I want you to know
I don't need anything fancy
I just need me and you slow dancing
Regulus POV
Regulus has never had a good track record with parents.
Exhibit 1, his own parents (if they can even be called that) with other examples including, Pandora and Evan’ parents who he gave a heart attack when he came out on the day of his and Pandora’s engagement,(their father is now on blood pressure medication) and lastly Barty’s father, someone Regulus hates with equal passion as he hates Regulus for corrupting Barty with his ‘deviant ways’, and eventually disowned Barty after walking in on Barty and Regulus.
So no,Regulus has not had a good track record with parents in the past, one nearly killed him, one that he nearly killed, and one that nearly killed his own son because of Regulus.
His nervousness is 100% valid, and that is why Regulus is freaking out over meeting James’ parents for the time ever, in a week.
And the worst part is that James can not be here with him right now, he is currently at a family functions (some distant relatives daughter’s son’s cousin’s wedding) with his parents, and it's not like Regulus can not call him, he does that, every single day, but he can not call James panicking about meeting his parents while he is with his parents. That idiot would probably either postpone the meeting, or fly straight back to Regulus just to give him a hug, (something Regulus is having withdrawals of honestly, because how could he not? It's James! His hugs are probably the cure to every ailment, scientists must study his hugs because there is just something so magical about them, something that makes you feel that these hugs are the answer to every question in the universe, the solution to all problems, the because to every question why.)
But Regulus is learning not to be selfish so doesnt message James about his worries and masks his anxiety in a blanket of excitement for James. Because while he is nervous, he is so excited too, he is going to meet James' parents.
The people who created an actual ball of sunshine, the people who raised the sun and a star.
And there he goes feeling nervous again, because not only these people raised James, his boyfriend, they raised Sirius too, his brother, and Regulus is a jumble of emotions at the prospect of meeting them.
So here he is, at 1 am, laptop perched atop his comforter on his legs, a little notebook open next to it, and a pencil fidgeting in his hand as he browses the internet.
He gives out a sigh as looks over at tabs opened on his chrome, ‘10 tips to make good first impression meeting your partner's Indian parents’, ‘pro tips to keep in mind while meeting your partner’s parents for the first time’, and many more quora sites, after almost an hour of searching, reading and browsing on all sorts of sites, Regulus has prepared a list of things he has to do,
- Bring a Thoughtful gift
-Box of sweets (??)
2. Arrive punctually
3. Modest Clothing
- traditional attire (kurta-pyjama?)
4. Learn About Their Interests Before You Meet
-ask your partner what his/her parents are interested in so that you can do a little research into their interests
5. Be Yourself
6. Keep PDA limited
Regulus felt at a sense of ease having completed his list, and decided he would cross of 2/6 tomorrow and promptly ignore point 5, because what kind of garbage advice is ‘be yourself’ Regulus has to win over James parents not send them up running for the hills, tsk, be yourself.
“Regulus calm down, I'll be there with you, you know that?”
“Shut Up James and answer the question alright?”
“Only when you sit down on the couch, have a glass of water and relax.”
“I cant fucking relax, oh my gods James what do i-”
“Baby sit down.”
And like a sailor listening to a siren, mind shut, following the voice, Regulus crumbles down, listening to James call him baby, it's no less mesmerizing that a siren calling their victims ashore, but Regulus is a fool and his mind has shut down turned into a mess of a puddle of feelings and sappy shit, ugh, he hates James (he loves him and wants to hug him and kiss him for eternity)
“Good, now about mum’s favourite sweet, she really likes Malpua and dad……”
With that James continues to talk about his parents interest, their favourite movie and food as Regulus takes notes side by side.
It’s an hour before Regulus finally stops asking questions as James gives him a smile
“So now that you know everything about my parents, would you like to know about their son too?”
Trying to hide a smile, Regulus levels James with an unimpressed look, “No thank you, I'm good.”
