This is not helping at all, he thinks as he scrolls through Regulus' Instragram account with a sigh.
Regulus has been stuck in his mind since he met him, which was only six months ago so surely he shouldn't he this obsessed with the boy. Who is also my best mate's brother, he thinks with gritted teeth before punching his pillow with a lot of pent up fustration. He delfates into his sheets with a sigh before scrolling through TikTok, trying to get the boy out of his head and failing dreadfully.
And it definitely doesn't help when said someone decides to call him.
James looks at the time, 11:08, it was pretty late, did he see that he had been stalking his account? James takes a deep breath before picking up.
"Hey-"
"I can't get you out of my mind," silence. James is scarily silenced as he feels all thoughts disappear from his head and one singular one pushing it's way to the forefront of his mind, Regulus can't get me out of his mind, Regulus can't get me out of his mind, Regulus can't get me out of his mind.
Shock courses through his body as he frantically thinks of something to say, "I can't get you out of my mind," he breathes out and laughs quietly at the soft 'oh' from the other end of the call.
"What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Nothing bad I hope,"
"Shut it, Potter," Regulus huffs a laugh fondly, sending a flutter straight to his stomach.
"I really like you, Reggie," silence, and a small sigh.
"Why are we having this conversation on the phone?" James rolls his eyes with a laugh.
"You're the one who called me, Regulus,"
"Irrelevant,"
"Whatever you say, Reggie," a long pause and a small rustle.
"You're the only one who calls me that,"
"Calls you what?" James frowns.
"Reggie,"
"Oh, do you not like it?"
"A lot, I like it a lot," Regulus coughs and James can practically see the grimace on his face.
"Reggie?"
"Yeah?"
"It's okay for you to like me too, you know,"
"Thanks for the memo," Regulus says sarcastically.
"Reggie," James rolls his eyes, "I'm being for real,"
"I'd hope you are,"
"Shut up and let me say something,"
"Say what?"
"I have to say it first, don't I?"
"Sorry," Regulus genuinely sounds sorry which startles James more than it should.
"Well, would you maybe want to check out this art gallery, sometime?" James blushes hard, in the dark he wouldn't be able to see how red he was but he's sure it's tomato worthy.
"Yes," Regulus says quickly, "I mean, um, I'd love to, James," that brings a grin to his face.
"Was it the art gallery or me you're going for?"
"Both," and that catches James off guard again because Regulus would joke and say the art gallery which would make James snort, he's never witnessed Regulus like this before, "Nevermind, I change my mind because I just know you're getting giddy over this,"
"I am absolutely not,"
"Yes you are,"
"Yeah I am," James squeals and laughs which causes Regulus to scoff and more shuffling commences before it stops.
"What are you doing?"
"Writing,"
"Writing what?"
"Nothing you need to know about,"
"Oh my God! You're writing about this aren't you!" James gasps and squeals again like an excited teenager.
"No I'm not," Regulus coughs again.
"You absolutely are!"
"Whatever, this is why I didn't tell you,"
"You're a true romantic, Regulus Black," he says to which Regulus scoffs.
"We're not even dating yet,"
"Someone's confident,"
"I'm hanging up," Regulus deadpans.
"No! At least stay on call with me until I fall asleep," Regulus huffs out a breathy laugh and most definitely rolls his eyes.
"You're ridiculous,"
"Mhm," James hums, getting himself comfy, "Have a good night, love," and he closes his eyes, immediately falling asleep.
James had the whole date planned out and somehow isn't terrible.
He parks outside Regulus' apartment building and waits for a text- ah there. He pulls out his phone and reads the coming now message across the screen with a flutter in his chest.
"You gonna let me in or do I have to stand outside for the rest of the night?" Regulus smirks at him and gets in elegantly. James didn't think someone getting in a car would be hot until now, everything Regulus does is hot to be fair.
"You look gorgeous, Regulus," he says, looking at the boy in front of him with staring eyes.
"As do you, Potter," Regulus smiles slightly at him before raising an eyebrow, "So where are we going?"
"That's a surprise,"
"So we aren't going to an art gallery?"
"How did you know!"
"You did say 'would you like to go to an art gallery with me',"
"I didn't exactly say that!"
"Close enough," Regulus shrugs with a satisfied smirk.
"Sometimes I hate past James," he groans and grimaces.
"It's fine, James, I promise," Regulus smiles softly at him.
"Hey! You called me James again!" he grins at the other boy who rolls his eyes.
