“Oh my gosh” coos James, “you’re a cat” he says, scooping the cat up in his arms and planting a soft kiss between its eyes.
Sirius scoffs “of course he is. Basic ” they lean down towards the cat and (gently) prod it as they say the last word.
In return the cat snaps its paw out and tries to claw at Sirius’ arm.
Sirius instinctively pulls back and looks at the cat in a weird way only the brothers could understand.
The cat looks up at James indignant and adorably, running his pinky finger down the cat’s nose as he looks up at Sirius.
“Sirius, leave please”
And following that comes the most dramatic gasp, in the history of dramatic gasps, out of Sirius’ mouth.
“This– this is betrayal at its finest, this is– i’m going to tell Moony” Sirius threatened in the same way a five year old would about telling his mother.
Dramatically turning around, in true Black fashion, Sirius left the room.
As soon as Sirius left, the cat leapt out of James’ arms and sat back on the other end of the bed before turning back into Regulus.
“Jaan?”
The look that Regulus gave him was nothing short of adorable, “i didn’t want to be a cat”
“Why?” In James’ opinion a cat was a pretty good animagus form, much more of use than a stag.
“It might be hard to help Remus like this, my animal is so small and I wanted to be something big, like a lion or something, something fierce.” explained Regulus.
“First of all, you can still help Remus, Peter is tiny tiny and he is able to do so, so you will be too. Also you don’t have to be a lion to be fierce, cats are plenty fierce too” reassured James.
After nearly a year of dating, James has seen Regulus berate himself and think that he’s not good enough on plenty of occasions, but to do it on something that couldn’t more out of his control is something that James will not stand by and watch – granted that James wouldn't really stand and watch Regulus berate himself at anytime.
“How do you know cats are fierce?” asked Regulus, making his way closer to James when he opened his arms.
Once Regulus was fully wrapped in James’ arms, he placed a kiss on Regulus’ temple, “i know you”
The amazing shade of pink that blooms on Regulus’ cheeks is one the most attractive and adorable things that James has ever seen in his life.
“Shut up” mutters Regulus, letting his head drop on James’ shoulder in an attempt to hide himself.
James rests his head on top of Regulus’ while one of his hands runs up and down his back, “no. I know you and you’re an amazing person, you’re fierce when you have to be and loving when you want to be. You can scare away an entire army just with one glare but those same eyes hold the power to make my insides melt. You have such a sharp and witty tongue, but a few words from it can bring me to my knees. One look at you and everyone thinks you’re this scary, emotionless person but really you’re just a fluff ball who enjoys being the little spoon and having their hair played with.”
Without any warning, Regulus pushes James so he’s lying on his back on the bed and Regulus is on top of him. And before James knows it Regulus has his mouth on James’ and James just lets go of the control, letting Regulus have it and goes pliant underneath, opening his mouth for Regulus’ tongue to explore.
This is what he loves about being with Regulus, he gets to just exist without being in control of anything because it is so expected of James to be in control of his life, of practically any situation they find themselves in.
The moment there's something wrong, it’s James that everyone turns to for help and advice, don’t get him wrong, James loves being the pillar that his friends support themselves on but sometimes he just wants to crumble.
All too soon Regulus is pulling away.
James chases his mouth like a moth does light which startles out a small laugh from Regulus’ mouth.
Regulus starts to pepper kisses all over James’ face, his eyelids, the corner of lips, the one scar he has on his jaw, the small mole he has on the edge of his cheek, his nose, his inner eye corner, just everywhere .
“I love you so much” he says, voice husky after the quite intense snogging session. “So much you have no idea, chérie (darling), your words make me feel powerful, like i could take over the whole world, every single fierce thing i do, every single brave thing i do it’s your love driving, it’s knowing that whatever i do, i have your support with me, and your arms to run into, knowing that I could always fall and you’d catch me is what helps me be brave. I love you, i adore you, you are my person”
James feels tears welling up in his eyes, “ oh , jaan, don’t say that , i’m gonna cry ”
Regulus rests his head on James’ chest, “that’s okay, you can cry, i just wanted you to know” he says lifting his hand to wipe away James’ tears.
“I love you more than you can imagine, oh, i’m gonna marry you one day, i swear i will” murmurs James with such finalty.
Regulus uses his index finger to make small hearts on the side of James’ neck, “that’s illegal, chérie”
James brings his own hand up to draw hearts on Regulus’ cheek, “i don’t care, i’ll still do it”
☆☀☆
Regulus loves moments like these in which he’s with James, and they’re both just existing together.
