Chapter Text
James adjusted the collar on his costume, and grinned. He had thought it over, and if a gigantic ugly inflatable dinosaur costume didn’t woo Lily, he didn’t know what would.
He hopped off his bed, and excitedly turned to Sirius.
“Siri, what do you think of my costume??” Sirius turned, and grinned. He was wearing a giant pumpkin costume, and he reached a hand out of the folds to shake James’.
“You look sick as hell dude. There’s no way anyone would resist your charm.”
James nodded. “Thanks man.” They walked to the door hand in hand, laughing to each other.
Stepping into the party, James stared out at the small group of people. Marlene and her girlfriend Dorcas(?) were laughing together, dressed as a cat and a dog respectively, and close to them were a couple of Sirius’s brothers’ other friends, Barty and Evan, he thinks.
Evan was dressed in Slytherin robes, and he had an ugly ass blond wig on his head. He was muttering something to Barty about his father ‘hearing about this’, whatever ‘this’ was. Barty was dressed like a ghostbuster, one of those heroes from that new American movie, but he was scantily clad, so James assumed he was supposed to be sexy.
He scanned the faces of the people in the room for Lily, and his face fell when he saw her next to two other girls, laughing.
They were all dressed in big dresses, with Lily’s being teal, the brunette’s being yellow, and the blonde with the ethereal laugh was wearing pink, though James must be going crazy, ‘cause her dress also looked blue.
Taking a deep breath, James walked closer, and leaned on the wall.
“Hey Lily, how are you?”
She turned to him, and her face immediately fell. “Oh, James. I’m having a great time with my girlfriends, thanks for asking.” Her tone was closed off, and James let out a quiet ‘ah’.
“Very well then. I hope you three have a good night! I’m happy for you, Lily, I really am.” He shot her a smile, and walked off, trying to shove all thoughts other out of his mind.
He walked right past Peter, who was dressed as Spiderman, and ignored the calls of concern from his friends as he walked up to his dorm room.
Sitting on his bed, James pulled the drapes shut, and angrily ripped the dinosaur head off.
“James?” He sighed as Sirius called out to him, and laid down on his back, sighing.
“Yeah?”
Sirius opened his drapes, and sat on his bed next to his legs. “I didn’t see you down stairs.” He paused, then sighed. “James, We missed you down there. You know, Remus is dressed as Apollo, and he looks literally sexy as hell. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
James laughed dryly, and rolled over, staring at his hands. “Do you think anyone would ever love me? I- I know people like me, but it seems everyone I like doesn’t like me . ”
Taking a deep breath, Sirius stood. “I don’t know what to tell you, James. All I know is that you’re a great guy, and you’re sure to find someone some day. Just, come down when you feel like it. We’re not as great as the three marauders.” He walked out of the room, and James heard the door shut.
Sighing, he sat up, and opened his drapes back up, preparing to steel himself and go back down stairs, when he met the eyes of someone who was most certainly not a roommate of his.
“Uh, hi? You’re Sirius' brother, Regulus, right?” He hoped his voice was cracking, and that it seemed like he didn’t know who he was. It wouldn’t do to have Sirius find out about his pathetic crush on his brother.
Regulus stood silently, and looked James up and down, shooting him a smile. “What are you wearing?” His voice was filled with laughter, and James remembered why he was obsessed with him. “Actually, my brother is dressed as a pumpkin downstairs, so I can’t complain.” He pushed past James, and sat down on his bed, staring at him.
James tried to calm his breathing, and stood there in front of Regulus. “Um, what are you-”
“Dressed as? I’m Inigo Montoya, from the Princess Bride movie.”
“Oh. I was going to ask what you were doing up here, but that’s good to know.” He flushed to his ears, and turned away from Regulus, sitting on the bed next to him.
James nervously fiddled with his hands, and Regulus huffed out a laugh. “Hmm. I’m here because of you. I wanted to see why you were upset, but.. I kind of overheard your conversation with my brother.”
His face fell, and he stared at his hands, setting them in his lap. Sighing, he turned to Regulus, expecting his face to be one of pity, but Regulus couldn’t even meet his eyes. His face was flushed, and his head turned away, lips pursed.
Falling back onto the mattress, he let out a dry laugh. “So, you must think I’m completely pathetic. I have students lining up asking to go on dates with me, but I only want two people, and those two don’t want me.”
