Two Sugars. A Splash of Cream.
Regulus misses Sirius, though he won’t admit to anyone’s faces. Especially Evan’s.
He just wants to be seven again, being held by his brother as his parents screamed at each other.
“Hey.. it’s okay, Reg, it’s okay. Sirius’ got you.”
He just wants to be ten again, clinging onto his brothers hand before Sirius goes to Hogwarts.
“I’ll owl everyday. Promise.”
Regulus just wants to be fourteen again, crying as his brother leaves.
“Come with me, Reg. Please. Hurry. Please.”
“I.. I can’t.”
“I’ll be back for you soon. I promise.”
Sirius didn’t leave that day until he was cursed so much Regulus had to beg his parents to stop.
Regulus misses Sirius.
So much he feels it deep into his very bones.
“Barty? Wake up, mate. C’mon, wake up, wake up!” Sirius says from the gadget, shaking an unconscious Barty. He’s been so sick, so damn sick. It’s worrying. Barty has been flowing in and out of consciousness. Sirius sighs as Barty cracks his eyes open.“Mate, you need to stay awake.”
Regulus pushes himself off the couch, walking into the kitchen. He makes himself some tea. Two sugars. A splash of cream. He looked out past the kitchen, into the living room, and through the big window.
James was in his own living room, his gadget set on Remus Lupin. He’s writing in his notebook, ideas spilling out of his head. He’s biting his lip slightly and.. oh. James is shirtless.
Regulus almost drops his fucking tea.
Of course, Regulus has seen James shirtless, but that was years ago.
Now, James is built. So fucking strong. His abs are less prominent but they are still there. His biceps, oh god, Regulus just wants to use them as pillows.
Then Regulus’ heart drops. Right on the side of James’ heart is a little black mark. It’s no bigger than the tip of a wand, but it’s there. It’s green towards the middle and black around the edges. A curse mark. Regulus wants to kiss it.
Okay, maybe he needs to relax.
James just looks so fucking delicious.
Alright, Regulus needs to stop. He shakes his head and clears his mind, deciding that going to visit Evan would do him some good.
Evan, well, he hasn’t been good lately. He’s been freaking out after Barty got sick, which is understandable. And learning about why Barty did what he did? Evan almost threw up.
Regulus won’t deny it, it was Barty’s fault that he went on that mission. But he wasn’t right in the head. He was sick, depressed, and wrong.
But sentenced to life? By his own father? That knew he wasn’t okay? That’s a little harsh. Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan all did it for fun. Barty didn’t.
Regulus knocks on the door to Evan’s Paradise. Surprisingly, Evan wanted a huge home. The Rosiers were Pureblood, yes, but they didn’t grow up rich like other ones. They were poor. Apparently, Evan was working in a magical pub by the age of nine. So it makes sense why he wanted a big Paradise.
It’s at least three stories high, too many bedrooms and bathrooms to count. It’s a soft brown color with white trimmed windows. He has plants all over the house, saying something about liking the smell.
In reality, plants make Evan think of Barty.
Evan opens the door, “oh, hey, Reg.”
“Hey, Evan.”
“Want some tea.. I.. err.. just made some?” Evan says, rubbing the back of his neck. Regulus nods, stepping into Evan’s Paradise. Unsurprisingly, Barty is on his gadget. Sirius is next to him, just holding Barty to keep him warm.
Regulus looks at Evan, the worried expression covering his face, “He’ll be okay, Ev, he always pulls through.”
“Will he?”
“He will.”
Evan walks down into his kitchen. It’s cold, oddly cold. Evan doesn’t like to cook, Regulus knows that, usually Evan would just leave that to Barty.
“Have you been eating? I mean.. I know we technically don’t have to but.. err..”
“Y-yeah.. I have. Lily likes to bake, mental that one, she’s always bringing baked goods over.” Regulus smiles, remembering the cupcakes Lily had made him a couple weeks back.
“She’s bringing you food?”
“Yeah, it’s really good actually. I apologized to her, for the amount of times me and Barty were pricks. She’s really sweet. I can see why you like her.”
