Regulus has brought him to a broom cupboard.
James isn't complaining... broom cupboards are nice. He's shagged many a person in a broom cupboard, because as far as James is concerned, that's what broom cupboards are for. So when Regulus brings him into a broom cupboard, some ideas definitely flash through his head - a head that Regulus' is definitely about to lop off.
"I've been hearing rumours, James," Regulus says, arching a suspiciously manicured eyebrow. The air in the cupboard is tense, making James' palms sweat where he's shoved them in his robes. Regulus is showing no outward signs of discomfort; he's leaning against the door with one leg crossed over in a way that was effortlessly gorgeous and very intimidating.
"Yes, probably," James replies. Regulus' face is blank and James is dodging eye contact, trying to ignore the moisture beading along his forehead. Wiping it away seems like an act of vulnerability, and showing vulnerability in front of Regulus is something James won't ever do.
"Rumours can be dangerous, James," Regulus says. His voice is low, dripping with something James knows he should probably stay away from.
"No one actually believes them," James says, wincing when it comes out a little too defensive. "Snape spreads a new rumour every week, people will forget about this in no time."
"People will start watching us closer," Regulus says, eyes narrowed. "And if they notice something, the rumour will come back up again."
"What is there to notice Regulus?" James questions. Regulus' shoulders tense beneath his robes, his eyes turning from dove-grey to steely in a heartbeat. "There's not exactly much going on here. Just a few drunken nights that got carried too far. Sure, it would suck if it got out, but it's not a deadly secret."
Regulus doesn't say anything. He's regarding James with shutter-door eyes, each blink slow and deliberate like a snake waiting to bite. James feels faintly like he's being analysed, dissected in Regulus' mind eye. It makes him squirm. He starts thinking over what he's just said. He hadn't said anything wrong, hadn't he?
"You forget who my parents are, Potter," Regulus reminds him in a clipped tone, chin rising in defense. The words trace goosebumps on the back of James neck, his skin turning prickly. Oh, yeah. Them. Sometimes, when he wasn't painfully aware of the fact, James could forget Sirius and Regulus were brothers. That the same cruel hand raised them. James fights back a wince.
"Right," He says, voice a lot quieter than before. He feels chastised. "I can see why this might be a problem."
"Yes, it just might," Regulus says, condescending tone making James wilt. "So next time, don't get caught."
"Next time?" James says. "Can't we figure out some way to stop this?"
"Unless you want to either stop drinking, start fucking sober or make a party schedule, I don't think there's a solution," Regulus says, like he didn't just list three possible solutions. They all kind of suck and definitely need working on, but James is at his breaking point.
"No, I like those solutions," James says. "I think we can work with these solutions."
He just wants it to stop. Waking up next to Regulus every other day with a pounding hangover and a blank memory is starting to take a toll on James, driving him insane, slowly. He hates feeling disappointed when he wakes up alone, hates the phantom longing, hates how every time he opens his eyes to Regulus's he feels just a little bit more whole.
"Even the fucking sober one?" Regulus sounds amused, but there's an edge to it. There's always an edge to Regulus, a blade forged from the steel of his eyes and the silver in his tongue. It's dangerous, which makes James want it more.
"At least I'd be able to remember," James says. He traces his eyes down Regulus' jawline, making his gaze deliberate as he glides them down Regulus' torso, lingering on his waist and his thighs. He lets them come back up slowly, a bit disappointed when they meet Regulus' passive expression. Everyone else at least pretended to be flustered at James' eye-fucking. "I'd imagine it would keep me up at night for a long time after."
James doesn't know what he's doing. He feels like he's floating above it all, the possibility of Regulus Black a dream brought to life. He spent so long fighting this. He was fighting this only five minutes ago. But something switched, something that's subtlety settled itself in his bones between the heated eyes and harsh words.
"Oh, it would Potter, trust me," Regulus smirks. He's regarding James with disinterest, but when he tilts his head, his eyes catch the light, setting the kindling aflame. Suddenly Regulus' grey is not the shade of a river pebble; it's the haze of a bonfire.
James runs his tongue over his teeth, weighing his options. What seemed so unattainable a few minutes ago has been pushed into his reach — Regulus Black. Not that James has been actively seeking out his best friends brother; Regulus intrigued him and would be considered attractive by anyone with eyes. Anyone without them would immediately be repulsed by his blue-blooded personality.
Plus, he's been incredibly frustrated lately, with all his latest game being lost to the effects of alcohol.
So here he is, at the crossroads. He knows exactly which path he'll choose.
"I can't really believe that, Reggie," James mock-sighs, making sure his grin shows teeth. "Why don't you show me."
Regulus is on him in an instant.
James almost gets whiplash, thanking Merlin for the instincts that bring his arms up to cup the back of Regulus' neck and the curve of his waist, pulling him in. The kiss isn't gentle, more teeth then tongue and one of them is bleeding from somewhere. It's chaos. It's the storm that has been brewing in Regulus' grey since they got here, and James is dancing in the rain.
It takes James a second to pull together some semblance of a thought. While his methods are unconventional, Regulus is a fucking fantastic kisser, so excuse James if his brains are a bit scrambled right now. His first thought, unfortunately, is how disappointed Minnie would be if she found out this is what he skipped transfig for. It's not a very sexy thought.
But then Regulus detaches from his mouth and moves to his neck, putting those violent teeth of his to use elsewhere. He bites down on the junction of James' neck and shoulder, and James swears he sees Morgana.
"Regulus," He manages to gasp, clawing at Regulus' hair. Regulus doesn't reply, too busy sliding to his knees, hands teasing the curves of James' through his robes.
After that, it all goes black.
