Good Looking
James felt something brush against the back of his neck. He whirled and promptly stumbled into Sirius.
“You alright?”
“Yeah. Fine. Need some air. You go play. I’ll be back in a bit. People to talk to.”
Sirius looked confused until a bludger came sailing towards him. Immediately he leapt on to a proffered broom, batted it away and was part of the game. James grinned and headed out the tent.
“Blue dragon.” The faintest whisper reached him.
James grinned. It was probably Gideon playing tricks on him, but he’d go with it. The man was fun to flirt with and he’d been so careful tonight. Another touch. Or maybe …. No. Regulus had his own life now. Plus James hadn’t sent the invite in the end. Curious, James headed for the blue dragon. Most of the crowd were now watching the antics in the tent or talking and listening to music at the fire pit and two of the dragons had reverted back to plain wells leaving them abandoned.
Curiously, James made his way to the quiet blue dragon. “Hello.” He said, keeping his voice low.
A hand brushed along his cheek. With liightning reflexes despite the amount of alcohol in his system, James caught the wrist. He knew that wrist. “Reg” he whispered.
Regulus dropped the invisibility spell. He’d been watching the party for a good half hour, waiting for an opportunity to tease James away. The man was always talking to someone. “Evening.” He started only to be pulled into a fierce kiss. Regulus grinned and returned it with pleasure.
“Hello.” James said again when they came up for air.
“Evening.” Regulus replied
“You came.”
“Not yet.”
James almost choked. “I mean you … you’re here.”
“I appear to be.”
“Why? How?”
“Someone left me an invite.”
“I wrote but didn’t …. Pandora. I’m going to kiss that woman.”
“I’d rather you kissed me.”
“Oh I’ll do that too.” James looked into the silver-blue eyes shining with merriment. His heart soared. He put a hand to the pale, angular cheek, his other arm firmly around the slim waist, and bent to kiss the bruised lips with far more gentleness this time. Regulus, his hand back on the warm chiseled cheek, and other arm around the taught waist, returned the kiss, then deepened it, hungry for more.
“So why are you here? Do you want to come out and join the rest of the party? There’s a quidditch thing happening in the tent.” James asked when they finally separated again.
Regulus shook his head. “I got an invitation. Would you like me to go?” He asked with a pout.
James laughed softly. “Silly. Of course not. Will you join us? The others would be happy to see you again.”
Regulus gazed up into the warm honey coloured eyes filled with so much hope and joy. “I can’t. Too many people here want me dead.”
“Don’t be …. “ James stopped. The party was full of witches and wizards who fought or worked for the Order during the war. Regulus Black had been one of the most wanted death eaters because of his reputation and connection to lord Voldemort. “Oh. Shit. Had forgotten that.”
Regulus smiled ruefully. “I hadn’t. Otherwise we wouldn’t be skulking behind a water feature.”
“I thought you were being romantic.” It was James’s turn to pout.
“Possibly that too.” Regulus said, swiftly kissing the generous mouth. “I can’t come join you as I am, but you’ll see me for midnight.”
James beaned and leant down to kiss Regulus again. “Shit! Midnight!” He blurted a moment later.
“You have seven minutes and thirty eight seconds.”
“Excellent. I only need five.” James said and returned to kissing Regulus.
Two minutes later James emerged from behind the dragon and went in search of Sirius.
Remus, who was also in on the surprise, met him at the front door. “Undercover guest.” He rumbled.
“Nothing gets past you.” Jane’s grinned.
“Not much. “ Remus agreed. “Let get this lot out to the fire.”
Four minutes later everyone was standing around the fire pit, talking up a storm, multiple drinks in most hands. James stood on a box and let his gaze wander over the group gathered in his back garden. Just off to one side he spotted a small black cat and his heart did another leap. He waved his hands. A giant clock appeared above the pit. A low musical voice began a countdown. “25 24 23 ….” The crowd joined in “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” The clock exploded into a shower of firework dragons and phoenixes racing up into the sky as the crowd yelled “Happy New Year” and many soundly kissed their neighbour. A moment later the mystical creatures exploded again into a shower of more traditional fireworks and the crowd laughed and cheered and drank some more.
With the tent now abandoned, Sirius turned on the record player and the dancing began this time with many more people partaking.
Several hours later, after the last guest had left, James sat by the fire pit. He was hot, sweaty and very drunk surrounded by his favourite people in the world.
“That, I declare, was the best party we have ever thrown.” James said.
“It was. Most definitely.” Dorcas agreed.
Marlene hiccuped and raised a glass. “Totally worth coming home for. Thanks for having us to stay too. “ she added.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” James grinned. “A toast.” He said raising his glass “To …”
“James, why is there a stray cat asleep on your lap.” Sirius interrupted. The car opened an eye. “Ok not asleep. Why is there a malevolent cat on your lap?”
James peered down at his lap. Regulus, at least he assumed it was Regulus, had made himself comfortable there a while ago. “He was lonely and decided to adopt me?” James ventured.
“But I’ve never seen that cat before?”
“Maybe someone invited him and he’s too polite to go home until the party’s ended.” James said. The car purred.
“But why you and not one of us.” Sirius persisted. There was something ever so familiar about this cat but his brain was far too fuzzy to work it out.
“Might have something to do with our inner furriness?”
“Hmmm….”
“Or maybe it just likes James better.” Pandora pipped up. “Everyone does.”
“Rude.” Sirius slurred, not the last offended by what was clearly true.
