Regulus never liked James Fleamont Potter, it might be because Sirius spent all his time with him as children, and still does. Or it might be because he was bloody gorgeous, his big brown eyes that had no right to have such long beautiful eyelashes, or maybe that he was funny and gullible, and everything Regulus wasn’t.
He didn’t know, it didn’t matter, because all he knew was that he hated that idiot. He hated the way he acted like an immature child, he hated the way he was always doing the most idiotic things, he hated the way he smiled, and joked, he hated the way he was like the sun, always shinning, but getting too close will inevitably get you burnt, he especially hated the way he kept on pestering Regulus like it was the thing he was simply made for.
He was like a protruding curve that was always in his way. Regulus was always told that he was stubborn, but in all actuality, James was much more stubborn in every aspect, I mean have you met him? He is the most tenacious, tentative prick you’ll ever meet.
For example; Regulus hadn’t wanted to go to Hogsmeade with him, Sirius, Peter, and Remus. Sirius and James begged for days until he gave in, or for example, now.
Regulus is currently walking to his dormitory, and James can’t seem to actually just fuck off.
The tenacious part? Yeah, it appeared that James was always somehow clinging to Regulus like he wanted to be with him every time he spotted him, the tentative part? Although he was clingy he was no less than a man who had his insecurities and thoughts, he would pester Regulus only to seem to go quiet for quite a bit until Regulus sighed and replied back to him to let him know that Regulus was, in fact, listening (he was not.)
Regulus doesn’t understand why a man who barely knows him would want to stick to him in each room they are in together. Thank Merlin he and Regulus were not in the same year.
Regulus finally reached his dorm “Yeah, and I told him—“ Regulus sighed and spun around “James, I’ve reached.” James looked around in confusion then seemed to take everything in and nods “Alright, so, let’s go in.” He shrugged.
God, Regulus would really like to punch him right now “James, we’re no longer children, you do not need to escort me everywhere I go, nor do you need to enter wherever I go, nor do you need to talk to whomever I talk to. So, James, for the love of god stop following me like a parasite.”
And the only response Regulus gets from James is a smile—a fucking smile, pardon? “You’re still yet a baby, Reggie.” Regulus sighs as he pushes his key in his door “First, don’t call me that. Second, we’re in our twenties, James.”
“Yes? What’s your point.” James asks, raising an eyebrow.
“The point I’m trying to get across the room is the fact that you are barely a year older than me, no less a wise man. Or so god help me please, we’re in the hands of an idiot.” Regulus replies, always snarky.
---
God, James hears that response and quite literally feels butterflies in his stomach, cliche? Maybe, who cares, really.
“Point not sent across.”
Regulus audibly sighs, which is either adorable or annoying, the sigh is filled with frustration that makes James want to slam him up against a wall and take that beautiful sound all to himself, taste it, lick it, savor it.
Maybe, one day, maybe, but not in this universe, never in this universe.
“James, go home.”
James makes the same sound as Regulus, but much more filled with frustration, like he’d like to stomp on the floor and huff out in frustration. Like a fucking kid.
“I’m not going home for no reason, why’d I come all the way here, then?”
“I don’t know, James. Maybe because you wanted to? I didn’t ask for you to escort me, James, you’re the one who took that role immediately after hearing it was open.”
“Yes, but—why are you sending me away so quickly?” And James knew, he knew why, but he just liked to tease Regulus, to get that little huff of frustration or that sneer.
“James, go home.”
“I’d like to stay here.”
“And I’d like you to leave my front doorstep, I guess both of us can’t get what we want.”
“Well, I can.”
And there, that sneer “Pardon? No, you can’t.”
“Why not.”
“Potter, you’re acting like an immature child.”
“Am not.”
“Whatever you say,” Regulus said, opened his door, and swooped in, then just as quickly as he entered, he locked the door behind him. Leaving James out alone.
James sighed and stood there. A smile slowly creeping on his face, he shook his head, turned around, and walked out.
He put his hands in his pockets, walking under the light with a smile on his face.
James never seemed to understand why Regulus hated him so much, the only thing James wanted to do was be his friend.
I mean, he is Sirius’ younger brother, so why can’t he be friends with him? James saw Regulus smile, like a million times, not with him though, never with him. He seemed to get along just fine with Remus and Peter.
So, why not James? Whenever Regulus was talking with someone and a smile was splayed across his face, the smile would drop the moment James came up to him.
James and Regulus bicker, quite literally every time they are together.
Like one time, James pointed out that the flowers would bloom soon, but Regulus argued with him otherwise. That, no, in fact, the flowers would not bloom soon.
The argument lasted for an hour, about flowers. James enjoyed arguing with Regulus, weird? Maybe, but he always liked the way Regulus would furrow his eyebrows, the wrinkle in between them, where he’d like to poke in the middle and laugh.
Regulus obviously won the argument.
Because Regulus always won every argument between him and James, always, no exception.
James opened his door and plopped on his bed.
He buried his face in his pillow, a grin noticeable, he kicked off his shoes and eventually went to sleep, well, obviously not without a dream. Maybe he’ll dream of Regulus.
---
“Regulus, wake up.”
Regulus slapped their hand away as he dug his face deep in his pillow, his head under the covers.
“Regulus!”
The covers were suddenly pulled off of him, he grumbled and gave the person the middle finger as he curled up on himself, trying to warm himself up to go back to sleep.
A frustrated laugh was heard “No, you don’t. You cunt. Wake up!”
And suddenly, he was being carried and thrown on the bed, his eyes shot open as he looked around.
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you!” Regulus yelled as he turned his head and saw Barty.
“Fucking class, Black. You have a class. Guess who woke up from your alarm? All of us. You arsehole, get up!” Barty yelled, a smile on his face.
“Oh, fuck you, all of you,” Regulus said as he buried his face back in his pillow.
“Regulus, get up,” Evan said.
“No,”
“Regulus!” Pandora yelled.
And suddenly Regulus was up, sitting on his bed, rubbing his eyes.
