Work Text:
Regulus Black was in love with his brother’s best friend. This was a problem. A huge problem. He had known he liked James since he was 13 and first saw him coming off the quidditch pitch with his hair plastered to his face with sweat, making his face shimmer. Merlin, he was pretty. He had never even entertained the thought that he could like him back. That was until Regulus was in his fifth year. That was the year everything changed between them.
Earlier in the year, the two of them had been studying together, as they were both in the same potions class, and James had burst out saying that he was pansexual and had been waiting to tell someone. Regulus was elated. He actually had a chance! Regulus had wanted to assure James that he wouldn’t tell anyone, so he responded by telling him that he himself was gay. James’ face lit up, presumably at the prospect of someone else being queer too.
Regulus had spent the better part of the entire week trying to convince himself to just tell James how he felt, because he knew James, and he knew that even if he didn’t feel the same way (which he probably didn’t), he would still be friends with Regulus. And honestly, he just needed to get it off of his chest. So, he made a plan.
They had plans to study for potions every Thursday night so Regulus decided that’s when he was going to talk to him about his feelings. They would finish their studying and as they were putting stuff away he would put up a silencing spell. Then, he would lead into it by being all like “I have something to tell you, but please don’t be mad” and then he would just tell him. What could possibly go wrong?
James had just started to put his stuff away when he heard Regulus whisper a muffliato charm, which immediately confused him. Why was Regulus putting up a silencing charm when they were putting their stuff away? Wasn’t it a little too late for that to do any good? That’s when he started talking.
“Okay, I have something to tell you and please, please don’t get mad at me for what I’m about to say,” Regulus rushed out, his hands visibly shaking as he moved them around. Why was he so nervous? What could he possibly have to tell James that made him so nervous that his hands were shaking and that he was stumbling over his words?
“Okay,” James said, drawing out the syllables. “But first you need to breathe. I won’t get mad at you for whatever you’re about to say unless you like, straight up insult me.” Regulus visibly took a deep breath and straightened up.
“Okay, I’m actually doing this,” he mumbled to himself. He took another deep breath before he spoke again. “So, y’know how we like, came out to each other?” James took a panicked breath in and whipped his head around to make sure no one could hear. “Hey, I put up a muffliato, no one can hear us.” James breathed a sigh of relief. He had forgotten about that.
“Yes, I know what you’re referring to,” he replied, his cheeks tinting pink– he got easily embarrassed.
“So I’ve been meaning to tell you something,” Regulus started, his voice starting to shake.
“Okay,” he said, nodding his encouragement. “I won’t be mad at you for whatever you’re about to say, I promise you.”
“I sort of, maybe, have a tiny little crush on you,” he said, stumbling over his words, he was speaking so quickly. There was silence as James tried to process the words that just left Regulus’ mouth. “And I know that you probably don’t feel the same way, and I’m okay with that! I’ve accepted it, so you do not owe me anything at all. I just wanted to tell you–” His words were cut off by James’ lips pressing against his.
James hadn’t even meant to kiss him, that was the funny part, and that’s why, about 10 seconds into them kissing, he had started to laugh. He had started laughing while kissing Regulus Black. Merlin, he was a fool. He could only hope that as they pulled away that Regulus knew that James wasn’t laughing at his feelings, but at his own impulsiveness.
After they pulled away, the two stared at each other, James’ cheeks tinted pink, and he was trying his damndest not to laugh, because he knew how that would be received and that was not at all why he was laughing.
“Why’d you do that?” Regulus asked, his voice no higher than a whisper.
“Why do you think?” He replied, a smile in his voice.
“I’m not exactly sure,” he said, sounding like he was in a daze.
“Because I like you too, you idiot,” James laughed breathlessly.
What the ever-loving fuck just happened? Did James actually just kiss him? Or did he imagine it all? Because there was absolutely no way that he actually liked him too. No. Fucking. Way.
“What?” Regulus said dumbly. James laughed again, and Regulus swore that if he ever heard that exact laugh again he would drop to his knees in prayer without a second thought.
“I like you as well,” he repeated, this time slowly annunciating each word. “That’s why I kissed you. Although I didn’t exactly plan on doing that.”
Regulus didn’t know what to do with himself. He seriously had never even considered this outcome. Had he been hopeful? Yes, yes he had been. But it had been empty hope. He never thought that there was a possibility of this happening! He had no idea what to do. Especially with the way James was looking at him now.
“Since you seem to be a bit broken right now,” James said, smiling at Regulus’ embarrassed face. “I’ll save you the trouble. Would you like to go to Hogsmeade together this weekend?”
Genuinely what the fuck was happening?
“Yes,” Regulus struggled to get out. He was in shock. His answer made James’ face glow with excitement.
“Okay! I’m looking forward to it.” Regulus nodded back at him and then James rushed out of the library, smiling like an adorable idiot. What just happened?
Regulus had no fucking clue what to wear on their date. Absolutely none. What does one wear on a date? He had never been on one before. Where were they even going to go? Why hadn’t he asked James any of this when he had seen him the day after everything happened? Damn James and how pretty he looks after he’s just gotten done with quidditch practice.
After staring at his wardrobe for at least 20 minutes he finally decided on an outfit. He put on a Slytherin sweater that he may have stolen from Barty, his brother’s leather jacket (he took it the day before) and threw on black jeans and his green converse. He put on all of his silver rings, quickly did eyeliner (which Dorcas taught him how to do) and then he was ready for their first date.
They had agreed to meet in the courtyard so they could surprise each other with their outfits, James, obviously having gotten ready in the Gryffindor dorms. When Regulus saw James, it took everything in him to keep his jaw from dropping to the floor. He looked so pretty.
He was wearing a red and yellow short (it didn’t have anything Gryffindor on it though, so that was a plus) with jeans and red converse. As Regulus got closer he discovered that he had his (illegal) tattoos on display, with the neckline of his sweater being just low enough to see the top of them. He looked great.
“You look very pretty,” James said once Regulus reached where he was standing.
“As do you,” he replied, grinning. He couldn’t believe it. He was on a date with James Potter.
“Thank you,” he smiled, but it only lasted a second before it dropped. “I’m sorry to ask this, but is it alright if we don’t make it obvious that we’re, y’know–”
“On a date?” Regulus finished for him. James turned red but nodded, looking to the ground. “Yes, of course. I’m not going to make you come out to people when you don’t want to. Plus, we’re friends, and friends go to Hogsmeade together all the time.”
“Yeah,” he nodded, lifting his head up. “Alright, you ready?”
“I’m ready,” James nodded. And then they were off to the first date of many to follow.