Regulus was early to his brother’s open house which for Sirius was just an excuse to throw a party involving alcohol. It was a nice house in the outer edges of London where the countryside met the suburbs. It looked like a cottage and from what Regulus had seen inside it had a warm blanket feel to it. He had chosen to floo instead of apparate because he was tired from his healer duties where he worked at St Mungos. The hospital coincidentally was overrun by a group of people following a magical incident, and he couldn’t catch a break. He had also already accepted the invitation even after finding out that James was also coming. James was his ex from Hogwarts that to this day no one has found out about. It was a secret solely because he was Siruis’ little brother and James was his best friend. It never worked out; Regulus was too stubborn and James was too loyal. Both had friends with suspicion but nothing was ever confirmed.
“Reggie! You’ve made it! Come in, James and Lily are the only ones early” Sirius was already gripping his shoulders and talking to him the second his foot touched the edge of the chimney, the wards had most likely forewarned him.
“Who else is supposed to be here? I don’t want to have to be here all night by myself.” This was an expected question coming from Regulus who preferred being home by himself to parties at others. James was also someone he didn’t want to have to interact with unless strictly necessary. And it would have to be strictly necessary in the next couple of minutes until someone else arrives.
“Pandora will be here courtesy of Dorcas and of course Dorcas will be here. So you won’t be alone.” Sirius says this with a slight tilt to his head and a long drawn out sigh but he’s grinning. Sirius has his curled hair lying just so on his shoulders and he’s wearing black jeans and a muggle band t-shirt owned by Queen. Remus came into the living room as Sirius was turning away from Regulus and his whole face brightened, his eyes gaining a twinkling light once he saw Remus. Remus was wearing a brown jumper with the sleeves rolled up to show sun-kissed freckled arms with blue jeans. He was smiling gently at Sirius as if they haven’t spent the last 5 years together, they always acted so lovesick for each other. Sirius was already walking away and into Remus’ arms.
“Come on Regulus, we are in the kitchen until more people arrive.” Sirius turns to give Regulus a quick glance back before hurrying after Remus. Regulus could only follow them.
As he enters the room he hears a bark of laughter and someone else laughing alongside him. James as always was making a joke, leaning back on a wooden chair and looking so attractive with his brown skin and rich thick hair. Regulus’ breath caught but quickly exhaled and straightened up, as long as James didn’t see any of his emotions. One empty chair sat next to James but the other was next to Remus. Just his luck, James was sitting across from the empty chair so Regulus would have to look at him at one point. He moved quietly to the empty chair sitting down just after Remus did and looking up as Siruis said his name.
“Reggie! White wine? I know you’re rather posh with your taste.” Sirius cackles as Regulus scowls.
“I have a perfectly acceptable taste in alcohol. I’m not apologizing for not wanting beer like a teenager frat boy would.” He just scowled harder when James started laughing following his response. Lily was smiling slightly looking between Sirius, Regulus, and James. She looked down at her hands and looked back up in time to make eye contact with Remus. They both hid their smiles, James was so obvious at times. The 5 of them continued to make light chatter for the next 30 minutes while Regulus mostly stayed silent just observing the 4. After around 20 minutes of this Regulus glanced over at James for the millionth time after telling himself not to and met his eyes. Slowly, they had become Regulus’ favorite color. He would have known James by the exact shade of his eyes or by the size of his hands.
“Regulus, what's your thoughts on how to fix the magical networks, seeing as how you sort of work with them? I heard that there was another magical incident today.” Remus had started talking to him at some point but he was too distracted staring at James to reply. After a minute he realized the table had gone quiet waiting for response, by this point he was down to James’ arms. He knew the exact placement of each freckle and mole hidden under his sleeves.
“Hmmm, I don’t think it would be possible to fix the networks. It would be more plausible if Aurors figured out a way to make apparating and floos safer. Like a blanket over those specific lines of magic.” As he talked Regulus glanced up and met brown again, glancing quickly away to meet Remus’ eyes instead, his were a lighter shade than James’. The black blouse Regulus was wearing was being constantly fiddled with under the table and the only person who had noticed was James. Nothing Regulus did went past James nor does he think it ever will. It was rather embarrassing how much he still liked him after all the mean insults and the breakup. They surprisingly still haven’t hooked up since James' 7th year.
Remus and Regulus then dived into a deep conversation involving magic and specific charms James couldn’t follow. Instead James turned to look at Sirius and Lily but already found the both of them staring at him. Too late, he’s been staring at Regulus for too long.
“What are you staring at?” James chuckled and a second later Sirius just shook his head and grinned, Lily was also gently smiling. He hadn’t noticed Regulus’ quick look towards the three of them.
“It’s nothing, you’re just being weird” James widened his eyes in mock horror, “Me? Never!”
