Whoops
James’ POV
The party had been going great so far, Lily seemed more comfortable around him than usual. Maybe she’d had one too many drinks or maybe it was because of James’ platonic attitude (and feelings) towards her. Whatever the reason, he appreciated the friendliness between them.
Eventually, after maybe an hour of straight dancing, James left to get his second drink of the night. He could feel sweat forming in unpleasant places and along his collarbone, as well as the back of his neck, while some of his hair stuck to his forehead.
It took him a moment to get out of the sea of Gryffindors piled against each other in a hot mass, but when he did, he saw a familiar face leaning against a wall with a bottle in his hand.
Regulus was staring up at the ceiling with a dazed look. James’ first reaction was to laugh. He found it rather funny that Regulus Black had shown up to a Gryffindor party, for their quidditch team nonetheless. The out-of-it expression on his face was humorous as well and he reminded James of a baby observing a bunch of bright colors.
When the amusement and confusion subsided, his second reaction took place; worry and concern. James fell to the boy's side as he asked if he was alright? How much had he had to drink? What was he doing here? Had he shown up with anyone? Why was he drinking in the first place?
“Hm?” Regulus asked, his head slumping over to look at James.
“How much did you drink?” James asked, taking it one question at a time. He took the bottle from Regulus with little resistance. It was still half full, but James assumed he’d drank plenty more than that. If he hadn’t, Regulus had a really low tolerance.
Regulus shrugged in response, seemingly evading the interrogation. “I know you,” he said, squinting.
James set the bottle back on the table as he placed a hand on Regulus’ knee. “Reg,” he said sternly. “How much did you drink?” Each word was over enunciated in case Regulus was having a hard time understanding him.
“Why do you say ‘Redge’ and not ‘Reg’?” He asked. “I mean, my name is ‘Reg-ulus’ after all, not ‘Redge-ulus’.”
“It sounds better,” James said with a short laugh as he helped him to his feet.
“Stop it,” Regulus whined but again did not resist.
“I’m trying to get you away from the alcohol, you git,” James rolled his eyes as he let Regulus lean on him. James held the boy's waist for support as Regulus’ legs tried to collapse.
“James,” Regulus said curiously, however it was not a question.
“What?” James asked, ignoring the fact that he was using his first name.
“James, that’s who you are,” he said, seemingly proud of himself. James glanced a silly smile on his face and stopped his own lips from twitching up in amusement.
“A huh,” James said slowly, a little confused. He helped Regulus through a door nearby, which led to the stairs and eventually the dorms.
“You know, you smell really bad right now,” Regulus said, earning a scoff sort of laugh from James. “Like sweat and must. After having been in the sun all day. Like when you play quidditch,” Regulus giggled at the last part for a reason James was unaware of.
“Thank you,” James said sarcastically.
“What do you mean? I just insulted you. Don’t tell me you’re that dull,” Regulus giggled. “Dull,” he repeated quietly.
“I was being sarcastic,” he said as he opened the door to his room.
“Sarcasm is stupid.”
“Says the guy who’s only language is sarcasm.”
“I’m never sarcastic, just really cold and cruel.”
“You sure?” James asked as he set Regulus down on his bed. Regulus laid down on the soft mattress, staring up at the red curtains and the wooden posts.
“I was being sarcastic,” Regulus said as he shot the boy a silly smirk.
James shook his head, a small smile on his lips, and went into the bathroom to change. He grabbed a pair of pajamas on the way and locked the door behind him. Regulus seemed pretty out of it, but James thought he’d be alright on his own for a few minutes.
After he’d taken a quick shower, James stepped out of the bathroom to see Regulus stretched out on his bed. Instead of staring at the ceiling he was staring at the door. Or, now, James.
James nodded at him and slid onto the bed himself, careful to make sure he didn’t touch the other boy. He was practically halfway off the bed as Regulus was taking up so much space, but he wasn’t about to sleep on the ground either. He turned himself to look at Regulus, propping himself up on his elbow.
