Chapter 26
There was something completely surreal about waking up pressed against James Potter. Something intoxicating, too. Regulus was curled up in his arms, his back to James’ bare chest, their legs tangled together under the covers. He wondered if he’d ever been this comfortable before. Probably not. He felt warm and safe, and at home… Completely at home in the arms of James Potter, who was lightly snoring by Regulus’ ear, his breath tickling his neck. He was slow to wake, his eyes fluttering open slowly. One of his arms was wrapped around James, keeping him there, keeping him close. A small part of him felt if he let go, he’d lose him for good.
But then James was stirring, his arms tightening around Regulus’ waist as his light snoring retreated. Regulus shut his eyes again, soaking up the small moments before James finally moved ever so slightly, his lips pressing against his neck making Regulus shiver. “Morning,” James whispered by his ear.
“Morning,” Regulus squeaked back, trying to still his heart.
James loosened his arms as Regulus shuffled to turn around, facing James. His hair looked messy, and his face looked red, and the effects of sleep were still evident as he blinked to look at Regulus. But he was perfect, his easy smile appearing as he met the younger’s eye. “You don’t look tired.”
“I don’t look tired?” Regulus rose an eyebrow, trying not to focus on how deep James’ voice sounded.
“You usually look quite tired, but you don’t today,” James explained, vaguely. He lifted his hand, cupping Regulus’ cheek as gently as he could, his thumb swiping across his cheekbone.
“How do I look, then?” Regulus dared to ask.
“Bloody gorgeous,” James murmured, leaning towards him.
“Right, I’ve been sent up to find out if you want eggs or not, because if you-“ Fleamont had pushed open the door rather dramatically, stepping into his son's room as he usually would before pausing, a hand smacking over his eyes. “Oh, I should have knocked!”
Regulus felt like he was getting deja vu as James rolled away from him, sitting up properly to glare at his father. “Yes! Yes, you should have!”
“Well, I didn’t think you’d have someone in your bed!” Monty snapped, peaking through his fingers to look at his son who remained glaring. Regulus hid his face, attempting to pull the covers up more. “You’ve never had someone in your bed!”
“Dad!” James scolded.
“Merry Christmas, Regulus!” Monty cheerfully called. “Do you want eggs for breakfast? We might need to borrow some from down the road if you do.”
“I’m fine!” Regulus called from under the covers, attempting to let them swallow him whole. “Merry Christmas,” his words muffled under the cover.
“Can you leave?!” James cried out, exasperated.
His father immediately let out a light laugh. “Do you want eggs, Jamie?”
“No! Christ, get out!” He shouted, and finally the laughter disappeared, the bedroom door shutting again. Regulus remained hidden under the covers, sure his entire face was the colour of the red bows on the tree downstairs. James joined him under the covers after a few moments, dragging the covers over his head. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be,” Regulus mumbled, pressing his palm to the mattress in an attempt to avert his concentration. James’ gaze was far too distracting. He stared at his hand until James covered it with his own, shocking Regulus into meeting his eye again.
“Forgive me?”
“I suppose,” Regulus mumbled, watching as James brought his hand to his lips, placing a delicate kiss on the palm. “We should get up.”
“We should,” James agreed, his lips moving against his palm. He peppered a few more kisses along Regulus’ pale skin before letting go, kicking the covers off both of them. Regulus sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed easily. The room was cold away from James. He forced himself to get up, though, stretching as he walked towards the desk. Their bottle of champagne had been completely abandoned and was flat now. Regulus ignored it, collecting his clothes that he’d awkwardly folded the night before.
James seemed to saunter towards his wardrobe, lazy in his movements as Regulus teetered towards the door. “I’m going to get changed… Am I meant to, like, dress up for Christmas morning or something?”
“Just sweatpants will do,” James offered, grabbing a t-shirt for himself. He pulled it over his head in one swift movement, smiling as he caught Regulus’ eye. “We usually have breakfast in pyjamas, dinner in smart-casual.”
“Okay,” Regulus nodded, fumbling with the door handle before slipping out of the room.
His bedroom was freezing, and the curtains were open, the snow from outside reflecting in, lighting up the place. He regretted his trouser-less decision as he dropped his clothes on his bed, wandering to his wardrobe. He felt tired as he dug out his sweatpants, slipping them on. He was searching for socks that matched when James knocked on his door. He pulled them on as quickly as he could, attempting to balance on one foot as he did before toppling over, landing in a heap on the carpet. “Reggie?” James called through the door.
