Face Card
“Hey, Reg?”
“What?”
“I’ve got a favor to ask you,”
“Okay.”
“It’s a big one, and before you say no, remember how much you love me,” Sirius says.
“Okay, tell me what it is, then!” Regulus snaps.
“James has a clothing brand.”
“Who’s James?”
“My best mate,”
“Okay, and?”
“Well, apparently, he was stalking you on Instagram and decided that you’re the perfect person to model for his brand,”
“Does it pay?”
“Oh, yeah. He’ll pay you well,”
Regulus hums. “Then I don’t see why not.”
“Wait, for real?” Sirius asks in disbelief.
“I mean, yeah.”
Sirius grins. “Okay, let me text him. Wait, can he use your studio at home, or would he have to rent one?”
“I’d much rather work at home, so yeah.”
In all honesty, Regulus just isn’t one to say no to a job. Sirius gives him James’ number, and now he’s got another job. Working as a model is always on and off, but he loves it.
“Let me just preface this by saying, he’s straight. So don’t play with him,” Sirius says firmly. They’re waiting for James to show up to shoot. Regulus feigns shock.
“Me? Flirting with a straight guy? Never,”
“You absolute slut.”
“Hey! Don’t be a cunt. If anyone’s a slut, it’s you,” Regulus argues.
“Okay, Mr. I’m a model and I go out and fuck a new guy every night.” Sirius mocks.
“It’s not every night.”
The doorbell rings.
“Don’t try to fuck him. He’s my best mate,”
“I’m not going to-“
Regulus eats his words, as he opens the door. James Potter is annoyingly sexy. He grins at Regulus.
“Hello, beautiful.”
Regulus chokes on air.
“You- are you talking to me?” He raises his eyebrows
“Who else? You’re the model. I’m James,”
“Hi- ah, yeah, I’m the um- the model, yeah. Regulus.” He blurts. Suddenly he’s forgotten how to speak. And just like that, Regulus is already knee-deep in it. Sirius is right, he’s a slut, but he’s allowed to be.
“He’s straight, you said?” Regulus asks meekly.
James smirks, chuckling.
“Regulus! Yes, he’s straight. And you’re working for him.” Sirius reminds him.
“Shame,” Regulus says, frowning.
“Sorry to disappoint,” James says, smiling.
And it really is disappointing, because James might be the prettiest man he’s ever met. It’s always the straight ones. It starts that way. Just Regulus flirting with James, regardless of his sexuality.
James put Regulus in a mohair sweater, with baggy jeans. He has to admit, that James’ designs are quite good, which doesn’t help his problem. In fact, he’s quite a lovely person, and every time Regulus flirts with him, he smiles and flirts back. What the fuck is Regulus supposed to do with that?
James walks up to Regulus, who’s currently posing for a picture. He places a hand under his chin. “Will you just tilt your head like this?” He whispers, and Regulus can feel his breath on his skin.
“Whatever you want,”
James smirks. “And what is it you want?”
“I think that’s pretty clear. It’s such a waste that you’re straight,” He pouts.
“I make exceptions for people as beautiful as you,” James says huskily. Regulus’ breath hitches. “Are you- are you serious?”
“I’m joking, Regulus.”
And after that, James books Regulus almost every weekend for photos. Regulus has no clue what he’s doing with so many promo pictures, but if it’s money in his pocket, he can’t complain. Sometimes, he thinks James might not be as straight as he says. Only when calls Regulus pretty, or looks at him a little too long. Straight or not, Regulus likes the attention.
It all comes to a head when James comes in to take pictures and starts calling Regulus baby. He’s visibly drunk, and Regulus doesn’t know why he’d even bother to show up.
“Are you drunk?”
“Mhm, just a little, baby. Jus’ wanted to come anyway, wanted to see you,”
“Are you sure you wanna shoot like this?”
“Yeah, yeah. Y’look so pretty in my designs, let me see you,” He slurs.
The thing is, this is a bad idea. Very, very bad. But it doesn’t feel like a one-sided thing, at the moment. It feels like James wants him, and that might be the best feeling ever. Regulus knows James likes it, likes playing with him. The flirting and teasing are just him being James, but he participates. So there’s nowhere to go from here but up, or crashing down.
“Hey, baby? Can you just mess your hair up a little? I’m going for a look,”
Regulus can hardly do anything but obey when James sounds like that. “Will you just change your leg position? I need a different shape,”
Regulus does, but James doesn’t seem satisfied. James comes over, putting a hand on Regulus’ knee. “Can I show you?”
Regulus nods. James gently pushes his legs apart, eyes never leaving Regulus. He steps in between Regulus’ legs, brushing a stray curl out of his face. “Baby,” He whispers.