He just wants to pause this moment right here and live in it for the rest of his life, even when they die he wants them to be together.
Regulus has always been afraid of dying, but if he was right now he’d go happily.
James has been the best thing in Regulus’ life.
After meeting him Regulus started to live more freely and loving James, Regulus has started to enjoy every single day and Regulus aso got to reconcile with Sirius who has now become one of the greatest parts of Regulus’ life.
Regulus really does love Sirius, on most days, usually.
But then there’s days like this in which Sirius–
“James? Regulus? Effie’s calling you gu– OH OH OH GOSH FUCK ” they yell, hazardly turning around with their hand cover their eyes.
Regulus can feel James’ chest vibration from his laughter as well as his own.
Regulus sits up and moves off James so he can get up too.
Regulus is already by the door and James has only just sat up.
“C’mooon James”
“Since when are you so excited to go down for dinner?”
“I’m gonna kiss you in front of Sirius” he says rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet, “ and i’m gonna prove you wrong”
“I have to use the restroom first, you go down without me” says James, finally getting up from the bed and crossing the room to place a small kiss on Regulus’ lips, smiling through it.
☆☀☆
James enters the kitchen and wraps his arms around Regulus’ middle, laying his head down on his shoulder.
He turns towards Sirius when he hears a gagging sound from the, “when’s Moony coming over?” he asks them, because if Sirius is irritated one should just ask them about Moony.
In an instant Sirius’ eyes light up and he perks up like a dog given a treat, “tomorrow morning.”
they say like the mere thought of Remus makes him giddy.
James is so grateful that Remus and Sirius sorted their shit out, mainly because it was getting tiresome seeing them have go-s at each other and their unresolved sexual tension but also because they have both been happier since they’ve started dating eachother and if they’re happy so is James.
“James, is Peter coming tomorrow too?” asks his mother
“No, he’s coming in a week” a small smile finding its way on his face when he remembers how happily Peter had told him that he and his partners were going on holiday to Spain.
They all sit around the table, Regulus’ hand on James’ thigh and James’ left arm around Regulus.
Halfway through the meal, Regulus perks up and turns to Effie, but not before throwing a smug smirk towards James.
“Effie, if I could have been an animal, which would I be?” he asks, eyes twinkling the way they always do when he talks to Effie.
Without missing a beat, Effie replies, “a cat, dear”
James can’t even control the snort that makes its way out of his mouth. He pulls Regulus closer to himself, while Sirius is full on cackling beside them.
James kissed Regulus’ temple, “i told you so ” says James teasingly.
Regulus looks at Effie, indignantly, “you’re supposed to be on my side” he mutters.
“I must not tell lies, dear”
Regulus just pouts before picking up the slice of cake and throwing it at SIrius, hitting them straight gay on the face, “stop laughing you arsehole”
In an instant James has stepped away from Regulus because he learned, the hard way, to not get involved in the Black brothers’ feuds.
And turns out that was the right choice because within a matter of seconds Sirius has Regulus in a headlock on the floor, and in turn Regulus is pointing his wand to the side of their head while they’re both laughing.
One wave of James’ wand and they’re both seven foot apart (2.33 metres i think).
“I’m going to go have a shower, you ruined my hair” mumbles Sirius
“Oh what a scandal ” says Regulus, grinning mockingly as he watches them leave.
Out of sight of Effie, Sirius shows their middle finger to Regulus and then grins smugly knowing Regulus can’t reciprocate because of Effie watching.
James turns towards Regulus, “i think we should retire for the night too”
“Hmm.. i could use a shower too” says Regulus, in a rather suggestive tone which causes James’ brain to short-circuit.
James hears his mother chuckling behind him as they make their way upstairs, the marauders and friends are definitely her number one source of entertainment.
☆☀☆
Sleeping with James after showering is definitely one of Regulus’ most favourite things.
Usually they both just lie down together with James’ arms around Regulus and Regulus curled up beside James.
Today, however, Regulus wanted to try and sleep in cat form because James swore that whenever he sleeps like Prongs he sleeps very very very well, he even referenced it with an Urdu idiom which was something related to horses *.
He is curled up on James’ bare chest with one of James’ arms draped on him, securely.
As Regulus is just about to fall asleep he feels lips on his forehead fur and a small whisper of, “i’ll always love you”
______________
* Ghoray beich kr sona, literal translation: sleeping after selling horses(i suck at this m sorry), meaning: being in such a deep sleep that literally nothing wakes you up, sleeping after doing all your work or getting rid of your work and being able to sleep peacefully. google translation: to go into slumber, be sound asleep.