“He’s got a point, Sirius. You’re usually the odd one and James the more sensible” Lily says this as she picks up her glass of coke and rum and glances at them with one eyebrow tilted and one side of her lips quirked up. “Hey! I am not the odd one” Everyone sitting at the table had heard this and they all glanced at each other with a doubtful expression. Before Sirius could throw a tantrum and scold them the wards chimed letting them know someone had just entered. The doorbell rang a second later letting the couple know someone had most likely apparated.
“There shouldn’t be that many people going through the floo so this might become annoying” Remus gave them a sheepish shrug and awkward smile before pushing out his chair to get the door. Sirius turned to see him go and then quickly turned back. He then glanced back over his shoulder before saying “I am going to follow him.” He was smiling brightly, quickly following Remus like a dog loyal to his owner. It wasn’t too far off of what Sirius was.
The room descended into silence interrupted with quiet mumbling heard from the adjoining room. Lily made a quiet excuse of going to the bathroom, she wanted to check when Mary was getting here. Or in other words she knew she had to let the two other men have the room or they would never figure themselves out.
Regulus was now looking anywhere but at James and James without a care in the world stared at Regulus. He was breathtaking in a black blouse that stuck to his body in all the right places and his dress pants showed off every perfect part of his waist down. If you get what James is hinting at, he had been very familiar with those parts anyway. Their eyes met again. Green meeting brown again like a mossy tree trunk.
“You know you’ve only gotten prettier since the last time I saw you.” Regulus got a tick in his neck with how hard he turned his head to look at James.
“What?” James was still intensely staring at him. Regulus was utterly speechless with the audacity he had flirting with him. Was he flirting? Yes one hundred percent, there was no other explanation.
“You heard me. Do you want to hear more compliments? Is that it, sweetheart?” James hummed now, leaning his head on his hand and smirking slightly at Regulus while his jaw was still on the floor, he didn't know how to pick it back up. What is James up to? Regulus had no idea.
Regulus scowled after the nickname registered “Yeah and you haven’t gotten any less pathetic.” Instead of getting upset like Regulus expected, James laughed and grinned like Regulus just made a funny joke.
“Yeah, still pathetic for you. You know I didn’t know how to mention it but I-” James gave a slight pause, his face now neutral and his gaze more serious, “I might have told Sirius that I like you. Like I have a cru-” Regulus interrupted James with a wave of his hand and a scowl on his face, “Yeah I understand no need to clarify. Now James, why would you do that if nothing will come out of it?” His face adopted a sickly sweet but fake smile. His cheeks were pulled taunt and all James could focus on was how it showed off how angular his cheekbones were; they could cut ice.
Still distracted James mumbled, “Maybe I really want something to come out of it” He glanced up and said, “Fuck me, you’re gorgeous” Regulus’ shell shocked face was worth every dumb thing James could say. He grinned, and let his head rest on his palm as he stared into Regulus’ face some more.
“If I knew saying stuff like that could shut you up, I would say it more often.” Regulus just scowled and looked away, “I bet you could shut me up using other more efficient methods.” Now Regulus is the one smirking as James inhales stutter, “Although you never could use your head around me.” They stared at each other not knowing what to say, too many thoughts unshared in the space between them.
“Regulus I-” James is interrupted by a loud whoop and Remus entering the kitchen holding onto a bagged gift still chuckling at whatever had just been said to him. Peter Pettigrew follows Remus in also smiling and turning his head to look around before spotting James. As he waves Sirius voice grows in volume as he too interrupts the private moment Regulus and James were sharing. James didn’t have it in him to be mad at Peter when it’s been awhile since he last saw him.
“Wormy! I’ve missed you!” James was up and out his seat to go give Peter a bear hug, lifting him up and spinning once before letting go. They were still wearing large grins and conversing 5 minutes later and with the arrival of more and more people around them. The kitchen was beginning to get crowded and conversations erupted all around Regulus as he tried not to curl in on himself. His social anxiety was spiking when all of a sudden a pair of legs appeared in front of him. Dorcas and Pandora had come as a pair because Pandora was friends with Regulus and Dorcas and she was dating Marlene. Although as Regulus looked around the room he had been previously trying to distract himself from, he could not spot Marlene anywhere. Dorcas was the one who had approached Regulus after seeing him ignoring everyone else and staring off into space, while Pandora was off the side waiting for the both of them.
“Hey Regulus, do you want to leave? I was planning on grabbing you and heading outside for a tour of the garden with Pandora if you want to come? Unless of course you were looking at someone…” Her face lifted into a teasing smile but her voice was still gentle. “Of course I want to leave. I can’t stand looking at him being so happy,” his face wore a frown and one of his legs started bouncing with nerves. He looked up at Dorcas and got up to head out to the gardens. He was going to be spending as much time as he could outside in the cool breeze, so long as he didn’t have to be around other people. James had always been his opposite: a social butterfly and golden retriever personality, and Regulus a black cat who hates people. They would have never worked out… and yet Regulus can not stop thinking about him. Restless nights waiting for something to break the spell he was under.
