Jegulus - I'll be good

Part twenty-six

Soo, as already expected, our store opens next week. This means, updates will become very irregular again, as I barely have motivation left for writing when I'm working. I will try my best to update at least every 2 weeks then, but I can't promise anything, work sends me into immense exhaustion every time I'm there..I will miss updating daily, I hope it doesn't cost me readers x'D

But for now, enjoy Regulus being very gay. I'd suggest to listen to Oceans by Seafret while reading.

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James really was costing Regulus' nerves he didn't know he had. Not in the worst manner, but Merlin. The Gryffindor kept him flustered easily and he was wondering if he knew what he was doing and took advantage of it or if it just was coincidence. Whatever it was, it kept Regulus on his toes and also kept him warm. Not as much as the bloody bar in his pocket though. He was still thinking about it as they sat down at a table of the Three Broomsticks, and it wouldn't leave him alone. Knowing it was there made him feel embarrassed, a bit filthy even. Maybe he just should give it to Sirius later, although he was sure his brother didn't need it to seduce his boyfriend, but..okay, stop. He definitely didn't want to think about that.
"You alright, Reggie?", James mused from the other side of the table, keeping his eyes on him and also kind of amused.
"Of course. I was in thoughts, excuse me. Did you say something?", the Slytherin quickly collected himself and swiftly took the card, just to keep his hands busy. He knew the menu by heart and already knew that he would go for the same as always. But that way he could avoid looking too caught.
The Potter leaned back on his chair, an arm casually dangling from the backrest of the wooden furniture, his lips showing a knowingly smile. Reg couldn't help but to think a young god wouldn't look any more handsome than the Gryffindor did and he had the urge to paint him – funny enough, he hadn't touched his equipment in over three years.
"You're still thinking about the candy bar, aren't you?", James asked rhetorically and laughed, when Reggie only huffed. Was he such an open book? He always believed that he was closed off and secretive, but apparently he was wrong about it.
"Well, yes and I just decided I'll let Sirius have it", he explained and looked at the counter. Rosmerta was kind of busy talking to some guests, but he desperately wished she would come over to take their order, so the topic changed naturally.
"That's good. So I don't need to worry that you run around and try to bewitch a girl with it", James replied jokingly, but gave Regulus a peculiar look. Was it concern? Or was he mocking him?
"I won't! Didn't you hear what I said earlier or", Regulus got all worked up about that possible accusation, but immediately shut his mouth when James raised his hand to silence him, with a grin on his lips.
"Don't get so heated, little Black. I'm just teasing you. You're really taking everything literally", the head boy shook his head and nudged against his leg.
"I don't", the Black gave back defensive, but it didn't sound any convincing, and it definitely didn't convince himself, "it's your fault, you know. You have this charm and it throws me off the rails, because I care what you think about me and I don't want you to think the wrong things."
As he stopped talking, Regulus realised what he just had said very slowly and then he wished the ground under his feet could crack open and swallow him. Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut for once? This was so embarrassing and James had to think so badly about him now, like he was depending on other people's opinions, which he wasn't. Well, maybe a bit.
James still looked at him, his grin changing into a warm smile the further the Slytherin spoke: "That honours me, Regulus, really. But I know you now, a bit better at least, and I couldn't think badly about you. Sure you surprise me a lot, but until now in good ways only. As long as we leave out your tendency to self-destruction at least, I don't fancy that one very much."
"Self-destruction? I don't know what you mean", Regulus gave back, but his head was full of thoughts and empty at the same time. He couldn't think badly about him? He surprised him in good ways? He was honoured? That was more than he would ever have thought to hear.
"Your headless plan?", James offered an example, "that plan that could cost your life in the worst case? Sounds pretty self-destructive to me." He sounded dead serious and concern was lying in his eyes. It made Regulus uncomfortable. Until just a few months ago he was completely on the Dark Lord's side and barely bat an eye about his plans. Then he started to think and came to the solution that there was a good chance to help the 'good' side winning the war if he did it from within. He was a loner, didn't think that, if he died, many people would care. His parents maybe, but they would come over it, twisting the story somehow to make him sound like a victim of the aurors and move on.
