Regulus sat on the astronomy tower, feet dangling off the ledge, wind in his hair.
He was so stupid, he thought to himself. He was sitting here and moping. Moping over James Potter nonetheless.
He sighed, hanging his head back and letting his eyes close.
@strongstag
James walked up the steps of the astronomy tower, paper in hand. he was mumbling to himself about the stupid homework he forgot to do when he reached the top of the stairs and saw a figure sitting over the ledge.
he stopped, panicked, and slowly approached the figure, making his foot steps loud enough to be heard as to not to startle the person.
"hello" he said softly into the cold room.
Regulus jumped out of his skin at the sound of a voice and he whipped his head around, startled. He felt himself slip slightly from the tower, his legs dangling even further off the edge.
“Fuck-“ He yelped as his brain caught up to him.
Of course it was him. James fucking Potter.
“Oh,” He breathed out, wishing it could be anyone else. “Hi.”
"Woah, careful!" he stepped forward, ready to catch the figure if needed.
"Regulus? Fuck, be careful." He stepped closer, his arm extended out, "why don't you set back into the room. you know, where you're not about to fall over to your death." his brows drawn together in worry
Regulus shakes his head, scooting back until he’s criss cross over the edge, danger still there, but lessened greatly. “Thanks for the concern, Potter, but I’ll be fine,”
He doesn’t take the boy’s hand, no matter how much he wants to.
"okay" the boy says nodding carefully "can you still come farther in though?"
"you're making me nervous" he adds, after a small pause
He blinks in surprise. He was making James nervous? Why would he be worried over him? Still, he does what he’s told and sits farther from the edge, looking at him as he does.
“Why’re you up here?”
james breathes out a bit, relieved at the boy being a little more safe.
"oh, uh" he looks down at the paper he forgot he had been holding "homework. forgot to do it"
he gives an awkward smile
"you?" he asks in a soft voice, sitting down next to regulus.
Heat rushes to Regulus’ face as he remembers why he was up here in the first place. He was sulking. Sulking that James Potter had left because of words he said.
He came up here because he was moping about James Potter.
“Just to think,” The lie came easily and Regulus hoped it was dark enough so the brown haired boy wouldn’t see the pink on his cheeks
"that must be hard for you" he teased, before realizing what he said.
"sorry. I didn't mean that"
"uh, what were you thinking about?" he asked, trying to save the conversation
A frown forms on the black haired boy’s face as he took in James’ teasing, but he shrugs the words off.
You, actually. His brain supplied. I was thinking about you. No matter how much I would like to get close to you, my mouth can’t seem to stop insulting you so bad that you leave, and I can’t even blame you because quite frankly, I would leave too.
“Just uh- life. Friends, classes, that sort of thing.” The lie came less easily this time but Regulus prayed James wouldn’t notice. Wouldn’t notice how he spun his ring on his finger. Wouldn’t notice how he could barely maintain eye contact with the other boy.
James makes an agnoledge sound, looking at the younger boy. he noticed something was wrong, the way he was looking away, and his hands kept playing with themselves gave that away, but he just didn't know what.
after a bit of silence he spoke up softly
"do you want to share?"
