This was the last straw for James. He couldn't handle anymore of the younger Black brothers teasing. All Regulus did was make snide and sarcastic comments about him, and he was on James last nerve.
Meanwhile, Regulus was getting quite a kick out of watching James grow more and more frustrated with his taunts. He'd watch proudly as James face grew red and his gaze hardened. Watched how he set his jaw and bit his tongue as to not lash out at his best friends little brother.
But he knew he had gone a little too far this time. This time, James was clearly struggling to bite his tongue. His eyes were sharp, trailed on Regulus silently.
A tense moment passed and neither of them made any movement.
"What did you just say?" James spoke, breaking the silence. Regulus nearly jumped at James words. They were full of restrained anger, and through gritted teeth. James continued to look at Regulus expectantly, daringly, waiting for him to repeat himself.
"I said," Regulus started, clearing his throat, "that you're a rubbish quidditch player and you're only on the team because your daddy has money."
So Regulus decided to hold his ground.
'I had given him a chance to back down,' James thought to himself, slowly crossing his arms over his chest.
Regulus froze. His carefully curated smirk waned under the fear of the upcoming reaction from James. He watched silently as James crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.
James shook his head, as if in disbelief. "Regulus Black. The lesser Black brother," he started maliciously, taking a step towards Regulus. "The second heir to the family name. Always in second place, aren't you Reg?"
He'd struck a nerve. James watched as Regulus flinched and took a step back, looking wounded. His fists curled and released slowly and James felt a pang of guilt in his chest.
Regulus had never seen James act like this. His warm eyes turned cold and steely, his face stoic as he took another step towards Regulus.
"James," Regulus stated, his voice shaking a bit.
James showed no sign of hearing Regulus. He took another step towards Regulus, and another, continuing this pattern until he backed Regulus against the wall.
Moving slowly, James slid his hand under Regulus' chin, tilting the younger boys head up so he'd meet his eyes. Regulus' eyes were wide with fear now, and he shook with panic, anticipating pain.
All Regulus could do was look at James. He felt his warm, calloused hand under his chin, but all he could focus on was James gaze. He didn't realize he was shaking until recognition flickered through James' eyes and he pulled his hand back.
James took a couple steps backwards immediately, running a hand through his messy, dark hair. "Fuck. Reg, I'm sorry."
Regulus looked at him silently, giving James no indication of what was going on in his mind. 'Shit,' James thought miserably. He'd forgotten that Regulus had come from the same hell house that his best friend had. He'd seen the damage inflicted on Sirius, both physical and mental.
Regulus crossed his arms over his chest, more of a self comforting manner than an aggressive one. He watched as James seemed to internally argue with himself, pacing a bit and shaking his hands, periodically running one through his hair.
Cautiously, Regulus spoke up. "James. It's okay," he murmured quietly, stopping James in his tracks.
"Regulus, seriously. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"James. I had it coming. I should be the one apologizing."
"No, no, no," James protested immediately, taking another step towards Regulus. "You don't have to apologize. I overreacted, I didn't mean to scare you-"
"James, calm down."
Finally, James stopped for a breath, inhaling deeply. He was practically vibrating, watching Regulus with caution.
"I'm sorry. You're not rubbish at quidditch. You deserve your position on that team," Regulus apologized, meeting James' eye determinedly.
"It's okay," James replied softly, looking at the ground. Regulus sighed and took a step closer to James this time, using his hand to mimic what James had done before, tilting his chin until James was looking at him. Regulus startled when he noticed the subtle tears in James eyes.
"Reg, I'm so sorry," James repeated, his voice weak.
Regulus felt overwhelmed with emotion for the boy infront of him. Instinctively, he reached out and ran a hand through James hair, pulling him closer. Though James had nearly a foot on him height-wise, Regulus easily pulled him into his chest.
"I'm sorry," James repeated, stilling instantly when Regulus pulled him close. He listened to Regulus' steady heartbeat.
