Regulus loved Halloween. His brother would always tease him about it, saying that he would really love anything that was meant to creep people out. He was right, of course, but Regulus wasn’t going to tell him that.
It felt festive to him, with the spooky lighting, and scary movies, and pumpkin shaped candies, which, yes, he did buy every single year, just for the fun of it. He liked dressing up, and doing all of the stupid, fun things that grown adults did for a holiday that was absolutely not meant for grown adults.
One of those stupid, wonderful things was Sirius’s yearly halloween party. The first time Regulus had gone, it had felt loud, and hollow, and overwhelming. Regulus had almost left, his pretty, but unfortunately scratchy vampire costume itching his skin. Of course, that’s when he met James, who couldn’t see a single reason that anyone would want to leave. He was an idiot, but he was sweet, and he made Regulus laugh, and so he stayed. James drove him home at the end of the night, and kissed him outside his door.
It had been an odd journey, but Regulus had a happy ending. He was closer with his brother than he ever had been, he had more close friends than ever, and he was engaged to the love of his life. And he was back where he started, Halloween creeping up, and he was happy, and excited, and cheery.
Regulus slided the horned headband onto his curls. James had tried to get him to be an angel. ‘Always an angel in my eyes,’ James had said before pressing a kiss to the top of his head. He wasn’t suited for heaven though. He was much more suited to horns and hellfire. And that’s what he had told James, who had easily conceded.
Of course he did.
This is what he had in mind.
He knew that James was going to request them from Dorcas, custom made. She often made event outfits for them. Mostly because she knew Regulus like the back of her hand and usually knew what he’d look good in better than he did, and partially because Regulus adored her and was happy to support her business, even if the discount she kept trying to give them was absolutely absurd. This year, though, she and James had definitely, without a doubt, been conspiring together. That was the only way she possibly could’ve come up with this.
It didn’t look bad. Dorcas’s designs never did. But this was absolutely not based on the inspiration photos he had sent her. It was a cropped crimson halter top with a sparkly black upside-down heart where the neckline met the top. The off-the-shoulder sleeves were crimson mesh, tight on his arms and ending around his middle finger with a simple silver band. She had given him black tights with translucent bits at the sides of his legs. There was a black belt, adorned with red rhinestone hearts around his waist. Lastly, she had attached pretty sheer wings to his top. How she managed to make them stay, Regulus had no clue, but they were beautiful, crimson, with lovely little heart details. Very much a Dorcas design, but very much not what Regulus had suggested. Still, he looked fantastic, as he stared into the full-length mirror in his and James’s bedroom. He smiled to himself as he eyed the outfit approvingly. He was going to give James a heart attack.
He walked out confidently in his worn Doc Martens. They always made him feel a bit better, stronger, more confident in himself. Maybe it’s because they reminded him of his brother before he was back in his life, without really having him there. So, when he felt like he looked good, or he wanted to look good, he wore them. And he absolutely looked good. James’s gaze proved that, his eyes locking onto Regulus the moment he walked in.
“Reg…” James said breathlessly, and Regulus grinned.
“You like it?” Regulus asked, reaching to run his fingers against the sheer of his wings. James nodded enthusiastically.
“You look… fucking gorgeous, love,” James said reaching forward to run gentle fingers against the wings.
Regulus grinned, batting his eyelashes at his fiance. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
That was an understatement. He may have been dressed as an angel, but James looked like a fucking God. He wore a loose white top that contrasted with James’s brown skin, clearly inspired by a Greek chiton, held on his shoulders with shiny gold buttons, and tight around his hips with a matching golden band. He wore white flowing pants with gold accent designs in the shapes of leaves and suns. His halo was a thin gold band held above James’s head on a wire. And the wings… They were beautiful. Big and soft looking, cream-colored but tinted gold in places. He had separate white sleeves on his forearms, white and flowing, with a golden band at the top, and he was beautiful. He was utterly beautiful. Where Regulus had red-painted lips and red blush and eyeshadow, James was dusted in glitter and gold that matched his golden round-framed glasses. Where Regulus was sharp angles and tight clothing, James was flowing and gentle. Where Regulus was dark, and just a little bit mean, James was pretty, and warm, and glowing.
Regulus loved him.
Regulus stepped forward and wrapped his arms around James’s necks, standing on his toes to do so. James wrapped his hands around Regulus’s hips as Regulus leaned up to press a quick peck to James’s lips.
“We should really thank Dorcas for these, shouldn’t we?” Regulus asked, leaning into James’s neck. He pressed a light kiss to his neck.
