Chapter Text
Most days it was easy for Regulus Black to ignore his older brothers best friend. Today was not one of those days. James Potter had his stupid hair fluffed up, even messier than usual. His glasses were slipping off his nose as he got further invested in whatever book he was reading. Regulus watched as James flexed his fingers, cracking his knuckles on his thigh. He flipped the page of his book, eyes darting across the page quickly. He scribbled down something on a piece of parchment next to him, then glanced up, making eye contact with the younger Black.
“Yes Reg?” He smirked. He leaned back, stretching in an exaggerated manner. His shirt lifted up, revealing the band of his boxers and a sliver of his stomach.
Regulus cleared his throat before responding, trying to even his breathing. “Your glasses are falling off, dumbass.” He leaned forward, gently pushing the other boys glasses back up on his nose, lingering just a second too long.
A sudden stream of voices through the portrait door cause Regulus to jump back, startled. He sat back in the chair, trying to make himself as small as possible. Why oh why, he thought to himself, did I have to touch his face? He kept his eyes on the fire in front of him as Sirius, Peter and Remus came back loaded with snacks and drinks from the kitchens.
“Hello brother dearest, I hope Jamsie here didn’t bore you to death with his transfiguration essay.” Sirius chuckled, ruffling Regulus’ hair as he walked by to sit next to James. Remus sat next to Sirius, allowing his brother to prop his feet up on the other boys knees, and to lean against James.
Regulus rushed to fix his hair. “No, he was fine. You should really work on yours too, you’ve barely done anything, and what you have done sucks.”
James and Remus let out a loud laugh.
“Reggie, he always does it at the last minute so Moony will feel bad and help him. Which means mostly doing it for him, of course.” James smiled at him, before returning to his essay. His tongue poked out just barely, but it captured Regulus’ attention anyway.
“I don’t understand why he gets to call you Reggie and I don’t. I’m your big brother, your greatest role model, the best person in your life.” Sirius huffed dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest.
Regulus rolled his eyes at his brother, tucking his feet to the side of him. He pulled his sleeves down over his palms, wishing he had brought a sweater. “You wish. Also, you’re less than a year older than me, it’s not like you’re any more wise, and definitely not smarter.”
Remus let out a bark of a laugh, and Sirius shot a glare his way.
“Reg, you cold?” James asked suddenly, eyeing him. Regulus didn’t even have time to answer before James was stripping off his sweater, leaving him in just a white button up. He tossed it to Regulus with a smile. “Here, put it on. I can get you a blanket too if you need it?”
Regulus was too stunned to respond, and settled for shaking his head. Sirius eyed him warily, but decided not to say anything.
As he slipped the sweater on, he could smell James all through it. And damn, if he didn’t smell amazing. He pulled the sleeves down over his palms, and rested his head on his arm, folded up in the comfy chair. It may not look comfy to anyone else, but he was the most content he’d been in months.
Regulus didn’t remember falling asleep, but then James was shaking his shoulder gently, whispering his name. As he sat up, he rubbed his eyes softly and then remembered he was still wearing James’ sweater. His face became flushed as he looked up at the boy in front of him.
It seemed that Sirius and Remus had already gone up to bed. James’ school things were all packed back in to his bag, and the fire had almost died out completely. There was moonlight coming in through the large window on the far wall, and some candles were still lit filling the room with a soft, warm glow.
James kneeled in front of Regulus, putting a hand on his knee. “It’s pretty late Reg. Did you wanna sleep here tonight?”
Regulus shook his head, standing up groggily. He stretched, allowing his back to pop and his legs to wake up. “I should go back to my dorm, thank you though.”
James nodded, standing up and towering over the younger Black by a good few inches. Regulus wasn’t short by any means, James Potter was just weirdly tall. They walked to the portrait together, and as it swung open James followed Regulus through it.
The shorter boy looked up at him with curiosity.
“Well I can’t let you go through the dangerous hallways on Hogwarts all by yourself, can I? Gotta protect you.” He smiled, ruffling Regulus’ hair softly. James draped arm lazily around his shoulders, and they began to descend the stairs together.
Regulus’ whole body was on fire and he was no longer tired at all. All of the sleep seemed to have disappeared from his body, leaving him feeling like electricity was running through his veins instead of blood. As they reached a long hallway just before getting to the Slytherin dormitory’s, James tightened his grip on the other boys shoulder, halting him where they stood.
