cherry fucking wine
“Finally made it, did you?” Regulus quipped blandly as Pandora and Evan made their last few steps over to them, the former already tucking herself between him and Barty, linking their arms together.
“Shove off.” She retorted with a nudge.
Despite Barty’s complaining, Regulus had gotten them to the house in one piece and predictably before their friends, who had a habit of losing track of where they were going, and by friends, he meant Pandora. Regulus refuses to laugh about it but it is quite funny, the pair of them when they do go driving together. Regulus who, according to the law or whoever else issues out driver’s licences, is not as skilled as most people should be behind the wheel and Pandora who could get them lost with a map taped to her eyelids. Either way, they all made it.
And Regulus would rather pathetically admit that the first thing he did when he stepped into the room, with Barty buzzing beside him, was search for a certain messy haired boy he’d just met with ridiculous looking glasses.
But that was then and after about twenty minutes with no sign of him or his brother, he resorted to standing by the wall and listened as Barty rambled nonsense into his ear, on his third cup since they got there. Someone had brought one to them when they first arrived as a good gesture, he supposed. Barty had downed it and once the person disappeared, Regulus handed him his cup, which he had plucked gratefully.
The party was loud and crowded and in the very back of his mind, the thought persisted if he should’ve ever left.
“Nice outfit.” He meant it as a half joke as he eyed the purple jumper and trousers Pandora had changed into, still in her fancy shoes but somehow she made it work.
“It’s Evan’s.” She smiled proudly and mimicked a curtsy which looked a little funny.
Regulus watched Evan smile helplessly and nod, not missing the way that he glanced at Barty and the way Barty stared back at him, almost devil-may-care. He rolled his eyes to himself, not even wanting to know what the look meant, and looked back to the crowded room, eyes hopping from head to head aimlessly.
A song he didn’t recognize was playing but a majority of the people knew it, singing along with the lyrics all in their own key. There were colourful decorations on the walls that seemed a bit pointless now as they seemed to be wholefully ignored. A homemade banner that read “Happy Birthday Marlene!” hung over the entrance way that could only be seen from this side of the room. He thought of all the other places that would’ve been a better fit for it.
His friends’ conversation echoed in the background beside him, Pandora still clinging gently to his arm, when he did a double take.
Entering the room from what Regulus guessed was a corridor of some sort, was a blonde haired girl with pink tinted glasses resting on her head talking to James Potter. He stuck out like a sore thumb, still dressed in his best clothes from earlier in the night. Maybe Regulus’ brain was playing tricks on him, but suddenly, the room grew a bit brighter when he walked in. Even if he was talking to some girl that made a small streak of envy pool in his stomach, watching them with narrowed eyes.
“I actually need to go.” He cleared his throat after a minute, tugging only slightly and waiting for Pandora to untangle her arm from his before pushing himself off the wall.
“Where are you going?” She asked curiously.
“To find Sirius.”
Regulus scowled as Barty made a funny noise in the back of his throat and hid his laugh behind his cup, Pandora doing the same, playing with a piece of blonde hair in front of her mouth. He watched Evan try and trace his line of sight, following suit as he found it.
“You’re such a liar, Reg.” He huffed a chuckle as he took Barty’s drink from his hand. Regulus also didn’t miss the way Barty’s lips twitched as Evan brushed his fingers while doing so, fighting yet another urge to roll his eyes right out of his head.
“Right, I forgot what a bunch of saints you lot are.” He deadpanned.
“Actually, I am.” Barty announced proudly, properly swiping his drink back for himself and raising it in a toasting motion before drinking the last of it.
“Fuck off.” They all said in unison.
Regulus took his leave and turned into the crowd.
“Have fun!” He heard Pandora call after him, Evan making a dramatic whooping sound to finish it off, most of it being blurred into the mix of other party noises. He shifted slightly to give them one last disapproving stare and a finger flipped up behind his back as he bee-lined across the room.
He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to do or what he expected. What if James, lively and drunken in the later part of the night had forgotten his invitation to Regulus entirely. What if he’d forgotten. What if. Regulus debated with himself, his options pulling at either side of him like a string as he walked. And on one side, against the rushing reasons not to keep going, he couldn’t help but feel a little warmer with every step he took in James’ direction.
