wtf

Episode 170 - My Hero Academia

but one out of the 365 days is his unlucky day, where his body just doesn't connect properly —or he's just distracted and can't see the very clear obstacles on his way— and he's left with bleeding knees and some bruises.

it was fun when he was a kid, because kids get hurt playing all the time. but being 22 and suddenly you don't know how to walk and trip over air on the way to your new part-time job?

it's haunting.

and it's exactly how he meets regulus, who is just trying to get some pastries and go home, but then somebody just fell right next to him, groaning "fucking hell, not again" and jesus fuck that's a very hot man and oh my god is that blood.

so regulus, who isn't a first aider or anything of the sorts, but knows how to clean and take care of all sorts of injuries, just decides to be nice and help.

james immediately uses the "i just fell for you" line on him, regulus calls him an idiot, james overshares about this being a yearly occurrence, regulus thinks that's ridiculous, james uses that as an excuse for them to become friends (or more) so he could see it with his very own eyes, regulus calls him ridiculous. the conversation is complete banter while regulus cleans the wounds.

they both leave with red cheeks and each others phone numbers.

"Regulus doesn't get embarrassed," Sirius argues, rolling his eyes as he sips his drink. "It's infuriating. As his sibling, it's my job to embarrass him, but he just gets all...huffy and disappointed."

"Well, you are rather disappointing, acting like an idiot," Regulus drawls from his spot on the other side of the loose circle of friends, sending Sirius a smirk.

"But it's inhuman! I mean, I've tried everything! Embarrassing childhood stories, yelling at you in front of a crowd, sex jokes, everything!" Sirius whines, leaning into Remus's side dramatically.

"It's true," Barty nods emphatically. "I don't think I've ever once seen him blush. Even that time I gave him a lap dance during breakfast! It's like he's made of stone or something." He grins for a moment, "Or maybe he liked it."

"I certainly didn't like that," Regulus snorts. "I just didn't care. You were the one being obnoxious, not me. I'm not going to be embarrassed by your antics, that's your job."

But James decides he needs to set the record straight. Because Regulus certainly does blush. "I'm sorry, but Regulus blushes all the time!" he says loudly, grinning at bit as everyone looks at him.

"James," Regulus hisses, immediately frowning, looking like he wants to kill him. "No, I do not."

Sirius, however, is grinning from ear to ear. "Oh? What gets Ickle Reggie to blush, then?"

And, spurred on by the challenge, James crawls slowly over to Regulus, who is giving him a death glare, and leans to whisper in his ear, making sure to speak so quietly nobody can hear him.

"Hi, baby," he murmurs lowly, allowing his breath to tickle Regulus's skin. "You look gorgeous today."

The effect of the pet name is instantaneous. Immediately, Regulus turns bright red and lets out a little noise, stammering as he looks down to the floor. James laughs as he pulls back, grinning triumphantly, and Sirius yells out, "What did you say to him?"

Regulus says “baby”

Remus says “sweetheart”

James who jokingly full names him as "Regulus Arcturus" when he's in "trouble"

James who gets genuinely angry one day and calls him "Regulus Arcturus Black"

Regulus who notices. And it feels like he got stabbed. Because if even James sees him that way, everyone else definitely does

Sirius couldn’t stop shaking as he stood in the crowd around Regulus’s bed. He knew Quidditch was dangerous, he knew that Regulus’s injury was mild, but the image of his baby brother falling through the air, plummeting toward the ground, just wouldn’t leave his brain. He had a feeling he’d have nightmares about it for years.

But as he took deep breaths, looked at Regulus’s awake and alive face, and clung to Remus’s hand like a lifeline, he started to look around to the other people around his brother’s bedside. 

Dorcas, Pandora, Evan, and Barty; all looking shaken but trying to cheer Reg up with sarcastic jokes. Peter and Remus; clearly concerned about Regulus but also concerned about Sirius and how much of a mess he’d been an hour ago, the remnants of hysterical tears still etched into his porcelain skin. And James.

James looked even worse than Sirius.

He looked like he’d aged fifteen years. Like he’d seen death. Like a murderer had shown up at his door, and he’d had to face him with no weapons or help. He looked changed.

It was the confirmation that Sirius needed, really. And in that moment, he knew he had a choice. Because part of him wanted to throw a bit of a fit. To whine about his best friend falling for his brother, and his brother feeling the same.

But when he saw the gentle, caring way James looked to Regulus, and the almost trusting way Regulus looked back? Regulus didn’t look at people like that…

“Alright, you lot,” Pomfrey said in a businesslike voice, cutting through Sirius’s thoughts, “end of visiting hours. “Mister Black can have one person keep him company for a bit longer, but the rest need to go.”

It seemed like a group consensus that Sirius would be the ‘one,’ so everyone started saying their goodbyes and filing out. James, it seemed, was the only one who lingered, squeezing Regulus’s hand and sending him a small smile before turning.

“Stay.”

But it wasn’t Regulus who said it. It was Sirius. 

“Stay, James. He wants you here, and you want to be here. Just….take care of him, alright?” Sirius asked, trying not to choke up at the weight of the words.

“Of course,” James nodded, clearly understanding.