But now? He had made up with Sirius and even though crushing on his best friend wouldn't help in the work they still had to do, they were on good terms finally again. He became friends with James and came along with Remus and Lily. He wasn't lonely anymore, he had people that cared for him and not for what he could do for them, and it suddenly felt quite unfair to stick with his plan. Selfish too, to question it. But wasn't he allowed to be selfish?
He opened his mouth for a retort, but while he was caught up in his own mind, Rosmerta had made her way to the table and was talking to James, maybe even casually flirting with him. And without even trying, James charming nature made it look like he was flirting back. Regulus felt a little bit of jealousy turning up, which was absolutely ridiculous, but he couldn't help it.
"So, what can I bring you two?", Rosmerta was finally done and was ready to write down their order. James wanted a butterbeer with a bit of ginger, Regulus one with cinnamon. With a nod and humming she walked back to the counter.
"Back on earth?", James asked grinning and pointed at the napkin Regulus had unconsciously taken apart while being in thoughts.
"Yes. What have we been talking about again?", the young Black hoped to get rid of the topic he definitely didn't want to come back to.
Prongs seemed to understand it and changed the subject to Quidditch and for as long as they waited for their drinks, they had a content conversation about both their favourite sport.
Rosmerta sat down their glasses and James thanked her, before lifting his own in a solemnly manner: "Cheers to new friendships."
Regulus smiled a bit coyly and raised his own glass: "Yeah, cheers to that." They clinked their glasses and the Slytherin took a sip of the warm drink. The amount of cinnamon was just right and the butterbeer didn't taste too sweet.
For a few minutes they just sat in comfortable silence, in which Regulus couldn't help but to go back to looking at the older one. And the more often he did, the more little details caught his eyes. There was one curl of James' dark hair that was long enough to brush his right ear. A few faded freckles were sprinkled over the bridge of his nose, he counted seven of them. The jawline under the stubble was strong and sharp, but just the right amount of sharp, so he didn't look like some kind of villain or something. He had very small laugh lines at the outer corners of his dark and warm eyes and his left eyebrow was a bit uneven – like he shaved off a part of it and it grew back shorter than the other hairs. And Regulus almost would bet a limb that he did – maybe in some kind of contest with Sirius or because he lost a bet to him. His eyes wandered over his neck and shoulders, lean muscles were visible under the shirt he wore. He stopped at his hands. Long slender fingers on hands almost twice as big as his own. Regulus really had a weakness for beautiful hands and James had them. Now they were wrapped around the warm mug of butterbeer, the perfectly tan colour of his skin against the white of the tableware. The Slytherin avoided looking at Prongs' lips though. He knew their perfect little sway of the full – and he was sure very soft – lips by heart, the way they smiled and smirked and laughed. And right now, he would just end up staring at them more awkwardly than he already stared at James in general.
The Gryffindor, however, didn't notice any of it and was busy watching the people on the next table, who were playing wizard chess.
A defeated grunt from one of the wizards let James shake his head and look back at Regulus: "I've never had much talent for that game. Do you?"
"A bit. I'm playing with my father now and then..usually I'm winning, but I'm not sure if he just doesn't let me", Regulus answered with a little smile. He knew for a fact that he didn't let him win. But he didn't want to sound cocky, so that would do as an answer.
"Orion lets you win? Interesting. Nah, I don't buy that. We both know that you're smart, Reggie. No reason to act like you aren't", the Gryffindor replied laughing and finished his drink.
"Maybe I wasn't completely honest about it", he admitted with a smile. He really wished they could stay here forever. Sitting in peace, not caring for anything in the world and just enjoying to be there.
"So..anywhere else you want to go?", James asked interested, "I need a new quill, broke mine yesterday, but otherwise I need nowhere else to go."
"That's fine", the Black nodded, "I don't need anywhere else either. Can we just.. I don't know, walk around a bit? I don't fancy going back to school already."
The Gryffindor grinned: "Your wish is my command."
They got up and paid, before stepping out of the inn. It has become a little bit colder in the meantime, the sky darker than before. It smelled like it would snow soon. But that perhaps wouldn't happen before they were back at the castle, so Regulus didn't worry too much about it.