“What time is it,” Regulus asked, his voice curt and angry.
“Nine. Get ready. It’s like we’re your mother.” Barty sighed.
“You all are nothing like my mother.”
Barty laughed.
“We sure aren’t,” Evan replied, a frown on his face, his eyes squinted, probably from the light.
“I’m going back to sleep,” Pandora replied.
“No, you don’t. You have class, too.” Evan said.
“Yeah, in four hours. Leave me alone.” Pandora grumbled as she walked out of Regulus’ room.
“Get out you two,” Regulus replied as he got up and made his way to the bathroom.
No answer, except a loud thud on his bed. Regulus swiveled on his heel and saw Evan, and Barty on his bed, face buried in the sheets.
Regulus sighed and walked out of his bedroom to the bathroom.
He looked like a mess, he grimaced as he got ready.
He left the bathroom and entered his bedroom, the two of them still in his bed, he sighed and opened his closet, he got out his clothes and took off his shirt.
A whistle came from the bed, Regulus huffed a small laugh.
“Black, what is this indecency? Are you trying to seduce us, maybe?”
Regulus turned his head and saw Barty on his elbow, and Evan sitting upright, both of them smiling.
“Scandalous, Black,” Evan said.
“I’ll kill you.”
“Kinky,” Barty replied.
Regulus laughed as he got his pants on.
“Either get out of my room or go back to sleep.”
“Whatever,” Barty replied and plopped back on Regulus’ bed.
“Your stuff is on your desk,” Evan replied, also plopping back on the bed, his leg around Barty’s waist.
“Right,” Regulus replied and stared at them, a smile on his face as he shook his head and went to his desk.
Picking up his things, he swiveled his canvas shoulder bag and left his bedroom, closing the lights.
“I’m heading out, don’t be late to class,” Regulus yelled as he put his key in the door, getting a grumble as a response.
He opened the door and locked it behind him.
His phone in hand as he walked out of the dormitory, to his university.
“Hey, Reggie.”
Regulus flinched and turned his head to the voice “Sneak up on me again, and I will have you on the floor.”
“You can do anything you’d like to me.”
“You’re disgusting.”
James laughed, and suddenly Regulus’ stomach was churning.
That horrible horrible sound, he hated everything that made him love it.
Fuck him, fuck everything about James Fleamont Potter, his beautiful laugh, his breathtaking eyes, his funny remarks. Just—in general fuck everything about that bastard.
“Why aren’t you in class,” Regulus asked, his voice slightly shaky.
“Skipped.”
“You’re such an idiot.”
“I did it to meet you.”
“That’s even more idiotic.”
And there, that laugh, again. Why does he have to laugh so much? Keep your mouth shut.
“James, go to your class.”
“What? No, I’m with you.”
“James, I am literally in front of my classroom, your class is all the way on the other side of this damn building.”
James gasped and looked around, mumbling words under his breath and a goodbye before sprinting away.
Regulus shook his head, hating the fact that a smile was slowly making its way to his face, he opened the door and walked to his seat.
Regulus liked pens, he liked the architect of them, the way it was so brilliantly designed, just a click at the top and a small ball would come out, allowing you to write, ingenious really, but he liked quills better, if he was honest.
What was he? Born in the medieval era? Doesn’t matter, he liked every type of pen really, anything that was made to be used as a tool to write on paper, he liked.
Regulus got his bag on his lap, tracing the pins he had on his bag as he opened it and got his laptop, notebook, and pens out.
He liked the way he could organize and make his notebook look pretty with just the use of pens. Really, what was there not to like about pens?
Regulus did try to pay attention the first thirty minutes of the lesson, and he did, but soon he lost interest when he realized he’d known all of this, he was now just scribbling on his notebook.
A small stick figure with unkempt hair and glasses was drawn, really, the drawing looked horrible.
Regulus laughed at it as he wrote ‘James’ over its head.
And, oh, he was thinking about James. He huffed out an incredulous laugh and closed his notebook, forcing himself to focus.
But, as soon as he’d decided he’d focus, the class was over, regulus shrugged, collected his things, and left the class, bumping right into a person, Regulus looked up and saw Barty and Evan.
“Barty? Evan?”
“We’re late!” Evan replied hurriedly as the two of them ran to the left, apparently making their way to their first class.
Regulus shook his head and walked out, that was his only class of the day, a simple class that didn’t take much thinking to understand. James wouldn’t get it—oh, right, thinking about James. Again.
Regulus felt like a poppy, the first time Sirius introduced a young boy to Regulus. Regulus felt like the boy was the prettiest creation he’d ever seen, and he was. Still, to this day, the prettiest man Regulus had ever seen. No faux outrage here. A poppy loses its petals at the first touch. Regulus lost his when James held onto his wrist and ran along with him, Sirius on the other side.
A sunflower never stops needing the sun, always seeking it out, but what comes from it if the sun never turns to the sunflower?
Roses are always quite liked, one of the most liked flowers, but are they really worth picking the thorns off of them? That was Regulus’ question to James, each and every time James held onto him. Because Regulus knew, he knew he pricked. So, was it worth it?
The answer to the question was horribly obvious, of course, it wasn’t. Not in this universe, not in the next, or ever. Never a maybe, always a never.
James didn’t like Regulus. Regulus was well aware of that, the man wanted nothing more than to be his friend. But it was inevitable to feel sad about it, wasn’t it? For Regulus never had an interest in becoming friends with a certain James Potter, because he’d always wanted to be more. And even if they could have been friends, what would James want from Regulus if not a short amount of time?
Regulus was also, well aware of the fact that he thought of James Potter too much. It was like a part of his brain was dedicated to him. Regulus hated James, he did, and he does.
That doesn’t stop him from liking him.
A part of himself hates himself for it, like he wishes he could drown in a river, in a dark place, with no one around, no sound except the dripping water, nothing except water and rocks, and maybe, then he could scream and hold out while he sunk without thinking of James, because he knew he would think of Sirius, maybe then he could scream out in pain and want someone to hold him while hands from his past dragged him down into the river.
