Chapter 2
James
For a couple of days, James felt pretty much the same, so he just lay in bed, took the potions Regulus made, tried to smile as his friends visited him, and shuffled around the flat a little bit when he was left alone.
It started to get better by the end of the week and that’s when the entire thing started to feel surreal too. For years he was convinced Regulus hated him, but here he was, in James’ kitchen mixing the ingredients for James to recover from his injuries. It just could not be real.
Regulus came at exactly the same time to make the potions. At first, he left right after, but when James started to get better he sat in the kitchen, talking to him. He was not sure what he wanted to accomplish there and what he even expected, but Regulus didn’t seem to mind. Not at all. He even stayed for tea.
And James, being the overachiever he is, pushed it further and asked Regulus to stay for the quidditch game he Sirius and Peter would be watching later. To his surprise, Regulus stayed. For the whole night, James sat next to Regulus and listened to his comments, bickering about different tactics and pizza toppings, yelling at the TV when the other team scored. It was fun, even when his head started to hurt again. It couldn’t be real.
After that, it was much easier to ask Regulus to stay. They talked, they watched TV, and more often than not James felt like whatever injury he sustained, it made him lose his mind.
Surely Regulus was not helping him with making the prescriptions? Surely Regulus did not have a direct floo line to his flat? Surely Regulus has not been sorting through his groceries for the second time in one week? And it definitely was not Regulus who sat on the couch in front of the TV with a glass of wine and a long rant about how muggles “got it all wrong” and “that’s not how our books describe Merlin”.
James was definitely not in his right mind. He was hallucinating. It was one long and very believable hallucination. Or maybe he died? That would explain it.
“James!”
“Hm?”
“I said how are you feeling? Are we skipping tonight’s prescription?”
“Yeah, fine. I think I’ll skip,” James felt sad about it because when he no longer needed the medicine there would be no excuse for having Regulus around.
“Oh, okay,” Regulus got up from the couch to take away the pizza boxes. If James knew better, he would think he looked disappointed.
“You don’t have to leave though,” he said. “There are way too many episodes of this show to go through.”
“Oh,” Regulus smiled. “Okay.”
His smile was so pretty and there was this lovely blush on his cheeks. James glanced at the table, there was a half-empty bottle of wine and he felt his own smile falter. Regulus was just tipsy, he didn’t blush because James asked him to stay for no reason. Well, that was disappointing.
Now they were something close to friends, James hoped they were friends now. Friends had to be enough, must be enough. James wouldn’t dare to ask for more. Or maybe he would, but he would not survive the heartbreak of what would come after. Because Regulus would reject him and then he would definitely hate him, they would go back to what they were before. No, James wouldn’t be able to live with that.
It was the last day of Regulus coming in to make the potions. Even though now James was perfectly capable of making them himself, he said nothing. He had a feeling Regulus knew about it too but said nothing as well. And he really wanted these couple of extra days with Regulus.
Regulus stopped by in the morning, everything was just like always. They chatted for a bit and then he left promising to come back in the afternoon for the second set of potions. The last one.
James still did not come up with an excuse to ask Regulus if they would see each other, because friends meet to do things together sometimes, right?
Also, he wanted to thank Regulus for doing all of this in the first place. Just saying thank you would not be enough.
James tried to come up with things, but everything seemed wrong. Asking Regulus out for dinner seemed too romantic; a quidditch match seemed too lame because Regulus often comes to matches with Sirius, so it would not be anything special; a concert? muggle or wizard, it seemed like a thing that would stress Regulus out; going to muggle movies seemed like a somewhat safe option, friends go to movies, right?
James was frantically googling all the muggle events in London and the closest area that he didn’t notice how the time passed and Regulus was already here for James’ afternoon prescription.
James was a little bit taken aback though. Regulus was dressed up, he looked unfairly good and he was in a hurry. It was evident he had plans, James didn’t dare to ask what they were, he just tried to have their normal conversation. But Regulus seemed too distracted to keep up so James gave up and quietly watched him work. Regulus finished the potions fast and passed the vials to James.
“So, you are busy tonight?” the question came before James could stop himself.
“Yeah, I have a …” he trailed off. “I have plans.” Regulus was distracted by his phone, typing quickly. “I have to get going,” he said already stepping out of the kitchen, as James lifted the first vial to his lips. A moment later the floo flushed.
And ouch.
James felt stupid. Regulus was helping him because he was Sirius’ best friend because Sirius asked him to. But he thought that in the past two weeks, they were becoming something. After he left like this James knew that it all meant nothing.
