Christmas Cookies
Regulus
New Contact
Unknown Number
Hey 👋
This is James. I was wondering if you have plans today? Harry was asking for you, and I have him today. If you’re busy I totally understand.
Sirius gave me your number btw.
Regulus stared at the message in disbelief. He couldn’t believe James had asked for his number, and that Sirius had willingly given it to him. Let alone that he was inviting him to hang out with him and Harry.
That’s basically a date, His brain unhelpfully supplied. Harry would be there, but besides him it was… just the two of them. Regulus was trying not to let it get to his head, but he was having a hard time.
He looked out his bedroom window into James’s still closed curtains and bit his lip. Honestly, what could go wrong?
James
Regulus
Yeah I’m free.
Regulus then proceeded to throw his phone down on his bed dramatically and bury his face in his hands. He reached for his pillow and screamed into it like a teenager. Honestly, could he sound more unenthusiastic? He cursed himself, but the sound of his phone receiving a tex dragged him from his miserable thoughts.
He scrambled for his phone, diving forward and turning the screen toward him. It was James.
James
James
Great!! Would you want to come over and bake cookies? :)
Regulus
Yeah, what time should I come over?
James
Whenever you want to :)
Regulus lasted all of five minutes before he was tearing through his closet looking for something to wear. He settles on a dark green sweater and his favorite pair of jeans. He slid on all of his rings. He might have been delusional, but he thought he saw James eyeing them a couple times yesterday.
He raced down the stairs and past Sirius and Remus who were sitting in the living room, watching Elf and sipping coffee, like they did every morning. He was almost our=t the door when Sirius called,
“Where are you going?”
Regulus took a deep breath, a smile twitching at his lips, “James’s!” He called before leaving and walking to James’s house.
He got up to the door, and was about to knock when the situation caught up with him. He was going over to James’s house, his James who he had loved since he was eleven years old, to bake cookies with him and his son. It was… bizarre. Regulus never thought he’d be here, with the opportunity to be in James’s life again.
He began to panic when the door suddenly opened. There, standing in front of him was James. He was breathing just as hard as Regulus, and his eyes were blown wide. He was only in sweatpants that hung low on his hips, and Regulus’s eyes couldn’t help but trace James’s muscled torso, admiring his smooth bronze skin, and the defined ab muscles he had. His mouth went dry when he saw the trail of hair leading under James’s sweatpants.
His cheeks burned when James cleared his throat. Regulus looked up and caught James’s gaze, and something was different. It was darker, more intense. It seemed he was focused on Regulus more than he ever had been.
“Regulus!” James said, blush visible against his dark skin. Same old James, he thought as James reached up to scratch the back of his neck sheepishly. It made his sweatpants sink lower, revealing more of that gorgeous skin.
“Come in,” He said, opening the door wider. Regulus brushed past him and walked into the house, making sure his arm brushed against James’s stomach. He felt James shiver.
He made his way into the living room, looking around James’s house. It was big, bigger than Sirius and Remus’s. It was warm inside, very homey. It was decorated in warm tones and dark wood. The tree Regulus, Harry and James had picked out sat in the corner, decorated with lights and ornaments, a golden star on top.
“Just let me go grab a shirt,” James said, and Regulus sighed internally at the loss of shirtless James. Oh well.
Regulus walked over to James’s rather large fireplace and took a look at the photos placed on the mantel. There were quite a few of Harry, one from when he was obviously just born and James was holding him, one of his playing soccer, and a family photo of him, Lily and James. There were quite a few of Sirius and Remus, and one of all the marauders. The one that caught Regulus’s eye the most was of their extended friend group, including James, Peter, Remus, Sirius, Lily, Mary, and Marlene. Sirius and Remus were like king at each other sappily, Marlene and Mary had their arms slung around each others shoulders, Peter gave the camera a thumbs up, and James had Lily in his arms, spinning her around while they both laughed. The photo was taken at Hogwarts, in front of the Black Lake. And in the background was Regulus.
He was sitting underneath a tree, book in hand, but he wasn’t reading. He was looking at James with such a pathetic love struck expression that he wanted to throw up. There was jealousy there too, in the stiffness in his shoulders and the sadness and longing on his face.
Regulus hoped James had never looked too closely at the photo, but it was a flimsy hope. The evidence of Regulus’s feelings for James were so plainly laid out, he didn’t know how anyone couldn’t see it.
“Oh, do you like the photo?” James asked, his voice close as he came up behind Regulus. “It’s the only one I have with you in it actually.”
