Behind The Cameras

REGULUS

Regulus woke up to warmth.

His brain was foggy, his limbs heavy, his entire body wrapped in something comfortable, steady, safe.

Which was already suspicious.

And then—he registered it.

The warmth wasn’t just warmth.

It was James.

Regulus’s eyes snapped open, and—oh, fuck.

James Potter was wrapped around him.

His arm slung around Regulus’s waist, his face buried in Regulus’s hair, his breath soft and even against Regulus’s skin.

Regulus panicked. Internally, of course.

Externally? He did the most logical thing possible.

He bolted.

Or, well—he tried.

Because the second he pushed himself up, James tightened his grip.

Regulus yelped as he was yanked right back down—

And his lips landed directly on James’s cheek.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Oh, fucking hell.

Regulus froze.

James?

James did not.

He stirred, making a content little noise, stretching slightly—completely oblivious to the fact that Regulus’s soul had just left his fucking body.

Regulus jerked back, eyes wide, face burning.

James, still half-asleep, barely cracked one eye open. He blinked at Regulus, slow and drowsy, before grinning.

"Good morning to you too, love."

Regulus Black officially wanted to die.

Right now. Immediately. On the spot.

He scowled, shoving James away. "That wasn’t on purpose, you menace."

James just laughed, stretching like he hadn’t just been fucking kissed.

"Oh, sure, Reggie," he teased, voice still rough from sleep. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Regulus groaned, dragging his hands down his face. "I hate you."

James beamed. "That’s the post-kiss embarrassment talking."

Regulus shot him a murderous glare. "I will suffocate you with a pillow."

James just reached out, caught his wrist, and tugged him right back down.

His thumb brushed lightly over Regulus’s knuckles. "Stay."

Regulus stopped breathing.

Because James—James fucking meant it.

The teasing was gone, replaced with something quieter, softer.

Regulus swallowed, forcing himself to look away. "You’re impossible."

James hummed, unbothered. "And you’re adorable in the morning."

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Let go of me."

James did not.

Instead, he laced their fingers together and smirked. "Make me, love."

And Regulus?

He didn’t.

Regulus should have known James wasn’t going to let it slide.

Not after last night.

Not after—fuck.

He shifted uncomfortably, trying again to pull his hand from James’s grip, but James just held on tighter, watching him with that insufferably knowing expression.

"So," James started, voice light, casual, too casual. "Do you remember last night?"

Regulus’s stomach dropped.

His jaw tightened. "No."

James snorted. "You’re a terrible liar."

Regulus refused to look at him.

James leaned in, dropping his voice to something dangerously soft. "You told me you love me, you know."

Regulus flinched.

James saw it.

Felt it, too, if the way his fingers tightened around Regulus’s hand was anything to go by.

"I was drunk," Regulus muttered, forcing the words out, ignoring the way his pulse thundered in his ears.

James hummed. "Yeah. You were."

Regulus exhaled, relieved.

For exactly two seconds.

Then—James tilted his head, grinning. "Doesn’t mean it wasn’t true, though."

Regulus’s entire body locked up.

Because—fuck.

James was right.

Regulus had been drunk, but he hadn’t been lying.

James had to know that. James did know that.

And now, James was waiting.

Waiting for Regulus to admit it.

Waiting for him to say it again.

But Regulus—he couldn’t.

Not when James was looking at him like that.

Not when last night still felt like something fragile, delicate, terrifyingly real.

So instead, he scowled and muttered, "I’m never drinking again."

James chuckled, but there was something soft beneath it, something affectionate.

"Shame," he teased. "Drunk you is kind of adorable."

Regulus shot him a murderous glare. "I will smother you in your sleep."

James beamed.

"You love me too much for that, darling."

Regulus froze.

James grinned wider.

Regulus was going to kill him.

But only after he stopped wanting to kiss him.

James was having too much fun with this.

Regulus could see it.

Could feel it in the way James kept looking at him, all smug and pleased with himself, like he had won something.

(He hadn’t. Not yet.)

Regulus yanked his hand away, sitting up quickly. Too quickly. His head spun.

James laughed. "Yeah, that’s what happens when you get wasted, love."

"Shut up." Regulus groaned, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. His entire body ached. His brain felt like it had been put through a blender.

And worst of all—he was in James Potter’s bed.

(Again.)

James stretched lazily, all warm limbs and messy curls and annoyingly attractive softness. "Don’t worry," he said, grinning. "I took excellent care of you."

Regulus glared. "Define 'excellent care.'"

James smirked. "Well, for starters, I refused to let you kiss me."

Regulus whitened.

James beamed. "Oh? You do remember that, don’t you?"

Regulus wanted to die.

Or disintegrate.

Or crawl under the hotel bed and stay there forever.

