Go and work, you whore.
Regulus was late to work.
He's not late often, but sometimes when he writes for a little too long the night before, he tends to shut down his alarms and accidentally sleep in. His boss constantly scolds him about it, but he doesn't really care. It’s not like his boss is gonna fire him for it. Pandora is too kind for that.
Pandora is a great friend of his, back from his school days. She always hung out with him and his other friends. So most of the time she just pretends that she doesn't notice his 20 minute late arrival.
When Regulus finished Hogwarts, and became of age, he moved out from his abusive household. He stayed in London, just moved to the other side of it, into a small apartment up the street. A few days later he started looking at jobs, and he discussed it with his friends over a phone call. Pandora said that there's an opening in her coffee shop if he would be interested in being behind the counter, and taking orders.
He said yes, of course. It was his easiest option, and he didn't even have to go to an interview. He just had to call his friend. Pandora was delighted to hear the news and immediately hired him.
The job pays alright, although he should be paid higher for enduring the idiocy of these people.
The only tolerable person (besides Pandora) was Remus. They shared shifts, so Remus was behind the counter, giving out the food, and Regulus was taking the orders. They were a great team. They've been working together for almost a year now, and Regulus found that he quite likes Remus's company. If he was so bold, he would say he was rapidly becoming Regulus's favourite person.
As for his other friends, Barty and Evan began dating a few months ago, to everyone's relief. The pining and the disgusting, love sick looks in his friends’ eyes were honestly too much to deal with. They rented a flat near his apartment, and they frequently hung out. Sometimes they came to pester Regulus at work, just because they were bored. Regulus didn't mind, until they messed something up and he had to clean up after them. Whenever that happened, they were banned from the shop for a week or so by a very petty Regulus Black.
Dorcas was in France with his girlfriend, Marlene currently. Marlene was nice, very hyperactive, but nice. ‘Cas introduced her last year, when they started dating. Marlene automatically warmed up to Barty and Evan. It took a little more time for Regulus to get comfortable around her, seeing as he didn't like changes very much. But over the past year he came to actually like Marlene as a person, and approved of her and Dorcas’s relationship. They hang out with him 1-2 times a week if they were home. They travel a lot, seeing as both of them wanted to travel around the world since they were little. For entirely different reasons, if he might say. Dorcas wanted to learn everything that there is to learn. And this gave her an opportunity to get a tiny bit closer to her goal. And Marlene… Well Marlene wanted the food. And the “Very cool, and sexy clothes” as she put it.
He sees ‘Dora on the weekdays, mostly in her office, but sometimes they go out and have lunch together. Sometimes they invite Remus, other times it's just them.
As for Sirius, they tried to be brothers again. After Regulus left their childhood home 2 years ago, he contacted Sirius. While he still didn't forgive Sirius for abandoning him, (and probably never would) he was in desperate need of his big brother. Sirius took the news happily, and he was trying to become a better sibling. So was Regulus. Sirius wanted him to meet his friends, but he refused. He just got his brother back, and got 2 new addition into his friend group. (Remus, Marlene.) He had enough changes for now.
He entered the shop, and smelled the comforting scent of flowers, coffee, and paper. Remus saw him coming in, and gave him a small smile. “Come on, Regulus. Im taking 10.” He said.
And then he walked out. Asshole.
Regulus went behind the counter, took the orders, gave out the food, took the money, gave back the exchange etc, etc.
When Remus came back 15 minutes later, he had slightly more puckered lips than he did before he went out on break. His hair was also messed up even more than it usually was. Like someone ran their hands through it. He had lipstick marks on his lips, and his collar was wrongly buttoned. Plus, he could barely contain his giddiness.
Regulus gave him an unimpressed look.
“If you're going to make out on your break, then at least have the decency to make yourself presentable after it. We don't want to get customers by making you look like a pornstar.” Regulus scolded Remus, and fixed his hair, adjusted his collar and took a tissue to wipe away the remaining lipstick on his mouth.
Now, he isn't going to say that Remus wasn't insanely hot. Because that would be a lie. If their friendship would mean less to him, then he would definitely risk dating him. They made out before. Because why wouldn't they? They're both hot. And what do hot people do? Fuck.
The only thing Regulus has to say is that he certainly wouldn't mind it if it would happen again.
But there was the fact, that Remus had a boyfriend for a few months. He was giddy and happy whenever a text from this ‘Padfoot’ would appear on his phone. Remus never shared much about his personal life, seeing as he was more of a private person. Regulus never questioned it, because he was the same.