He supposes he would never know because that was less than an ideal way of dying. He’d like to die in his sleep, please, and thank you.
He thought he’d like to die of old age as a child, maybe with Sirius by his side, or James. He knew James would never sit down beside him as he died, he knew Sirius would, though. That man, even in an elderly state would cry and hold onto his hand and beg him not to leave him.
Because in another life, Sirius never got to cry and hold onto his hand and beg him not to leave him.
Because in another life, Sirius wouldn’t have to be a three-year-old who would have to sneak food for Regulus.
Because in another life, Sirius would have never met James and would have been solely Regulus’.
Because in another life, Sirius hadn’t abandoned him and come back later, because he would have taken him with him.
Because in another life, Regulus died first known as a horrible person but not known for the fact he was actually helping the good people, and Sirius would never find out about that, he would instead call his little brother's death unimportant.
Because in another life, all the people he cared and loved for and all the people his loved ones cared and loved for would live forever.
Because in another life, they wouldn’t have to live in a world where they would worry about climate change and celebrities.
Because in another life, there would never have been a thought of ‘in another life’ because everything would be perfect.
Because in another life, that life would never be theirs.
Because in another life, that life would be theirs.
Because in another life, is this life, a life that was never theirs.
And suddenly, Regulus was being slapped across the back.
Regulus winced and turned around, enraged. Sirius.
“Are you fucking serious?” Regulus hissed.
“What am I if not?” Sirius laughed, jumping on his toes in front of Regulus.
“You are so unfunny.”
“Aww, why so serious?”
“This is what I mean.”
Sirius laughed, a smile splayed on his face “There’s an art exhibition tomorrow, come with us?”
“Us?”
“Us.” Sirius gestured his hands around as, Peter, Remus, and James swarmed up next to him. Fucking creepy.
“No.”
“What? Oh, come on!” James pleaded.
“I’ll go with Barty, Evan, Pandora, and Dorcas.”
“Why not with us.”
“Because you are not my friends, I think I’d rather like to enjoy an art exhibition without the constant nonsense I’d hear left and right.”
“Regulus Black is mean.” James teased.
“James Potter is a fucking idiot, now move out of my way.”
“But, we’ll see you tomorrow?” Remus asked.
Regulus sighed “Yes.”
“Great,” Peter yelled back as Regulus left.
---
“How could he? Go with his friends and not his brother.”
“There there, no need to sulk, Sirius.” Remus comforted, a grin on his face as he rubbed small circles around Sirius’ back.
“He hates me.”
“Quit the dramatics.” Peter smiled and clapped Sirius’ shoulder.
“I’m not being dramatic,” Sirius mumbled.
James laughed and nodded “That’s right, he isn’t.”
“See, James agrees.” Sirius huffed.
“That’s because the two of you are idiots,” Remus replied.
“We are not!” James and Sirius both stared at Remus.
Remus bit back a laugh and nodded.
---
Regulus found himself in an art exhibition not next to his friends but to James Potter.
How? Well, his friends ditched him is how.
James and Regulus were walking next to each other, James pointing at each painting and making up stories about them.
“Oh, oh! And that on—“ James fucking tripped and stumbled to the ground.
Regulus stared at James who was on the floor.
---
James was just about to get up when he heard a heavenly sound, a sound that was like a song you’d hear at a ball. How can a soft laugh become someone’s favorite sound? Well, that was James. He decided, his favorite sound from now on was that soft, ineffable beautiful laugh.
He hadn’t even known where that laugh came from, all he knew was that it was all he could hear.
The laugh was cut short, James slowly got up, looking around for that heavenly sound. James grumbled as he dusted off his clothes.
“Are you hurt?” Regulus asked, filled with amusement.
“Nope,” James said, popping the p.
“Good, because it would be less than lovely if I had to carry you back to your idiot friends.”
James smiled, Regulus could always get him to smile.
---
James and Regulus continued to walk next to each other, James pointing at each painting and making up ridiculous stories about them.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“So you’ve said,” James replied, staring up at a painting while smiling.
Regulus huffed out a small laugh.
---
“Hey, look at that one! It looks like a cock.” James pointed at a painting.
“Stop being ridiculous—“ Regulus turned his head and stared at the painting and there, that heavenly sound.
James snapped his neck to look at Regulus, a grin plastered on Regulus’ face with a sound that could make James cry, he sounded so happy, so lovely. He wanted to kiss that sound right out of Regulus—what? Wait, what? What was James thinking?
Regulus turned his head towards James, his face red from embarrassment “What.” He asked, his voice small.
“No—no, it’s nothing!” James replied, scratching the back of his neck which he knew was red.
---
“I’m in love with Regulus!” James yelled, pacing around his dorm.
Remus smiled “What?”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
“Why do you say that?” Remus asked.
“Oh my God, I’m in love with Sirius’ brother. Am I mental? I’m going to die.”
“Calm down, Prongs.”
“I can’t!”
Remus huffed out a small laugh “Why do you think you like him?”
“He laughed.”
“Alright?”
“I mean, have you ever heard Regulus laugh!?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Exactly! You wouldn’t understand!”
“So, you’re telling me you fell in love with Regulus because he laughed?”
“Well, when you put it that way..” James paused his pacing and stared at Remus, he then gasped “Oh, I’ve liked him for a long time!”
“Oh?”
“I mean, think about it! Just—just the amount of times I’ve bickered with him just to see that small smile, or—or when he’d call me stupid!”
“What does Regulus calling you stupid have to do with any of this?”
“I don’t know!” James clenched his hair as he stared at Remus.
Remus stared back at him and bit back a laugh “Do you like it when people are mean to you, James?”
“What—pftt! No—definitely not! wh—who likes it when people are mean to them!? Ew!”
“You’re a terrible liar, James.”
“You’re right, I do like it when people are mean to me! There’s something terribly wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, James.”