“Absolutely,” James replied, his grin evident in his voice. “I mean, look at this outfit!” He laughed softly, pinching at the sheer fabric of Regulus’s sleeves. “Fucking gorgeous.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips twitching. “You would say that if I was wearing a fucking trash bag.”
James kissed the top of his head. “True. But the outfit certainly doesn’t hurt.”
Regulus huffed out a soft laugh, dropping his face into James’s bare shoulder. “You’re an idiot,” he muttered, smiling into James’s skin.
“Only for you,” James said, nuzzling into Regulus’s hair and pushing his headband out of place.
Regulus mumbled angrily, but it lacked any bite. He took an ever-so-small step back and fixed his headband, before looking up at James with all the love he felt and mumbling, “I love you.”
“I love you too, Reggie,” James said fondly, his gaze warm. “And as much as I’d love to stay here all night and show you how much, we do have a party to go to.”
Regulus pouted. “Can’t we stay in anyways?”
“We could. But then I’d be missing the chance to show you off.”
✶✶✶
Over the years, Sirius’s parties had gotten smaller, a little bit more intimate. That was nice, for Regulus at least. He liked knowing everyone, and at least if he got drunk and embarrassed himself singing Spooky Scary Skeletons at the top of his lungs in French (Which he definitely, 100% hasn’t done before, according to him), he’d at least be doing it with people who had seen him embarrass himself enough times to not even bat an eye.
Sirius hosted it every year, and Regulus thought that it helped. It was a nice, familiar location full of nice, familiar people. That, and he knew where Remus kept his good stash of tea. Regulus tended to help himself to his brother-in-law’s beverage options. It wasn’t his fault the man had good taste. In beverages, at least. Regulus didn’t quite approve of his taste in men.
He was in the process of making himself a cup of earl gray tea from Remus’s stash when Sirius strolled into the kitchen, fully dressed as a cowboy, complete with a hat and boots. Regulus couldn’t help coughing out a laugh.
“Nice costume,” Regulus said, his lips twitching.
“Nice tea,” Remus said, stepping in to lean against the doorway, smiling warmly. “I think it’s mine.” He was wearing a brown onesie, and when he lowered his head to stare down at Regulus, he glimpsed the head of a horse on the hood.
Oh. Okay.
That made sense.
But it was so funny.
“I’m drinking it, therefore it’s mine,” Regulus said, biting back a laugh as he poured himself a mug of the tea, steam wafting up from the rim. He lifted it up and took a sip, scalding his tongue.
“You could just ask for once, if you want a cup,” Remus said, wrapping an arm around Sirius and pulling him in. Regulus’s brother leaned softly into the touch, smiling as he buried himself in his husband’s side. Regulus fought the urge to smile. It was always nice seeing his brother be so happy.
“But what’s the fun in that?” Regulus asked, smirking. Remus chuckled and shook his head. Honestly, Regulus was glad that this was the man his brother decided to marry. He was kind, and witty, and patient, and he made Sirius happier than Regulus had ever seen him. And he put up with both of their bullshit, which definitely won him a good amount of points.
“Did Dorcas design that?” Sirius asked curiously, eyeing the mesh wings with an equal mix of admiration and envy.
“Yep,” Regulus said, his smile spreading into a grin. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”
“I really need to commission something from her,” Sirius mumbled, his eyes trained on the beautiful wings. “Her designs are always so good.”
“You’ll look gorgeous no matter what you wear,” Remus said, kissing Sirius on the top of the head, and Sirius hummed appreciatively. Regulus made a gagging sound. Sirius flipped him off in return.
There was a distant sound, someone’s knuckles rapping at the door. From the sitting room, where James was supposed to be hanging up halloween decor, his voice sounded.
“I’ll get it!” James shouted, and for a moment the house was cold, freezing, and Regulus glanced green out of the corner of his eye. And then it was normal, and he was warm with the heat of the tea in his mug. Must have just been the wind.
He could hear a woman’s voice, and then Mary was in the kitchen, wearing a fuzzy black sweater, matching leggings, cat ears, a tail, and a bell around her collar. Her wife was close behind, Lily dressed in a black and purple witch costume, her fiery hair in a loose, messy bun beneath her tall black hat.
She turned to Regulus with a soft smile, opening her arms for a hug. “You look fantastic, Regulus.”
Regulus smiled in return, embracing his friend. “You too, Lils. Where’d you get this? Did you make it?”
