James Potter was something else, something out of the ordinary that people couldn’t quite get the grasp of. He was both volatile and steady, two different sides of the same coin, a not-so perfect picture.
He loved and cared too much and it was a surprise the lengths the man with hazel eyes would go for the things he was passionate about and for the people he loved dearly. Regulus knew that far too well, having been accustomed to watching him interact with his own brother and the rest of the marauders, as they called themselves.
He showed it in so many ways. In the way the teenager was always the first next to Pettegrew’s side whenever someone picked on him, with a sweet smile but a deadly twinkle in his usually warm eyes. How he always brought Lupin a new book whenever he had the chance and ruffled his hair with nothing but fondness and affection. The way he’d always hug McKinnon first thing in the morning as if she was something precious and compliment her in every single match they played. How he would listen to Evans’ rants about Potions with admiration and attention, adding his own comments or making questions about whatever she was on about. And even if he wasn’t just as close with Meadowes or Macdonald as he was with the rest, he’d still defend them with his whole heart.
Lastly, but certainly not least, was the way he behaved with Sirius.
Regulus just knew those two couldn’t be anything else but soulmates. The way James and his brother got along like a house on fire, as the Americans would say, was as clear as day. And it made him feel at ease.
Sirius was the person Regulus loved the most, the person he’d never lose faith in and who loved him just as much. They both went through unspeakable things, growing up the way they did, but they both would never regret the blood they shared with each other. So, when James Potter came into his brother’s life with his whole incredibly unbelievable and astonishing self, Regulus welcomed him like one would with a rainbow and cold breeze after a storm.
Because Sirius had never seemed lighter than when he was with James, his best friend and brother in anything but blood. And Regulus had never been jealous of that, because he too had something like that with Pandora, but mainly because Sirius deserved that kind of love he would never find anywhere else.
Still, Regulus thought he’d be unaffected by the presence of said teenager once he was in his life since he was, after all, used to keeping his distance. Yet, James had pulled him into his orbit as if he was an outer space satellite and the other boy a planet in which he could revolve around.
Regulus had always been a cautious person, taking care of himself and taking in his surroundings in order to have a solid way of dealing with everything life threw at him. Years of being raised like a proper Black family member were hard to forget and he more often than not latched to his well acquired witty and sarcastic persona.
But no preparation could have anticipated the imminent supernova that was James Potter.
The man with hair as black as coal was mesmerised by sun-like smiles and warm understanding eyes. He fell in love with slight touches and caring words, with loud laughter and a strong will.
And it had been scary, very much so, but in the end he couldn’t help but to succumb to those feelings he’d been avoiding to catch his whole life and that he thought would never find in a world in which he was destined to follow the pure-blood traditions, like marrying a pure-blood woman and having children. Thankfully, he found a way to escape all of that when Sirius —bold, amazing, brave Sirius— had told him to run away with him and stay with the Potter family.
Regulus welcomed the hugs and praises, which seemed endless whenever it came to Quidditch matches and his love and proficiency in Potions and Ancient Runes. He welcomed the sloppy kisses and the intimacy of two bodies finding each other under the sheets on a cold August night, even if it was mostly for cuddling in silence and late night whispered conversations.
For once in his life he allowed himself to be carried away like a leaf being moved by the wind.
Regulus Black was a caution taker, but James Potter was a force of nature.
And somehow, they found a home in each other.