Stick Season
“PARDON?!”
Regulus grunted as Barty jumped on top of him and shook him.
“Are you fucking insane??!?”
From the corner of his eye Regulus could faintly make out Evan pacing and Pandora trying to hold in her laughter.
Why did he tell them about James again?
Oh right, they cornered him in his room and wouldn’t let him the fuck out.
Lucky him.
Barty continued his tirade of just how stupid he was for giving James his number while simultaneously comforting him – saying he deserved better – and berating him as apparently the Black family madness was showing.
“Babe I think our lionheart gets it.” Evan hummed as he plopped on the bed next to where Regulus laid. “He’s already beating himself up for it, let’s not add on to the stress.”
“I’m not— ”
Regulus was cut off by Evan’s hand on his mouth. “Yes you are and that’s perfectly fine.”
And oh, of course they would be on his side. Of course they would lean in and be okay with his utter lack of sanity when it all comes down to his first everything.
Regulus groaned and slapped Evan’s hand away. “Why am I like this?”
He really did blame the fucking infamous Black family madness for his lapse in judgment.
Hell, at this point if all goes to shit blame his family.
“Nothings wrong with you for still caring, lionheart.” Pandora cooed as she came to stroke his hair, “He was a catalyst for you and that’s okay. It’s okay to open yourself up. It’s okay to trust your instincts. We won’t let you fall or get hurt again. We’ll be here no matter what for it all.”
“He didn’t know Dora. He looked so fucking lost when I told him I wasn’t there that night. I just couldn’t leave with that what if.” Regulus closed his eyes to prevent the tears. He could never keep up his masks for too long with them.
They always saw through him anyway.
“We just don’t want to see you so hurt again Reg.” Barty hummed as he shifted to move his body onto his boyfriend’s, laying his head on Regulus.
They somehow managed to all end up touching. With Pandora crawling in behind him, Evan lay next to them with Barty right on top of them playing with the hem of Dora’s dress.
No wonder everyone thought they were together.
They were inseparable.
“I love you.” Regulus whispered so low it was practically a breath. But they still heard. They always did.
“We love you too.”
———————————
“Dora where are my drum sticks?”
“Reg I’m borrowing your top.”
“Barty if you rip my fucking jacket i’ll string you up by your bloody prick!”
“Did anyone see my starry earrings?”
“OUTSIDE NOW.”
Regulus ushered them all into the SUV which Xeno so graciously offered to drive since their current chauffeur was on vacation with his family.
They were hours past the time they were supposed to be at The Prophet’s building for the setup and pleasantries. So when Regulus urgered Xeno to drive like they were dying, the man simply smiled, put on one of their songs and not once did he use the brakes.
No wonder Dora was despairingly in love with the man.
The girl in question was singing the lyrics with Barty who tried to climb out the sunroof before Evan yanked him back down.
What was supposed to be a forty five to an hour drive, was cut down to a measly fifteen minutes. Although if you add in the short detour for a quick cup of coffee, it’d make twenty which was only because Evan wanted a blueberry scone at the last minute.
“Remind me why I'm your manager again?” Dorcas growled as she marched in with them on her heels.
“At least we made it this time!” Barty grinned, earning him a glare from Cas who suddenly looked too close to strangling him.
Regulus sighed and gently took Cas by the hand and spun her back to the direction they were heading. “No time to kill the clown.”
“HE-!”
Evan shut Barty up with a hand on his mouth and whispered something probably debauched in his ear.
It was a few seconds down a long hallway where they were ushered into an area where they sat to get their makeup touched up and ready for their interview and performance.
“It's nice to officially meet you all even though you're late.” a voice sounded from next to Regulus almost making him flinch.
The host of The Prophet sat next to him getting her hair styled in tight curls, “I’m Mary McDonald by the way.”
“Regulus Black. The girl with the blonde hair is Pandora Rosier, Evan Rosier is the boy next to her and Barty Crouch is the one on your other side.” Regulus shook her outstretched hand and one by one they greeted her.
“We are terribly sorry for being late Miss McDonald, today just wasn’t one of the good ones.” Pandora smiled at her apologetically. “We’re a bit disoriented being back in the bustle of London.”
“Oh, that’s fine dear and call me Mary, I just wanted to review the questions I'm going to ask you and make sure you're okay with answering them.” Mary said it so simply and nonchalant that she didn’t notice the widening of Pandora’s eyes or Regulus’ raised eyebrow.
“Ummm, we don't really need to. I'm not sure what Dorcas said but we’re doing a…” Evan glanced at them, nibbling his lip, “We’re doing a sort of tell-all and – er…, well we trust that you'll ask the right questions.” They all nodded in agreement, a little too quickly if one were to truly look at them. “Anyway Cas approved it so, um we don't really need to…review it that is.”
It wasn't like they didn’t trust Dorcas to review and approve of the questions as she always did for these interviews. Oh no that's far from what Evan's awkwardness was about. For the first time in their history of interviews the host asked them what they wanted. And for the four of them, that was everything in this industry.
Mary seemed to sense at least a bit of anxiety as she changed the subject to simpler questions about the band.
––––
The spotlights shone on each of the four bandmates, illuminating their slight figures.