“Are you sure!? I’m not sick? I’m not going to die?”
“Stop over-exaggerating, you like Regulus, is that right?”
“No—I mean, yes! I do, I like Regulus.”
“Okay, sit down, calm down. The main point is, is that you like Regulus, correct?”
James sat down and took deep breaths “Yes..?”
“Well, then, win his heart.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“He—he hates me!”
“He doesn’t.”
“You sure..?”
“Yes, James. I’m sure.”
When was Remus ever wrong? “Okay, alright, that’s good. I’ll try.”
“Great, now get out of my room. You’re a walking headache.”
James nodded and walked out of his room, only pausing when he left and screaming “A walking headache!?”
Remus laughed.
---
James was on a mission, a mission to find Regulus.
A very important mission you see, because he had to ask him out. He wasn’t quite sure how he would do it, but did he honestly ever?
When he did find Regulus, it had already been around thirty minutes of searching, only to find him asleep, in the library. AirPods plugged in, and sound asleep with his head in his arms.
James smiled, that was the first time he’d seen him so relaxed up close.
James walked to Regulus and picked up his phone to turn off whatever he was listening to, a fucking true crime case? What, was this man aspiring to be a murderer? This man was crazy, but he liked crazy, didn’t he?
James clicked pause and gently removed the AirPods and placed them in their case, he sat down next to Regulus, his head in his arms as he stared at Regulus.
James pocked Regulus on the cheek “Reggie.” A grunt and eyebrows furrowed was his only response, James once again pocked Regulus, but on the nose now “Reg. Wake up.”
“Fuck off.” His voice was muffled through his arms. James smiled “Reggie, wake up.”
“No.” Regulus tried to swat at James’ hand but missed every chance, James laughed and pocked his face again. Regulus’ hand came back up and tried to swat his hand away once again but failed miserably.
Eventually, Regulus presumably got frustrated with missing? So he got up, opened his eyes, and clamped down on James’ hand.
“Kinky.”
“Oh, fuck you. Potter.”
“Why don’t you sleep in your dorm?”
“I was studying, if you had good eyesight you’d notice, oh, wait, you wear glasses.”
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
Regulus sighed “What do you want.”
“Go out with me.”
Regulus stammered to his feet, stumbling “What?”
“Go out with me.” James smiled.
“As in a—date?”
“Exactly.”
“No.”
“What? Why!”
“I refuse, you’re a knobhead,” Regulus replied, gathering his things and basically sprinting out of the library.
James sighed but his smile was painfully obvious.
---
For the past week, James has been trying to get Regulus to go out with him. He’s a stubborn man, both of them are.
James plopped on the couch, laying his head in Remus’ lap “I’m single by choice.” James mumbled.
Remus snorted “Not yours, though.”
James abruptly got up “Oh, you mean, mean man!”
“He’s got a point. Regulus rejected you again?” Peter asked, phone in hand.
“Yeah! He’s—wait, how did you know it was Regulus.”
“It’s so obvious, the staring? It’s like he’s a one-time occurrence.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Even Sirius is suspecting something.”
James scoffed “That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s really not. He came up to me today and asked if you were being weird lately especially whenever Regulus was brought up.” Remus said.
“Fuck.” James said, banging his head on the wall repeatedly.
“So? Got anything up your sleeve to win him over?”
“No..”
Peter laughed “This is pure comedy, you’re truly horrible.”
“And people call you a romantic.”
“I am! Just—maybe not when it comes to Regulus.”
“Isn’t that the man you’re trying to get by your side? Maybe you should try to be less of a romantic to random people and more to him.” Peter retorted.
“Cold, Pettigrew.” James clicked his tongue.
“Just giving you advice.”
And then, a loud bang.
“What was that!?” Remus yelled.
“My shirt fell!” Sirius replied.
“It sounded heavier than that,” Peter said.
“I was in it.”
James snorted “Very smart, Black!”
“Thanks, Potter!”
---
Regulus made his way down the street with Dorcas.
“So, James. How’s it going with him?”
“What? Fine, I don’t know.”
“You dating yet?”
Regulus laughed at the absurdity of that question “No.”
“Really? Thought you’d be with him by now.”
“What, why?”
“The way you two gaze at each other is sickening, really.”
“I don’t gaze at him.”
“Sure you don’t.”
“You’re so ridiculous.”
“Is that your favorite word?”
“Oh, fuck you. Meadowes.”
“Actually, Marlene is handling that.”
Regulus felt a full-body shiver go down his spine “Gross.”
“And then you’ll be fucking Potter.”
“What the bloody hell!” Regulus replied, his cheeks blazing.
Dorcas cooed “Don’t act like you aren’t waiting for that day.”
“I am not!”
“Whatever you say, love.”
---
“Regulus, Regulus, Regulus, please.” James pleaded, shoving his shoulder against Regulus’, Regulus sighed and stopped walking.
“Why can’t you go on your own?” Regulus asked, messaging his temple.
“Because,” James replied.
“Because?”
“Because it’d be fun with you.”
“That’s it?”
“What? Do I need another reason?”
Regulus sighed and turned his head to stare at James “I don’t think that’s a problem I’d have to worry about.”
“But, you can help with the problem.”
“How would it be fun if I’d go with you?”
“It’s always fun with you.”
Oh, Regulus felt his face turn red, he spun around and faced away from James “Fine.” He grumbled.
“Okay? Yeah? You’ll go with me?”
“Yes, James. I’ll go with you, now lead the way before I change my mind.”
“Great!” James jumped on his toes and raced back to Regulus, swooping his hand on Regulus’ waist.
Regulus froze, fuck, fuck, is he crazy? He quickly swatted James’ hand away, and he stared at James, grimacing.
James replied with a broad smile “Aww, why not?”
“Why not? James, please, for the love of God, keep your mouth shut.”
“How are we going to go on a date if I don’t talk?”
Regulus felt the hair on the back of his neck stand “Date? I never agreed to a date.”
“Yes, you did!”
