A/N: Written for the lovely, lovely CinderellaAtTheBall for the Egg Swap. I truly hope I wrote something that lived up to what you requested.

Summary: Coffee shops are great for meeting new people. Sometimes the new people can be the love of your life. Or sometimes the love of your life can be your big brother's best friend. Coffee Shop!AU Muggle!AU Regulus/James

Sirius' Little Brother

Growing up, James Potter had always been Sirius' idiot best friend, then he was the son of the people who owned the coffee shop he worked in, and now…

Well, now that Regulus has spent a summer working with him, James Potter was the love of his life. He was sure of it. He loved everything about him, from the way he pulled at his hair when he was bored, making it even more messy, if that was possible, to the way he was practically blind without his glasses on. Never had a man looked so sexy with glasses on as James Potter had.

Regulus wasn't even sure how it happened. There he was, working in Potter's Café, earning some extra money while he was in university, when James suddenly had to help his father run the place while Mrs Potter took some time off for her health. At first he was annoying, always talking, flirting with all the women that came through, making jokes at Regulus' expense, and then … It was no longer annoying. He couldn't quite pinpoint the moment. It was like he woke up one day and saw a different James.

Bit by bit, shift by shift, day by day, Regulus found himself making sure he looked his best for James. He would spend ages making his hair just right, that his t-shirts sported some kind of band or artist that would get James to talk to him, and he used some of his wages to buy an expensive aftershave. Shifts would fly-by when he worked with James, making Regulus find something – anything – to make him linger in the store. Sometimes he would take his university work in with him, not that he had much to do over the summer, and work on it after a shift, while surreptitiously watching James make coffee, giving everyone that bright smile.

The problem was James kept seeing him as Sirius' annoying little brother. Maybe not annoying, per se, but Regulus was sure that's what he thought. It's what he used to call him whenever he'd hang around with Sirius when they were growing up. He was painfully reminded of it on the times Sirius would come in for a coffee. All James' sentences about Regulus would start with, "Your little brother…"

Closing shifts with James were the best. The store would be virtually dead for the last hour, leaving them plenty of time to chat as they cleaned the equipment, and then a blissful extra half an hour alone with him after the doors were locked, to cash up and finished the cleaning. It was during these times that Regulus had James' full attention, where they would talk music, films, sports – everything. And when James gave him one of those bright smiles, Regulus felt like his heart would burst from sheer joy.

Every shift, on his way in, Regulus would promise himself that he would ask James out on a date, but then James would flirt with a customer, or help his dad with a problem, or talk. A lot. And Regulus did love to listen to James talk, to watch the way he moved his hands around expressively, and the timbre of his voice … it was quite possibly the best voice he'd ever heard. So he never got around to actually working up the courage to ask him out.

Something changed one day, after a visit from Sirius. It was an off-the-cuff remark James made when Sirius wasn't paying attention, too busy looking at his phone, but Regulus felt it like a punch to the gut.

"And then Regulus and I had a bit of a canoodle in the stockroom before we decided that it was time to adopt a child together," James said with a meaningful sigh.

Regulus snapped his head to James, who gave him a wink that sent his nerves haywire, before throwing a straw at Sirius' head. Sirius gave him a frown, standing up, before saying, "You're not Regulus' type. Nice try. I always listen to what you're saying." He threw the straw back at James.

Regulus clenched his jaw tightly, to stop the words coming out that Sirius was wrong, the James was exactly his type, but he also felt relief that he hadn't been obvious in the way he felt about James. Before he knew what was happening, James had thrown an arm around Regulus' shoulders, holding him tightly, tilting his head towards his.

"Are you telling me we wouldn't make a delightful couple?" James asked with a laugh.

Regulus' nerves were beyond haywire. He felt every bit of physical connection James had with him, from his stubble rubbing on his cheek to the way his thumb was drawing circles on the top of his shoulder.

"Not with my brother, you don't," Sirius said, already distracted by another incoming text.

"We'll see about that," James murmured into Regulus' ear. Sirius didn't hear as he frantically tapped at his phone.

He let go of Regulus, and when he looked at James, he stopped breathing for a moment at the intensity of his gaze. From here, he could see a ring of amber around his pupil. Amber was his new favourite colour. James laughed loudly and walked away, breaking the moment.

The rest of his shift was a nightmare. He kept dropping milk jugs after cleaning them, mixing up orders, and giving out the wrong change. James seemed to find it hilarious the longer the shift went on. Regulus would've given anything to go home early, but it was them two until the end, and he wasn't sure he could handle that extra half an hour alone with him when they closed the doors to customers. But he did, finishing his cleaning in silence while James sang in the back as he cashed up.

