Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 618 Words - “coffee”

I'm batman.

Birds - Jegulus meetcute microfic. 634 words.

Regulus pulls back and squints, shifting slightly before pulling his camera back up to his face. The birds he’s been trying to capture for ten minutes now have just settled on a branch and Regulus takes a soft step back, keeping his movements slow so as not to startle them. He’s not even thinking about how his shoes sink slightly into the soft dirt. He had to step a bit off the path for this shot. He’s just about to take the picture when a noise sounds behind him and the bird startle into the sky. Regulus kisses his teeth, turning to glare at the intruder.

A man walks towards him, talking animatedly into the mic on his earphone wire and utterly ignorant of what he just ruined.

Regulus maintains the glare because he’s nothing if not petty. The man doesn’t even falter, merely shoots him a quick grin of politeness, followed closely by an eyebrow quirk at Regulus’ obvious irritation.

Shaking his head slightly, Regulus turns back, lifting his camera back to his eye and beginning to stride further into the brush to seek out the birds. Clearly unbothered, the man walks right past, never faltering in his steps or his conversation, which is in a language Regulus can’t understand.

Regulus puts the rude stranger out of his mind, but then the voice is getting louder again and Regulus turns to see the stranger ripping his earphones from his ear.

“-and I would kick myself if I didn’t at least say hi-“

Regulus realises he’s talking to him.

“What? “ he asks, confused. The stranger smiles a sheepish grin and oh- he’s hot. Tall and tanned and clearly full of himself in a way that Regulus can just tell he can back up.

“I said, I saw you and I thought you were so cute and I was going to say hi and ask you what you’re photographing but I pussied out because you look kinda intimidating. But I would kick myself for the rest of the day if I didn’t at least say hi, so hi!”

Regulus raises an eyebrow.

“Birds” he says shortly.

“Hm?” The gorgeous stranger asks, confused.

Regulus raises his camera in one hand, tapping his forefinger against it and the man nods in understanding, a smile breaking over his face and oh fuck if it isn’t the most dazzling thing Regulus has ever seen.

“That’s awesome! Can I see?”

Regulus narrows his eyes, “no, you scared them away before I could get the shot.”

The stranger's brows draw together in such genuine distress Regulus has to fight the corners of his mouth.

“Oh shit, I'm sorry, no wonder you gave me the evils, I thought you were just mean.”

Regulus tilts his head back slightly, surveying this boy a bit like he’s a fascinating bug “and yet you still came back to talk to me?”

“To flirt with you,” the man corrects with a smirk, “and yes. I kinda like mean.”

Regulus feels his stomach fall and then immediately shoot upward again.

“Sounds healthy,” he drawls dryly. The man’s grin just grows and Regulus knows he’s fucked.

“I know what I like,” he just shrugs. “I’m hoping you do too.”

Regulus considers him.

“Regulus,” he says at last. The man frowns quizzically for a moment before smiling again in understanding.

“James,” he says easily, sidling closer as he does so. “It’s very nice to meet you Regulus.”

“Hmm,” Regulus purses his lips. This boy is awfully cocky. Regulus would maybe like to take him down a peg- or two.

“Well, c'mon,” James nods his head towards the trees.

Regulus looks at him in question, “c'mon where?”

James looks expectantly at him, “to find you more birds!“

Regulus’ tongue darts to lick his lips, very dry all of a sudden.

What birds?

imagine NOT having a crush on him.

That's really the only part he heard huh

hmmm

Can we please stop associating being a good person with how much you're willing to suffer in silence for other people? You can be a kind person and still say "no, I don't have the time/energy to help you with that." You can be a kind person and still say "this makes me uncomfortable, please stop." You can be a kind person and still say "I disagree and here's why." You can be kind and still say "I'm not okay with this." Being kind is about treating people with kindness and respect, not about being the human equivalent of a doormat!