One of Us | Jegulus

Twenty-One

Regulus spent the evening in the living room. He knew he could have used the opportunity to sneak around the house and look for something useful—and his wand, of course. But he couldn't bring himself to get up: he felt exhausted, for some reason. He wondered though why they seemed to trust him enough not to lock him into one of the rooms while they were away.
If he tried he'd probably be able to find a way out right now without anyone else lurking around here.
But something prevented him from attempting, he didn't know whether it was his exhaustion or something else. Overall, he wasn't so confident about returning to Grimmauld Place anymore. Of course he wanted to be home again, of course he wanted his freedom back. But he started to doubt that it would be wise—would he be safe there after everything that had happened here? With all the information he'd collected in the past weeks?
Besides, the next full moon must be close. He didn't exactly know when the night would be, maybe it already was tonight. As long as he wasn't entirely sure, leaving the house at night would be more than reckless. Maybe he should start keeping track of the moon cycle?

The sound of steps on the stairs made him startle up.  For a split second he expected the worst but it was only Lupin, who entered yawning the living room.
"Why are you here?" Regulus asked confused.
"We got different duties so I'm sometimes free when they aren't. I just took a nap upstairs," Remus explained and walked over to record player.

"Do you know when the next full moon is?"
Remus turned abruptly around.
"I—why?" he replied and eyed Regulus weirdly.
"It was just a question," Regulus responded defensively, frowning. It wasn't an offensive question, was it? So no reason to snap at him like that.
"Oh, okay." Remus turned back to the record player. Whilst putting on a vinyl, he answered, "Thursday... well, I think! Er, must be around Thursday, yeah."
"And today is...?" Regulus continued, slightly annoyed. How was he supposed to keep track of weekdays when everyday looked the same for him?!
"Monday."
Music started playing.
"Why are you asking?"
"I don't know", Regulus shrugged. "Doesn't hurt keeping track of stuff like that, does it?"

For some reason Remus looked uncomfortable. "Well," he began. "You're safe here, so you don't really have to worry about that."
Regulus rolled his eyes. Lupin sounded just like James.

With that the conversation was over and they both sat in silence listening to the music. Regulus flicked through the pages of his book but lacked the concentration to actually read. When he started to yawn he decided to call it a night.

Wishing Remus a good night he stood up and left the room. Upstairs he went into the bathroom to take a quick shower before going to bed. While he dried himself up with a towel he heard the shut of a door and voices downstairs, it must be James and Sirius returning.

Ten minutes later he left stepped out of the bathroom and ran straight into James, who just came up the stairs. He considered disappearing quickly into his room until he remembered they were on speaking terms again.
So he smiled awkwardly and muttered a quiet "Hi."

James walked over to his own room and for a split second Regulus thought he was ignoring him. But then James opened the door and looked at Regulus, tilted his head slightly smirking, and it was obvious.

Regulus hesitated. His eyes switching between the opened door and James and his own, closed bedroom door.
"Come on," James said invitingly. "I just wanna talk."
Okay, Regulus thought and walked past James into the room.

James shut the door, pulled Regulus close and pressed his lips on his.
Regulus' heart skipped a beat and he made a surprised sound that was muffled by James' mouth on his. But he didn't break away. He felt that electrifying sensation, the feeling he'd now felt a few times but still couldn't handle at all. He didn't want it to stop.
He curled his arms around James' neck and stood on his tiptoes to reach his lips easier.
Meanwhile James hands that had gripped Regulus' upper arms now slit downwards and found hold of his waist.