“Yeah, she is, she misses her Mary though.”
“Yeah, I miss my Barty-“ Evan is cut off by Sirius’ ranting.
“Wake up, mate, cmon, cmon, wake up. Barty. Fuck. Don’t you die on me, Crouch.”
Evan sets down his tea cups and jolts to the TV, biting his nails nervously.
Sirius’ head jolts up, his eyes wide. He changes back into a dog and quickly bolts into his own cell.
“Whats going on? Why did he-“ Regulus asks.
“Shh.”
The door to Barty’s cell opens and his father walks in.
“Pa?”Barty croaks, his voice hoarse.
“Son.” His father says, walking over to tower over his hunched over son, “your mother demanded that I keep you alive.”
He tosses a tiny bottle into Barty’s lap. Evan gasps, his body tense.
“Drink. It’ll save your life.” Barty Crouch Sr turns on his heels and leaves, locking the cell behind him.
Barty looks down at the tiny bottle, his hands shaking. Attached to it is a little note.
Hold it out, Barty. Mama loves you.
Barty bursts out bawling as a shaggy black dog comes back into his cell.
“I hate him. I fucking.. fuck,” Evan curses, pacing around the living room.
“Ev-“
“Don’t. Just don’t.” Evan sets off into the kitchen, getting his cups of tea. He shoves one into Regulus’ hands.
They sit like that, in silence, watching as Sirius gently tips the bottle into Barty’s mouth. Watching as Sirius takes a little bottle of water, one he saved from his last lunch, and makes Barty drink. They watch as Sirius holds Barty as he cries, stroking his hair and whispering in his ear.
Regulus longs to be held by his brother again. His arms wrapped around Regulus. Holding him. Reassuring him. He looks over to see Evan thinking the opposite.
Evan wants to be the one comforting Barty. Wants to have his arms wrapped around him. He wants to be reassuring him. Holding him. Kissing him.
Evan turns to look at Regulus, both of them silently communicating what they want.
“Barty’s getting better,” Evan mumbles.
“Yeah. He is.”
“I miss him.” Evan looks down at Regulus, his blue eyes swimming with tears.
“I know.” Evan steps into Regulus’ arms. Regulus tenses, then slowly wraps his arms back around Evan. Evan clings to Regulus, his head in Regulus’ hair.
”He’ll be okay. He always is,” Evan mumbles.
”Yeah, he will,” Regulus, trying his best to reassure Evan. Even if he doesn’t know.
——
It’s Halloween, a full year since James died. A full year. A full year of missing Harry. A full year of missing Remus. A full year of Sirius being locked up.
James is sitting on the couch between his parents, watching as Petunia dressed up Harry in a little police man outfit. He looked so adorable. James wants to hold him. Be the one to put the little hat on his head.
“He looks so cute,” Effie says, going to greet Lily at the door. Lily smiles, carrying a tray of Halloween cake-pops. They are orange little pumpkins, each with a different face. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that, dear.”
Lily waves her off, “it’s no big deal. Really.” She sets the tray down on the counter then sits down next to James.
“Who else is coming?” Lily asks, crossing her legs.
“Err.. Evan I think, Dorcas and Marlene.. and..”
“Reg?”
“Yeah, Regulus.” Lily reaches over and takes his hand. Fleamont and Effie had decided to invite all of them over for a movie night, hoping to distract them from the horrible things happening. Things they can’t control.
James loves his parents for that. They always tried their best to block out the bad things and focus on the good. They would turn on a movie when James was sad. They would joke around with Sirius when he felt down.
Soon enough, everyone was at the Potter’s Paradise. Marlene, Dorcas, and Lily were all sitting on the couch, fawning over little police man Harry. Evan and Regulus were on the other side of the couch. Evan looks horrible, James thinks, but that’s understandable, considering what Barty has been going through.
And Regulus. Oh Regulus.
Regulus is wearing a matching sweater with Lily. It’s black with a pumpkin on the front. He’s wearing black jeans and converse. His hair is soft.. so fucking soft.
