eyes and eyeliner
When James descended into the common room with the others, the party was already in full swing. The space was packed, the air thick with warmth and the hum of conversation, punctuated by bursts of laughter. The flames in the fireplace danced, casting long shadows on the walls around it.
His eyes swept over the scene, taking in the familiar chaos of a Gryffindor party. Lily and the girls were huddled by the record player, their faces lit with excitement as they flipped through a stack of vinyls. He could just make out the faint scratch of a needle being placed on a record, followed by the first few opening chords of what was undoubtedly ABBA.
Sirius and Remus had made a beeline for the drinks table, Sirius already pouring something into a plastic cup with a dramatic flourish. Peter had vanished into the crowd, most likely searching for Emmeline. Across the room, a group of sixth-year Hufflepuffs were clustered in a corner, their hushed voices and subtle exchanges confirming James' suspicion that they were selling joints, just as they always did. A handful of Ravenclaws lingered near the staircases, their expressions a mix of amusement and hesitance, as if they weren’t quite sure whether they belonged but weren’t ready to leave either.
Then, James' gaze landed on the Slytherins gathered near the fireplace.
Dorcas stood at the centre of them, her presence as effortlessly commanding as ever. She wore a fitted leather skirt that gleamed in the dim light, paired with a cropped tube top that cinched at her chest, accentuating the sharp angles of her collarbones. Next to her, Barty lounged with his usual careless grace, draped in baggy jeans and a loose, cropped tank top that revealed the toned lines of his stomach whenever he moved. Evan stood beside him, dressed in similarly loose jeans, though the shade appeared to be lighter, the fabric worn in a way that suggested years of use. His t-shirt bore a faded print - The Doors, James guessed, though it was hard to tell in the ever-present grayscale of his world. And Regulus was wearing-
Fuck.
James' breath hitched.
Regulus stood slightly apart from the others, his posture perfect, his hands resting idly in his pockets as if he were above it all, and yet—he was here.
He was wearing dress trousers, the tailored fabric hugging his frame in a way that made James’ mouth go dry. His plain shirt had the top three buttons undone, just enough to reveal a sliver of his chest, pale skin smooth against the sharp contrast of the dark fabric. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his wrists and forearms, lean but strong. And then there was the eyeliner - subtle, but there, framing his eyes in a way that made them look even sharper, even more piercing.
James’ stomach twisted, something unfamiliar curling deep in his chest.
He had never thought about what colour Regulus’ eyes might be. But now, standing there, unable to tear his gaze away, he hoped - desperately so - that they were grey. That when the world finally burst into colour for him, when he finally saw the world as it was meant to be, Regulus’ eyes would remain the same.
Regulus, as if sensing the weight of James’ gaze, glanced up. It was quick - barely a flicker of movement - but in that brief moment, James swore he caught something there. A once-over. A subtle, fleeting scan that was gone as soon as it had happened, leaving James questioning whether he had imagined it entirely.
Not that there was much to look at, really. James wasn’t wearing anything special - just baggy cargo trousers, comfortable and well-worn, the fabric slightly frayed at the knees. His shirt, a faded Spider-Man tee he’d found in a Muggle shop, clung loosely to his frame, the print cracked from too many wears. Over it, he wore a zip-up hoodie that was slightly too big for him, the sleeves bunching around his wrists. It wasn’t stylish, not in the way Regulus looked so effortlessly put-together, but it was comfortable. And besides, James had never been one to care much about fashion.
Dorcas, standing beside Regulus, must have noticed his distraction because her gaze followed his, landing on James. A slow smile stretched across her lips, something knowing in the way she raised an eyebrow. With an easy confidence, she lifted a hand and beckoned him over.
James hesitated for only a second before grinning back and making his way toward them, weaving through the crowded common room. As he got closer, the warmth from the fireplace seeped into his skin, the scent of firewood and something slightly smoky - probably whatever the Hufflepuffs were selling - curling in the air.
“Potter,” Dorcas greeted smoothly when he reached them, her voice carrying the casual lilt of someone who already knew she was the most interesting person in the conversation. She shifted slightly, making space for him in the circle, and James stepped into it without thinking.
“Meadowes,” he responded, mirroring her tone with an easy smirk.