“James, we are going to the grocery store. And, I never agreed to one.”
“Regulus Black is a liar.” James frowned.
“You’re pouting, do you know that you’re pouting? Stop pouting.” Regulus narrowed his eyes.
“What if I don’t want to.” James crossed his arms, his bottom lip sticking out more.
Regulus grumbled and walked back to James who at some point stopped walking, Regulus reached his hand up, touching James’ bottom lip, pushing it back.
“Stop doing that.”
---
James stared at Regulus, his heart beating too fast for his liking, hands reaching for Regulus’ waist “Don’t.” James whispered as Regulus started to back away “Don’t?” Regulus questioned, his voice clipped and hushed.
“Don’t.” James shook his head slightly, his mouth open, James watched as Regulus’ lips twitched up “I just got it back in place, shut your mouth, James.”
James stared, nodding as he slammed his mouth shut.
“James?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you going to let go?”
“No.”
“We aren’t going on that date, then?”
James’ eyes widened, his arms instantly letting go.
James smiled “Ready to go?”
Regulus laughed that soft, heavenly, sweet laugh, his body shaking ever so slightly, his pale skin glistening, his dark curls bouncing on his face, a shade of red ever so slightly colouring his cheeks and ears.
“You really want our first date to be at the grocery store?”
“A date is a date.” James shrugged.
“And people call you a romantic.” Regulus shook his head.
“I am!”
“This is so unromantic.”
James stopped, realizing how in fact unromantic this was, he did not want their first date to be at the grocery store, shopping for food? That’s absolutely ridiculous. James, a romantic taking the man he’s liked for quite some time to a grocery store as their first date? He hadn’t even set up a big scene to ask Regulus out. James felt disgusted at himself.
Suddenly telling Regulus that this was a date instead of actually asking? He was joking but not really, and wow, how he wished he hadn’t joked around for the first time.
This could not happen, their first date shall be asked grandly and shall be perfect, like, a picnic, or the theater, a stroll? Restaurant? Anything that isn’t the damn grocery store.
“Wait, Regulus!” James ran over to Regulus who at some point stood still waiting for James.
“I change my mind.”
“What?” Regulus asked, his voice filled with cracked amusement.
“The date, I refuse for it to go like this.” James shook his head, making sure Regulus got the point.
“So, you don’t want to go on a date with me?”
James gasped “That’s ridiculous, you know I do! But, our first date cannot go like this!”
“Just say you don’t want to go on a date with me, James.” Regulus sighed.
“No! I d—“ James squinted his eyes and saw that small smile on Regulus’ face “Oh, you’re fucking with me.”
Regulus huffed a small sigh of amusement “Yes, James. I’m fucking with you.”
“That was so unfunny.”
Regulus shrugged his shoulders “You just have horrible humor.”
“I do not!”
Regulus tapped James’ cheek and spun around, walking, but much slower, like he was going at James’ pace “Let’s go, James.”
James shook his head and laughed, running towards Regulus “Hey, Regulus?”
“What is it, James?”
“What are you going to get?”
Regulus shrugged his shoulders “Food.”
James smiled, staring down at Regulus. His black curls curled at his face, some curls pulled back, held by his ear, the small moles he had over his face and neck, the slight blush from the chilly weather “Yes, but what exactly.”
“Food, James. Food.”
“Yep, got it, food.”
And then, quiet, it wasn’t awkward, more comfortable, but soon, James couldn’t take it and had to speak.
“You aren’t going to ask me what I’m getting?”
“You’re getting food.”
“But I’m getting something specific!”
“You can’t keep your mouth shut for a minute?”
James huffed, pursing his lips “I’m getting some drinks, if you even care.”
“Good for you, James.”
James crossed his arms, walking alongside Regulus “Put your lip back in place.” Regulus told James.
“What—“ James looked down at Regulus who was staring straight ahead, he hadn’t even felt Regulus watching him, James smiled and did as told.
“Reggie.”
James grumbled as Regulus ignored him, Regulus never replied to anybody when they gave him a nickname, the only exception was Sirius.
“Reg.”
Ignored.
“Regulus.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t ignore me.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Call you what? Reggie? Reg?”
“Both.”
“Why not.”
“Because I said so.”
“But why can’t I call you that.”
“Because I said no.”
“But—“
“No, James.”
James mocked Regulus under his breath and watched as Regulus spun his head in James’ direction. His eyes slit, like a snake “I’ll cut your tongue out.”
“Do whatever you’d like, darling.”
Regulus stopped walking but quickly continued “Don’t call me that.”
“What? Am I supposed to only call you Regulus?” James frowned but a small smile inevitably followed through the frown.
“Yes. That’s my name. Address me correctly.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Oh, it isn’t? It’s my name, so I get to choose how you say it.”
“Other people have the same name!”
“But you’re talking to me, are you not?”
“What if I’m talking about a Regulus I know and I call him Reggie? Hm? What’ll you do about that? I’m not talking about you.”
“Do you know anybody else whose name is Regulus?”
James sputtered for a reply “Yes!”
“Who is it?”
“A friend?”
“Yes, and who is that friend?”
“Regulus.”
“A certain Regulus Arcturus Black?”
“No. Not everything is about you, love.”
“Don’t call me that.” Regulus scowled.
“I think I will.”
“I will hurt you.”
“How?” James wiggled his eyebrows, a grin on his face.
Regulus scoffed “Fuck you, Potter.”
“Anytime, darling.”
Regulus shook his head as he got a cart, James realizing that they’d reached “So, what’re you getting, Regulus?”
“Food, I’ve already told you that, James.”
“Oh yes,” James rolled his eyes “I forgot.”
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, James,” Regulus said as he entered the grocery store.
“You always do it, you hypocrite.” James smiled.
“Shut up, James. Go take whatever you need.”
James laughed and went to go talk whatever he needed, his eyes grazed the aisles as he tried to find what he needed, he finally found the drinks and forced them all to fit in his arms.
