One of Us | Jegulus

Thirty-Six

"Morning, sunshine!"

Regulus opened his eyes sleepily and found James standing next to his bed, grinning down at him.
"Hi, you," he mumbled and rubbed his eyeballs. "What do you want?"
"Seeing your adorable face once more before I leave."
"I'm not—oh god, you're hitting on me, aren't you?"
"I would never do that!" James declared and raised his hands "I'm just objectively acknowledging your handsomeness."
"I don't believe you, I just woke up, I always look like a corpse in the morning," Regulus complained.
"Well, guess I'm attracted to dead bodies then," James said jokingly.
Regulus twisted his face. "You are so creepy."
„Still irresistible," James responded and squatted in front of the bed, his arms and head resting on the mattress to bring his face on Regulus' level.
"Maybe, but definitely arrogant!"
"Me? Never!" He grabbed Regulus' forearm that was in reach and randomly placed kisses all over his skin.

"Don't you have to leave?" Regulus asked and raised the same arm, flicking his fingers against James' cheek.
"But I don't want to," James pouted. "You changed my mind."
"Oh crap," Regulus said. "So because of me you won't be able to go to the order and save our world so because of me we will lose this war."

He grinned but his smile dropped when he saw James' suddenly weird expression. "Uhm—you okay?" He asked hesitantly.
"You said 'we'," James said slowly. "As if, you know, you really are on our side now. No death eaters anymore, just us."
"Uhm," Regulus began, scratching his head. "Nah, I... I don't know. I mean, I don't really care about your order. I just want you to be safe, you and Remus and Sirius and I don't know, your other friends are cool too. But I also want my family safe and my own friends... I guess. I don't know how I'm supposed to take any sides, you know?"
He was afraid to have infuriated James again but when he turned his head to him, the older one smiled at him.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "It's alright, it just shows that you are a good person who wants to do the right thing. I appreciate that more than you might think. And I'm proud of you!"

"Stop saying that, I never know what to respond," Regulus mumbled but he had to hide a smile. The truth was that these reassuring words from James always made him feel warm and welcomed.
And after all these days of fighting and ignoring, he really needed this.

James observed him for a moment before he stood up again and pulled Regulus' blanket away.
"Come on, get up, I need a hug before I have to leave!"
Uncomfortably cold without his blanket, Regulus scowled at James. "Go to Sirius then and get one."
"You're closer though, so you have to suffer through it," James grinned and reached one hand out to him.

Regulus looked at him grumpily, ignored the hand and climbed out of the bed on his own.
"Aww, pout all you want but we both know you love me!" James teased and opened his arms invitingly.
"Forget it, I hate you," Regulus mumbled but then stepped forward and closed his arms around James' body.
James immediately pulled him impossibly close and exhaled with a relaxed smile.
"All this trouble in our world and still all I can think about is you," he muttered into Regulus' hair.
"You have terrible priorities, then," Regulus mumbled back and hid his face in the crook of James' throat.
"I don't care, let me be selfish," James answered and kissed Regulus' temple. A few seconds later he let go of him. "I don't want to overwhelm you," he explained, smiling, before he messed up Regulus' hair and then turned around and left the room.

Regulus stood there and watched him go, a bit flustered and completely unable to form a coherent thought.
No chance he would ever understand what this man was doing to him.

...

Not only James but also Remus and Sirius were gone that day, leaving Regulus completely alone in the house. He didn't really care though, and spent the entire day doing nothing, as always.
It was tiring and he was in a bad mood again, so he went to bed early but before he could find sleep, he heard faint noises from downstairs and knew they returned.
And not long after that, his own door opened and someone entered.