As the crowd bobbed with moving heads, the waiting image of James flitted through, weaving past a jumble of dancing arms and colourful lights. He was smiling and in mid-conversation with the blonde girl beside him. The closer he got, Regulus could see Peter on the other side of them, drinking heavily from a plastic cup and dazily chattering away with two girls on either side of him and whoever else happened to be closest to him. But all Regulus could see was James.
James.
James.
James.
Something pulled at him like he’d known him for lifetimes, like this was something they did regularly, Regulus finding James, James finding Regulus, like this was just something that happened, like a force not even the most tortured scientists could explain, letting every other thing in the world fall in comparison. Disputing every sensible, anxious, feeling, just blaring his name in red and gold letters. Like something magnetic.
He repeated Evan’s earlier advice like a record in his head, trying to make himself feel the same way he did when the words had come so assuringly from Evan’s mouth. To the cadence of his steps, he asked himself the same questions and gave the same answers with as much confidence he could muster.
You’ll never know if you never try. You’ll never get to see the wondrous beauty of the sea if you never leave the safety of shore. He’d never learn to swim if he couldn’t get over his fear of drowning. He would never get to feel the sun if he refused to leave the dark.
Just one night.
He’d come this far already. He could do this now.
But even when his mind was set and his brain assured one thing, his body was a petty defiant thing and the nerves won. At the last minute, he turned sharply in his tracks and started walking without any real plan of where he was going other than to abort any mission of actually walking up to James. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and his nose scrunched, internally demanding to know what the fuck just happened with the help of more than a few swear words, rather more than upset with himself for backing down.
He sort of hoped Evan hadn’t seen his failed attempt. He’d get it, but that still didn’t mean he wanted a snarky comment about it later.
Regardless, he pressed forward.
He was halfway to another doorway, very aware of the uncomfortable feeling rubbing against his shoulders and arms as he passed people by, dancing and bumping into him without care, when it happened.
It happened fast and in fairness, Regulus wasn’t really paying much attention, too caught up in more important things, like essentially running away from James, when he’d realised what’d hit him.
“Watch it!” He hissed, rearing back and wringing out his hands with a bit more flare than was probably necessary before sending a dirty glare at the guilty party.
Deep red sloshed all over his formal shirt, staining the thin delicate fabric easily and seeping right through to the skin underneath. Fuck. Now he was sticky and wet with wine and fuck- this was so going to stain, Maman would kill him- Oh.
It hit him quickly like the thought had slipped up and been there by mistake because no, she wouldn’t. She couldn’t because she wouldn’t know because Regulus wasn’t going home. Because Regulus couldn’t go home now. The fear came and went like a reflex but somewhere in between the mix of emotions it brought up, he was left with the awareness that he didn’t dread the realisation of it.
He gave a tight lipped grimace as he looked down at himself, more than displeased at his situation. A few people beside him had stepped back to get away from the mess, leaving a few inches of awkward open space around him. He groaned and wrung his hands out of frustration more than anything.
“Oh fuck, sorry, mate, didn’t see ya’ there.” The boy, who apparently drinks fucking wine at a party and who’s fucking wine was now flung across Regulus, apologised casually, not really paying attention, a sloppy grin plastered on his face. He held his arms up in defence and shrugged before turning around and continuing his previous task of dancing ridiculously.
Regulus turned away and hummed irritably about this being the reason he doesn’t go to parties in the first place, storming off as quickly as he could manage through the loud crowd of laughing strangers to assess himself.
This was what he fucking got for backing out of going to see James, he scolded harshly to himself. For fucks sake.
He wedged his way past a couple making out in the corridor and drunk people stumbling against the wall, holding themselves up on their friends, when he found a bathroom. It was small and quaint with an oval mirror overhead the sink, sided by a bath and a toilet and a small picture frame with people smiling inside. Why the hell someone would keep a picture frame in here to watch them piss was beyond him but he didn’t bother much about it.
“Fuck’s sake.” He huffed, turning on the tap before rolling up his sleeves and undoing his tie forcefully until it lay limp on his chest. Great, now he smelled like wine. Cherry wine, to be exact. Pretentious piece of crap drinking cherry fucking wine at a party, he complained in his head, as if Regulus himself wouldn’t be the type to do just that. If he drank, that is.
In the midst of unbuttoning his dress shirt, hands still freshly wet from washing them, the door creaked open. He’d sworn he’d locked it but I guess not. He was only four buttons down.
Regulus whipped around, hands frozen in place, with a scowl. Not in the mood to be dealing with any half-drunken teenager who happened to stumble in or some rowdy giggling couple mistaking this for a free room. “Do you mind-” but Regulus’ accusation died in a broken exhale.
