Yeah!
The first thing Regulus is met with when walking into work is “Yeah” by Usher blasting from deep within the kitchen. It isn’t even eleven am. He’s going to kill James Potter.
He shoves his bag haphazardly into one of the lockers, he never bought a lock for it, actually, no one did. It’s kinda an unsaid rule that all the lockers will be slightly ajar. Regulus quickly takes his apron out of his bag before shutting the door, only for it to swing right back open. He leaves it, going deeper into the kitchen tying his apron around his waist.
“James .”
James laughs, the asshole laughs, his eyes shining as he turns back to meet him, “Good morning, sunshine.”
“Don’t call me that,” Regulus deadpans.
James smiles, his dimples sinking into his cheek, “Alright, Regulus. What can I do for you?”
Regulus sighs, giving him a pointed look, “I thought we talked about what music you couldn’t play.”
“Did we?” James tilts his head, “Huh.”
It’s practically a daily occurrence at this point, a conversation James claims to have amnesia for every time it’s brought up. It’s too early for this, and Regulus doesn’t particularly want to listen to what he could only classify as 2000s club music in the morning. Actually, he doesn’t want to listen to it at all. If it were up to him no music would play. There’s none in the actual restaurant part, but the idea of staying out there the entire shift and not hiding in the kitchen is even worse than having to deal with James’ taste in music. It’s not always awful either! Some days he actually plays… well not great music but it’s better than this. It’s softer, something that’s easily put in the background. It’s a rare occurrence but it’s one Regulus looks out for every time he comes in. Which just leads him to be very disappointed every time he comes in and discovers it’s just a normal day.
He opens his mouth to argue again, all to no avail he knows James won’t turn it off, it’s like he likes annoying him, before the door swings open Lily is rushing through throwing down a slip from her guest-check book over to James.
“Regulus good,” she turns to him, “You have a table. They need drinks.”
“I just got here!” Regulus explains, taking the slip of paper Lily hands over.
“Yeah well, Pandora is seating,” Lily explains, “and you know how she is.”
“Where’sEmmeline?”
Lily shrugs, “Sick? Late? I don’t know, she’s just not here.”
Regulus throws his head back, “Of fucking course.” He looks down at the paper, by the looks of it it’s only a two-top. It’s not horrible, he would just prefer if he had a little breathing room. Emmeline is good about that she at least gives them a bit to settle in until people start sitting with them. Pandora on the other hand doesn’t care at all, also she hates hosting and she thinks if she does a bad job she’ll never be asked to do it again. Considering every time Emmeline isn’t around it’s Pandora hosting though, it’s clear her logic is very flawed.
The song flips over as soon as Regulus picks his head back up, “ Popping bottles in the ice, like a blizzard, ” comes from the speaker and Regulus meets James’ eyes.
He just smiles, his stupid dimples, and his stupid shining eyes. Regulus is gonna kill him. He’s gonna do it. Instead, James just winks at him, and grabs the paper Lily left for him before walking off over to the stove, and Regulus swears James sways his hips on purpose. Regulus throws his head back with a sigh and walks back into the wait station grabbing a tray and two cups on his way. Yeah, this is gonna be a long shift.
❅❅❅
As soon as he takes care of the two-top, Regulus marches over to Pandora, who’s texting under the host-stand her eyebrows furrowed as she scoffs quietly to herself.
“You couldn’t have waited until I got through the door before seating for me?” Regulus asks, his arms crossed. There’s no one waiting, luckily, it’s still early enough that it’s slow. Making it even more ridiculous that Pandora put someone in his section. Especially considering Peter’s been here half an hour and has no one in his section. He swears Pandora has it out for him.
Though she doesn’t lift her head with a knowing smile, she just mutters something incoherent before brushing him off. Regulus looks behind him, debating just going back to his section, but they’re regulars so he already has their food put in with Benjy. Not because James wasn’t there but simply because Regulus refuses to speak to him until he turns off that god-awful music he has playing back there. He doesn’t go back though, instead, he goes around to the front of the stand and leans over.
