Constellations

Regulus suposses he could knock, but he thinks this is more fun.

He slips in as quietly as he can. And it's quiet enough, apparently, because James keeps dancing, his eyes closed.

Regulus leans against the doorpost with his arms crossed. Waiting.

James is beautiful. Regulus noticed this the first time he layed eyes on him. His messy hair and dark skin. The sunny smile he flashes at every guest. His muscles flexing beneath his white button-down. Regulus is so thankful for the white button-down. Bless whatever dresscode this establishment has.

From the speakers sounds a slow jazz song, the perfect song for James to lazily spin around in circles to.

"You're pretty good at that. I almost don't want you to notice that I'm here," Regulus says.

James immediately bumps into a barstool, and his eyes shoot open as he half trips.

"Oops," Reguls adds calmly.

James turns around and stares at Regulus for a good second, frozen in place. Then he bolts toward the stereo to turn the music off.

Standing next to the stereo, he looks at Regulus with wonder in his eyes. "You're here." He shakes his head. "I mean- obviously. I just-" He presses his lips together. "Hi."

Regulus is silent, his brain yelling at him to run away.

James clears his throat. "Well, I know what you're here for, so..." he says with a gesture toward the piano.

Regulus doesn’t move, so James continues, "I could, uh-" He scratches his throat- "bring you something to drink, if you want."

Regulus looks at him tentatively. "I'm being spoiled here, I see."

"Of course." James offers him that frustrating grin of his. "I have to repay you for all those free concerts somehow, don't I, Leo?"

"They were hardly concerts," Regulus argues. Seeing as this is the only place he can play the piano, and there's a lot of practicing to be done since he only recently got the chance to pick up the hobby again, the entire restaurant got exposed to the ugly process of learning songs.

James shrugs. "Maybe you don't consider it that way. But I'd like to kindly disagree."

Regulus rolls his eyes lightly. "That's alright, James. And you don't have to get me anything. I'm happy to just- play here."

"I don't mind."

Regulus shoots him a look, but James just holds his gaze, not budging. Regulus purses his lips, then says, "I'd like a tea."

James smiles, satisfied. "Coming right up."

Regulus glances over at the piano. It's a grand piano. A good brand, too. He felt like he won the lottery when he first stumbled across this café.

The piano reminds him of the one he used to have back when he was younger. Of course, he hasn’t seen that one in years. The keyboard he bought for himself a few years ago is nothing compared to it.

He had to sell the keyboard, though - about a year ago when money got really tight.

He was a little scared at first to play in front of a crowd when he hadn't played in almost a year. But he didnt have any other options, and he also soon realised that no one was even paying attention to him. Not really, anyway. They were there for food and company. Not entertainment. And it wasn't like he was putting on a show or anything. Regulus is a master at disappearing. He acts as if he's invisible. And apparently he's good actor, because most people tend to believe his act.

If anyone was watching him play, it was never for long.

But tonight is different. James is watching him, and he doesn't stop.

Regulus doesn’t know what he was expecting, but not this. Not James, after placing two cups of tea on top of the piano, grabbing a chair for himself and placing it next to the piano where Regulus is already sat on the piano stool.

Regulus touches a few keys and then stops, turns toward James and grimaces.

James appears to be a mind reader of some kind, because he tells Regulus, "I won't judge, I promise."

Regulus gives him an unimpressed look, which earns him a laugh from James.

"Really, I won't." He holds Regulus' gaze. "Leo, you've seen me drop multiple plates, and you're still sitting here with me."

Regulus opens his mouth, but James holds up a hand. "For the piano, I know, but still." He raises his eyebrows and ducks his head slightly. "I'm very aware that everyone makes mistakes. No one's immune to it." He shakes his head sadly. "Not even me."

Regulus shakes his head, stunned by his antics. Even though they might be working. Just a little. "You're ridiculous, Potter."

James' eyebrows shoot up. "Potter? Did you just call me Potter?"

"So what if I did?" Regulus retorts.

"Thought we might've been past second name basis."

"That's funny," Regulus says, deadpan.

James' eyebrows fly up.

"What?" Regulus asks with a quirk of his brow.

James holds his hands up in surrender. "Nothing, nothing. Just-" He shrugs with a grin. "It might serve you well to be nice to the waiter who so very kindly went behind his boss' back to let you play in his café after closing time. That's all."

Regulus stares at him for a moment. Then states, "I'll consider it."

He looks down at the keys again. The bantering made him feel a little more at ease. Or rather: James did. He glances over at the beautiful man who's now leaning his head on top of the piano, some of his curls splaying out over the black, shiny surface.

