Liquid Courage
A/N: anyone ask for ANOTHER angsty but super sweet Jegulus short? No? Well have one anyways :) no smut, sorry to disappoint :( In my mind the characters are 17/18 in this fic. This is not to be interpreted as underage,
Summary: Just an anxty but also very fluffy ending fic about how a seemingly innocent game of spin the bottle leads to tears and revelations between our two faves (Jegulus). See notes in link for TWs.
This is part 1 of a series of angsty marauders spin the bottle fics!
Link to ao3 work (please leave a comment/kudos if you enjoyed! <333 )
James isn't sure when Regulus stopped looking at him as though he'd torn the stars from the sky and made the go world dark.
He's sure its recent, somewhere in between when Regulus and Sirius showed up at his house; soaking wet and beaten bloody, and those soft summer nights which followed; playing cards and stargazing to the tune of Sirius and Remus' gentle flirting.
He thinks maybe it was a gradual process. That Regulus' gaze began to soften that first night, when James dragged them both inside and smothered them with family, and warmth, and home; all in some sort of childish attempt to fix whatever mess Walburger had tried to drown them in.
He thinks maybe it began when he took Regulus' feet; torn soled and bare, and held them between his hands to warm them, unable to let go until his father gentled him out of the way and healed them himself.
Or maybe it was That Night. The night where the third summer storm of that week hit and Regulus crawled into his bed and let their fingers brush beneath the sheets.
Either way, James doesn't know quite when Regulus started to drop his guard. To smile in that soft, sweet way that James knows is reserved only for him. To let the slightest dusting of pink colour the space between his freckles. To let James invade his personal space, if only to give into the temptation to lean his head against the older boy's shoulder.
He doesn't quite know when it started, but he certainly knows when it stopped.
1 hour earlier
It had been Dorcas' idea; teeth gleaming in a flirtatious grin as she eyed up Marlene.
They'd all been more than a little tipsy, gathered in the Gryffindor common room for their first get together of the new school year.
Its not that difficult to get everyone to agree.
Its just them. Well, the 8 marauders + three stray slytherins. Honestly, James isn't sure he wants to know how Barty and Evan made their way into the tower, but having Regulus there, after all these years, makes something warm blossom in his chest.
Somehow, James is sure that everyone present has at least one person they're desperate to snog. Be it Remus and Sirius, Mary and Lily, hell, anyone would have to be blind to miss the way Barty and Evan were dancing around eachother; eager to explore something new whilst desperately keeping their distance.
And James? James is looking at Regulus.
Even now, as he takes in Regulus' sock clad toes across the circle, James feels something protective bubble in his stomach. Its all he can remember. That confused, niave question of why on earth Regulus was barefoot in the rain echoing around his head. Regulus whose expression was completely blank. Regulus, whose bare feet curled against the jagged concrete of their walkway; leaving speckles of blood in their wake.
Regulus is laughing, now, leaning into Barty's space, so soft and sweet in one of Remus' old jumpers; nuzzling against the mischievious boy in a way James knows he only does with those closest to him.
James can't control the strange, jealous, pang that sits heavy in his chest.
He ignores it as best as he can, of course. Partly because for the first time ever, Regulus seems completely relaxed; basking in the warmth of the gryffindor tower, surrounded by his friends and family.
"So, who's going?"
It's Lily who moves first, a mischivious smirk on her lips as she takes in her options.
She takes her time, long, elegant fingers wrapping around the bottle as she gets just the right angle. James wouldn't be surprised if she was calculating some sort of muggle equation to get exactly who she wanted, genius that she is.
There was a time where he would've given anything for the bottle to land on him. But somehow, somewhere in the last three months, that desire had completely evapourated.
They all watch, drunken and giggling as she makes her spin. It rotates once, twice, three times before landing somewhere in between Peter and Mary.
"Huh." She says, pausing for a second as she stares at the bottle before looking up at them. "Guess you'll both just have to share. "
James chokes on his drink.
From there on things just seem to get messier.
Sirius is first to pounce on the bottle, spinning it recklessly before cackling as it lands on Dorcas. The latter of which grins like a cat, then crawls across the circle so that she can straddle Sirius, laughing as he lets his eyes wander over her curves. Their kiss is messy and wet, more a jokey performance than anything, but James doesn't miss the way Remus' knuckles have turned white where they hold his bottle.