“Who are you texting?” He asks. Pandora’s probably the person he’s closest with here, and that’s just because she got his claws in him on his first shift. She was the one who trained him. Taught him the best times to go cry in the walk-in, and how to get away with stealing food in the wait station and not have Alice get on your back. Regulus wouldn’t have talked to anyone here if it weren’t for Pandora, in true transparency, he was expecting to just fly under the radar here. He just wants enough money to be able to survive he doesn’t need to interact with anyone other than who he needs to. Pandora thought differently though, of course, and now he’s here. Arguing with James on a daily basis and checking in with Pandora even if she seems to want to be alone.
“Emmeline,” Pandora answers shortly.
“Is she coming in?”
Pandora shrugs, “She’s not answering," she says, with a final sigh she puts her phone in her back pocket and looks up at him. “I need her here.”
“I know you don’t like being host,” Regulus tells her, he doesn’t add that no one likes her being host. It’s probably best to leave that part out.
“It’s not that it’s,” she sighs, with a shake of her head, “I just need to talk to her.”
Regulus isn’t really good at the whole comforting thing. He should probably get Lily she’s better with these kinds of things, or hell maybe even James. Instead he says shortly, “I’m sure she’ll text you back. It’s not like her to no call no show.”
“Exactly,” Pandora says, but adds nothing else.
Regulus bounces on his heels before saying, “Do you want me to get Evan?”
Pandora scoffs, it turns into a laugh, “No,” she says, “He’s probably too busy making out with Barty in the janitor's closet anyway. It’s fine,” she shakes herself, “I’m sure it’s fine.”
Before Regulus can say anything else the front door is practically ripped open and a very frazzled Emmeline comes running in shivering without a coat. Her shirt isn’t buttoned all the way, and her apron is clutched in her hands. Snow covers her hair as she stomps it off her boots too. Almost immediately Pandora’s entire demeanor shifts as she comes out from behind the podium and exclaims, “You fucking bitch!”
Emmeline doesn’t even seem surprised, she just slumps dropping all her things on the ground beside the podium, “I’m sorry!”
“I texted you like thirty times!” Pandora says, “Thirty fucking times. I thought you died!”
“I woke up late, I was out late last night and I didn’t think I would sleep that long. And there was an accident!” Emmeline says, “Traffic fucking stopped for twenty minutes. I just had to sit there and wait knowing I was late, and I look like this!” she gestures to herself. “I’m a fucking mess!”
Pandora sighs, dragging Emmeline over to her before making a move to button her shirt for her, “You are a fucking mess,” she scoffs, though there’s something lighter about it.
“Thank you,” Emmeline mumbles. She looks over and finally registers that Regulus is standing there. “Pandora sat a table in your section didn’t she?”
Regulus nods, “Yep.”
Emmeline shakes her head, turning back to Pandora, “You know Alice isn’t going to not make you seater just because you pretend to be bad at it?”
“Pretend?” Pandora questions.
Emmeline tilts her head, “You were good when I trained you.”
“You’re misremembering things,” Pandora mutters, finishing the buttons, and moving over to run her fingers through her hair, setting it right.
“Of course,” Emmeline laughs softly.
Regulus feels like he’s interrupting something, especially considering both of them have seemingly forgotten his existence.
“Reg!” Peter calls out, as he’s walking out of the kitchen with his own plates in his hands, “Food’s up.”
Regulus thanks whoever it is to thank for this saving and steps back into the kitchen, quickly grabbing his plates and getting back out before he can recognize the song blasting over the speakers, or see James’ stupid proud-looking face when he realizes Regulus in the room. He sets the plates down at his table, smiling nicely and talking with the older couple about their life updates, that he honestly doesn’t care about even though they’re regulars. He tried at the beginning to follow but it didn’t last all that long, and he’s gotten good at finding excuses to get out of there without sounding rude.
This time it just so happens to be another table coming in, which Regulus doesn’t recognize until he’s already at the booth and his face falls.
“Really?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me,” Kingsley smiles softly, shrugging off his coat before, picking up the menu and flipping it around as if he doesn’t have it memorized by now.
“I thought you had to work,” Regulus says.
“One of my clients canceled,” Kingsley shrugs, “Who’s cooking today?”
“James and Benjy,” he answers. They’re the ones who are always here, Frank should be back there too but he rarely does any of the cooking now. He’s fallen back on ordering and helping Alice out, he’s in his office more times than not.
Kingsley hums shortly, “Can you ask James to make me a burger? I like his better than Benjy’s. And tell him it’s for me he’ll know to make it a rush order.”