But undeterred James continues,
“Now to start with my favourites, I'll say, my favourite colour is this peculiar shade of grey, which is a bit darker shade of grey with blue undertones, called pewter, I'm not really sure when i started liking the colour, but taking wild guess, I think this is the colour of a certain someone’s eyes i wish to wake up to every morning, but i can't really recall who,” with mock confusion James continues
“You can just call Sirius if you want to wake up to him every morning with him, I'm sure he won't mind.” Regulus retorts while trying so hard to stop his smile.
Letting out a chuckle James continues
“and my favourite place, it's the arms of a certain someone, a totally random certain someone obviously, and my favourite fruit would be cherries because again, funnily enough it is the colour of a certain someone’s lip balm, and i happen to be quite addicted to those certain someone’s lip.”
Regulus can not control his smile anymore, and with an ever growing blush on his face he covers his face with the palm of his attempts and lets out a weak “James”
“And my favourite animal is a black cat, i know Sirius would kill me for saying this but what he doesn't know wont hurt him right, because when the certain someone cuddles up in my lap and purrs, I am reminded of Pandora’s black cat, Nemo, and my favourite time of the day would be the time when i get to meet my love and kiss all over his pretty face and my-”
“Okay okay i get it, James stop,” Regulus says after finally leaving the pretense of hiding his smile and gives James a wide and honest grin.
“Ah! there you are, love. See no need to be nervous alright? I'll be there with you, right next to you the entire time okay? Mum and dad will love you even if you turn up in a night suit. Do you want to know a secret?”
“What?’
“Mum is equally as nervous as you to meet you. Don't get me wrong, she is very excited ,but trust me when i say this, she is just as nervous wreck as you. She has already got her favourite saree dry cleaned and pressed and whatnot,and for the past week, she has been constantly asking me about you,what you like, what is your favourite food, allergies and what not. I mean not that I don't love talking about you, it's just funny how you both are floating on the same boat.”
Something warm and content flutters in his stomach and then settles with a content purr at the thought of James’ mum too being nervous and excited to meet him. James 'secret did help Regulus’s nerves to settle,god this man knew everything didn't he could he be more perfect?
“See it now? Now you must go and relax and not a word about meeting my parents alright? Boyfriend's orders!”
With a chuckle and goodbyes Regulus gets to hang up the phone when Regulus immediately shouts
“Also I would definitely be telling Sirius about the cat thing.”
And Regulus hangs up the phone at James' terrified face and with a sigh falls back down on the sofa. A plan on his mind and smile on his face.
“Regulus it has been two hours and we’ve still not reached the shop” Barty groans from the backseat of Regulus' car.
Checking the map again, Regulus lets out a sigh, “Just Five more minutes Barty.”
“You said that 15 minutes ago.” Barty whines like a fucking toddler.
“Oi, stop harassing Regulus, T, he is finally in love, so let him act like an idiot in love.”
“While I am all for Regulus making a fool of himself in love, I don't want to sit in the car for 2 hours because of it.”
“Rosier, you are on think fucking ice.” Sending a glare Evan’s way, Regulus continues driving as Evan just chuckles in response and continues to mutter sweet nothings to Barty to stop his whining.
After five minutes, Regulus sees the board for the sweet shop James loves, ‘Brijwasi from Mathura’. Regulus has never tried a single food item from her, or heard about it, but James seems to like this shop, and for him, Regulus would get the moon if asked, a mere sweet seems tame in the comparison.
After half an hour horribly mispronouncing sweet names, waiting in the long queue, the trio finally collect their bag consisting of 4 different sweets, Regulus has no clue about.
“Regulus, after driving us for 3 hours, the least you could do is offer to buy us an early dinner?”
In the hyperfixation to buy James’ sweets, Regulus completely ignored the delicious aroma of various indian delicacies around him, and realised he was hungry too. Giving the other two a sheepish smile, he motioned them to sit at a table nearby.
Knowing enough about Indian food, Regulus ordered 2 chole bhature and 1 pav bhaji.
Half way through the food, Evan and Regulus were fighting for their lives at the spice level. Thought Regulus was better at hiding it, while evan was chugging down water like his life dependent on him all the while saying in between his breaths, “So….. fucking…. Good…. But…. so ….fucking… spicy… OH my god Barty how are you okay?” Barty just chuckles in response as he adds the green chillies given on the side, over his bhaji. Cursing the Spaniard, Regulus takes another gulp of water.