Although he didn't say it, but it was obvious that he was in love with this ‘Padfoot’ person. The only thing that Regulus knew about their relationship, was that they were friends since school, and they finally got their shit together.
Remus rolled his eyes with a teasing smile. “A pornstar, Reg? Do i look that good? I’m just irresistible, aren't I?” Asked Remus teasingly.
“Sure. You'd look even better behind the counter, doing your work like you should’ve been doing around 5 minutes ago.” Replied Regulus, raising eyebrows.
“Oh, you're right. You distracted me with your beauty, Regulus. That's not fair.” Remus joke flirted, as he usually does. He flirts, Regulus deflects. When he's bored he flirts back and they have a whole competition of who's gonna end it.
“Go and work, you whore.” Regulus said affectionately.
“Sure thing, love.” Remus winked at him, and went to take the orders once again.
Regulus rolled his eyes at his best friend's antics, then went back to work.
Later that day when they finish work, they close up. When Regulus steps out of the shop with Remus at his side, his breath comes short at what he sees.
The guy from the bakery.
The guy he fancies.
James.
You see, Regulus may or may not have developed a crush on James after 1 interaction. Huh, funny thing that is.
Even funnier that he followed James shortly after he stepped out of their shop for the second time. He was already late, what's a few minutes more? He saw him going into the bakery next door, already changed into his shirt that has his name on it. James.
He doesn't understand why he likes him. He gets that he's super hot and he would like to get on his knees and all, but why can he actually tolerate his personality?
Like, he's annoying. But he's also handsome and extremely hot. So it balances it out, right?
And there's something in his aura, he shines like the sun, and feels like pure warmth.
James a few weeks ago came into their shop, and made small talk with him while he was waiting for his order. That was the first time he saw him.
He was nice and energetic, very silly and surprisingly funny. Although Regulus didn't laugh, he barely ever does. He gave him a small smile instead.
Remus came and gave James his order, and James paid. Their hands brushed for the shortest moment, and a mortifying thing happened.
Regulus blushed.
Regulus never gets nervous, or flustered. Not when Remus flirts with him, or when a random stranger who thinks he's pretty comes up to him, and tries to get his number.
He's not interested in dating or hooking up. So why did he blush? What's so special about this guy?
He avoided eye contact at all cost, and didn't notice the smile that James directed at him as a goodbye.
“So… wanna tell me what was that?” Remus asked, with the biggest smile. It was clear that he didn't even bother to hide his amusement.
“Not particularly.” Regulus sighed. Even he didn't know what that was.
“He was sooo into you, Reg. And is that a blush i see on your face? Aw, so cute.” Remus teased Regulus, while trying to pinch his flaming cheeks like the grandmas do.
“Get away from me, tosser.” He swatted away Remus's hands, and buried his face in his hands. “I'm taking five.” He mumbled into his hands, and went to the bathroom. Remus's laughter following him on his journey.
In the bathroom, he washed his face, trying to cool down his blushing cheeks.
He returned to work, and stubbornly ignored Remus.
When he finished work, he grabbed his things, said bye to Remus and was out the door in less than a minute. It was raining. He was going to get drenched
“Fuck” Regulus muttered underneath his breath.
“Fuck, indeed” Said a unnervingly familiar voice behind him.
“ Uh, James, hi, what are you doing here?” Regulus asked, very suprised, and definitely not flustered. Not at all.
“I was just heading to my bakery, its right around the corner.” Said James, moving closer to hold the umbrella in a way that covered both of them.
Regulus was so taken off guard by the unexpected proximity that he didn't think before blurting out “Yeah, i know.”
He flushed as James raised his eyebrows and said, “Do you now. Been stalking me much, Regulus?” James asked with a smirk.
“No!-i mean no-i didn't-” Regulus stuttered. Just what the fuck was wrong with him?
“Im just messing with you, Reg. Don't worry. Although, I wouldn’t even be mad if you actually were. With a face like yours, you could get away with anything.” James said nonchalantly, as if that was a normal thing to say.
“What?” Regulus asked. He was very confused, flustered, and embarrassed. Was James hitting on him, or was he just joking?