Regulus snatches the menu from him, “You’re insufferable.”
“But I thought you liked when I visit you at work,” Kingsley says, tilting his head as if he’s innocent. “I’ll even tip you this time.”
“You’re not tipping me,” Regulus grumbles.
Kingsley’s smile just widens, “And I’m the insufferable one.”
Regulus quickly scribbles the order on his notebook before ripping it out, not bothering to respond before walking off back into the kitchen. Before he can get back to James though Lily is right behind him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.
“So Kingsley’s back,” she hums, not bothering to hide her sly smile. “He’s been coming around quite a lot recently.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, ignoring her to head deeper into the kitchen, “I guess.”
Lily sighs, following after him, “Come on, Reg.”
Regulus slips the paper over to James, who’s on his phone tapping his feet to the beat of the song; something ridiculous but Regulus doesn’t bother comment on it. It’ll just make James feel more validated and he can’t be bothered.
“Come on what?” Regulus says and James grabs it from him, flipping it over to read what it says.
“When are you finally going to realize that he’s totally into you,” Lily tells him.
Regulus scoffs, “He’s not!”
“Why else would he be here every single day during his thirty-minute lunch break?” Lily questions. “The food isn’t that great believe me,” she turns to James dropping her voice, “Sorry James, you know I love you.”
James’ eyes flicker over to them, biting his cheek, “Who?”
“Kingsley,” Lily says, hopping onto the counter behind them, “You see it too right?”
James is slow to respond, feeling the paper between his thumb and finger. There’s something behind his eyes that Regulus doesn’t want to decipher. “Maybe.”
Lily sighs heavily, practically throwing her head back into the cabinet behind her, “Seriously?”
James shrugs, turning around, “I just make him burgers,” he says. “I haven’t really talked to the guy.”
Regulus looks between them before saying, “Can we just drop this?”
“When you ask him out,” Lily answers swiftly.
Regulus blinks, looking over at her deadpanned before turning back to James, “I’ll be back in ten minutes,” he says, “Can you add fries to the order too?”
James nods, giving a thumbs-up before walking back to the fridge. Regulus leaves immediately after, careful to stay away from Lily’s grip again. He checks back into the dining room to find he thankfully has another table, this is one of the few times he’s actually grateful to have one. It’s a four-top of teenagers who he knows for a fact won’t tip, but he’ll take what he can get. He doesn’t bother even putting on his customer service voice for them, it’s not worth it. He can see Lily out of his peripheral view, walking over to Kingsley’s table that smile on her lips that just tells him she’s up to no good. It’s not his business, he just takes one task at a time. The rest is simply not his problem.
By the time he’s done with all of them and have their orders in Kingsley’s is ready, and sitting in the warmer. James stands just next to it, his music turned down as he waits for another order. Regulus isn’t exactly sure how James can have the time to just hang around, but it’s still slow right now, and Benjy is running around taking care of the tables James isn’t.
Regulus stops next to James before asking, “Do you have an extra plate?”
James looks up, slipping his phone back into his pocket before grabbing one, “What for?”
Regulus grabs it before sliding all of the fries onto the new plate and putting it back into the warmer, “Kingsley didn’t want fries.”
James blinks, “But you-”
Regulus looks over at him, “We can’t just throw them out,” he says, “And they’ll be too old by the time someone else needs them.”
James takes a second before the realization falls over his face, “Oh.” He says, “I would’ve just made them for you.”
Regulus turns away without another word, walking out back into the dining room, he can practically feel James’ smile on the back of his neck. He makes his interaction with Kingsley quick, careful not to allude to Lily at all. He doesn’t want to know what they talked about, that’s the sort of thing it’s better for him to be oblivious of. He’s sure Lily will keep him informed on the matter later in his shift anyway. He sets down the plate, expecting to just walk back away before Kingsley is grabbing his arm and bringing him back to the table.
“Not so fast,” he says.
Regulus throws his head back, “I have another table.”
“No, you don’t,” Kingsley says, “Your other table still has at least ten minutes until their food is done.”
Regulus crosses his arms, “What do you want?”