“Alright, everyone,” Effie says, coming into the living room, “kitchens open. Go get what you want before we watch a movie!”
James walks into the kitchen and smiles. On the counter is a pot of soup, Lily’s cake-pops, a kettle for tea, and cookies.
“Woah, Potter, your mum really out did herself,” Marlene says, grinning. James rolls his eyes and walks over to the tea.
Regulus meets him there, his eyes focused on his own cup. Before James even realizes what he’s doing, he adds two sugars and a splash of cream to Regulus’ tea. Regulus stares up at him, eyes wide.
“Sorry.. I..”
“You remembered?”
“How could I forget?”
“James. You added too much sugar.”
“How can you even tell! I barely added over two spoonfuls.”
“I can fucking tell,” Regulus said, dumping the tea into the sink and making another. “What? Why are you pouting?”
“You dumped my tea,” James pouted, his bottom lip overturned.
“You made it wrong.”
James groaned, wrapping his arms around Regulus’ middle. “Forgive me, sunshine?”
Regulus sighs, turning his head to press a kiss to James’ forehead. “Fine. Only because that pout is so adorable.”
“I… thank you, James,” Regulus mumbles, swirling his tea with a spoon.
“N-no.. problem,” James whispers, moving over to the cake pops so he won’t do anything else stupid.
Regulus just stares at him, dumbfounded. It’s such a small, insignificant thing to remember how someone likes their tea. Years later, James still remembers everything.
“Dude, what’s wrong with you. Get over here,” Evan calls out, scooting over on the floor so Regulus can sit down.
“Sorry, yes, sorry,” Regulus mumbles, sitting down between Evan and Lily. He tilts his head back, accidentally brushing his curls against somebody’s hand. The person doesn’t move their hand, just relaxes. Regulus tilts his head to the side to see a blushing James looking back at him.
Fuck.
Regulus has had horrible luck today. He tilts his head the other way and avoids James’ hand. Evan rests his head on Regulus’s shoulder, his legs draped over Dorcas’ lap.
“Comfy?” Regulus rolls his eyes, shifting his shoulder so Evan can be more comfortable.
“Damn straight.”
——
“He remembers how you like your tea?” Dorcas repeats, trying to make sense of Regulus’ rambling. After the Potter’s, Dorcas, Evan, and Regulus left and went to Dorcas’ Paradise.
“Yes! Dorcas! He remembers how I like my tea-“
“Two sugars. A splash of cream,” Evan repeats, grinning.
“And! And! I accidentally touched his hand with-“
“Your hair and he didn’t pull away-“ Dorcas repeats, giggling at Regulus’ annoyed expression.
“Dude, you’re smitten again,” Evan says, laughing.
“I am not!” Regulus huffs, pacing around Dorcas’ living room.
“You look like a little school boy.”
“Evan!”
“Whatttttt?” Evan drones out, mock innocently. He slings his feet into Dorcas’ lap, ignoring her protest.
“I’m not a school boy.” Regulus crosses his arms over his chest. Evan and Dorcas burst out laughing.
“What?!”
“That’s adorable.”
—
“That’s adorable.”
“What, James, what’s adorable about this! I’m trying to have a serious conversation!”
James tugged at Regulus’ crossed arms, forcing them open. Regulus scoffed.
“I’m serious, James, you can’t just sneak in here under the cloak. What if I was.. I don’t know.. changing?!”
“I wouldn’t have minded,” James said, placing his large hands on Regulus’ hips.
“I would have!” Regulus exclaimed, the blush rising to his cheeks.
“Mm.. would you have?” James mumbled into Regulus’ neck.
“Yes. I would have. What if I was.. I don’t know.. jacking off.”
Regulus knew he hit the right spot once he felt James’ cheeks heat up.
“You can’t just say that.”
“You could have walked in on me jacking off.”
“Ew. Stop.”
“What?”
“You’re gross.” Regulus laughs, gently carding his fingers through James’ hair.