Regulus was once a human, but he gave up his mortality to the devil for eternal service and is now a demon. To maintain his immortality he had to find and steal souls for the devil or he would become mortal yet again.
This time he decided to go to a state in the America called Georgia, known for being filled with absolute idiot rednecks. He was raised in France and was forced to play the violin by his mother, so he decided to adapt his skills to the fiddle and challenge a fiddle player. He was probably the best a person would ever hear because of the eloquence he played the instrument with. While the fiddle was the same instrument, it was played more choppy and less elegant than the traditional violin style, and he still thought it was a delightful style and he loved it even more knowing his mother was screaming in hell every time he pulled the bow across the strings and so he played it for her soul often.
It was the least he could do for his brother Sirius, bless his soul, for regulus knew he was in heaven after he was killed by their parents for being caught with the gardener’s son, Remus, who was also killed. Sirius was always the one to take the punishment for Regulus, and Regulus was always too much a pussy to do the same for him, but he payed the ultimate price in order to avenge Sirius. He made a deal with the devil his parents hated so much. His parents souls were the very first ones he stole tricking them to think he was God with magic, and then making them sign paperwork condemning them to hell for eternity but claiming it would make it so they would guarantee Regulus, who they didn’t know was a demon yet, was not a gay sinner like his brother. Little did they know, he was probably more gay than Sirius, already having a boyfriend before the incident named Barty, who ended up being a demon and introduced him to the devil. Though Barty was now with Evan, Regulus stayed good friends with him.
Such a fact made him relish in the idea of stealing the souls of uneducated homophobes in the southern portion of America. So, when he finally felt ready to beat rednecks with their own instrument, he looked eagerly to fulfill his deal with the devil. You see, Regulus had already failed him twice in a row before this and Regulus desperately needed another in order to maintain his immortality. They were both good people and Regulus only took the souls of those that had committed truly heinous deeds or were biased and bigoted in some way or another. But with the devil, three fails in a row meant the deal would be stripped away from Regulus and he would be mortal again. He would no longer be the bright shining star the devil cherished so deeply.
He began his search in Athens, Georgia and soon heard a fiddle. It was a young man sawing on the fiddle and playing it hot. Immediately, Regulus was struck with the sheer beauty of the man. He had warm chocolate brown skin, dark brown eyes that became a hypnotizing honey gold in the sun, crooked glasses, messy hair that stuck up everywhere and seemed impossible to control, and an obviously fit body under his dirty white shirt and brown trousers. He somehow gave off a light aura, like the sun in his eyes. He was the most beautiful thing Regulus had ever laid his eyes on. He wanted the man but given the region they were in, he was probably a cocky homophobe. Regulus decided if the man was so, he would make a deal with the devil himself over the skill of playing the fiddle.
Without a second thought, he jumped upon a hickory stump and with his best southern accent said, “Boy let me tell you what. I guess you did not know it but I’m a fiddle player too and if you care to take a dare I’ll make a bet with you. Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil is due, I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul cause I think I’m better than you.” The man now noticing Regulus’s presence, turns and looks at him with a shocked expression on his face. He says “Who woulda known the devil was so damn pretty, but my name’s James and it might be a sin, but I’ll take your bet you’re gonna regret cause I’m the best that’s ever been.” The agreement alone was enough for Regulus, though the first statement did catch him off guard.
Regulus was often described as attractive. He had high cheek bones, a sharp jawline, neat fluffy midnight black curls, cold stone grey eyes, and absolutely white skin and two small white horns protruding from the top of his forehead. He knew even his immortal demon body was attractive, but James, god why did even his name have to be attractive, saying he was the best that has ever played the fiddle, was more that enough to make Regulus not feel bad about tricking him. There was nothing he hated more than a cocky, bigoted narcissist, they reminded him too much of his parents.
Regulus opened up his case, he was eager to show the man his skills with the fiddle, and not because he just wanted to impress him. Definitely not. He grabbed his prized golden fiddle and said, “I’ll start this show.”
When he pulled his bow across the strings, light flew from his fingertips and gave quite a wretched hiss. But not to worry, that was just him calling back up. While he was confident about his skill, he did not want to risk losing his immortality. Prior to his trip, he asked Barty and Evan if they could help him when he called by playing other instruments to make his performance better and secure his with for immortality. So Barty and Evan materialized with a piano and a guitar.
They started playing a lovely little song, mostly a fiddle solo because that was the competition, but the other instruments were played at the right time and style to perfectly complement the fiddle. It was truly a phenomenal performance, probably the one of the century. But when Regulus looked up at James, he was smirking. It was a devious and mischievous smirk, one Regulus would like to both remove and stare at for the rest of eternity. James then said, “Well you’re pretty good ole’ son, but sit down in that chair right there, lemme show you how it’s done.” He started warming up his fiddle while singing, “Fire on the mountain, run boys run. Devils in the house with the rising sun.”
