Chapter 9 - Two Sides
James and Fleamont ended up tumbling onto the floor causing Mia to click her tongue displeased.
"Those Potter boys. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em." She quipped with a smile.
Regulus chuckled, "Tell me about it."
He took a moment to realize that this could be his family one day.
That one day Regulus could be meeting his son's partner for Easter, while his son wrestled with James.
Regulus wondered if it had been the picture James had in his mind when he thought of their future.
He was sure that James' parents had been the driving force that had James wanting a relationship like theirs.
One day it would be them.
The next generation Fleamont and Euphemia.
James wanted a big family and Regulus wanted to give it to him.
However, James' motives had slightly altered.
Yes, he wanted a big family, but not because he was an only child.
No, James wanted to give Regulus the family he deserved. He wanted to build a life full of love, to make up for Regulus' childhood.
Euphemia stepped into the living room to scold them about being so rough and tell them to cut it out before something or someone breaks.
James gleamed as he stood from the ground, dusting himself off and fixing his glasses.
He smiled as Regulus came into view, pulling the younger boy to his side.
"Alright, we're heading to bed", James announced, dragging Regulus to the stairs, "Love you!"
From the stairs they were brought into a hallway.
James was on a mission, so Regulus simply allowed himself to drag behind the boy.
Finally they reached their destination as James tossed open a door.
The room was soft blue- almost gray- and covered in drawings that looked like they'd been designed by a toddler.
There was an identical pair of James' glasses on a desk against the wall.
A good chunk of the room was taken up by a bookshelves full of classics.
Regulus took in the room in awe.
James jumped onto his bed, smiling as it bounced him back a bit.
James' childhood room was nothing like Regulus pictured, although it wasn't a thought he'd spent a lot of time on.
"If I'm being honest, I'm surprised by the lack of red." Regulus teased.
"The walls used to be beige, but I got bored and changed them a few years back." James explained.
Regulus joined James on the bed as they cuddled together.
The gesture was so common by then.
They were merely two souls that linked together- two pieces of a puzzle that snapped so perfectly to one another.
"My walls are suppose to match the color of your eyes." James admitted.
Regulus moved to look up at him.
James brushed the hair from the younger boy's face.
"How long have they been blue?" Regulus asked.
"Since my fifth year." James muttered.
"But we didn't start dating until your sixth year." Regulus quipped.
"I know", James said with a smile, "Your eyes were my favorite color before I even knew what that meant."
Regulus blushed as he buried his head in James' chest.
"You're such a sap." Regulus chuckled.
"Only for you." James assured, pressing a kiss to the top of Regulus' head.
To James, their first interaction was very different.
He'd been laughing as he walked backwards down the isle, abandoning Remus for only a moment in search of a book.
James spun on his heels crashing right into the pour kid before him.
Out of reflex, James reached out to catch the boy, more focused on him than the book that had fell to the ground.
James was ready to rush out the most sincere apology- and then the boy looked up at him.
Oh god.
There was no possible way he'd run into Regulus Black.
Had his luck finally run out?
Although he would come to realize his luck had just begun.
Sirius would kill him.
'Do not speak to him- do not-'
"Apologies." James muttered.
James was hitting himself, but he didn't stop.
He crouched down, plucking Regulus' book from the ground, before glancing at its cover.
"The Catcher in the Rye?" James quipped, "It's a good one, a bit depressing if you ask me."
He held the book out to Regulus.
"You read?" Regulus quizzed, the shock very apparent in his voice.
'Stop- just stop now before you're in too deep.' He muttered to himself.
"I'm not a total git", James joked, "Although, it’s mostly so that my friends have someone to talk to about what they read."
Regulus then reached for the book, their fingers grazing for mere moments before the book was back in his possession.
James wanted to throw up.
"Regulus, right?" James quizzed.
What was he doing?
Regulus nodded.
"I'm James." James introduced himself.
Oh god.
"I know who you are." Regulus stated as-a-matter-of-factly.
James blinked and in that moment Regulus spun on his heels and began walking away.
James loosened his tie from his neck, feeling now as if it were choking him.
He joined Remus at a table in the back.
Remus looked up from his book as James sat down.
"Didn't find anything?" Remus quizzed.
"What?" James questioned.
His mouth was so dry.
Why was his mouth so dry?
"Weren't you looking for a book?" Remus jeered.
"Right", James croaked, "Right, I didn't find anything."
"Well I hope you'll be able to entertain yourself." Remus tutted as he looked back down at his book.
James was more than capable of keeping himself busy.
He'd been picturing all the ways Sirius would kill him for talking to his baby brother.
Why did he feel so guilty?
They were just talking.
Right?
Wrong. Very wrong.
Regulus Black had that effect on people and with one interaction James was a goner.
James should've known all that time that normal people didn't get so distraught after one conversation.
Two years later and that same boy was snoring softly on his chest.
What more could James want?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.