And while trying to find Regulus, he might’ve gotten distracted by other things..that are not drinks.
He finally found Regulus, his arms struggling to fit everything, he ran towards Regulus and threw all of his things in the cart.
---
Regulus watched as James threw all of his items into the cart, it was definitely not just drinks. Regulus sneered and looked up at James “Candies? Chocolates? Are you serious? Buy food.”
“This is food.”
Regulus sighed as he shook his head, he could already feel a headache on its way “Real food, something that isn’t a snack?”
“I don’t wanna.”
“Whatever.” Regulus waved a hand and continued to walk to the aisles he needed.
“Are you dating anyone?”
“What? No.”
Regulus watched as James frowned “Why the bloody hell are you buying condoms?” James’ eyes slit.
Regulus forced down a smile “It’s not for me.”
“Oh. Who’s it for?” Regulus saw James’ eyes brighten.
“My friend.”
James’ eyes darkened once more “Do I know this friend?”
“Maybe, what’s it to you?”
“I just want to know.” James huffed.
“It’s Evan.”
“Oh. Great, that’s great.” James smiled “He’s dating someone?”
“Yeah.”
“Who is it?”
“James, you’re asking too many questions.”
“Yeah, alright.” James quickly replied.
“So, where are we going, love?”
“Don’t c—“
“Uh, excuse me?” A woman asked Regulus.
Regulus turned his head and saw a woman around his age, he’s seen her before, she goes to the same uni as him, maybe?
“Uh, yes? Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but notice you two seem like a couple, are you?”
Regulus laughed, tears flooding his eyes from the absurdity of that. James and I? Of course not.
The woman went red from embarrassment “I-Im sorry, it’s just that he called you love.”
“Him and I? No, we aren’t dating, he’s just weird.”
“I am not weird.”
Regulus smiled at the woman, something he never does “We aren’t dating.”
“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry for bothering you.”
“It’s not a problem,” Regulus replied.
---
James frowned, was it really that horrible if Regulus was his boyfriend?
“Uh, If you aren’t dating anyone, can I have your number?” The woman asked James, nervously.
James smiled “I’m sorry, I’m actually interested in him.” James pointed at Regulus.
“Oh, but he doesn’t like you, does he?” The woman asked, a bit dejected and disappointed.
“I’m trying.” James winked and smiled “He’ll be mine at the end of the month.”
“Well, uh, good luck.”
“Thank you.” James smiled and watched as the woman walked away.
“I will not be yours at the end of the month.”
“Well, not mine. But my boyfriend, I can’t own you.” James rolled his eyes.
“Yes, James. I understood what you meant the first time.”
“That’s great, you understand you’ll be my boyfriend.” James smiled.
“You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No, I don’t think I do.” James smiled and shrugged.
“Sure you don’t, James.” Regulus rolled his eyes, a small smile displayed for the world to see true art.
Regulus’ smile was like the sunset after a cold breezy night, comforting after a storm. The big cloud in the rainy skies that never failed to make James happy. The stars in the midnight sky. He loved everything about Regulus, he loved the way he snickered and made fun of James, he loved the way he’d try to hide his smile, and he loved that outrageously gorgeous smile. A beautiful boy in an unfair world.
James was in for it, wasn’t he? Too far gone, he was in deep.
“Hey, Regulus.”
“Yes, James?”
“What’s your favorite poem?”
“A Dream Within A Dream.”
“I’ve never read that one.”
“Shocker.”
James smiled “Aren’t you going to ask me what my favorite poem is?”
“I thought you were illiterate.” Regulus raised an eyebrow at James.
James grinned wider, a huff of amusement leaving his mouth “And if a thousand others love you, they will only love you a drop compared to my ocean of love for you.”
James watched Regulus’ mouth slightly open and close once more, the slight show of tongue that licked at his already moist lips and returned back into his mouth.
“Dawrish Poems?”
“Yep. What’s yours?” James asked, popping the p.
“Edgar Allen Poe.”
“Oh. You know, I’ve never read one of his poems.”
“Once again,” Regulus rolled his eyes “such a shocker, really.”
“Snarky as ever.”
“Shut your mouth, Potter.”
---
James ran to find Regulus after class, he’ll ask Regulus out today, he’d had it all planned, a picnic, then a stroll, and maybe a cafe? He finally reached the front of Regulus’ classroom.
Panting heavily, he was about to yell out for Regulus when he saw a woman, on her toes, kissing Regulus, his Regulus.
And at that moment, he realized he loved Regulus when the mere thought of loving anyone else seemed impossible, just as how it felt impossible that Regulus would love anyone else.
But, that was the catch, wasn’t it? It was always James who was confessing, acting like he was in love, never Regulus. So, what did he have against Regulus?
James watched, his eyes wide open as he felt a burning heat behind his eyes, a pair of eyes locked with his, already shocked eyes went wider, and he knew those grey clouds anywhere, Regulus was staring back at him.
And just as soon as James saw the kiss begin, it was ended. Regulus was now fully staring at him.
“James—“
“No—“ James’ voice cracked, he coughed and looked up at Regulus “It’s fine, you don’t owe me anything, especially not love. You never said you liked me back, so you don’t need to feel guilty, alright?” James managed to pull a small smile onto his face “I hope you’re happy with her.”
“Wait—James! You don’t understand.”
“What? What do I not understand, Regulus!?” James wasn’t angry, no he was so so sad, is this what they called énouement? A bittersweet period of time flying away? Except this wasn’t bittersweet, it was fucking heart-aching, it felt like a guttural punch right to the heart.
“I—I don’t like her, James. I don’t.”
“Then why’d you kiss her!?” Now James was angry, Regulus didn’t have to lie to protect his ‘fragile’ stupid heart.
“I didn’t! She kissed me! For goodness sake, James!”
“Oh, did she, now?”
“Yes, fucking hell, James! Why would I lie? To protect you? Do you think I’d protect you? So, James, please. Can we act like this never happened? I promise I do not like her.”
