jegulus microfic

“-and you can tell James that if he wants to be on speaking terms again, he’ll have to stop leaving his dirty shirts all over the house!” Regulus snapped at Remus, who rolled his eyes.

Remus shuffled to the other side of the living room to relay Regulus’ message to James. After a couple seconds, Remus came shuffling back.

“James said you guys could talk when you stop going to bed late.”

“We can talk when he stops setting his alarms for 4 in the morning!” Regulus huffed.

Remus went to James, then came back with his lips pursed. “James says to remind you that you like it when he goes on morning runs.”

Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose. James got him there. Regulus did like to see him in a tight tank top. Perfect morning view if you asked him. He let out a groan of frustration. “Well, tell him—“

“Yeah, you know what?” Remus interrupted sharply, speaking loud enough for both Regulus and James to hear him, “I’m not doing this anymore. I’m not an owl. You lot can figure this out on your own.” Remus gathered his things and left out of the front door of James and Regulus’ flat.

Regulus looked across at James who was smirking. 

James’ smirk turned into a loving grin. “Come here, love,” James opened his arms and Regulus went to him, “Can we make up now?”

“Yeah,” Regulus whispered. “And, for the record, I don’t mind when you go on morning runs, darling.”

James pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Yeah, you’ve made it obvious, Reg.”

Regulus sat in his office, tapping on the bottom of the table with his nails absently. He only half-listened to the meeting he was in, exhausted. His eyes flicked to examine Lucius Malfoy, who was presenting to the board.

He rolled his eyes, the proposal was just for show, Regulus knew what Lucius wanted. He wanted the Black Family Corporation to invest in his new startup and they were not going to do it.

Their meeting was interrupted by a rap at the door. Regulus spun away from the pout on Lucius’s face to the door. His assistant stepped in, head bowed and handed Regulus a note.

“You have an owl,” he murmured. Regulus took the note and waved his approval for the assistant to leave. The man did so in a rush. 

Lucius clicked his tongue, “If I could have your attention…” he prompted but Regulus merely waved at him in the same dismissive manner. Lucius fell quiet.

Regulus opened the note to find his husband’s handwriting.

Mr. Black, I await you for our “meeting” in the downstairs conference room. There’s been a bit of a clothing mishap.

-J

July 13th <3

Owl - @jegulus-microfic - words: 914

First part Previous part

Letting his eyes glide over the skies, he looked behind him to check the kids were still following along. It was late, the once clear sky started to turn a dark blue. The activity was to go for a night walk, find a nice place in the woods that wasn’t too far from the main camp, and teach the teens how to start a fire.

Much to Regulus’ disappointment, James stood at the back while he stood forward, guiding everyone to the spot that he and James walked to yesterday to check it out. They’d set up some fairy lights, lay down some blankets and packed tools in their bag to start fires.

The distant sound of an owl hooting echoed through his ears, getting louder and softer until it stopped.

He weaved the silver chain strung his dark coloured jean shorts through his hands, feeling the cold metal brush against his hot skin, narrowing his eyes to see the distant glow of fairy lights through the towering trees.

Suddenly, he heard a weight drop into the grass next to him, the heat of a body and a wide smile looking up at him. “Hi!” June grinned ear to ear.

“Hi June.” He spoke in a softer voice than normal. He wasn’t one to play favourites, but June reminded him so much of himself when he was younger, struggling with gender identity in a household like the one he grew up in was definitely a challenge. He would always be so thankful to his friends for helping him transition after he left, leaving was by far the best decision he’s ever made. “How are you?”

They hummed. “Alright…” They trailed off.

“What?” Regulus asked sceptically.

“Oh nothing.” June waved their hands in the air dismissively, leaving a few moments of silence before looking behind at where all the other students walked, and then back at Regulus. “You just kept looking behind yourself, looking really fucking depressed might I add, then sulked off again.” They shrugged.

Regulus felt his eyes widen, a noise of offends escaping his mouth. “Hey! Don’t analyse me.” He retorted. “And I’m not sulking, don’t be nosy.”

“Okay!” They raised their hands in surrender, a smirk still lingering on their lips. “If it helps, James is wearing the exact same expression.”

“What-“

“Bye!” They jogged off with a wave.

“-The fuck.” He finished after they left. “I hate kids.” He grumbled.

-

The lights were glistening, the fire hissing, the owls hooting and James Potters eyes shining. It was beautiful out, and in Regulus’ opinion, James’ face only added to that.

They sat together, legs entangled together far more than they actually needed, ignoring the fact that they had a whole blanket to themselves.

Gladly, the kids had managed to start some small fires, then James gave in and lit a bigger one so everyone could roast their marshmallows.

“Have you ever roasted skittles on a fire?” James spoke out of the blue.

“Excuse me?”