Beside her, Barty took a slow sip from whatever was in his cup, watching James with open amusement. Evan, standing just behind them, didn’t seem to care either way, too busy flicking a muggle lighter open and shut, the small flame sparking in rhythm with the music playing from the record player across the room.
And Regulus-
Regulus was watching him.
Not obviously, not in a way anyone else would have noticed, but James could feel it. The weight of his gaze, the slight tension in his posture, the way his fingers curled just slightly at his sides. It wasn’t disinterest. It wasn’t dismissal.
It was something else.
James swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the way his hoodie sat on his frame, the way his fingers twitched at his sides. He wasn’t sure what to say, wasn’t sure if he should say anything, but before he could decide, Dorcas tilted her head, her smile turning teasing.
“So,” she said, dragging out the word. “Enjoying the view?”
James blinked, caught off guard. “Huh?”
Dorcas nodded subtly toward Regulus, whose expression didn’t change, though James swore he saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
James opened his mouth, then closed it. Heat crept up his neck. “I-”
Barty let out a sharp laugh, and James realized a second too late that he had, in fact, been caught.
"Uh, I don’t know what you’re on about," James said quickly, stumbling over his words as he scratched the back of his neck. The warmth in his face only deepened under Dorcas’ knowing gaze, and suddenly, standing there felt far too exposed. "I’m gonna, uh, I’m gonna get a drink," he added, voice slightly higher than usual. Before anyone could say anything else, he turned sharply on his heel and made a beeline for the drink table, leaving behind a chorus of quiet laughter.
As he navigated through the throng of students, James’ mind raced. Had Regulus noticed? He didn’t dare look back to check. His heart was still hammering against his ribs, and the last thing he needed was more fuel for the fire currently burning under his skin.
When he spotted Sirius and Remus by the drink table, though, he noticed something strange. They were standing too close.
The common room wasn’t that packed - there was plenty of space - but the way they leaned toward each other, shoulders brushing, heads tilted just a little too near, made something in James pause. He hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking it off.
None of my business.
Deciding not to mention it, he kept walking. As soon as Sirius and Remus noticed him, though, they sprung apart.
James raised his eyebrows, unable to raise just one like Sirius could, reaching for the fire whiskey without a word. He poured himself a generous amount, letting the silence stretch just long enough to be awkward. He didn’t miss the way Remus fidgeted with the loose thread in his jumper sleeve, his fingers twitching as if they needed something to do.
"Enjoying the party?" Remus asked, his voice just a little too stiff.
James hid his smirk behind his glass, taking a sip of fire whiskey. It burned on the way down, a pleasant heat spreading through his chest. Good. It gave him something to focus on other than the ridiculous tension hanging in the air.
"Yeah," he said, drawing out the word. He let his smirk grow, just a fraction. "You?"
Remus shifted on his feet. "Yeah, yeah, it’s, uh… great?" The last word lifted at the end, more of a question than an answer.
James exhaled a quiet laugh. They were not subtle at all.
"Right," he said, drawing it out, amusement clear in his tone. "Well, I'll be off then..." He gave them a final knowing look before turning and walking away, still smirking.
As he moved through the crowd again, he let his mind drift back to where it had been before—to grey eyes, to unbuttoned collars, to the ghost of a glance that had sent his pulse into a sprint.
James drifted through the party, stopping every now and then to chat, his words growing looser with each drink. Three more visits to the fire whiskey later, he was pleasantly tipsy. His limbs felt lighter, his head a little floaty, and the warmth in his chest made everything seem just a bit funnier.
He was about to go looking for Sirius when something - or rather, someone - caught his eye.
A familiar head of dark, silky curls was slipping out of the common room, barely noticed by the rest of the party. James, squinting slightly, recognized Regulus immediately. It had only been an hour, but of course, Regulus would already be bored of it all.
Without thinking - without really thinking at all - James decided to follow him.
The moment he stepped out, the cool air of the hallway bit at his skin, a stark contrast to the thick, hazy heat of the common room. His hoodie did little to stop the chill, but he barely noticed. He could hear the faint echo of footsteps ahead and trailed after them, quickening his pace until he finally caught up.
