Paint It... Potter?

life.

James didn't respond to his call, he could probably sleep through just about anything Regulus thought. So he called out for him again shutting the door behind him.

"James" he whispered, taking a few steps closer to his bed. He called out to him again now standing near the edge. Of his bed. James rolled over and squinted through the dark.

"Sirius?" He asked confused.

"Wrong brother." Regulus deadpaned.

"Shit, sorry." James said. He fumbled on the nightstand for his glasses. He flicked on a small lamp. Regulus flinched a bit at the intrusion of light. "Are you alright?" James asked sliding his glasses on. With clear sight, he could see the way Regulus's entire body was trembling. He could see the way his bottom lip quivered as he spoke.

"I-" Regulus began before he had to clear his throat. " is it alright if I stay here tonight?" Regulus asked him. Without a moments hesitation James slid over leaving room for Regulus. He lifted the blanket and regulus slid under the covers. It took mere seconds before Regulus was clinging onto the other boy. A few involuntary tear escaped his eyes, but really they were tears of relief, he had been internally longing for this all day. More than once he had pictured just jumping onto James and picking him to the floor or to the wall an- Well, that was just indecent but here it was okay. Here James was his and it aas more than Regulus could have even hoped for.

James ran his hand up and down his back one cupping the side of his head, fingers intertwined with his hair.

"Are you alright Reg?" James asked him again.

"Yeah." Regulus said hastily. And then he took a moment. " Yeah, really it was just a nightmare. Shit parents and near death experience. Trauma and all that." Regulus waved everything off so easily.

"Yeah, trauma and all that" James said with a sigh. "You scared the shit outbof me you know?" James told him. "For a minute ther I thought- God, Reg I thought that you were, that you had." James's voice broke. He was crying. It took Regulus a few seconds longer to realize this than it should have, but then again he had always been rather shit at  emotions.

"Hey now," Regulus said. James had buried his face into Regulus's neck. "I'm here. And I'm alright." Regulus reasurehim pulling away to look at him. "See," he said holding out his hands, "I'm right here." Reg said attempting to calm James. James had resolved into small sniffles.

"I'm sorry." James said " I shouldn't be the one crying." James was sat against his headboard.

"No, it's alright." Regulus assured him. "It's okay, everything is a lot right now, it's okay."Regulus sat up next to him ad leaned his head against his shoulder.

"I heard you punched Snape for me." Regulus told him. James looked at him surprised.

"Yeah, sorry about all that, it's s bi-"

"No, no," Regulus cut him off smirking. "I think it's rather hot actually." His smirk grew when he saw the way James blushed.

"In that case." James aid with an equally sly look. " Want to hear about the other blood supremacist I've fought?" James waggld his eyebrows and Regulus

"Careful there James, might say something I like." James was unable to hold back laughter. He slid back down the bed pulling Regulus down with him.

"You really don't want to talk about your dream? James asked. I don't want to pry but," James shrugged as way of finishing his sentence.

"No, it's alright." Regulus said really James wasn't prying. He was one of the softest people Regulus had ever known. "Just don't much feel like re living that right now." Regulus told him.

"Okay" James said. He pulled Regulus closer. The feeling of fluttering left in the wake of his fingertips. He thought peacefully that he could spend every second of every day and never want anything more.

The next morning the two made their seperate ways to breakfast. They were each menat with a knowing look from Euphemia. Regulus decided to forget about it for the time being. A few peaceful days passed with the same routine. He would wake up to a nightmare, make his way down the hall. And then in the moring he. Would go to breakfast with the eyes of Mrs. Potter boring into him. James, the price he was never made Regulus talk about the dreams, he just lay there talking about everything and nothing for minutes, or hours until they softly drifted into sleep.

Currently Regulus was sat in the living room with his legs draped over the arms of a chair. His parents would have hexed him for it. He loved it. Barty and Evan had snuck off an hour or so ago. He was watched the remaining  boys play exploding snap on the floor infor of him. They were arguing about how the chocolate frog cards worked.

" I think it's some form of the same spell they use for the moving portraits." Remus added in the conversation. That seemed to be the most likely option.often Remus was the only reasonable one of the 'marauders' which was a ridiculous name.

"Yeah, but they have to be dead for that right?!"said Peter. hands waving wildly. He had arrived early that morning, having not been able to return home with the potters with the rest of the group.

" not necessarily." Said James who was chewing his nails. Sirius turned toward Him. And slapped his hand away from his mouth scolding him about teh bad habit

"But isn't the soul trapped in the painting?. Remus asked. Itching the back of his neck.

"No!' Said James quickly." No, that's dark magic. They can't do that."

"Can't they?" Regulus said. Regulus had learned about the darkest of wizards having been born into the black family. "You'd be surprised at what some of the most honorable wizards will do." The games ended. Shortly after that. Peter returned home, and mystery of the frog cards had not been solved. And the week continued.

Regulus made his way down to breakfast early the next moring. He took a seat bect to Sirius, Barty was still sleeping.

"Moring sunshine." Sirius told him. He glared at him for the nickname.he had to do a double take when he looked at his brother. Sirius was trying to eat an apple with a spoon.

"What are you doing ?"Regulus asked confused. Sirius gave him a face that seemed to say. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Eating an apple" be said continuing to dig the spoon into the fruit.

"Yeah, but why are you doing it like that?" Regulus asked almost outraged.

"It hurt my teeth."Sirius shrugged. Regulus shook his head and Sirius smirked at him. The tension in their relationship might alway exist. But, in moments like this it was easy to forget, in moments like this they were just brothers.

It was that afternoon in the library when the knowing look finally caught up with him. He opened the door to reveal Euphemia sat in a chair in the corner of the room.

"Ah, Regulus." She said settingndown the book she had been reading. It looked to be something about medicinal herbs. "Why don't you have a seat dear." It wasn't a suggestion, rather a direction. He took the empty seat next to hers.

He was fucked.

A/N

Please please please let me know what you guys think of these, I don't know if they're all that good. Sorry about the while Drowning Reggie thing, but you got some jegulus to make up for it ig. Anyway, love you all stay safe
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