The Rules I'll Break For You
“Good morning!” Barty yelled, roughly pulling Regulus’s curtains open. Regulus groaned, rolling over in his bed.
“Fuck off,” Regulus muttered into the pillow. It was far too early for human interaction.
“Come on, Reg,” Evan said loudly, tapping his foot from where he stood in the doorway. “We’ve got things to do today.” Regulus grumbled in response.
“What was that?” Evan asked. Regulus could hear his smirk.
“How did you even get in here?” Regulus asked grumpily, lifting his head just enough to glare at Evan.
Barty grinned, flopping down on the bed. “Oh, I picked the lock.”
Regulus glared at him. “What?”
Barty’s grin grew, spreading across his face. “I picked the lock. It was really quite easy. Hotel locks are truly a joke for anyone with experience.”
Regulus just sighed. It wasn’t that surprising. Barty hadn’t grown up in a good home and he had learned how to break the rules to protect himself. One of the things he did was learn how to steal, how to get away with things. He tried to push boundaries, to cause chaos, and do whatever it took to survive. Regulus had bailed him out of jail too many times to count.
Still, Barty grinned. “Get out of bed, Reg. We have breakfast in twenty minutes. Rehearsals are at two.”
Regulus probably should’ve told his friends that he was going out with James Potter. It’s not like he didn’t have any chances to, he just chose not to. He didn’t say it at breakfast, after Pandora told them about her weird cotton candy chicken dream. He didn’t say it during rehearsals, between songs. He didn’t say it after rehearsals, when Dorcas was groaning about how she was starving and running on coffee, and Evan was arguing back about how she should’ve eaten more at breakfast.
He had all day to say it, and yet he stood alone in his room, debating whether or not he should tell them just so he can ask for advice on which top to wear.
It’s not like he wanted to impress James (that’s a lie) and this certainly wasn’t a date. At least, not a real one. He really wasn’t sure why he was so stressed about how he would look. Still, he felt the dread rise in his throat as he stood in front of the mirror, switching between holding up a black crop-top and a green sheer top. Was the sheer too revealing? Was the crop-top too simple? Were they both ugly? Would James like it? Did he have anything to go with it? Was it too much? Was he-
Regulus took a deep breath, steadying himself. It didn’t really matter anyways. It wasn’t a date. He didn’t need to impress James. Still, he felt the burning desire to look attractive for him, to have James want him.
He ended up picking the black crop-top, meeting a grinning James in the lobby, and well. Regulus clearly wasn’t the only one who had put effort into how they looked. James wore a nice black dress shirt, only buttoned halfway. He was wearing gold earrings that matched the round frames of his glasses.
“Good evening,” Regulus said politely, running a hand through his hair. James grinned brightly.
“Hey, Regulus. You look… lovely. That’s a good word for it. Lovely,” James said warmly, walking towards Regulus, his hand extended. Regulus stared down at it blankly.
“What?” he asked, still staring down at James’s outstretched hand.
“I’m taking you somewhere. I thought you might want to hold my hand,” James smiled.
“Why would I do that?” Regulus deadpanned. James laughed warmly in response.
“Yeah, okay. Fair enough,” he smiled, the laughter never quite leaving his eyes. Regulus felt a warm tingling in his stomach. They stood awkwardly for a minute before Regulus snatched James’s hand, glaring at the floor. James chuckled quietly. His hand was warm and calloused. It was big too, much bigger than Regulus’s own.
They walked to the bar that James was so fond of in silence. It was awkwardness on Regulus’s part, while James just seemed happy to be there, holding his hand. The bar was only a couple blocks away, a small, locally owned place that was fairly nice. It had dim lighting, and the lights they did have were colored in blues and pinks and purples. He could hear a woman singing karaoke loudly from the stage.
“Nice place,” Regulus muttered under his breath. James led him to the bar, sitting down on the stool next to him.
“Whiskey neat,” James said to the bartender, who nodded, giving James a friendly smile.
“Whiskey?” Regulus asked, scrunching up his nose.
“What?” James asked with a laugh. “I like it. It’s good.”
“It’s awful. You’re awful.”
James laughed. “Order something. If you want, that is.”
Regulus sighed, turning to the bartender. “Vodka cranberry, please.” James grinned at him.
“There you go, love,” James said cheerfully. “Loosen up. Have fun.” Regulus didn’t answer, though the tingling in his stomach flared up again at the affectionate term.
Regulus sat quietly as James drank his whiskey. Regulus sipped quietly at his own drink. Perhaps Regulus would’ve enjoyed it more if it was anyone else, anyone who hadn’t left him so conflicted. It wasn’t fair, not really. Not when James’s handsome face was accented by the gold of his earrings, his glasses, of the whiskey in his glass. Not when James was humming along quietly to the karaoke behind them, smiling softly. Not when he looked so relaxed here, and fuck was he beautiful like this, calmer in this setting. James turned to him with a soft look on his face.
“Um, are you okay? If you’re not having fun, we can leave,” James said assuringly, placing a hand on Regulus’s shoulder. Regulus shook his head.
“I’m fine,” he said coldly, brushing James’s hand off his shoulder. James frowned, staring at him. Regulus shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “What?”
“Come on,” James said, easing Regulus’s glass out of his hand. “I brought you here for karaoke, right? Well, let's do some karaoke.”
“James, it’s fi-”
“Nope,” James said with evident determination. “Karaoke. Come on.” James stood, extending his hand to Regulus to take. Regulus did, but hesitantly. He breathed deeply as James led him up to pick a song. A David Bowie song, Modern Love. Regulus had heard it before, when Sirius was still there. At one point, Regulus had learned all the words, just from Sirius playing it. In a way, it felt warm, and bright. Like childhood. Like a childhood was supposed to be.
