Books and Brews
Regulus
He was nine the first time his brother, Sirius mentioned running away. He phrased it as his future life plans. To run away and never come back. Regulus at that point didn’t quite understand why his older brother would ever want to leave his parents.
Regulus was eleven when he realized why Sirius wanted to leave. It was the first time Regulus had been met with the true wrath of his parents. They’d been angry with him previously but Sirius had always taken the blame or jumped to protect him. At the young age of eleven, Regulus found out what Sirius had been going through all those years prior. It was abuse in its simplest terms. He wasn’t allowed food for three days. He hid out in his room for a week. When he was eleven he began sharing his brother's want to run away.
When Regulus was fourteen it got worse. He and Sirius were being both equally abused, it had gotten so much worse as they grew older. Being in locked their rooms, denied food for days, sometimes being hit so hard bones broke. Of course, they weren’t treated immediately nor were they caught. Sirius began acting out more than normal, becoming unruly at charity dinners, balls, parties, and other such important outings for the Black family. Regulus was more subtle, doing small things such as misplacing a paper or two in his father’s office or ripping a piece of clothing he was meant to wear. Their brotherly bond grew stronger as they grew older. They learned how to survive together. Their months away at school were filled with more laughs than ever had at their dusty home.
At seventeen everything came to a head. Sirius had just turned nineteen, he was finishing his first term in university, and Regulus was finishing his first term in his last year of school. They were home for the holidays, much against either of their wishes. However, their Uncle Alphard had just passed and they had to go to his funeral. That week is easily Regulus’ strongest memory.
He and his brother arrived back on the same night, getting in quite late. They attempted to not disturb their parents as they scuffled in the door. To Regulus’ dismay, he knocked on the entry table while yanking his suitcase in the front door causing a bang. He and Sirius both jumped knowing this was sure to awaken one if not both parents. They were right both Walburga and Orion came downstairs moments later. Before she even saw their faces their mother immediately began screaming about their disrespectfulness. Before either brother could say a word Walburga appeared in front of them and slapped both on the face.
Regulus’ face was caught by her ring, leaving a nasty cut that would later leave a small scar. Sirius stood cradling his face, staring in disbelief or anger Regulus couldn’t ever tell. There was silence for mere seconds, the three people stood in front of an open door staring at each other. Walbirga opened her mouth to speak but before she could get a word in Sirius turned his back and pulled his suitcase back out the front door. He began walking away from the house. Regulus was in a daze, confused by the events that had just happened. He quickly realized what was going on and followed Sirius in suit not saying a word, just shaking his head.
He quickly caught up to Sirius who was walking towards the train station, he was still holding his jaw. “Sirius.” There was a twinge of anger in voice.
“Regulus.” Sirius chewed back. Neither were angry with the other they were in disbelief.
“What’s your plan? We don’t have anywhere to go.” Sirius stopped.
“I don't have one,” He turned to his brother.
“This is reckless. What did we just do?” Regulus let his hands fall to his side. He could feel tears boiling in his eyes.
“I don’t know Reggie.” Sirius placed his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “I know we can’t go back though.” Regulus nodded at him. He could feel the tears begin to fall from his face. He didn’t understand why he was crying he wasn’t going to miss that house. Maybe it was tears of relief, he was finally free.
“I’m scared.” Regulus wiped his face and looked at his brother. Sirius’ face was already beginning to bruise.
“I know. Come here,” He was pulled into a tight hug. Regulus began to squirm.
“Sirius. Let. Go.” Regulus hated hugs, he felt squished and like he couldn’t breathe. He broke free from his brother’s grip.
“Reggie. You’re bleeding.” Sirius was staring at the side of his brother’s face.
“It’s fine. We need a plan. It's too cold for this.”
“We’ll get a hotel room by the train station for tonight and go from there. It’ll be okay.”
The two made their way to the train station got a room at the motel across the street and crashed for the night.
The following days were chaotic for the pair. They ended up staying in the motel two more nights before they finally agreed upon something. Sirius didn't want to stay in England, regulus just didn’t want to end up stranded. Neither knew what they were doing about school but that wasn’t very important to either at that point. Somehow after much convincing by Sirius they ended up catching a flight to America and ended up in Seattle.
They already had passports and other necessary items from many trips to the coast on holidays. Regulus liked the rain of Seattle and Sirius liked the city. Sirius was able to access his trust fund to get an apartment. All seemed well.
That was five years ago. At that time Sirius opened a coffee shop near their apartment that did quite well being that it was on the edge of a college campus. Sirius never bothered finishing school claiming he’d wing it.
Reguluso on the other hand insisted that he gain a university-level education and enrolled in the local community college and ended up getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He then was able to get into graduate school at the college campus by the apartment. He was months away from finishing his master’s degree. Regulus helped out when he could at the coffee shop and when he wasn’t helping there he was at the library or the apartment writing papers or studying. Regulus enjoyed his fresh start. He loved working at the coffee shop he loved going to university and learning. He was content.
He still had his fair few struggles, and so did Sirisu. Regulus got them both in therapy not long after they settled and they both go once a week. Regulus knew he and his brother had their issues but he hoped to get in front of it. He’d never seen his brother happier, he’d never seen himself this happy.