James must have seen something on his face because he suddenly started saying “Oh I didn't mean it as offensive, i just meant that you're very, very beautiful Regulus. So please don't think that i was trying to offend y-”
“James” Regulus said, and James immediately stopped talking. “Its alright, don't worry. And thank you. You're also quite handsome.” Regulus said. Flustered in the beginning, and muttering away at the end so it was barely audible.
Still James seemed to understand it, because when Regulus looked up, James had a light blush on his cheeks. But what was even more surprising, was that when Regulus was trying to find James's eyes, he failed. Because James has been staring at his mouth.
Suddenly Regulus has become very aware of how close they were standing. And also how James smelled. He felt like he could stay in this moment for forever, really.
“Regulus, I-” James began but just then, his phone started ringing. He took it out of his pocket and said “Im sorry Regulus but i must take this.” He gave him a weak smile, and slightly turned the other way to take his call.
(He never let Regulus slip out from beneath the umbrella)
He could barely register what James was saying, but he caught the important bit anyways.
“No, Sirius listen. Hey! That's not true. Shut up, padfoot.” James argued with someone over his phone, and Regulus immediately recognized the voice. And as soon as James said ‘Sirius’, Regulus was gone.
“Sirius?” Regulus leaned into James's space, not caring about his maddening crush on him at the moment. What he did care about, was that why was Sirius speaking to James of all people?
Regulus tried to grab James's phone, or lower his hands, but his hand slipped, and the umbrella clattered on the cement as James dropped it to catch Regulus instead. They stood with their faces inches apart, and they were drifting, and drifting closer together until-
“REGULUS?” Sirius screeched over the phone, apparently only just recognizing his brother's voice.
Regulus winced, and suddenly realized that he and James were still very close. And they were drenched. Great. Just what he needed.
He pulled away quickly and refused to look at James any longer, and decided to address the elephant in the room. The elephant being Sirius.
“Sirius, how the fuck do you know James?” Regulus asked.
“Me? How the fuck do you know him?” Sirius sniped back.
“I asked first, asshole.” Regulus said
“Yeah, well, i asked last.” Sirius said
“Just answer the fucking question you son of a bit-” Regulus was cut off by James taking the phone from his hands and putting his own in them instead, intertwining them. He started talking to Sirius about something but Regulus didn't catch what. He was still not looking at Regulus. He had a blush on his cheek, brighter than before.
Regulus was too busy looking at their intertwined hands to realize that James asked him a question.
“Regulus, are you there?” He was waving his other hand, the one that was not intertwined with Regulus's, he had his hand intertwined with James's what the actual fuck, in front of Regulus's face to catch his attention
Not knowing that he had it all this time.
“Hmhm, wait, what?” Regulus caught himself staring at James's lips for way longer than he should have. James definitely noticed it too and he swallowed. Hard. Regulus's eyes traced the movement. But his brother had to be an ass and interrupt them for the third time that day.
“James Fleamont Potter, if you tell me that the person you've been telling me about for the past few months is my brother, im going to outright murder you.” Sirius snapped.
“Sirius, what-” But Regulus was cut off by James saying; “The one and only, Regulus Black. In my defence, I didn't know he was your brother until now.” James said, while staring at Regulus.
Regulus might have died right then and there.
Yep, he's definitely gone.
Because what the fuck.
Sirius started cussing James out on the phone but James's sole focus was on his brother. He swallowed nervously and looked to side. As if he was nervous. Well Regulus thought that he had many rights to, seeing as he just kind of confessed his love to Regulus. Although indirectly, but he still did it.
“Look, Reg. You don't have to say anything. If you want i'll leave you alon-” James started but,
“Sirius, if you dont hang up right now im going to get fucked by your best friend while you're on the phone.” Regulus said rather bravely.
James looked as if he didn't believe what he was hearing. The blush was very persistent apparently, and was still there on his cheeks. Regulus fucking loved it.
“Ew Regulus what the fuck. Im not into the whole incest thing so-” He hung up.
And as soon as Regulus heard the sound of the call ending, he basically threw himself at James.
One of Regulus's hand cradled James's face while the other pulled on his hair.
Lips against lips, chest against chest, heart against heart, soul against its mate.
One of James's hands were gripping Regulus's waist, and the other was tilting his head gently in whatever way he pleased.
They kissed and kissed and kissed as if there was no tomorrow. Laughing against the others lips, moaning into the others mouth, breathing the same air.
They got drenched, but it was worth it.
“Wanna come with me to my bakery?” James asked.
Regulus couldn't possibly say no.