They waited quietly, sipping their drinks until they were called up. James quickly downed the remainder of his whiskey before standing up, grabbing Regulus’s hand.
“Show time,” he murmured under his breath, gently tugging Regulus up to the stage.
Regulus bobbed his head slightly to the beat as the music started. Regulus glanced over at James as he said the few spoken lines at the beginning.
“I know when to go out,” James said into the microphone, his voice deep and low, trying to mimic Bowie’s tone from the original song. “Know when to stay in. To get things done.” He pulled the microphone away from his face for a moment to take a breath.
“I catch the paperboy
But things don’t really change
I’m standing in the wind
But I never wave bye-bye,” James sang, giving a little wave, which elicited a couple of laughs from the audience, causing James to grin. “But I try, I try.” Regulus took a breath, preparing to sing the second half of the verse.
“There’s no sign of life
It’s just the power to charm
I’m lying in the rain
But I never wave bye-bye
But I try, I try,” Regulus sang, walking across the stage, in front of James. James was warm, and had a powerful stage presence. Regulus couldn’t help the need to stand out more. “Never gonna fall for-”
“Modern Love,” They sang together, James reaching out a hand, pulling Regulus in. The audience’s attention seemed glued on them now as they belted out the song.
“Walks beside me,” Regulus sang on his own
“Modern Love,” they sang together.
“Walks on by.”
“Modern love gets me to the church on time,” they sang together, and fuck, they sounded good together, James’s voice deep and powerful, while Regulus’s was softer and more melodic. Their energy was electric, Regulus could feel it in the air that surrounded them. Regulus felt himself grin, letting out breathless laughs as they sang, strutting around the stage, using their stage presence to captivate the mostly drunken audience. After the song they bowed, hand in hand before running breathlessly off the stage, laughing slightly.
“Excuse me,” a girl said. She looked around Regulus’s age, but smaller and sweeter looking than he did. She had straight, mousy brown hair, big green eyes, and freckled cheeks. She looked shy, and awestruck as she looked between James and Regulus. “A-are you James Potter? From the Marauders?”
James smiled softly. “Yes, I am. And who might you be?”
The girl’s eyes widened, smiling slightly. Regulus could swear he saw fucking stars in her eyes. “My name is Anna. I-I’m a huge fan. I a-actually went to your concert last night.” She turned to Regulus. “Y-you’re the lead singer of Serpentine, right? You were r-really good.”
Regulus smiled slightly. “Thank you. That’s super sweet.”
Anna beamed, nodding. “Um, c-could I get a photo with b-both of you? And maybe an a-autograph?”
James grinned. “Of course. Anything for a fan. Do you have paper and a pen?” Anna nodded, pulling out a black Sharpie and a small sketchbook covered in doodles. James smiled at the drawings. “These are very nice.” Anna’s face turned red.
“D-don’t look at those. I’m not very good.”
James smiled and shook his head. “Nonsense. They’re fantastic. Here.” He wrote his autograph on the brown cardboard cover of the sketchbook before handing it back to her. Anna took it with shaky hands before turning to Regulus and staring at him pleadingly.
“What?” Regulus asked, confused. Anna held out the notebook to him. Regulus raised an eyebrow. Anna nodded hesitantly. Regulus smiled, taking the notebook and writing his autograph under James’. He handed it back to her, smiling softly. “Here you go. And you wanted a photo, right?” Anna nodded, wide-eyed. James smiled.
“Well come on!” he said warmly. Anna smiled tentatively before moving in-between them and pulling out her phone. She took the photo before quickly hurrying out from between them.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly, nodding her head before quickly running away. James chuckled softly. Regulus turned to him to see him smiling softly.
“Y’know, I love meeting fans,” James said. Regulus smiled.
“Yeah.” That was all he really said. “Want to go back to the hotel?” Regulus asked.
“Sure,” James said. “Be right back.” James walked away. Regulus could see James talk to the bartender before handing him a large wad of bills. He could see the bartender smile and thank James, who simply shook his head before walking back to Regulus. “Okay. We can go now.”
Regulus held James’s hand on the way back to the hotel. There wasn’t any hesitation this time. It just felt right. Regulus found himself glancing up at the sky, and silently mourned the lack of stars. James seemed like the type to enjoy listening to a partner talk about stars.
James walked Regulus back to his room because of course he was the courteous gentleman type. Regulus felt like he was buzzing, either from the energy of the night, or the alcohol in his stomach. James stood at his doorway, smiling sweetly at him. Of course he was fucking sweet. He seemed like the type.
“Good night, Regulus,” James said softly, brushing a knuckle softly against Regulus’s cheek. Regulus shook his head, moving his hand to hold James’s hand there.
“Stay?” Regulus murmured. James shook his head with a smile.
“Not yet, love. I’m not the type to do that on a first date,” James said. ‘Date’. That’s the word he used. That… that was nice.
“Date?” Regulus asked softly, his eyes wide. James nodded, grinning.
“Date. Definitely a date.” Regulus beamed at him.
“Can I… Can I do something?” Regulus asked softly. James looked at him curiously. Regulus opened his mouth before closing it again. He leaned up and kissed James softly. James looked in shock for a moment, before cupping his cheek and wrapping a hand around his waist. His hand was warm on Regulus’s uncovered skin. James leaned in and kissed him sweetly, pulling Regulus into him. It was short but sweet, leaving Regulus flushed and breathless when James released him.
“Good night,” James said once again, kissing Regulus on the forehead before walking away, leaving Regulus flushed, a finger on his lips.