Chapter Text
* 11 am *
"If I die," James starts, throat parched and vision going blurry. "Give all my wordly possessions to Filch. The old sod looks like he needs a break."
Someone scoffed and James wondered if the bright patch of light above him was heaven. He snapped out of it when he felt a sharp pinch on his side. "No one's dying, you muppet. Madam Pomfrey's trying to do an eye check and you keep crying and muttering about heaven. Shut it and wipe your eyeballs."
Regulus? He blinked away the tears as a familiar face came into view. Pale skin, pitch black curls, sharp, grey eyes. Shit- it really was him. "What're you doing here?" James felt his palms get sweaty and absentmindedly wondered if his hair looked alright.
" You- called for me." He replied, sounding a little unsure of the answer himself. "That's what Pomfrey said, anyways. Also, your hair looks like a family of pigeons have made their nest in it. So, normal, I suppose."
James flattened his palms over his hair self consciously. "Merlin, am I saying all this out loud? What am I on?"
A snort came from beside Regulus. Who else was here? "The spectrum, probably."
"Okay- that's it. Out." Regulus stood up, smacking a green-tipped head of hair. "Barty- out. Wish I had my bloody spray bottle."
"Yeah, alright, protect your sweetheart." James swallowed thickly, feeling his face heat up. What was Barty insinuating? Did he know about-
"Potter, mate," Barty cut in, quite rudely actually. Typical. "Sorry about your head injury and all that but you are seriously speaking a mile a minute, and 80 percent of it is utter bollocks. Please shut it while we discuss our nefarious Slytherin plans."
He bit his tongue, not because he wanted to listen to that git- ever- but because he was scared he'd actually reveal something he knows should be kept under wraps.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "Yes, Barty, I will come to watch you watch Evan like a creep. Please just ask the poor bloke out already. He definitely thinks you're a stalker."
"Maybe he likes that."
"Out."
James' head was pounding, and nothing made any sense at all. He chalked it up to being some kind of fever dream and fell into a state of unconsciousness, which he found quite pleasant. The only bad thing about it was that he couldn't see Regulus' beautiful face anymore.
* 12pm *
"Prongs- are you alright? Why the fuck did we have to hear about this from my gross little brother!" Sirius barged into his bed, shoving apart the curtains and letting in the sunshine. Remus and Peter followed closely behind, hopping onto the bed. James squinted, raising his arms to defend himself against the three of them. "Oh, you look like shit. What happened to you?"
And- something clicked in his brain. Sort of like a floodgate opening. Dam breaking. One of those metaphors. James opened his mouth and found it exceedingly difficult to stop talking after being asked a question.
"Well, I was practicing some manoeuvres on the pitch, but I forgot to clean my broom after waxing it and I fell off and banged my head on something. I called for Regulus in the infirmary because I'm in love with him and wanted to see him one last time before I died." He took a deep breath, steamrolling past the look of absolute shock on his friends' faces and continuing his word vomit. "Of course, I'm not dead, but I'm very fucking scared I will be after I just told you that. Also, Crouch has a thing for Rosier."
"What." Sirius gripped the edge of the bed. His eyes were as wide as saucers but they held a promise of violence in them all the same.
"Well, I suppose the last bit wasn't really relevant, so I'm not sure why I told you that. I just- I can't seem to stop talking."
Peter snorted. "Well, that's not news, mate. You being in love with Regulus, though?" He raised his eyebrow, letting out a long, slow whistle. James winced. "That's news."
Remus made a sound of disagreement, "Is it, though? James is about as subtle as an elephant. Especially around Regulus."
"Well," Sirius huffed. "I certainly didn't notice you making fuck-me eyes at my brother, so. Can't have been all that obvious."
"Oh- Pads, come on. Don't be so crass. It's not like he's having inappropriate, dirty thoughts about the guy. He's in love."
"I am." James blurted out, unable to stop himself, for whatever reason. Merlin, was everybody so focused on his feelings for Regulus that they were ignoring the state he was in?
"See?" Remus nodded, clapping him gently on the shoulder. "Nothing to stress about."
