Dreams and thoughts
Regulus did not return home till nearly dawn, his parents had allowed him to leave a few hours earlier. His mother was over the moon at his performance. He had met almost everyone she said he would meet. It had been a long night and he did not think that he would get much sleep. not when he had fencing classes so early the next morning. As soon as the sun rose, so did Regulus.
His parents of course were not awake but they had arranged a carriage to take him to his lessons. He wished that he could have skipped them and slept in, but he knew the consequences of that. Sirius had tried to once before. It was not a good night for either of them once their parents found out. Regulus didn't know why his parents decided to punish him too. maybe to make sure that he wasn't getting any "Funny Ideas" from his brother.
Resting his head against the back of the carriage he closed his eyes and reflected on the night before. He knew from his parents' reactions that Lucius would be their choice of a suitor for him. While he was way older than him, more so than comfortable for Regulus. There was always a hope that he would die young from a heart attack, illness. or push down the stairs. There were many others as well, Caroline Abbot, who he did not think would have any interest in marrying him either. though her family would most definitely push her to say yes if he made any advancements.
Soon enough the Carriage came to a stop. He got out and thanked the footman, walking into the building and getting changed into his gear.
Regulus had always enjoyed his lessons. It was one of the few things his parents paid attention to. While only because he was so successful at them. he excelled in everything he'd like to say. French, Rugby, and other things he set his mind to. Just to make them proud.
Most of Regulus's lessons were private but recently because he was now out in society his teacher had asked him to step in on a few of his other classes to show his students what a real fine swordsman was.
and while Regulus would never be the cocky type it was a boost to the ego, but it was normal he was a black. Blacks always were top of their class. no exceptions even with Sirius.
His teacher greeted him and told him he'd mostly just be sparring to show the other young men that they still had a long way to go if they wanted to be great. the young man put his mask on, and grabbed his rapier out of his bag. not paying much attention he walked over to the sparing area to wait for his opponent.
The man approached him, he was tall, his mask was on so Regulus did not get to see much of his face. He drew his sword to him. and the match began.
"I hope you won't be too disappointed when you lose," the man said.
Regulus scoffed. "I never lose. now stop stalling and draw your sword." he ordered.
"We will see about that," the other said, drawing his sword.
The man was quite fast, he had to admit. He could hear his breathing, loud, and heavy. and was easily able to dodge him. The match was over within a few moments and Regulus was the victor. his sword pushing hard into the padding on the others gear. The man dropped his sword and tore off his mask, "that was brilliant, you've got to be the best combiant i've ever faced" he said.
Regulus could finally get a good look at him. He had a sharp jawline, glasses that were circular. they sat almost crooked on the bridge of his nose because of how he ripped off his helmet. Regulus took off on his own, "it is a requirement in my family" he said.
"you're Sirius's brother," he said.
"My name is Regulus." he rolled his eyes.
"you're as moody as he said you were," the man said, stepping closer to Regulus.
The black boy glared at him, "what the hell do you mean? How do you know my brother. i wouldnt think you would unless you're one of his common friends." Regulus asked him.
"My name is James Potter, the Viscount. Your brother's best friend.
"oh," was all that Regulus said. He had heard his parents talk about the Viscount's son a lot. He was known for being quite the troublemaker and a poor influence.
"I don't know why, but I was expecting you to be a bit more polite than this" James said, his black hair being moved out of his face by his hand. Regulus just stared for a second, he didn't understand why he was still talking to him. Most people he had found walked away after knowing it was him. Especially if they were not high purebloods like the Abbot's, Black's, Malfoy's, Lovegood's, and a few others. while the potters were Pureblood not to his family's requirements.
He remembered his mother talking about him, saying he was a fine acquaintance, and he should share a dance or two with him to be polite. but he could never consider him for marriage. especially after him becoming close with his brother.
Though Sirius was right about one thing when it came to James. he was handsome.
"I've never been polite, you can ask your friend. Only for suitors and my parents' friends am I ever "nice" “Regulus told him.
"and you feel like you need to be this fake with everyone with your personal life but not strangers? you can be yourself with them but not your own family that must be quite a lonely life." James said. his green eyes staring into what Regulus could only describe as the pits of his soul.
"you'd shut your mouth if you know what's good for you" Regulus barked.