“Wha-” Regulus started saying, before being abruptly interrupted by James shushing him. The taller boy grabbed him, quickly pulling him into a broom closet. James brought a finger to his lips, in a silent “be quiet” motion. There were loud, uneven footsteps coming up the hallway, approaching their hiding spot slowly.
It was then, that Regulus became aware of just how close him and James were. He could feel James breath on him, and he noticed that James was still clutching his hand. He flexed his fingers and the taller boy dropped his hand, looking bashful. They were an inch away from each other, basically touching. He could do it now, he could stand on his toes, lean up, and kiss James Potter. It would be incredibly easy to do, and oh god James Potter is touching his cheek.
“You look lovely in my sweater, Reg. You’d better keep it, it looks far better on you than me.” He whispered into the shorter boys ear, breath hot and tickling him. He nearly let out a squeak, but stopped himself.
And there they stood, for what felt like a year, but was really a measly few minutes. Facing each other, bodies nearly touching, James’ hand hesitantly on Regulus’ cheek, cupping his face. The footsteps had gone and past now, they could leave with no threat of Filch finding them and hanging them by their toes. Yet they stood there, taking in each other’s presence. Regulus had his hand on the door handle, and suddenly James was leaning in. In a panic, the younger brother yanked the door handle, opening the door. He stepped out quickly, desperately trying to escape being in such close proximity to James.
James furrowed his brow, “Did I do something wrong? I didn’t mean…”
This was even worse. He didn’t want to make James think he didn’t want to kiss him. Oh Merlin, why didn’t he just stay in that broom closet for forever. It would’ve been easy, it felt like time had stopped when he looked into James Potters eyes. But no, of course he fucked it all up and had to leave, James probably hated him now.
No time like the present, is all Regulus managed to think to himself before stepping forward towards James. He made the executive (and possibly stupid) decision to shut them both back up in the broom closet. Merlin forbid anyone happen to walk down the hallway and catch them together.
“James. I haven’t kissed anyone yet. I don’t know what to do, and I don’t want it to be awkward with you.” Regulus looked down at their feet. He hadn’t even noticed that James was wearing maroon slippers.
“Reg…” His voice was soft and sweet, like honey dripping from his tongue. What he wouldn’t do to just get a fix of the liquid sugar that James Potter always seemed to speak.
“Can I kiss you, even if it is awkward?”
Looking up into those brilliant hazel eyes, how could he ever say no? It was rather dark in the broom cupboard, but everything about James Potter shone brighter than the moon.
James brought a hand to his cheek, brushing a piece of hair behind his ear. He leaned in slow, and Regulus couldn’t help but close the difference quicker. This was it, he was kissing James Potter in a broom cupboard twenty feet from the Slytherin commons. And Merlin was it amazing.
Regulus brought his hand to James’ chest, hesitating before making contact. James’ hand was entangled in his curly black hair, and it was comforting to say the least. James’ lips were unbelievably soft, and kissing him made him feel like he was floating ten feet off the ground. They were completely lost in each other, and Regulus could’ve kept going for hours but unfortunately one does have to breathe.
When he finally pulled away, his cheeks were flushed and he was breathless. While it could’ve been because he refused to breathe while kissing, afraid that James would feel his breath on him, it was mostly because James was stunning and he couldn’t believe that they just made out.
“I wasn’t the worst was I?” Regulus whispered, afraid of the answer.
James let out a low laugh, and pulled Regulus into a hug. “Reg, please you’ve got to be kidding. That was perfect.” He sighed, resting his chin on the other boys shoulder.
Regulus let out a sigh of relief and then allowed himself to be pulled into the hug even tighter. Finally they decided it was probably best to leave the broom closet, and they stepped out after checking to make sure Filch wasn’t near.
“Thank you… for everything tonight.” Regulus smiled up at James. Their fingers were interlocked, and James brought their hands up to kiss Regulus’ knuckles.
“Of course! Goodnight Reg, see you tomorrow?” James smiled hopefully. He ran his thumb over the back of Regulus’ hand, causing the other boy to giggle lightly.
“Of course James. And I’ll be in your commons after dinner anyways, can’t get rid of me that easily.” And after a quick peck goodbye, James was off down the corridor. Regulus sighed to himself, and whispered the password to the portrait. Thankfully nobody was down in the commons and he could sneak up to his dorm without running into anyone.
As he changed into his pajama bottoms and laid down in his bed, he couldn’t help but trace over all the places James had touched him. His cheek, ear, lips, hands, shoulders. He had decided to keep his sweater on, it smelled too good to take off. He slept peacefully, knowing in some few hours, he’d be face to face with James again.