crown
“Shit. Ouch. Fuck. Who put the counter there?”
This is how Regulus wakes—to the sound of James stumbling through their kitchen, a string of curses following each bang of his body on furniture that’s been there for years.
“Regulus. Reg! My love!” Another grunt and bang. “Baby, why is there a table here? Did we decide this? This is a stupid place for a table.”
Regulus rolls off of the couch and groans. Checks his phone—01:34. 35 missed calls from James and Sirius combined, with a seven minute voicemail from James.
He finds James in the kitchen, slumped against the cabinets. Even drunk, he’s beautiful. Wild dark curls and golden skin. Tall with a strong build. Bright hazel eyes that are a little glassy now, but still earnest behind round glasses.
Tonight, in addition to the classic black shirt and dark jeans, there’s a haphazardly placed Burger King crown on his head.
Regulus comes to stand in front of him and nudges him with a socked foot. “How was Sirius’ bachelor party?”
“We were bacheloring.” James’ face screws up. “Wait. No. We were partying.”
“You smell like a pub floor.”
James reaches for Regulus’ hand. He manages to urge Regulus down into his lap, with Regulus’ knees bracketing his hips. “That would be the alcohol. I missed you.”
“Remus and I had a lovely night. We drank wine and talked with Lily about our latest book club read.” Regulus settles his hands on James’ chest. “Then I watched our favorite show and fell asleep on the couch.”
“You watched our show? Without me?”
Regulus rolls his eyes. “The ones we’ve already seen. That’s all.” He leans into James’ hands on the small of his back.
“Okay. Good.” James nods with too much vigor, and the crown slips off his head and falls between them. “Oh, I forgot about this. I got it for you.”
“For me?”
James nods. He reaches for the crown, picks it up and places it on Regulus’ head. “For you, love. To remind you that you’re a king and I am but your humble servant.”
“You’re so fucking drunk.” Regulus loops his arms around James’ neck. The edge of the crown digs into this forehead, but he ignores it. “Are you going to come to bed?”
“I’m too drunk to have sex,” James whines, all of his words beginning to slur. “Giving will be a subpar performance. Receiving might make me throw up.”
Regulus laughs softly. He kisses James on the forehead, but doesn’t pull away. “We can stay here, if you’d like.”
“Please. It’s comfy. Will you stay with me?”
“I said ‘we.’”
“Sorry, love. Whiskey brain.” James grins, but his eyelids are already beginning to droop. “I love you. You’re so sexy in a crown. Can you wear it tomorrow when I’m sober?”
Regulus reaches up to adjust the paper crown. “Mind getting me a real one then? That Potter fortune can buy me better than a Burger King thing.”
“Spoiled. You are so—” James hiccups, “—spoiled.”
“But will you? Buy me a new one?”
James nods, and his arms circle Regulus again. Pull him in close and hold him tight even as James slowly nods off. “Anything you want,” he says softly. “S’tomorrow okay, yeah? I’ll buy you everything. But tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is fine, James. Close your eyes.”
“Okay, baby. Whatever you say.”
Regulus leans forward and buries his face in James’ neck. “I love you, too.”
“Oh, thank God. That’d be awkward if you didn’t. And I sure hope you never stop.”