“Have you ever-“

Regulus coughed out a laugh. “No I heard you the first time, James. But of course not.” He rolled his eyes, emphasising his point with a gag.

“It’s actually very nice, Regulus!”

“Abomination.”

-

They carried on like this all night, bickering, laughing, throwing random bits of food and leaves at each other while they waited for the time to pass.

Now, Regulus sat lay on his back while James made sure he could still see the teens. He looked up at the full moon, it was dotted through the leaves of the trees but still quite visible and as bright as ever before.

He rolled his head to the side slightly, catching sight of James’ veined dark hands spread out on the blanket next to him. Every now and again he’d shift, playing with his rings and fiddling with his hands randomly. All Regulus wanted to do right now was place his hand atop the older boys, but he couldn’t just do that.

So he just waited, he wasn’t sure what for, but he did anyway. Maybe for James to look at him, all so he could make a snarky comment because he doesn’t know what else to say, but James seems to weirdly like it, so that works in his favour.

It wasn’t until James turned his head to look directly at Regulus, catching his eye and holding it with his hazel doe irises for a few seconds before reaching that same hand out to him.

The coolness of his fingers combed through Regulus’ hair. It was quick, but soon James grabbed a leaf and held it up with an amused expression on his face.

His tan skin was engulfed with the light of the flames before them, highlighting even the tiniest of details and turning his eyes a whole new colour which Regulus decided was so utterly gorgeous.

James reached another finger out, brushing the loose curl of Regulus’ raven hair behind and tucked into his overly pierced ears. He gave a proud smile, nodding and tossing the leaf on the floor.

“There, that’s better.” He spoke softly, clearly not aware to the awe struck wonder on Regulus face, and the red flush that was certainly not from the heat of the flames. Even the way Regulus froze and watched him smile and hum along to a random song, and James just chuckled.

God, this man was oblivious, because Regulus was sure he was doing a pretty shit job at hiding this.

@jegulus-microfic July 13, Word count 517

James’s owl, Iris, was a very busy owl. Not only did James use her, but so did all of his friends. Sure they could use the school owls, but Iris loved taking letters to Remus’s mum, Peter’s gran and Sirius’s orders to Gambol and Japes. She’d come back with boxes of pranks that Sirius shared with them all. But the most interesting person to borrow her was Regulus Black. 

James had caught him in the Owlery, late one Sunday evening, attempting to attach a rather thick envelope to one of the school’s barn owls. The owl was having none of it and kept nipping at his fingers. 

“Ouch!” Regulus yelped and sucked his finger into his mouth, soothing the sore skin. “Rude!” The owl hooted indignantly at him, ruffled his feathers and took off up to the rafters and refused to come back down. 

“Important letter is it?” James asked from the doorway. Regulus spun towards him, his wand slipping into his hand. James put his hands into the air, showing he didn’t mean any harm. Regulus slowly lowered his wand, but James noticed that he didn't put it away. 

“It’s none of your business,” Regulus snarled at him as he tried to coax another owl down. 

“You can borrow Iris if you want,” James said as he whistled lightly and the beautiful short-eared owl dropped down onto his outstretched arm and nibbled his finger affectionately when he held it out to her. “I thought you had an owl?” James suddenly remembered. Regulus had a huge Eagle owl like the rest of the Black family members. Regulus’s eyes dropped to his letter. 

“Eros is too recognisable,” He murmured so quietly that James almost missed what he said. 

“As long as it isn’t to someone dangerous, Iris is all yours. She loves delivering letters. Don’t you sweetheart?” He asked the owl, she hooted happily and fluffed up her feathers. Regulus looked down at his letter again. 

“It’s for Andromeda,” He whispered, keeping his eyes down. James beamed at him. 

“Oh, Iris knows where she lives, she’s been there before. Seriously, you can use her anytime,” James reached out and took the letter from Regulus. He tied it to Iris’s leg and took her to the window. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Regulus was okay with it. Regulus clenched his jaw but nodded his consent. James lifted Iris up, and she flew off into the dusk. 

They watched her fly until the gathering darkness swallowed her. “Come on,” James said, turning to look at Regulus. “I’ll walk you back to the castle. Regulus rolled his eyes but followed James out of the Owlery. 

They walked back across the lawn side by side in silence. James opened the entrance door for him and they entered the castle. “Goodnight,” James called after Regulus as he headed towards the dungeons. 

@jegulus-microfic words: 907

Coming out

Regulus had known from an early age. Well, he hadn't known know -he didn't understand exactly what it meant or all that it would entail, but he knew. He didn't go around debating it in his mind. He didn't have to 'figure it out'. He just knew. His knowledge about at it grew with him, but it was always there.

As a kid, before he learned how the world worked, he didn't care. why would he? It's not like he thought it was wrong. At that point he didn't even know that this was something other people considered to be wrong.

