#bring back frost's angst (i swear i'm writing angst again soon)

[lilacfiresoul]

needle, april 3 -- @jegulus-microfic -- 669 words

content warnings for talk and depictions of sickness (reg has hay fever), very very brief mention of regulus' parents (gross), and talk of vaccines, and needles! there is no actual description of either vaccines or needles, but it's talked about by james and reg.

this one is another cute one idk what's wrong with me, i can't stop writing fluff aaa

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There’s something ironic about the fact that every time springtime rolls around, Regulus gets ill. It’s like clockwork, every year.

Once the usually drab English sky starts becoming less grey and a little bit more blue; once the flowers start to push up from the soil and unfurl their petals in the sunlight; once baby lambs start being born in the farmer’s fields; once the clouds get fluffy, the days longer, nights shorter—there’s an inevitability that Regulus will get sick.

James is no longer taken by surprise by it anymore. Living with Regulus for three summers already, he’s more than accustomed to help him deal with his hay fever. He’s used to seeing Regulus with red and puffy eyes, nose blocked and sneezing into tissues before he can finish his sentence.

Usually he can cope pretty well, but this year seems to be the worst. With the pollen levels being high, Regulus is staying indoors, lying in bed until around midday, when he finally drags himself out of his nest with a headache and itchy eyes.

“It’s a pity that there isn’t a vaccine to help you cope with this,” James comments off-handedly. It’s one in the afternoon, and the two of them are cuddling in their bed, binge-watching a new Netflix series.

Regulus shakes his head, the ends of his hair brushing lightly against James’ jaw. “I’m glad there’s not.”

“What? Why? Are you afraid of needles, or something?”

On the screen, the main character screams and starts fighting the approaching zombies. Regulus doesn’t reply, gaze fixed determinedly on the TV show.

James’ stomach drops, and he reaches over the pause the show. “Wait, are you?”

“Kind of,” Regulus admits. “My mother used to force me and Sirius to get the flu jabs back in school."

At the mention of Regulus' parents, James frowns. "I'm sorry, Reg."

Regulus shrugs. "It's fine. It was one of the good things she did for me, I guess, but it didn’t mean I didn’t cry. Sirius was never afraid of them.”

“Yeah, with the amount of tattoos he has, I wouldn’t think so,” James agrees, and Regulus chuckles.

“He wasn’t allowed to, but he used to—”

Suddenly, Regulus lunges for the box of tissues, able to catch his sneeze just in time. The tissue, quickly scrunched up into a ball, is tossed towards the other end of the bed, joining its equally as screwed up friends.

Sniffing, Regulus continues, “He used to sneak out of class to sit with me whilst I had it done. I could tell the nurse hated it, but she never said anything because it meant I took the jab. He would— Wait, James, this is silly, promise you won’t laugh.”

When James glances down at him, he notices Regulus is doing that thing he does when he’s embarrassed or stressed, clenching and unclenching his fists, digging his nails into the palm of his hand.

“Why would I laugh? I bet it’s not silly,” James tells him, meaning every word. “My dad’s afraid of needles, you know. Used to absolutely refuse whenever he had to get his flu jabs topped up. I think he still does, and he has to get them with my mum. My mum holds his hand—”

“Sirius used to do that with me!” Regulus cuts him off, seeming less embarrassed now because James’ parents, who are old and have grey hairs, and who seem very much still in love, do it too. There’s even a smile on his face which James can’t help returning.

Leaning closer, James takes Regulus’ hand, pressing his lips to his skin, murmuring, “Want me to hold yours if there ever is a hay fever jab?”

“No,” Regulus says, looking away to hide his blush.

There’s a beat.

And then, Regulus says sheepishly, “Actually, I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

#frost's microfics #frost writing fluff again?? someone call the doctor this isn't me #bring back frost's angst (i swear i'm writing angst again soon) #jegulus fic #jegulus microfic #james x regulus #regulus arcturus black #james fleamont potter #regulus x james #james potter x regulus black