“Hi,” The voice floated into his ears like honey and like some sort of magic, pooled and crystalized in the very crevices of his brain, sending bright red and gold signals beaming through the inner walls of his mind, exalting the return of the sound. Like someone returning to a home they didn’t know they could have. Like a man who’d braved the unknown and found a view he’d never known he could miss. The sea, how beautiful was the sea. To swim, how marvellous it was to swim. Oh the sun, Regulus thought and everything in him agreed, we’ve found the sun.
“James.” The name freed itself from his lips, “hi.”
The sun had found him.
Regulus blinked slowly into James’ eyes, still not entirely sure he was really there, wide and bright from the smile being written across his face. It was a sweet excited smile that reached up to his cheeks, radiating across his entire face, his tongue playing at the top of his mouth behind his teeth. Regulus would’ve looked away if he could find the willpower.
“Hi.” James bounced back softly, “You came?”
“Yeah.” He did. And oh the things Regulus had done to get here.
He felt a warm blush start to creep up the back of his neck at the blatant glow coming from James as he said it, and despite being on the edge of being lost entirely to him, Regulus glanced away. At nothing really, just away.
Like a spell was broken, the nerves returned and something bitter and slightly embarrassed fell over him. Unfazed, James stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door behind him with a chuckle, “What happened to you? You alright?”
“Some idiot spilled his wine on me.” Regulus sighed reluctantly, motioning to his shirt and turning back to the sink.
“Here, let me,” James reached past him with a dark cloth in hand and turned the faucet on to dampen it before taking it back. He raised his eyebrows and gestured for Regulus to turn around and he did.
“James- it’s going to stain either way, that's not- that's not helping,” He protested, swatting him away as James persisted in his attempt to clean his shirt that was still very much sticking to his chest and stomach. “James-”
He pulled away with a shrug and tossed the cloth in the sink basin, crossing his arms, still wearing a delighted smirk. “Worth a try.”
“Mhm”
“Here, come on,” James went to open the door, a hand already on the handle, and nodded for him to follow. Regulus hesitated, “I mean, unless you prefer the stained wine look, personally, I think it’s quite nice.” James teased but in a way that made him seem like he wasn’t lying in the least.
“Fuck off.” He murmured through a cracking twitch of his lips. One that turned into a small smile the second James looked away to lead the way.
It wasn’t far off. Only took them a minute and a few oh-whoops-wrong-room’s and James talking aloud to himself trying to direct them to the room they were looking for, but eventually they found it. It was a nice bedroom, sort of. The bed was half made and it looked like a teenage boy’s room. Posters plastered to the walls and all sorts of arbitrary relics taped to them casually. He wondered if his room might’ve looked like that if Walburga wasn’t, well, Walburga. Maybe, possibly. Humorously, he wondered if this was what Sirius’ room looked like, his new room. Maybe, now, Regulus might get to see it. Maybe, he would get to have his own room one day and find out for himself.
But that just unlocked a whole other issue. Because Regulus didn’t have anywhere to go now.
So away it went. Back burner. Back in the box. Away for another time because right now, James Potter had just pulled out a t-shirt from the stranger’s closet and tossed it straight into his arms.
“Raiding people’s closets now?” He mused flatly, lifting up the shirt to examine it with a raised brow.
“Marlene said it was fine.” He replied muffled with his head still in the wardrobe, “Saw you get spilled on so when I went after you she asked if you might need a change of clothes,” He stated, straightening himself out and starting to roll up the sleeves of his own shirt, “She said her brother wouldn’t even notice they’re missing and wouldn’t care if he did, so we can have at it.”
“Marlene?” Regulus hummed not exactly warmly and struggled not to frown too much. Marlene. Which he assumed was the blonde girl he’d been laughing with.
But whatever petty feelings he had about it dissipated into nothingness as he felt a warm flutter of butterflies fill his stomach seeing James start to undo the top of his shirt without so much as a second thought. He should’ve been cautious or bashful for outright staring at him but he didn’t. Not at all.
Because James was fucking fit.
He should’ve known that. Should’ve seen that coming, really, because of course he was but wow-
He kept undoing the buttons until he reached past his chest, showing off a patch of golden brown skin that made Regulus want to melt into. His hair was tousled as it had been the entire night and his eyes, James’ eyes were ever so bright, looking right at him. Regulus wasn’t even ashamed of being caught.
