Jegulus - I'll be good

Part Twenty-Five

THANK YOU FOR 50K reads, over 1.6k votes and over 460 comments, I appreciate each and everyone of you so so much! 
Also, thank you for replying to my question on the last part - I'll make a seperate part for Jegulus smut, once the story reaches that point. But now, have the next part :)

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James watched Regulus summoning his coat as they entered the hallway and came to the solution to do the same. They would be outside most of the time and it was still winter, so even if he was cool, he wasn't resistant against the temperature.
He smugly smirked at himself thinking about how flustered the Slytherin had been just a moment ago. After knowing him for being distant and closed off it was refreshing to see a different side of him. And he also felt a little bit proud that it was him, who managed to get him out of this shell.
"Hey, wait. We won't leave through the usual way, there's a better secret passage that ends at Honeyduke's. No need to cross the lake", James grinned and grabbed his arm, to pull him down the corridor. The puzzled Slytherin stumbled after him and needed a moment to adjust to his steps, but after he managed, he scowled at James: "You know that you didn't have to pull me through the hallway? I would have come with you if you just said it."
Prongs grinned apologising and let go off his arm: "Sorry. I'm not used to people not needing persuading."
"You shall be forgiven..this time", the young Black gave back sounding more amused than upset, much to his relief. Though it would've been a surprise if he was mad over this little thing. Sirius definitely was the brother with the short temper. But one could never know. Sometimes the weirdest little thing could set people off.
"I appreciate that very much, little Black", Prongs grinned at him and opened the entrance to the secret passage.
"You're not going to kidnap me and throw me into the lake for the giant squid, are you?", Reggie asked jokingly and that let James stare at him in disbelief, before his lips curled up at the edges, before turning into a full blown grin.
"Regulus Black, who would've thought you know how to joke?", he asked laughing then, nudging the younger one, "and no, 'course not. Sirius would make me a head shorter if I did."
Reggie smirked slightly and followed him then, clearly pleased with himself for surprising James. They walked through the passage in silence, focusing on their steps to not stumble and fall over. After a while, they emerged at Honeyduke's.
Speechless Regulus glanced over to Prongs, before shaking his head slowly: "I don't want to know how you knew that.."
"Pity, I just prepared to have a long talk about how we found it", the Gryffindor barked a laugh and passed him, to walk over to the chocolates. When they already were here, he could get some stuff too. He was more a fan of sour candy, but Remus and Lily loved chocolate. While he was filling a shopping basket with all sorts of sweets and candy, he noticed the Slytherin just standing in a corner, quite motionless and only watching him.
"You know that these things don't bite you, when you move, right? Except for the liquorice snappers, I'd keep my hands away from them", he winked and nodded at the shelf that included called sweets.
"I don't like sweets."
"You don't like sweets."
They both spoke at the same time and while Regulus shortly pulled a face, James rolled his eyes, then grinned: "Come on, kitten. You said the same thing about chocolate and then you loved it."
The Slytherin's cheeks coloured on an instant: "Don't..don't call me that.." His protest was barely noticeable and he quickly rubbed over his face like it could make the blush disappearing faster.
James wrapped an arm around his shoulders casually: "I'm just teasing you a bit, Reg. A bit colour suits you well."
The Slytherin shuffled away and looked up at James: "It's not funny. It's mean."
James had to keep himself from laughing about this statement. Regulus really could be cute, adorable even.
"Are you going to be sulking because of that now?", he wanted to know and got back to filling his basket. He enjoyed teasing the younger one...he was really responsive. Something that he simply never expected before he got to know him better.
"Of course not, don't be ridiculous", Reggie mumbled and just out of spite, he grabbed whatever and went to pay for it. Just so James couldn't complain anymore.
James watched him more than amused and finished his own shopping, to follow the younger one outside. Reggie hadn't moved more than a few steps away from the entrance and stared at his hands, eyes wide of shock and discomfort.
"Hey, what's up? Did you see a ghost? What have you bought?", Prongs curiously asked and watched over his shoulder, before he burst into laughter. In his sulking, Regulus bought a candy bar of seduction, something that shouldn't be sold to minors in the first place, but either the cashier didn't bother to care or it was one of the high society perks.
