Holding the sun in his hands
Regulus has never been a morning person, even when he still lived in Grimmauld Place, he would still lie in bed, eyes closed, savouring what warmth he could for as long as he could, until it became dangerous to lie unmoving and unproductive
It took a while for his heart to stop trying to escape his chest every time footsteps passed his door after 8:30 am, he remembers the first time he was late for breakfast, tearing down the stairs hyperventilating, still fixing his hair and apologies falling from his mouth in messy streams of fear only to be cut off by a warm smile from Euphemia and a “It is good to see you sleeping better my lovely”
It had pulled the rug from beneath his feet, leaving him reeling as Sirius had reached to tug him into the chair next to him, grinning “You have to try Effie’s pancakes, reg, they’re brilliant” he had said, and so Regulus did (the pancakes were in fact brilliant)
He ate pancakes with Sirius and the Potters' while his chest loosened and muscles unclenched and rolled his eyes at James while the idiot attempted to balance a spoon on his nose.
He felt a certain warmth in his chest, and a gentle sort of fizzing, it was not a sensation he was used to.
He was still cold, but the frost was receding.
That night he cried under his bed for all the lie ins and lazy breakfasts he’d never gotten to have
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Someone is knocking on Regulus’ door, and if they do not stop soon they will find themselves in a dangerous predicament involving an angry tired Regulus and a knife.
The knocking did not in fact stop.
“Fuck OFF Sirius” He yells and buries his head back in the pillow, it is too early for his brother's shenanigans, it is always too early for his brother's shenanigans to be fair, but its only 9 am right now, and its so bloody cold and Regulus just wants to hibernate all day under his duvet and write shitty poetry and-
“It’s James actually” comes the hesitant reply, and Regulus groans. He does not understand why his heart begins to tap dance… it must be annoyance, yes, that's the reason. James at his door at 9 am is somehow so much worse and yet to much better than Sirius.
“Fuck off JAMES then” he snarks back, as stated before, Regulus is NOT a morning person in the slightest no matter who it is hammering on his door.
“Reggie pleaassee open the door” Regulus can practically hear the pout in his voice and sighs before rolling out of bed, halfheartedly fixing his hair and throwing on an oversized hoodie over his pyjamas because its December and its fucking freezing
“Coming” He calls, flatly of course, and opens the door to James Potter standing awkwardly behind the threshold of his door holding a mug and a plate and a stupid half-smile on his face
“Hi” James says, and irritation flips in Regulus’ stomach
“What.”
James seemingly goes to wave his hand before realising he’s holding a mug of… something so he grins instead “I made hot chocolate!”
Regulus frowns “.... and you had to wake me up to tell me that because..?
James’ grin grows even larger, its unsettling “Because Reggie,” he emphasises Regulus’ name with a laugh “I made this mug for you”
Oh.
That is…… unexpected
Regulus blinks, he doesn’t know how to react to this, does he thank James and take the mug? Does he politely reject it like a good guest? Does he go downstairs with James and drink it at the kitchen table? Does he invite James into his room to drink it there with him while discussing books and quidditch? If he takes the mug does he let his fingers linger next to James’ for a moment too long before looking into the other boy’s hazel eyes and opening his mouth with a smile to say-
“You okay there reg?”
“Y-yeah, fine, i’m fine” He replies, starring, dumbfound at James and the mug of hot chocolate in his hand
“Only, you look like you might start crying and i don't even know if you like hot chocolate merlin i didn’t think this through i just made what i thought you’d like and added cinnamon and marshmallows but i should have asked I'm sorr-”
Regulus sighs and takes the mug, fighting a smile that is threatening to creep over his face
“Why are you apologising, potter”
“Oh I uh..” James’ nose scrunches up and Regulus is not affected by that in the slightest “I thought maybe I’d overstepped, you looked.. Well.. cross, when you opened the door”
Regulus sighs again, James Potter seems to have that effect on him "I always look cross Potter, you aren't special, and you didn't overstep so stop looking at me like a kicked puppy" Pandora would probably have something to say about the way he handled that, they're all about "healthy communication" but xe isn't here so Regulus is free to do his very best to draw the blinds across James' sunshine and-
he is cut off again
"Oh! That's alright then!" and James is smiling at Regulus for some unfathomable reason and hold the mug out to him to take. Regulus gingerly lifts it from James' hands and his fingers do in face brush against the other boy's for a moment too long, and he does indeed meet James' golden flecked brown eyes and let a small smile grace his lips, not enough to display the dimple in his left cheek, but its something at least. He is warm under James' gaze.
James looks away first and suddenly the spell is broken and Regulus' body is cold again and he clears his throat awkwardly "I'll be down soon" He says.
"yeah, yeah okay" James replies, and smiles once again before turning to go
"waiT-" Regulus calls after him, louder than he meant to, and James turns back around too fast to pass of as nonchalant
"Thank you, James" Regulus says gently, and James shines
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James turns and walks back downstairs to where mum and Sirius were waiting for him and allows himself to smile dreamily to himself on the way down. James he thinks, He called me James and he sighs happily, merlin, regulus black was going to be the death of him, and he couldn't even bring himself to care