Unveiled

Since their rather monumental fuckup at breakfast, James and regulus had been much more careful.
     Only meeting under the cover of darkness, instead of randomly pulling one another into broom closets to chat or make out. James always took the cloak and the map with him, and only left the dorms once all the other boys were convinced he was asleep.

It was going well. Sirius had seemingly given up on finding out about his secret Slytherin paramour, and Hogwarts as a whole had moved on from his blunder onto more juicer gossip.

At breakfast, about a week after the ‘incident’ as james and reg had so lovingly taken to calling it, Regulus risked slipping the older boy a note, while passing him on his way out:

‘Meet at the usual spot at 10 tonight? Missing you x’

James smiled, it was times like this that he could forget how fucking miserable having to hide how much he loved him was. It was worth it, even just for little things like this.

’What you got there prongs?’ Sirius said, startling James out of his love-sick reverie. He quickly folded the note and stuffed it in his pocket.

’Nothing, just some last minute revision for the transfiguration test today.’ James lied easily

’Fuck! That’s today! I could have sworn it was tomorrow. Shit, i haven’t even looked at my notes yet.’

’Nope it’s today.’

’Maybe i can seduce Minnie into letting me do it tomorrow instead?’

’You sure can try.’

Remus just sighed

****

10PM came quickly, and soon enough, James found himself next to a surprisingly warm Regulus black on the uppermost floor of the astronomy tower. 

It happened to be the only tower in the castle that didn’t automatically lock after curfew (other than the house towers of course), a fact James himself only found out after a botched prank that led to him and Sirius running for their lives from Filch and his demon cat.

That fact led to this specific spot being one of the couple’s favourites.

’How was school?’ James asked.

’That’s really what you want to ask? Schools the same as it always is, tiring and criminally boring. Less boring knowing i was seeing you though.’ Regulus smiled.

’Jesus and you call me sappy. And do not fault me for caring about your education, i care about that shit you know.’

’do you now?’ Regulus asked speculatively.

’Such vile accusations from you today. Honestly.’ James laughed gently before turning to face him, and planting a chaste kiss on this Slytherin’s mouth.

’I love you, you know that?’

’See this is why i call you sappy.’

’Oh shush.’ James said, before kissing him again, a little… less chastely than before.

Regulus quickly flipped them both so regulus was straddling the older boy’s hips, pinning him to the wall of the astronomy tower. Kissing him again before moving on to his jaw and neck.

James let out a breathless sort of moan, which seemed to spur Regulus on further, his kissing becoming bruising.

’Jesus reg, you are so fucking beautiful.’

This continued for the rest of the night, each taking turns marking each other with kisses, until they both tired themselves out and lay panting on the cold tiled floor.

James turned to look at reg.

’I’m sorry we have to hide. You deserve a lot more.’

Regulus turned to look at James.

’James you are more than enough. And its not your fault. If anything its mine. Its my stupid fucking parents that are making us hide. I’m sorry that i can’t give you more.’

’You are much more than i deserve Reggie. Trust me on that.’

’I’ll have to take your word for it. I think you should go. Before Sirius thinks you’ve been kidnapped by your Slytherin paramour.’

’And oh, how right he’d be.’

’go.’ Regulus said lightly, ‘i’ll see you in the morning okay?’

with that, james donned his cloak and set off for the tower.

****
James only really considered the consequences of his little excursion with Regulus the morning after.

Specifically after looking in the mirror. Spread across his neck was some rather extensive bruising. And upon further inspection, his constellation of hickeys extended right the way down across his chest. 
Typically, this would be fine. But then again, typically, James had regulus to heal them before anyone could see. 

James was seriously regretting not learning those healing charms that regulus usually used.

Once again, clearly neither of them had the foresight to clean this shit up yesterday. There was still hope though, if James could catch Regulus, before he went into the great hall, maybe, they’d be able to fix this before anyone saw?

he quickly checked the map, which was still stashed in his pocket. 

Fuck.

He was already in the hall.

Well. There goes that plan. The only other option. Was to frankly, rely on his friends’ very extensive lack of perception to be able to get away with it, and to get reggie to heal his bruises before they thought about it too much. This was a bad plan.

Regardless, it was really the only plan he had.

So he got dressed, and made his way down to the great hall.

****
Just how shitty this plan was, made itself very much apparent to James the second he walked into the hall.

For the second and merlin willing the last time that month, he was clearly the focus of attention, for not good reasons.

Evidently the school had taken notice of the fact that he looked like he had been run over by a truck, and began to gossip on who was responsible.

Ignoring the rather loud whispers from across the hall, he made his way to the table.

’Jesus christ mate, have a good time last night?’ Sirius joked, peering at james over his cup of tea.

’Oh, fucking hell’ James said, banging his head against the table, ‘not you too’

’did you really think you could walk in looking like that and get away with it? I wore pink socks, once and i was called strawberry shortcake for a week. Trust me this is not going away any time soon.’ Marlene said from across the table.

’It’s not that big a deal. He usually deals with this shit but i couldn’t catch him before he got into the great hall. Okay!’

The whole table went silent.

‘He?’ Sirius asked quietly.

’Oh fuck. Merlin’s saggy ball sacks this is a fucking nightmare. I have died and gone to hell. I am not talking about this with you. No. Nope. Absolutely not.’ 

For the second time that month, James left the great hall with everyone’s eyes on him.

****
Once again, james saw Regulus as soon as he left the hall, and made a beeline to his side.

‘Shit james, i’m so sorry, i didn’t even think i left that many, i didn’t even think to find you to heal them. Shit, i have fucking got to teach you those charms.’ Regulus said, concern underlining his voice, as he gently placed hands on his neck to begin healing the bruises.

’It’s alright love. Something else was going to happen sooner or later. It was just a matter of time, okay?’

’Shit, James. This one was close though, i only nearly caught sight of mine as i was leaving. Luckily barty and Evan had already left.’

’Have you given any thought to my proposition?’

’I have actually.’

’Wait you have?’

’I have. I think we should wait until the end of the school year. By that point i’ll be seventeen and i’m entitled to my inheritance. I’ll collect it and then i’ll be free to live with you. I’ll be free to… be with you. Is that okay? I’m sorry to make you wait more.’

’Jesus, no reg thats amazing. That’s settled then, i’ll tell my parents you’ve decided. Merlin, i love you so much.’

’i love you too m’amour. Thank you for waiting for me all this time.’

’Always’

****