After a few more lines, James played the most beautiful piece Regulus had ever heard played on the fiddle. It was a piece that told a story with no words. One of adventure, tragedy, love, loss, and victory. One that reminded Regulus so much of his own story that he had tears in his eyes, but ones he would never let fall. He knew he was defeated, for his piece had no passion like James’s. Regulus did it as a job, a mandatory portion of his life to achieve success. It was merely a new style on the violin, it was a convenience. James played the fiddle because he loved to, because it brought him joy. His passion was shown through his music, music Regulus could never play because he does not have that passion.
Regulus knew he was beat. He knew he would lose his immortality. He knew he would no longer be the Star of Hell. He bowed his head and laid his golden fiddle by James’s feet. He turned around gave Barty and Evan a sad smile and a small wave goodbye. He knew any minute he would be human again, and he wanted them to leave before they saw it happened. After returning sad smiles and their goodbyes, they did leave, knowing what was about to occur.
James, completely oblivious, said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again. I done told you once you son of a bitch I’m the best that’s ever been.” Regulus openly laughed at the statement. His mother, was indeed, quite a bitch. He figured such a childhood did reflect on his behavior that also caused him to be quite bitchy at times, or at least Barty says so.
His laughter was short lived and soon turned to screams, which greatly unsettled James. James face went from angry to concerned as he heard Regulus’s screams. Regulus felt like his skin was burning off, the pale but more skin tone color returning to his skin. He was tearing and clawing at himself, trying to make the pain stop any way he could. The warmer tone reflecting the fire he felt on his skin. His head was also pounding because his horns were growing back into his head. After experiencing such agony, his green suit was torn and dirty, as he apparently fell to the ground in his agony.
He no longer felt as one did when they will live forever. He felt like his mother’s fine china Sirius broke when they were children. He felt fragile, like one touch would shatter him alone. He was no longer immortal. He was no longer the star of Hell. He was but an asteroid floating through space, often mistaken for a star by those on earth. He was an asteroid flying towards his demise with his new mortality.
James was still there when he looked up. He had expected James to leave by now, but he was still there.
“What in tarnation just happened to you devil?” James asked.
“My name is Regulus baise idiote (dumb fuck) and I’m no devil. I was merely one of his demons.” Regulus responded, no longer concealing his french accent.
“You’re french??? Was???”
Regulus deadpanned, “No I’m actually hispanic, and I’m obviously still a demon tu tête de noeud (you knothead).”
James cheeks had a slight tinge of pink when asking, “So you’re human now?” “Oui.”
James seemed to smile at this. “What if I brought you home to my mama and you tell me your story.”
Regulus was struck, “You’re going to let a former demon into your home? And one that tried to steal you’re soul?”
James merely smiled, “Well you’re quite pretty and I like it when you speak french.”
Regulus laughed again and wondered how a bigot could act so gay, so he asked, “Are you gay or just messing with me for the fun of it?”
To which James replied, “Yes I am gay actually, you gotta problem with that?”
“No I just thought you were a bigot.”
James had a look of pure shock on his face, “I’m desi. I’m not a racist bigot. And I was raised Hindi. I only spoke about God and the devil because I thought you were the devil. I refuse to dismiss other religions because if I do that then I’m no better than those who discriminate against me for my race and religion.”
“Well you’re from here and I associated you with them I guess and you knew how to play the fiddle well.”
James laughed, “I do that to spite them. You know. Beat them at their own game. Show them I’m equal to them not below them like they think.”
His statement shocked Regulus. How could he be so blind? How was he calling this man an idiot when he was so desperate and irrational that he did not even see something so evident in front of him. James was as good as the sun and shone just as bright, and yet Regulus was so blind to it.
It suddenly struck Regulus, “Where am I supposed to go now? I have no family here and no money or anything like that.”
James thought for a minute before saying, “You’re welcome to come home with me my mama and dad won’t mind.”
“You sure you want someone who tried to trap you in the underworld of a religion you don’t even worship?”
“Positive.”
“Why?”
“I can tell you’re not a bad person, just a person who has been put through shit.”
“I- How?”
“I tend to see the good in people. Now, let’s get going before it gets dark”
“Ummmm merci (thank you).”
“You’re welcome. And yes I do know some simple French.”
So they left for James’s house.
They did not speak much the first twenty minutes or so, but there was no tension or awkward silence. It was comfortable and soothing, everything about James was.
He doesn’t know what overcame him, but when walking he took James’s hand into his own. James let him but turned to him and said with a smirk, “So you are gay.”
“Very.”
“Well I guess that makes today my lucky day. I got a gold fiddle and a pretty demon to go with it.”
“Former demon”
“Yes, yes. Former demon, but you were still very pretty then too.”
Regulus took a step closer to James, having to look up since James was a bit taller. He could feel James’s exhaling lightly on his face.
“You didn’t look too bad yourself.”
With that he leaned in closer and James met him halfway as their lips met.
It was a gentle kiss, but it still held more passion and emotion than other ones he had experienced.
Regulus could tell he might not mind being an asteroid floating through space, quickly flying toward his demise. Especially if he was going to fly into the sun and be absorbed in James.