Chapter 4
Regulus wakes up with his face pressed to a bare chest and strong arms wrapped around him. There is no light in the room, so Regulud really just lets himself lay there. He thinks this is nice, and he thinks he could wake up like this every morning ….
WAIT. record scratch in his brain. WTF he doesn’t do relationships. He barely does one-night stands.
James is just so lovely though. He’s pretty. He’s entertaining. And He’s polite.
Speaking of the other man starts to stir, so Regulus props his head up and runs his hands through James’ hair. This earns a husky hum from him. Oh, Regulus is dying. James blinks himself awake and looks almost surprised by the fact the Regulus is still there.
“Why the look of shock sweetheart?” Regulus teases.
“Oh um just thought it was your thing to disappear the morning after, you know not get attached and all” James responds with his morning voice.
While Regulus knows things true he doesn’t know where James learned this from. “Who told you that?”
“Um well Lily is my closest friend and she knows I get attached easily, so she warned me that the rockstars are always gone in the morning.”
Yeah, she is definitely right, but something about James made Regulus stay. Something about the honesty that James just gave him makes Regulus want to stay.
--- --- ---
Regulus looks hopelessly adorable in the morning. That is the only thought in his head even as he tells Regulus that he gets attached to people easily. Which yeah he probably shouldn’t have said because now he can see the wheels turning behind the other man's eyes, and James is afraid he will bolt any second
Regulus doesn’t bolt however,he seems to come to some sort of resolution in his head and then offers, “Room service?”
James nods, so in the next ten minutes they find their respective clothes which are scattered, brush their teeth and order their food.
They are sitting over breakfast when one of them finally starts a real conversation.
James can't help but try to reconcile his attachment issue comment from earlier. Saying, “I really don't get attached that fast. Lily is just overprotective. I’m not going to start stalking you or anything, but I do think you’re really cool.”
Regulus blushes and James can’t help but feel his heart swoop. He realized last night that, Regulus puts on an act. He is a flirt, James cannot deny him that, but he is nowhere near as confident when things get intimate or personal. Regulus blushes ducks his head, and sometimes just fully turns away.
Regulus takes a few seconds to respond, but when he does he surprises James. “I think you might be one of the most genuine people I’ve met on tour. James, you may not get it and I may sound crazy because we just met, but you are. Everyone just worships me, they don't see me, and then when some of them see the real me they turn away. You are so real.”
Okay, James was not expecting that. He really doesn’t know what to say, but their faces are so close and Regulus is looking at his lips so he cups the back of Regulus’ neck and leans in. It’s a soft kiss. It’s a meaningful one that isn’t full of lust. It’s admiration. James is admiring Regulus, and he just hopes the other man can feel it.
--- --- ---
Regulus is admiring James in this kiss. How could he not? James is so sweet. He is so different. He is worshipping Regulus for who he is, not the person he is on stage. The part and all Regulus wants is to lay back down with him, so that’s what he asks. Regulus knows he shouldn’t because he is going to want to stay there forever, and one of his bandmates will be around in probably thirty minutes to get him to get on the bus.
They lay there though. Regulus with his head on James’ chest, tracing the seams of his t-shirt over and over. James actually falls back asleep. They get an hour though. One more uninterrupted hour together. Then there is a knock on the door. Regulus knew is was coming, but he is still disappointed.
He gets up without waking up James and sees that for once it’s Pandora who wakes him up.
The first thing she says is “Oh, your attached love.”
Regulus quickly shuts the door behind him and scrubs his face with his hands. “P, I told you to put me on a leash. He is just so amazing, and sweet. You always know. You had to know this would happen.”
“I had a feeling, and I think Lily may have planned this too. It’s good for you, Reg. Just give him a chance.”
“I think I’m going to have to.”
“Ok well, you have thirty minutes, love. Get on with it.” She trunks around and walks up the hall to her own room.
Regulus is left standing there trying to figure out how to even say this. How can he even explain to James that he’d gotten attached overnight. He doesn’t get the chance to overthink it because the door opens behind him. James pulls him back inside.
They both climb on the bed and sit across from one another. Regulus takes a breath and says, “James, if I gave you my number would you still talk to me after this.”
James looks shocked but he says, “Yes, of course. Please do”
And Regulus thinks that this will be something. That maybe, this one will still be fun after last night. That maybe, he did want just one person he could be with. That maybe right now he is willing to see if that person could be James.