#oh also my other worry: having to see my flatmates before i've gotten my hair right JANSNWKFKEKDKE

[lavenderlyncis]

i curse your name (but cherish you in secret)? also i love all your work sm how you write different characters is beautiful

Omg thank you so much!!!

Because I've gotten this fic twice in my inbox, I'll use this one to post snippets and the other one to post the general concept!

I hope these are understandable outside of the context!

Snippet 1 (takes place before they fake date)

Regulus was leaning against the wall, hands crossed in front of his chest and looking overall uncomfortable. His presence was utterly confusing, their last fight had taken place just yesterday. James didn't think someone like him would grow a heart just because their sworn enemy was in the hospital.

"What are you doing here?" Was asking that question before even greeting him rude? Yes. But James and his pain-killer-fed mind didn't care.

Regulus merely shrugged, eyes flitting over James' bandaged shoulder. "After the shit Snape's been spewing about you, one might as well fear you were dead."

"The thought of me dying is frightening to you?" It sounded teasing, but James was honestly surprised. He would've thought the boy before him would sooner dance on his grave than making sure he was alive.

"The thought of anyone dying certainly isn't pleasant." Regulus scowled. "Besides, without your rent, we wouldn't be able to afford the flat anymore."

James closed his eyes and let out a short laugh, ignoring the pain in his shaking shoulder. Of course Regulus would use rent as an excuse, instead of admitting that he was worried.

He opened his eyes just in time to see Regulus hesitantly sit down on the chair beside the bed. Regulus, his rival, his arch nemesis, his flatmate, his friend, seemed awfully nervous, judging by the way he fiddled with his sleeves. "How are you?"

In the one year of knowing each other, James had never heard his voice so thin, almost vulnerable. James half-shrugged, conscious of not moving his injured shoulder. "I've been better." He studied Regulus' expression, not knowing what he was searching for. "Why do you care?"

"I don't," Regulus decided. "I guess it's just strange to see that you can..."

"Fail?"

"Bleed." He took a deep breath. "Sometimes it's just easy to forget you're human like the rest of us."

Snippet 2 (this one takes place during their fake dating)

"She didn't have to be so rude to you, though," James insisted.

Regulus nodded. "I agree. But you have to admit that we do make a weird couple," he pointed out. "I doubt people would pair the hot captain of the football team with the pasty loner."

Throwing him a bewildered look, James came to a stop. "How high is your body count?"

Regulus narrowed his eyes at him. "... zero," he answered suspiciously.

"Reggie, I've heard you have sex before."

"Oh!" He exclaimed. "Oh, you mean... right! Ehm, around twenty-seven? Maybe. I lost count." Regulus shrugged.

James ruffled his hair in frustration. "How can you have a body count of twenty-seven and still think of yourself as unattractive? People always check you out everywhere we go!"

"No, they don't," he refuted.

"Oh, trust me, they do. I've noticed."