Chapter 14
“Reggie!” Sirius’ voice shouts across the cafeteria, earning the attention of many. Oh, Regulus could strangle him.
It had been four days since the Halloween party, which meant yesterday was Sirius’ birthday. Regulus, of course, didn’t get him anything so as to not raise suspicion with his parents. His mother and father had already been tense this time of year, so it’s best not to make it worse. They had already been on edge about letting him leave the house, but he swore up and down that he was just going to Barty’s.
Sirius had been very excited when Regulus said he would be joining them for his birthday festivities. It was him, James, Peter, and Remus, so it’s not like it was anyone he hadn’t spoken to before. He would’ve definitely drawn the line at literally anyone else.
They had spent the evening walking around downtown, going to numerous shops and stopping to get both dinner and ice cream. During these few hours, Regulus learned that Peter was definitely one of the more tolerable of his brother’s friend group. He didn’t talk as much as any of them, and when he did, it was a sly remark or sarcastic joke. That’s something Regulus could definitely get behind. They ended up hanging out together the entire time.
James hadn’t really tried anything, fortunately, but he was forced to drive Regulus home when Sirius declared that he and Remus needed to go back to the Potter’s home immediately. It was a disgustingly awkward drive and neither of them spoke to one another, letting the music on the radio absorb the silence. He had never been so happy to get home.
Now, he was sitting at lunch with Barty, Evan, Remus, Pandora, and–new addition–Lily Evans. Lily fucking Evans. The same girl who had captured James’ attention for so many years while Regulus was forced to watch. There were times he wanted to shake the girl by her shoulders and ask what she was doing, because who would deny James Potter that consistently?
Lily was actually really cool, though, and Regulus found himself laughing at more than one of her spit-fire comments aimed toward Barty or Remus. When asked why she was sitting there, Pandora had cut in and said that it was her who invited the red head. No one asked questions after that, and the new addition began fitting in immediately afterwards. Her and Regulus had exchanged numbers for their shared interest in Chemistry.
“I have something incredibly cool to tell you,” Sirius smiled widely as he approached the table, walking over to Remus like he was a magnet. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend’s chest, planting a kiss on the back of his head. “Hello, Moony.”
“Hi,” Remus looked down to hide his smile. Regulus wrinkles his nose.
“Get on with it before I lose my lunch,” Regulus huffed out, putting his croissant back into the plastic container it came in.
“Don’t be dramatic,” Sirius waves a hand and rolls his eyes, a playful smile on his face. “Okay, so do you remember Uncle Alphard?”
Regulus blinks, because how could he not remember Uncle Alphard? He was their favorite uncle, because Cygnus was a right prick, and he always gave them a break from their parents’ harsh behaviors. Regulus cried the night he had passed, and that was the first, and only, time he had cried over a family member passing. “Of course I do, Sirius.”
“Well, turns out he really liked me, because I checked my bank account this morning and I was bloody rich!” Sirius exclaimed, his eyes wide alongside his grin. Regulus just raised an eyebrow at him, confused.
“Please explain further,” Regulus picked his croissant up again and took a bite, staring up at his brother expectantly.
“Well, I called and asked where this money had come from–let me show you the amount, Reggie–and they said a relative named Alphard Black had left it for me in his will,” Sirius walked over, phone in hand, tapping a few things as he spoke. Regulus choked on his food when he saw the amount, because it really was quite a lot. “Isn’t this insane?”
“Very lucky, yeah,” Regulus nods after recovering.
“Oh, you’ll be able to afford a better flat, won’t you, Sirius?” Lily joined in, right grin on her face as Pandora braided her red locks. “I know you were looking for one.”
“I could probably buy London, Lils,” Sirius says, moving his hands to his full wingspan as if to show how big London was. “Yes, it will come in handy, and that means we’ll have a better place for parties! I could buy a two-bedroom and have Prongs stay there, too!”
Remus snorts, shaking his head. “I don’t think you could force James away from his parents before he leaves for university. He’s already cried about leaving them and he still has ten months.”
“Well, then, for me and whoever decides to stay with me,” Sirius’ voice is suddenly tight, and he looks a bit on edge as he glances Regulus’ way. Oh, absolutely not.
