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Golden hour was Regulus’s favorite time of day; the long shadows, the warm glow that made everything radiant, and being able to catch the last of the sun's rays before they faded from view. It’s also Regulus’s favorite time to take photos. Every evening he can, he goes to his little wooden bench situated in the courtyard and pulls out his camera to start focusing on minute details only he can pick out; the way the sun catches on the stone arch, or how the light filters through the trees.
But mostly, golden hour is Regulus’s favorite because of him.
Regulus remembers the day he fell in love, just as vivid and warm as the setting sun. He was sitting on his bench in the courtyard, as he does most evenings, with his camera, scanning for those pockets of life. He eventually focuses on a sunlit patch of flowers, the light bringing out their unique coloring and patterns. Just then, he walks into the frame, momentarily ruining the shot. James Potter. One of his brother's idiot friends. Regulus was about to give him a dirty look, but when that bright grin, and those hazel eyes took up the frame of his camera for that split second, Regulus knew he was gone.
Okay fine, James was a beautiful idiot. Zooming back out, he managed to capture a candid shot of James and his friends laughing and strolling along the path underneath the warm glow of the sun, not taking any notice of Regulus perched on the bench. His dark hair was streaked with gold, the sun glinted on the frames of his glasses, and his whole face was illuminated by the sun’s rays. Unfortunately, this became Regulus’s favorite photograph. He couldn’t help it, James was like golden hour personified.
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Most days, Regulus resists the urge to snap every picture he can of bright, beautiful James, but every once in a while the sun's glow is just right, and the photographer in him can’t resist. Because of this, Regulus has accumulated a small collection of James pictures. Each one brings to light a new detail that causes him to fall in love all over again. The way his hair falls on his face, the way his eyes brighten in the warm light, his singular gold earring that sparkles when the sun hits it just so, and even the fluid way his body moves across the courtyard, each step like a blessing.
Regulus was walking through the corridor after another photo session. The hall was still aglow with the sun's warm rays as it disappeared over the horizon. The arched windows shape long dramatic shadows across the floor. His head was down as he went through the evening's photos; a lonely flower growing proudly between bricks, leaves catching the light as they gently fell to the ground, and a cat up in a window, basking in the sun streaming through. Just like every evening, James and his group of friends strolled by, their voices jingling with laughter, and just like every evening, Regulus just watches, observes like he always tends to do.
The sun was slowly making its way down in the sky, leaving the hallway in a calm, soft light. Because his eyes were on his camera, still shuffling through his photographs, Regulus could only hear the person approaching him. Only the light shuffle of their footsteps alerted Regulus of their presence. He looked up just in time to bump, chest-to-chest, into none other than James Potter. Regulus stood, cemented in place, suddenly blinded by the sun.
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Oh, how Regulus wishes James would notice him the same way he notices James. The interaction left Regulus motionless in the corridor, which was quickly losing daylight. He turns around, hoping for another glimpse of his golden boy, now the only thing brightening the hallway. He twists to see James looking right back at him, seeming like a deer in headlights. He’s even more beautiful up close. Their eyes lock together for a split second, frozen, hazel on silver. But it’s too bright for Regulus. Bashfully, he turns away and quickly walks back down the dimming hallway, blinking spots from his vision. Behind him, he hears James stumble, tripping over his feet.
Over the next few weeks, at the same time, James was there in the corridor, walking past Regulus as he made his way back to his dorm. The golden light and the dramatic shadows and him being there, begged Regulus to capture the moments, but he never did. Each golden-veiled walk down the hallway brought another glimpse of lovely James gazing right back at him. They shared looks and small smiles, sometimes James even made silly faces at him (which often made Regulus giggle), but never words, although Regulus hoped James would say something, anything to relieve the tension between them. James just doesn't get it does he? Regulus never intervenes or takes action, he stands back, observes, and takes it all in. All the colors, the feelings, emotions, and keeps them in his photographs.