Regulus turned around to see the look on James’s face, and once he did, he was sure James had no idea of his feelings. He was really just that oblivious.
Regulus tried to tell himself that was a good thing. That if James were to ever find out it would be disastrous, and he’d lose him all over again. Still, he wished James could know, just for the simple comfort of making his feelings clear. It isn’t easy to hide something from the one you love.
“Yeah,” Regulus replied, looking away from James. “Is Harry not here?”
“Uh, no.” James admitted, ruffling his hair and looking around. “He isn’t supposed to come over for another couple of hours.”
“Oh,” Regulus said, feeling disappointed. “I can go home if you’d rather be alone-”
“No!” James quickly cut him off. Regulus felt his eyebrows raise at the outburst. James looks a little ashamed, tugging at his white t-shirt that still shows off his arms wonderfully. It’s tight in all the right places, and Regulus is definitely looking more than he should be.
“Uh, we could watch a movie?” James suggests, and Regulus nods. They make their way over to the couch and start up Netflix. James insists on a Christmas movie, and since Regulus doesn’t care as long as he gets to watch James out of the corner of his eye, he doesn’t protest when James turns on Love Actually.
And if, while they’re watching the movie, Regulus gets way closer than he should, well that’s between him, James, and Hugh Grant.
James
He could not believe his luck. Not only had James gotten Regulus’s number from Sirius with no questions asked (which was so odd), but he had invited Regulus to spend time with him and Regulus accepted. So now, James was sitting on his couch watching Love Actually with Regulus Black beside him, sitting so close that James could smell his expensive cologne and hear his breathing if he focused hard enough. Needless to say, he was not paying attention to the movie at all.
And, maybe James was crazy, but he didn’t think Regulus was paying much attention either. He kept shifting closer and closer to James, and he was so tempted to just pull Regulus into his lap. But he thought that might be crossing a line, and he needed to know for sure if Regulus was okay with that first. But the feeling was still there as his fingers itched to pull the man closer every time he shifted.
They were sitting side by side on the couch, with James’s arm stretched over the back like they were in some cheesy romcom. He could feel the back of Regulus’s jumper faintly against his arm and it made him giddy. James’s other arm was stretched across his own lap toward Regulus, itching to hook around his waist and squeeze.
Regulus let out a soft sigh beside him, and James could resist no more, putting one hand on Regulus’s waist, gently. He applied just the slightest bit of pressure, watching as Regulus shivered from the corner of his eye. James smirked in satisfaction and was about to pull him closer when the door opened, and in barged Harry.
“Dad!” He exclaimed, climbing over Regulus and into James’s lap, effectively separating them. James chuckled, ignoring the pang at having his hand removed from Regulus’s waist, and hugged his son.
“I missed you so much buddy. Are you excited to make cookies with Reg today?” he asked Harry, and the little boy nodded enthusiastically. He then made his way over to Regulus’s lap and looked up at him with solemn eyes.
“Reggie,” He asked, “Will you please do the eyebrow thing?”
Regulus laughed and James was helpless to do anything but watch in utter amazement as his face transformed completely. When Regulus laughed he looked so free, his smile wide and his head tilted back. His laughter was musical, and James wanted to kiss the sound right from his mouth.
Regulus raised one eyebrow at Harry and then they were both giggling, and James’s stomach was swooping. It was going to be a hard day if he were to keep his hands to himself.
They got to work soon after, with James grabbing all the ingredients from the fridge while Regulus and Harry sat at the island and Harry babbled about the kind of cookies he wanted to make and how he would decorate them.
When they started actually making the cookies it was chaotic to say the least. They put Harry in charge of mixing, fearing that he would spill the ingredients everywhere. However, the plan backfired when James put the flower in and Harry stirred a little too vigorously, making the walls, countertops, and Regulus end up covered in flour.
Regulus, who’s hair and face has disappeared in a cloud of white, coughs and hits his chest as flour flies out of his mouth. He looks so ridiculous that James can’t help but laugh.
Regulus retaliates by taking a handful of flour and throwing it at James, coating his glasses and making it impossible to see. He wipes them clean to the sound of Harry and Regulus’s laughter, and then smirks viciously. The laughter quickly dies as Harry and Regulus make a run for it, screeching in amusement. James chases them through the house, flour in hand, throwing it at them until his house is covered in it, and James couldn't care less, because Regulus and Harry are both doubled over laughing.