“Now, before we’ll go to bed, there’s a series of announcements required.” Pandora said cheerily. “Announcement one:”
“Dorcas and I got married last month. “
“Wait!” “What?” “You didn’t invite us!” “Congrats” came the various responses.
Dorcas and Marlene looked at each other sheepishly. “It was a spur of the moment thing while we were in Italy. Don’t worry, there will be a party after the team tryouts later this month. Everyone’s invited. “
“A toast to the newly weds.” James said and raised his glass, one hand lightly stroking the cat.
“Announcement two:” Marlene said
“Lily’s agreed to be my wife.” Pandora glowed as she held Lily’s hand.
“Wohooo” James yelled, leaping up and spilling the cat as he threw himself on the girls. “That’s the best news ever.” He declared, peeling himself off and sitting again. “Oops sorry Reg.” He added, picking up the cat who turned its back on him disdainfully and lightly scratched his arm. .
There was more cheering and laughing as the rest congratulated the two couples. James was happy. His friends were happy. Regulus had come to visit.
“Meow.” Said the cat.
“I agree.” Said James and kissed the top of its head.
“Oh Merlin. Now he’s flirting with the damned cat.” Sirius laughed. “It’s definitely time for bed when that happens. We shall resume the festivities in the afternoon.” He said, attempting, and failing to stand up.
“Bed it is.” Remus chuckled. “Why am I always carrying you to bed. You never carry me?”
“Cos you love me. And you're a big strong furry and I’m a delicate flower.” Sirius said, staring lovingly up at Remus and trying to flutter his eyelashes.
“Two of those statements are correct.” Remus agreed, and laughing they headed into the house.
Marlene and Dorcas followed a moment later, as did Tara and a very sleepy Willow.
Pandora leant down and kissed the cat. “Thanks for being here.” She whispered, before heading into the house hand in hand with Lily, leaving Janes to contemplate the fire.
“Would you like to stay for what’s left of the night?” James asked a few minutes later. The car purred. “Come on then handsome. We’ll tidy up the mess in the morning.”
James carried the handsome cat through the house to his room. “Welcome to my humble abode.” He said with a flourish as they walked in.
Regulus took in the well appointed room with a large picture window, window seat, and generous bed looking out over the back garden. Soft light came from the magic candle stubs on the desk and beside tables.
“What do you think?” James asked, unexpectedly shy.
“I think you’re overdressed.” Regulus growled as he morphed back into human form. James gasped as Regulus vanished their clothes, pushed him back against the door, and dropped to his knees to take the now fully erect dick in his mouth.
James grasped the black hair and Regulus swallowed him all at once. “No foreplay?” He groaned as the mouth around his dick became more insistent. “Oh. Fuck. Reg.”
Regulus raised his head just before James exploded. “That was foreplay.” He said smugly, rising smoothly to his feet as James struggled to get himself back under control.
“You …. You … You…. “ James stuttered, passion burning in his eyes. He lunged at Regulus who skipped backwards towards the bed. James tripped and together they tumbled onto the bed laughing.
——-
“Hey Good Looking.” James smiled when Regulus awoke the next day, wrapped contentedly in the muscular brown arms.
“Morning Sunshine.” Regulus returned with a smile of his own. “Assuming it is still morning.” Outside the sun was well above the horizon. He could hear kids playing somewhere not too far away.
James glanced out the window. “Technically. Yes, still morning.”
They lay there quietly for a while, neither wanting to break the comfortable silence. Regukus traced random patterns through the smattering of curls on the chest under his cheek. James played with the silky waves of black hair that brushed Regulus’s shoulders.
“We would have beautiful children.” James murmured absently.
“Hmm”
“Twins. A boy and a girl.”
“What would we call them?”
“Little Jamie and Reg.”
“Boring.”
“What would you suggest?”
“Heloise and Leo.”
James thought for a moment. “I like those. Where’s Heloise from?”
“Helios. The titan who steers the sun across the heavens. His sister is the moon goddess Selene.”
“I thought it was Apollo and Artemis?”
“No. Zeus gave the sun to Apollo who rejected it after one of his offspring drove the chariot and then fell to his death. Artemis, jealous that Apollo had a celestial being, begged her father for the moon. The original gods were Helios and Selene. They often get forgotten.”
“Helios! That’s what you call me.” James exclaimed a moment later. “You think I’m the sun god?”
Regulus raised himself up to look at James. Smiling at the wonder on his face. “You call me Kitten. Turns out I am one.”
“I called you kitten because ‘heart of the lion’ was too long an endearment.” James said, frowning slightly. “Merlin.” He breathed. “You're the little black cat I met years ago in the forbidden forest. You scampered as soon as Moony and Padfoot arrived.”
Regulus kissed the perfect nose. “Yes. You gave me a reason to escape the castle. I wanted to say thank you.”
“You used to follow along sometimes but never said hello again.” James still felt sad about that. “I liked that little cat. He was gentle.”
“And now he’s here. With you.” Regulus said, dropping down to kiss the broad chest. “All grown up and possibly less gentle.” He worried a niplle with his teeth and scraped his fingernails across the flat stomach.
James groaned. “Entirely possible. Stags aren’t known to be entirely gentle either.” He grinned and heaved Regulus onto his back. “Now I believe you demonstrated an interesting form of foreplay when we came upstairs this morning.”
Regulus chuckled, which quickly became a moan of pleasure as James ran his tongue down the slim white chest, across the concave stomach until he reached what he was hoping for, and swallowed the perfect dick in his mouth.