meetings
Since he could remember, James Potter loved the ice.
He loved how the cold wrapped around him and kept him awake, he loved the speed and the sound the blades made, he loved that sensation of freedom and that addicting rush of adrenalin.
He loved everything about it.
Ever since he was a kid, he would wait for those winter days when the lake was frozen and he could skate with his father. He loved those days more than he loved Christmas, but he wouldn’t confess it out loud.
James also loved sport, so it wasn’t a surprise for his parents when he announced he wanted to be a professional ice hockey player at the ripe age of 11.
His parents were always so supportive of him and so James found himself joining a hockey team and training with people he now proudly call his best friends.
James loved the game. he loved planning strategies and skating fast and sliding the puck directly into the goal without breaking a sweat.
He loved his teammates. All of them. He loved Sirius, which he considered a brother after he moved in with him. He loved Peter and his silly jokes and uplifting spirit. He loved Marlene that didn’t let the fact that she was the only girl on the team interrupt her being badass and he loved Barty and Evan that were sharp on the field as they were sharp on the tongue.
He loved his other friends too, Mary and Lily the ice rink's operators and Remus their friend from school who was quiet most of the time but a real prankster at heart and the only one who could one-up Sirius. The three of them were always there for every practice and game.
Overall, James was a very loving guy. Sometimes he felt like he loves too much yet his love would never be enough. He just loved to love. That was James.
It was no surprise that after 5 years on the team, James was chosen to be the captain and he carried the title with pride. His teammates counted on him and he counted on them. Together they could do anything. He respected them and knew all of their weaknesses and strengths and in return, they respected him and listened to all of his crazy ideas and tricks. They knew that they could win with him as the leader.
On the ice, he was fearless. He was focused.
Outside of the ice, James had, like any other teenage boy, doubts.
He was afraid to let his friends down. He was afraid of failing miserably and he was afraid his failures would leave him alone.
He was also very afraid of not being enough for his parents and for his friends.
However, James Potter was never afraid of falling.
Until Regulus Black.
It was just another day at the potters' household.
James as always woke up early to get his morning routine done while Sirius was knocked out cold. James always tried to wake him up and was met with several death threats and other profanities that always made him laugh about his best friend's dramatics.
He loved this bastard so much.
After his routine, he went to the kitchen where his mother was already making pancakes, then he took some and go to Sirius's room and just sit. It takes only a minute for Sirius to sniff a few times and open his eyes.
"I swear to god you are a dog" James teased, the joke familiar on his tongue "wakey wakey Padfoot the sun is awake" Sirius sat up and frowned "And the stars are asleep and because I'm the brightest star, I must sleep" he said in his dramatic voice, like he was reading from a book. James smiled.
it was the same every morning.
"Give me those pancakes"
"Pancakes are for living people, not zombies"
James waited until Sirius would finish dressing and doing his hair, a process that took more time than it should and then they went down to the kitchen together.
"good morning dear" James's mom greeted the two boys with her warm smile.
James liked to see the smile on his friend's face every morning when he saw his mother. It's been just a few months since that fateful night when Sirius showed up at James's doorstep in the middle of the night, bloodied and bruised and crying on the verge of a panic attack, telling him he ran out of his house. After that, Sirius lived with him, like real brothers.
James still has nightmares about that night.
"Good morning, ma'am" Sirius answered cheerfully.
James's mom laughed "I told you already sweetheart, it's just Effie for you"
James could swear Sirius was blushing.
"What are you boys up to today?" his mother asked "The usual" he replied while he took the lunch bags she made them and put them in his gear duffel bag "Just down to the rink"
She smiled "ok have fun!"
"We will!" he yelled as he waved "Goodbye! Love you!"
The two got out of the house and went down the street. The ice rink was just a couple of minutes' walk away which made him go there even more than he should.
"Do you think Remus would be in today?" Sirius asked him while he ran a hand through his hair. James raised an eyebrow.
"what??"
"oh nothing you're just blushing that’s all"
"I AM NOT"
James laughed. He'll let his oblivious friend remain ignorant.
They continued to tease each other all the way to the rink's doors.
It was way too early for anyone else to be at the rink, that’s why James liked going at this hour to begin with, he liked the quiet of the morning practice but when he opened the doors, he noticed the sound of blades running through the ice. Confused, he went first thing to the office, where Lily and Remus watched the person on the rink. James smiled when he saw them and he could actually feel Sirius smile from behind him.
"good morning Evans you look beautiful as ever" he greeted her playfully.
She rolled her eyes "Morning Potter your glasses are crooked" James laughed "I'm aware. It’s a choice" Behind him Sirius was staring at Remus who was reading a book. James made an EHEM noise and Remus raised his eyes from the page.
"oh hey James" he said, then he noticed Sirius and froze for a second, then said "Good morning Sirius" Sirius was running his hand through his hair repeatedly and was smiling like an idiot.
God those idiots. James swore someday he's going to just lock these two in a closet and not let them out until they figure out whatever this is.
"so" Sirius was saying "Who's the other crazy that going to the rink this early?" Lily shrugged "We don’t know, he showed up an hour ago and paid in cash" Remus nodded "he's doing some cool stuff though."
"I can do some cool stuff too…" Sirius mumbled to himself.
James's interest was piqued. Anyone who loves the sport enough to wake up this early is a person James would like to meet. "Do you mind if I take a look?" James asked. "Go for it" Lily answered "but just so you know, it's not hockey."
Now James had to see who's this mystery person. Sirius was following him as he was going to the rink's entry.
What James saw made him do something he had never done before.
He froze.
In all his time on ice James saw people do some really crazy things. He went to countless professional games, and he saw players doing amazing tricks at dizzying speed.
However, James never saw someone jumps so high with such grace.
