“Moony, I swear I can’t take it anymore. I’m telling them and there is nothing you can do to stop me.” Sirius levelled Remus with a challenging gaze.
Being used to his boyfriend’s antics, he responded with a sigh, “Look, Sirius, we’re all suffering, but it would be much nicer for both of them if they were able to confess out of their own volition. Don’t you think?”
Sirius huffed in exasperation, throwing himself over Remus and his abandoned book, “They’re just unbearable! I’ve never seen two people so obviously in love with each other. I just don’t understand how they don’t see it!”
Remus rolled his eyes in preparation for the coming conversation, which would be exactly the same as the several which had come before.
Ever since Sirius had ran away to the Potters’ and taken his little brother with him, the Marauders and Co. had been suffering through James and Regulus’ relentless pining. Several times, they had been seen throwing each other wistful glances while the other wasn’t looking, or laughing slightly too much at a joke that the other had made. While Regulus was harder to decipher, James was absolutely transparent. Whenever Regulus so much as smiled, a huge grin would bloom on his face. Every time they were seated close to each other, he would become practically illiterate, stumbling over every word, very unlike the James that had failed to woo Lily with his unwavering charm and charisma. Their small interactions were so blatantly obvious and frequent, that they had even been made the centre of drinking games at Gryffindor parties. Each time one was caught staring at the other, everyone had to take a shot of firewhiskey. There were often many casualties.
As the months passed, the pining only grew worse; and Sirius had had enough.
“No, Moony, I must do something. It is my sworn duty as best friend and brother to ensure their lifelong happiness with each other.”
“Sirius, love, whatever you’re planning in that pretty little head of yours is most likely going to blow up in your face, so I am begging you, please don’t get involved.”
“Moony, have you no faith?” He whined. “Trust that I know what I’m doing. You will see, in just a few days they will be happily together. Just you wait.”
————————————
The fire in the Gryffindor common room burned bright as usual, warming the large space and making it soft and cozy. It was in stark contrast to the dungeons where Regulus spent most of his nights, reading and ignoring Barty and Evan as they made out unabashedly. Besides, the sofas in the Gryffindor tower were much more comfortable.
“Oh, sweet brother of mine, what a delight to see you!” Sirius exclaimed, as he ruffled his hair and squeezed his face.
Regulus slapped his hands away and turned around. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands.”
“Always a pleasure.” Sirius smiled.
“Hey, Reg.”
Oh. James.
He stood next to Sirius in his Quidditch uniform, covered in grass stains, with a lopsided grin on his face.
“Hello, Potter. Good practice?” Regulus questioned, desperately trying to calm his pounding heart. James always looked his best straight out of training. With his windswept hair and slightly flushed cheeks, he was really a sight to behold.
“Yeah, we went through some new formations to beat you on Saturday’s game.” He joked.
“Well, I hate to tell you, but you’ve wasted your time. You’re not beating us.”
“You know, Reg, it’s not actually fair. How can we compete when Slytherin has the best seeker? I may be the best Chaser, but you catch the snitch before I even get a chance to score.”
“And who said you’re the best Chaser, now Potter?” He said.
“Merlin, get a room!” Sirius complained loudly, dropping his bag next to the sofa before tossing himself over it. That effectively silenced them.
Fortunately, Remus walked into the common room before the silence could grow awkward, followed by Lily and Mary.
“Hey, Pads. Where’s Marls?” Remus asked him as he settled in front of the sofa on the floor.
James had moved over to an armchair, where he seemed to be admiring the ceiling. In front of him sat Lily, who leaned up against his legs, while Mary took the chair across from her.
“Marlene abandoned us to go see her girlfriend. It’s just incredible how obsessed people are with their partners these days! I mean, it’s all well and good to be happy and in love, but have some respect for your friends. It’s just unbelievable.” Sirius ranted as he ran his hands through Remus’ hair. His boyfriend hummed in response, leaning back into his touch.
After a while, he began to speak again.
“So, James,” he started.
“Sirius, stop talking.” Remus interrupted, already sensing danger.
“Hush, Moony, just sit there and look pretty. James, I have a burning question for you.”
James turned his gaze towards him, away from where it had previously been placed on a certain younger Black brother.
“Yeah?”
“What’s your type?”
“What do you mean?” He responded.
“Like, your type in people. What kind of person do you find attractive?”
Regulus secretly looked up, glancing at James.
“Oh. Um. Well, you know…”
“No, I don’t know.” He drawled. “That’s why I’m asking.”
“Yeah, James,” Lily called out, “tell us all about your type.”
Regulus wasn’t sure why she giggled as she said it. Then a horrible thought came over him. Did she know James was going to say her? Was she happy about it? Had she changed her mind towards him? It was one thing to know that the boy he was in love with would never like him back, but to have to see him with the girl he had always wanted would be even more painful.
