Jegulus Microfic Part 2 (James’ POV)
James Potter loved Regulus Black. He’d known his best friend’s brother would be someone important to him the very first moment they locked eyes, as Sirius had introduced them. Loving Regulus Black was the only truth that came naturally to him.
He’d woken up that morning– groggy, hungover, and extremely hot under the blankets– when Sirius had all but broken down his bedroom door and barged in, Remus and Peter following behind him.
‘Prongs, why the fuck did Crouch tell me that you’re gay?!’
The three of them settled at the foot of James’ bed, further amplifying the heat radiating from his blankets. He could feel the sweat forming at the bottom of his feet.
‘Padfoot, he’s just woken up. Keep it down, will you?’ Remus had said– though, not as quietly as James would’ve liked.
It had taken him a moment to process what Sirius had said. Gay? Crouch? Who was gay?
‘What?’ he croaked– wincing at the raw scratch in his throat. Oh God, he needed water.
‘Barty Crouch,’ Sirius started slowly. ‘He stopped me in the hallway and asked me if you were single. I told him you weren’t interested because you’re not gay– and he laughed in my face, saying something about how everyone knows about what went down with Kingsley.’
James felt time stop. Everyone knew what?!
‘I mean, the three of us knew about your-‘ Peter paused, thinking of a better term to describe James’ sexuality crisis. ‘-preferences. But for Crouch and his friends to also know about it. It’s a bit concerning, isn’t it?’
‘James, did anyone see you with Kingsley?’ Remus asks, not unkindly.
See him with Kingsley. That was impossible – the hallway was deserted. Everyone had left already, except for the younger Black brother. No one else could’ve seen him make out with Kingsley.
Unless.. No, Regulus wouldn’t do that. Would he?
Another truth– that had been a very recent development (give or take 5 minutes ago)– was that James Potter had royally fucked up.
As it turns out, Regulus really had not outed him.
James had gotten way too good at recognizing Regulus’ tells– and it was proving to be a bad thing, as he felt his chest ache at the sight of Regulus’ retreating figure– rigid tense shoulders, the slight shake which meant he was barely holding it together.
‘Goodbye, Potter.’ The two words were a constant echo in his mind– the shake in Regulus’ voice– so fragile, yet so firm.
He wished he could go back in time to stop himself from reacting in a way that had made him lose Regulus in a matter of minutes. He would out himself to the entire world if it meant he got to keep Regulus by his side in the end.
It didn’t matter who had outed him. He believed Regulus, and nothing could rattle his trust– not anymore. He didn’t care if he got kicked off the team. It didn’t matter if he lost any of his friends– as long as he didn’t lose Regulus.
Although he was pretty sure he’d be devastated and would most definitely lose his mind if he lost Sirius. Or Remus. Or Peter.
He decided he’d worry about them later. Right now, he had a man to beg for forgiveness from– and hopefully woo.