He Would

<3

James : *hugging regulus from behind* remember when you told me to go to the pharmacy?

Regulus : yes?

James : they’re out of my ADHD meds for 5 days

Regulus : oh my god

James : it’s going to be a fun week

Regulus : I’m going to Sirius’

James : in sickness and in health reggie

scrumptious

evan licking the blood clean from barty's knuckles after he’s beaten someone up

idk either to start cackling bc they're my babies or sobbing bc they're my babies

Love - @black-brothers-microfic - wc: 534 - Starchaser

James says I love you like it’s his second nature.

He says it when he hangs up the phone with Sirius. When Lily hands him his coffee. When Remus fixes his collar before a meeting. When Marlene passes him a pen. He even says it to Peter when he remembers to order extra fries with his lunch.

Regulus has noticed.

More importantly, he’s noticed that James has never said it to him.

It shouldn’t bother him. He shouldn’t care. He’s not the kind of person who expects grand displays of affection or casually tossed I-love-yous. But James is. And yet, with him, James never says it.

And it’s driving Regulus insane.

At first, he tries to justify it. Maybe James just doesn’t say it to boyfriends. Maybe romantic love is different. But that theory dies a miserable death when James shouts “Love you, mate!” over his shoulder at the barista who gets his order right.

So that leaves only one conclusion:

James doesn’t love him.

Oh, he likes him. He kisses him. He holds him at night. He reaches for him first thing in the morning. But he doesn’t love him. Not the way Regulus wants him to.

Regulus wants to be okay with that.

He’s not.

So one night, after spending way too long lying awake staring at the ceiling, Regulus decides he’s just going to say it. Not because he expects anything in return, but because he wants to. Because if James isn’t in love with him, that doesn’t mean Regulus isn’t utterly, helplessly in love with him.

So the next morning, when James is still warm and half-asleep next to him, Regulus gathers his courage and says, “I love you.”

James goes still.

Regulus expected that. He expected a slow blink, maybe an awkward exhale. A thank you, maybe, if James was feeling particularly cruel. He did not expect James’ face to crumple as he lets out a choked breath and buries his face in his hands.

Regulus panics. “James—”

James surges forward, pulling Regulus into a crushing hug, and that’s when Regulus realizes—he’s crying.

“Jamie, what—”

“I love you,” James gasps against his neck. “I love you so much, I—fuck, I’ve been so scared.”

Regulus goes stiff. Scared?

James pulls back, rubbing at his eyes, failing miserably at stopping the tears. “I wanted to say it, I did. But it’s—fuck, it’s you, Reg. It matters with you. And I was scared, because no one’s ever—” He cuts himself off with a wet laugh, dragging a shaky hand through his hair. “No one’s ever loved me back before.”

Regulus stares. Then promptly bursts into tears.

Because of course James loves him. Of course he was just being an absolute idiot about it.

James makes a wounded noise before wrapping him up again, and they fall into a mess of limbs, choked sobs, and pure, unfiltered relief.

They take turns babbling I love yous between sniffles, hands clinging desperately, neither one letting go.

And when they finally pull apart, noses red, eyes puffy, James looks at Regulus like he’s something precious. Like he’s something James never thought he’d have.

“I love you,” James says, and this time, it’s everything.

Author notes: This is loosely based off a text post I saw. @leeny-leens @accio-sriracha @rosiesangel

mhm please stay at least 6ft away for safety reasons

If you were a serial killer what would your signature be?

is it just me for when I lay down I can feel my heartbeat in my foot or some random part of my body or do I need to go see a doctor

yes just yep my otp <3

James: hey, love!

James: *pulled Regulus to his waist and reached for a kiss*

Regulus: *lovingly rolled his eyes and playfully evaded a kiss*

Sirius: please, prongs, NO KISSING in front of ME

Regulus: *unimpressed look*

Regulus: *dragged James into a deep kiss*

Sirius: YOU LITTLE BRAT-

my 13 open ao3 tabs relate

i love the way you never get to reading that thing that interested you

do you ever have taylor swift takes that are so niche and pretentious that you’re like oh god even the freaks on tumblr aren’t gonna like this

yes.

Barty barging into the Slytherin Dorms where James and Regulus are kissing: Barty: What's up bitch!! Regulus, kissing James: Get the fuck out of here, Barty. Barty, pouting: Awe, c'mon, that's no way to treat your best friend!! Regulus, on James' Lap: No, but it is how I can treat my ex-boyfriend. James: Sorry, what-

Is it just me who checks every minute 😔

*aggresively waits for a notification*

*still waiting..*