James laughed, delighted. "Merlin, your face. You really were bold last night, love. Asking to kiss me? Practically climbing into my lap? You’re lucky I’m such a gentleman—"

Regulus lunged, shoving a pillow over James’s face.

James wheezed, laughing so hard he nearly fell off the bed. "You—are—so—embarrassed—"

Regulus pressed harder. "I will smother you in your sleep, Potter."

James grabbed his wrist, still grinning like an idiot.

"Wouldn’t be the worst way to go, honestly."

Regulus gave up. He fell back against the pillows, groaning, utterly defeated.

James rolled onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow, watching him with something too soft, too fond, too dangerous.

"Reg," he murmured.

Regulus didn’t look at him.

Didn’t dare.

But James touched him anyway.

Not much. Just a hand on his arm. A brush of fingers.

Gentle. Careful.

Regulus exhaled. Slowly.

"You told me you love me," James whispered.

Regulus swallowed. Hard.

James’s grip on his arm tightened—just a fraction.

"You know I love you too, right?"

Regulus stopped breathing.

His chest felt too tight, his throat closing up, something deep and aching clawing its way to the surface.

Because—fuck.

James meant it.

He meant it.

And Regulus—

He didn’t know how to handle that.

So he did the only thing he could.

He turned his head slightly, just enough to meet James’s eyes—warm, steady, unshaken—

And then, before he could talk himself out of it, he lifted his own palm to his lips, pressed a kiss to it, and gently smacked it against James’s cheek.

James froze.

Regulus’s pulse pounded.

James blinked. Once. Twice.

And then—he fucking melted.

"Reg," he whispered, like his heart had just given up.

Regulus said nothing.

Just stared at him.

And for the first time in forever—

He wasn’t scared.

James grinned.

That soft, stupid, completely smitten grin that made Regulus’s stomach twist in ways he refused to acknowledge.

His fingers curled around Regulus’s wrist, thumb brushing over his pulse point, and fuck—that was unfair.

"How about I give you that kiss you asked for, then?" James murmured, voice low, teasing. His head dipped closer, lips barely a breath away.

Regulus snorted.

Which—wasn’t exactly the reaction James was expecting.

James pulled back, brows furrowing. "What?"

Regulus smirked, just slightly. "Not with your nasty morning breath, Potter. After we brush our teeth."

James gasped, scandalized. "Nasty? Excuse me? My breath is delightful. Charming, even."

Regulus rolled his eyes. "You literally had your mouth hanging open all night. You probably swallowed an entire colony of germs."

James squinted. "That’s not how that works."

"That’s exactly how that works."

James groaned, flopping dramatically onto his back. "Merlin, you are so high maintenance."

Regulus sat up, stretching lazily. "And yet, here you are, desperate to kiss me."

James groaned louder. "You’re the worst."

Regulus threw a pillow at his face. "And you’re disgusting. Now get up, we’re brushing our teeth."

James grumbled the entire way to the bathroom.

But he still followed.

James stood next to Regulus at the bathroom sink, grinning like an idiot as he squeezed toothpaste onto his brush.

Regulus ignored him.

Or at least, he tried.

It was hard to ignore someone who kept flicking glances at you through the mirror, eyes warm and ridiculously fond.

"Stop staring at me," Regulus muttered around his toothbrush.

James, shameless as ever, kept staring.

"Can’t," he said simply, foam gathering in the corners of his mouth. "You’re so gorgeous."

Regulus paused mid-brush, blinking at him.

James just wiggled his eyebrows.

Regulus deadpanned. "You have toothpaste on your chin."

James wiped at his face, completely missing the spot.

Regulus sighed, reaching over and swiping it away for him, his fingers lingering just a second too long.

James caught his wrist before he could pull back.

Regulus’s breath hitched.

The air shifted.

James’s grin softened into something quieter, something more deliberate. His fingers tightened around Regulus’s wrist, his thumb brushing idly over the inside of it, the touch slow and careful.

"You remember last night, don’t you?" James murmured, voice gentle but certain.

Regulus stilled.

His grip on the sink tightened.

James didn’t press. Didn’t push.

He just…waited.

And fuck.

Regulus swallowed, exhaling through his nose, forcing himself to meet James’s gaze.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "I remember."

James nodded once. Like that was all he needed.

Then, just as casually, he leaned in and—spat directly into the sink.

Regulus recoiled. "Oh my fucking god—"

James cackled, wiping his mouth on a towel. "Ruined the moment, didn’t I?"

Regulus shoved him. "Completely."

James waggled his brows. "So, does this mean I can finally get my kiss now, or—"

Regulus stared at him.

Then, without warning—he grabbed James by the collar, yanked him down, and pressed their lips together.

James froze.

Then melted.

His hands flew to Regulus’s waist, holding him close, lips parting slightly in shock before he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.

Regulus made a small, pleased sound, fingers tightening in James’s shirt.

James was dizzy.