James chuckled, his laugh was thick and deep. it sounded homey to Regulus, like sitting by a nice fire with a book you'd enjoy, not worrying about the task of tomorrow. " Why? or else you'll show me a proper way to use it?" The black haired man asked him, eyes flashing down to the center of his legs and back down to his eyes. " Well, I think I'd quite like to see that. but no i think i get why you're not so nice. it's because god knew your face would've been just too pretty on its own. that you'd have to have a mouth on you for a man to..." he trailed off.
" I can't say anymore, you are a black, and only on your first season out. I am a gentleman afterall. Good day Reggie. I hope to see you soon" The man told him before he turned around, picked up his sword and walked away.
Regulus did not even say a single word. He didn't know what to say. The whole situation had left him quite stunned. He stood there, trying to comprehend what had happened. His eyes trailed the man as he left. He was handsome, and had a nice arse.
James was the only one not looking back.
That night as Regulus laid in his bed, his brother's friend was the only thing on his mind.
His day clothes are long gone, replaced by some light sleeping pajamas. The conversation that he had with James playing time and time again through his head. The man was overly flirty in such an unsubtle way. Nothing like a man his age should behave like.
Regulus was quickly pulled from his thoughts as he heard a loud sound come from downstairs. It was muffled. So he couldn’t quite be certain if it was yelling, or something large being broken or thrown. He didn’t even feel himself breathe as he quickly stood up and pressed his head against the door. Positioning it to hover over the crack to hear better.
No other sound came after, not for a minute anyways. Regulus finally took a breath before he heard footsteps making their way up the stairs. They were so fast that he couldn’t decipher if they were his mother, brother or fathers. So he backed away from the book quickly.
It opened before he could sit back on his bed and grab something to make it seem like he wasn’t listening and hadn’t even noticed at all, his heart pounded in his ears.
Until he saw Sirius.
His long hair hung in his face but it didn’t hide the bright red patch on his cheek. Obviously fresh and most likely bruise and somehow morph into the black eye. It looked bad, but not as bad as Regulus had seen it before.
“It’s fine, Reg, she’s already stormed off her room” Sirius told him.
Regulus quickly pulled himself together, “what did you do this time?” He asked.
Sirius shook his head obviously not wanting to talk about it so he ignored it. He sat down on his brother's bed and Regulus sat down next to him. They did this many nights after Sirius or him were disciplined by their mother or father. Sometimes they talked about it, as they grew older most of the time they didn’t. It just became a silent fact of life they never spoke of.
“ I haven’t talked to you yet. How was your first night out? I saw our parents trying to force you around Malfoy all night, how did you ever get away from him?” His older brother asked him.
“I think they want me to marry him” Regulus admitted.
Sirius looked at hm, arched brow, confused, “they cannot be serious, he’s 24 you’re 17, they are horrible but still they would never allow their child to be married to a pervert” he said.
Regulus started at the ceiling laying back against his bed’ “I do not think that they care about perverts, as long as they’re pure blood I could marry a 60 year old” he said.
Sirius ran his hands through his little brother's hair. They always knew that this would happen, one day Regulus would get too old for Sirius to be able to step in. One day they would have to obey their parents wishes, it wasn’t a fairytale. They were stuck with whoever their mother picked out for them.
That day was sooner than Sirius would’ve liked.
“What if we left Reg? Like we always talked about when we were kids.” Sirius proposed.
Regulus tensed, it was just a dream. He knew it was never obtainable. Not for both of them at least. They needed to have one heir or else their parents would go after both of them. Regulus thought that if they both ran away, that they would kill Sirius and drag Regulus back to whatever was worse than this hell.
He knew that he could be content here.
Not happy, never happy, but content.
“We can’t Sirius.” Regulus told him.
Sirius’s hand left his hair, he looked up at his brother. It had always been his dream to leave but Regulus was firm in the fact that this dream like many of his brothers could never come true.
“What if we had another place to go? You wouldn’t want to leave?” Sirius asked him.
“I never said you couldn’t leave Sirius, all I said was that we couldn’t.” Regulus replied.
Sirius’s eyes narrowed, “ we could have a good life away from them Reg” he argued.
“Get out.” Regulus ordered. “I don’t want to talk about this,” he said, getting up off the bed.
Sirius grabbed Regulus, he quickly shoved him off, “don’t touch me. Get out I don’t want to talk about this” regulus snapped at him.
Sirius’s hand started outstretched before he pulled it back and said, "Sorry Regulus”. He then turned around and walked out of the room.
Of course Regulus wanted to leave, he wanted nothing more. But it just wasn’t possible.