For a second he thought he saw James’ eyes flit towards him, but he must have been mistaken.
“Well… I-I guess I like nice eyes,”
Lily had gorgeous emerald eyes.
“and beautiful hair.”
Lily’s hair was red like fire and long to her hips.
“I also like smart people,”
Lily was the brightest witch in her year, maybe even in the school.
“and people who make me laugh.”
Lily had always been funny.
Suddenly, Regulus was no longer in the mood to read.
He could feel a familiar lump forming in his throat, and his eyes grew heavy as he felt tears start to form. He had to go. He had to get out.
“I’m tired. Goodnight.” He mumbled out quickly.
Sirius stared at him expectantly, as if he was waiting for him to say something else. He simply picked up his book and got up.
“Wait, Reg-“ James called, but he was already out the portrait hole.
Briskly, he walked through the corridors, not even caring that it was past curfew. He would rather take the detention than let James see him crying over him. He wiped his tears with his sleeve, pushing his feelings down, just as his mother had taught him.
He heard the sound of hurried steps behind him and turned quickly, only to be face to face with James Potter.
“Reg.”
“What, Potter?”
“I-“ Silence followed. “I thought I should walk you back.”
If James weren’t so oblivious, Regulus might have been angry. He might have told him to fuck off and stop playing with his feelings. But he knew James. He knew that everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart, and that all of the emotional turmoil he caused Regulus was entirely unintentional.
They listened to the sounds of the castle as they walked, the quiet grating on Regulus’ nerves.
He paused.
“Why are you here?” He asked.
“I told you, I thought I should-“
“No, James. I don’t need you to walk me back. I’ve been going to this school for five years, I know my way around. Why are you here?” He pressed.
James looked at him almost apprehensively. Then he sighed and reluctantly spoke.
“Okay, look. I didn’t want to bring it up, because I didn’t want to make you any more uncomfortable, but I’m really sorry about what I said.”
What was he talking about?
“I mean, honestly, I didn’t expect you to feel the same way, but I-I guess I just wanted you to know. I couldn’t keep hiding it, Reg. But, it’s fine, now I know you don’t feel the same, so we can just forget about it and I’ll move on. I will, I promise, I’ll just give you space-“
“James what are you talking abo-“
“because I know I can be overbearing and clingy, but the last thing I want to do is make you further uncomfortable in any way-“
“James, stop, I genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about-“
“but I guess I just thought you might want to know, because-“
“James-“
“who doesn’t like to hear that someone loves them?”
…
“What?” Regulus whispered, not wanting to fracture the moment.
He was caught in a strange limbo of hope and logic. All signs pointed towards what he desperately longed for, he could feel it in his chest as his heart swelled and beat like a drum. He could feel it in his head as his thoughts disappeared, leaving him floundering for something to grasp to. But the functioning part of his brain told him to not get his hopes up. To wait and see how his wishes would get dashed. Because in what universe would Regulus Black be receiving a confession from James Potter?
“I love you.” James stated. “I’m sorry.”
Well, apparently in this one.
The absurdity of the situation was so great that it left Regulus with no choice but to laugh. He felt it erupt out of him before he could restrain it.
“Hey, you don’t have to laugh…” James mumbled, scratching the back of his neck and averting his eyes.
“No!” he retorted, a bit too loud. “No, no, I’m not laughing at you.”
“So what’s so funny?” He grumbled.
“Nothing, nothing. James. James, look at me.”
He slowly lifted his gaze from the ground to Regulus’ expectant eyes.
“James, please don’t get over me. You can’t. Please don’t. And please don’t be sorry about it. Ever.”
James’ eyes grew wide in disbelief. “What are you saying, Reg? Please, baby, you’re killing me here.”
“James, I love you. I have. For a while. I’m sorry I ever made you believe I didn’t.”
“So why did you leave?” James asked with a smile growing on his face.
“I didn’t know you were talking about me! I thought you were talking about… Lily.”
“What? Why would you think that?”
“She was smiling and laughing, I figured it was because she knew it was about her.”
“No! She was laughing because she knew it was about you! And also because she’s a menace and like to embarrass me at any opportunity. But, Regulus. It’s you. I mean, I can hardly go five minutes without thinking about you. My entire day and night is consumed with the thought of when I’ll see you again, and I’m going crazy but I love it. I-I want you. It will always be you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
James spluttered, “Why?”
“You have to prove it to me.” Regulus whispered with a small smirk.
James, still flustered and confused, continued, “How am I meant to do that?”
Regulus’ smirk spread into a smile. “I can think of one way.”
He clutched James’ shirt in his hands and pulled him down into a soft kiss, revelling in the way James gripped his waist once he realised what was happening. That alone was proof enough.