Kingsley smiles again and Regulus wants to be his undoing. They met back in freshman year of college. Kingsley was Regulus’ first real friend, whatever that means. He came into Regulus' life and refused to leave, and then managed to convince him he deserved better in life than to live underneath his parents' thumb. All stuff he should probably be thanking him for, but he’s annoyed by his existence instead. Not that Kingsley ever seems to mind, especially considering how big of a smile he has right now. It was Kingsley’s idea for Regulus to get this job, when he left his parents and actually needed to figure out how to survive for the rest of his life. When saying yes to this Regulus did consider how close it was to Kingsley’s internship, at the time he thought it was a coincidence. Then Kingsley got a full-time job there… and now shows up here every time Regulus has a shift just to bother him.
“Are you working on Christmas, I forget,” Kingsley says.
“This couldn’t have been a text?” Regulus questions.
“You never answer your texts,” Kingsley comments.
Regulus sighs, “I’m working the breakfast shift.”
It’s a week away, and people are practically begging everyone to take their shifts. Regulus would take the entire day if Sirius wasn’t forcing him over afterwards. He’s already pissed off he’s taking the breakfast shift but it’s time and a half and good money. Plus the morning is normally slower so it should be an easier shift. There’s not really a reason for him not to take it.
Kingsley nods, “Does Sirius have you after?”
“Why?”
“I wanted to see you,” Kingsley answers simply.
Regulus gives him a pointed look, “I don’t even want to go to Sirius’ thing.”
“I know,” Kingsley laughs softly. “At least come over for a little bit.”
Regulus has never really been a big fan of Christmas, it was always just sorta something that happened. Something he had to tolerate. There were always those big Christmas parties when Regulus had to dress in fancy clothes that scratched his skin and constricted his chest until he couldn’t breathe. When Sirius was there it was fine, still barely tolerable but fine. They always used to set up a sub-party of sorts, and snuck away from all the adults. Then Sirius left and well Regulus was left to fend for himself. He had to sit at the big table and smile at every little comment his family made about him. Then he’d lock himself in his room for days afterwards, trying to recharge his battery.
Basically what he’s saying is Christmas has never been a nice experience. In fact, he doesn’t think he’s ever spent a Christmas he didn't feel relieved that it was over before. Sirius left, found Remus, and now is insufferable about the entire thing. He wears Christmas sweaters for the entire month, and tries to force Regulus into one every time he sees him. His house is covered in pretty lights and he has a huge tree that barely fits in his living room completely covered with ornaments. Regulus thinks it’s going to fall down he he so much as breathes on it wrong. It’s insufferable in the complete opposite direction. Regulus can’t just not go though, Sirius would drive over to his apartment, shove him in the back of his car, and drive him over. He can’t get out of it, that’s the only reason why he’s letting it happen.
Despite this he sighs and says, “I’ll see.”
Kingsley shrugs, knowing he won’t get anything better, “I’ll take it.”
“I’ll be back over with the check in a little bit,” Regulus tells him, before ducking back into the kitchen, checking his other tables before he does. When he figures they’re fine he grabs his fries out of the warmer and hops on the counter. James finds him in the exact same spot not even two minutes later. He leans on the counter next to him, sending him a look before grabbing one of his fries, despite Regulus trying to bat his hand away.
“So…” James thrums, “Kingsley?”
Regulus sighs, shaking his head before taking another fry, “Nothing there.”
“Oh,” James says. Nothing follows, it sets Regulus off, he feels it stuck between his ribs.
“Oh?”
“Good,” James offers.
“Good?” Regulus turns to him completely, his eyebrows lifted in confusion.
James looks over at him like he’s not sure what he’s just said, “You don’t like him?”
Regulus shakes his head, “We’re just friends.”
James nods, “Okay,” he says it simply enough for Regulus doesn’t miss that look in his eyes, he’s not sure what it means. Before he can question it though James changes the subject, “You’re working a Christmas shift, right?”
Regulus hums, taking another fry.
“I am too.”
“Don’t you go to your parents?” Regulus asks. James talks about his parents all the time, more than anyone Regulus has ever met before. They live almost an hour away so James doesn’t see them as much as he wants to but he still makes sure to see them at least once a week. He comes back after his day off with homemade fudge his mom made. He’s made it a habit to keep it on the counter here, knowing if he ate it all himself he’d gain ten pounds.