****
Regulus sat in the campus library with a stack of books to his left and a stack of papers to his left. He had his laptop propped open in front of him with an empty document waiting for him to put words down. He had finished his notes the previous day, he just needed to organize his thoughts and write. He was studying memory recovery and possible methods.
Instead of writing his essay for the last two hours he; 's been bouncing between staring at his phone and watching people pass through the giant glass window. People-watching was his favorite thing to do at the library when he was putting off his homework. He liked wondering what people were thinking, where they were going, what they were talking about, really anything that gave him a reason to not write. He particularly loved rainy days when some people would run to the door or just walk without care.
It had been an hour since he’d done any work so he decided he’d be more productive at the apartment he and Sirius shared or the shop. He began packing his notes up trying to be as quiet as possible. He threw his backpack he’d had for ages over his shoulder and grabbed the two textbooks he’d borrowed to drop them off at the front desk. As he began to walk over to the desk his phone began vibrating in his pocket. He was able to snag it out of his pocket, it was Sirius.
“Sirius?” He sat back down in the chair.
“Reggie! Reg! My favorite brother!” Regulus could the bustling people in the cafe.
“Your only brother,” Regulus whispered. “What do you need?”
“If you aren’t busy with homework would it be possible for you to stop by the store and help me out? Dorcas called off last minute and I’m swamped.” Dorcas was the new girl they hired Regulus had seen her around campus a few times, he learned she was a journalism major. They bonded over their draining college work.
“Hm I think I can fit into my very busy schedule,” Regulus joked, he could hear Sirius huff a chuckle. “I can be there in about half an hour I’m at the library.”
“Thank you. I owe you one,” Sirius promptly hung up.
Regulus made his way over to the desk to return his books. , “I just need to return these please,” He sat the books down and the guy at the desk looked up from his computer. He was wearing what looked to be an ancient sweater with a name tag reading Remus with a moon scribbled next to his name.
“They have what you need?” The man who was probably around Sirius’ age asked him as she clicked buttons on the keyboard.
“Sure, they gave me more reason to push off writing my paper even longer,” He was full of jokes today.
“Ah, procrastination I see. My favorite pastime,” Remus joked back. “Well, you’re all set. Enjoy your afternoon.” Regulus heard a slight accent in his voice he just wasn’t sure where from.
“You too,” Regulus made his way out the library doors and down the stairs.
Once he got outside he realized he hadn’t grabbed an umbrella and was going to have to trek through to the wet Seattle weather. Even though he’d been here four years now it was a mistake he made quite often. Lucky for him the shop was only a fifteen-minute walk from the library.
He walked in the door and met with the warm air from the heater and smells of coffee and muffins floating through the air. There weren’t as many people as he thought there would be. That being said all the tables were filled and there weren’t many bar chairs open. Sirius looked to be cleaning the milk steamer and refilling the coffee beans. Regulus walked to the back and through to the office door and chucked his stuff down in the office chair. He pulled out the door shut and made his way to the bar.
He grabbed an apron off the rack and tossed it on before standing waiting for his brother to notice him. “Sirius.” Regulus tapped his brother’s shoulder after standing there for a max of thirty seconds.
He whipped around nearly smacking his head on the counter. “My savior!” He stood up and went to hug him, Hugging had become Sirius’s for the last few years. He stopped mid-action, “On second thought you're soaked.”
“I forgot an umbrella,” He grumbled.
“Hm and remind me how long we've been in this rainy weather state?”
“Four years,” Regulus sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Hm. And you keep forgetting an umbrella how?” Sirius played.
“Like you don’t forget yours.”
“I always carry one-” Their bickering was interrupted by the ringing of the front bell.
“Welcome in!” Regulus walked towards the register leaving Sirius. “What can I get for you?” Regulus noted the change in the pitch of voice.
“Just an iced latte to drink and,” The guy trailed off staring into the case and looking at options for food. Regulus noted the black glasses that sat on his face and the dark brown curls that sat messily on his head. “A strawberry muffin warmed. Please.”
“Alright, can I just get a name for the order? Regulus tapped on the screen.
“James.” He was pulling cash out of his wallet. “What’s the damage?”
“Eight even,” James handed him a ten.
“Keep the change mate!” He smiled at Regulus before walking to the other side of the counter to wait for his order.
Regulus walked over to the espresso machine and began brewing the shot. Sirius had already grabbed the muffin and had tossed it in the oven to warm, he had it warmed and packaged before Regulus had finished pulling the shot.
“Muffin for James?” Sirius called out. James took the muffin off the counter nodding.
Regulus finished his latte and put it in the cup. “Latte for James?” James who was standing next to the counter grabbed it from his hand.
“Thanks again, mate!” James waved as he began to make his way to the door. Regulus couldn’t help but stare at the man.
“You’re gonna catch a fly with your open that wide,” Sirius walked up next to him. Regulus slammed his jaw shut still staring.
“Can you blame me-” Regulus couldn’t help but stare. James was beautiful. His hair fell in just the right places to look messy while put together. His jumper was oversized but somewhere still looked amazing on him. His eyes were a perfect mix of hazel and coffee bean colored.
Maybe he’d get lucky and see him again. Regulus hoped, hell he prayed he’d see him again.