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“Go to hell!” Another Slytherin student yells. Regulus balls his fists, but other than that, shows no reaction. This is his new normal. He gets yelled the most outrageous things at least once a day. It’s been like that since it got out about his crush on James Potter. James whose on the quidditch team, and he absolutely screams straight.
Regulus has actively avoided all of the marauders and the girls they’re friends with. The comments from the rest of the school is enough. Regulus’ only friend at the moment is Pandora, and secretly Evan and Barty. They can’t be seen together because of the situation Regulus is in.
“Go to hell, Faggot!” A stickup Ravenclaw yells. Regulus forces himself not to flinch. Out of the corner of the eye he catches James and Sirius walking down the corridor towards him.
Regulus slips into the traffic that’s moving the opposite direction. He hopes they don’t see him. He can feel people shift away from him as he walks next to them. Regulus chest begins hurting, and he decides to fuck class.
He slowly makes his way into the library. The librarian gives him a solemn nod of acknowledgment. He takes one of his favorite books out of his bag, and he hides away in the shelves. Regulus rubs his hand across his chest trying to take the aggressive ache in it.
Regulus reads three chapters before he hears someone approaching. Regulus hunches himself over, and he hopes they can’t make out that it’s him.
“Oh, look guys, it’s the school’s stupidest faggot!” Laughing erupted from the two behind him. Regulus knew it was Snape the second he started talking. Regulus had no time to reach for his wand because in second, he was slammed into the bookshelf that he was just resting nest to. “How long do you think it will take to make gay boy cry?” Snape taunts. His minions laugh once again behind him. Regulus digs his short nails as hard as he can in Snape’s wrists, trying anything that could help him. Snape stayed solid.
Regulus stared at Snape’s face as he removed one of him hands. Regulus forced himself to relax, as he saw Snape draw it back.
Regulus’ head is thrown to the side. He forces himself to look back at Snape with no emotion. If he gives them no reaction, they’ll get bored eventually. Regulus’ head is thrown to the side once more as Snape’s fists connects to his face. The third punch hits his nose. Regulus holds in the tears of pain as he nose gushes blood.
The punches keep coming. At one point, Regulus believes he was passed to one of Snape’s goons. Regulus is confused when he is suddenly dropped to the ground. Their steps are rushing away.
Regulus doesn’t move from his spot crumbled up on the ground. He flinches hard when someone’s hand touches his shoulder.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Regulus, it’s okay.” James. James is here, and Regulus is beaten. James’ first time seeing him after the news spread is when he is already wishing death upon himself.
“Go away,” Regulus whispers. He curls around himself even more. He is acting as if James could crack his rips under his foot if he so much as wanted to right now.
“Regulus, can I take you to the Infirmary? Please?” James whispers. Regulus doesn’t move. He stays curled around himself on the floor of the library. “Come on, I’ll carry you if I have to.”
Regulus shakes his head. “No, I’m not going.” Regulus waits for James to go away. He waits for James to remember that he’s the little faggot with the crush on him.
Regulus jumps when James’ hands slip under him. “James!” Regulus yelps. He’s eyes open wide, only to immediately close from pain. He doesn’t even realize he used James’ first name. He feels James move him around in his arms, and he fights the urge to grab onto James’ neck. He feels James bend to grab something before he begins walking.
“I told you I would carry you,” James whispers. Regulus doesn’t even have to see James’ face to know there’s a light smirk on his face. “I cleaned the blood off the floor then grabbed your book and your bag,” James explains. Regulus feels himself relax slightly at how soft James is speaking. He is slightly concerned that James actually looked at his book, but he didn’t say anything. Regulus assumes James didn’t just by that.
“‘m sorry,” Regulus mutters as James continues walking. He feels James hesitate in his next step. He takes that as a bad sign. He goes to talk again, but James beats him to it.
“Nothing to apologize about,” James states. Regulus feels embarrassed. He would rather get beat up again.
“About this whole situation,” Regulus whispers. He hopes James realizes what he’s meaning.
“Oh, oh, Regulus, no, I’m not upset about that. Why would I?” James is matching Regulus’ volume. Regulus feels his heart speed up.
“I mean who would want some fagg-“ Regulus is cut off by James so swiftly that he jumps slightly in surprise.
“No,” James’ voice is sharp. “No, don’t say that. Certainly don’t call yourself that. I’m sorry that that is all you’ve been hearing recently, and Merlin, has it hurt to watch it. Regulus, I’ve been trying to speak to you for weeks. I just can’t seem to ever get to you. Regulus, I could never be upset with the fact you have a crush on me because I’ve fancied you for the longest time. I absolutely hate the shit I’m hearing about you, but fuck, I feel so useless. I have no idea how to help. I think I’ve hexed more people this week than I ever have before,” James rambled. Regulus’ eyes are forced open, and he is staring at James in surprise. Regulus can’t think of what to say. James has a crush on him? Real likely.
