Regulus POV
I was looking at my hands, trying not to focus on the way that James' hands felt on my thighs when suddenly he started breathing heavily. I looked concerned and only got more concerned as I saw his face.
His pupils were blown wide and his face was incredibly pale. He was breathing in rapidly, never really breathing out.
“Hey, James come on, you need to breathe,'' I say, noticing the signs of a panic attack when I saw one. Yeah me and anxiety were good friends. He didn’t listen, simply falling back to wrap his arms around his knees and rock back and forth.
“Come on James listen to me,” I got down on my knees in front of him and pried his hands apart resting one on my chest, “can you feel me breathe James? I need you to respond,” he did, just a small nod of his head, “okay I need you to breathe with me okay? In. Out. In, Out,” I repeated this until eventually his breathing evened out but I didn’t let go of his hand.
“Can you tell me what that was about?” Though part of me didn’t want to know. I could help with the initial attack but I was shit at feelings.
“What do you think it was about,” he glared but it had no heat behind it and his voice was small and fragile.
“Look I know it's not convenient-” I start and he pulls away.
“Not convenient? Regulus, the biggest gossip in school just saw us snogging. That’s a nightmare,” I don’t mean to but I flinch back.
“Nice to know that being seen with me is a nightmare,” I say dryly and his eyes widen.
“No, that's not what I meant. I’m sure you’re great and anyone would be lucky to have you,” James Potter always has to be the bloody hero, “It’s just Sirius.”
Of course, James is worried about what Sirius would think. This had absolutely nothing to do with Sirius; it was his and James' lives and yet here Sirius was always in the way no matter how hard Regulus tried to push him out. He should have known better James and Sirius were inseparable, more like brothers than Regulus and Sirius were at this point. And James was caught snogging his evil little brother of course he would be mad.
“So just tell him before anyone else can,” I shrug as if it’s simple, but if I know anything about my brother is that this situation will not be simple.
“Oh he's gonna kill me,” he runs his hands through his hair and my mind flashes to a few moments before I shake my head.
“I’m sure you’re fine Potter, no one would harm you,” I scoff, James was the picture perfect poster child, everyone loved him, well everyone but me.
“Why’d you do it?” He whispers and it takes me a second to realize he’s talking about the kiss.
“Oh there's a bunch of girls who won’t leave me alone no matter how many times I say no, I figured if they thought I was seeing someone they would leave me alone,” he stills at my words.
“Have they tried to touch you?” His eyes are wide and full of concern
“A few,” I shrug trying not to remember the cold hands and sly slip of love potion.
“That's harassment Reg,” he comes to stand in front of me once more, it’s like a game of back and forth who’s going to freak out this time, “have you told anyone?”
I shake my head, “No one would listen anyways, they don’t take male assault very seriously here,” he frowns at my words, “It doesn't matter anyways Potter, don't pretend that you actually care.”
“I care about everyone,” I roll my eyes, once again Potter trying to play a good guy. Merlin does he ever gets tired of this act, “I do, I would never wish harm on someone.”
“Unless they were dark and a Slytherin right?”
“No one Regulus,” the way he said my name stopped me from spitting out any harsh words, the way the R rolled perfectly, as if he had said it a hundred times. I stood there for a second just taking in the sight of James. I tried not to look at him to much but over the years he had grown up into a startling beautiful young man, his hair was a beautiful tan brown color, his hair as curly and unruly as ever even with his father being the invented of the most well known hair products and hazel eyes shining with mischief under the starlight that you could get lost in for hours and they were staring right at me.
“I figured it out,” I blurted out before I could stop myself and he jumped up and had a glint in his eye that reminded me of sunshine.
“Figured out?” His eyes sparkle brighter at the hope of a solution.
“The solution to our problem.”
“I mean I wouldn’t say it’s a problem just a minor hiccup-” before he would finish I cut him off.
“Let's date.” What. The. Fuck.