#a little microfic to bring me out of my slumber

[hidden-for-reg]

December 17: smile | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 495

a small gift for @lulublack90 since I have awoken

James had never seen Regulus Black smile. Like ever.

Obviously, he’d taken it upon himself to be the first person to make him smile.

However, this mission proved to be more difficult than James had expected it to be. He’d tried everything in his book: jokes, funny faces, compliments, smiling at him first to get him to do it back, harmless pranks, and even sending him anonymous love note (who knows, maybe he could have been a sap at heart) (spoiler alert: he wasn’t). None of this worked though, to James’ utter dismay and frustration.

Admittedly, it was quite a trivial and insignificant thing to be upset about, but James’ every waking moment quickly became consumed with his mission. 

Now, as James was walking back to the Hogwarts castle after picking nice flowers for his dorm by the lake, he was contemplating if he should just give up. 

Looking down as he walked, he couldn’t help but notice how saddened he became by the idea of giving up. 

What he didn’t notice, however, was Regulus, who he ran straight into. He dropped his bundle of flowers while the boy opposite him dropped his books.

James quickly bent down to pick up their things, expecting a barrage of insults and quips from the Slytherin about being more careful where he was going next time. 

Regulus crouched down at the same time to pick up his things, and oh. 

James knew he probably looked stupid ogling the boy like he was, but he couldn’t help but stare. He was breathtaking up close. Perfect curls and porcelain skin and high cheekbones and slightly pink, plush lips formed in a tiny o. His brilliant blue eyes framed by a dark row of lashes met James’ plain old brown eyes, and James felt a tug in his chest. 

Regulus looked down and James’ gaze stupidly followed. Below them, their hands were resting on each other over one of the flowers James had dropped.

All at once, James suddenly became very, very aware of just how close they were.

James brought his eyes back up to Regulus’ face, and oh, again. 

The boy’s face was now dusted with a light blush. Just barely noticeable, but it was there.

Regulus pulled his hand away from James’ and stood up, grabbing his books in the process.

He looked like he was about to walk away, and James yelped, probably too loudly, “Reg! Wait!” He stood up hastily, quickly gathering his flowers. He pulled out a light blue carnation and held it out for Regulus. “It matches your eyes.”

The boy in front of him blushed even harder and tentatively reached out and took it. “Thanks,” he murmured softly, a soft smile playing on his lips. It was a plain and simple feature yet it softened the hard lines of Regulus’ face and brought a light to his eyes James had never seen anything like. 

Godric, what James would do to see that again.