Money, money, money
No, no and no. James potter wasn't supposed to be at this party. It was like dust in a machine. A machine Regulus made sure is well oiled and ready to use without complications is now dumped in the sand. Regulus allowed himself to feel panick for a singular second before turning his back to the door. His eyes scanned the room for Barty and when their eyes met he hoped that the other would understand without words that they need to abandon ship immediately.
Unfortunately Barty's eyes were already sparkling from the alcohol and he was more interested in Evan's backside than the sheer panic in his boss's eyes. Shit. His last hope of a smooth escape was Sirius. He scanned the room over and over again and he didn't find those signature locks. Not until he did. His good for nothing of a brother was in fact talking to James Potter. Regulus went pale.
≽^•⩊•^≼
"Oh no... Im just his second one really. We're colleagues." Answered Remus while trying to maintain at least two steps distance from the beautiful man that came out of the crowd a second ago.
"Well, i still welcome you to this Hogwarts donation event. I am Sirius Black." He looked especially smug while saying his name like it was some kind of magic spell. It was worthy of note that he didn't even bet an eye at his world famous best friend. Remus wasn't used to attention like this. He accepted the handshake.
"Remus Lupin"
"And i am James Potter please to meet you." he jumped in without a second though of course.
"Sirius, would you mind introducing me to a few ladies here? Preferably between the age of eighteen and forty five." And James held Sirius on the arm leading him into the crowd and leaving Remus to himself. He found an empty table to sit at.
James went around all evening talking about beautiful ladies and man of course. But he didn't find what he was searching for just yet. He was deep in thought while listening to some rando talking when he noticed his newest friend missing. It took him about ten minutes of asking around until a guy pointed him towards the entrance where he spotter Sirius. He rushed up to him from behind.
"Oh." He said. Sirius looked at him looking at his little brother.
James pulled out his most charming smile, a smile that was hard to resist and he knew it. Maybe it was the dimples. He didn't know. "Im-"
"I know who you are Mr.Potter." an icy tone stopped him in his introduction followed by en even icier glare. Those grey eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
"I'm just wondering what could a private detective be doing in a party like this."
"A consulting detective." James corrected quickly as he stepped closer. At this point Sirius left to collect Barty and Evan possibly blackout drunk from the man's restroom.
Regulus didn't make eyecontact but scoffed at the correction.
"Well I remember reading the guest list just yesterday night. And your name was not on it."
"Hmm and why does my presence annoy you so much Mr.Black? If i may ask." He stepped closer again, making Regulus back up into a wall. A strong first impression but a necessary one.
"Anyone reasonable would feel a bit, uneasy when there's obviously a dog sniffing around the chicken coop." James broke the eyecontact for two reason. The first one is him getting worked up over those black locks framint that pretty face, with a link blush and the piercing eyes. The long fluttering eyelashes. James was sure he was near a heart attack. The other reason being him actually pressing Regulus up to the wall by his chest and leaning close ro his ear. It was all for the case obviously. "This dog only wants... The rooster." He purred into Regulus's ear. He was so close his lips nearly brushed that thin neck. He was so done.
"Good night Mr.Black."
≽^•⩊•^≼
What the fuck. Regulus made his escape immediately after that incident with James, now he was driving home with two drunkards on his backseat and his lovestruck brother who apparently got the hots for someone at the party. He gripped the wheel harder until his knuckles went white and he hoped he could get a grip on his situation like that too because this could not happen ever again. He can not afford another meeting with James Potter.
After they put Barty and Evan to sleep in a room. Regulus and Sirius sat in the livingroom.
"Sirius. What exactly were you thinking? When you walked up to our biggest threat to introduce yourself?"
Regulus talked calm and collected as always.
"I had no idea it was him Reggie i saw a hot bloke i walked up to him. I just wanted a bit of fun to myself."
"Yes well how about you don't have fun on my expense? My whole plan depends on how you behave in there."
"So it's your plan that depends on me huh? How about you doing the work for a bit? How about you go out snogging girls and taking them home? You think i want that?" Sirius gripped in his own hair like someone who wants to rip it all out in anger. He stood from the sofa.
"I know you're stressed Reggie but its not your plan its ours. It depends on all of us and until Potter doesn't stick his nose in it nothing can go wrong."
Now it was Regulus's turn to brush his hair back out of his face from frustration.
"He said he's 'a dog looking for a rooster'."
"What?"
"It's a message. He admitted he was there searching for someone and i think it was also a hint about gender (?)." He was unsure about the last part but it would make sense.
"He was a bit odd at first he asked me specifically to introduce him to middle aged women." Sirius remembered.
"The chicken." Regulus was lost in his head. The world was spinning. It took James Potter around half a minute to get on his trail. What a genius. Not smarter than himself though.
ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ
"He is so dreamy, he smells amazing he has the prettiest sharpest smartest eyes I've ever seen and those black locks Remus im losing it. Are you listening?" He was in fact not listening but that didn't stop James from rambling on. "He is also so tiny i could push his so easily i was almost feeling bad about it. Those rings on his thin fingers...ah he knows how to dress for sure. His brother is fun too." Remus paid the taxi driver who got a tip for having to listen to James queer out over some rich boy.
"Yes they're nice but about the case, did you met anyone? Who's the robber?"
"Can't tell you that yet"
"What? It's my job to write down your work, im sure you figured it out already."
"Let's say im on a trail for now, but you'll see on the next event."
Remus stopped and sighed.