Finally, they were leaving the store and their shift was done. A crack of lightning lit up the sky before being followed by a loud rumble of thunder a few seconds later. It was quickly chased by fat drops of sporadic rain, which built up speed almost instantly. A moment later, they could barely see more than a foot in front of them.

Peering out at the sky from under the awning over the top of the door, Regulus swore under his breath. He only lived a ten minute walk away, but he would be soaked to the skin within five steps.

"Let me give you a lift home," James offered, pointing to his car, the only one left in the car park.

If it had been any other day, Regulus would've jumped at the chance, but he was so mortified at James' teasing earlier on, that he couldn't trust himself to not continue making a fool of himself.

"I'll be fine. I'll just wait it out." Another flash of lightning followed by thunder. "You go," he insisted when James hadn't moved.

"Don't be daft. Get in the car." He went to pull at Regulus elbow, but he pulled it away quickly. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." His skin was still tingling from James' touch. It would've been too much.

James gave him a bemused smirk. "What's going on?"

"I like you, okay!" Regulus clamped a hand to his mouth, staring at him with wide eyes. Well, that wasn't how it was meant to go. He wasn't even sure how those words had escaped him.

James still had the bemused smirk on his face. "I was wondering when you were going to spit it out."

Regulus slowly brought his hand down, the heat in his face becoming unbearable; he didn't need a coat from the cool of the rain, he only had to feel his face to keep himself warm. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously, narrowing his eyes.

"I was kinda having a bet with myself about how long it would take for you to say something," James said, that smirk not leaving his face any time soon.

"Are you making fun of me?" Regulus felt a spike of ice run through his veins. "You are, aren't you?"

The smirk disappeared to be replaced by a frown. "That isn't – where are you going?"

Regulus didn't bother to wait for the rain to stop, already charging through it, and ignoring the next bolt of lightning that was a little too close for comfort. He ignored James shouting after him and kept an even stride, peering through the heavy rainfall. The rain was so loud Regulus didn't even hear James' footsteps behind him until James had grabbed his elbow to pull him back.

Before he could yank his arm out of his grip, James had grabbed onto Regulus' face, crashing his lips on to his. He froze, his arms held out, unsure what to do next. James pulled back to look at him, a scowl on his face as he tried to see through his foggy glasses. "Do you think I'm making fun of you now?"

Regulus didn't get chance to answer as James pulled him back for another kiss. This time he responded eagerly, pulling him close, both of them soaked and already out of breath. Regulus was sure James could feel his heartbeat pounding against his chest as their tongues met. James' hands travelled down his arms, slowly creeping around his waist, sending shivers down his spine with the movement.

This time Regulus pulled back. "You kept calling me Sirius' little brother, like that's all I'd be to you," he shouted over the rain, his fingers hurting as he held onto James' shoulders.

"I was trying to remind myself that you were meant to be off-limits," James shouted back. "It's a bit late for that now."

Regulus suddenly let go of a laugh. "I can't take you seriously with your glasses all fogged up."

"I can't see a bloody thing!" He pulled them off as a bolt of lightning reminded them of the weather. "We're going to get ourselves killed stood out here. Come on!"

Regulus took his hand, leading the way to James' car as he struggled to see without his glasses. Once in the car, the windows steaming up quickly, there was an expectant silence between them as they looked anywhere but at each other.

"What now?" Regulus asked, shivering in his soaked t-shirt.

"We go on a date."

"Right," Regulus said simply, trying not to let all his excitement show. "Okay."

"You're going to make me do all the work, aren't you?" James asked with a wry grin.

"Yes. I think I will," Regulus smiled.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (challenges & assignments)

Spring Funfair

- Lily Pads - (weather) Thunderstorm

- Milkshake Bar - Topping 8. (word) Canoodle

- Teddy Bears Picnic - Chips & Dip - Regulus Black

April Writing Club

- Showtime - 3. (action) Kissing

- Elizabeth's Empire - 18. (plot point) Confession

Spring Quarterly

- 40 Gibralter - (weather) Torrential rain

Would You Rather...

- Write a gift fic for a Head of House OR write a gift fic for a Prefect?

Spring Seasonal

- Days of the Year & Religious Events - 17th May - Write about someone who is Bi or Gay

- Crystals & Gemstones - 7. (word) Canoodle

- Hufflepuffs OTP - Slash 2. James/Regulus

- Hufflepuffs Challenge - 11. Getting caught in a storm with your crush

Word Count: 1,758