This felt like an argument over an affair, but Regulus was right, why would he try to protect James, especially from this situation? So James pushed away all his anxiety and overthinking and instead nodded.
“Alright.”
Regulus huffed a sigh of relief and went to James, walking next to him.
It was so so fucking awkward.
James coughed and looked down at Regulus “So, you free?”
---
“Uh, yeah?” Regulus cringed at his uncertainty and looked up at James.
“Great! Go on a date with me.”
Regulus felt his jaw hit the ground, he quickly gathered his composure and clenched his bag tighter “On what premise did you think I’d agree?”
“Well, I thought I had a chance. I don’t know anymore.” James frowned.
Regulus sighed and shook his head, a frown on James Fleamont Potter’s face? That won’t do “I’ll go.”
“Really?” James’ eyes lit up, a huge grin on his face.
And oh how Regulus loved everything about this man, he could tell him about the darkness that laid bare inside of him and Regulus would still look at him like he was the sun.
“Yes, James. Really. Would I lie to you?” Regulus smiled a small barely visible smile.
“Yes.” No hesitation.
“Wow, alright. I might have to rethink my answer.” Regulus shook his head, his fingers on his chin, placing them like he was thinking deeply of something.
“What! No!”
“I’m just joking, James.” Regulus laughed a small angelic laugh.
---
Fucking hell, this man has got to stop doing these things.
Laughing? No need. Smiling? No need. None of that, because it just made James even more in love. And he wasn’t even sure if he had a chance now.
But he would hold onto hope, for if he wasn’t James Fleamont Potter, who was he?
“Tomorrow?” Regulus asked, a hidden smile and a raised eyebrow.
“Sorry, what?” James asked, confused.
Regulus smiled, his eyes creasing, his lip twitching like he wanted to smile wider “Tomorrow? The date?”
James felt his face flush, right, the date, should he pick Regulus up? Does Regulus want to get picked up? “Oh, yeah! Yeah!” James scratched the back of his neck, a small nervous smile on his face “I’ll, uh, pick you up at nine am?”
Regulus’ brow furrowed but he nodded “At nine, then. See you tomorrow, James.” Regulus turned around, waving his hand at James and walking up to his door.
James doesn’t seem to realize whenever they reach a destination, James stays in front of the doorstep, a grin slowly spreading against his face “Yes!” James celebrates as he walks away happily. Seemingly to his dorm.
---
Regulus laughs to himself as he hears James being ridiculously happy, Regulus turns around and finds Pandora, Evan, Barty, and Dorcas.
Dorcas doesn’t even live here, why is she here? Regulus sighs and walks to the kitchen “So, Potter?” Evan asks, with a raised eyebrow and a smug smile.
“What are you talking about?” Regulus asks, he gets a glass and fills it with water.
“Who asked the other first?” Dorcas wiggles her eyebrows.
“What are all of you talking about?” Regulus rolls his eyes.
“Don’t act like you don’t know, Reg. Who asked the other out first?” Pandora smiles.
“Or, who fucked the other.” Barty shrugged.
Regulus choked on his water as he stared at Barty with wide eyes “What the bloody hell, Barty.”
“What?” Barty laughed “I was just saying the truth.”
“This is stupid.” Regulus placed his glass in the sink and walked to his bedroom.
Suddenly, his way was blocked “Aww, why won’t you tell us, Reggie.” Evan laughed.
“He asked me. Now leave me alone.” Regulus said and swiveled his way through the bodies blocking his bedroom door.
“Hand me my thirty.” Regulus heard Evan say, he then realized they placed bets.
He closed the door behind him and smiled to himself, idiots.
He threw himself onto his bed, covering his face with his pillow, a grin on his face.
Guess all that silent love was worth it after all, wasn’t it?
---
“Why are you so happy.” Peter grimaced as he flung himself onto the couch.
“Just because you had a horrible day doesn’t mean I did, Pettigrew.” James smiled.
Sirius whistled as he huddled up next to Remus “Who’s the lucky person?”
James was suddenly not happy anymore, he looked at Remus for help but Remus just shrugged and inched his head closer to Sirius’ “It’s, ahem, a bit complicated.” James nervously smiled.
“Seems complicated.” Remus agreed, James threw him a glance telling him to shut up.
Peter groaned “Just tell us who your date is.”
Sirius shrugged “If you really like this person then I think you should see where it goes.”
James nervously chuckled, a smile on his face as he sat down next to Peter “You want me to be happy?” James raised an eyebrow.
Sirius scoffed “Of course, what kind of question is that.”
James cleared his throat, putting his arm on Peter's shoulders “Yeah, but, uh, you see, he’s the brother of a very close friend of mine.”
“I thought I met all your other friends?” Sirius asked.
James looked at Peter then at Remus “More than a very close friend of mine, he’s the brother of a Marauder.”
“Oh, gossip, who is it?” Sirius wiggled his eyebrows, an entertained grin on his face.
James stared at Sirius knowingly, not saying a thing, Sirius looked at Remus then at Peter “Who is it?”
James just nodded “Who is it, James?”
It was complete silence, James nodding, a knowing look on his face “Who is it..?” Sirius asked once more.
”It’s okay.” James nodded as he nervously smiled at Sirius.
And then complete silence.
Panic was ridden on Sirius’ face as he stared at Remus “No, no, no, oh my God!”
“Oh my God!” Sirius got up and went to his bedroom, slamming the door.
James looked at Peter then at Remus, a concerned look on his face “I think that went well..”
“Regulus? Really James?” Peter laughed hysterically.
James stared at Remus for help only to receive a shrug.
Then the door was opened and Sirius entered the sitting room once again “It’s Regulus isn’t it?”
“Uh, ahem, yeah.”
“Are you serious, James?” Sirius grimaced a frown on his face.
“No, only you are.”
The awkward silence was so loud.
“Not the time, James. Not the time.” Sirius shook his head.
“Right, right. Sorry.”
“This is basically incest.” Sirius wallowed.
“This is nothing like incest, Pads.” Peter smiled.