It continues from there, with Marlene kissing Barty; something sweet and patronising that lets him know he never had a chance. Followed by Evan getting Peter, who grins and pecks the younger boy thoughtlessly on the lips; laughing as he watches Barty sidle up to the blond boy afterwards, a small frown pulling at his eyebrows.
When Remus spins, only to land on Lily, Sirius positively squawks, demanding a replay as he preaches about bad spinning technique and unfair games.
Remus only rolls his eyes, leaning over to kiss Lily. It leaving her slightly breathless when he pulls away.
Sirius scowls for the next three spins.
When the bottle finally reaches James, he's worked himself up into some sort of panic.
He's been calculating how things are going, his drunken mind convincing him that based on some sort of balance of probilities, there's no chance that he's going to get to kiss Regulus tonight.
So why is he so nervous?
He leans forwards to grab the bottle, purposely not looking up as he lets it spin.
It's like watching it move in slow motion, each full circle seeming to take a life time to complete, but then suddenly, so suddenly that James feels like he's gotten whiplash, it stops.
It stops.
On Regulus.
"No. Absolutely not. That's incestuous-"
"Sirius, you can't just protest to every single bottle spin. It defeats the purpose of the game-"
"I can and I will. James, don't you dare-"
But it's too late.
Already, James is leaning in, his hand reaching out to cup the side of Regulus' face, their eyes meeting as James checks that this is okay.
Regulus' guard seems to completely drop, the way it only seems to do when him and James are alone; the way it only does when James' gentleness has taken him by surprise.
He's looking at the older boy, wide eyed, lips parted, as though he can't fully comprehend what's happening. As though he can't quite believe his luck. Like- Like-
Their lips are touching.
It's warm. And soft. And impossibly gentle. And instantly, James knows. Knows that Regulus has been saving this for him. Knows that whatever Regulus is handing over to him right now is fragile and sweet and so, so, important.
He lets his hand move, slowly, gently, to cup Regulus' face; hands like his have hurt Regulus before and the last thing he wants is to break whatever bubble seems to have surrounded them.
Regulus make a tiny, hurt sound at the action; melting into the kiss as though it's the last thing keeping him breathing.
James grins, letting his thumb brush over Regulus' cheek; all delicate skin and fragile bone.
He feels infinate, as though he could do this forever; take Regulus apart and put him back together again and again until the sun falls out of the sky.
He feels Regulus move into the kiss, a subtle hint that he wants more.
Before James can stop himself, he's giving in; letting his tongue soothe over Regulus' lower lip, pressing forwards until he feels Regulus' lips part and a warm tongue pressing back against his own.
Suddenly, there's a wolf whistle and James yanks himself backwards, embarrassment heating his cheeks as he realises they've gone on too long.
He glances up at Reg, a shy grin already forming on his lips, only to find that Regulus is staring at him like he's been caught; eyes wide and wild like a deer in headlights.
Because it's a game.
It's a game and he's just embarrassed himself.
"Reg-" James tries, but its too late, and before he can reach out, Regulus has dissappeared out of the hole behind the portrait.
"What the fuck was that?" Sirius asks. Because he's Sirius, and apparantly completely fucking oblivious.
Even so, James flinches at the words.
He'd known that this would be a mistake. Of course he'd known. He'd known since Regulus had fallen asleep on his shoulder during one of their many summer movie nights, only to leap up in embarrassment the second he'd realised that it was James he was sleeping on. He'd known since the kid would stutter incoherently and flee the room whenever the topic of sexuality and crushes emmerged within their friendship group. He'd known since he realised that the Regulus he knew; the eager, contemplative, affectionate Regulus, that soothed his own sharp edges just in case they came into contact with James, only existed when they were alone.
And sure, he'd tried. He'd tried not to unearth everything with that kiss. Not to let the others see just how much he wanted it, how much Regulus wanted it too. Not to ruin the sweet thing they had blossoming between them.
But he was drunk. Drunk and stupid and so helplessly wanting that all he'd succeeded in doing was tearing the other apart and leaving him wide open for show in front of everyone else.
He's a fool. A fucking fool and all he wants to do is curl up and scream-
"Go. After. Him."
It takes him a second to realise its Barty that has grabbed him by the collar and is hissing instructions in his ear.