Regulus had been studying him the whole time and didn’t care to stop even when the Gryffindor became aware.
“What?” James asked with a breathy laugh. “Like what you see?” He joked, raising a brow.
Regulus looked him in the eyes, making his breath hitch a moment. “Maybe I do,” he said as a smirk crept onto his face.
James was taken aback by the change in tone and couldn’t do anything but stare at him blankly. Regulus rolled his eyes and scooted back slightly, allowing for James to fit on the bed.
The older boy laid down properly, facing Regulus. His expression seemed to be over taken by a feeling James could not pinpoint, and his sharp features seemed so damn attractive.
“If you want to leave when you’re a little more sober, feel free,” he said quietly, watching Regulus’ cool gray eyes flicker over his face. There was an aching disappointment as he said it, and he really hoped Regulus would stay.
“If?” Regulus asked, matching James’ volume.
“You don’t have to, but I assumed,” James said softly, trailing off.
Regulus nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay,” James said. He didn’t know if Regulus meant to leave or not, but he did not find it in himself to ask.
His gaze fell from the other boy's eyes to his lips. He hated the thought the moment it fell into place, but they just looked so kissable. James bit his lower lip as he forced himself to look back to Regulus’ eyes.
They looked, well, hungry almost. Maybe hateful. James wasn’t sure, and to avoid losing control he propped himself up to face the other way. As soon as he moved, however, Regulus reached out and cupped his face, pulling James towards him.
Their faces hovered mere centimeters away from each other, waiting for the other to initiate something. Regulus was the first to do so, capturing James’ lips in a soft and passionate kiss. It was slow, and full of feeling. James didn’t even hesitate to kiss him back, the small amount of alcohol in his system being enough to cloud his judgment.
The thought of who he was kissing (a boy, Sirius’ brother, Regulus Black, a Slytherin, and so much more) wouldn’t cross his mind until later, because at the time he didn’t care.
All James cared about was how good it felt having their lips interlocked, moving together in an almost graceful manner.
Regulus sat up, leaning on the headboard of James bed, as he moved over him. The Slytherin slid one of his hands into James' hair as the other stayed on his face. James held the boy's waist, using his other hand to hold himself up before moving to straddle the boy, which allowed for both hands to be free.
Their movements gained speed, anxious to feel each other and to experience each other. James let his hands wander Regulus’ body while the other boy moaned softly under his touch.
James released the kiss and trailed his lips along the other boy's jaw, falling to his neck and eventually his collarbone. Regulus’ breathing became staggered as he gripped James' hair, suppressing a moan when he nibbled and sucked on his skin. James pulled back slightly and saw that it had left a mark. He didn’t know whether to smile or to apologize, and instead recaptured Regulus in another kiss, hoping it wouldn’t be visible with his usual wardrobe.
Regulus let go of James’ hair but continued to run his fingers through the soft yet tangled curls.
“James,” Regulus said, pushing himself further into the wood at his back to escape the kiss. James, however, didn’t want it to end. It’s not like he initiated it anyway, so what was Regulus doing trying to stop it?
Regulus pushed him away gently with both hands when he didn’t budge, James even tried to deepen the kiss.
“James, stop,” he said against the older boy's mouth. “Please.” James listened, begrudgingly, and pulled away, keeping an inch or two between them.
“What is it?” James asked softly, trying to keep his gaze from lowering further than Regulus’ eyes.
Regulus sat there, seemingly contemplating something, arguing with himself. His gaze darted away, falling back into place just as quickly as he breathed “Fuck it,” pulling the boy back to him. James didn’t argue as he let Regulus lead this time, although that didn’t stop him from wondering what he had been thinking.
They continued like that for a while, eventually collapsing to sleep, comfortable in each other's company and embrace.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Everyone always says that waking up next to the person you love is better than anything. At least, they say something like that.
James disagreed.
