Work Text:
Regulus was not having a good day. He had woken up in a sour mood, only to realize he was late for a before-school meeting with some parents. It was pouring rain when he rushed out the door, and his tank was on empty when he started his car. He stepped in a puddle halfway through the school parking lot, instantly soaking through his shoes and socks. When he finally arrived at his desk and thought maybe that was it, there was no way it could get worse– his stomach growled. Not only did he not have enough time to eat breakfast, but he realized with a groan that he left his lunch at home as well.
Suffice it to say, things weren’t going well.
About halfway through his third class of the day, there was a knock at his door. Up to that point, his classes had actually been surprisingly peaceful– a welcome reprieve from his morning. His students were sitting in groups of three or four, quietly reading through a portion of Macbeth before they would come together about twenty minutes before the end of the hour to discuss as a class. It had been going so well, at least until James Potter decided to interrupt. Nothing was quite as exciting to a group of sixteen year olds as their favorite history teacher interrupting their English lit class.
“Morning, Mr. Black.” James grinned brightly, not bothering to wait for Regulus to invite him in. He slowly made his way over to his desk, something clearly hidden behind his back.
“Good morning,” Regulus responded, voice flat. “What do I owe the pleasure?”
He heard scattered giggling from his students, but he ignored it, eyeing James warily as he inched closer.
“Just thought I’d use my planning period to check in. Crazy weather this morning, right?”
Regulus narrowed his eyes.
“Mr. Potter, if you don’t have an actual reason to be here, other than distracting my students from Shakespeare, please kindly leave my classroom.”
James only grinned wider, then shrugged and reached out to drop what was behind his back onto the desk. Regulus looked down and blinked. It was his lunch.
“Saw you forgot this and figured you’d want it. You get a little grumpy when you’re hungry.” He spoke quietly, but Regulus knew they would be the topic of discussion at far too many tables in the cafeteria that day.
The giggling only intensified and Regulus felt his face grow hot. He bit down on the inside of his cheek to hold back his smile; he wouldn’t be giving James that satisfaction.
“Thanks,” Regulus mumbled, grabbing the tupperware to slide into his drawer.
“‘Course.” He inched the slightest bit closer, now next to the desk rather than in front of it. His face was obscured from everyone in the room but Regulus, and he gave him the kind of private smile that never failed to make Regulus swoon. “Dinner tonight?” He whispered.
Regulus let his own smile win out at the end. He rolled his eyes.
“I suppose I’m free. Now get out.”
“You got it.” He turned back to the class, his goofy grin from before back in place, “Come on guys, get back to Hamlet!”
“Macbeth.”
“Right, that.” James winked at Regulus before leaving his classroom in complete chaos.
Regulus took a moment to control his expression and the beating of his heart, before turning to his students.
“Alright everyone, let's talk themes!”