Burnt
The chatter surrounded him, the sound of the fire roaring in his ear and the crunch of footsteps under his feet.
“Hi Reggie.” James sighed out. “Why are you scowling?” He asked as he sunk onto the log next to him.
The kids were roasting marshmallows while huddled around a fire, small giggles erupted and squeals heard when someone would set theirs on fire.
“Don’t call me that.” Regulus fixed his face out of a scowl and into a small smile, shrugging. “And I’m not scowling.” He snapped as he brushed a stray black curl away from his face.
James pointed at his smile. “You never smile either, keep it like that now.”
“Shut up.” Regulus spoke, attempting to hide his smile but feeling his lips quirk up even more as he looked away to keep an eye out on the teens.
“You like it.” Currently, Regulus was still aiming to took away from James, but he could practically hear the grin in his joyful voice.
And with that, the brunette boy left. Leaving Regulus to watch as James hopped over to the group of teenagers, chatting animatedly with them and grabbing a marshmallow to roast.
Regulus kept his eyes trained on James, watching as he stuck is tongue out in concentration and shoved the marshmallow into the fire, his hands getting far too close to the burning fire for Regulus’ liking.
He has nice hands… he can’t burn them.
Regulus sighed to himself and dropped his head to his knees, black curls falling everywhere.
-
About ten minutes later, Regulus saw James set another marshmallow on fire. The white sticky flesh flashing into a ball of sharp orange flames. The brunette yelped and blew repeatedly on the marshmallow untill it went out.
Holding in his laugh, Regulus let a small smile hide in the corner of his mouth as he watched the other boy roast another, holding the burnt and black one to his side.
After a moment, James came running towards Regulus with a smile on his face, offering him a wooden stick with a perfectly roasted marshmallow on the end of it.
“Careful, it’s hot.” The older warned as he shoved his own burnt one into his mouth, why didn’t he just keep the nice one?
“Is that even nice?” Regulus chuckled as he ate his own.
James gave a sheepish smile, taking a minute before swallowing it and coughing. “No, not at all.” He laughed and took a swig of his water, the liquid dripping down his chin and onto his slightly exposed collarbone as he gave a sigh of relief.
Regulus was staring, he was definitely staring. That was confirmed when the brunette spoke something in audible and gave him a strange look before speaking up again.
“Reggie?” He asked.
“Sorry, what?”
“Wow you didn’t even correct the nickname.” James laughed. “I’m getting somewhere.”
In reality, Regulus didn’t even hear the boy speak that name.
“Don’t call me Reggie.”
“There he is.” He said with another sip of water, Regulus knowing better and looking away towards the fire.
After a moment in silence, the brunette spoke up again. “Are you okay?” His lips tipped into a frown. “You seem… distracted.”
“Of course I’m fine.” Regulus hissed. “Fuck off.” He mumbled under his breath.
“Sorry.” James looked away as he spoke, his voice cracking at the end and a hurt expression weaving its way into his still frowning face.
A twang of guilt built up inside Regulus, he sucked in his breath and bit his bottom lip while his gaze flicked towards James, who was sat silent and gazing forward at the smiling teens.
His mind was foggy, his gaze hazy and his hands clawing anxiously at the hem of his sleeve. With a cough, he got up to go and talk to the kids. He normally didn’t do that, anything was less awkward than whatever was happening between him and James.
“Fuck.” He sighed as he walked away and out of earshot, groaning to himself.
-
Regulus walked back through the entrance of their cabin and away from the starry sky that he was just gazing at.
He stepped through the door to see James Potter at on his front on his bed, his laptop out and playing a movie that Regulus could recognise all too well.
“Call me by your name?” Regulus asked as he kicked his shoes off, sitting down on his bed and crossing his legs.
“James?” The brunette asked with a cheeky smirk.
“I swear I’ll walk straight back out that door.” The younger gave a threatening look and a finger point towards James.
Raising his hands in surrender, that smile that Regulus liked so much took over his face. “Okay, okay. Yes it is.” He nodded and showed Regulus the screen. “I saw the book on your nightstand, the movie’s really good.”
“I just finished reading the book, I’ve watched the movie tons though.” Regulus spoke thoughtfully.
James hummed, a caring smile covering his lips. “Are you okay now?”
“Yeah I-“ Regulus stuttered. “I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay now that you’re alright.” James nodded. “You needed some quiet time, I get it.”
Smiling ever so slightly, Regulus collapsed onto his bed. James tilted the laptop towards him with a questioning look, he nodded and quickly shuffled over to sit on the other boys bed.
God, this man is doing things to Regulus that he does not like. Oh but he really does.