Nicknames
“Can you pass me that book?” Regulus points to the text sitting next to James.
“Are we going to do anything more interesting today?” James’ voice is bordering on whiney as he passes it across the table.
“I told you I was studying. You were the one that decided to grace me with your ever annoying presence.” He opens the book and starts flipping through the pages.
“You know you love it,” James’ teasing tone isn’t at all subtle.
They’ve been playing this game for months now. The game where James flirts overtly and Regulus pretends that he doesn’t flirt back. Where they find excuses to spend time together. Where Regulus lets James interrupt his study session when it’s very clear he has no intention of letting him actually study.
“Come on!” There’s no reply from the younger boy who would look entirely indifferent if it wasn’t for the small crease between his brows that indicates that he’s not doing a very good job at blocking James out. “Reggie.”
He looks up then, eyebrows now knitted into a thick line. “No.”
A smirk. “What?”
“You are not calling me Reggie.”
“Why? Sirius does.”
“Sirius is my brother and incredibly annoying.”
James’ smirk turns into a grin. “Oh so you don’t find me annoying then?”
“I told you I did less than thirty seconds ago.”
“You’re such a bad liar.”
Regulus rolls his eyes in the way that makes James’ stomach do a little flip and goes back to ‘ignoring’ him.
James is silent for approximately five seconds. “You can give me a nickname if you’d like.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Seriously, you can call me whatever you want.”
“Noted.”
“You can even call me tonight if you like.”
That stops him. It also makes him look up and meet James’ eyes. “Really, Potter?”
James raises his eyebrows, smiling again. “Didn’t like that one?”
“You’re a walking, cliche.”
James laughs. “So is that a no to the nickname then?”
A pause. “I’ll think about it.”
—
A week later and James walks into the Slytherin common room.
“Potter, to what do we owe this honour?” Barty asks, not even bothering to get up from where’s he’s laying across Evan’s lap on one of the sofas, spinning his wand between his fingers.
Pandora is reading cross legged in an armchair and looks up with a warm smile that contrasts her brother’s suspicious one.
“Hi guys. Have you seen Regulus?”
“Let him out of your sight for once, huh?” Evan asks with raised eyebrows.
“Yes. Well, no- I mean. He’s not always-“
“Eloquent as ever, I see,” Barty laughs and Pandora shushes him.
“Oh stop it you two,” she looks at James, “he’s upstairs. Sometimes he needs to escape from these idiots.”
She shushes them again as they start to argue and they settle back down with a grumble.
James nods. “Right, well do you think he’d mind if I drop something to him? I accidentally took his quill from the library the other day and I’m not sure I want to find out what happens if he thinks I stole it.”
Evan shrugs. “He’s your boyfriend, Potter. Do what you want.”
Everything stops.
James can hear his heart beating in his ears.
Pandora’s smile has dropped. “Are you okay James?”
James takes a deep breath and nods his head, blinking so the room starts moving again. “Yep, all good. I’ll go deliver this quill to my… boyfriend.”
The word comes out slowly as James gauges their reactions, waiting for one of them to laugh at him, to laugh at their joke.
Instead they stare at him. “Okay…” Evan says eventually.
James doesn’t remember walking through the common room or up the stairs. He doesn’t remember knocking on Regulus’ door or opening it to find him sitting cross legged on his bed, book opened in his lap and beautiful eyes wide in surprise at the sudden intrusion. He doesn’t remember anything before the words that fall out of his mouth.
“Why did Evan just call me your boyfriend?”
Recognition appears in his eyes, then and his mouth curls up into a knowing smile. “You told me I could call you anything.”
“I was talking about a nickname, Regulus.”
“And?”
James has to stop himself from looking at the camera that’s surely filming him right now. This can’t be an actual conversation he’s having, surely?
“Boyfriend is not a nickname. It’s a thing.” He moves closer to Regulus’ bed as he talks, his words faster than usual. “It’s something a person is, it’s… romantic.”
Regulus blinks before putting down his book and getting up off his bed so they’re standing across from each other. “Thank you for defining the word boyfriend, Potter. And for the clarification.” His tone is definitely sarcastic but James has no idea how to respond.
“You’re welcome,” is what comes out. James kicks himself for it.
“So are you saying you don't want me to call you that any more?” Regulus’ facial expression seems neutral but there’s a hint of something else there.
“No,” the word escapes before he even realises he’s said it. “I mean yes. I mean-“ he stops and takes a breath before meeting Regulus’ eyes. They’re softer than usual. “Are you sure?”
Regulus hums before he smiles and takes a step forward, reaching out to place his hand on James’ cheek and momentarily causing him to stop breathing. “It suits you, you know? Your new nickname, I mean.”
James lets out a noise that sounds startlingly close to impatience before he finds himself leaning in, and then Regulus’ lips are on his and his hands are in his hair and he forgets any name he’s ever had for a second, a minute, an hour, an indeterminate amount of time before they pull apart again.
He’s smiling now as his heart beats quickly in his chest, and as the younger boy smiles right back James only has one question:
“So can I call you Reggie now?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Oh,” James pouts and Regulus rolls his eyes before reaching down to take his hand, lacing their fingers together.
“I guess you’ll just have to settle for boyfriend.”
James’ eyes move from their hands to Regulus’ face. “Oh.” His voice is softer now, light. “I think I can make that work.”
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