Thankfully, he didn't talk much about it as a kid, -though he didn't talk much at all- so no one around him knew. After he learned what other people thought, what his own family thought, he was very thankful that no one knew. He had intended to keep it like that for the rest of his life.

The knowledge soon became a burden. He wished that he didn't know, that he wasn't so sure. He still tried to hope that it would change someday, that he just might be able to... but deep down he knew. He wished that he had the ability to hope.

When his friends spoke about relationships, and girls, Regulus tried to stay neutral about it. It didn't take long for him to realise that he couldn't ignore it, that he had to pretend. So he told them that there was indeed a girl whom he liked, but refused to say who it was.

His lies soon grew, when they asked further questions. What did she look like? Had they kissed? Did she like him back?

He said that she was a brunette, with warm eyes and round glasses. That they hadn't kissed, and that there were no way that she liked him back.

Well, what is she like then? Have you even talked to her?

Regulus said that she was kind, very kind, funny, and that she was in the year above them. He said that he had talked to her only a little bit.

Barty and Evan bombarded him constantly with guesses of who it was, but Regulus never said anything. He neither confirmed nor denied.

The years went on, and his friends moved through girlfriends. He didn't. When they asked him about it, he said that he still liked the same girl as before.

They told him that he should go after her. Or that he should find someone else, since it clearly didn't work.

He pondered the idea, -of finding a someone to 'fake-like'- But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

HIs final straw was when his brother, after having barely even spoken to him the whole school year, came strotting into his room during the summer break after Regulus fifth year. Apparently, he found the idea of pestering Regulus about girls, funny.

Regulus did not find it funny.

He thought that he would be free of lying about girls during the summer, but no, first his mother started mentioning him COURTING someone, and then Sirius.

"C'mon Reggie, you can tell me!" Sirius had said. "Or are you too embarrassed? Maybe i can give you some tips if you're having trouble with the ladies."

(Which, gross. -Regulus didn't want to hear that)

"I don't want any fucking ladies!" Regulus had finally roared out.

"Merlin, fine - sensitive subject." Sirius had said, starting to turn away to leave.

It was the first time he had said that to anyone. It was the first time he even said it out loud. Sirius hadn't even understood what he had meant, but regulus still felt all the blood draining from his face as he realised what he had said.

He felt faint, and he couldn't breath. A sob escaped Regulus' mouth, which stopped Sirius in his tracks.

Regulus sat completely still on his bed, hands covering his face, covering the tears that had started falling from his eyes. He was thankful that he couldn't see his brother's reaction. He should probably obliviate sirius. if only he knew how to.

He didn't expect the bed to dip next to him. Sirius had taken a seat next to him. As close as possible without touching him, Sirius knew that Regulus didn't really like touch. But when regulus looked up to his brother's face, and didn't see any disappointment, or disgust, he leaned towards Sirius, meeting him in a hug.

They embraced each other for awhile, not saying anything, waiting for Regulus to calm down.

When he finally had managed to stop crying, he leaned back from their hug. Starting to wipe away any remaining tears on his face.

"So." Sirius said. "You fancy blokes then?"

His tone was neutral. Non-judging and non-condescending, but regulus still couldn't face his brother when he nodded his answer.

"That's alright." Sirius said, and threw an arm across Regulus' shoulders. "Anyone in particular?"

There was a certain face that immediately showed itself in regulus' mind. It was something he'd barely admitted to himself, and the thought of telling Sirius was mortifying.

"Not really." He finally replied.

"Okay." Sirius said, still softly. He huffed a laugh, "I kinda always thought that you had a crush on James when we were younger."

Regulus looked at him, eyes wide, and his mouth more or less on the floor. That probably wasn't the reaction Sirius was expecting, because he raised his eyebrows with a questioning look.

*LAST PART in surgeon x patient au*

previous part, part one

James was embarrassed. So embarrassed. He had walked into Regulus' room without knocking. Again. He wore his cockiest grin and his confidence oozed off of him in waves. He planned to make a move today. Yet, when he sauntered into Regulus' room, the first thing he saw was another man sitting in his lap, cradling his face. Then, the 4 faces of 4 people in the room turned to look at him all at once. James' eyes were drawn to Regulus though. 

Hi Reg! Hogsmeade is coming up this weekend

and I was wondering if you would like to go with me?

-JFP<3

Better luck trying to prank me next time, 

Potter, I won’t be falling for it.

-RAB

Your hair looked cute today Reg, I think 

Pandora did a great job with the flower crown. 

Want to watch the stars on the roof of the 

Astronomy Tower tonight?

-JFP<3

Tonight wasn’t horrible, I guess you and 

Sirius weren’t up to something.