“Coming!” Regulus replied, pushing himself up. He scrambled towards the door, running a hand through his hair as he pulled open the door.
“Did you fall?” James questioned.
“No!” Regulus snapped, shutting his door behind him. He walked in front of James, away from their rooms. He could somehow smell the breakfast scents from the landing, although maybe he was imagining it. The kitchen really was quite far away.
“It sounded like you fell,” the taller murmured, following him.
“Why were you lurking outside my door like a stalker?” Regulus questioned. He felt irritable all of a sudden. His heart was hammering out of his chest at the idea of sitting at breakfast with James’ parents. Both of them, on separate occasions, had found him in their son's bed. They were casual people, and welcoming, of course, but how was he meant to meet their eye. Did they have any idea what was happening between them? Did they think Lily was still in the picture? God, Lily. Regulus hadn’t even really thought about her. He considered her a friend, but he supposed that was a bit fucked now.
James nudged his shoulder, apparently catching up while Regulus was deep in thought. “Of course, I’m obsessed with you.”
“At least you can finally admit it,” Regulus absently teased, his mind still racing. They had almost reached the stairs when James gently stopped him, his hand grabbing his elbow.
“I can, yeah,” he told him, all joking gone from his tone. Regulus couldn’t think of any response, instead simply nodding slightly, meeting James’ powerful gaze.
Regulus ended up shuffling through the dining room door first, James following him a few paces behind. Monty was busy assembling a sandwich, not bothering to look up from his craftsmanship as he laid a slice of bacon over sausage, his other hand reaching for his other slice of toast. Effy was pouring herself a fresh cup of tea, taking no notice of them either.
Effy knew they were there, though. She was addressing her son before Regulus could even reach his seat. “You left the party early!”
“Felt sick,” James lied, slipping into his chair. Regulus almost fell into his own, still feeling shaky on his feet. The breakfast food was laid out in the centre of the table, a small dish of butter, a plate of toast, a split dish holding both bacon and sausages. Regulus ended up reaching for toast, and bacon, following Monty’s lead in making a sandwich as Effy eyed her son.
“Sick how?” She enquired.
“Stomach ache,” he lied again.
“You didn’t just want to sneak off with Regulus, then?” Effy pushed the teapot towards Regulus, knowing he’d want some. She didn’t look at him, though. She kept her gaze set on her son. Regulus began rethinking everything imaginable, wondering if this was it. If the small family he’d managed to make himself at home in for the past week were going to get rid of him as his own did.
But James was huffing, glaring down the table at his father. “You two gossip far too much.”
“Only about you,” Monty shrugged, his words muffled through his bite of food.
“That could have been a take to your grave secret,” his son retorted. “It could have been life or death.”
“Well, if it were dramatic enough to end in your death, your mother should know anyway!”
Effy tutted from the other end of the table. “Ignore him, Jamie. He’s only dragging it out because my father caught him climbing out the bedroom window one morning. He never lived it down.”
“You’re the one who broached the subject!” Monty interjected.
Effy shrugged innocently. “I’m just making chit chat.”
“You’re both ruining Christmas,” James muttered, slicing one of the sausages on his plate.
“Yes, gosh, we’re terrible parents for caring about your love life,” Monty rolled his eyes.
“You are when it’s this early!”
“It’s almost midday!”
Regulus watched the teasing that unfolded and realised he was fine. He was in the presence of people who took in his brother when he got kicked out for the same reason. They would hardly turn him away. They weren’t even directly enquiring what happened. They were just making jokes, putting him at ease, letting him relax enough to pour himself a cup of tea without shaking too much.
“Regulus, darling,” Effy addressed him, and he blanched slightly, nervous for what she would say. But she simply gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry about the lack of eggs! We need some for the stuffing later, and I broke one yesterday. Otherwise, we’d have had scrambled!”
“Oh, it’s okay!” He almost shouted, relief flooding him. She looked at him, her face brightening with amusement as she smiled. “This is lovely.”
“I’m glad,” she told him.
Monty ended up taking over the conversation, recounting a story of one of their drunk friends from the night before who ended up leaving in the early hours of the morning, He’d apparently tried to initiate a snowball fight in the foyer, and tried to play the piano in the library before closing the lid on his fingers, accidentally. Effy joined in with anecdotes, filling James in on things he missed by not talking to the older women there. By the time they’d finished breakfast, Regulus had managed to relax enough to join in on the conversation, asking about the people he knew at the party.