He covered his eyes from the sun as it glared in through the curtains, causing an aching pain in his head.
He then stretched his arms, but stopped short when he noticed the weight on his waist and pressure on his back.
He proceeded to turn over, carefully, after realizing it was an arm.
The face he was met with was not the expectation. He had expected it to be a girl, after all.
Regulus Black was lying there, absolutely peacefully, in James’ bed.
Cuddling him.
He found it endlessly adorable, but slightly frightening as the memories of last night began flooding in.
James had a drink before going to dance with Lily. That was how he spent most of the night, with Mary eventually joining them and Dorcas and Marlene popping in on occasion. Then he’d gone to get more to drink, and instead found a pissed Regulus. James remembered thinking that it was weird, since he’d heard a lot of people say Regulus was no fun at parties as he refused to drink. They had gone up to his dorm, he’d showered and changed, and he was going to go to sleep. However there was a good amount of time where the two made out instead. He swore it was initiated by Regulus and could remember the boy's delicate features up close in stark detail. Of course, them being in front of him now helped, but they looked very different from the slightly pink they had been last night.
It didn’t progress past that, and thank Merlin, because Regulus would kill him otherwise, but then again who’s to say he wouldn’t anyway?
James wanted to resume right where they left off, Regulus’ calm beauty not helping one bit, but not only was the other boy asleep, he was no longer drunk. James shouldn’t have done that while he was drunk. Fuck.
Something he never thought he’d do was take advantage of a drunk person, and even though Regulus may have initiated it, he was the one who was thinking (mostly) straight. In some regards. He definitely was not thinking like a straight man, but he was having conscious thoughts, and he could remember all of it.
Shit.
James carefully removed Regulus' arm from his waist, trying not to pout at the sudden emptiness. He waited a moment to stand when he saw Regulus readjust himself. Once he was out of bed, he could really appreciate the boy's beauty. His hair was splayed across the pillow, slightly tangled. The freckles on his face were more noticeable than ever, and he looked so content lying there, so at peace with the world. Unusual for his cold personality, and even the bubbliness of his drunken state.
But no, James couldn’t stare. If Regulus woke up and remembered last night, he was dead. James just hoped he’d gone ahead and drank so much he blacked out. Not that he’d be any less guilty, but maybe he could hide it, from Regulus at least.
Not that he wanted him to have even drank so much as it was damaging, but at least he’d have some luck with it.
Did anyone see them? James suddenly thought. He swung around to look at the other beds, which were all empty. Thank Merlin, he thought with relief. He grabbed his glasses from his bedside table, placing them on his face.
The relief died immediately as Remus stepped out of the bathroom wearing a t-shirt and pajama pants.
“Prongs,” he greeted happily. Something was off, something about him was all too kind this early in the morning, and so close to a full moon as well.
“Moony,” James responded carefully.
“Enjoy the party?” Remus asked, daring a glance at James’ bed.
“Yes,” he said stiffly, and slightly terrified.
Remus switched out his shirt for a large patterned sweater. “Lily seemed to enjoy your company,” he said as he raised an eyebrow at James.
“I suppose she’s accepted me as a friend,” James said with extra emphasis on the word ‘friend’.
“Mhm,” Remus nodded, holding back a smile. “Sirius passed out drunk again, you missed his whole show before that. Something about me being too nice and then he just sang to the music really loudly, dancing poorly, per usual.”
“Did he?” James laughed awkwardly, trying to keep it down for the younger Black.
“Lucky he never came up here.” Remus sat on his own bed and gave James a knowing look.
The shorter boy looked at him with concern and threw a glance at Regulus. With a quieter voice, not quite a whisper, he said “I know what it looks like.” Remus cut him off with a suggestive smirk.
“Exactly what it is,” he said.
“Remus,” James sat next to him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I mean- I know. I do. But please, for Merlin’s sake, do not hate me.”
“I could never hate you,” Remus gave him a pained smile, his voice reaching a softer tone as he saw how scared James was.
