even the Muggle world is beautiful this time of the year and it gives him momentary peace. A family walks by, the woman laughing as her husband sings off-tune and Regulus recognizes the messy hair of the man pushing the carriage.
Regulus falls back into shadow, unwilling to be seen, yet wanting to watch them. They stop in a doorway of the store on the corner, the man pulls his wife into his arms and kisses her beneath the mistletoe hinging in the arch. Regulus closes his eyes, unable to watch. Not that he needs to see those lips to remember - he is unable to forget how they once kissed him. Regulus shivers from the memory and pulls his coat closed, hugging his body for warmth. And comfort.
They enter the store and the man whose name Regulus cannot say without causing himself pain stops the carriage near the storefront window to let their baby watch the falling snow while she shops. He turns his back to watch his wife, one hand on the carriage to keep track of his son. Regulus kneels near the corner of the glass, tapping softly on it, making funny faces, which causes the baby to smile.
"I have a story I wish to tell you - one I know your parents will never teach you," Regulus whispers.
"Once upon a time, a young prince fell in love with a gregarious, wonderful man who tried to save him from an evil fate. Unfortunately, in order to inherit the kingdom, the prince had to promise to serve an evil wizard."
Regulus rubs his arm, grimacing in pain. "The prince's lover promised to stand by the prince's side if he chose to left, but the young prince wasn't very brave and was very selfish. In the end, he opted to keep his money and status, dismissing love.
"The prince caved to his parents' wishes, losing the man he loved and, eventually, the prince lost what little self respect he had, becoming nothing but a slave."
He smiles as the pain fades, for it always fades, and Regulus makes another face at the baby. "I hope you are willing to learn from your father what I was unwilling to learn from my lover, little one. For they are the same man, and while I am now unworthy of him, I still dream that one day I will see him smile at me again."
Touching the locket around his throat with one hand, Regulus traces white snowflakes that stick to the glass before they melt with the other. "Happy Christmas, Harry Potter," he whispers and fades away into the dark of the alley.
Challenge: White Christmas
For: Sparkles
Ship: implied James/Regulus
Standing at a corner in Muggle London, waiting for work in the twilight hours, Regulus watches the snow-covered city. Even the Muggle world is beautiful this time of the year and it gives him momentary peace. A family walks by, the woman laughing as her husband sings off-tune and Regulus recognizes the messy hair of the man pushing the carriage.
Regulus falls back into shadow, unwilling to be seen, yet wanting to watch them. They stop in a doorway of the store on the corner, the man pulls his wife into his arms and kisses her beneath the mistletoe hinging in the arch. Regulus closes his eyes, unable to watch. Not that he needs to see those lips to remember - he is unable to forget how they once kissed him. Regulus shivers from the memory and pulls his coat closed, hugging his body for warmth. And comfort.
They enter the store and the man whose name Regulus cannot say without causing himself pain stops the carriage near the storefront window to let their baby watch the falling snow while she shops. He turns his back to watch his wife, one hand on the carriage to keep track of his son. Regulus kneels near the corner of the glass, tapping softly on it, making funny faces, which causes the baby to smile.
"I have a story I wish to tell you - one I know your parents will never teach you," Regulus whispers.
"Once upon a time, a young prince fell in love with a gregarious, wonderful man who tried to save him from an evil fate. Unfortunately, in order to inherit the kingdom, the prince had to promise to serve an evil wizard."
Regulus rubs his arm, grimacing in pain. "The prince's lover promised to stand by the prince's side if he chose to left, but the young prince wasn't very brave and was very selfish. In the end, he opted to keep his money and status, dismissing love.
"The prince caved to his parents' wishes, losing the man he loved and, eventually, the prince lost what little self respect he had, becoming nothing but a slave."
He smiles as the pain fades, for it always fades, and Regulus makes another face at the baby. "I hope you are willing to learn from your father what I was unwilling to learn from my lover, little one. For they are the same man, and while I am now unworthy of him, I still dream that one day I will see him smile at me again."
Touching the locket around his throat with one hand, Regulus traces white snowflakes that stick to the glass before they melt with the other. "Happy Christmas, Harry Potter," he whispers and fades away into the dark of the alley.