Regulus can imagine what Christmas morning would be for James. Sitting warm by the fire with homemade treats surrounding him, presents under a massive tree, and tinsel covering every square inch of the place. He can imagine Christmas dinner being a small family affair, with enough air to breathe, a place you can actually feel like love existed once. If Regulus was younger he’d resent him for it. Now he just feels nothing at all.
“I’m heading there later in the day,” James spares him a glance. “I’m just taking the breakfast shift.”
Regulus nods, “I am too.”
“Do you have anything after?” James asks.
“My brother’s doing something,” Regulus answers.
James hums shortly, the music flips over some calm generic holiday song. James must’ve switched the playlist over. Regulus doesn’t acknowledge it. He wouldn’t put it past James to switch it back over.
He doesn’t normally talk to James like this. He can’t remember the last time they sat in silence, he’s not sure they ever have really. The kitchen feels strangely quiet, like they’re stuck in their own little world far from everything else. Spinning silently in a snow globe far away from everything else. Regulus should probably get back to his tables, and he’s surprised James hasn’t gotten another order ticket yet.
“I was thinking we could…” James breaks the silence.
Before he can finish Alice comes out of the back office. Better known as Frank’s office, but really it should just be both of theirs; she's in it more than she is her own.
“Two employees sitting on the counter?” Alice walks over to them to lean on the wall with her arms crossed. “What about this image isn’t right?”
“I accidentally made too many fries,” James answers swiftly, fixing his signature smile back, as if it’ll work on her. It never has before. “Regulus was just helping me make sure they didn’t go to waste.”
“ Right… ” Alice hums. “And no other customers wanted them?”
“It’s a slow day,” James muses.
Alice shakes her head, “Regulus, go check on your tables please.”
Regulus steals another fry before handing over the plate to James and hopping off the counter, “What were you doing in Frank’s office?” he asks casually.
Alice gives him a deadpan look, “Tables, Regulus.”
He turns around, only to hear James beginning to tease her about it. Frank and Alice have always been Frank and Alice. Never apart, and yet not together either, or so they say. Everything thinks the opposite, of course, there’s a bet going on. Regulus hasn’t gotten in on it but he’s heard about it, practically everyone else is. Pandora spends a lot of the shifts trying to convince Regulus to put money in. It’s not about if they’re together or not, there would be no one to bet against it. It’s instead when they’re finally going to reveal themselves. No one thinks they’ll last till the end of the year.
When he goes back out he finds two of his tables gone, including Kingsley’s table. When he walks over he finds the check already completely filled out and a piece of paper set beside it.
Peter gave me the check. Don’t worry I didn’t tip. Meet me for dinner instead at our normal spot at 6:30.
Regulus sighs, crumbling up the paper before shoving it in his apron pocket. Of course, there’s no question about it. He didn’t expect there would be. If there was, Regulus wouldn’t feel obligated to actually show up. Kingsley knows him too well. Regulus also knows Kingsley would just show up at his apartment with leftovers either way. He’s just glad Lily didn’t see the paper before he got to it. God only knows what sort of hell she would make with it. He really needs to tell Kingsley to stop coming here. He’d say he could make up a lie about a mouse being in the kitchen but even that wouldn’t stray him.
❅❅❅
The rest of the shift is uneventful as it always is. The rush comes at the same time it always does and Regulus lasts about halfway through it before he gets himself pissed off and he has to practically cut his hand off to stop himself from being petty. A customer got upset over her sauce making her fries soggy and Regulus truly considered taking it back to the kitchen just to douse it with more. Instead, he smiled like the good worker he is and made Benjy make him a new one. Isn’t he great? Truly a remarkable worker he should be paid more for this shit. It’s not as if he’s so far gone that if one person flags him down to grab their plate while he’s already carrying five he’ll actually consider hitting them over the head with it. He would never. His smile is so wide it’s almost bursting a hole through his cheek.
Sometimes he has no idea what Kingsley was thinking when he suggested he take this job. Regulus needs a job where he can sit in a room alone and not talk to another human being all day. He actually thinks Kingsley was trying to torture him with this job.
