Work Text:
Merlin hates James Potter.
He absolutely loathes him. Do you know how James can tell? Because Merlin allows THE Regulus Black to flounce around James' house, in his giant green sweaters so big they cover his hands and reach his mid-thigh.
But every time James manages to even glance at Regulus, he sneers and strides away in his adorable bouts of self-righteousness.
I mean, the closest Regulus has gotten to James in months is weighted push-ups.
So when Regulus shouts, "James!" from down the hall in his room, he perks up a bit. Because Reg just called him James. Furthermore, Reg just called him.
"Hurry up, Potter, I don't have all week!" He yells again, prompting James to quickly scramble up off his floor and into the hall, knocking when he reaches Regulus' door.
He receives another monotone shout from behind the closed door. "Well, come in genius, I called you over for a purpose." James can just about hear the eye roll in that statement.
So as to not upset Regulus further, he opens the door and walks in.
Regulus is on his bed, laid down on his stomach just so, so that his sweater lifts a bit over his lower back and James can see a small
tattoo that states, 'Plus jamais un suiveur, un leader pour toujours.' In neat cursive.
James' mind wanders to what that may mean and what other tattoos Reg may have. On what other parts of his body. An ankle maybe? Or his leg, or his thigh...
He doesn't notice the smaller boy spin around and sit up.
At least not until a hardcover comes flying at his head.
It collides with James' head with a loud thump, echoed by a soft giggle.
"Um, fucking ow? Did you simply call me in here to throw books at me mate? Because if you did, I can go get Sirius." James states as he rubs his temple.
Regulus walks over right in front of James and bends down to pick up the book. "No, dingbat. I called you in here, because you," He stands to hand James the book. "Owe me a favour." He slaps the book into the other boy's palm and spins on his heel walking back to his bed.
"Um, no I don't." James says, walking behind Regulus confusedly. "Uh, yeah, you do. Push-ups lighting up any of those very dim light bulbs in your small brain?" He replies, voice soggy with sarcasm.
"Well one, fuck you. Two, yes. And three, what do you want then?"
"Read to me." Regulus retorts. He points lazily to a bookshelf in the corner, filled with classics. James walk over and picks one called 'The Jungle Book' by Ernest Hemingway. Putting back the book that was so rudely slammed into his hand.
"If I may ask, why?" He asks while opening the book. "For my own sanity. Now please, just read."
Regulus lies down and closes his eyes as James begins. "It was seven o’clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up from..." James drones on, reading until he is sure the younger boy is asleep. But he's intrigued. He managed to pick a pretty damn good book.
So, he lays down next to Regulus on his side to give the boy more room, and begins to read silently. He stops occasionally to remember where he really is, and to look at the sleeping boy next to him.
Eventually the book ends, and James, bored and delirious, decides to run his hand through Regulus' dark curls.
He smiles a sleepy smile as he walks his fingers through a small jungle of hair, belonging to -who he thinks- is the most beautiful boy in the world.
James rests his hand on Regulus' hip as he falls slowly into the trap of sleep, a coma of dreams about the one and only Regulus Black.
When he wakes, Regulus is nowhere to be found, but the book is still there. So he gets up off the bed and walks over to the door, stretching on his way there.
Only for it to be opened by the boy he was going to look for.
"Good morning sleeping beauty. Well, technically it's evening, but oh well. Have a nice nap?" Regulus smiles sarcastically at James while he walks out of the room.
"Yeah, yeah okay. You fell asleep first. Prick." James smiles, walking back to his room.
The door closes behind him, and he walks away.
Regulus in the other hand, stays in his own room, keeping safe the knowledge that when he woke up, James and him were a tangle of limbs.
Keeping safe the secret that, apparently, James Potter smiles in his sleep.
In all seriousness, Regulus loves Merlin.