Chapter 9
Who knows? Not me,
We never lost control,
You’re face to face,
With the man who sold the world
The man who sold the world - David Bowie
Regulus gives Bootes one of his doggy treats when he drags Regulus into a quieter hall of the school, James, Sirius and Remus following behind, not questioning the change of direction at all.
It’s normal by now, that Bootes makes all decisions for their group, clearly the smartest of them five of them, despite being a dog.
They’re headed towards their first sex-ed class, which Regulus is not looking forward to, and Sirius won’t shut up about how hard it is to put on a condom.
He’s not big on his vagina, but at least he doesn’t have one of those floppy fucks hanging between his legs.
The classroom is big, already almost filled, and of course the only four seats next to each other free are in the very first row.
Typical.
Regulus puts down Bootes’ little doggy mat, pets his head, takes one look at the worksheet placed in front of him, gags, and then resigns himself to the horrors the next 80 minutes are sure to bring.
Between stupid idiots giggling madly at every mention of cum, people comparing dick size as if Regulus can’t fucking hear them, James being crowned the best and putting condoms on banana’s and Regulus being asked three times why he doesn’t know where men’s fucking balls are.
Like, he knows men have them, he’s just never given much thought on where they are, okay?
Besides, what kind of teacher calls on you unexpectedly during a sex-ed class?
For fuck’s sake.
Regulus shakes his head as he walks out of there, glad to be rid of that horrible smell of the glue they use on pads, which always gives him flashback’s of his first period.
Let’s just say his mother hadn’t exactly had ‘the talk’ with him, or whatever.
(He woke up at four a.m. convinced he was going to die).
“That was fun.”
“No. It was not.”
“Come on, Reggie. It wasn’t that bad.”
“I have never been more disgusted in my life. And I’ve heard you wank to Freddy Mercury.”
Sirius chokes on his spit, Remus laughs loudly, and James wraps an arm around him, the two of them walking ahead while Remus teases Sirius.
“So, can I come to yours later?” He doesn't know why, but the way James says it so suggestively makes Regulus' gut churn slightly.
He turns to James slowly, “um, I, er, I’m not sure I want to, er, do that, yet-”
“What? Oh, fuck no, I mean, no, like, I love you and stuff, but I am not ready for that stuff either, don’t worry, no, I meant just to like, cuddle and shit.”
Regulus nods, smiling, “Yeah, okay. We can cuddle.”
“Good,” James smiles, too, “I like cuddling.”
“I know.”
“You like it, too.”
“That’s a lie.”
James laughs. “Sure.”
He leans in to kiss him, and Regulus grabs his face to pull him in faster. James tastes of cookie dough, because of course he does, and Regulus hums softly, his eyes falling closed when James wraps an arm firmly around his waist.
“Oi, bitches-”
“Padfoot, shush, they’re kissing.”
“But I want attention.”
“I’ll give you attention.”
“...deal.”
Regulus smiles against James’ lips when he hears Remus and Sirius walk off rather fast-paced, and he pulls away, only to grab James hand and drag him towards the main doors and out, until they’re at that playground where they played in the rain.
It’s sunny now, the kind that makes you giddy, and Regulus laughs when James catches him at the bottom of the slide, the two of them toppling forward and crashing to the ground, though neither cares much when they kiss, gently, just because they want to. Just because they can.
Regulus smiles up at James and breathes in, thinking this is so much better than he’d ever thought his life could be.
“I love you, Starlight,” James whispers.
He’s better than the thought he’d be.
Regulus laughs because he’s happy, and right now, it feels like nothing could take that away.