"No, I mean. I do want to shag your brother. Among other things. Like- bring him flowers. Take him out on dates. Spend all my time with him. The lot." James cursed his brain to mouth filter- or apparent lack of one. "Fucking hell, what is happening to me?" He hissed.
"Dunno about that, but I can sure guess what's about to happen to you." Sirius cracked his fingers, looming over James. Brilliant.
Death by best friend due to being punched in the throat because of inappropriate feelings for the younger sibling. That'll look banging on his gravestone.
Moony, always his savour and the voice of reason, pulled Sirius back by the collar, giving him a stern look. "Sirius- no. Look, he's obviously fucked in the head right now, and you have every right to have feelings about all this, but you will not resolve them with your fists. It's James. Let's get him some help and he can explain whatever that was later, alright?"
Sirius nodded mutely, still in a daze after being held so closely to Remus.
James smiled gratefully. He took Sirius' hand, looking meaningfully at him to defend his words and explain how serious he was about Regulus, but there's was something rather pressing at the forefront of his mind. "I have to piss."
"Prongs- you little-"
* 12:30 pm *
"Veritaserum," Remus repeated dumbly, standing defensively in front of James, who was leaning heavily on Peter and Sirius. "You can't be serious." He turned around sharply, already anticipating the joke that was about to be made. "And don't say a word, Sirius."
James grinned loopily. He loved his friends.
"Yeah, we love you too, Prongs. But it seems that Poppy dearest has drugged you."
"Accidentally." Madam Pomfrey cut in, giving James an apologetic look. "I'm truly sorry, Mr Potter. The vials got mixed up in the shipment, and we've just got a new nursing apprentice. She's- well. I won't get into that now." She shook her head in annoyance. "The Veritaserum has mixed with the painkillers and put you in a sort of- unfiltered state. Should wear off in a few days."
"You can say that again," James agreed, head lolling to the side. Merlin, he was exhausted.
"The Veritaserum mixed with the painkillers in your bloodst-"
"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey," Remus interrupted. "Muggle saying. He's just saying that your explanation makes sense. It does to me, as well. Poor lad's been talking nonstop, digging his own grave."
Peter nodded, tilting James' head up from where it was resting on his shoulder. "He looks miserable. Can't we give him something to subdue the effects? I doubt he wants to be saying everything that's on his mind for the rest of the week."
"Yes," James stressed. "I do. I want to tell Regulus that-"
"Nope." Sirius gagged. "None of that. Just because I haven't knocked your lights out doesn't mean I want to hear all this shit come out of your mouth."
"Language, Mr Black." Madam Pomfrey warned.
Sirius gave her a sarcastic grin. "Drugging a student, Ms Pomfrey."
"Right, well. Fair game, Mr Black. I apologise again, boys. If anything changes in his condition, do bring him up to me. Till then, make sure he stays out of trouble, alright? He's vulnerable right now."
The three of them nodded, before nudging James forward so they could make their way back to the dorms.
"So, I'm stuck like this?" He confirmed sleepily, rubbing a hand down his face. "Bloody hell, have I got some bad karma."
"You'll be fine, don't worry. We'll make sure you don't run off and say the wrong thing to the wrong person." Remus confirmed. He paused for a moment, an amused look on his face. "Can't believe Crouch fancies Evan." James couldn't believe that's what they were choosing to focus on- however strange the situation was.
Peter gasped, "I know, right? I'd say they're polar opposites, but Rosier's quite a nutter too, actually. They'd be a good fit, now that I think about it."
"Maybe. I study with Evan all the time, and he only ever brings up Crouch to slag him off. Wouldn't have seen it coming, personally." Remus shrugged. While everyone knew he was the smartest of the lot, he was not that well-versed in love. Even less so when it seemed untraditional. After all, Sirius and Remus had been obsessed with each other for years, it seemed fairly obvious that they would end up together. It makes sense that Crouch and Rosier's strange relationship wouldn't scream romance to Remus.
"I don't like Crouch. He's a bad influence on Reggie." Sirius interjected, arms crossed and nose high. Bloody hypocrite.
"You're the worst influence of all, Pads." James reminded him. "Besides, I think it's nice. He's got his own little Marauders. What do you think they call themselves?"
