my almost lover

Regulus

1 - Regulus

Summer at the Potter residence is always beautiful, although James could argue he's a little biased.

He relaxes under the rare English sunshine, embracing the day by kicking back in his garden. There's a gentle warm wind that breezes across his skin and a barely-there sound of rustling leaves from a tree further back. The only other thing James has heard in the last five minutes is the turning of pages and he tilts his head to look at his company for the day.

Regulus Black sits in the shade, eyes focused on his book, looking content. He's still got the signs of a bruise on his cheekbone and something about the slight discolouration on his skin makes James' stomach turn in anger. He has to take a breath to remind himself that both of the brothers are out of that house for good and safe within the walls of his own home.

They had shown up two weeks ago, the pair of them. Both bloody, both in pain, both scared. James' mum wasted no time ushering them inside and his dad had been just as quick to wrap them up and get them healed. Sirius, James knows, is used to the love and affection that Fleamont and Euphemia give out so freely. Regulus, at the time, was shocked by the entire thing, as though basic compassion from parental figures was just that foreign to him.

He seems to have eased into it a bit now though, James thinks, as he looks over the younger boy. The first few days were rocky, but now he makes himself comfortable in whatever room James is in. And honestly, James feels privileged that Regulus trusts him so easily. Not that he's ever given him a reason not to, but he certainly likes the validation of it all. He's always been incredibly fond of Regulus, and he doesn't think he's ever hidden it very well.

Regulus seems to notice him looking as he glances up, tilting his head to the side and raising an eyebrow in question.

"Just looking, Reg," James provides as an answer.

A blush crosses Regulus' cheeks – also not unusual, James realises – before he gives him a small glare and returns to his book. It's sweet that after five years of friendship, however rocky and sometimes volatile it may be, he still gets shy around him. He's tempted to tease him, he has before, but decides against it in favour of letting the other boy relax.

Merlin knows, he deserves it.

They stay there for a while, just existing in the same space. Sirius is out for the day, spending the night over at Remus', and his parents are away for a few days for their latest Ministry campaign research so he's happy for the company. It seems Regulus feels the same way as, throughout the afternoon, he's shuffling closer to where James is laying.

Eventually, James can even make out what book he's reading. Maurice, E. M. Forster. It's Muggle. Interesting.

He's going to question what it's about when he catches Regulus sending multiple glances towards the sky with a frown. At first, James thinks it's because of the sun going in. Now, he looks to see Regulus focusing on a particular dark set of clouds.

"Do you think it's going to rain?" he asks, quietly.

James looks at the blanket of approaching grey, "Yeah. Maybe. Could be a Summer storm."

Regulus' eyebrows furrow, "Oh. I see."

"Do you want to go back inside?"

He nods, turning over the corner of his page – oh, and Moony would absolutely hate that! - and closing his book. When he stands, he reaches for James' hand to help him to his feet. James likes the contact; he's always been a very physically affectionate person though.

Almost immediately, Regulus lets him go and scurries off inside without even a glance behind him. It's highly likely that he just doesn't want to get caught in the rain and would rather curl up in his bedroom with a book but James can't help but worry that the younger Black brother shares a similar phobia with his older sibling.