James and Regulus had been dating for three days less than a year and are now calling each other by the title “boyfriend”. James still can't believe this is his life. He couldn't have wished for anything else, he feels like the luckiest man in the world.
Poison Ivy has grown more and more popular among the public and have scheduled their first actual concert on a real stage. The date fell on the 4th of November which lands on the same day that James and Regulus first met. At first Regulus demanded to reschedule it so they could spend their anniversary together but James said that he would love to spend his first anniversary at his boyfriend's concert.
They had been planning and practicing for months and now there's just three short days left. Regulus had been singing and singing all day long and is now spending the evening with his sun and a cup of tea on the sofa of his band's shared apartment.
“James, I'm so scared, there's going to be a huge crowd, way bigger than we've ever played before.” Regulus says from where he's snuggled into James’ side, head one one of his broad shoulders and a protective arm around his slim waist.
“I understand that you're nervous but there's nothing to worry about. You're amazing, your band is amazing, and I will be right there. This is the dream you've been chasing all your life, It's time to go get it.” James reassures him with a kiss on the head.
Regulus smiled. What James is saying is true. This is all he has ever wanted and now he's almost there.
“Love, it's time to go to bed. It's getting late and you need to rest. Finish your tea and then we'll sleep, okay?” James says. He is so caring and always wants what's best for Regulus.
“Yeah.” Regulus takes one last sip from his cup and puts it down on the living room table as he gets up from the sofa. James lifts the hand that's locked with Regulus’ and kisses the fragile skin he's holding. They gaze at each other for a moment before getting ready for bed, to have a restful night of sleep.
***
Regulus is holding the papers that he was huddled up over all of last night. It's the first real love song he's ever written for anyone. He used to think they were soppy and disgusting but with James he can't fight the urge to pour all of these strong feelings down into a song. He is going to sing it to James in two days and nothing can stop him. James deserves to know how loved he is and Regulus is determined to show him.
“Hey guys, we need to add a song to the set list.” Regulus exclaims as soon as he barges into their practice room.
"A bit late to do something like that but sure, what song?” Dorcas asks.
“A new one. I wrote it yesterday” Regulus answers, taking his notebook out of his bag.
“Absolutely not.” Barty shakes his head from where he's plugging his bass into a speaker
“It's for James!” Regulus argues, hoping that his statement will earn him a bit of sympathy.
“We are not learning a new song and adding it to the set list TWO DAYS before the concert.” Dorcas tells him.
“Yes we are.” Regulus says, fixing his posture to show everyone that he's not giving up. “I stayed up all night writing it for him. He deserves it, please.”
“Reggie sorry it's too late” Barty says, actually managing to look a bit sympathetic.
“Don't call me that. If you guys won't help me, I'll just play it myself. I don't need your help.” Please take the bait, Regulus thinks.
“I'll play it with you” Pandora speaks up like the kind soul she is.
“I'll do it too. We've learned songs just one day before, we can do it again.” Evan says, he doesn't seem to think it's that big of a deal at all.
“Fine.” Dorcas bites out, walking up to Regulus and taking his notebook from his hands. She looks at the notes and reads the lyrics when something clicks into place in her head and she smirks up at her friend. “Wait, you've never written a love song before have you?”
“No, I don't really do love songs. He's the only exception.” Regulus says, suddenly getting shy.
“I can see that.” Dorcas lets out a full cackle, and shows the song to the rest of the band so they can start practicing. They don't stop until Regulus thinks it's perfect and even then they continue for a bit. Everything for his sun .
***
James is lying stretched out on the sofa when Sirius comes home from work.
“How did it go today?” James asks as soon as he hears the door shut.
“Good, I look really hot in most of the pictures. They had me wear a thin white t-shirt so you could see my abs through it.” Sirius answered, lifting up his shirt to show off said abs.
James waited for Sirius to properly enter their apartment before speaking again. His voice was soft and his eyes, lost in imagination. “The concert’s in two days. He's been working so hard, this is so amazing for him.”
“Yeah it is.” Sirius says, not as starstruck as James but still extremely proud. “ I still can't believe I left you alone for two weeks and you went and fell in love with my brother. TWO WEEKS JAMES.” Sirius said, not sounding mad about it at all with a smile on his face. He wasn't very happy when he first found out about James and Regulus but it only took him a few days to find it amazing.
“I really am in love with him.” James says.
“Blegh” Sirius tries to mask his jealousy with disgust. He wants to love someone like that too.
“I think you'd be good having a relationship right now. I know someone I could set you up with if you want. His name is Remus, Remus lupin.” James suggested. He's been wanting to introduce his two friends for a while. He thinks they would get along really well.
“Sure why not.” Sirius agrees, throwing himself on the couch next to James. He takes the tv remote and starts to look for a movie to watch.
"Great! He's going to be at the concert so you can get to know each other there.”
“Yippie.” Sirius says flatly. He then finds a movie he likes and they relax on the couch for the rest of the evening.