For some reason, he got the idea that now it all wouldn’t be back to how it was. Just a moment ago he had been proven wrong. Regulus didn’t hate him, but he still wanted nothing to do with him. That stung.
James drank the potions and went back to his room. When he plopped on his bed his eyes landed on the open laptop with a million open tabs. He closed it angrily.
He didn’t damage his head too badly after all. This was real life, not a hallucination.
He went back to the kitchen, without any aim really. There was Regulus’ equipment for the potions. James noticed he didn’t clean it up like he always did. He really was in a hurry to get out of this.
James stared at it for a second and then he cleaned it up, packed it into boxes, and sent it to Regulus’ house via Owl Post. Then he shut off the floo line. It made sense to do it, Regulus didn’t need access to his flat anymore. If Regulus wanted nothing to do with him, James would not impose his presence on him. He knew better now.
It was still relatively early in the evening, so James decided to go to his team’s practice grounds and fly. Technically he was not supposed to be doing it. He had an appointment at Mungo’s the next day and they would evaluate his state and give or not give permission to fly, to play quidditch.
But James loved flying. It calmed him down. Considering he didn't hold a broom in his hands for the last two weeks, never mind riding one, he went anyway. Permission or no permission, no one would know about it.
He flew and flew and flew. When it got dark and he was too tired to go on, he laid down on the grass, his arms under his head, broom next to him. The air was a little chilly, but he loved it here. There was a smell of grass and broom polish and something else that James only associated with Quidditch.
He watched the stars and thought how it all was so unfair.
Eventually, he left the pitch and went back to the building to go home from there. The dark corridors were comforting in their familiarity, he left his broom in his closet and flooed home.
By the time he stepped out of the floo, James made a decision to let himself mop for a bit. Because why not? He was hopeful. He felt like something good was given to him just to be ripped out of his hands. He had the right to be sad about it. He had to apologize to Regulus at some point though. Because now, thinking about it he should have waited and brought Regulus' potions stuff in person, not mailing to like he did.
Though the moment he stepped into his flat he stopped dead in his tracks. Regulus stares at him.
“You disconnected the floo.”
Regulus
In the evening when Regulus was back home, he was exhausted.
But he needed to go back to James, to apologize and maybe to come up with an excuse to come see him now when he didn’t need the potions. Not every day, of course, but at least sometimes.
Regulus felt bad about running off earlier, but it was Pandora’s birthday and he was stressed out about the present not being ready on time, about looking appropriately dressed because they decided to celebrate at a muggle’s fancy place, about Pandora’s reaction to what her husband dragged them all into, because honestly, gifting her a printing press? It was a little bit excessive. But in the end, Pandora loved it, and that’s all that matters.
He was in such a hurry he didn’t even talk to James properly. He wanted to. Because now when James no longer needed the medicine Regulus no longer had reasons to come, it just wouldn’t do.
Regulus was exhausted and thus when the floo to James’ flat didn't work once, twice, three times Regulus stepped out into the room and stared at his fireplace dumbly. And then he realized James blocked it. He cut Regulus off.
Now, when he looked around a little bit he noticed that there was mail delivery while he was out. He took a note from the box on top. “Thank you for everything.” was written on it in neat cursive. Regulus tore the wrapping paper and there were the potion vials. Regulus’ heart sank.
But then he blinked a couple of times and a dash of anger was added to the mix of desperation and disappointment.
What the actual fuck? Who did James Potter think he was to get rid of Regulus like this? Discard him the moment he did not need him anymore.
Regulus stomped back to the floo. He flooed to Sirius’, from there to James’.
He stepped out into an empty flat.
“James?” he called. There was no answer. But it was late, he might be asleep.
“James?” he called quieter.
The door to James’ bedroom was cracked open and Regulus peaked inside. James wasn’t there.
Now Regulus was not sure what to do, because it would be weird to stay in an empty flat where his presence was not welcomed.
The second option was to leave before he’d been found in the said flat. It was a better option, so Regulus chose it. He can come back and demand answers some other time.
As he wanted to leave the floo went off and James stepped out of it.
He halted as he noticed Regulus. There was a moment of silence when they just stared at each other.
“You disconnected the floo.” was all Regulus managed to say.
James stepped farther into the room. “I thought it was logical, you don’t have to come now.”
The tone of James' voice was confused and anger took over Regulus again.
“Well, It would be nice if you gave me a heads up. I know I'm not the closest person to you, but…”
“Regulus, I’m sorry.”
Regulus blinked. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I should have asked you if you wanted to be still connected to the floo and I should have brought your equipment in person, not mail it like a jerk.”
“Um…” Regulus was not expecting this. “Well, okay then,” he mumbled.