He felt an elbow ram into his side, and then Regulus was on top of him, glaring. His face was framed by the layers of fluffy hair, and James held in a scream of anguish. His crush had an arm on either side of him, and it was because he was mad at him . Fuck my life .
“James. You are not pathetic. Don’t ever say that about yourself. You are an amazing guy, and anyone who doesn’t think that is either not attracted to men, or an idiot.”
“I- Even you?” He tried to be slick, and even managed a smirk, screaming internally.
Regulus froze, flushing, and stared at him, clearly realizing the position they were in. He cursed under his breath, and his elbow faltered, dropping him right onto James.
“Shit! Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” He was cut off by Regulus slamming a hand over his mouth.
With a shaky voice, he managed to mutter out a remark. “Shut up. Now.” James shut his mouth, and laid there frozen as Regulus rolled off him, and practically leapt away, face clearly blazing.
“I really am sorry, I didn’t mean to make you fall on me, or to say that, I.. I don’t know.”
He watched as Regulus’ shoulders tensed, and he turned away. “You.. Didn’t mean to ask me that.” He didn’t phrase it like a question, and his voice was more disappointed than angry.
James stared at him for a few seconds, and cleared his throat. “Well, now I’m not sure. I was trying to save my skin, but, do I not need to? I- To repeat my question, Regulus, even you?”
Regulus took a deep breath, and James watched, mesmerized, as his hair waved with his head. Regulus laughed incredulously as he shook his head. “Yes, James. Even me.”
He reached out an arm, and placed his hand on Regulus’ shoulder. “Okay. Then, even me, for you.” Regulus stared at him, and blinked a few times, hiding his face in his hands.
“Ohhh, don’t tell me I’ve been pining this whole fucking time for no reasonnnnnnn.” His voice got whiny at the end, and James moved his arm to pull Regulus closer.
“Hey, it’s fine, I’ve been too if that makes you feel better.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow at him, and leaned closer, staring at him. “Really? Since first year?” He squinted at him, and leaned even closer.
James felt his face get hotter, and he removed his arm, leaning back to get farther away from Regulus. “Well, third year, but that’s practically- Wait, first year!?!?” He looked into Regulus’ eyes, and found no sign of a joke. He took in a deep breath, and let it out, laying down again. “I never noticed. I never noticed.”
He felt arms around him again, though this time he wasn’t as surprised. “Well, you know now, so, what’re you gonna do about it?” With Regulus above him again, James flushed brighter than he ever had before, and he nervously reached both hands up, resting them on Regulus’ hips.
“Well~ I-” The door of his dorm slammed open, revealing Sirius, Peter, and Remus, talking animatedly.
(((cockblocked by his own best friend, shaking my head)))
James froze, and he felt Regulus shiver in fear above him. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here.” He spoke quietly and calmly, basking in the fact that Regulus stopped shaking.
Sirius was standing there pointing at him, and he let out a quiet curse. In a fraction of a second, Sirius made a leap at them, and Peter grabbed him, holding him back as Remus stared.
“Let me go Pete! I’m gonna kill him!!”
Regulus let out a laugh, and let himself fall onto James. “Siri, please. I’m sure James stood by while you snogged Remus, so give him some leniency.”
Sirius practically growled, and Regulus laughed again. “This is not the same!! You are my baby brother, and he’s about to be a dead man!!”
“M’kay, well, could you wait a while?” Regulus sat up, and turned to look at James, smirking. “Maybe ten minutes?” He grinned, and Sirius screamed.
“You’re dead!!!” He got out of Peter's hold, and ran at James. In an instant they were clawing at each other, and Regulus just sat there and laughed.
“Help me Reg!” James screamed out.
He tapped his chin, and shook his head, laughing. “Maybe if I get a kiss, but… I don’t know...”
James wrapped Sirius in his blanket, and managed to hold him there just long enough to place a quick peck on Regulus’ lips. “There, now save me! Or I won’t have lips left to kiss!!”
“Okay, okay.” Regulus slid from where he was on the bed, and sat on Sirius’ back, twisting his arm. He leaned closer to James, and kissed him on the lips, grinning.
Sirius screamed from under him, and Regulus just laughed. “Oh, even me, James. Even me.” He muttered against his lips, enjoying every moment of this party so far.