Regulus pressed his lips together and seemed genuinely horrified: "I did not..look I didn't mean to buy that! I didn't even look at what I was grabbing! Why is something like that even sold? That's morally very questionable!" His voice sounded shrill and alarmed and the head boy really tried his hardest to stop laughing at the incredible irony of this.
"I'm sorry for laughing", he brought out between snickers, "it's just..the irony..oh Merlin, you can't make that up."
Reggie scowled at him and looked back at the bar in his hands: "What am I doing with this now? I can't bring it back and I can't keep it either!"
"Now now. Calm down, Reggie", James finally said more serious and clapped his shoulder, "it's just a bar. Keep it and maybe, who knows, you'll need it in the future."
"Definitely not. That's like drugging someone and that's inherently wrong", Regulus retorted, but still shoved it in the pocket of his cloak. He could deal with that much later, maybe it dissolved itself or something. That would be great.
The Gryffindor really was surprised of the strong moral compass the young Black had. He didn't think that all Slytherins were arseholes, but most of them were and didn't care much for moral.
"Yes, you're right. Maybe you just throw it away or something", he suggested in the next moment and looked over the street. It was quite busy, but not as busy at it must have been yesterday. The most students went to the village on Saturday, so being here on a Sunday definitely had some perks.
"Fancy a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?", James asked, suddenly really craving it. Maybe also to distract Regulus from the embarrassment he still displayed very visibly.
Reggie exhaled and nodded: "Can't do much wrong there, at least."
"That's true", James mused, "though you could order the wrong drink and end up with firewhisky."
"That's not likely to happen. Tried it once and had no chance. Makes me wonder how Sirius gets his, now that I think of it", Reggie shook his head and slowly recovered from the inconvenience.
James grinned: "Yeah, he's wrapping Rosmerta around his finger easily. She's just two years older than us, and he always knows how to use his charm."
Regulus shook his head, hand running through his dark hair: "But everyone knows that he's..he doesn't..everyone knows he's not dating women."
Prongs shook his head: "Well, he doesn't right now, but he did in the past. I don't wish my friends to break up, but doesn't mean he might not date one in the future. And by the way, the word you were looking for is gay."
Regulus gasped for air and quickly looked around to check if someone heard them, before glaring at the Gryffindor: "You can't just say that!"
James raised an eyebrow: "Why not? It's not a dirty word. Honestly, you can't expect things to change when you're not starting with yourself." That sounded harder than he intended to, but after his newest realisation he felt personally attacked with that behaviour, in addition to already get upset on his friends' behalf.
"I...sorry, you're right. It's just not easy, letting go of what you've been raised like for sixteen years", Reg replied after a moment of stunned silence and looking like someone just kicked him in the gut. Which let James sigh and feel a bit of guilt: "Lo...Look, I know it's not easy for you. All of this, I'm just so tired of people attacking Sirius and Remus, I get overprotective about that. This wasn't a personal attack against you."
"I suppose. You're still right", the Slytherin said with a tiny smile and started to walk.
James sighed again and wondered why they were in such a tense mood right now. This was supposed to be a fun trip, but he felt grumpy and was sure that his company didn't feel much different. Partially, it was his own nervousness, he was aware of that. It wasn't a date – how should it even be one – but that didn't excuse his behaviour.
"Pull yourself together, Potter", he mumbled at himself and finally followed Regulus. They got a few looks as they walked down the path in silence, confusion for sure, suspicion too, but most people didn't pay attention.
Before James could reach out for the door handle, Regulus already had opened it and held it open, mischievously looking at him: "You know what's said, age before beauty."
"Sassy, little Black. Sometimes the resemblance to Sirius really is uncanny", the Potter shook his head grinning, but walked into the inn looking over his shoulder to Regulus, "now come, or did you plan to strike roots?" In the short moment he walked by the younger one to get inside, his hand shortly brushed Regulus arm, and different than the arm around his shoulders earlier, this little touch set a whole zoo in his stomach free.