James rushed up the stairs; he had left Sirius in the common room with Remus. He was not who Sirius needed, no, he had other places to be.
"Oh Reg," James whispered as he crashed into the astronomy tower. His usual haughty composure had shattered and lay in pieces around him as he shuddered on the floor. James knelt down beside his face "Hey, it's okay now I promise" He took off his cloak placing it around Regulus' shoulders gently, careful not to touch him. Reg seemed not to notice him as he stared into the distance, silent as he sobbed.
"Do you know what he said, James?" Regulus whispers the words to the point they were almost inaudible but he knew James was listening, he always was. James sits down next to him leaning against the wall.
James shakes his head softly, "I can't understand when you guys speak French that quickly"
"He said I looked like her, not my features but my anger, he said I was like her" Regulus' voice is cold as he speaks but his facade cracks and a tear slides down his cheek. "He thinks that I'm a monster"
"Can I touch you?" Reg nods and James places a hand on his cheek stroking away the tears "You are nothing like her Regulus, she is made of steel but you're a star, Reggie. You shine because of what is inside of you and Merlin you're so beautiful. You are everything she could never be. You love and listen and learn from every mistake you make. You're the brightest star in Leo, we learnt about that last year, the heart of the lion." James stares into his eyes in a desperate attempt to make Regulus see what he can, "You are so much more than she could imagine, Sirius is scared Reg, he's downstairs crying just as much as you are because of what he has said to his little brother because he knows he was so, so wrong. Come on Reggie, let's talk, you and me just like always"
"I don't want to talk about Sirius"
"Then we won't" James wraps his arms around Regulus' waist pulling him onto his lap "We can talk about absolutely anything, we have all night! Wow me Reggie, ask me some of the deep and philosophical questions that hide in your mind"
Reg tips his head back so it's resting on James' shoulder "Do you think Dorcas Meadowes is pretty?" Reg frowns as he hears James' laughter and feels him shaking beneath him "It's not funny it was a serious question"
"Aw, come on Reggie don't pout I'll answer your question, yes I think Dorcas is pretty, but no I don't find them attractive, why are you even asking that"
"I just heard Frank teasing you earlier and I thought maybe..."
"That I had become madly enamoured with Dorcas and chose to tell Frank? The biggest gossip in the school, that Frank." James squeezes Reg softly, "He's teasing me because I missed a goal last match against you guys and he said I seemed distracted. What he failed to see was you, and I don't know how because you're all I could see. I mean, Merlin Reg, you nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw you wondering about, far too beautiful for half the school to get to see you. I had to keep an eye on you before your little group of fangirls jumped out of the stands and into your arms!"
Regulus grins at James' rant, there is no one in the world as passionate as him. He speaks as if every sentence is his last, that he needs to say everything he thinks before it's too late "I do not have fan girls Potter"
"Oh yes you do and I'm actually head of the club. It's a shame you're so small otherwise I could show up to your games wearing your jersey, I'd need you to sign my face too. That'd show them. 'Oh but look he's so handsome and mysterious' and I have to fight the urge to tell them that yes, I have noticed and also that he isn't at all mysterious to me because I know all about him. And, on occasion, he even lets me call him Reggie so suck on that"
"One day I'll wear your jersey and then they'll know" Reg traces James' palm "Look how long your love line is, so much time for jersey wearing and crushing the hopes and dreams of first-year girls"
"Just be warned that if they keep coming onto you I'm going to make you get an 'I love James Fleamont Potter' tattoo. Either that or I'll pull out your tie at breakfast and get down on one knee"
"Proposing with a tie isn't very romantic"
"Desperate times Reg. However, if you want a big flashy ring I'm happy to do that too, I'll squander the Potter fortune on making you happy until you're old and grey. We can go live in France and you can speak in that sexy accent while I'm a diligent stay-at-home husband. I always thought I'd be good at that, I make banging french toast."
"I don't think I would want to live in France" Reg stares into the distance wistfully, "I think I'd prefer somewhere warm, maybe we could move to Bangladesh and live with your Nani and Dadi"
"You wouldn't want to live with Nani, way too much spare time we would never escape, you'd become an expert in painting though. She makes these terracotta dolls but she can't paint them anymore because of her joints."
"I'd like that, I like your family. Our kids will be Potters not Blacks" James' heart skips a beat at the words and he gently brushes his lips against the top of Reg's head
"You want kids?"
"I want two, I never want them to be alone, although I suppose that hasn't worked out well with Siri"
"Don't say it like that Reg"
"He did leave me there, we can't just pretend that I'm not still in that house"
"Leave then, don't go back, come home with me Reggie."
"I can't do that"
"We can protect you Regulus" James rarely raised his voice but now there was anger behind his calm facade "You would be safe. You could be with me and Sirius again, my parents would never hurt you"
"I'm not my brother, you can't fix everything by loving me" Fighting his way out of James' arms Regulus walks away to the balcony
"Oh come on Reggie, just because you're pissed at Sirius you don't need to take it out on me. I just want to help you" James calls out to him from inside
"Of course, you do" A cold laugh echos in the still night as Regulus turns to look at him "Of course, perfect Potter has to help, because who is he without his little charity cases? Who is James Potter behind all the good he does for others? You must have been so happy when you met me here for the first time. Now Sirius was fixed it must have been getting a bit boring. Thank god poor Regulus was alone, but oh no, he doesn't want to be saved. He doesn't want to owe his life to someone else. I've had enough of being controlled James and I'll leave when I want to."
"Fucking hell Regulus, I don't know this pretty picture that you've painted, sorry if you're too scared to confront reality but I care about you. I understand you have this fucked up vision of love, but I would never hurt the ones that I care about."
"Good thing you don't care about me then" Regulus freezes as he feels James' hands on his waist
"Come on Reggie" James whispers in his ear, "You know I just want you to be safe"
"Don't touch me James" He feels himself breathe again as the pressure is lifted from his torso and his heart cracks. No matter how cruel he tries to be James will always be the same golden boy. He may be the lion's heart but James is the lion. "Leave me alone"
"Right, I should've asked, I'll see you tomorrow? If you need anything just come by the library, I'll keep an eye on the map" James looks back as he walks to the stairwell hoping Reg will call him back. He'd sprint up the stairs and off of the balcony if it would keep Regulus away from that house. Once Regulus was safe they could fight together for the life they wanted. He settled for sitting at the bottom of the stairs, letting Regulus' lucky snitch flit between his fingers. He lets out a sharp gasp as it catches on his forearm, drawing a spot of blood. Maybe it was a sign he should stay away from Regulus.
Regulus sat on the balcony railing his legs hanging over the edge. He felt a prick on his arm and checked behind him before pulling up his sleeve.
The tattoo wasn't fully healed yet