“I love your rings. Have I ever told you how much I love them?”
“No,”
“Can I?” James rasps, leaning in.
Regulus knows what James is asking, and it takes all his self-restraint not to beg James to kiss him. And then, he thinks it through. Kissing his brother’s straight best friend? Not the best idea. Regulus may be a slut, but he won’t force James into thinking he wants something when he doesn’t.
Regulus pushes James away with two hands on his chest. James blinks and realizes what’s just happened.
“Oh, don’t do that. If I can’t kiss you at least- can I be close to you? You smell so lovely,”
“James, you’re drunk, and straight,” Regulus groans. His restraint is crumbling, because what the fuck? James is gorgeous, and straight, and gorgeous, and he’s right here. He’s so lovely and warm.
James seems to remember that he’s straight. “Oh yeah, I am,” He pouts, but he doesn’t move away, still stroking Regulus’ cheekbones. Regulus grabs his wrists, pushing them away. He gets up from the chair.
“I need to get some air,”
They finish the shoot in silence, and Regulus can tell James is upset. Why, he doesn’t know. James packs his camera up, and leaves without saying goodbye. Fuck. Regulus is already spiraling. He’s such a dumbass, letting James do things he didn’t want to. Are they still going to work together? James is launching in a month, and Regulus is his only model. It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.
What Regulus needs, is to stop this thing with James. He doesn’t want to, but he knows he should. It’s been a week since his last shoot with James, and he’s at Sirius’ birthday party.
Regulus brought a date, Benjy. Benjy’s cute, and sweet, and completely obsessed with Regulus, which is always a plus. He’s also not afraid to be affectionate with Regulus. They’re on the couch, Benjy lightly scratching Regulus’ scalp. Regulus leans into it, taking another drag of his cigarette. Then, he hears the last voice he needs to hear right now.
“Happy birthday, Pads!” James bellows, lifting Sirius above his head like it’s nothing. Sirius just laughs. James sees Regulus, and he flat-out drops Sirius. Oh, fuck this. They won’t be doing this tonight. Regulus isn’t gonna let James keep fucking with his head. James ignores Sirius, who’s cussing him out on the floor and comes right up to Regulus and Benjy.
“Hi folks,” He says through gritted teeth. James is breathing hard, face red.
“Hi, I’m Benjy,” Benjy removes his hand from Regulus’ hair to shake James’ hand. James doesn’t take it, opting to glare at Benjy’s hand as if he’s angry at it for touching Regulus.
“Reg, d’you wanna come upstairs with me?” He asks, clearly drunk again.
Regulus isn’t going to go. He’s not going to go.
“Please, baby?” James asks, leaning in close to Regulus.
Regulus lets himself be pulled upstairs, into James’ room. Lets himself be pressed against the wall. James rests his forehead against Regulus’ fingers stroking his jaw. Regulus completely forgets about Benjy and loses himself in the scent of James.
“Wanna kiss you. Can I?” James rasps.
“Yes, yes, whatever you want, please-”
James leans down and kisses him, and it’s just like breathing. It’s that natural, that simple. His mouth moves against Regulus’ and he sighs softly. James pulls away, fingers prodding at Regulus’ lips.
“Oh, look at you. You’re so red, love.”
“You’re drunk. You don’t want this,” Regulus says, and he sounds like he’s trying to convince himself.
“I want this. I want you so fucking bad, baby,” James whispers.
Regulus kisses him again, and he’s so warm. His mouth. His hands. It feels like James is pouring light into him, and Regulus is warm from head to toe from it. He never knew it could be like this. He’s had countless hookups and one-night stands, but never this. Just him kissing a boy that feels like the sun. James kisses down Regulus’ jaw, and it’s so good. Regulus’ heart does a series of flips. He’s drunk from it. He’s had nothing to drink, but god, he feels too good to unpack it right now. James is slipping his hands under Regulus’ button-down, and his brain just switches off.
“Wanna make you feel good,” James says, lips trailing across Regulus’ neck.
Regulus whimpers, tangling his hand in James’ hair. James nuzzles his nose into Regulus’ cheek, like a cat, and it’s so fucking embarrassing how much it turns Regulus on. He’s a panting mess, and he just keeps saying: James , James, James. Like it’s his mantra. James pulls away from Regulus sitting back on the bed.
“Cmere, baby.”
And really, what else is Regulus meant to do but crawl into James’ lap? James kisses him again, wet and messy. He can feel how hard James is beneath him, just from making out, and somehow that makes the whole thing ten times hotter. James bucks his hips against Regulus, hands on his waist. Regulus throws his head back, groaning softly. James is holding Regulus in place, grinding against him. His hands trail across the waistband of Regulus’ jeans, looking up at him for permission. Regulus nods feverishly. The moment James’ hands slip under his boxers, it’s fucking over. Regulus is whining and moaning louder than he ever has, and it’s only a handjob.