“Okay, you two can clear the table while we light the fire, and get the presents ready,” Effy requested, standing up. Her pyjamas matched Monty’s, tartan print trousers with navy buttoned shirts, a small gift box on the breast pocket. They looked awfully sweet.
They both padded out of the room, disappearing into the hall, leaving the younger pair alone again. “I’m sorry about them.”
“They’re nice!” Regulus defended the couple. “Lovely, in fact.”
James gave him a small smile, rising as he began stacking the dishes. “They like you, anyway.”
“Do they?” Regulus questioned, mirroring his action as he carefully balanced the teacups into the empty bacon dish.
“Undoubtedly.”
They managed to carry all of the dishes in one trip, careful in their steps to ensure they kept a handle on the breakables. James was the one to load the dishwasher as Regulus cleared the leftover toast crusts, and bacon fat into the bin.
They made a quick trip upstairs to retrieve the presents they’d wrapped days earlier but kept hidden away. When they landed back downstairs, they ended up in the library, where one of the smaller trees was. It was mainly decorated with things James had made throughout his childhood, small paper angels, badly painted baubles. James looked embarrassed every time his mother brought it up, but he didn’t say anything against it. Regulus thought it was adorable.
Monty had taken a seat in the armchair beside the tree, while Effy sat on the footrest, bending to reorganise the presents. James had taken the liberty of putting his presents for his parents in a stocking, while Regulus just held his pile in a small holiday bag. Effy waved them over when she noticed them, beckoning them to sit on the rug beside her. They both did as told, sinking down. Regulus crossed his legs, slowly pulling the presents from his bag.
He handed the first to Effy, who seemed confused by the gesture, and handed the other to Monty, who looked at him with amazement. “Oh, you really didn’t have to, Regulus!” Effy cried, examining his excellent wrapping.
“You absolutely did,” Monty informed him as he tore his gift open, pulling out the scarf to admire it. “You’re welcome every Christmas if you bring gifts like this!” He wrapped it around his neck, beaming. “How does it look?”
“Fetching,” Effy muttered, tutting as she began to open her own. She pulled out the apron, examining the stitching, and the design. “Oh, Regulus. Oh, it’s lovely, thank you!” She gave him a look that could only be described as motherly, her eyes shining as they met his. “I love it.”
“It’s no problem,” Regulus stumbled to say, smiling at them both.
“Open these next,” James pushed the sack towards them, grinning easily.
“Regulus, here,” Effy handed him a present, squeezing his shoulder before she got to work opening the gift her husband retrieved from the sack, tearing off some of the tape.
Regulus looked down at the gift, slowly tearing the side of it. He opened it silently, feeling warm as he finally found a thick, knitted jumper, a dark green similar to his suit from days previous. There was also a book, wrapped up in the jumper, called 1001 Films to See Before You Die. “That ones from me,” Fleamont told him as he examined it.
“Thank you!” He exclaimed, still examining the jumper.
Effy watched him for a moment. “Do you think it will fit?” She questioned. “If it doesn’t, I can alter it! I picked a pattern that I could fix if I needed.”
“You made it?” Regulus questioned, and instantly felt silly. He’d seen her knitting a few times, but never really noticed what she was doing. She simply smiled in response. “It’s perfect, thank you so much.”
“Of course,” she went back to the gifts her son had gotten her. Regulus watched James accept the hugs they offered him in exchange for his presents before they began pushing gifts towards him. They had gotten him an assortment of things, most of which were useful, like a spatula, and a new backpack, while DIY table tennis was less useful. He also got a new Fifa game, which he claimed was amazing of them to get considering he hadn’t been able to.
“Right, need to shower so we can start cooking the next meal!” Effy rose, smiling at them both. Monty nodded, following her lead, stretching as he stood.
He stooped slightly, squeezing Regulus’ shoulder just as Effy had before. “Thanks for the scarf, Regulus.” He didn’t wait for a response, following his wife out of the room, making her laugh in the hallway. Regulus ducked his head, going back to stroking the side of his jumper, marvelling at how soft the wool was.
James nudged his arm, holding out a gift that made him lookup. “What’s this?”
“Your present,” James shrugged. Regulus mentally slapped himself for such a stupid question. He didn’t take it at first, instead of retrieving James’ present from his bag, holding it out. “Ahh, my present?”
Regulus nodded, smiling as he watched James pull the paper off. He opened up the hoodie, eyes examining the maroon colour. “This is lovely,” he murmured, feeling the inside. It was the softer hoodie Regulus could find, and James’ eyes seemed to sparkle as he noticed the J.F.P embroidered into the right sleeve, just above the cuff. “I love it.”