"Alright James. It's okay now," Regulus promised into James curls. "It's okay."
"I didn't mean to scare you," James' voice broke and Regulus sighed, petting his hair affectionately.
"I know. It's okay."
After a moment of comfortable silence, James straightened up, pulling out of Regulus' embrace and clearing his throat. Regulus noted that James' cheeks were flushed with color.
James avoided Regulus' eye to the best of his ability, clearing his throat to ease some of the tension he felt.
"James." Regulus didn't sound ecstatic, but hearing his name spoken by Regulus' steady voice eased James' anxiety.
"Mhm?" He murmured in acknowledgement, still not looking at Regulus.
"James, look at me."
Slowly, James looked back at Regulus. Regulus' gaze was empathetic. "Are you okay?"
James only nodded in response, afraid if he opened his mouth and spoke, he wouldn't be able to stop.
"James."
Oh Merlin, Regulus needed to stop saying his name like that. James could barely focus, looking at the ground again as he took a couple deep breaths.
Regulus sighed, about to turn away, seeing as he was getting nothing out of his brother's friend when he heard a timid voice.
"I don't like losing myself."
Regulus didn't think he would ever hear loud, confident, boisterous James Potter sound so...meek. It made his heart hurt, not that he'd ever admit it.
He sat down on the desk, patting for James to sit next to him.
"Is that what it feels like when you get angry? That you're losing yourself?" Regulus asked experimentally. He wanted to give James a chance to open up without being too forceful.
James took the invitation, sitting down on the hard desk next to Regulus, letting his feet swing at a rhythmic pace as he pondered the question.
"I suposse so," he responded hesitantly, his eyes darting around the empty room a bit. Regulus looked at him attentively, encouraging him to go on.
"I like being the bubbly, confident, if not slightly arrogant Gryffindor with a penchant for pranks. That's who I am. I'm not an angry or jealous person."
"Those are human emotions James. They doesn't make you a bad person, or any less of your good-looking, bubbly, arrogant persona," Regulus assured him in a gentle tone. James met his eye and his lips quirked into a slight smile.
"You think I'm good-looking."
Regulus realized his mistake immidiantly, groaning a bit. "Don't let that go to your head now, I just meant in general, others have a positive opinion about your looks and whatnot."
He was fumbling now, tripping over words and repeating himself. James smiled to himself, moving his hand closer to Regulus'.
"You're not too bad looking yourself, you know."
Regulus didn't react right away, which made James stomach turn with nerves.
Regulus sat stunned for a moment, wondering if he had heard correctly.
Just as James began to pull his hand back towards himself, Regulus rested his on top of it.
It was James turn to freeze. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. Slowly, he turned to Regulus, looking down a bit at the shorter boy. "Reg..." he started nervously, his eyes darting to the left every so often.
Regulus had had enough of the tension. He grabbed James by the red and gold tie and pulled him close, planting his lips on the surprised boy's.
It was only a second before James started kissing back with intensity. He dragged his hand up to Regulus' neck, cupping it and pulling him impossibly closer, as Reg's hand found its way back to his messy curls, tugging lightly.
After a few moments, both boys pulled away for air. James panted a bit, his bespectacled eyes still flickering towards Regulus' lips.
Regulus' cheeks were pink and his mouth slightly agape, his lips red and slightly swollen from kissing.
"Well," he murmured with a slight chuckle. "You're alot less annoying and arrogant with my tongue in your mouth."
James nearly fainted, but was quick to recover with a retort about where Regulus could stick it.
Regulus hummed softly in response. "That's your job, isn't it, Jamey boy?"
Absolutely flabbergasted, James sat there silently as Regulus slid off the desk and headed towards the door.
"I meant what I said James. You're a good person. Good-looking too," he called over his shoulder.
James was about to call out after Reg when he heard the words he'd been dying to hear from him. "Same time and place tomorrow?"
(1524 words :) I edited this at 3am so I'm sorry for any mistakes lol)