It takes him even less time to get himself up off of the floor and out of the portrait; ignoring the confusion he leaves in his wake.
Present
The thing about Regulus, is that he's always been slightly predictable when it comes to hiding places.
Sirius would always claim that it was yet another thing that held Regulus back from being the superiour brother. Loudly and frequently retelling the story that no matter how many times they'd play hide and seek, he'd always find the younger boy curled up under Sirius' bed, often just below where Sirius was counting.
In hindsight, it probably has more to do with the fact that the only place Regulus ever felt safe, when he was playing a game as childish as hide and seek in their mother's home, was beneath his big brother's bed. But it's one of Sirius' only good memories of their childhood, so James has always kept that thought to himself.
As a result, James finds him exactly where he'd expected.
Well, almost.
What James had expected was to find Regulus restless and pacing around the astronomy tower; all pent up anger and ready to strike.
He'd been prepared for insults, and viscious declarations; that the kiss had meant nothing and that James was stupid to expect anything other than a punch to the fact for the shit he'd just pulled.
What he gets instead, is exponentially worse.
Regulus- well, Regulus is curled up in the corner of the room, his face pressing into his knees as his shoulders shake with the force of his silent sobs.
James' heart drops.
"Reg?" He calls out, mindful of startling the boy as he approaches.
Regulus just curls tighter in on himself, as though if he gets small enough, James won't be able to see him.
James swallows thickly before trying again.
"Hey." He says, softly, as he slides down the wall to sit beside the boy.
"Go away." Regulus says. His voice is weak, and James fails to contain his rioting heart as he stuggles to disguise a sniffle.
"Reggie." James repeats, his voice even softer; as though his heart can't cope with anything stronger. "I'm sorry."
Regulus shakes his head, curles bouncing as his breath stutters between tears.
"Reggie, look at me a sec." James' hand is half outstretched; the desire to gather Regulus up in his arms and never let go almost to strong to resist. "Please." He adds, because Regulus has never once denied him when he begged.
Slowly, cautiously, Regulus lifts his head, his eyes red rimmed and glassy as they skate around the room before finally landing back on James.
"There you are." James whispers, unable to help himself as he reaches out, his touch feather light as he soothes a thumb across Regulus' cheekbone.
Instead of calming the boy, like James thought it would, the tears that had clouded his vision spill over.
"Reggie." James breathes, his heart cracking in his chest. "Reg. Please don't cry. I don't- I'm sorry- I thought it would be okay. I'm drunk. And stupid. And you're just- well you're you and I like you and- no, what I mean is- I didn't think it would hurt you-"
"How could it not hurt? You- James, you're not oblivious- You must- You can't just kiss me like that to play a game. Not when you- not when its clear that I-" Regulus cuts himself off, sucking in a breath as he wipes furiously at his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" James asks, his eyebrows pulling down in the middle as he stares at the younger boy. "You- That wasn't- Reg, you think I kissed you like that, for a game?"
Regulus stares at him blankly.
"God, for someone so smart you can be really fucking stupid." James laughs, and then suddenly he's pressing his lips against Regulus'; taking his time to unpick each any every insecurity as he gentles his way through Regulus' defences, deepending the kiss unil their tongues are tied and he's holding the boy against him like his life depends on it.
And this. Oh, this, is what he'd wanted. No audience, no game, nothing except the stars and the sky and the two of them.
Its Regulus who pulls away first, laughing softly as James chases his lips.
"It really wasn't just for show?" He asks, once James' eyes meet his.
"I mean, it must've been one hell of a show. Not that Sirius will have much enjoyed it." James grins, laughing when Regulus smacks his chest before sobering up. "Of course it wasn't. I've wanted to do that for months. Hell, I think I've loved you for months."
"Good." Reg mumbles, breath still hitching slightly as he moves to hide his face in the crook of James' neck, nibbling softly at the skin there. "I think I've loved you since the night you pulled me in from the rain."
"Reg, you were completely out of it."
"Hm." Regulus huffs, pulling away so that he can rest his forehead against James'. "Maybe it was just infactuation, then. Sirius had always said you were like warmth in human form. But I think that was the first time I really realised how cold I'd been."
And oh, Merlin, James is fucked.
Truly and utterly, fucked.
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