"Nothing, because it's cringey as hell," Peter rolled his eyes. He was always against having a group name- said they sounded like a boy band in dire need of a breakthrough.
"You love it, Pete. Don't lie."
"I'm not dosed with Veritaserum. I will lie myself into hell, thank you very much."
"See you there, Wormy." Sirius clinked an imaginary glass in a mock cheers. Peter snorted and did the same.
James smiled dopily. He really loved his friends.
* 2pm *
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T LIKE DAVID BOWIE?" Sirius bellowed, standing on his trunk waving his arms around like a lunatic.
"I just said that I don't really care much about him!" James cried, ducking down to avoid getting hit by the projectiles launching at him. Good lord- was that lube? "His music's just not my thing."
"Not your thing." Sirius scoffed. "Right. 7 years of friendship and apparently he's not your thing anymore. But my brother is?"
"Yes. Very."
James didn't swerve fast enough to prevent the pot of ink from being flung at him.
* 5pm *
"Potter, you're getting ink on my robes." Regulus complained, glaring disdainfully at the couch they were sharing. The library was oddly full for a Thursday evening, so James had begged Regulus to let him sit on the sofa he'd secured while they both worked on the Charms essay. He needed a moment away from his friends, who were switching between overwhelming worry for his well-being and curiosity about just how much he could reveal in one sitting. Bunch of tossers. "Move."
"I don't want to move any further from you." He admitted truthfully, before going bright red. Regulus wasn't faring much better- his own sharp cheekbones had bloomed a lovely shade of pink, lips parted in shock. "That is- uh, because I'll fall off the couch." James ground out.
"You- I'll shove you off the couch myself." he cleared his throat. "Why are you covered in ink, anyways?"
"Sirius threw a pot at me when I said I didn't give a wand's shake about David Bowie."
Regulus nodded in understanding. "You brought that upon yourself."
"Among other things." He sighed, leaning back. He winced as the edge of the backrest hit his spine, so he shuffled a little closer to the centre to sit back properly. Regulus stiffened in his periphery. "Sorry- is the ink really bothering you? I'll take it off."
"I don't care.' Regulus sniffed.
James shrugged anyways, untying his robes and placing them on the desk, making sure the ink didn't touch any of his books. He rolled up his sleeves to avoid getting ink anywhere else on his uniform- he was on his last round of clothes for the school week.
"Is that better?" He asked, "Did you get any ink on you? God forbid his highness stains his precious robes," James teased, expecting a witty remark back, in true Regulus fashion. But the shorter boy's eyes were fixed on his arms. He wondered if the mere sign of James skin was off-putting for Regulus, with how intently he was frowning. "Is my skin bad?" He blurted out.
Regulus' head snapped up, eyes getting focused again as he snapped out of it. "Excuse me?"
"Is... nevermind."
He pursed his lips, eyes flicking down unconsciously. "Your skin is perfectly fine, James. I was looking at your tattoo." Regulus' ears were still a little pink, but James chalked it up to the cold.
"Oh, right! It was a stick and poke from Marlene." He flexed his hands, showing off the outline of the snitch on his forearm. Everyone got one after our first Quidditch win- well, only Quidditch win, after you joined the Slytherins. You're bloody impressive on a broom, Regulus."
"I- thank you." Regulus blinked, clearly not expecting the compliment. He traced the tattoo lightly. His fingers were gentle, but James' arm still broke out in goosebumps at the contact. "It's pretty well done."
"You're pretty."
At this, Regulus snatched his hand back, looking at James like he had personally killed their family dog. As if Reg would ever keep a dog.
"What?"
"Uh, would you ever keep a dog?" His mind was going faster than his mouth could keep up, and the way his heart was pounding in his chest after each confession, James thought he might actually die.
"Would I- what?" The younger Black stood up suddenly, shaking his head and muttering some probably unflattering things. "I don't know what the fuck is wrong with you, James, but I'm not dealing with- whatever this is." He took the last of his books and walked out of the Library, leaving James and his ink-soaked robes alone. Shit. He should have just stayed at the dorm.