James was in love. He knew he was. He had been for a few months and had finally come to terms with it a few weeks ago at a party after a quidditch game.
The Gryffindor common room was packed with people from all different houses. James stood in the mix, drink in hand, talking to a random Ravenclaw who was asking about a certain move he had pulled during the game.
James was happy to talk about his maneuver, but suddenly he felt his attention being taken away. He could feel someone watching him.
He glanced around the room, catching a glance of Remus and Sirius talking closely in a corner. He finally found the watcher standing across the room from him, leaning against the wall and staring daggers at him.
James excused himself from the conversation and slipped through the crowd till he stood in front of the boy.
“Stalking me, Black?” he smirked and leaned close to the younger boy.
“In your dreams, Potter” Regulus responded.
They had talked often enough that they were comfortable around each other, to a degree. Regulus was often in the shadows at these parties, and he was invited to hang out with the group a lot since he had moved out of his parents to an apartment of his own.
But James always felt that Regulus held something against him, and he was determined to discover what it was and get regulus to be more open with him. He liked spending time with the younger boy, and it hurt when Regulus would clearly want to be somewhere else.
“Are you having fun, Reg?” James moved to standing beside regulus, looking at him at an angle.
“I guess so. Liquor is good. Music is good.”
The particular music playing was one of James’ favorite ABBA songs, Take a Chance on Me. “You like ABBA?”
“Yeah, they’re all right.”
James nodded, “This is my favorite song of theirs.”
He started to hum along to the song. Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie/ If you put me to the test, if you let me try
James felt Regulus start to sway to the music and hum along. “Take a chance on me” James whispered, unaware of how Regulus was watching him.
“Take a chance on me” Regulus whispered back. James turned to look at him, startled by the stunning blue gray eyes staring back at him.
It was then that James realized it. He was in love.
Not only was he in love, but he had fallen for his best friend’s brother. A boy that surely hated James.
James struggled with the concept of love. He had seen his parents love, and he knew how pure it could be. But he was scarred from his first relationship, which had ended very badly.
He had been told many times that he loved too deeply, too loudly.
And Regulus was a quiet boy. He was calm and collected, never shouting and always the reasonable one.
James was loud and impulsive. He got in trouble and got into fights often. They didn’t seem to go together. James was worried that he scared Regulus, that he would run away and never look back.
It was cold day in December, James was at home and the Potter house was warm and light up for Christmas. James was glad to see his parents again, he had missed them while at school. But he hadn’t expected to miss Regulus this much.
He longed for the glares and scoffs and rolling of eyes by the younger boy. He was excited to see him and Sirius again today, they were coming for dinner and staying through the last week of Christmas break.
James sat on his bed, reading a book that he had seen Regulus reading. It was good, interesting and absorbing. He had been reading all day, trying to take his mind off of seeing Regulus again.
“JAMES, THEY’RE HERE” he heard his mom shout up the stairs for him and quickly bolted to his feet. He rushed out of his room and padded down the stairs, skipping the last two and running to the living room.
Sirius and Regulus stood in the middle of the cozy living room, clearly just having arrived via floo. James met Regulus’ eyes, and he lost his breath. The emotions racing in James’ blood felt heightened and he was worried everyone in the room could read his thoughts.
James was pulled out of his trance by Sirius crashing into him, “JAMES!!” James embraced his other half, pulling his eyes away from Regulus at last. Sirius quickly took James to the backyard, and they flew around on their brooms for hours.
At some point Regulus came out to read by the garden, James stole a few glances at him while Sirius wasn’t looking. A few times he caught Regulus watching him too, but both would quickly glance away when they met eyes.
Regulus and Sirius had been at the Potter’s for a few days, enjoying the warm environment and loving people. It was a nice break from just living the two of them in an apartment in a muggle part of London.
James was in his room, relaxing to the sound of his light strums on the guitar. He aimlessly strummed along to the sound in his mind.
Sirius was downstairs helping Effie with dinner, Fleamont was in his office, and Regulus was taking a shower.
James’ mind seemed to always make its way back to Regulus these days. He couldn’t be around the boy without watching his smile, his hidden thoughts and secret pleasures. James could watch Regulus think for years.
“Oh Regulus, if only you could see.” He started to strum the guitar and sing,
“You’re just like an angel; your skin makes me cry.” He sighed, reaching into his heart for the beat, “But I’m a creep! I’m a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here?? I don’t belong here”
James looked down at the guitar, realizing he was singing a love song about his best friend’s brother. A boy that surely couldn’t stand him and would never give him a chance.
“I don’t, belong…”
“James?” James’ head shot up, seeing the boy who took up too much of his mind standing in the doorway. Regulus’ hair was still damp from the shower, and he had on loose pants and a t-shirt that looked distinctly like a shirt James had lent to Sirius a few months ago.
James quickly stood up, face flushed and mind rushing. How long had Regulus been standing there?? “Reg! How was your shower?”
He hoped Regulus hadn’t heard the start of his song and hadn’t felt the emotions coming from the lyrics.
“James… what was that song about?” fuck.
“Oh, yakow just, some random stuff. I don’t know nothing in particular.” He was rambling and Regulus was drawing closer to James.
“James” Regulus breathed out, face daringly close to James’. “yes?” James whispered, staring into Regulus’ eyes.
“do you like me, James?” Regulus’ eyes flickered to James’ lips and James felt his breath hitch.
He slowly nodded his head, not daring to move his gaze from the younger boys’ face. “James?” “yes?” “kiss me?”
James didn’t need to be asked twice. He rushed to press his lips to Regulus’. And though it may be cringy and overused, James swore his whole life had been leading up to this moment. He felt tears start to rush down his cheeks as he grabbed regulus’ face and pulled it closer.
Regulus pulled back and started to laugh, pressing his forehead against the taller boys’. James couldn’t help but to join in, there were no words to describe how happy he felt. Infinite joy raced through him, tears racing down his face and laugh bursting out.