It wasn’t hockey, it was figure skating. And James was fascinated.
The person behind those graceful jumps and pirouettes was a delicate thing. he was thin and long and looked like a tiny draft could blow him away, but he was so surprisingly balanced and calm. His dark hair and dark clothes were such a strong contrast from the ice's whiteness and James noticed he was holding his breath.
The skater must have noticed he was stared at and he looked up.
His blue eyes met James's. they were familiar yet unknown.
He could hear Sirius behind him gasp.
"No…" he whispered.
Confused, James watched as the blue-eyed man skated smoothly to where they were standing.
James noticed that even with the skate on, blue eyes was still shorter than him.
"I thought I'll see you here" blue eyes said and for a second James forgot how to talk.
He was beautiful. The same way a snowstorm is beautiful.
He looked familiar and James knew he want to know those eyes.
That’s when he noticed the looks Sirius was giving him and he realized something.
"Wait, you guys know each other?" James finally found his voice.
"unfortunately" Blue Eyes said and Sirius didn’t smile.
"James, meet my baby brother. Regulus Arcturus Black."
James stood there, in complete shock.
Of course it was Regulus.
The eyes were supposed to be a straight giveaway, how could he not notice the resemblance?
James heard all about Sirius's brother. He knew how complicated their relationship was and how hard it was for his friend to leave his brother.
looking into Regulus's face, he could only wonder how hard it must have been for him.
The two brothers looked at each other for what felt like forever.
Then Regulus look at James and spoke "You must be James"
James swallowed hard and opened his mouth "Yup. James Fleamont Potter at your service"
There was silence and James only thought was:
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?? NOW HE THINKS YOU'RE A LOSER"
James thought that Regulus would be stone-cold towards him, after all, he's the one who took his brother away. But Regulus surprised him and instead of being cold, he laughed.
The sound was so familiar to James's ear, but Sirius looked shocked.
"I see why you like him" Regulus said and he got off the ice and sat on the benches.
"I hope to see you again on the rink big brother" he said while taking his skates off.
Sirius frowned "Will our dear mother allow it?" Regulus stood up in front of his brother.
He was significantly shorter, but he had a determined look on his face.
"What she doesn’t know won't kill her"
"Being naughty Reggie?" Sirius teased, and Regulus smiled.
"Maybe I take after my big brother after all"
Sirius smiled and Regulus turned to leave.
Just before he opened the doors he looked back and said "Nice meeting you James Fleamont Potter"
"It's just James" he said quickly and Regulus laughed once again before leaving the rink.
James took a deep breath and sat on the bench Regulus sat on just a few moments ago.
Sirius sat next to him. James looked at his friend's faraway expression "You ok?" he asked and Sirius took a deep breath too
"Yeah… it's just… been so long since I heard him laugh…" he smiled "I missed him"
"I think he missed you too" James said honestly.
After this strange meeting, they went on the ice and started their practice as if nothing happened. Remus would watch them and comment and Sirius would try to impress him while shamelessly flirting. After practice, they went back home and had dinner and after that, they went on with their day as usual and eventually, they went to bed to sleep the day's events off.
But James could not fall asleep.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Regulus.
The way he moved on the ice and the way he jumped so high and spanned and twirled.
It was hypnotizing. He was hypnotizing.
James checked the time, it was 4 am.
Might as well start his morning practice early.
He got ready quickly and got out of the house quietly.
When James's mind was running wild, the only thing that could calm it was the ice.
Lily knew that so she gave him a key after he climbed to her window one night begging for her to open the rink for him. Since then she gave him free access to the rink and he adored her for that.
He got on the ice and started to skate. The familiar feeling of the ice underneath him immediately soothed his nerves. He closed his eyes and took it all in. the silence of the night and the smell of the ice. It was perfect.
He opened his eyes with determination.
What was that move Regulus did? That made him jump so high while spinning?
It looked so fun and beautiful, and James made up his mind.
He was going to learn how to do that.
And when James set his mind to something he's not giving up until he gets it.
So he tried. and fell hard on his ass.
Not to worry, he tried again. And fell again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
He tried and fell all night long, up until his lungs were screaming and his legs were shaking from exhaustion and pain and his hands filled with small cuts from the ice.
He wasn’t going to give up.
He gave it one more shot.
"you're doing it wrong" a familiar voice startled him and made him lose his balance.
He fell hard on his ass again.
He was laying on the ice, trying to catch his breath when a figure came into his view.
"you ok?" Regulus asked.
He jumped to his legs too quickly and accidentally slipped on his ass again.
"Regulus!" he shrieked and stood, more carefully this time, on his legs "What are you doing here?" Regulus shrugged "was just walking around and saw the lights were on so I tried and the door was open"
There was this awkward silence and James didn’t know what to say. Luckily, Regulus broke the silence.
"What were you trying to do?"
James rubbed his neck awkwardly "Actually I was trying to do that high spinny thing you did earlier" Regulus raised an eyebrow "In only one night?" he asked and James suddenly felt like an idiot.
"I tell you what" Regulus continued "let's make a deal"
"I'm listening" James's curiosity couldn’t resist. Regulus grinned.
"I'll teach you to figure skate if you teach me to play hockey"
James was confused "You want to play hockey?"
"not exactly" Regulus replied "but my brother loves it and since he left…" his voice drifted away.
"I just want to be closer to him" he said eventually and James's heart ached.
"what about you?" Regulus said, looking directly into James's brown eyes.
"what makes you want to figure skate?"
"curiosity" James answered. Though it wasn’t the whole truth. Inside all he could think was:
"I just want to be closer to you"
But he wouldn't confess it out loud. Not in a long time.
"we have a deal?" Regulus asked and put his hand out for shaking.
James potter took his hand and shook it.
"it’s a deal"