ǝʌılɐ ǝɯ ʇɐǝ

“Hey,” James says as soon as Regulus opens the door, hiding the lilies behind his back that he got for him as an apology.

“Oh, it's you,” Regulus says in fake disbelief, and it makes James kiss him right then and there.

James gives him his biggest smile and steps into the apartment.

Regulus doesn't wait for him, he turns his back and goes directly to his desk, which is crowded with his textbooks. He is in his exam week and he is so stressed, and James, the awful boyfriend he is, always manages to send him over the edge even worse. He tries his best trying to be less of a burden on Regulus’ shoulders but he always ends up doing or saying the wrong thing for some reason.

But even he knows being a shitty boyfriend doesn't excuse itself. So this time, hoping for the last time for the love of god, he brought the big guns.

“Were you expecting someone else?” he asks in a cheeky tone, still hiding the flowers.

“I was just hoping it was anybody else but you,” he says as he sits on his desk and then turns his head over James’ direction, “Since you are so adamant about being an asshole all the time.”

Regulus is being mean but it's well deserved, James knows he shouldn't feel bad over it. And it's not affecting him at all, every jab and mean word toward James is handled with care at the moment. His only focus is on one thing and that's making Regulus forgive him. Nothing else. And after all the studying for finals ends tonight, he is going to make Regulus sleep in his arms with a soft smile hanging on his face. He doesn't care how stubborn his boyfriend becomes when he is hurt.

Because tonight, he is even more stubborn than him.

When Regulus realizes James isn't gonna make a snarky comeback, he returns his attention to his textbooks on the desk that are waiting for him and says nothing else.

Here goes nothing.

James walks behind him and he stands for a silent moment, and then he touches one of Regulus’ shoulders, tracing his index finger on his skin until it finds its way to his collarbone. He taps on his bone with his fingertip as he slowly hovers him and levels his head with him. Regulus takes a sharp breath but doesn't say anything.

James smiles confidentially, he just loves his effect on him, because no matter how mad Regulus is at him doesn't matter.

He will always change Regulus’ body language with a singular touch.

James first kisses his earlobe and then licks the side of his ear really slowly, he can see how firmly Regulus is grabbing the edge of his notebook.

It makes him grin.

“I'm sorry for being an asshole,” he whispers and kisses his neck this time and brushes his nose to his sensitive, pale skin. He notes that he is gonna leave a mark before the night ends, “Will you take these and consider making me suffer less tonight?”

He finally shows the lily bouquet he has been hiding ever since he knocked on the door.

Regulus looks at the flowers and slowly picks them up from his hands, smelling them without saying anything. But that doesn't worry James at all. Because Regulus isn't tense under his touch anymore, not after seeing the bouquet.

He kisses his neck again, waiting for a response.

But then Regulus exhales and puts the flowers on the desk, it makes James’ hair stand on end.

Fuck. Didn't he like it? Fuck— did he fuck up that bad?

He opens his mouth to ask what's wrong but Regulus beats him to it, “These are lilies.”

“Yeah? They happen to be your favorite flowers?” Regulus looks at him dead in the eyes and he starts to panic, “or… shit. Aren't they?”

“It also happens to be your favorite ex's name.”

James stares into his eyes for a moment and all the worry leaves his body. And he starts to laugh. Right in front of Regulus’ stoic and non-impressed face.

“What's so funny, Potter?”

“Oh, Reg,” he laughs so much that he fails to notice the annoyed look on Regulus’ face.

“What?!” Regulus snaps.

“Baby,” he slowly stops laughing and looks Regulus in the eye, “Lily hates lilies.”

“Oh,” Regulus says and looks at the flowers again and slowly touches their beautiful petals, “She doesn't like them?”

“Yes.”

“So you didn't buy them because you thought it worked on her before so it could work on me too?”

James melts at the sound of his soft, confused voice. He grabs Regulus' hand on the table and makes him stand up and grabs his face with both of his hands.

“Baby, I only bought them because I know that they're your favorite flower.”

He kisses Regulus softly and luckily, he kisses him back. When they slowly part, Regulus closes his eyes and puffs.

“Don't be annoying during my finals week, take a rain check or something.”

James laughs again but stops when Regulus kicks his ribs.

“I'll try my best, sir.”

“Good, or I can be ten times worse. And next time, even a garden of lilies won't save your sorry ass.”