Completely, helplessly gone.

By the time they pulled apart, James was grinning so wide it hurt.

Regulus rolled his eyes, but his cheeks were flushed.

James bumped their foreheads together. "You’re such a menace."

Regulus hummed, fingers playing with the hem of James’s shirt. "And yet, here you are, desperate to kiss me."

James laughed.

Then—he kissed him again.

James grabbed Regulus by the waist and lifted him onto the bathroom counter.

Regulus let out a startled sound, gripping James’s shoulders as he landed with a soft thud.

"The fuck are you doing?" he asked, eyes wide, legs instinctively parting so James could step between them.

James just grinned. "You’re tiny."

Regulus scowled. "I am not—"

James cut him off by kissing him again.

Regulus gasped against his mouth, his grip tightening, fingers curling into James’s shirt.

He could feel James smiled into the kiss, hands settling on Regulus’s thighs, thumbs brushing teasingly over the fabric of his sweatpants.

Regulus shivered.

James pulled back just enough to murmur against his lips, voice low, teasing.

"You were saying?"

Regulus glared, but his cheeks were flushed, his breath coming just a little too fast.

"Shut up," he muttered, before grabbing James’s collar and pulling him back in.

James chuckled into the kiss, hands tightening on Regulus’s thighs as their lips moved together, slow and deliberate.

Regulus sighed into his mouth, his arms looping around James’s neck, body relaxing against him.

James wanted to freeze time.

Wanted to stay here forever.

With Regulus on the counter, soft and melted into him, his fingers playing with James’s curls.

James pulled back just enough to rest their foreheads together.

Regulus’s eyes were still closed.

His lips were slightly parted, cheeks pink.

James grinned.

"Yeah," he murmured, brushing his nose against Regulus’s. "I could get used to this."

Regulus’s eyes flickered open.

Something warm and dangerous flickered there.

James barely had a second to process it before Regulus smirked.

"Don’t get cocky, Potter."

Then—Regulus shoved him off the counter and hopped down, pretending unfazed.

James stumbled back, blinking.

Regulus just smirked at him, smug as hell.

"Breakfast?" James asked, casually running a hand through his hair like he hadn’t just ruined Regulus's entire life.

Regulus exhaled sharply, adjusting his shirt.

"Yeah," he muttered, dazed.

James patted his chest twice. "Good boy."

Then he sauntered out of the bathroom.

Regulus just stood there.

Stunned.

Blown the fuck away.

"...I’m so fucked," he whispered.

Regulus barely had time to process what had just happened before he was power-walking out of the bathroom, heart hammering in his chest.

What the fuck was that?

His lips still tingled, his hands felt too warm, and his entire body was still buzzing with the aftermath of that kiss.

He had kissed James Potter. Twice.

And he had liked it.

No, scratch that. He had loved it.

Regulus reached the hotel bed and stopped, pressing his hands against his face. Breathed.

In. Out.

Okay. Okay, he could handle this.

Sure, he had woken up in James's arms. Sure, he had accidentally kissed his cheek. Sure, James had put him on the counter like he weighed nothing and then kissed him breathless.

But Regulus Black did not panic.

Except—he absolutely did.

Because his entire body still felt like it was burning.

And worse? James fucking knew it.

Regulus groaned into his hands. This was not happening.

A second later, James’s stupid, smug voice called:

"You good out there, love?"

Regulus scoffed, yanking his hands away from his face. "You’re insufferable."

James laughed. "And yet, here you are—completely smitten with me."

Regulus turned, deadpan. "Oh, I’m so smitten, I could die."

James grinned, leaning against the doorway. "At least you admit it now."

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Shut up and feed me, Potter."

James snorted, pushing off the doorframe. "Yeah, yeah. C’mon, love. I’ll get you something good."

Regulus hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then—he let himself follow.

Regulus should have known.

The second James turned around with that smug, too-charming grin, he should have known.

“Something good, yeah?” James said, mock-considering as he stepped closer. Slow. Deliberate.

Regulus narrowed his eyes. “James.”

James hummed, placing his hands on Regulus’s waist. “I’m just giving you what you asked for, love.”

And then—before Regulus could process it—

James tilted his head and kissed him.

It was soft. Unhurried. None of the teasing from earlier, none of the cocky bravado. Just warmth, just lips against lips, just James.

And fuck.

Regulus melted.

His fingers curled into James’s shirt without thinking. His breath hitched. And for a moment, for a perfect fucking moment, he let himself fall.

James was too close.

Hands still on his waist, eyes dark with something dangerous. Something hungry.

Regulus swallowed, heart hammering. “James.”

James just tilted his head, smirking. “Jump.”

Regulus’s breath hitched. “What?”

James’s grip tightened. “Jump, love.”

And fuck.

Regulus did.

