Chapter Text
“Love isn’t a required thing, Regulus.” James muttered, a softness to his voice he rarely gets to be on the receiving end of. “Family or not; you should never be made to love somebody you don’t. O-of course if you do love them that’s fine, that’s perfect I just- it’s not a needed thing, you know? They can be your so-called family without you having a real love for them. I need you to know that, Reg.” His voice got quieter and more muffled as he continued, a blurred pink quickly spreading across his cheeks as he looked up from their intertwined fingers.
James Potter had great big brown doe eyes while Regulus Black had sharp gray eyes that held little to no emotion at all; James showed all his emotion through his eyes. It’s one of Regulus’ favorite things about him. He could stare into them for hours but not now. Not right now when James’ eyes are filled with nothing but sorrow and heartbreak for the boy in front of him.
“Yeah, I know.” Regulus replied, the corners of his lips curling up into a lopsided smile he has set aside for James alone. “Thank you.”
“Reggie mate, where’ve you been?” An exasperated Barty appearing quickly around the corner. “Oh. Oh. Yeah, course um I’ll meet you in the dorm later yeah?” He chuckled, Barty, seemingly trying to hide the nervousness in his voice when he spotted James Potter standing right in front of Regulus. James’ eyes not wavering even slightly from the place on Regulus’ lips he’s staring at.
“Yeah, Crouch.” Potter replied.
Oh, I desperately want to kiss him, James thought.
I’m not supposed to love you, Regulus mentally cursed himself.