My wife has requested hurt/comfort jegulus, regulus comforting jamie, so here I am writing, because I would do anything for her (and also like let's be honest, it's not exactly a chore)
@slightly-unhinged-femme <3
"Fuck!" James exclaimed, throwing his Quidditch gloves against the wall of the Astronomy tower, almost making himself jump at the loud slapping sound they made.
Ten points. They had been ten points away from a win. Just one more time of getting the Quaffle through the goalpost, and they would've been champions.
"We're counting on you, James!"
"I've got ten galleons on you, Potter!"
"We need this win, James! Don't let us down!
The voices of people wishing him luck flowed quickly through his mind as he crumpled to the floor, head in his hands.
But he had. He'd let them down.
He could see the disappointment on his parents' faces, even as he saw them in the stands. He could sense Sirius's sadness as they hugged, both of their scarlet uniforms covered in sweat. He knew he'd fucked up. He'd disappointed them.
All he'd needed was one more goal.
The tears started falling as he replayed every aspect of the game, trying to think of when he could've scored. And there were so many mistakes he made. So many times he could've turned left instead of right, gone up instead of down. Merlin, it really was all his fault.
He didn't hear the footsteps approach until a hand rested on his shoulder.
He would have known that voice anywhere. The voice of the only person he would ever let see him like this. The only person he wanted to see.
"I fucked up, Reggie," he mumbled, not even looking up.
"You're an idiot," Regulus replied, sliding down to sit with him.
Anyone who didn't know Regulus might have thought he was agreeing with James. But James knew him better. "Yeah?" he asked, chuckling through his tears. "Why am I an idiot this time?"
"Well first, those are dragonhide gloves," Regulus said disgustedly, gesturing to the gloves James had thrown.
James laughed again, wiping at his face.
"But second," Regulus said, softer now, "this isn't your fault."
"I'm the captain," James mumbled, resting his head against Regulus's shoulder, breathing in his comforting scent. "It was my job to-"
"It was your job to lead your team," Regulus interrupted, throwing James a stern look. "Did you lead your team?"
Silently, James nodded, knowing better than to argue.
"Exactly. McKinnon hit that Bludger so far it almost didn't come back! Smith scored from halfway down the Pitch! Sirius finally learned how to hold the damn bat! You led the best team in the damn league, James, and that's on you! And I'll kill you if you tell anyone I said you're the best, by the way," he added quickly as an afterthought.
"But we lost," James murmured, turning pink at the compliment.
"I caught the Snitch," Regulus shrugged, wrapping his green robes tighter over his body. "You lot may be the best team, but I'm the best Seeker."
James stared forward, allowing the words to sink in. "I should be happy for you," he whispered, guilt flooding through him all over again.
"As if I wouldn't have thrown a right fit if we'd lost," Regulus grinned, pressing a kiss to his head. I would've shut myself in my room and read poetry until you knocked down the door, like a right tit.
James snorted. "I...I feel like I let everyone down," he said, voicing the thought that ate at him. The thing that constantly made him worry.
"Well, did you let you down?" Regulus asked, grey eyes piercing through his misery. "Or did you try your hardest, and your talented, attractive, modest boyfriend just happened to beat your arse?"
Again he laughed. "Alright, point taken. I...I'm happy for you. I think."
"As you should be," Regulus laughed, but his tone was teasing.
James smiled, looking at Regulus with admiration.
"By the way," Regulus added softly, pressing another kiss to James's lips, "you didn't let anyone down. We love you for you, James. Not how many points you get in a stupid Quidditch Match."
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