A Newfound Freedom

James took a deep breath and walked back to Regulus, sitting down next to him on the couch. "Hey, Reg, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, trying to sound casual despite the awkwardness that still lingered in the air. Regulus nodded, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Of course, James. What's up?" James shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're feeling comfortable enough to, you know, be yourself around us." Regulus smiled, his face lighting up with happiness. "Thanks, James. It means a lot to me that I can trust you guys like this." As Regulus leaned forward to grab a nearby cushion, James's eyes widened in surprise. The movement caused Regulus's white t-shirt to ride up, and James couldn't help but stare. He was taken aback by the sight of Regulus's chest, which was something he had never seen before. Regulus, oblivious to James's reaction, continued to chat with him, discussing everything from their favorite Quidditch teams to their plans for the summer. James listened intently, trying to focus on the conversation, but his eyes kept drifting back to Regulus's chest. He felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he quickly looked away, trying to compose himself. Regulus, sensing James's discomfort, looked up at him with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "James, is everything okay?" he asked, his voice gentle. James nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, everything's fine. I was just... uh... admiring the view." Regulus raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "The view?" James nodded, his face growing hotter by the second. "Yeah, the garden outside. It's really beautiful." Regulus chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "I think you were looking at something else, James." James's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. It was Sirius, who walked into the room with a big smile on his face. "Hey, guys! What's going on?" he asked, plopping down on the couch beside James. Regulus grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just having a little chat, Sirius. James was just admiring the view." Sirius's eyes lit up with curiosity, and he turned to James with a questioning look. James just shook his head, laughing. "Don't even think about it, Sirius." The three of them sat there for a moment, enjoying each other's company, and James couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond they shared. He knew that he had a lot to learn about Regulus and his needs, but he was willing to listen and support his friend in any way he could.