Lily’s eyes lit up, grinning. “Yeah! It took so long but I’m so, so proud of it!”
Regulus grinned. “You should be. You look amazing.”
“Baby Black, stop flirting with my wife,” Mary said, her arms crossed, but it really didn’t have any strength behind it. She was smiling openly, her black lipstick showing starkly on her light brown skin.
Regulus chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender and therefore ending the hug. “Sorry, Macdonald. Won’t do it again.”
Mary held out her arms. “Give me a hug, Black.”
Regulus chuckled and hugged her tightly. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek with a loud smack. Regulus wasn’t sure when they became close, but he wouldn’t trade their friendship for the world.
They (eventually) migrated into the living room where James was sitting on the floor, organizing the orange, purple, yellow, and black napkins by color. With a sigh, and a ‘You’re hopeless, James’, Lily joined him on the floor, folding them into triangles and placing them in piles.
Soon, there was another rapping at the door, and James shot up to answer it. As Regulus took a sip of his tea, the door creaked open, and he was cold, and it was dark. His lungs were full, and he couldn’t breathe, and his skin was damp, and he could feel himself being pulled down, deeper and darker. Drowning, drowning, drowning, sinking, sinking, sinking.
And then he was warm again and Sirius’s hand was on his shoulder.
“You okay, Reg? You zoned out for a minute.” Sirius looked a little concerned. Regulus smiled and brushed his hand off his shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just zoned out for a minute.” Sirius shrugged and turned to the door, where James was talking animatedly with a blonde-haired girl. Marlene was here. And that meant-
“Regulus!” Dorcas called, bursting through the doorway, a grin spreading between black-painted lips. She gasped, her grin growing even wider when she saw Regulus’s outfit. “Oh my god, Regulus, you look fantastic!”
Regulus chuckled, standing up to greet his friend. “Of course you’d say that. You made it!”
“Still!” Dorcas said proudly. “Has to be one of my best works.”
“I dunno about that one, Cas,” Marlene said, finally walking up to her girlfriend, and wrapping loving, gentle hands around her waist. There was red liquid lipstick trailing down her chin. “I think this little number you made for me might be better.”
Regulus tilted his head. “What are you guys anyways?”
Marlene grinned, showing off fake fangs. She was wearing tall black platform boots, and a lacey black and red corset dress, lined with matching crimson lace. “I’m a vampire.”
Dorcas smiled, leaning on her girlfriend’s shoulder. She pulled out a sharp wooden stake from her belt, twirling it between her fingers. She was dressed in black, head to toe, but there were bits stained almost maroon. Her braids were done with golden beads, piled into a bun above her head, and she had switched out her usual silver with a golden septum ring. She tapped her combat boot covered foot on the hardware floor. “And I’m her hunter.”
Regulus smirked. “Ah yes, trying to murder each other. So romantic.”
Marlene gave him a toothy grin. “The sexual tension is fantastic.”
Regulus chuckled. “Fair enough, I suppose. You guys look great anyways.”
Dorcas smiled sweetly. “I know.” And her focus was noticeably shifted to Marlene twirling a stray braid in her fingers. Regulus very suddenly had the urge to hide away somewhere with James in a nice warm place and never emerge. He supposed that was the curse of being madly in love.
Regulus sighed and made his way back into the kitchen. He searched through Remus and Sirius’s kitchen until he found the wine. He remembered the first time he saw Sirius attempt to drink cheap wine, swearing that it couldn’t be that different. Well, since that day, the only wine that could be found in their home was nice, expensive red wine that Regulus was happy to take part in.
Regulus was sipping on his glass, savoring the taste, when James came in, brushing a curl out of Regulus’s face.
“Having fun yet, love?” he asked fondly, and Regulus hummed, holding James’s palm to his face.
“I missed you,” Regulus said softly. James chuckled, wrapping the hand that wasn’t pressed against Regulus’s cheek around his waist.
“I’ve been here the whole time, Reg,” James replied, tilting his head ever so slightly.
“I know,” Regulus said, pouting ever so slightly. “But we’ve barely talked all night, and everyone was with their partners, and I just- I missed you. So much.”
“Oh, love,” James said, pulling Regulus into him. Regulus hummed softly into his fiance’s chest, wrapping arms around his neck to keep him close. “I’ll stick by your side for the rest of the night if you want. I love you so, so much, Regulus.”
“I love you too. And thank you. I would… I would like that.”
James smiled and kissed the top of Regulus’s head, swaying softly as he held him. Regulus could hear knocking at the door once again, and he tried to let go, tried to let James answer the door as he had all night.