“Calm down, darling.” Remus soothed Sirius as he stared at James with an amused look on his face.
“I can’t! My brother is dating my brother!”
“Who’s the brother in this situation.” James asked nervously.
Sirius scoffed “Regulus!”
“And who’s the other one?” Remus raised an eyebrow.
Peter leaned on his knees, an amused grin plastered on his face.
“James!”
“That is not how it works, Sirius!” James told Sirius, flailing his arms.
Sirius sputtered for an answer “It is!”
“Pads, explain to us how it works,” Peter asked.
“It’s just how it works!”
James sighed and stayed quiet, Sirius looked at Peter then at Remus then at James.
Sirius sighed “Fine. If you hurt him I’ll kill you.”
James looked up at Sirius a grin on his face, he got up then hugged Sirius “I would never.”
Sirius smiled and hugged James back “I know you wouldn’t, I just have to say it. I know you’re the best person for Regulus.”
James inhaled deeply, he pulled away and stared at Sirius, his hands resting on Sirius’ shoulders “Really?”
“Yeah,” Sirius looked down “I mea—why’re you crying!?” Sirius looked up at James, his face concerned and amused at the same time.
“I—I’m not, it’s just—I’m glad you think that.” James shook his head, wiping his eyes with his sleeves and hugging Sirius again.
Sirius sighed and smiled, hugging James back. Sirius looked at Remus and Peter, inclining his head at James and holding in a laugh.
Peter and Remus shook their head and got up, hugging James.
“Don’t cry, you child,” Remus told James.
“Yeah, what he said,” Peter replied.
“Hey!” James replied, a smile on his face.
---
Regulus opened the door, a handsomely dressed James stood in front of the door.
James beamed “Regulus!”
Regulus supposes that James is always handsomely dressed anyway.
“James.” Regulus ducked his head and let himself smile.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, James.” Regulus shook his head and laughed.
James offered his hand, Regulus looked down at it then looked at James, James smiled, and Regulus looked down at the hand again and then at James, James this time smiled nervously.
Regulus swatted his hand away and saw the sad expression on his face, Regulus sighed and instead intertwined his arm with James’.
He looked up at James and saw him smiling “I thought you weren’t going to take my hand.”
“I wasn’t.”
James smiled once more “I thought as much, I’m glad you did.”
“Okay, James. Stop it before I take my arm away.”
“Aww, no, don’t do that.” James frowned teasingly.
“I’m serious, James.” Regulus scowled.
“I know, love.”
Regulus got into James’ car, it was a nice car. Big and red, Regulus didn’t take much interest in cars so he didn’t care what car it was, as long as it wasn’t ugly. Which, thankfully it wasn’t.
Regulus’ palms started to sweat from the awkwardness of the situation so he said whatever came first “So, what type of car is this?”
James looked at Regulus with wide eyes “Eyes on the road, James.”
James looked back to the road, his eyes still wide “What? How do you not know what car this is!?”
Regulus shrugged “Am I supposed to know?”
“Uh, yeah!”
“Okay? I’m sorry?”
James scoffed, Regulus stared wide-eyed, James Fleamont Potter scoffing? He supposes he’s never seen James mad, anyway.
James never did tell him what car he had. He just smiled at Regulus and shrugged.
Regulus looked out the window, the scenery was pretty, the blue clouded skies and the sun shining.
“Where are we going, James?”
“You’ll find out when you see.”
And see he did, a secluded part of a park he’d never been to before, the grass was covered in flowers, a picnic cloth neatly placed under a tree, Regulus looked back at James.
“Cliche?” James asked, a smile on his face.
“Very.” Regulus nodded and smiled back at James “It’s a lovely place.”
“Yeah, I used to come here all the time as a kid.”
Regulus nodded and sat down on the cloth.
Regulus tilted his head “Gonna sit?”
“Uh, yeah! Yeah.” James quickly replied and sat down next to Regulus.
“You come here often?” Regulus asked.
“Only when I’m thinking about something.”
“What about?”
James shrugged “Anything. Anything at all.”
“You must not come here often, then.”
James laughed, Regulus loved his laugh, that sweet beam of sunshine, the warmth of the sound.
James leaned his head on Regulus, Regulus flinched and ended up falling on his back, James falling with him.
---
“Ah, I’m sorr—“ James looked down at Regulus, he looked so so pulchritudinous, he couldn’t quite explain why, except he could.
His hair was blown out of his face, the soft look on his face, his grey cloudy eyes, his slightly opened lips, his shirt that got pushed down revealing his collarbone. Everything about him was pulchritudinous, the word really does reflect Regulus nicely, he was beyond beautiful, he was breathtaking, a heartbreaking beauty.
He looked like everything right, everything perfect, he looked like home.
“James?” Regulus asked, softly.
James inclined his head and hummed, leaning down, his face was barely above Regulus’, his breath hitched, they were basically sharing the same air.
And then he felt it, Regulus’ soft lips against his.
---
The kiss felt like it lasted an eternity, and he was okay If it did, truly.
He’d stay here, kissing James for all of eternity, just them two.
James wasn’t the one who kissed him first, it was Regulus, the moment he felt James’ breath on his, he went for it.
A gentle, soft, sweet kiss. He’s never loved a kiss as much as this one.
He felt James’ lips fall into a smile, ending the kiss.
James lifted his head staring at Regulus like he had a sky filled with stars in them.
“You kissed me, oh my God. You kissed me.” James beamed.
“You initiated it.”
“I told you I wouldn’t be yours at the end of the month.” Regulus rested his chin on James' head.
James hugged Regulus “Yeah, it’s been three weeks, hasn’t it?” James kissed Regulus’ chest.
And then suddenly, James lifted his head, looking serious, Regulus looked at him worried.
“If I were to kiss you then go to hell, I would. So then I can brag with the devils I saw heaven without ever entering it.”
Regulus felt his face heat up “Yeah, yeah, James.”
And then a kiss, but this time from James.