You lied.
Why on earth did James, Sirius and Remus drag him out to go for dinner on a random day?
The burning question in Regulus' head.
"Do you want a drink, Reg?"
"Regulus." He corrected James.
"Right. Regulus, would you like a non-alcoholic drink?"
"Whatever, Water."
Sirius scoffed. "Get him something with sugar. Coke, something."
Regulus glared at him.
"In a cup, Ice."
"What food?" Remus asked.
"Anyth-"
"Carbonara?" James suggested. Regulus and Sirius gave James a look of disbelief.
Regulus' favorite food.
"...What?" James asked, expression puzzled.
"Uh. Nothing. Yeah, thanks."
"How does he even know your favorite food?" Sirius asked Regulus, once James and Remus had walked over to the counter to order.
Regulus didn't know. He might have mentioned it once? But not much. James remembered. That's... sweet. Really fucking sweet. No, he probably remembers everyone's favorite food. James is nice like that, observant. Just observant. Really fucking observant.
"He remembers everything, it's no big deal.." he said, shrugging
Later on that night, while everyone was chatting, apart from Regulus, obviously, who was just eating silently, when James leaned back in his chair, and sighed deeply, looking at Regulus.
"I'm sorry." James said.
Everyone paused, Sirius looked up, Remus also looked up, Regulus tilted his head.
"Wh-"
James cut Regulus off.
"I told him."
Sirius looked down, biting his tounge obviously. Regulus paused, confused. I told him, I told him, I told him.. Told him what.... It clicked. Regulus' eyes widened and he stood up without a word, making sure not to make a scene, and walked back home on his own, not caring about strangers or dogs or whatever.
Why would James do that? Why would he tell Sirius? James promised he wouldn't tell Sirius.. Now, as he walked home, Regulus felt his carefully constructed facade crumbling around him.
Regulus was sitting on the floor of his room, in between the bed and the wall, when he heard a faint knock on his door.
"Regulus?" James.
"Fuck off." Regulus snapped, trying to sound as rude as possible.
He didn't sound rude at all.
"Regulus, I'm sorry, I am."
"Fuck off." He repeated. "Honestly, what part of fuck off do you not fucking get!?"
"Do you want some waffles?"
Regulus looked up. "Obviously I want the fucking waffles."
A couple minutes later, James comes in quietly and sits on the floor with Regulus, staring at the blank all with him. Neither utter a word for a moment or two, until after what felt like years, Regulus spoke up.
"You lied." Regulus breathed as if not sure he was even allowed to speak.
James opened and closed his mouth, a loss of words hitting him like a tidal wave, making his tounge twist in his mouth, his stomach do little flips.
"You swore." Regulus said, voice even quieter than the one before.
"I know." James breathed out, his voice equally as low as Regulus'. "It slipped. But he is your brother Reg, you've got to understand, he does car-"
"Regulus." Regulus snapped, correcting him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No word had ever hurt as much as that singular correction did. Sure, Regulus corrected him all the time, but this time,
This time he meant it.
"Regul-"
"No." Regulus snapped. "Fuck you."
"Why don't you?"
Regulus glared at him and James went red. "Not the time for jokes, noted." He mumbled.
They both sat in silence for a moment, Regulus' head tipped back onto the bed behind them.
"Hey, where are my fucking waffles?"
James laughed slightly. "Couldn't make them. Remus and Sirius are having a little argument."
Regulus rolled his eyes. James looked at him. Really looked. He knew no matter how long he looked, how hard he looked at Regulus, he'd never be the one in Regulus' eyes, but for now, let him have his delusions. Regulus opened his mouth and looked at James, obviously about to say something until he noticed James looking at him. Eye contact for a moment..
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I'm not."
Regulus scoffed.
"You are."
"Not."
"Yeah right."
They both went silent. Stared at each other for a moment. James smiled, biting his lip.
"I hope you bite hard enough you bleed." Regulus said, his voice coming out quiet. James could see his pupils flick down to his lips momentarily, then not leaving his eyes. James momentarily forgot everything, and kissed Regulus. Regulus froze, and kissed back right before James pulled away. They stayed like that for a moment, but as soon as James' hand touched Regulus' waist, there was a sharp pang at the back of the head and regulus slapped James.
"Okay Jesus Reg!"
"What the fuck, Potter?!"
James flinched. "Y-"
"You didn't even ask!"
James blinked. Before he knew it, Regulus was gone.
They kissed. James and Regulus kissed. Regulus' breathing did not want to calm down at all.
James Fleamont Potter KISSED YOU!!! KISSED.