When Regulus straightens up he’s still smiling and covered in flour. He makes eye contact with James and the smile never leaves his face as he holds his hand out. “Truce?” Regulus asks, his gray eyes glittering in amusement. James takes his hand, trying to ignore the jolt that goes through his body at touching Regulus’s skin.
“Truce.” He says. He doesn’t pull away and neither does Regulus. They inch closer together, hands still clasped and eyes locked, until Harry interrupts them. “Can we finish the cookies now?” He whines.
Once their messy cookies are in the oven, Regulus and Harry work on cleaning up the kitchen while James works on getting rid of the flour covering almost everything he owns. By the times the cookies are done, everything is fairly clean, with only a few splotches of flour remaining in the hall.
They sit at the island with as many different colors of icing as they could make, and they decorate the cookies while the sun sets. Regulus made a few stars, a christmas tree, and a santa hat. They’re all very neat, and they took him way longer than decorating a cookie should. James looked down at his own creations and sighed. His were supposed to be a candy cane, a gingerbread man, and some snowflakes. Really, they just looked like blobs.
James had spent the majority of the cookie-decorating time staring at Regulus. His brow crinkled when he was focused and he had a habit of sticking his tongue out, just a little bit. James found it so endearing.
Harry was sitting beside Regulus, and James caught him copying Regulus’s concentrated face, by sticking his tongue out. He would look at what Regulus was doing and copy it exactly, which made James’s heart leap. Right now he was working very hard on a set of gingerbread men (or they could be women, James couldn’t tell).
“What are you making Haz?” James asked, coming to stand behind his son’s chair. Harry didn’t even look at him as he replied.
“You and Reggie. You’re holding hands like earlier, see?” He said, pointing at the two gingerbread men, one of which had glasses and the other had a green sweater. Their hands were touching, and Harry had drawn a line in icing to connect them further.
Regulus, who had been peeking over Harry’s shoulders at his cookies while drinking water, suddenly choked and coughed violently. James patted him on the back to help him regain control of his breathing, but Regulus just seemed to get more red.
They ate the cookies soon after, with most of James’s being gone first because they were the ugliest, which Regulus had kindly pointed out with a shit-eating grin on his face. Harry wouldn’t let them touch the cookie versions of themselves, saying they were too important to eat. James didn’t know why they were important, but he let it go.
Lily showed up to pick up Harry for the night, and Harry insisted on getting a plastic bag for his cookies so he could take them home. They let him of course, and after a few goodbyes and a promise to see him tomorrow night at Sirius and Remus’s Christmas party, James and Regulus were finally alone.
“So…” James said, drawing out the word. He didn’t want Regulus to leave, but he didn’t want to force him to stay either.
“So…” Regulus repeated, moving closer. The dim lights cast shadows on Regulus’s face, making his eyes appear darker. James was helpless, he just wanted to fall at Regulus’s feet and beg to kiss him.
It seemed Regulus was thinking the same thing because as he moved even closer, his eyes landed on James’s lips as he licked his own. James felt lightheaded as he puts his hands out to stop Regulus, gripping his shoulders.
“Reg, what are you doing?” James asked, needing to be sure.
Regulus pushed closer and James let him, hands still on his shoulders. “What do you think I’m doing Jamie?” He whispered, and James shivered at the nickname, his knees almost buckling.
“Je t’aime James,” He whispered, and James heard himself make a sound at the French. He folded like a piece of paper after that, letting out a heavy breath and using the hands on Regulus’s shoulders to pull him in. Just before their lips met, they were plunged into darkness.
Regulus groaned in frustration as James looked around wildly. The lights to Sirius and Remus’s house had also gone out.
“The power must have gone out,” James tells Regulus, who he can no longer see, but James can tell he is annoyed nonetheless.
Suddenly there is a knock at the door, and when James goes to open it, Remus is standing there, lantern in hand. “Sirius sent me to get Regulus,” He said. “And to help you find your flashlights because he knows you don’t know where they are.”
James cracks a smile as Regulus comes into the light, looking severely pissed. James tried not to think about what had almost happened in front of Remus, but he could feel his face getting red. Remus definitely noticed, but he said nothing as he got James’s flashlight and walked back to the door, Regulus in tow.
As they were leaving, James knew he couldn’t just say nothing so he called out, “Regulus! I’ll see you at the party tomorrow, right?”
Regulus looked back, and a smile twitched at his lips. “Maybe,” he called before turning back around and walking to Sirius and Remus’s house.
James was so fucked.