Regulus nodded silently, smiling as James held it close. He finally looked down at the gift in his hand, slowly peeling off the wrapping paper to reveal a box of Lego flowers. He felt himself blush immediately before shaking his head. “Flowers?”
“You like flowers,” James informed him.
A nagging awful part of his brain wondered if these were really for him. If James had really gone out and bought him a bouquet, Lego or not. Or, if this was a gift for someone else. He hated himself for overanalysing it, but it really did seem the type of gift you get a girlfriend, especially one named after a flower. He wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to. But he didn’t need to, because James was reading him like a book, a tentative hand laying on his forearm. “Reggie?”
He probably already knew what Regulus wanted to ask, but he still said it out loud. “You got this for me… Right?”
James didn’t look offended by the question. He instead squeezed his arm, gently. “I didn’t get these for her if that’s what you’re asking.” Regulus didn’t say anything for a few moments, unable to meet his eye. “Reggie,” James quietly spoke. “If it will set your mind at ease, I got her a bracelet, which I gave her the morning of the Christmas dinner..”
“Sorry,” Regulus mumbled, embarrassed he’d even thought to ask. James traced his fingers down his arm until he could read the younger’s hand, which he gently took.
“Don’t apologise, I.. I understand why you’d ask… But I promise, I’m not the type of person to regift something, never mind regift something like this to someone important to me.. I saw it, and I know your whole flat is a bit… It’s a bit depressing, so I thought they could liven up the place a little bit,” James explained, his thumb rubbing against the back of his hand. “Do me a favour, Reggie.. Don’t apologise for asking questions like that? Okay? This is new… and I understand that you’d be cautious.. And I don’t want to put you in a place where you don’t want to ask things like that..”
“Sorry,” Regulus repeated, unable to control himself.
James frowned at him, lifting his hand to kiss the back of it gently. “We’re okay? Aren’t we?”
“We’re okay,” Regulus nodded, offering up a small smile. “You have to help me build them, though.”
“I will,” James smiled, brilliantly, all worry instantly dropping off his face.
They both stood up, James collecting the wrapping paper which he dropped into the basket by the fire while Regulus collected his book, jumper, and Lego box. James collected his own gifts when he finished, and they both made their way upstairs. James reassured him, about five times outside his bedroom door, that anything he wore would be fine, but he still entered his bedroom with anxiety bubbling under the service.
Once he had showered, brushed his teeth, and dried his hair as best he could, he pulled on his black jeans, and the jumper Mrs Potter had knitted him. It fit perfectly and was softer than any of his other jumpers. He was admiring it in the mirror when James knocked on his door once again. “Come in,” he called, fixing his hair. It was still slightly damp.
James walked in, slowly, his eyes taking in Regulus’ appearance. Regulus looked over at him, eyebrows raising slightly. James didn’t appear to notice, walking across the room at the same slow pace. Regulus waited for a moment. James had done it before, a handful of times, the earliest being at one of his parent's banquets months before. He realised all of a sudden that James was checking him out. He felt like laughing at the idea. He wondered if James was aware he’d been doing it for that long. He didn’t mention it, though, he simply reached a hand out, giving James a light shove to make him look him in the eye.
“You look good,” he informed him, smiling slightly.
“As do you,” Regulus nodded. James was also wearing a jumper, simple and light grey, with black jeans that matched Regulus’.
“I brought you your other gift,” he shrugged, digging a hand into his pocket.
“I only got you one thing,” Regulus found himself mumbling.
“Yes, and I’ll never forgive you for it,” the other teased back. He finally pulled something familiar out of his pocket, handing it over. Another white lighter, RAB scribbled in James’ familiar hand.
Regulus felt himself smirking, taking the small gift. “Are you peer pressuring me to smoke, Potter?”
“You look hot when you do it,” James shrugged, and Regulus was sure he could fall over.
He didn’t, though. He stood his ground, rolling his eyes in a playful way as he slipped the lighter into his pocket. “Thank you.”
James looked like he wanted to say something, but Regulus’ phone was ringing, the noise making both of them jump. Regulus eyed his bedside table for a few moments before walking around James, scooping it up. The last call he’d received was from his mother, which made his heartbeat pick up. But the contact flashing across his screen was his brothers.
He watched it ring for a few seconds before finally picking it up, letting out a shaky breath as he answered. “Hello?”
There was silence for a few moments before Sirius finally spoke. “Regulus?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we chat?”