The three of them sit outside for at least an hour before Dorcas spots Marlene through the back door and makes an excuse to go back in and join her. Pandora leaves shortly after her when it looks like Regulus just wants to be left alone outside. He’s not alone for long before someone unexpected comes over.
“It’s a little chilly out here, even for you. I know you and James have something going on” Sirius trails off as he shifts down and sits next to Regulus kicking his feet out to stretch them. Regulus just rolls his eyes and mumbles, “took you long enough don’t you think?” Sirius’ resulting bark of laughter was enough of an acceptance Regulus was going to get coming from him. “You know at first I didn’t like it but you guys are good for each other” Sirius is looking out at the forest as Regulus turns his head to look at his brother. Properly looking at him he could see smile lines and traces of a smile, soft eyes lost in thought. They had a rocky relationship coming from the family they had, but so far they were doing good. Only small arguments broke up that peace and Sirius accepting the fragile relationship James and him have had was the biggest step between the Black brothers. Sirius cleared his throat and got up as he said, “You should talk to him.” He winks and follows up with, “just don’t hurt him I might have to kill you if you do.” Sirius cackles as Regulus swats at him and scowls.
The door to the back shut softly and Regulus turned back to look at the tree line, a wide area of grass in between him and the forest. Not even a minute later he heard the back door open softly again and sighed, “You didn’t even bring anything ou-” His voice died after he turned to see that it was in fact not Sirius who had opened the back door again. James with his beautiful hair and tanned skin. He had thought for a second that James appeared upset but it was quickly washed off with a smirk, “What are you doing out here, Regulus? Waiting for me, gorgeous?” The resounding scowl was deeper than any of the others at the constant compliments.
“What do you want, James?” His frown had turned blank and James just looked back, stuck on a thought before he sighed and walked up to Regulus and sat next to him. It was now James’ turn to look out into the night and for Regulus to stare at his face and trace the lines that made him James Potter. His eyes crinkling like they often do when he’s satisfied, but for what he was satisfied with escaped Regulus. His lips were pulled into a small smile and there was a knowing look to the way he glanced at Regulus.
Oh
Oh
How had Regulus missed him. He felt that heart string pull sharply for James. He had lost something so beautiful and it took him so long to realize how much it had affected him. “Oh Regulus, I-” James stuttered and looked down at his hands that were wringing together, “I don’t want to have to see you all the time and not know what could have come from our relationship.” He had at one point glanced up to meet Regulus’ gaze and his breath stuttered. Those eyes hidden behind round glasses were now staring directly into Regulus like he could read the other’s mind.
“James” Regulus whispered, his eyes tightening and his mouth became smaller as he frowned. He really wanted James back, even just to try at a fraying relationship. “I’m not a good person. I’m not good for you. You are everything I am not and I can’t pretend it hasn’t affected us in the past.” James had gotten distracted but could also understand that Regulus found communicating important.
“We’re more mature and I know you’re the right person for me. I don’t give two shits about what other people think about us, together or separately, they have no say in our relationship.” His eyes had hardened and a fire had been lit reflecting how angry he was about the outcome of their previous relationship, and how much outside parties had affected them. Regulus had also been distracted, loving how James looked when he got all riled up about something, it was a rare occurrence. “I can’t think right now. You’re distracting me too much.” Regulus’ eyes had strayed to his lips and he quickly glanced up when James’ tongue peeked out to wet his lips. The resulting swallow as Regulus stared at James’ eyes was loud in the quiet night disrupted by shouts and laughter coming from inside the cottage. His eyes were wide and James could feel his heart start to quicken as Regulus also wet his lips getting nervous all of a sudden.
“James…” Regulus was cut off when James' lips met his in a rough kiss. His gasp went unheard, swallowed by James’ mouth moving against his own. The kiss was tantalizing and a promise of what was to come. Regulus teasing his tongue against James’ weaving them together and letting go to kiss him sweetly. Their pants shared in the small space left between them where they had moved to get closer together. Regulus had his hands pulling at James’ thick hair, gripping the strands to pull him closer to himself, and James had one hand on his waist and the other across his back. “Regulus, please. Just give me a chance to prove I can be good.” His voice soft and pleading, his head tilted to meet Regulus’ own.
“Oh I know you can be good, Jamie. You’re such a good person to everyone.” His lips pulled into a grin as he said, “take me out on a date before you ask such things, don’t you know proper dating etiquette?” James grinned back, “oh I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Would you be willing to let me prove to you that I can be a good partner by going out on a date with me.”
Regulus just smiled softly and murmured and soft yes to his lips before kissing him gently. The rest of the night had the pair holding hands and talking to each other through quiet whispers and soft glances. They only went back inside as the party waned deep into the night and all that was left were their close friends huddled close in conversation. Sirius leaning against Remus soft smiles shared between them. The circle of his closest friends was the only thing James wished to keep close to him for the rest of his life. That and Regulus of course but he was finally for once included in that circle. Nothing could get better than this, not for him or for Regulus.