His legs wrapped around James’s waist, arms looping around his neck on instinct. James caught him easily, effortlessly, like he was made for this. Like Regulus weighed nothing at all.

Then—James moved.

Pressed him against the wall. Hard. The breath punched out of Regulus’s lungs, his fingers curling into the back of James’s shirt, into skin, warmth, heat.

And then—

James kissed him.

Not soft.

Not teasing.

Rough. Desperate. Needy.

Like he had been waiting. Like he had been starving.

Regulus gasped, and James took.

Lips moving fast, urgent, relentless. His fingers digging into Regulus’s thighs, his chest pressing flush against Regulus’s own. Heat curling, burning, consuming.

Regulus whimpered. He couldn’t help it.

James groaned into his mouth, swallowing the sound, chasing it.

And fuck.

Fuck, Regulus was gone.

His hands tangled into James’s hair, tugging, needing, demanding. James growled at that, deep and low, and it sent something sharp down Regulus’s spine.

Their teeth clashed. Their breaths came too fast, too sharp.

Regulus was drowning.

James wasn’t stopping.

Didn’t give him a second to think, to breathe, to process. He just kissed him harder, deeper, faster.

Like he was making up for lost time.

Like he was claiming him.

Regulus clutched at him, pulling him closer, closer, closer. Like they weren’t already pressed so tight there was no space left between them.

James bit his lower lip. Hard.

Regulus moaned.

And then—

James pulled back.

Just barely.

Just enough to make Regulus chase his mouth, panting, wrecked.

James smirked, cocky and breathless. “I knew you’d like it rough, darling.”

Regulus glared, but his face was flushed, lips swollen, pupils blown wide.

James just grinned, victorious.

And then—he kissed him again.

James didn’t give him a chance to recover.

Didn’t give him a second to think, to breathe, to process.

His lips were back on Regulus’s, devouring, claiming. Like he was making up for every single moment they had wasted.

Regulus was shaking. Not from fear—no, never from fear. From the sheer intensity of it.

From the way James held him like he was something breakable, yet kissed him like he was something he could never let go of.

Regulus fisted his hands into James’s curls, yanking. James groaned, his grip tightening on Regulus’s waist, fingers digging into skin like he never wanted to let go.

“Fuck,” James murmured against his lips, his voice wrecked, his breath warm. “You’re—” He didn’t finish. Just kissed him harder.

Regulus was lightheaded. Overwhelmed. Drunk on it.

Drunk on James, on the way he kissed him, like he was memorizing him. Like he had been waiting forever.

James moved again, walking them back from the wall, hands strong under Regulus’s thighs.

Regulus barely had time to process before he was being set down—back onto the counter, legs still wrapped around James’s waist, caged in, trapped.

Except, he didn’t want to escape.

Didn’t want to be anywhere but here.

James’s hands brushed under his shirt, teasing, lingering, trailing heat in their wake.

Regulus shuddered. “James,” he whispered, and James groaned, pressing their foreheads together.

“Say it again,” James murmured.

Regulus glared, breathless. “You’re insufferable.”

James grinned, fingers tightening at Regulus’s waist. “And yet, you’re kissing me.”

Regulus rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t fight the small, breathless laugh that escaped him.

James kissed him again. Softer this time. Slower.

Like he had all the time in the world.

And for the first time—Regulus let himself believe it.

James pulled back just enough to look at him, his hands still firm on Regulus’s waist, thumbs tracing slow circles against his skin. His glasses were askew, his lips were red, and his eyes—Merlin, his eyes. Warm, golden, filled with something Regulus didn’t know how to name.

Regulus swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. “What?”

James grinned. Soft, a little cocky, but mostly—mostly something else. Something genuine.

“Go out with me.”

Regulus blinked.

James tilted his head, watching him. Waiting.

Regulus’s heart stuttered. “Are you—are you serious?”

James chuckled, low and warm. “Dead serious, love.” His fingers tightened just slightly, grounding, real. “A proper date. Just us. No bandmates, no distractions—just you and me.”

Regulus opened his mouth, then closed it. He had no idea what to say.

This wasn’t a joke.

James wasn’t teasing.

He was asking.

And the worst part? Regulus wanted to say yes.

So badly it scared him.

But—what if this didn’t last?

What if James woke up one day and decided he didn’t want this anymore?

Regulus felt his walls start to go up—but James caught it.

Like he always did.

“Reg,” James murmured, his voice softer now, like he knew exactly what was happening in Regulus’s head. “I’m not playing. I want this. I want you.”

Regulus’s throat tightened.

James smiled, easy, patient. “So?” He tilted his head, nudging their noses together. “Say yes.”

Regulus exhaled shakily.

James was warm. Solid. Here.

And Regulus wanted to believe him.

So, instead of thinking—he just let himself say it.

“…Okay.”

James’s face lit up.

Regulus rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t fight the small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips.

James kissed it right off his face.