“Did m’ brother set you up to t’is?” Regulus asked. James’ gaze snap down to him. Regulus chest is aching, and he can feel panic and anxiety growing quickly in it.
“No, no, oh my Merlin, Regulus, you can not possible believe that me or Sirius would ever do that?” James is looking down at him like his brown another head.
“More believable than whatever the fuck you just said,” Regulus whispers. He sees pain flash across James’ face, and it hits Regulus. Shit, maybe he was telling the truth.
“Whatever, Regulus, I won’t fight you. Just know, I don’t necessarily go out of my way to try and find someone everyday for weeks on end when they’re clearly avoiding me, for just anyone,” James mutters. James is staring straight ahead with a chillingly empty expression. Regulus feels his stomach turn.
“You’re being serious?” Regulus whispers. His heartbeat is probably much faster than it was even when he was getting beaten to death.
“Yes, Regulus, believe it or not, straight quidditch jock James isn’t so fucking straight after all,” James states. Regulus cliches slightly. He sees James’ eyes grow concerned, but they don’t come back down to Regulus.
Regulus wraps his arms around James’ neck. He nudges James’ head towards him slightly which James allows. “I’m sorry. It just sounds a little to good to be true, you know? I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Regulus whispers. He doesn’t like admitting when he’s wrong, much less apologizing afterwards, but James is a bit different.
“It’s okay. I understand how it may look, but it’s true. It’s really fucking true. Before now, I believed you to be the, straight pureblood racist Black, that everyone talks about. Somehow still fell for you though,” James let’s out an awkward laugh. Regulus runs a hand along James’ check as a little dip into the waters. He feels James tense, but he saw a blush burst under his fingers. It made James’ tanned skin warm underneath his fingers.
“We’re almost to the infirmary,” James whispers. His eyes are flickering between Regulus and the corridor in front of him.
“I hope I don’t live up to your standards of me, James,” Regulus whispers, gaining a little confidence from the blush across James’ face.
“I hope you don’t either,” James whispers back. Regulus is being shifted in James’ arms then James is opening the infirmary doors.
“Poppy! Poppy, are you free?” James shouted. Regulus eyes slip closer, no longer wanting to endure the pain of keeping them open. No more beautiful blushing James to see.
“James, what are you- Oh my, is that Black?” Pomfrey gasps. Regulus can hear her concern. He curls around himself in James’ arms. “Come here, quickly.” Regulus feels himself being laud on a bed. “Do you know what happened, Potter?” Pomfrey questions.
“I, uhm, got into a bit of a fight. Thought I would do better if I am honest,” Regulus lies. He feels James tense from where he’s still slightly pressed against Regulus’ arm. Pomfrey gasps slightly. Whether from the fact his talking or the fight, Regulus doesn’t know.
“That’s not true, Poppy. Regulus didn’t even fight back when S-“ James tried. Regulus cuts him off though.
“I started it,” Regulus insists. James’ hand come up to cover his mouth. Regulus’ eyes fly open as he looks at James in betrayal.
“Snape, Dolohov, and Avery snuck up on Regulus in the library and processed to beat him up. Regulus didn’t even fight back,” James explains. Regulus tried to say something, but James’ hand is firm. It lets go when Pomfrey nods.
“Okay, James, and do you have any idea why they would come after Regulus?” Pomfrey asks as she runs her wand over Regulus. He feels himself relaxing as his cuts are healing.
“Uhm, I think it has something to do with a rumor going around,” James whispers. Clearly not wanting to say anymore. Regulus decides he’s going to help James out a little bit.
“It’s because I’m gay.” Regulus has to give Pomfrey credit where credits is due, her wand didn’t halt at all.
“Okay, I’ll talk to all the heads of house. I need you to try and open your eyes. They seem to be swelling.”
Regulus did as she asks. He’s eyes were apparently bleeding. He follows her other requests. He’s told that he has a concussion, and then he’s given potions to drink. After he promises her to drink the potions, she walks away.
Regulus hears James sit next to him. “Why are you still here?” Regulus questions. He turns, and he opens his eye to look at James. He sees James staring at him.
“You want me to go?” James questions. Regulus instantly shoots an arm out to James. That’s something he might be able to do now.
“No, no, just a question,” Regulus says. He lets his eyes slip closed as James smiles at him.
“I just want to be with you. You know, after you ignoring me for so long,” James jokes. Regulus’ laugh dies short when James threads their hands together. “I’ll be here when you wake up,” James whispers. Regulus opens his mouth when he feel glass tap against his lip. He lets James feed him the potion. He squeezes James hand and hopes James wasn’t joking. He falls into a dreamless sleep.