behindthebins

[behindthebins]

Over, or under?

Regulus Black x James Potter

Cw: like one or two swear words, mentions of Walburga Black.

Tw: this is my first time writing, so if you don’t like it then please be kind, but if you do like it then please be kinder. Thank you :)

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Regulus Black was not a boy to be trifled with. He’s unnervingly collected to all, somewhat heartlessly stoic to most, and bitterly spiteful to few.

In spite of this, he’s an awfully caring boy at heart. Deep, deep, deep down. And who would possibly dive into the forbidden depths of his unkempt emotions other than the resident hotshot Gryffindor chaser?

The thought alone should be enough to have his mother turn in her predestined grave. He audibly scoffs at the thought alone.

“What’s so funny?” James mumbles from beside him, never one for feeling left out. A dimpled grin immediately growing across his bespectacled face, if only in enthusiastic camaraderie, always happy to see ‘his’ Reggie letting down the mask of indifference.

“Nothing of your concern, Potter” He clips, quite possibly his fastest shut down of the week (His brother Sirius had been keeping count, now that they were speaking again).

“Are you over? Or under?” James throws out, undeterred. Eyes warming as they often do in the evening light of the castle.

“What on earth are you on about? Must you always speak in riddles?” He chides, dark eyebrows twitching in slight distaste. He despises when people are vague- he’ll have to get used to it, with his newly acquired ’marauder pass’, he thinks to himself.

“When you hug people, Reg.” James elaborates. “Do your arms go over, or under. Personally, I go over but I reckon it’s just to give people a chance.” He shrugs. “Can’t be fair on them, with these bad boys constricting round their chest” he half jokes, flexing his biceps, if only to make Regulus smile. It doesn’t.

“I don’t. Hug people, that is.” Is what he gets in reply. The pale boy’s cheeks taking on what can only be described as a dusting of crimson. Quiet, disturbingly honest, a broken softness to it that James just wants to wring out. Tact, he reminds himself. He needs to have some tact. Sirius would kill him if he found out not only did he have a big fat crush on his brother, but made him uncomfortable on top of that. Tact.

“Well I’m curious now, though” James says through a halfhearted laugh. If anything, Regulus only draws further into himself. Shit. Tact, James, tact. Rather than embarrassing Regulus further, James decides to even the playing field. Enthusiastically throwing his heavy arms over Regulus’ shoulders from their seated positions. Awkward, slightly painful, but real.

No response, nothing. “Shit, I just-“ James starts, beginning to pull away, only to be met with the twitch of wiry arms hesitantly working their way round his middle.

The thought of Regulus’ mum screaming and bellowing at the sight, comes into his mind. And for once, he doesn’t seem to care, all worries and tethers fading completely as he gives a shaky exhale, relaxing into James’ hold. And if you were to ever look at the sight with a magnifying glass, you would see the very start of a smile on his soft lips as they rest upon James’ collar.

Under. The answer was under.

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Thank you for reading! Any thoughts, feelings, and tips would be greatly appreciated :)

-The Recycling Bin

[behindthebins]

New to being a writer. Master at being a reader.

Please be kind :)

-The Recycling Bin