“Oye Reggie,” James drawled, the words slurring slightly as he grinned.
Regulus startled, turning to face him with narrowed eyes. His expression quickly morphed into a scowl. “Don’t call me that.”
James pouted dramatically. “It’s what Sirius calls you.”
“Then tell him to stop,” Regulus muttered, picking up his pace.
James grinned wider. “But whyyy?” he whined, effortlessly keeping up. His legs were longer, and despite Regulus’ best efforts, he wasn’t getting away that easily.
Regulus shot him an unimpressed glare. “Because it’s not my name, James. How would you like it if I started calling you Jamie?”
James beamed. “I would love that.”
Regulus groaned, rolling his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t roll right out of his head. “Merlin’s balls, you’re infuriating,” he muttered.
James barely heard him. He had only just noticed where they were going. Regulus had led them straight to the Astronomy Tower, his feet moving as if on instinct. By the time realization hit, Regulus was already climbing the ladder.
James barley hesitated for half a second before following after him.
The moment his feet hit the floor, Regulus whirled on him, arms crossed. “Why are you following me?”
James smirked. “’Cause I’m bored. And you’re interesting.”
For just a second - a blink-and-you-miss-it moment - Regulus’ face twitched, the shade of his cheeks darkening ever so slightly. Then, as if catching himself, he huffed and turned away.
“Go back to the party then.” His voice was quieter now, the usual sharpness dulling at the edges.
James shook his head, already dropping onto the stone beside him, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the tower, mimicking Regulus’ position. “Nuh uh.”
“Yuh huh,” Regulus shot back flatly, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
James stilled. Then, he lost it.
“Did you seriously just say yuh huh?” he gasped between wheezes, laughter bubbling out of him uncontrollably. “You?The Regulus Arcturus Black?” He wiped at his eyes, as if he might actually cry from the sheer absurdity of it.
Regulus groaned, clearly regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment. He placed a cigarette between his lips, then, after a beat, wordlessly held the pack out to James in silent offering.
James declined with a shake of his head. He tried to avoid smoking as much as possible, wanting to keep his health in tip-top shape for quidditch.
Then, James watched, entranced, as Regulus lit the cigarette with nothing but a click of his fingers. A small spark ignited at the tip of his cigarette, casting sharp shadows across his face as he took the first drag.
James blinked. “You can do wandless magic?” he asked, startled.
Regulus exhaled a slow stream of smoke, barely sparing James a glance. “Obviously.” he said before lifting the cigarette to his lips and taking a long drag.
James, still watching him, let out a low whistle. “That’s hot.”
Regulus choked on the smoke, coughing sharply as he turned to stare at James like he’d just grown a second head.
James barely held back a wince. Oh, bloody hell. He must have been drunker than he thought. Flirting with Sirius’ baby brother? Seriously? What the hell was wrong with him? He must have had more to drink than he thought.
The heat creeping up his neck and into his cheeks only made it worse. He could feel Regulus’ gaze on him, piercing and incredulous. The silence stretched between them, thick and unyielding, until James finally blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Tell me about the stars.”
Regulus raised a sceptical brow. “You take Astronomy. You already know about the stars.”
James shrugged, exhaling slowly as he looked up at the vast, endless sky. “I know how to plot them, how to distinguish one from the other… but I want to know the stories behind them. And I know you know the mythology.”
Regulus didn’t answer immediately. He took another slow drag of his cigarette, eyes flickering over James as if trying to decide whether this was some sort of trick or not. Then, finally-
“Why don’t you ask Sirius?” he muttered, smoke curling around his words. “He knows just as much as I do.”
James let out a breath of laughter. “Sirius hates Astronomy,” he said, shaking his head. “He hasn’t taken it since 3rd year.”
Regulus hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t say anything.
James turned his head slightly, watching as the glow of the cigarette lit up Regulus’ features in fleeting flashes. His sharp cheekbones, the furrow in his brow, the way his lips curled slightly as he exhaled - James really needed to stop looking.
“Además,” he added, softer this time, “I want to hear it from you.”
Regulus stilled for half a second.
Then, without looking at James, he flicked ash from his cigarette and exhaled again, watching as the smoke blended with the cold night air.
“…What do you want to know?”