The waiter seems to take pity on the duo,as he suggests they order Lassi, for the spice, which they do and to Regulus, it is currently equal to ambrosia.
The drive back is filled with Barty complimenting the food and teasing Regulus and Evan on their lack of spice tolerance, but hey! Regulus Had at least managed to tick off another point of his list.
[17:57] <Three Pictures Attached>
[17:57] So, what do you think? Which one?
[17:58] REGULUS WHAT
[17:58] What? Choose.
[17:58] Excuse me for a mo
[18:03] Yes, Done screaming. You're telling me you will be wearing a kurta?!
[18:05] Why? Should I not….?
[18:07] ABSOLUTELY YES YOU SHOULD. Also shouldn't you be giving me a picture of you already wearing the kurta, You know for better reference.
[18:07] No.
[18:09] Killing me here love. Also, the black one 🙂
[18:10] Wasn't that hard,now was it? Bye now.
[18:10] waaaait!
[18:10] what?
[18:11] I love you <3
[18:12] idiot (ily <3)
[18:12] 🙂 🩷
“Okay,so James says the black kurta.”
“Told you.” Sirius exclaims from where he is standing,taking out different jeans and slacks from his closet. “This one.” Sirius exclaims after 10 minutes of rummaging through Regulus's clothes and holds up a pair of skin tight black jeans.
“Are you sure,this will go with the kurta? Shouldn't I wear the pyjamas that came with the set” Regulus asks unsure, holding up the jeans and looking at it.
“Yeah.You are just going for a family dinner so something casual works.If you wear the kurta pyjama it would be a proper traditional outfit and probably too much for meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time. Better play safe and go with jeans.”
Trusting his brother's advice, Regulus changes into the kurta and jeans. And Sirius starts working on his hair.
See,Regulus and Sirius fight, a lot, but if there's one thing the two trust each other with, is their hair,both brothers know how precious their hair is to each other, and always treat it as such, this is why Regulus has trusted Sirius to do his hair for tonight, which is nothing much, it's just styling and volumizing his curls and giving them shape and setting them so it looks like they are naturally set (but in truth took 20 minutes).
After hair, Pandora helps him decide which rings to wear and the two finally settle on one single necklace, having a small star charm (that he stole from James once), all the while chattering with Remus who sits diligently in one corner.
“And if you feel the food is too spicy, don't drink too much water, it won't help you, just make your stomach full-er, instead take a bigger portion of your naan or roti oo rice, whichever thing Ephie has made,and eat it without any gravy, just plain naan in one bite and then take a sip of water,it'll help.That's what I do anyways,when Ephie makes a bomb chicken korma, which is too spicy.”
Remus gives his advice on eating too spicy food,and Regulus mentally writes it down, thinking it necessary after the chole bhature incident.
“And Honestly Regulus don't sweat it.Ephie and Monty are like the best people to ever exist, so you have like 0 reasons to be nervous. Ephie is literally so excited to meet you like, when i talked to her the day before, she went on and on about all that she's making for you, cutu she is.” Sirius says, momentarily showing his elder brother side.as he gives a soft smile to Regulus and then immediately crawls in Remus’ lap to play with his hand.
20 minutes later, Regulus takes the bag of sweets,and with a hug from Pandora and a smile from Remus and Sirius, Regulus gets in the taxi.
Nervously, Regulus rings the doorbell, and the person opening the door takes away his breath. And no it's not James, but his father. And god dammit , Regulus can not stop his train of thought from thinking that James’ genes are in fine hands and that he is going to age better than fine wine.
“Oh hello, Regulus!”
“Hi Mr. Potter.”
“Oh none of that nonsense, Monty is fine.” Opening the door wider Monty gestures to com inside, which he does, and as Monty turns around to close the door, Regulus is startled by another voice,
“Regulus! Oh! Hi! Can I hug you.” surprised by the affection and love in the elder’s voice, Regulus just nods silently and as she hugs Regulus,he feels that she truly is the person who created James, for her hugs too seem to love something magical, must be something in the Potter blood.