Regulus knew what he looked like. Wine stained shirt, purple tie loose around his neck, standing awkwardly in the centre of the room holding someone else’s t-shirt, eyes wide, jaw a little slack, utterly and completely engulfed in the view in front of him. He didn’t really care.
James, unaware as ever and still in his dress shirt, just uh, modified, crossed his arms in wait for Regulus to change.
“What? Are you going to stare at me while I undress?” Regulus was being a hypocrite, he knew that, but whatever.
“Yes.” The boy grinned widely unashamed.
Regulus rolled his eyes and crumpled up his slack tie to throw at James and when he dodged that, he threw the t-shirt and then a stray pillow. The t-shirt he caught.
“Where’s Sirius?” Regulus attempted at small talk as he unbuttoned his dress shirt, a wave of self consciousness washing over him like a thin haze. He knew he was attractive. He knew he had nothing to be worried or embarrassed about. Really, he liked that James was looking at him. But that didn’t mean the fleeting feeling didn’t sometimes linger, a shred of worry of what may happen. Of what James may say or think.
“Dunno. Met some guy, Remus, I think his name was.” He replied, taking a step back to lean lazily onto the closed wardrobe. Which really, made him look really cool, Regulus noted. “He seemed nice enough though and Sirius was practically drooling.”
“Hmm.” One by one, he undid the buttons carefully, turning a little to the side away from James even if his eyes hadn’t even drifted from Regulus’.
“Your friends not come with you?”
“They did.” Regulus nodded, not exactly wanting to explain that yes, they did come but he left them to find James and then abandoned that mission and then got wine spilled on him and now-
“Wait, you said you saw the wine get spilled on me?” His head snapped up to James who blushed playfully and grinned mischievously, “so you saw-”
“Yeah.” He ducked his head down and laughed to himself, to which Regulus blinked back in blatant shock and a bit of offence. So he’d seen him the whole time. Seen the whole thing.
“Fucking hell.” He grimaced while James laughed.
“I thought it was adorable-” He protested through fits of bubbling laughter, holding out his hands.
“Fuck you.” He shot back not unkindly, just out of sheer mortification.
Regulus had finished undoing his shirt, letting it hang open when James appeared next to him, holding out the other t-shirt. He was so close and it was silly but Regulus felt warm just by proximity, felt relaxed and erratic with nerves all at once. Something so pleading calling out like it had since the garden.
James
James
James
“I’m really glad you came, Reg.” His name shortened by a breath which made his chest give a squeeze, something about it sounded so right coming from James. Say it again, he wanted to say, he didn’t but he wished it. James’ eyes were soft and hints of his previous laughter still lingered behind them, wistful and lovely. So lovely. “I didn’t know if you were actually going to show but I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.”
Regulus felt the warmth in his cheeks and the pull of his lips before he knew he was smiling but he let himself because James was smiling too. Like two utter fools, they stood there smiling at each other and oh god, Regulus was so very glad he came.
“Here, let's get you changed.” James broke and ducked his head down into another chuckle. Regulus loved that laugh. His skin pricked excitedly as James’ hands brushed slightly over him, handing him the t-shirt.
“Thanks.” He murmured and a little dizzy from looking at James, removed his wine stained dress shirt, leaving himself bare.
James’ eyes flickered down to his chest and he knew it was coming so he waited. He knew what James would find. Two thin scars a shade darker and mangled from the rest of him spread across his chest. Still holding the t-shirt out to him, James’ knuckles brushed casually yet every so delicately across them.
“Is there a problem?” Regulus whispered as firm and as defensive as he could while standing so literally bare and vulnerable in front of him. In front of the man he’d only met that night but felt he’d known for aeons. He was ready. Ready to take it all back and cover it back up, walk out of that room and let Evan carry him out without saying a word, mourning the loss of something that never was just because- because of what? Regulus was Regulus? That’s always been the problem though, hasn’t it. He might’ve escaped that house, finally, but it also came with the revelation that Regulus could never escape being Regulus. He wasn’t sure how to process that nor did he have the capacity to because James was looking back at him bewildered, like he was truly and honestly confused as to why Regulus would ask such a thing. It put Regulus on edge, already feeling the bitter sickness coming up his throat, a creeping fear that maybe, just maybe, James might-
“No.” James interrupted immediately without hesitation, his brows furrowed, looking into his eyes with such firm immediate certainty and warmth that Regulus could’ve melted and sunk to the floor. “No, not at all. It’s just,”
Despite being able to breathe again, Regulus stiffed.