"Don't let it get to your head,"
"I am absolutely letting it get to my head," James smirks a delightful swoop in his stomach when Regulus laughs because he made him laugh. James Potter made Regulus Black laugh.
He is internally squealing.
For the rest of the ten minute drive they talk about everything and anything that comes to mind and for some incredible reason, it's just so easy for him to talk to Regulus, even for how unlike they are and he's never really had that kind of connection with someone apart from Sirius.
Eventually, they pull up in the car park and James turns to Regulus, "Surprise," to which he gets a soft chuckle.
"I am very surprised," he says sarcastically before getting out with a fond smile, waiting for him to do the same.
They walk over to the entrance, James animatedly talking about what is i. the gallery with a bright smile.
"How did you know I liked galleries?" Regulus interrupts with a frown.
"Well, you remember that time when I was annoying you in the library?"
"You do that quite a lot,"
"Well, one time we were talking and you said you enjoyed art and went on a rant about it,"
"I was definitely hungover," Regulus laughs as they finally enter and his eyes immediately widen at the beauty of the gallery, "Oh," he murmurs quietly.
The high ceiling sports an elegant chandelier, the walls covered in a pastel floral designed wallpaper with a slip of gold running through the petals and down into the marble floor, the staircase beautifully adorned with flowers, and the pillars similarly displayed. James runs a finger through the flowers along the banister with a soft smile.
"God, I hope the art is as beautiful as the building," James chuckles to which Regulus hums in agreement before catching his eye and smiling so brightly at him that it throws him a bit off track.
"Thank you, James," he says with a tentative gaze before intertwining their hands and looking back up at him.
"What for?" James frowns.
"For just being you," Regulus laughs lightly and James has never wanted to kiss anyone in his life as much as he does right now.
They walk towards the first room and Regulus' eyes immediately light up as his eyes land on an artwork he, personally, has never seen before, Regulus practically runs over to it with a childish grin and bright eyes.
"Oh my God, James!" He squeals, staring at it intently, beckoning him over, "It's one of Monet's paintings, he's my favourite artist!"
Regulus starts to rant about famous paintings as James studies the painting, looking at how the painting looks almost textured yet running into colours smoothly and he understands something as he watches Regulus talk animatedly about artwork as he pulls James around the room; if James' thing is football then Regulus' is art and writing.
As they walk into the fifth room, Regulus' face turns into a frown, "Oh, this is the last room,"
James is not letting Regulus be upset about this, no way in hell, "We can go around again?" And apparently that was the right thing to say as his eyes light up again and he plants a kiss on his cheek which leaves James stunned for a moment before continuing to listen intentally to what Regulus was saying.
They get out of the art gallery at ten and James doesn't regret any of these five hours listening to Regulus one but, he thinks as he looks over at the other boy who still has a ghost of a smile lingering on his lips.
"Dinner?"
"Oh, really?" Regulus tilts his head and frowns.
"I'm a true romantic, you thought I wasn't going to take you out to dinner?"
"I suppose not," Regulus laughs lightly before getting in the car with a fond smile as James starts to drive to the restaurant, both talking easily in between comfortable silences as they finally arrive.
He helps Regulus out of the car and takes his hand as they wait at the door until a lady comes up to them with a bright smile, quite obviously checking James out. He feels Regulus' hold on his hand tighten before the women leads them to their table.
Regulus has a frown on his face that James so desperately wants to get rid of, "She was checking you out," Regulus says with a slight angry edge to his voice.
"Reg, she's just a passing admirer,"
"Did you think she was pretty?" Regulus' frown deepens, fiddling with a fook.
"I didn't even spare her a glance, I was too busy staring at you," he says confidently, to which Regulus' lips twitch up into a comforting smile.
"You're ridiculous,"
"And you're jealous," Regulus scoffs and James grins at him.
"I am not,"
"Yes you are,"
"Whatever, Potter," Regulus tries to hide his smile behind the menu but obviously fails.
A waiter comes over with a small smile, looking between James and Regulus, his gaze lingering on him before taking their orders and James can feel his blood boiling as the waiter turns back to look at Regulus and the other boy looks at James with a smug smile, "Don't worry, darling, they're just passing admirers," he says, smugly.
James only grumbles in response, sending a fond look over at Regulus, "I'm not jealous,"
"Yeah, alright," Regulus rolls his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I'm not!" James pouts, hardly holding down a smile before cracking up and grinning.
Regulus only rolls his eyes again, a smile yet again forcing it's way up to his lips which sends a flutter straight to his stomach.
