Patience
“Shh”
“Sorry”
“Shh”
Silene fell between them again, and James carefully stepped backwards to avoid accidentally annoying Regulus. He wasn’t actually sure how they had ended up being together in the middle of the night while getting chased by Filch and Madam Norris.
“Do you think-”
“Shh!”
“Maybe he-”
“Shut up! He's going to hear you!”
Regulus turned around with a surprisingly fast speed, considering how quiet he was. His index finger was lifted to his lips, and the words were forced out between gritted teeth. Honestly, James didn’t know what he had done to piss off Regulus, but he had done his job thoroughly, because Regulus was practically seething.
“I-” James started, which was clearly not the best idea, because Regulus interrupted before he could say anything else.
“Shh! He’s not gone, you idiot. He's waiting for us to come out, so shut up and be patient.”
James pressed his lips together to signal that he wouldn’t say anything, and Regulus rolled his eyes, before turning back to the door and looking through the narrow slit.
James managed to be quiet exactly three seconds.
“I really can’t hea-”
“Shh!”
James received a pointed look, and he quickly retreated another step. He really didn’t mind being stuck with Regulus, but he was also sure that Regulus would indeed kill him if it was necessary. Or if he just felt like it.
“Does shh have no meaning to you?” Regulus whisper yelled.
“It does, I just-“
“Then shut up!”
James did. And he was aware that it was solely because Regulus was the one to tell him to do so.
“Filch is trying to lure us into a trap, trying to lure us to expose us selves.”
“You sound like you’ve tried this before.”
“I’ve had to come pick Barty up from detention way too many times. He’s just like you. Impatient and loud.”
James lifted a brow.
“I’m not impatient,” he argued. “I can wait for Filch to leave without making a sound.”
“I want to see that before I believe it,” Regulus scoffed.
“Fine.”
James crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall behind, settling on looking at Regulus with a barely-there smirk.
Regulus frowned, rolled his eyes, and turned his back to James again. He crouched down, looking through the keyhole of the door.
It wasn’t that James couldn’t stay silent; it was more that he didn’t want to miss his opportunity to talk to Regulus alone.
“So,” he whispered, dragging the last syllable out.
“That was what, five seconds?” Regulus hissed back, not turning to look at him.
“At least six. But that is not important.”
“What is important, is that you shut up.”
“Regulus, please, I’m just trying to say that being stuck here isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me.”
At that, Regulus turned his head, and James wished there was more light in the room so he could confirm whether he had indeed made Regulus blush or if it was just his glasses playing a trick on him.
“Just shut up.”
“I will. Just know that I am in no rush to leave, I have no reason to. I can be patient, don’t worry.”
Regulus shook his head carefully, definitely avoiding eye contact. James let his smirk grow wide, his eyes never leaving Regulus’ frame.
Another half-minute passed, and James did manage to stay silent, though several times he had to bite his own tongue to not say something most likely stupid.
Regulus, on the other hand, didn’t seem be aware of James’ internal commotion, preoccupied with his own. His jaw was clenched, and with every second ticking by, he seemingly got more and more annoyed and restless, constantly playing with his rings.
James was about to ask him if he was okay when he said something himself.
“I think he’s gone. Let’s go.”
The words were cold and hard, forced out between gritted teeth.
“Really?” James asked, pushing himself away from the wall and walking towards Regulus.
Regulus hummed, lifting his hand to the doorknob. No sounds had reached them from the other side of the door, which meant that if Filch had been outside the door earlier, he was too now.
James shifted his gaze from Regulus to the door, before looking back at Regulus, who was pointedly not meeting his gaze. James frowned, a small smile finding its way to his lips.
“Did I make you flustered?”
Regulus’ gaze flew up in an instant, his blue eyes dilated, and James knew the answer before Regulus spoke up.
“No, why the fuck would you think that?” James smiled, content with Regulus’ lie. He shrugged, flashing Regulus another big smile and just as he had anticipated, Regulus quickly looked away again.
“I think we should stay just a bit longer.”
“But I told you he’s gone.”
“We can’t know it for sure. You need to have patience, love.”
It was funny watching Regulus trying to decide whether to be flustered or annoyed, and James could practically see the thoughts flying around in Regulus’ mind as one big mess. Regulus opened his mouth, before closing it again and clenched his hand around nothing but air.
James was certain that if Regulus had had a knife, James would have been dead by now.
“Fine,” Regulus snorted, turning around and leaving James to the door.
“You sound impatient, is everything okay?”
James just couldn’t resist.
“Everything’s fine,” Regulus hissed, leaning up against the wall James had stood next to just before. James didn’t think he sounded very sincere.
“You sure?”
“Just shut up.”
James smiled to himself before looking through the keyhole, just as Regulus had done. There was indeed no sign of Filch anywhere.
“Well?” Regulus asked and James pulled back to meet Regulus’ gaze. “See anything?”
“No, I guess we’ll just have to wait a few minutes more to be certain it isn’t a trap like you said.” Regulus glared coldly. “We’ll just have to be patient.” James shrugged cockily, but Regulus’ face remained hard and unwavering.
“Good thing I’m good at being patient then,” Regulus shot back, lifting his chin in a manner James could only describe as posh.
“Yeah,” James said, not breaking eye contact as he walked closer. “Good thing indeed.” He stopped in front of Regulus, who showed no inclination to move away. His blue eyes shone in the dark and James took the time he wanted to study them.
His gaze was cold, yet it was fire – a challenge for James to take if he was bold enough. Some distant part of James’ brain told him he was a fool for even contemplating giving in to Regulus’ game, but the other, way more important part, couldn’t care less. He would play in Regulus’ game, and he didn’t plan to lose.
James smirked and bit his lip, his eyes not leaving Regulus’. Regulus wanted him to do something; he knew that. Still, he pulled away, creating a small distance between them. Regulus’ gaze wavered for a second before he managed to control his expression and get it back to neutral, but James caught the surprise. Still, all he did was smirk, satisfied.
Winning Regulus over wouldn’t be easy. But James liked a difficult challenge and if he had to wait years, he would.
When it came to Regulus Black, James could easily be patient.