“You look beautiful.” He breathed out in awe, and then a second later and a little more matter of fact, like anything else would be absurd, “You are beautiful.”
Oh.
Oh.
Suddenly every worried feeling flooded from him and now, Regulus couldn’t help it. He leaned in and all his aching and longing was for not because it only took a mere second of James’ lips pressed into his own in which all of those doubts left him. Like they were foolish thoughts to even entertain. James’ hands were on him in an instant, holding his face intimately like they do this all the time, caressing the side of his cheek with his thumb and Regulus relaxed into it. Like they’ve been doing this forever.
It was a fleeting thought, a fleeting feeling, one that Regulus wished would stay and one that he hated himself for making it go away but it did. Because he was scared.
Because what was that old story about Icarus and the sun? Flew too close to the sun in hopes of feeling just a bit more warm, to marvel at its beauty, to bask in its light, because Icarus was selfish and it burned him, it tore off his wings and he fell. Regulus is terrified to fall. So here he is again, in conflict with himself.
But James had abandoned his mouth, trailing kisses down his neck, latching on like it was giving him life and god, who was Regulus to deprive him?
Somehow James managed to work them to the bed and Regulus was being held up by his elbows, letting James work kisses further down his chest, kissing every inch of skin like it was holy, something sacred. Like Regulus was something precious, like he was made to be held with delicacy, like china or porcelain. Not in the way that he was fragile, though maybe he was, really, but with every soothing kiss and exciting buzz sent through his skin at the contact, he felt wanted and expensive and beautiful.
The words had sounded foreign to him when he’d heard them but the way James’ hands held him at his sides, warm palms against vulnerable skin Regulus used to despise, pressing his slightly parted mouth to him, light and lingering, was almost enough to convince him to let the words mean something.
“You smell like cherry wine.” James’ smile widened against Regulus’ skin, sending chills up and down his body, making his head euphorically dizzy, “hmm, taste like it too”.
A laugh bubbled up from his chest without meaning to but it did anyway and he couldn’t help it, glancing down his stomach to where James was looking up at him, eyes sparkling and bright, brighter than anything Regulus had ever seen.
“Piss off.” Was all he could muster before pulling James up to his lips again to press an closed mouthed kiss into his smile, working its way open to fit into one another like a perfect fit, made in a mould long ago, waiting for its other half.
For the first time Regulus felt that maybe this is what people felt when they did drugs, that this is what they meant when they said they couldn't stop chasing the high. Because for the first time, Regulus was almost certain he could relate. He would be chasing the feeling of James Potter for a long, long time. For as long as fate allowed him to.
“Does Sirius know you’re here?” James murmured, his chin resting atop his head, and Regulus could feel the way his jaw moved slightly as he spoke. It was nice.
“I don’t know. I texted him a while ago but I haven't seen him yet.” He replied, watching the way James’ fingers flitted right into the open spaces between his own, playing slowly in and out just for the sake of contact, to feel the way their fingers fit so perfectly together. Regulus still hasn’t figured out how that could be but it is.
They hadn’t done anything more than that, really, kissing, that is. Just got Regulus dressed properly into a dry t-shirt and James had filled him in on what he’d missed, which according to James, hadn’t been much but there was a glint in his eye that made Regulus feel he was downplaying it. Then they sort of just sat in silence, sitting crouched down on the floor by the end of the bed against the frame, legs extended out on the carpet, and really, Regulus rather liked the quiet because it wasn’t cold. It wasn’t stagnant and it didn’t make him want to suck in his breath and refuse to let it go in fear of someone hearing. It wasn’t uncomfortable, nor was it required, it was the quiet hum of two bodies, catching up with one another after so long apart. Regulus couldn’t figure out how that could be either but it is.
“I already said this but I'm really glad you came.” James was smiling now. Regulus could feel it. Physically, he could physically feel his cheeks tighten with a smile against his head.
“Me too.” Regulus sighed, leaning back to look up at the other boy, “Me too.”
“Are you going to be alright?” A slight worry came into his voice.
The thing is, Regulus knows James probably knows to some degree about, well, everything, because he’s Sirius’ bestfriend. And maybe he doesn’t know it all and maybe even Sirius hadn’t shared everything, especially not anything that was solely Regulus’ to share or keep, but there were some things that simply being around Sirius and himself for long enough would cost you. Eventually, there are things that can’t be kept behind veils and intricately placed mirrors. Eventually, if you hover your hand above a flame long enough or stare at it too intensely, your vision will blotch and your fingers will get burned.