Only now he noticed that James was wearing his quidditch clothes.
“Wait, you went to practice?” Regulus said furrowing his brows.
“Er, yeah. Not practice really, just went to fly a little bit."
“But you were not given permission yet!”
“Umm, yeah. But I just wanted to… I don’t know.”
“James,” Regulus shook his head. “Why are you neglecting your own health like this?”
James scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile on his face. “Reggie, you care so much about my health?”
“I literally was making potions for you for two weeks, of course I care you twat,” Regulus huffed. James chuckled and they fell silent.
“Why are you here?” James asked when silence stretched for too long to be comfortable.
“Oh. Umm… Okay. So I came here to apologize for tonight and to ask if I can come sometime and we can finish the stupid muggle TV series.” Regulus blurted out. He didn't know where the courage to say it out loud even came from.
James cocked his head. “Really?” And then there was the brightest grin Regulua had ever seen. He only managed a nod to answer James’ question because he didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Yeah, yes. Sure, you can come.”
Regulus was so relieved. “Good, that’s great. Yeah,” he knew he was stuttering because the burst of courage he had lasted only so long. “I think I should be going.”
“Yeah, I’ll reconnect the floo.” James turned to the fireplace and then back to Regulus. “How…”
“Sirius’”
“Oh, okay.”
Sleep came easy to Regulus that night because he didn’t have to worry about his time with James running out.
“So, how you and James are doing?” Sirius stirred his tea.
“You’ve seen him 40 minutes ago, he’s fine.”
“That’s not what I asked. I asked about you and James. How wooing is going?”
“What? I’m not wooing anyone. I helped him with potions, that’s it.”
“What the hell, Regulus? You're supposed to be snogging him by now. It's been a month! You didn’t do anything at all?”
“What would I do? Just come and kiss him? Or tell him that I fancy him?”
“Yes? He would be so into it,” Sirius stared at Regulus. “You two literally come up with excuses to see each other almost every day! I text him "Let's go get lunch" and more often than not I get "Sorry I have lunch with Regulus" and he never asked me if I wanted to join! Not even once! He likes you. A lot.”
“Well, I highly doubt that. So I’m not doing anything,” Regulus said addressing only the last part and ignoring everything else.
“Regulus,” Sirius sighed dramatically. “If you don’t do anything, I’ll tell him.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will,” Sirius slurped his tea loudly. “I’m tired of watching you two idiots dancing around each other.”
“Why are you so okay about me and him? Isn’t it weird? I’m your brother, he’s your best friend.” This question was on Regulus’ mind for a while. He still was not sure this was not one of Sirius’ pranks.
“It is weird as fuck. And gross. But as you said you’re my brother and he is my best friend who is like a brother to me. So in true Black’s fashion, you would be keeping it in the family.”
“Ew, why would you even say that!”
“As I said, it’s gross. But, jokes aside, I know you both,” he looked at Regulus fondly.” I know you’d be good for each other.”
“I don’t know what to do. I don’t want him to hate me if I get it wrong.”
“He would never hate you,” Sirius drummed his fingers on the table. “ You know what, you have time until my and Remus’ engagement party. If you do nothing, the next day I’m asking James to go out on a date with you. I’m not joking.”
“What? You won’t do that!”
“Try me.”
“But it is in two weeks! Even less!”
“Yes, enough time to figure out how to snog someone who is so obviously into you.”
“What if you’re wrong? You can’t know it for sure. He can…”
“Why are you still here? You have less than two weeks before me interfering.”
Regulus made an embarrassing sound, something like a squeak, and left Sirius’ place to go and make a plan on how to figure out if James likes him and what he can do about it.
Predictably though, in two weeks Regulus still did nothing. He tried, okay? But it was terrifying. What if Sirius is wrong and James doesn’t like him? James himself gave him very mixed signals. One day he would be all smiles and sunshine and affectionate to the point that seemed not very “just friends” appropriate. But then suddenly for reasons unknown, he would become distant and moody.
Regulus tried to analyze it logically and noticed a pattern. James was affectionate when they were alone, but acted distant when they were not. But not always, so he observed him a little bit more and he thought that he finally figured it out. James was jealous. Because he only got moody when Barty was around. And, well, Regulus and Barty had history. Why James would be jealous was still not clear, because it was ages ago and Barty had been in a committed relationship for a really long time now and James knew it. So the theory was very feeble, to say the least, but it was the only explanation Regulus came up with.
Sadly, this conclusion came to him the night before the engagement party, so he had no time to test if it was true.
He had only one day to do something because Regulus had no doubts that Sirius would ask James out on his behalf. And even if James agrees that would be fucking embarrassing.