James smiled, his gaze flicking over to Regulus from the corner of his eye, the words slipping out before he could stop them. “Tell me about your star.”
Regulus scoffed, rolling his eyes - again. It seemed like a reflex at this point. “I don’t have a star, James.”
James smiled wider, leaning back slightly against the cool stone of the Astronomy Tower, the wind tousling his hair as he kept his eyes fixed on Regulus’ sharp side profile. “You do have a star; Regulus. El corazón del león.”
Regulus blinked, confused, his eyebrow arching. “First off, I’m named after the star. It’s not my star. Second, huh?”
James tilted his head, watching Regulus’ confused expression. “Huh, what?”
“The thing you said in Spanish. What does it mean?”
James chuckled softly, still smirking, slipping back into his native tongue without even thinking. “El corazón del león. The heart of the lion. You know, the Leo constellation.”
Regulus looked mildly puzzled for a moment, then his face shifted into one of recognition. “Oh…”
James could see the slight change in Regulus - his breath caught, almost imperceptibly, before his eyes darted away, his focus shifting elsewhere. “Well… in Greek Mythology it’s also known as Alpha Leonis,” Regulus started, his voice a little softer now, more reflective, “and in Greek mythology, it’s associated with the Nemean Lion. The beast that Heracles defeated in the first of his Twelve Labors. Heracles strangled it to death and used its skin as armor. Afterwards, the gods placed the lion in the sky as the Leo constellation, with Regulus as the heart.”
Regulus recited the tale effortlessly, as though he had heard it a hundred times before, his tone detached yet precise.
James couldn’t help but watch him, his heart thumping a little faster. The way Regulus spoke - so sure, so confident in his knowledge - was oddly captivating.
“What about Persian mythology?” James asked, the curiosity slipping out before he could stop it.
Regulus didn’t hesitate. “Regulus was one of the four Royal Stars of Persia, known as Venant, and it was believed to be a guardian of the heavens. The four stars were thought to be sentinels, watching over humanity.”
The words were smooth, practiced, but they still carried weight.
James let out a snort, his smile turning into something more amused. “Of course you’re named after a royal star.”
Regulus shot him a look, an exasperated roll of his eyes. “It’s not my fault, you know.”
James snorted, unable to help himself. “No, but it is your name.”
“Thanks, James. Real helpful. I never realised that was my name” Regulus shot back, but there was no real bite to his words.
The tension between them had shifted - gone was the sharpness of Regulus’ earlier attitude, replaced by something softer, more relaxed. For all of James’ teasing, there was an odd comfort in the silence that followed. Regulus, though still clearly not impressed by James’ antics, wasn’t pushing him away either, as he would have done not two years ago. Instead, he seemed content enough to let the conversation linger in the cool night air, as if James’ presence didn’t entirely annoy him.
The stars above twinkled, distant and cold, but here, under the Astronomy Tower, the moment felt strangely warm.
“You should wear eyeliner more often,” James said suddenly, his voice light but sincere. He leaned back on his elbows. The cool wind played with his hair, and he let himself relax into the moment. “It makes your eyes pop. Well, to me, anyway.”
Regulus blinked, his gaze flickering to James for a moment before he quickly looked away. “Oh.” His voice was quiet, and James could’ve sworn there was a faint hint of colour creeping into his cheeks.
James grinned, taking another deep breath of the cool air. His heart was still racing a little from the alcohol, the adrenaline of the conversation mixing with the thrill of having Regulus this close—something about the sharpness of Regulus’ personality made him want to get under his skin, see the layers beneath all that cold exterior.
“I like your eyes,” James continued, without thinking, his words slipping out naturally. He could feel the shift in the air, the flirtation returning, and his brain screamed at him, Sirius' baby brother, James, come on! But the words were out, and he was too far gone to take them back. “They’re very pretty.”
There was a long pause. Regulus didn’t say anything at first, but then James could hear him mumble, almost too quietly to catch:
“I like your eyes too.”
James felt his chest tighten at the unexpected confession. His breath hitched in a way that made his heart skip. The cool wind was the only thing that kept him grounded.