The next evening, under the vivid, warm light of the sun, Regulus finds his bench like he always does. On this particular evening, it was a bit cloudy from a shower of rain earlier in the day, but the warmth of the sun still managed to penetrate the gray. The observation comforts Regulus somehow. Before he sets his bag down, Regulus places a towel on the seat, hoping to keep his things dry. Since it was still damp outside, not many people were out and about. Regulus likes it better like this anyway. He sits down, fiddling with his camera's settings, finding the perfect combination for today’s unique light when someone treads softly up to him. The person asks playfully, “Are you, by any chance, in the market for a muse?”
James. Regulus’s head snaps up, his eyes needing to adjust to the sudden brightening of the courtyard. James is wearing a little smile on his face, which grows into a wide grin when Regulus breathes, “Yes.. please”
The sun is so close, just like Regulus had always wished, but what if his wings burn?
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Regulus and James begin a new routine; They meet up in the courtyard during golden hour, and Regulus gets to snap photo after photo of his sun, glowing and radiant in the evening light, both of them enjoying each other's company. When the daylight vanishes, they walk to Regulus’s dorm, where the sun sets and James leaves him in the faint glow of night. This last part of the evening is Regulus’s least favorite, of course, and obviously, the brightest part of his day, is that of which he gets to spend with James, lovely, golden James.
No matter the weather, both James and Regulus show up at the little bench in the courtyard, under the vivid setting sun. It was like a little agreement between them; ‘I need you and you need me, let’s be there for each other.’ And so they were.
This evening, the sun was especially bright, bathing the courtyard in an extra layer of gold. The leaves in the trees, the stone walls, the grass, everything simply glowing. Sure enough, beautiful James—the most radiant of them all—meandered in as Regulus was setting up his camera. Regulus couldn’t help but stare at him, he couldn’t resist absorbing him, basking in his light. As James makes his way over to Regulus, he pretends to be focused on his camera, but really he just doesn’t want James to see him gawking. It’s easier to look at James now—not that it was ever hard—but he doesn’t feel like he needs shades over his eyes anymore, Regulus can simply gaze at him. He’s glad James genuinely enjoys being with him, he wouldn’t be able to stand it if James only did this out of pity, because Regulus savors every moment with James, every word, every smile, every glance, every brush of the knee, and every bump of the arm. His feelings for James are just as vivid and rich as the sun. Regulus can only hope James feels the same.
James just chatters about anything and everything as Regulus finishes ‘setting up’ (Regulus likes to hear his voice, what can he say?) He talks about what he ate for breakfast, or a joke his friend Peter told him, and he always gives Regulus compliments; His hair looks good today, or his smile is that of an angel.
Once they’re done chatting, James pulls him over to a pretty spot in front of an ivy covered wall, a green curtain over warm stone, the shadows just right at this time of day. This was not part of the usual routine. Usually, being the photographer, Regulus chooses where to place his subject. “James, what are you doing?” Regulus laughs as he lets himself get towed along by James, now both of them in front of the ivy-curtained wall.
“I want to try a different angle tonight,” James grins sheepishly, and takes the camera from Regulus’s hands. He reaches for it, but James holds it at arms length, the lens facing them.
He feels James’s eyes slide to look at Regulus’s, illuminated by the sunshine. A shy smile teases the corners of his lips, matching the one on Regulus’s face. They are very close right now, hip-to-hip, shoulder-to-shoulder. James’s hand reaches up, caressing, cupping Regulus’s jaw. It lingers there as he leans in, cautiously, patiently. Without even thinking, Regulus leans in too, and his eyes flutter shut and then hears the shutter click on his camera just as James’s lips meet his. The kiss was just as warm and bright as the time of day, and it steals Regulus’s breath away, just like every time. Regulus is the first to break the moment, but only to take back his camera, and gently set it on the ground. Regulus has a new favorite photograph now. He stands up again, and like a magnet he is back in James’s arms, and their lips meet again. His arms wove around James’s neck, James’s hands slid around his waist, tugging him closer. His sun, his golden boy.
Regulus has always thought that the sun is most beautiful right before it sets; Regulus is glad he caught him before it did.
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