His inner child probably just healed all together, after receiving that hug from a maternal figure, and not just anyone, but his brother and boyfriends mother.
7 year old Regulus is probably crying somewhere, as a 25 year old Regulus is also next to him, crying while hugging that 7 year old.
They keep hugging for 2 minutes, but Regulus doesn't break away from the hug, because he feels like Euphemia might need it with the way she is hugging with no signs of letting go.
So Regulus too continues hugging her, with as much love he can transfer in the hug. He even softly pats her back a few times for extra measure.
The gesture makes Monty laugh as he says. “ Regulus, you know the Disney rule about hugs? Ephie follows that religiously, and she never lets go of a hug, so if you'd like to eat the food your boyfriend and I made, I'd suggest you let go sometimes soon." Monty says from the side, a wide smile present on his face.
Embarrassed Regulus lets go of Euphemia as he mutters with blushing cheeks, ““sorry, didn't know that, i just thought you needed the hug so i didn't let go. Sore.”
“Oh mera bacha, I love you so much.” Ephie laughs as she steps away from Regulus and calls out to James, “James! I'll say we keep this one.”
James just laughs in response as the sound of footsteps approaches the trio.
And Regulus mouth betrays him, fucking brutus, and involuntary twitches into a smile at the sound of James slaughter. A sound, Regulus would record and play it on a walkman 24/7.
James' arrival is announced by a loud thud and it's the second time this evening that Regulus’ breath gets taken away, this time, it's by his Potter.
James POV
James has a wild imagination. Since he was quite young, he used to make up scenarios in his mind to sleep, all the scenarios were always wild and did not lack imagination. He had similarly imagined Regulus in a kurta since Regulus sent him the photo of kurta, (disappointingly without a Regulus in it but oh well).
James imagined a lot, but whatever he did, it was nothing, absolutely nothing compared to Regulus there standing at his doorstep next to his parents, in a black kurta, with sleeves rolled up.
Now being a film and book nerd, James has seen pretty creative ways of people dying in movies, he even has a few favourites, and to think that James thought that he would go out as superhero saving the world from eternal doom or something, but no, his death was written by the hands of Regulus black
One look at him, and James brain stopped working, his heart started beating very loudly, so loud and so fast, as if it was coming out of his body and going towards Regulus, in his palms, for it was his forever now anyways, his nerve ending joined together to move to the beat of every love song known in this planet,
He thinks it's a nice way to go, no?
‘James Potter, Death by one look at Regulus black, an idiot and a fool in love, may he now eternally dream of one Regulus black, amen.’
A nice way to go indeed.
It takes James 3 whole minutes to collect himself, in which his mum and dad chuckle at him and Regulus stares back at James with a mirroring expression of awe and love.
Regaining his senses, the only thing James does, is put a hand over his heart, as he pretends he has been shot in the heart and a dramaticized “haye” escapes his lips.
Regulus, having heard the similar expression on numerous occasions, blushes a pretty pink. (James thinks that it is his second favourite colour and mentally sets a reminder to add that in the ‘<3’ folder on his notes app.)
After 2 more minutes of Regulus blushing, James acting like an lovesick idiot, James thinks he should introduce his boyfriend, even though they all already hugged and all but it's probably the right thing to do right?
So his brain still short circuited from looking at Regulus too long, he says, “Regulus, this is my mum and dad, mum and dad this is my Regulus.” He says the ‘my’ by accident,(he thinks it fits) His parents chuckle at this display of the two as Regulus once again blushes a pretty pink colour.
“Sorry, i meant-” but Regulus cuts him off with a mischievous smile and says,
“Hi Mr- Sorry, Ephie and Monty, I am James’ Regulus.” his parents then burst into laughter as Regulus joins in at the expense of James, (he doesn't mind it one bit. He doesn't care, it's his three most favourite people in the world. If it means keeping them happy, he will be the butt of all their jokes.)
His parents go to check on the food, as James goes towards Regulus, still in the entry way the two just look at each other
“Hi,” James says, hugging Regulus.