“What colour are they?” James asked, his voice dipping into a soft hum, the question almost a whisper as he closed his eyes, leaning his head back. The breeze caught his face, ghosting over his skin like a fleeting touch. He felt a sudden calmness wash over him, but it didn’t stop the underlying tension between them.
Regulus hesitated. “What makes you think I can see colour?” he asked, a slight edge to his voice, though not as defensive as before.
James smiled, shrugging slightly, his lips curving into a playful grin. “Just an assumption. Can you see colour?”
There was a moment of silence before Regulus answered, voice softer than before, a little hesitant but sure enough. “They’re hazel.”
James blinked, surprised. Hazel - he hadn’t expected that.
“They’re quite nice, actually,” Regulus added, as if he couldn’t stop himself. “Like they have a hundred different colours in them—browns, greens, ambers, golds…” He trailed off suddenly, his words catching in his throat, as if realizing he was saying too much.
“What about yours?” James asked, quieter now, almost careful. He hoped, as he had earlier, that Regulus would say grey.
“They’re grey. Mostly. There are some specks of green, but… they’re nothing special.”
James exhaled softly; his smile gentler this time. “I’m glad they’re grey.” He paused, something unreadable flickering across his face. “That way, they won’t change when I finally see colour.”
Regulus suddenly stood up, the movement sharp and deliberate. “I’m heading to bed,” he said, his voice low, though the hint of something unspoken lingered in the air. He hesitated for a moment, as if considering something. Then, in a quieter tone, he added, “You should go too; it’s getting late and it’s cold out here.” Without another word, he began to walk toward the exit.
James stretched his arms above his head, still sitting on the edge of the tower, looking out at the darkened landscape. He was slow to get up, but when he finally did, he smirked, his voice light as he called out to Regulus. “Buenas noches, Reggie.” The words flowed easily, like they had been something he said a thousand times before, even though this was the first time. He yawned, letting his arms fall back to his sides as he felt the cool night air kiss his skin.
Regulus paused at the trap door, his back to James for just a moment. Then, in a soft whisper, the words escaped him like they were meant for only James to hear. “Bonne nuit, Jamie.”
James stood there, frozen, replaying those words in his head again and again. Bonne nuit, Jamie. The phrase swirled around his thoughts, a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit yet but somehow felt right. He was left standing in the empty silence of the tower, his heart beating a little faster than usual. After a long pause, he finally made his way down, but that whisper seemed to follow him the entire way down.
The next morning, the sun had barely risen when James was abruptly woken by the sound of Remus pulling back the curtains of the dormitory. “Get up! We have class today, and unless you want to miss breakfast, you’ve gotta get up,” Remus announced with his usual early-morning vigour.
James groaned, squinting against the sudden flood of bright light that hit him in the face. He scrunched his eyes shut and buried his face deeper into his pillow, trying to block out the intrusion.
“Bloody hell, Remus. I miss when you were a first year and you didn’t give a shit about school,” James grumbled, pulling his duvet over his head to shield himself from the light.
But it was no use. Remus wasn’t done. With a swift motion, he yanked the duvet from James' grasp, leaving him exposed to the cold air. "I am not letting you lot miss the first day back," Remus said firmly before walking off, heading toward his own bed to get dressed.
James sat up with a sigh, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before grabbing his glasses and shoving them haphazardly onto his face. The morning fog still clung to him, but there was no denying the weight of the day ahead. The room was already filled with the sounds of groaning and muttering. Peter was somewhere grumbling about Remus being an ‘arschkriecher’ and complaining about waking up too early. Sirius, on the opposite side of the room, was still in bed, looking like he had barely moved an inch. Except... something was off.
James’ gaze drifted across the room, landing on Sirius. It took him a second to process what he was seeing. Something about the sight wasn’t quite right. Sirius was still buried under the blankets, his dark hair spilling messily over the pillow - except it wasn’t his pillow.
James froze, his sleep-heavy brain struggling to catch up. Sirius wasn’t in his own bed. He was in Remus’.
His jaw slackened slightly, eyes darting between the two of them. Remus, who had woken everyone up as he always, hadn’t said a word about it. Sirius, for all his usual morning theatrics, looked far too comfortable in a bed that wasn’t his. The realization settled, slow and steady, before amusement flickered to life in James’ expression. A smirk curled at his lips.
