Chapter Text
The sunlight was pale through the curtains, a soft spill of gold across the room. Regulus’s bed was familiar — and far more comfortable than it had any right to be. James blinked awake, the room heavy with the smell of parchment and smoke, and the sound of quiet laughter from the hallway.
He shifted, feeling the warmth of Regulus beside him, breathing steady, just inches away. The sheets were tangled, and for a moment, everything felt weightless — like the world outside the door was a distant memory.
“Morning,” James mumbled, voice thick with sleep, blinking up at the ceiling as his fingers brushed over the cool skin of Regulus’s back. He felt Regulus stir next to him, his body shifting lazily as a hand slid up to run through his messy hair. Regulus hummed, his voice low and hoarse from sleep, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Morning, Potter,” he muttered, rolling onto his back with an easy stretch. His fingers found their way into the space between them, brushing against James’s arm.
James propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at him, the warmth of his chest and the quiet calm of the room making everything seem so much more intimate. “You’re quiet today,” James said, his voice playful. He leaned in, brushing his lips against Regulus’s jaw.
Regulus smirked but didn’t say anything at first, just closed his eyes and let the moment linger. Then the sound of more laughter — loud, unmistakable, and too close for comfort — broke the moment.
James groaned and rolled his eyes, a chuckle escaping him. “Barty and Evan,” he muttered under his breath, sliding out of bed and standing to stretch. “I swear, they’re louder than usual today.”
Regulus sat up, glancing toward the door. “They’ve always been loud,” he said, his voice dry, but there was a softness underneath it. “Besides, we should probably get up anyway. The world doesn’t stop just because you’re in my bed, Potter.” James grinned, still half-dazed. “Unfortunately. It’s not like I’m going to be allowed to just stay here forever, is it?” He pulled his shirt back on, glancing at Regulus as he did.
Regulus rolled his eyes but smiled, before reaching for his own clothes. “Not unless you plan on ignoring all the chaos brewing in the world,” he replied, his voice a bit more serious. But that edge, that coldness, was always there — even when they were tangled up in moments like these. Before James could answer, a loud bang echoed from the hallway, followed by an exaggerated shout from Barty. “Oi! Someone get up and make breakfast! We’re starving!”
Regulus shook his head, a grin breaking through the momentary tension. “They’re impossible.”
James laughed, finally pulling himself together. “Shouldn’t they be a bit quieter?” He tossed Regulus a teasing look as he tugged on his trousers, watching as Regulus reached for his shoes, still looking half-amused but slightly irritable at the same time.
“I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to,” Regulus shot back, winking at him. “These are Barty and Evan we’re dealing with.”
There was a beat of silence, and then they both heard another shout — this one from Evan, who was evidently in the hallway. “Regulus! James! We’re really not going to wait on you two forever, you know!”
James sighed, walking toward the door, but Regulus caught his wrist before he could leave. “Just wait a second,” he said softly, and for the briefest moment, there was no teasing, no world outside the room. Just them, caught in the quiet. James turned, meeting his eyes. Regulus pulled him back into a brief but soft kiss, fingers tracing the back of his neck with an almost too gentle touch. “We’ll deal with them. Later,” Regulus whispered, and for a moment, James forgot everything else but the feel of his lips, the warmth of their bodies in this small space.
When Regulus pulled away, James was left breathless, his heart thudding in his chest. “Later, huh?” he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Later,” Regulus confirmed and with that, they left the safety of the room, walking into the world where things were far more complicated than simple mornings.