“Hi” Regulus replies hiding his smile in James shoulder, after a while the two break apart, as James immediately starts peppering Regulus face with kisses,
“You Regulus black”
Kiss on the left cheek
“Are the most”
Kiss on the right cheek
“Angelic”
Kiss On the tip of his nose
“Heavenly”
Kiss on his right eye
“Exquisite”
Kiss on his left eye
“Gorgeous”
Kiss on his forehead
“Beautiful”
Kiss on the corner of his ips
“Lovely”
Kiss on his lips
“-Person I have ever met. You have no idea how much I love you in this kurta, like think you killed me 2-3 times just now,when you smiled at me.”
Still in James arms, Regulus gives another laugh , “there! you killed me again, jesus reg at least give me time to respawn, love.”
Regulus chuckles again and quickly looks over James shoulder to see that his parents aren't there as he gives James’ eyes, mouth, and cheek a kiss too, marvelling at the boy in front of him “Well it is a mutually assured destruction, let me tell you Mr Potter, because you in a red kurta might have killed a couple of times too.”
“Oooh! What a deadly couple we make, Mr. Black” James gives Regulus one last kiss as the two enter the dining room with a smile on lips and hands interlocked.
“Glad you two decided to join us” Monty teases as Regulus blushes yet again and Ephie swats a cloth at him
“Now James beta, set the table as your father checks on the food, while me and Regulus will sit here and look pretty.” his mum says taking Regulus's freehand and sitting with him on one of the high chairs set at the island counter.
“Oh you do that darling.” His father gives his mother a quick kiss on her cheek as he switches off the gas and starts resenting the dishes.
James does what his mother instructed him to, and sets the table, but he can not help himself and look at Regulus the entire time while he does so,
setting the table mats,
A glance at Regulus laughing with his mum-
Setting down the crockery,
A glance at his mum laughing at something the other said-
Getting the dishes from the kitchen,
A glance at Regulus passionately explaining something (probably the latest book he read)-
Setting down the silverware,
A glance at Regulus, this time locking eyes with Regulus, who smiles then blushes then looks away.
James does the same
His dad calling over his mum and Regulus as he glances one last time at Regulus before taking out his chair for him to sit down, ( he takes a look at side and sees his dad doing the same for his mum)
The conversation flows easily, as the two couples sit around the table, jumping from one story to another, listening to each other, laughing together.
And looking at Regulus laughing with his mum and dad, James thinks,
Marry me, let's spend are nights laughing around the dinner table, our attention more on the stories spilling out of our mouths than the food in our hands,
Looking at Regulus try to tear of a piece of roti with two hands, as James shows him how to make a bite properly and then brings it up to Regulus’ mouth to feed him, as Regulus stares back at him and chews the bite, James thinks,
Marry me, lets forever have dinner together, i'll feed you the food bite by bite as you tell me about your day
Looking at Regulus talk about his favourite movie, James think,
Marry me, we’ll watch your favourite film every night and then fall asleep on the couch by the fireplace in each others arms
Looking at Regulus, talk about Barty and his friends, and James thinks,
Marry me, lets host dinner parties for our friends every weekend, spending times with the family we made on our own
Looking at Regulus compliment Ephie on the lata mangeshkar song playing in the background, James thinks,
Marry me, we’ll slow dance every night in the kitchen in the refrigerator light,
Looking at Regulus and seeing him look back at James with a smile on his face, James thinks,
Marry me, but he only mouths out an ‘I love you’ to Regulus, which is replied with a barely noticeable, ‘Love you too’ Regulus mouths back
17 year old James had tried the sweets by ‘Brijwasi from Mathura’ for the first time, his heart has cried in joy and had exclaimed “I will marry the person who drives for 4 hours to get me these,”
27 year old James when opening the bag Regulus got as a gift and saw the sweets from his favourite sweet shop, remembers his proclamation and smiling just looks at Regulus and thinks,
Marry me, i will love you forever,
Marry me marry me marry me
And when 2 years later, Regulus gets down on one knee and asks James the same question, “Marry me?”
James only kisses him in response.
Heaven's here, it's right where you're standing
Slow dancing
With you
(Slow Dancing by Aly & AJ)