Chapter 3
Regulus stared at his knuckles, eyeing the bruise which was hidden beneath the dot of blood, but would no doubt bloom into a purple splotch before the evening was through. His eye hurt, throbbing steadily, but he was focused on the blood that was threatening to drip onto the floor. He felt giddy as he looked back up, his eyes falling onto the dark-haired man who was holding his nose, his head tipped back as he attempted to recover from the blow Regulus had landed. He felt better seeing him in more pain than he was in, as bad as it sounded. But he felt instantly terrible as he met James’ eye.
“You, out!” James boomed at the boy. He seemed less than impressed by the order, but Regulus couldn’t stick around to see his proper reaction as James grabbed his arm, yanking him forwards. “You, with me.” He pulled him away from the crowd that had gathered in his living room, directing him down the hallway.
They ended up in the small bathroom at the end of the hall, James locking the door behind himself. “Sit,” he directed Regulus to the side of the bathtub while he busied himself with rifling through the medicine cabinet.
He’d come to the party an hour late, had three drinks, and seen his brother having a spat with James before he could even say hello. He’d mingled through the crowd, a few people stopping to chat before he saw the black-haired man who was complaining, loudly, about the host ‘John, or whatever his name is’, being a right cock. He had obviously been talking about James and continued his rampage until he got to Sirius.
“I hear the younger one is getting the whole thing… Something about the older being a raging queer, the family are disinheriting him! If you ask me they’re right to. It’s a disgusting lifestyle to lead, really.. The younger one deserves it more.” He had said it in a dismissive tone, and Regulus had found himself tapping the boy on the shoulder before he could stop himself.
He threw the first punch, socking him in the eye. The guy had mirrored his action, hitting Regulus in the same eye, almost throwing him off his game. But he recovered, drawing his hand back to land his last punch on the nose, cutting his knuckle on the guy's tooth in the midst of the attempt. The boy had fallen back while arms grabbed Regulus, pulling him back.
Maybe he shouldn’t have come.
James moved away from the sink, kneeling before Regulus. He held out his hand, waiting for Regulus to give him his injured one. Regulus hesitated, feeling cold all of a sudden. “Cmon, Reggie… Let me see so I can help.”
Regulus offered up his hand, finally, and James held it delicately, pressing a wet cloth over the cut. Regulus almost winced at how cold it was, but luckily refrained, distracting himself by watching James. He got up after a few seconds, rinsing out the cloth for a few seconds before ringing it out and returning to his position kneeling in front of Regulus. He screwed the cloth into a ball, his face full of concentration. Regulus watched in awe as James reached one hand up, cupping Regulus’ cheek as he navigated the cloth with his other hand to press against Regulus’ closed eye.
His breath hitched at the touch but James obviously didn’t notice. He was focused on dabbing Regulus’ bruising eye. Regulus thought back to the crowds of people back in the living room, a part of him wondering if Lily had been in that crowd. She could be back from Spain. He didn’t voice this question though.
“What the fuck was that?” James questioned, his voice quiet and laced with disappointment.
“Nothing,” Regulus defended. James pulled the cloth away, giving him a look that demanded answers. Regulus dropped his gaze, attempting to sort through his thoughts. “He was being a prick about Sirius… And you.”
“You punched him because he was being a prick about Sirius?” James sounded annoyed now.
“And you!” Regulus defended.
“You’re an idiot, Reggie.”
“I know,” he swallowed, looking down. James stood up, rinsing the cloth again. “I’m sorry.”
James frowned, turning back to him with his arms crossed. He leaned against the sink, a slight frown on his face. “Snape’s a prick, anyway.”
“Is that his name?”
“Yeah. He knows Lily so he has it out for me,” James explained. He smirked ever so slightly before reaching into the bathroom mirror again, grabbing something. “Prick. Give me your hand again.”
Regulus lifted his hand slightly and James got to work wrapping a bandage around it, securing it with medical tape. He gently turned Regulus’ hand around, his fingers stroking the side of the white bandage. Regulus watched him closely, unable to take his eyes off him. “You know you could have broken your hand doing this? Or your eye socket.”
“Yes, but I didn’t,” Regulus shrugged carelessly.
His hand lingered, James’ finger still stroking the side of the bandage as he looked at Regulus under his eyelashes. It made Regulus’ stomach twist. He held James’ gaze, trying not to blush as James spoke. “You’re an idiot, Reggie,” his voice was slow.
“I know,” Regulus almost whispered.
“Who’s hogging the fucking loo?” The shout from outside the door made them both jump. A bang followed it, making them both look at the door. James let go of his hand, dropping it like it was burning him. He jumped up, squirrelling away the supplies he had used to fix him. Regulus remained frozen on the bath, replaying the touch of James’ finger on his hand in his mind.
“Come on,” James offered his hand to Regulus, who took it after a moment of staring. He felt nervous at the action and dizzy as he got to his feet, but he remained standing, clutching his hand. James twisted the lock, pulling the door open. A blonde man frowned at them, drunkenly.
“There are bedrooms for hookups, dickheads,” the boy commented, pushing past them and slamming the door behind him. Regulus’ cheeks burned at the comment, and he wondered how James felt at the insinuation of them hooking up. But he couldn’t see his reaction. James was guiding him through the living room, their hands still locked together. The living room was buzzing with life, but James didn’t stop to chat, obviously determined to get somewhere.
They ended up on the street below the building, James letting go of Regulus’ hand as he shut the door behind them. “Do you have any?”
Regulus nodded, pulling his pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He held it out to James who took one, quickly, dropping it onto his bottom lip as he struck the lighter he’d given to Regulus up. He took a deep breath before passing it to Regulus. They smoked in silence for a few moments, the cigarette going back and forth between them as they stood beside each other.
“I appreciate-“ James began to say, but the building door opened again, slamming shut as someone stepped into the street.
“What the fuck was that?!” His brother shouted, his insides tensing up instantly as he looked at Sirius.
“It was nothing,” Regulus shrugged, passing the cigarette to James casually.
Sirius glared at him. “Bullshit! You can’t come to my friends’ houses and start fights, Regulus!” He snapped, a finger jabbing towards him. “Why did you even come?”
“I invited him,” James spoke up.
“Well, you shouldn’t have!” Sirius glared at him, and Regulus instantly felt bad. The fight had been his fault, not James’
“Shut up, Pads,” James snapped, the nickname he often used for his friend making Sirius shrink bad slightly. “He was only doing it because Snape was shit-talking you, for Christ sake!”
Sirius looked between them, recovering from the shock of this knowledge rather quickly. Regulus’ hand hurt, and his eye was throbbing. He took the cigarette off James, dragging the last bit of life from it before he dropped it, stubbing it out before he began walking away. Home was his best bet. There was no drama at home.
“You always take his side!” Sirius snapped as he walked away.
“Cause you never do, Sirius!” James shouted, and Regulus almost paused. He heard James running towards him, making him slow slightly. “Are you okay?”
James put his hand on his shoulder, but Regulus shook it off. “I’m fine, James.” He didn’t meet his eyes, walking off before James could stop him again.