Orange Trees in France
The air was heavy, hot, and almost sticky with the sweet smell of oranges. Useless to say it was midsummer, midsummer in the south of France, where the Black family had their holiday house. Regulus was lying on his back, on the kitchen floor, the only place in the whole house where he didn’t feel like his brain was boiling in his skull.
He had never really enjoyed summer, being the pessimist he was, he had something against every season. But he had always disliked summer the most, it was too hot so he couldn’t wear his beloved jumpers, everyone was in a good mood, which really just gave him a headache and they went to that goddamn awful holiday house. It could have been a lovely place if there weren’t the other people, his family, getting on his nerves. Being imprisoned with them on the smallest ground for six whole weeks felt like hell to him. In their obscene big house or mansion, he only had to see them at breakfast, dinner, or lunch. But here, there was nothing to do, sure the house was rather large as well. But as soon as they, meaning the people that raised him, didn’t have anything else to do they started wanting to act like a family. His brother was probably the smallest evil, even though he was unbelievably annoying, but his parents with their many questions and sudden interest in his life were just uncanny. So he tried to get out as often as he could, wandering around the lakes and fields around the cottage.
This year it was a little different, Sirius, his brother, wasn’t alone. He had brought his best friend James Fleamont Potter along. That was even worse Regulus thought. He was too good-looking for his own good and too nice as well. James Potter was a hopeless romantic, who thirsted after one girl for three years insisting she was the love of his life and his soulmate, even after she had turned him down about a hundred times. He was the kind of guy to buy you flowers, your favorite of course, to take you on picnic dates and make you soup when you are ill. The perfect guy if you wanted to call it that. Regulus, on the other hand, was often described as cold, emotionless, and cruel. He had always been like that and was not planning on changing it.
There was only one problem, as soon as he had laid eyes on Potter the first time, Sirius had introduced him to Regulus on said first day of school, Regulus had been utterly fascinated by the other. His still rather childish baby-faced 6-year-old self had turned into a blushing shuddering mess and completely embarrassed himself. It had been like that until Regulus had finally learned to control his emotions a little better and went into less obvious silent obsessing over the boy. He was always watching from afar. He had watched him go through all his awkward phases, through his first relationship, and his first breakup, but never tried to get closer. He liked having space from him to not get absorbed whole, it felt like that with Potter sometimes. But now he had no other choice than to spend his evenings listening to Potter laughing over some stupid joke his brother had made, to watch when he went to the pool with Sirius and to listen to him, while pretending to read, rant over his favorite sport, rugby by the way.
Regulus had never considered himself a smoker. Sure he had been occasionally smoking at parties or when one of his friends had shared their cigarette, but he had never had his own package of them. Not until about two months ago. It was not like much had changed he just, not even sure why, bought his own package of cigarettes. He would like to excuse it with exam stress or something smart but it had not been that. The thing is when you have your own package there is just a way bigger temptation. And so little by little he had found a routine, every night at 12 he would go outside for a smoke. He called it his bedtime routine, just to ease his thoughts before trying to fall asleep.
Just like every night he was sitting outside on the balcony looking down over the land around the house, listening to the cicadas and smelling the orange trees. It was quiet apart from the cicadas, Regulus liked quiet. So he closed his eyes, for a second just enjoying it, before reaching for his cigarettes. With one hand he fished one out of the package with the other already grabbing the lighter and lightening the cigarette. Inhaling the smoke, that known calmness settled over his mind and he leaned forward against the barricade closing his eyes once again. Maybe he had let his mind settle into that sleepy dizziness shared with the nicotine too much. Because when he opened his eyes the next time he was not alone on the balcony anymore. Someone was standing next to him. Turning his head he looked right into the eyes of no other than James fucking Potter. Because of course, he could not have one calm evening.
Now it was probably too late to hide what he was doing out here, so he didn´t even bother. James on the other hand raised his brows at him his eyes fixed on the cigarette between his lips. Finally, the taller broke the silence „You smoke?“. Which was a stupid question in Regulus´eyes, what did James expect him to answer? Nah I actually just act like it. But he couldn´t even be annoyed by it. Who could be annoyed with someone who looked at him with those big brown eyes? Merlin James´eyes… Enough of this now. After all, Regulus still could not hold back from answering in his usual sarcastic way. He pulled the cigarette from between his lips before answering, „Of course not. I would never do such a thing. What do you think of me Potter?“ He could arch his eyebrows just as well as Potter.
The older seemed to be holding back a chuckle trying to look at him scoldingly „Aren´t you a little young to smoke?“ he asked. Regulus was fighting his own grin „Oh but you can never start early enough with destroying your lungs.“ Now Potter did not seem to be able to hold back a chuckle any longer. Amused he shook his head at him. If that was not the most beautiful little thing Regulus had ever heard. Over time he had collected quite a few different kinds of Potters laughs in his memory. He could not pick a favorite, not until now. Because, this one, this chuckle had been caused by himself. What a great feeling that was.
They were still looking at each other as Regulus took another drag from his cigarette, he was mustering Potters´ face trying to read the emotions behind it. Often he noticed something else in those brown eyes than what the other liked to show on his face. Not tonight, he seemed genuinely calm and happy. Good.
Not sure what was causing him to do this he took the cigarette from his lips again, now about halfway done with it, and held it out to Potter. „Do you want ta drag?“ James mustered the little thing probably weighing out the pros and cons of accepting „Would it make me a very bad example for you if I said yes?“ Regulus let out a snort at that „As if I would take any of my brothers‘ idiotic friends as a role model.“ Potter seemed offended by that snatching the cigarette from him „Ouch Reggie! I´ll let you know that we are quite genius.“ The smaller one only rolled his eyes at that „Says the one being a bad example for me right now. Also, don´t call me that.“ Potter who had just taken a drag from the cigarette now looked even more offended „That`s not fair, you offered it to me!“ The part where Regulus called him out for the nickname he completely ignored, like always. Regulus grinned laying his head to the side „I never claimed to be a good example.“
„You´re wicked you know that?“ The other answered letting out a puff of smoke. „I´ve been told.“ Regulus snatched the cigarette back from Potter, who seemed a little startled by the sudden brush of their fingers and did not even fight it. Taking another drag his eyes finally left Potters wandering around their dark surroundings. The only light source was the moon, which would soon be full. The lights inside the house were already all switched off. Everyone seemed to be sleeping apart from them. They stood there in comfortable silence for a while, passing the cigarette between them both from time to time. Shortly before it would burn down completely Potter broke the silence ‚It´s beautiful here. Don´t you think?’ Regulus let out a hum not very keen on speaking, sometimes he just did not feel like putting his thoughts into words was necessary. But Potter did not seem to mind. When Regulus turned back to him the other was already looking at him a small smile at the corner of his lips. He reached over the cigarette a last time offering the last puff to Regulus. Accepting the smaller finished it, putting it out on the barricade before sliding the cigarette butt under a flowerpot.
Together they left the balcony still in silence. Just shortly before their ways would part, so both could go to their respective bedroom, Potter turned to him a last time. ‚Goodnight Regulus’ he said quietly. Looking up at him former answered ‚Goodnight Potter‘.