“I’ve got you, baby. Is this good for you? I haven’t done-“
“Yes, yes, it’s good,”
James keeps going, clutching at the small of Regulus’ back with his other hand. He’s kissing Regulus’ neck, his jaw, his collarbone. Just trailing hot, wet kisses all over, and Regulus is losing it- he’s-
“James,” He shudders, slumping against him. James looks up at Regulus and catches his mouth in a soft, sleepy kiss. Regulus’ brain is cloudy, and he’s nuzzling into James’ neck.
“Do you want me to..” Regulus sits up, motioning towards James’ belt. James shakes his head, kissing Regulus again. “Wanna hold you,”
And then he’s all smiles, and sweet kisses. He’s got an arm snaked around Regulus’ waist, like he wants him close. Regulus falls into a gentle sleep, with the feeling of James all around him.
When he wakes, the warmth is gone. James is gone. Regulus’ heart drops. Fucking dumbass. He should’ve listened to Sirius. It’s always the drop that hurts the most, and this one fucking stings. Maybe because this man held him, and kissed him; and made him believe it was going to happen. But it didn’t, because James was just drunk, and Regulus was there. That’s all it was. That might be what hurts the most. He forces himself to sit up, hating how the bed just smells like James, James, James.
He pads down the hall, in nothing but boxers, to his brother’s room. He knocks on the door, and a very disgruntled Sirius answers.
“Reg?! What the fuck are you still doing here? Moony’s sleeping,” He hisses, motioning towards the mop of curls currently snoring in his bed.
“I hooked up with James,”
“What?! I told you not to fuck him!”
“I didn’t fuck him, we just made out a little,”
“Oh, you did more than that, you slut! I can see it in your eyes,” Sirius says, narrowing his eyes.
“Don’t slutshame me, when you’ve got a naked boy in your bed,”
“That naked boy just so happens to be the love of my life, and my boyfriend, so I think it’s a little different,” He reminds Regulus.
“Doesn’t matter anyway, cause he fucking left,”
“James did?! Reg, he’s been obsessed with you for the past two weeks,” Sirius exclaims.
Remus jolts awake, rubbing at his eyes. His hair sticks up, and Sirius giggles, pushing it back into place.
“Let me guess, you fucked him,” Remus says.
“I didn’t!”
“I can’t believe he left you. He’s never done that, he wouldn’t do that.” Sirius says.
“Well, he just did.” Regulus whispers, willing his voice not to crack from the tears that threaten to fall. He abruptly closes Sirius’ door, rushing down the hall to grab his stuff. He’s never driven so fast in his life. When he gets into his flat, he just melts down. Scrubbing at his face in the mirror, and crying. This isn’t fair. He hates himself for crying, because he’s supposed to be stronger than that. Regulus always knew they were gonna come down from the high, he just wasn’t prepared for the drop to come so soon.
He spends two days wallowing, before he remembers that they scheduled a shoot. James hasn’t texted, or said anything, so Regulus assumes he’s not coming. He’s sitting in bed with a bowl of instant noodles when the doorbell rings. When James sees him, he looks like he’s seen a ghost.
“Hey. Hi, ah- I’m here for the shoot,”
Regulus clears his throat, gesturing for James to come in. They’re eerily quiet as James hands Regulus the clothes for the shoot. They don’t talk at all, not even when Regulus is posing.
“Look, James, about Sirius’ party-“
“The party! That was a wild night for me, yeah. Was just, sloshed as hell. Don’t really remember much,” James says, laughing.
“You- what about what happened? Do you not remember?”
James looks at him, and Regulus knows he remembers. Say you remember. Say you still want me, say you wanted me all this time. Regulus wants more than anything to get the James he had a week ago back, but this James is apparently a fucking liar. It flashes across his face, and he clears his throat.
“No, I don’t.” He says softly.
“Yknow what? I actually forgot to tell you, but we can’t shoot together anymore. I booked another long term gig, and I just can’t do this commitment anymore,”
James’ head whips around to face Regulus. “Wait, so- so no more shoots? Not even- I can’t-“
“Nope. Sorry, you know how this job goes. I actually have something else I need to get to today, so you should probably go,”
James is upset. In fact, his eyes are a little glossy. He’s breathing hard, panic painted all across his features.
“Wait, Regulus-“
“I really think you should leave, James. Thanks for being so nice to me,”
Regulus backs him up to the front door, and slams it in his face. And then he cries into his hands.