“What are you lot talking about over here?” James stands next to Sirius, and Regulus can’t see him because he’s directly behind him. He makes the terrible decision to look up, making accidental eye contact with the boy in question.
“The fact that I’ll never have to lift a finger for the rest of my life thanks to my favorite uncle,” Sirius points up at the sky in thanks, earning a small laugh from the group. “Why couldn’t Cygnus be the first one to pass?”
“Or, better yet, Walburga?” James mumbles and Regulus can’t help but let out a laugh at his words. This earns him a lop-sided grin from the man behind–above?–him. He can hear Barty and Evan snicker, but chooses to ignore it.
The day after the Halloween party, Remus had taken Regulus back to Evan’s house so as to not raise suspicion from his mother when he eventually pulled up in the Rosier family car–driven by a chauffeur, of course. During his time with his friends, and while Barty was giving Remus a tattoo, he had told them about his activities front the previous night. It was a miracle the tattoo wasn’t messed up.
“Have you already started looking at flats?” Pandora asked, not diverting her attention from Lily’s hair, but clearly still present in the conversation.
“Yeah, I actually have a few tours this weekend. They’re nothing particularly fancy, but they’re definitely comfortable,” Sirius explains, moving back over to Remus.
This conversation was making Regulus inexplicably uncomfortable, and it was definitely starting to show, because a warm hand had started to run through his hair soothingly. He looked up, taken off-guard by the show of affection, and was met with a sad smile. Oh, so James knew the reason he didn’t like talking about this. Great.
“Where’s Peter? He and I are supposed to go to the library and play chess,” Regulus asks, looking forward again. He chose to ignore the heavy beating in his chest.
“Oh, Pete got sick and left early,” Sirius answers, a small frown painted on his lips. Regulus copies his expression, because he was actually looking forward to that chess match. Peter seemed smart enough to be a good opponent, and he was unbeaten, according to James and Sirius.
“You two look comfortable,” Barty blurts, hissing in pain when Regulus kicks his shin under the table. The hand in his hair stops, and oh, that is very annoying. “What? I’m just making an observation! I mean, Potter looks like he was ambushed by an army of leeches!”
“I told you not to bring attention to it,” Evan elbows him on the side, earning a glare in return. “You’ve gone and ruined it now. Look how upset Regulus is.”
“I will kill both of you and hide pieces of your bodies all throughout London,” Regulus says through gritted teeth, his glare sharp. Barty just smirks.
“Don’t threaten me with a good ti–ow!”
—
The week passes by much quicker than Regulus expects. He lets out a large sigh of relief when James tells him in writing club that Sirius will not be having a birthday party this weekend. It’s not that he doesn’t want to celebrate even more with his brother, but more that his social battery is just completely drained. Also, the thought of being at a party with James is sort of an intimidating thing now.
Instead, he finds himself sprawled across his bed, scrolling through his phone on Saturday night. His parents are out at a banquet that children were not welcome at, much to his relief. There was nothing he hated more than watching Narcissa be miserable with her husband and worn like a fucking trophy. He also really hated the idea of being forced into a stuffy tux and talking to people who only wish to do business with him in the far future. Bunch of pricks, they are.
He wasn’t bored, exactly, but he was the closest thing to it. He had finished re-reading Little Women for what seemed like the hundredth time; he had completed his story for writing club; he had even taken to practicing the piano. Nothing was entertaining him. It had been so long since he had spent a weekend without friends, so it was weird having absolutely no one to talk to.
He had thought about calling Sirius, wanting to ask how his apartment hunting had gone, but he knew where that conversation would end and he wasn’t in the mood to reject his brother’s request for him to leave. Remus was with Sirius. Barty and Evan were spending time together, seeing as Evan’s parents were also out of the house for the same banquet. Regulus was out of options when it came to people he actually knew well enough to hang out with, which meant he was left alone in a silent house with just his thoughts.
Fortunately for him, his mind had been racing constantly for the past week. Less fortunately, it was flooded with thoughts about the last person he wanted to think of.
James Potter had very clearly wanted to talk about what had happened between them at the Halloween party, and every time he asked to, Regulus would respond with “We already did.” It got on his nerves rather fast, and the other boy must have sensed that, because he came to a full stop on Thursday. A part of Regulus wishes he hadn’t, but that’s life, isn’t it?