***
The next morning James enters a familiar bar and sits down on his usual seat right in front of Remus.
“Hey, I got you a date” He says to get his friends attention.
“What? James you can't just do that?” Remus responds, forgetting about the drink he was making.
“Come on man, it's my roommate. He really want a relationship right now”
“Well I don't." Remus says, going back to his customer.
"He's a model.” James smirks. Remus stops his movements once again to think for a little bit.
“Fine. I'll meet him but I'm not promising to put in an effort.” He hands the finished drink to his customer and turns his attention fully to James.
“Oh I think you will.” James chuckles.
“Sure you do.”
“I don't have time to stay though, sorry. I'm helping with setting up the stage for tonight. Here's your backstage pass, be a bit early” James says, getting off his stool.
“Sure thing” Remus nods.
James walks out of the bar, smiling at his accomplishment.
***
The venue is packed to the brim and Poison Ivy will take the stage in 15 minutes. Remus and Sirius are talking and laughing on one of the sofas backstage, looking very comfortable together, and the band is getting the finishing touches done on their hair and makeup. As soon as everything is in place, Regulus goes to find James.
“Hey” He says, throwing himself into his boyfriends arms.
“How are you doing? Are you nervous?” James whispers to him.
“Of course I’m nervous.” Regulus says, clinging to James until someone comes up to them telling Regulus that it's time to go on. James gives Regulus a quick kiss as he’s leaving.
“Go out there and shine.”
Regulus nods in response and meets the rest of his band. James is so proud. not just of regulus, but at all of them. During the time he has spent with regulus he has also been able to get to know his friends. They've all worked so hard to get where they are and are now living their dream.
James watches them step out into the light on stage and he hears the crowd scream for them. He watches Dorcas wave to the crowd, making them go wild. Then a very familiar song starts playing. The first song he ever heard them play.
I am outside
And I've been waiting for the sun…
It's so beautiful. It's all so beautiful. The concert goes on, Poison Ivy playing both old songs and some that they've never played before. They are amazing, all of them born to perform on a stage.
After around an hour the concert is nearing its end with only one song left. James is still standing at the exact same place as he was when the concert started, watching with a wide smile. Sirius came up to stand next to him a few songs ago.
“Only one more right?” Sirius asked him
“Yeah, one more” James said barely paying attention to his friends question, too focused on what's on the stage
“He's doing amazing out there.”
“Yeah, he's so brave for doing this.” James said in awe of his boyfriend.
The last song of the night ends but Regulus and the band don't get off the stage.
“James, what's he doing?” Sirius asks after a few seconds of watching Regulus frozen on the stage.
“I don't know.'' James answers with a concerned tone, brows coming together. Then Regulus speaks.
“There is one more song I would like to sing tonight.” He starts, making everyone confused. “It is actually me and my boyfriend's first anniversary today so I've written a little something for him.” He continues and turns to look at James.
“James, this one’s for you.”
Sirius claps him on the back but he can barely feel it. He's in too much shock to notice anything other than Regulus’ words and movements and the sound of a guitar starting to play.
“When I was younger, I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it”
Wow. Regulus wrote a song for him and is playing it for him in front of this big crowd. He can’t believe it.
“And my momma swore
That she would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I’d never sing of love if it does not exist”
He’d never sing of love…?
“But darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception”
Oh…
“Maybe I know somewhere deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone
Or keep a straight face
And i've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I had sworn to myself
That I’m content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk”
Is James worth the risk?
“But you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception”
He is… He's the only person worth Regulus’ risk. That is all that will ever matter.
Regulus walks up to James. He takes his hand and leads him out on the stage and into the spotlight during a short instrumental part of the song. They’re now standing close, face to face in the middle of the stage with a crowd of people cheering for them.
“I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream”
It's not a dream. James lifts the hand that is not locked with Regulus’ and strokes his cheek with it lightly before using it to cup Regulus’ face and tilt it up so they can make eye contact.
“You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception”
‘I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception. I'm his only exception.I'm his only exception.’ Is all James can think.
“And I'm on my way to believing
Oh, and I'm on my way to believing”
James barely waits for the song to end before he kisses Regulus with all the things he has ever felt for him. Love, happiness, protection, care…
He momentarily forgot that they were still standing on the stage, all the noises around them faded out for a few seconds. As they pull away it all fades in again. All lights on the stage shut off and the crowd screamed for them one last time before getting ready to leave. Regulus and James still stand where they were when the rest of the band and the bigger part of the crowd has left.
“I dont think I’ve ever felt what I do for you, for anyone before.” Regulus says while wiping tears off James’ face. He didn't realize he was crying, that both of them were.
James doesn't respond. He can't. There aren't words that describe what he wants to say. He just presses their foreheads together and closes his eyes. They stand there for a really long time, just breathing together. Understanding each other deeply. It's them and only them, until the end.