“I told you, Reg,” James said, pulling Regulus back into him. “By your side for the rest of the night.”
“I love you,” Regulus said as he heard the door creak open, and Barty and Evan’s voices filled the house.
“I love you too, Reg. Now let’s go say hi to your friends.”
Regulus wrinkled his nose. “Do we have to?”
James chuckled. “You know they’re going to find us anyway if you don’t.”
Regulus nuzzled into James’s chest. “Then we’ll wait for them to do so.”
And they did, Barty and Evan rushing into the room with loud voices and costumes, Evan dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Barty dressed as the Mad Hatter. They were followed close by Pandora, dressed in an outfit that was a very clear reference to the Blue Caterpillar.
“Earth to Regulus,” Barty said, waving his hand next to the side of Regulus’s face, trying to gather his attention. Regulus sighed.
“Hello, Bartemius,” Regulus said, rolling his eyes. “Care to leave me and James alone for a few minutes?”
“I think we’re good, Evan said, his arms crossed over his chest as he smirked. “You can stop clinging to your ball of sunshine for five minutes to hang out with your friends.”
“And pour us a glass of wine!” Barty interjected.
“... And pour us a glass of wine,” Evan said, with a small laugh at his boyfriend.
Regulus sighed and pulled away from James who stood rooted at his side.
“Hello, Crouch, Rosier, Pandora.”
Pandora smiled, their blue beaded headband slipping slowly down their head. “Hello, Reggie. You look lovely.”
Regulus smiled, holding his hands out for a hug. “You too, Dora.”
They pulled away, beaming, their long blonde braid swishing as they bounced on the balls of their feet.
Regulus turned to his two best friends with an unimpressed gaze. “And… you two look… acceptable.”
Evan sighed. “I suppose that’s the best we’re going to get, isn’t it, B?”
Barty smirked, glancing over at his boyfriend. “Yes, I suppose it is, Evs.”
“Such a shame, when we’re so nice to him, he can’t even give us a compliment.”
“So true, my love. So true.”
Regulus crossed his arms and glared at them for a moment before sighing, and grabbing three more wine glasses from the cupboard.
“Thank you, Regulus!” Evan said, grinning.
“Love you, Reggie,” Barty said, blowing him a kiss.
“None for me, Reggie,” Pandora said, and Regulus put their glass back into the cupboard before pouring wine for Barty and Evan.
“REGULUS!” Sirius called out from the living room. “GET EVERYONE OUT HERE! WE’RE WATCHING A MOVIE!”
Regulus smiled, grabbed his half-full wine glass, and took James’s hand before turning back to his friends. “Get your wine, and get out before the movie starts.”
Regulus dragged James out into the living room, a very cheerful Pandora following behind them.
Every year, they watched a different movie for the halloween party. Over the years it had slowly become more of a movie and game night than a real party, and it was nice. This year, James and Regulus were cuddled up on the sofa under a blanket with Marlene and Dorcas on the sofa beside them as they watched Nightmare Before Christmas as Barty sang along to the songs on the floor and Pandora braided little strands of his hair.
“And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
Have grown so tired of the same old thing”
“B, baby, I love you so much, but shut the fuck up and watch the movie,” Evan said with a sigh.
They spent more time talking over the movie than actually watching it, with more singing from Barty, much to the dismay of everyone else, and the sound of Mary and Lily playing Uno with Dorcas and Marlene who had sunk to the floor to join the game while Remus tried to give Sirius advice on which card to use as his hand grew in amount.
Regulus leaned his head on James’s shoulder, and eventually, his eyes drifted closed, and he woke up to James nudging his shoulder.
“Wake up, love,” James said sweetly, running fingers through his curls. Regulus groaned sleepily, turning his surely makeup-smudged face into James’s chest. “It’s time to go home.”
“Tired,” Regulus mumbled as James ran loving fingers through his hair.
“I know, baby,” James said, warmth in his voice. “You can sleep in the car, okay, my love?”
James eventually was able to tug Regulus off the couch and take him home. He cleaned off Regulus’s makeup and changed him into his usual pajamas, a too big t-shirt that was probably Sirius’s, and loose, soft shorts. Regulus sleepily climbed into bed and rolled over so that he was facing James.
“I love you,” Regulus mumbled. James smiled.
“I love you too, Reg.”
James threw his arm over Regulus’s side and pulled him close, brushing fingers gently through his hair, and Regulus fell asleep under the warmth of James, and his the sweetness of his affection.