Really, Regulus hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what happened between them, and he did want to talk about it. Just not with James. Never with James. James would continue with the crazy talk of them being together, and that’s how Regulus knows he doesn’t get it. His parents are loving, accepting, kind–everything Regulus’ parents are not. Sirius is the only one that gets it, and even that’s to an extent.
A small knock on his window completely derails his train of thought and he sits up straight, gaze snapping over to see who would be crazy enough to come over this late and knock on his window. Sure, his parents were out, but not everyone knew that. When his gaze shifts, the person standing–or hanging–there gives a small wave, and Regulus just rolls his eyes.
Slowly, he walks over to his window, sliding it open and letting the super-hero in.
“Regulus Black,” Spider-Man bows, his gaze staying fixed with Regulus’ own. “To what do I owe this honor?”
“You are quite literally in my bedroom,” Regulus crosses his arms, biting the inside of his lip to stifle a grin. “To what do I owe this honor, very famous hero of London?”
“Oh, stop, you’ll make me blush,” Spider-Man stands up sturdily again, resting his hands on his hips. That stance is very…
“What are you doing here?” Regulus asks, moving to sit back on his bed. He scowls and makes an offended motion when the masked hero goes to do the same. “Don’t sit on my bed with your nasty suit! You’ll give me acne all over my body.”
Spider-Man lets out a small huff, eyes crinkling the slightest before he turns and sits on the desk chair instead. “Always a pleasure to see you, Reg.”
Regulus flinches at the nickname, because the way the hero says it sounds so similar to a way he’s been craving for the past week. He swallows past the lump in his throat and rolls his eyes, “Answer my question, Spidey.”
“Spidey?” He laughs out. “That’s new.”
“If you’re going to call me a nickname, I’m going to call you one,” Regulus shrugs, bringing a knee up to his chest in order to rest his chin on it. “Why are you here?”
“I was done patrolling and thought I’d check in on you,” the hero shrugged, a robotic whir sounding from his mask as his eyes crinkled in a happy expression. Regulus lifts an eyebrow, because why the hell would he want to ‘check in’ on him? “Your parents left you at home without any sort of security, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“...Right,” Regulus said, a bit skeptical. “Well, now you know that I’m fine, so you’re free to go.”
“Can we not hang out?” The hero tilts his head, almost seeming to be mocking some sort of hurt. Regulus just rolls his eyes again.
“I was actually planning on inviting someone to come over, and I don’t know if he would appreciate the fact that a random man in a skin-tight suit is flirting with me,” Regulus smirks the slightest. He sees and hears a small eye twitch.
“Oh really? Who would that be?” Spider-Man asked, a small hint of something incredibly familiar in his voice.
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Regulus shrugs, standing up and walking over to his window. “Don’t know if he’d like you at all, though.”
“Who doesn’t like Spider-Man?” The hero sounded like he had just heard the most atrocious thing ever. Regulus holds back a laugh.
“Yeah, because you’re such a humble and likable guy,” Regulus scoffed, leaning against his window sill and letting cool night air brush through his curls.
It’s quiet for a second, and Regulus turns to see the super-hero just staring at him. Why? He doesn’t know. The warmth of the hero’s gaze is making him crave something–someone–very strongly. He wonders if James Potter is busy tonight, and if not, if he would mind spending his time with Regulus. Without thinking much longer about it, he pulls out his phone and texts the contact labeled ‘Idiot 2.’
are you busy?
“You’ve texted him, haven’t you?” Spider-Man asks, and Regulus responds with a small nod. The eyes of the mask widen the slightest. “I’ll just get going, then. I’ll see you soon, Reg.”
“Hopefully not, Spidey,” Regulus scrunches his nose, because the nickname is supposed to sound cheesy, but it’s almost too much. The hero laughs, then quickly makes his way out of the window, shooting a web at a nearby building and swinging off without another word. Not a minute later, he feels his phone buzz in his hand.
my place or yours, luv?
Regulus smiles at the nickname, typing a quick response of: mine. parents won’t be home until tomorrow.