By the end of the night, Regulus’ apron is completely covered in food, there's no way he can get away with not doing laundry again, and his back is hurting from having to wipe down all the tables. On top of everything else it’s his job to vacuum the carpet he has no idea why they even have. It’s only in the farthest part of the dining room, it’s hardly used most of the time, but they’ll always have that one occasional customer who insists on sitting there, and Regulus is still the newest person here he gets stuck with the shortest straw. Everyone’s already gotten out by the time he’s done which isn’t unusual. It normally happens like that. He actually likes having the place to himself when he leaves. It means he can do the bare minimum without thinking Alice is over his shoulder the entire time. Not that she’s ever called him out on doing a half-assed job vacuuming. Even she knows it’s pointless most of the time. The only time she really locked down on it was the time she found an old shrimp lying underneath a table from god knows how long ago. Afterward, Pandora proudly went up to Regulus and told him she knew it was there for weeks; she just wanted to see how long it would sit there. The answer was a very long time.
Looking around the area quickly he finds nothing and shuts the vacuum down, quietly singing to himself, “She asked for one more dance, and I’m like yeah, how the hell am I supposed to leave?” He fucking hates that that’s the one song his brain decided to get stuck in his head. What he hatesmore though is that the only reason he knows the words is because of how often James plays it back in the kitchen. He winds up the vacuum cord before setting it back in the closet mumbling to himself as he does, before sighing heavily letting his shoulders finally drop. When he turns around he finds a shadow in his peripheral vision, and he jumps through his fucking skin.
“Jesus fucking christ, James!” Regulus exclaims.
James laughs, like the asshole that he is. “I heard you singing.”
Regulus sends him a glare, “Fuck off.”
“Don’t worry,” James tells him, “I can play it tomorrow when you come in since you like it so much.”
“You’re impossible,” Regulus tells him, sneaking back into the kitchen to get his things. “Why are you even still here? Haven’t you been here since this morning?”
“Frank needed my help with something,” James brushes it off quickly, “Plus, you’re always left here alone after every shift. I thought I’d keep you company.”
“By lurking in the shadows while I cleaned up?” Regulus questions, fixing his jacket over his shoulders.
“Exactly,” James answers.
Regulus shakes his head, “You don’t have to stay with me,” he grabs his bag before slamming the locker closed and walking out of the back door. As soon as he does he’s immediately met with the cold, it climbs his spine sending shivers down the rest of his skin. He can’t fucking wait until spring. It’s just barely snowing, but he still feels it sticking to his hair. When he turns back to find James he finds snow in his hair too. He hates that there’s a lapse in his heartbeat when he sees it at first.
“I don’t mind,” James tells him, quickly catching up with him, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Do you need a ride home?”
Regulus doesn’t drive, or well he can technically but he’s not even sure what use his license is considering how horrible he is at driving. He’s not even talking about this weather. He swears the person who took his test just took pity on him after failing him three times before. Plus he doesn’t have a car, or the money to even get one, so he’s at the liberty of everyone around him for ways to get around. He owes Sirius way too many favors for him to be comfortable with it.
“My brother’s here,” Regulus tells him, looking down at his phone glowing in his hand with a text from him. He sent it ten minutes ago, with anyone else Regulus would feel guilty for making them wait, but Sirius can deal.
James nods, “Alright well,” he shrugs, “I’ll see you tomorrow then, right?”
Regulus spares him another glance, there’s questions in James’ eyes he’s not sure the answer to. He just nods anyway, “Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
James smiles softly, and Regulus really wants to kill him, before he’s walking off into the dark parking lot on his way to his car. Regulus spends probably too much time looking after him, he’s not even sure why. That is until Sirius’ car pulls up right in front of him with the windows down.
“Hey, asshole,” Sirius shouts over the music, “Get in the fucking car.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, walking forward and pulling the handle, only to find it locked, “Seriously?”
Sirius smiles, opening his mouth to speak before Regulus cuts him off.
“Don’t fucking say it,” Regulus says, “I’ll walk.”
Sirius shakes his head, unlocking the door for him. As soon as Regulus is settled, Sirius hums, “So was that James. ”
Regulus changes his mind, James can live another day. Barty, who Regulus knows for a fact is the one who mentioned James to Sirius however… There’s a reason why Regulus refuses to see Barty outside of work. Sirius and Barty have met one singular time and yet.
“Just drive, Sirius.”
Sirius fucking cackles the entire way to Regulus' apartment. Yeah, Barty is a fucking dead man.