James says, "Besides, if you make a mistake, and I'm not saying that you will, I might not even notice it. I'm not a musician, after all."

"Neither am I, James. It's just a hobby."

"Well, you play like one, in any case."

Regulus feels his face get hot at the compliment. James is so - nice, and he seems to always say exactly the right thing. Exactly what Regulus wants to hear.

Regulus doesn’t know what to do with it. He shoots James a glare. "Just shut up and let me play, yeah?"

For some reason, this only seems to delight James. "I thought you were going to consider being nice to me, Leo," he teases, the prick.

Regulus nods. "I did. And I have decided not to."

"Don't think I deserve it?" James asks lightly.

What an excellent question.

Regulus focuses back onto the pianokeys in front of him before responding, "The jury's still out on that one."

"All right. Let me know when they've decided," James says. "But in the mean time it might be best to take the certain before the uncertain and be nice. Not just to me, but to anyone you don't know yet."

"But I don't know if they deserve it yet."

"Is kindness something you have to deserve, then?"

Regulus is silent for a moment. He starts going through his bag to pull out the right sheet music. "You're too kind for this world, James. You only see the good in people. Ypu should be careful with that."

"You don't even know me," says James. "You can't know that. And to me, it sounds like you only see the bad in people, which is just as bad."

"I don't know you, James, you're right. It's just my impression. And seeing as you're a very open, honest person - it seems like- it doesn't take very long to get the right impression of you," Regulus responds. "And I assume the worst in people because I'm careful. Nothing wrong with that."

"There's too careful, you know."

"And there's too careless," Regulus retorts, his tone harsh.

James just nods.

As Regulus starts paging through the piece he selected, James, in a soft voice, suggests, "I could leave you alone, if that'd make you feel more at ease. I'd get it, you know?"

Regulus looks up at him and searches his eyes. He means it. Of course he does.

Regulus thinks about it for a moment, but then he finds that he's, strangely, already quite at ease.

He could send James away. It'd probably be for the best, but James is looking at him so hopefully right now, and...

"You're alright over there, James. I don't mind," Regulus replies sincerely. "I'll play for you. Consider it an act of kindness."

Regulus, not being as careful as usual, plays piece after piece for a beautiful stranger in an empty cafe. He slips more than a few jazz songs in. He's at ease, somehow. Maybe it's the smile James gives him every time Regulus looks over at him.

There's Regulus' favourite - the first piece he learned on the piano. He was an annoyingly prideful little kid, and so he didn't dare to choose an easy song. He struggled for months.

He plays it now, with ease. He could do it with his eyes closed. He looks over at James, who's head is resting on the piano surface, his eyes closed. Regulus doesn't look away.

James looks peaceful.

When James opens his eyes, Regulus abruptly looks away, and the music cuts out suddenly. "The tea's getting cold." He reaches for his cup.

"I- yeah," he hears James mutter from besides him.

Regulus takes a sip. The tea's gone almost completely cold.

He feels James watching him.

"You have a favourite tea?" James asks.

"Not really." Regulus shrugs. Finally, he dares to meet James' eyes again. "I like teas with cinnamon in them."

James nods. "I'll be sure to remember that for next time."

Smooth, Regulus thinks. Next time. He hadn't thought about next time. He wasn't even supposed to come at all.

"It's getting late," Regulus announces. Regulus stands and James follows.

When they're standing by the door, James quietly goes, as he looks at Regulus through his eyelashes with his head tilted down, "You didn't show up on Tuesday."

Regulus looks down at the dark wooden floor. "I was busy. I do have other things to do with my life than entertain you, for your information."

When Regulus looks back up, James is staring at him with a small smile. "If Tuesdays don't work for you, there's still Fridays. Or I could ask my colleague Remus to keep the place open on the days he closes. He loves breaking the rules, so he'd probably be in for it."

Regulus glances to the side - he can't seem to meet James' eyes. "I..." He grimaces. "Well, on reconsideration I might just be able to make it next Tuesday." He dares to look at James, who is now grinning, for only a second.

James, his voice gentle, says, "Thank you for the concert. That was very kind of you, Leo."

Oh, he's just aimed at making it very difficult for Regulus.

Regulus rolls his eyes. "Thank you- oh, fuck off."

James laughs. "No no, you were doing so well, go on."

Regulus shoots James a look, but continues, looking down at the floor. "Thanks for the tea and the piano." He grimaces. "Bye." He turns around immediately. He can hear James laughing quietly until the door closes behind him.