Neutral
Leg bouncing up and down, Regulus sat on the side of the bench as he waited for James to finish talking to a red haired girl.
She was pretty, really pretty, and James looked really happy. Both smiling, both talking, they looked like a couple. They could be a couple, maybe they are.
She was laughing, brushing a hand through her hair and touching his shoulder. Touching him, that’s not fair. He doesn’t have an excuse for why it’s not fair, it just isn’t.
Get off, Regulus wants to hiss like a jealous snake.
Regulus knew that the fiery haired and freckly cheeked girl went by Lily Evans, courtesy of Pandora. The only reason he was feeling sour about the two talking was because of Pandora being upset, nothing more.
Definitely nothing more, his eyes weren’t locked on James’ lips as he spoke, totally.
His lips moved animatedly, he would press them together and stretch them out into grins. He would bite down on the bottom one, turning the flesh a darker shade of pink before he let it go and blinked with her dark fluttery eyelashes.
Fuck.
-
Regulus examined the way James’ tight black t-shirt clung to his skin, slightly cropping to show a slither of dark skin on his waist as he filled up two water bottles for them at the water fountain, giving the kids a minute to chat before they started up.
“Here you go.” James grunted out as he slid a plastic bottle in front of Regulus.
“Thank you.” He nodded, smiling.
He took notice to the way James’ eyes held a certain light in them, of admiration and curiosity, he wanted to seek deeper into those hazel irises and know exactly why he’s looking at him like that.
“Are you ready to start in a minute?”
“Yeah-“ Regulus paused for a thought. “What are we doing today?”
“Climbing.” James snorted as he tucked his lips away into a smirk, Regulus groaning.
“Please don’t tell me I’ll have to climb one of those things.” Regulus pointed to a towering wooden frame peeking out from the tops of the trees. “Because I swear I would rather jump off it.” He deadpanned.
James let out a laugh, a sweet, kindred, angelic laugh that made Regulus’ heart feel like it was growing two sizes too big for his chest and rising up into his throat.
“That won’t be necessary, I like you a lot better alive and in one piece.” Still smiling, James jumped up and pulled on his elbow, Regulus’ skin warming at the touch. “Come on, I’ll do all the climbing.” He watched as Regulus stood up. “Keep your pretty face safe.”
And then he jogged off, just left. The man left with that. That’s so- Regulus let out a frustrated groan, which was more directed at the bright pink splashes on his hot cheeks.
“That stupid man.” Regulus grumbled and followed after him.
-
Regulus did try very hard to keep a neutral face as James attempted to abseil down a wall, but he failed miserably, so much so he had to cover his mouth to stifle the smile and laughs threatening to come out.
The big strong James Potter, who would normally say this was easy, was walking down ever so slowly, squeaking and yelling every few seconds.
“Go on!” A teen yelled.
“Yeah, go on you idiot!” Regulus shouted down. He was stood atop the tower, where he was required to be so he could comfort the kids, he make so ended up comforting James.
James looked up at him, his wide eyes and his shaky smile. Regulus couldn’t help but smugly smile back, the man looks like he was on the verge of tears, yet he offered Regulus a smile.
Two pairs of eyes met, full of want and wonder, twisted with the unknown and sharp silence.
That’s when Regulus decided, a bit of light teasing couldn’t hurt. He gave a wink, short and quick but enough.
Slipping with a yell, Regulus watched as James slowly went sliding to the floor, only just balancing himself back onto the wall. “That was mean!” He hollered up.
Regulus let his facade break, bursting out into laughter as he bit his lip to stop it. The corners of his mouth high and his eyes brighter than ever before, even brighter than his star some may say.