"Do you paint?" James asks and he watches as Regulus goes wide-eyed, a small flush on his cheeks.
"Used to,"
"Why'd you stop?"
"They were really bad,"
"I doubt Regulus Black is bad at art," James teases.
Regulus rolls his eyes, "They weren't that kind of bad, they were the kind of art that screams 'you need to be in a psych ward'," he laughs lightly, "One of my worser times,"
James only frowns before Regulus sends him a sharp look, "I'm fine now, James,"
"Well you say that-"
"I'm not going to kill myself," silence fills the air as they both stare at each other for a couple of minutes before Regulus, surprisingly, breaks it, "I pinky promise," he rolls his eyes and holds out his pinky.
James grins, wrapping his own pinky around Regulus', "I knew you'd fall for my 'antics' sooner rather than later,"
"Yes, whatever," Regulus scoffs with a smile, letting his pinky go and picking up the menu, "So what are you getting?"
"Beefburger," James replies instinctly with a wide smile.
"Of course, a pub child, always a pub child," Regulus hides a smile again at James' flabbergasted expression.
"Did you just posh me over?" James gasps, holding a dramatic hand to his heart.
"I doubt that's what it's called but maybe," Regulus giggles and it surprises them both so much that they start laughing so hard James almost falls off his chair, only calming down when the waiter comes to take their orders which they say with hidden smiles.
When Regulus goes to order, James beats him to it, ordering a burger as well, to which Regulus glares at him and says, "I'm not eating pub food,"
"Well, that's too bad, we've already ordered," James smirks.
"I hate you,"
"I'm sorry but who called who to make a love confession?"
"I said I couldn't stop thinking about you, not that I was in love with you!" Regulus pouts to which James has the urge to squeal over because it's so damn cute.
"You might as well have confessed your love,"
"Whatever," Regulus glares at him again, lips tugging upwards. James smiles back, looking over every part of the boy, memorising the way his lips tip upwards and the soft dimples that show when he shoots him a rare smile and the way his eyes change colours in the lighting, sometimes blue, sometimes grey, sometimes green.
"Stop watching me, Potter," Regulus says though his flushed cheeks say differently.
"But you look beautiful," he pouts, dramatically and he watches how his cheeks heat up again and his curls swaying ever so slightly.
"Whatever," he mumbles.
James can practically smell it before it arrives, he watches Regulus' nose scrunch up in disgust as the waitress sets it down and walks away.
"If you don't like it we can order something else," James watches as he takes a bite and pure confusion settles on his face, "Do you not like it-?"
"Shush," Regulus groans happily which startles a laugh out of James so much that he almost falls out of his chair.
"I told you,"
"Yes, well, you tell me a lot of things," Regulus starts to eat again, a blissful expression on his face makes James grin and he takes a bite out of his own burger.
"Enjoying it then?" James teases as Regulus lets out another blissful groan.
"Yes, shut up," Regulus bites back a smile before finishing the burger and starting on the chips.
Eventually, they both finish after a couple hours, only starting to drive back at midnight. James watches as Regulus lets loose and singing along to every song in the radio whilst trying to focus on the road. He drives the car with a fond smile, James wonders how long it'll be until he falls in love with Regulus, his guess is not long.
They come to a stop outside Regulus' apartment building. James chuckles as he helps Regulus out, wrapping an arm around his waist and walking him up the flights of stairs until they're at the top. James rolls his eyes and calls Regulus a pompous prick for living at the top of a ten story apartment complex to which he only grumbles out a 'wanker' and handing James his keys with a small smile as they finally arrive in the apartment.
James gently lays Regulus on the sofa, watching how he immediately curls up and falls asleep. He smiles fondly at the boy before grabbing a quilt and draping it over his body, then putting a paracetamol pill and some water on the side to take for his migraine tomorrow. James kisses his forehead and mumbles a 'goodnight' and is about to leave when hands grab at him and pull him back and he watches happily as Regulus' head shakes sleepily, his curls swishing around his head.
"Don't leave," he murmurs with closed eyes and it immediately warms his heart.
"I won't go but you have to go to your bed," he whispers, taking the quilt off and placing it on Regulus' bed, helping the other boy off the sofa and leading him to it, gently placing him down and transferring the pills and water to his bedside table. James goes to sleep on the sofa when yetagain hands pull him down into the bed, half-heartedly.
"Sleep here," Regulus murmurs and what could James do if not do what he says, so he quickly rummages for something baggy to put on before lying down next to him and next thing he knows, Regulus is clinging to him like a koala.
He could get used to this.