"Pads!" he gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if mortally wounded. "You cheater!"
Sirius let out a deep, exaggerated sigh before draping an arm over his face, playing along. "My dear Prongs! However will you forgive me?" he lamented, his voice dripping with mock sorrow. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, betraying his act.
Remus, who had turned back to his trunk in an attempt to ignore them, shook his head and rolled his eyes. He didn’t bother turning around, but James caught the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth before he hid his face completely
At breakfast, James couldn’t help but stare at Regulus. He was wearing eyeliner again. It was subtle but unmistakable, a thin, precise line that darkened his already striking eyes. Regulus never wore eyeliner outside of parties—and even then, it was rare. But here he was, sitting at the Slytherin table, completely composed, the dark kohl framing his gaze like ink bleeding into parchment. James couldn’t look away.
“James!”
A hand waved in front of his face, snapping him out of his trance. He blinked, turning to see Peter staring at him with an amused, slightly exasperated expression.
“You with us?” Peter asked, following James’ line of sight before squinting slightly. “Is Regulus wearing eyeliner?” he mumbled, as if he wasn’t entirely sure he was seeing things right.
James tore his gaze away, forcing a casual shrug even as heat crept up the back of his neck. “What? Oh, yeah, I guess he is,” he said, trying to sound indifferent - as if he hadn’t been fixating on it for the past ten minutes.
Peter hummed in vague interest, stuffing a piece of toast into his mouth as he continued to glance between James and Regulus. "Huh. Looks good on him," he mumbled through his bite, clearly already losing interest.
James, however, wasn’t so lucky. His eyes flickered back - just for a second, just to check - but Regulus chose that exact moment to glance up from his plate.
James froze.
Their eyes met across the Great Hall, and for a fraction of a second, Regulus’ expression was unreadable. Then, almost imperceptibly, he tilted his head. A slow blink, the faintest raise of an eyebrow. It was subtle, but James swore he could feel the weight of it like a challenge. Like Regulus knew he was looking.
James immediately dropped his gaze, heart stuttering in his chest. He reached for his pumpkin juice, taking a long, too-casual sip to mask the sudden heat creeping up his neck.
Sirius, who had been busy arguing with Remus about whether breakfast was an acceptable meal for chocolate frogs, suddenly nudged James’ side. “What’s got your knickers in a twist?” he asked, voice thick with amusement.
James scoffed, setting his goblet down with more force than necessary. “Nothing.”
Sirius raised an unconvinced eyebrow, chewing the inside of his cheek as if debating whether to push further. After a beat, he hummed. “Hmm. If you say so,” he murmured, though the way his eyes lingered on James for just a second longer made it clear he wasn’t convinced. Still, he shrugged and turned back to Remus, resuming their argument as if nothing had happened.
James let out a slow breath, willing himself to shake off whatever ridiculous spell he was under. It was just eyeliner. That was all. Nothing worth thinking about. Nothing worth-
His eyes flickered back across the Great Hall before he could stop himself.
Regulus had looked away. He was turned slightly now, facing Pandora, who was seated beside him with an expression of open curiosity, her hands moving animatedly as she spoke. James could have sworn she wasn’t there a minute ago. He didn’t know how she always did that—appearing out of nowhere, slipping into conversations like she had always been part of them.
Regulus, for his part, looked completely at ease, one elbow propped on the table as he listened, expression unreadable. The sharp black of his eyeliner only made his eyes more piercing, accentuating every slow blink, every glance down at his teacup before his gaze lifted again. He wasn’t tense or distant like he so often was in public. If anything, there was something relaxed in the way he sat, something almost… soft.
James’ stomach twisted. He wasn’t sure why.
Before he could analyse it, Regulus turned slightly, adjusting his sleeve, and for a split second, James thought - hoped - he might look back again.
He didn’t.
Instead, he said something low to Pandora, and whatever it was made her laugh—light, lilting, completely unbothered. James felt an odd pang in his chest, something foreign and irritating, something he definitely didn’t have time to deal with this early in the morning.
With a frustrated sigh, he tore his gaze away and reached for a piece of toast, pretending—if only to himself—that he wasn’t still thinking about dark-lined eyes and unreadable expressions.