But James doesn’t need to know how Regulus got here or what he paid to do so. Maybe some other day Regulus will allow himself to think back on it again, truly, and maybe on that day or another, he’ll get into it. But not tonight.
“Yeah, I think I am.” Regulus murmured and found it not to be a lie.
They talked for a while like that, adjusting around the floor just the two of them while the music blared from the other room. Sprawled out on the carpet, sitting cross legged, knees tucked to their chests, arms laid out under their chin. James started asking questions again in the name of getting to know each other more and Regulus was very unfortunate to discover the doubtful feelings had returned. Really, it was getting old. The coming and going, the predictability of his ever present fears. But he was determined not to let it ruin this.
So when James asked a question or laughed, Regulus did the same back.
“Regulus,” James started, sitting against the wall with Regulus’ legs brushing his in the opposite direction.
“Yes?”
“Does this have to end tonight?” He glanced to and from Regulus’ eyes, “I mean, I’d understand if- I mean I wouldn’t but I’d understand.” Regulus tried to keep up but a nervous spur had suddenly broken from James.
As much as Regulus wanted to reach out and assure him that there was nothing more he’d ever want, he couldn’t. Like a man bet on touching a burning flame, with every intention to do so but his body refusing the response, every cell in his hand refusing to be lowered. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s just, I’m not an easy person to be around.” Regulus muttered, playing with his wine stained shirt from earlier, which he’d folded and unfolded twice already, “And I’ve been good, tonight, but its-”
“It’s what?” James leaned forward, genuinely wanting to know. Didn’t he say that earlier, I want to know everything.
Regulus knows better than most that he won’t like what he’ll find but no, he won't let that ruin this. He doesn’t even bother to bring up the fact that James is still, in fact, Sirius’ bestfriend. Because even if he can’t explain it right now and even if tonight is all he can know is promised, he refuses to let that slip away too.
So with a heavy sigh, Regulus clears his throat and smiles weakly, getting up to stand. “We should get back to the party.”
James smiles back and follows him with eyes still trained on him. He doesn’t push it anymore, simply nodding his head and taking Regulus’ hand. “Yeah, okay.”
Regulus lets himself be pulled back out into the corridor and into the party, never missing the frequent turns that James takes to steal a look back at him.
As they sink back into the beating heart of the party, their short lived conversation from before seems to fade into the background. Life replacing the anticipating look in James’ face which makes Regulus’ chest flurry like it always seems to do. Regulus goes willingly into the crowd when James leads him, charged with the energy the night has given him. The flow of people swaying to the music- a song he doesn’t know but James seems to.
Over bobbing heads, he briefly catches Barty and Evan pushing past and out the kitchen door, arm over his shoulder. They’re laughing about something he can’t place. He glances over to where Pandora is dancing wildly and carelessly with a girl with dark skin and the prettiest long braided hair he thinks he’s ever seen, with silver ornaments shimmering as she moves. He places some faces he recognizes from earlier, still not being able to find his brother. He doesn’t ask about it, he’ll find him later, but now- now he’s with James.
The beat picks up quickly and James has started to dance infuriatingly well and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t in awe. His hand hasn’t left its grip on Regulus’ so when it flies up over his head, it sends Regulus’ up as well, sliding down to latch around his neck. The movement and the push of the surrounding dancers brings them closer together. He can feel the brush of people’s back against his and somehow, it’s the last thing he can think of, but the feeling of James’ hand cupping his in place around his neck, well, Regulus is not complaining.
James’ eyes into his and they move in sync to the beat, making it impossible to think of anything other than the present, which miraculously works in Regulus’ favour. Because all he can think of is- well, he’s not really thinking and that’s the point right?
All he can see are James’ warm eyes imbedded in the dark velvety silhouette of his face and shoulders and arms against the light. It’s as enchanting as it was back in his dim lit kitchen. Just as lovely as it was in the garden. He can’t look away so he doesn’t. Regulus gets lost in it. Gladly.
He’ll savour this for as long as it can last.
He’ll drink up the sunlight for as long as he can.
And in the back of his mind where the doubt and fear are too far to find, too weak to penetrate, drowned out by the high that is James Potter, it screams that this is worth everything else.