“I think I fancy Regulus.”
“Ok,” Remus shrugged.
“Ok?” James said, shaking his head in confusion. “That’s it? You don’t care?” He ran his hands through his hair, readjusting his glasses.
“I get it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Black family is rather charming, aren’t they? Or should I say the newest generation?” James could see Remus shaking slightly as if this was some sort of confession. That’s it, though. It was a confession. James’ mouth formed a soft ‘o’ as it dawned over him, his features softening.
“How long?” He asked, not daring to be more specific. Regulus was still in there, after all.
Remus shrugged. “No idea. I’ve known for sure since fourth year, but the feelings? I think they’ve always been there. Ever since I met him.”
James nodded slowly. “It was sort of like that with Lily, but I always knew. Since she’s a girl.”
“Yeah,” Remus said.
The Gryffindors sat in silence for a few minutes, maybe more, maybe less, James wasn’t sure, as they stared at the ground in thought. There was a comfort to knowing one of his best friends was, well- that they weren’t straight. Of course there was, since people all search for familiarity and similarities, but it was scary all the same. Shocking, almost, knowing that you’ve both felt this way and never even knew.
James knew it wouldn’t be this easy to tell other people, it never was. That was a luxury he would never experience, but at least he had one person on his side. One person to back him up.
When there was a shuffling from the other side of the room, James lifted his gaze and was met with a bleary eyed Regulus.
“The fuck,” he grumbled, rubbing sleep from his face, shielding his eyes from the sun.
Remus stood, muttering awkwardly about how he should leave, and stepped out of the room. James was now left to face the Slytherin on his own. He had to admit it wouldn’t be easy, since he looked so tempting.
Regulus’ shirt was almost entirely unbuttoned, his collarbone adorned with several hickeys and a delicate gold necklace with a simple star charm on the end. Fitting for a boy named after a star, James thought. His hair was mussed and his gray eyes full of sleep. The sun was gleaming on his skin, and while not as beautiful as the moon casting its eerie glow, it still brightened him in an attractive way.
James found it almost hard to breath watching Regulus take in the surroundings of the room, making a face when he saw Sirius’ mess. He tried to shake the previous thoughts from his mind.
“Good morning,” James said softer than intended as he carefully stepped over to Regulus.
The boy groaned as a response, pushing his palms into his eyes.
“Do you want me to get you some water?” James offered, sitting on the edge of the mattress.
“No,” the Slytherin muttered, lying back down as he pulled James’ comforter over himself.
James huffed, unsure of what to say next. He could just leave Regulus there, it’s not like he was incapable of functioning. However, the Gryffindor felt it wasn’t wise to leave him all alone after last night, especially in his dorm, where Sirius could show up any moment. James shivered at the thought of the earlier events and averted his gaze.
“Why am I here?” Regulus asked, peeking one eye from the pillow he’d face planted into and out of the red blanket.
“You were pissed and I thought it best to get you away from the alcohol,” James said as he shrugged.
“Could’ve just had Dorcas take me back,” the boy said with annoyance, hiding from the sun once again.
“Didn’t know she’d come with you.”
“So you hadn’t been inclined to ask me my reason for being at a Gryffindor party?” he said, bored.
“I did, but you didn’t answer- and well, I wasn’t exactly sober myself.”
Regulus made a noise of agreement, or something of the likes, and relaxed his muscles.
“You should probably head back to your dorm,” James said quietly. “Someone’s oughta be worried.”
The Slytherin turned to face the other way as if to say ‘I’m too comfortable to leave’, or perhaps he was too tired.
“Fine, then,” James shook his head. “I’ll be around if you need anything,” he huffed as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Sure you will,” he heard Regulus mutter. His voice seemed washed with sleep, and James could see his chest already rise and fall in short, even breaths.
He sighed and went about his morning routine, settling over a book instead of quidditch practice and sat on his bed next to the sleeping Regulus.