-RAB

Can’t stop thinking about you. Meet me in

the third floor corridor broom 

closet during your free period?

-JFP<3

You’re going to be the death of me James.

(in the best and worst way)

-RAB

Can’t believe it’s been a month. Knew I’d 

wear you down love.

-JFP<3

No one’s ever had me, not like you Jaime.

“This is a mess,” Mary declares, looking around the boy’s living room.

Regulus and James were sat in the middle of the mess on the couch, both of them looking extremely exhausted. They were hunched over the coffee table, James was sorting through papers and Regulus was signing off on a few of them.

James looks up. “You think?” he groans. “I didn’t think getting married would be this much paperwork.”

Laughing beside him, Regulus nudges the other boy. “Whose fault was that?”

Feeling the need to defend himself, James gawks at Regulus then turns to Mary again. “Can you believe him? He keeps trying to blame all this on me just because I proposed.”

The girl rolls her eyes, trying not to get in the middle of whatever was going on. “What is all of this for anyway?”

“Oh, the actual ceremony.” James picks up some of the sheets. “Cake, DJ, rings,” he explains. “I’m trying to sort them in order of when we have to owl them by, that way the more important ones are on top.”

Mary looks between the two boys, seeing that they definitely have not gotten enough sleep. She grabs out her wand and flicks it towards the table, making all of the papers levitate in the living room. Then, in another flick, sorts them all perfectly.

Looking dumbfounded, James just groans and face palms. “Oh my God, why didn’t I think of that?”

Regulus laughs beside him again. “Because when I tried to tell you to, you said it would be faster to do it manually.”

“Again! Blaming me!” James shouts, mock disbelief on his face. Mary laughs. “Should I start writing some letters?”

The younger boy nods his head. “Parchment’s in the blue cabinet. Thank you for helping us again Mary.”

Regulus is sitting in a tree when James finds him. He’s not sure how the older managed to find him, hidden in the leaves of the tree, but he supposes that the leaves are brittle and falling nowadays, and that’s the few leaves that are left clinging to the tree. 

“Is everything alright, up there?” James asks, leaning against the tree and gazing up at him.

Regulus hums, “Just getting some of my tree time before the snow comes in and makes it so I can’t be in the trees.”

“Do you mind coming down here?”

“How about you come up here?” 

Regulus had known many types of love. He knew he loved his brother, his friends, and he had once been in love with his best friend. But a love so pure, a love that didn’t ask anything of him but to exist—that had only happened once. And it was with James.

He knew how to love James as naturally as he knew his own name. Before Regulus could even realize it was happening, he found himself entirely enamored by honey eyes. He never looked back. James claimed a home in Regulus’ heart and they had filled it with the sweetest of memories. 

Sometimes, even when their words felt inadequate, and they stumbled upon their feelings, their eyes would lock and whisper ‘I love you’ when their lips couldn’t. 

Regulus had days when everything felt heavy, and so did James. On those days, they would take care of each other. When they couldn’t attend to their own needs, caring for the other came as second nature. James would always make sure that Regulus was fed, and Regulus would insist that James got some proper sleep. Regulus could be careless with himself, but never with James.

James was a limb. James was his heart. James was everything to him. And without Regulus James would never be whole. Desire felt like a deficient concept in comparison to how much they ached for each other. They needed the other in order to exist. 

It had always hurt thinking about how quickly Sirius left, without any word to his baby brother. Older siblings always found a way out quicker, but it still pained Regulus to think about it.

He’d never forget the look in Sirius’s eyes as he parted with him, the hand that comfortingly ran through Regulus’s short, curly hair, or the expression his face had worn. He looked broken. More broken than the Crucio curse could ever cause. But he had seen the light at the end of the tunnel, while Regulus was still crawling through. He’d broken free much too late anyway.

The gate that kept him from a life he’d love was James. He was the reason Sirius had left. Regulus loathed him ever since, spitting out insults whenever he was close enough. James had plagued his thoughts, with those enchanting eyes and a comforting smile. It wasn’t fair.

But, James was also the bridge to paradise. He would bring the terrors to an end. He would take Regulus away from his wretched parents and the people he had no choice to call his own family. James would take him to a place he would thrive in.

It was worse thinking about it. Regulus thought about James so much that it was disgusting. At least, that’s what Regulus told himself as he drifted to sleep, holding a pillow close to him and pretending that it was that beauty of a Gryffindor.

But as he laid awake some nights, he’d dream of a life where he woke up night to James every morning. Where Sirius would stay with him, laughing heartily at his brother’s cat-like behavior. Where his parents weren’t his, and he was adopted into a family much like the Potters. Maybe then would he be different. As tears streamed down as face and onto the pillow every night, he fell asleep to the thought of his way out. His light at the end of the tunnel. His James Potter.