“Tonight ladies and gentlemen, we introduce the beginning of our new album. It's a bit unorthodox and not what we usually write but it means a lot, this album.” Dora’s voice captured the crowd as she spoke, quieting them.
“We’d like to introduce you to the songs that mean the most to us, the ones we just couldn’t possibly bless you with until now.” Barty smirked and began a low melody on his guitar.
“This was the beginning for us. Hopefully it impacts you as much as it did to us.” Evan smiled as he followed with a low rhythm on the drums, nodding to Regulus.
“Welcome to the ‘Season of the Sticks’.”
——————————
Sirius was sitting next to Remus on their couch just after Peter arrived dragging a very much guilty looking James in front of them.
Before Peter could even begin what looked like another lecture, a knock sounded at their door.
“Oh for fucks sake!” Peter groaned before he went to open the apartment door. Sirius could only make out some mumbled words before the clack of heels sounded throughout their rather grand apartment.
“Andy…” Sirius grinned and jumped up to greet the woman when he heard a small cough from their entryway.
“I hope you don't mind, I brought company.”
Just past Andromeda was Narcissa Black in all her finery, her face poised in what he knew to be the Black’s signature mask of haughty indifference.
“...and the wicked witch.” Sirius mumbled but Andy clearly heard it as she fixed Sirius with a glare cold enough to make the sun shiver or James Potter for a better comparison.
“Don't start with me Sirius Orion Black, Euphemia raised you better than that.”
Sirius winced at that and went to defend himself when Remus responded insead, “It's lovely to see you Andy, you too Narcissa. Though if you don't mind me asking, what are you both doing here?”
The four boys watched as Andromeda pulled Narcissa onto their couch and turned on the tele, before digging in her handbag to pull out a box of popcorn.
“Do put this in the microwave, will you James? Remus hunny, can you make all of us some tea? Peter, do be a dear and get us some other snacks and drinks, thank you.” Andy commanded the three boys with a mothering finesse that had them all jumping up to do as they were told.
“Sirius, come sit with us.”
Oh he knew whatever the fuck what happening wasn’t going to end well for him.
“Andy…” Sirius cautiously approached the women as they made themselves comfortable. Andromeda had a wicked glint in her eyes that were mirrored by her sister.
“Sit.”
––
Narcissa watched as the boys did what Andy told them to without complaint. She watched as Sirius reluctantly sat in between them, arms crossed and pouting.
As much as she hated to admit it he looked like a less put together version of Reg that night, with his hair slightly past his shoulders and tight leather pants even indoors. She blatantly stared at his side profile, unabashed when he turned to glare at her.
“You’re so lucky you know.” Cissa hummed with a slight turn up of her nose, “We’d have killed to be here a few years ago, unscathed, for the most part.”
“W-what?” Sirius barked out at her but she had already turned to face the tele as the lanky brunette switched it on.
“You’ll see.” was all she murmured before the show turned on.
Regulus, Pandora, Evan and Barty appeared on the screen, all decked out in black and silver. They looked exquisite wearing Cissa’s newest winter collection that was soon to be out in her stores.
She smiled as Reg’s laugh sounded throughout the apartment. The boy was smirking as he glanced at his friends who teased him for something or the other.
“I rather am honoured that you’d choose the Prophet to debut your new album. From the songs we’ve seen you perform it sounds bloody amazing so far but us nosy people are dying to know why, Why now?” The interviewer asked as she held their gaze.
The three members of the band looked at Regulus and smiled, “It’s our story. Something big happened over the last year or so and we wanted to touch our roots a bit.”
“Ah, yes the headlines of Regulus and Remus, right?”
“That’s a part of it you can say.” Evan glanced at Reg before he smirked, locking eyes with the interviewer then looked to the crowd, “But of course that part isn't true, or are you cheating on us Reg my love?”
The live crowd went wild as Narcissa chuckled, oh they knew how to get everyone’s attention.
“Do fuck off.”
Barty grinned from this place next to Reg and kissed his cheek, “Sorry to disappoint all those who ship us but we’re purely platonic. Unless of course…”
“NO!” Cissa and Andy shared a look behind Sirius and both snorted out laughs at the disgust on their little cousin’s face. He could be so dramatic when he was ready.
“Anyways, to clear the air, I am not dating Lupin nor am I with any of them.” Regulus raised his brows at the collective sigh of the crowd, “One would think you'd all love that.”
“Ah but we so hoped you and Remus would be true! Think of the music Regulus, the music!” The interviewer smirked as she leaned forward to join in the teasing.
“Oh Mary, our lionheart would just eat him alive. We wouldn’t want that would we?” Pandora tutted at Regulus playfully.
“I'm not that bad.” Regulus looked innocently to the crowd.
“Yes you are.” everyone collectively answered as Regulus narrowed his eyes at them with a slight smirk.
“Mmm…perhaps.”
There was a small interlude where the band performed one of their recent songs before an ad break where no one in the room moved. They simply sat quietly and stared at the tele.
Cissa thought this to be rather a great feat for them considering what she’d been told.
As the show came back on, more questions were asked, some games were played resulting in Regulus gaining a new tattoo and as the end was nearing the introduction of their newest album.
“As we said before, it's our beginning. It’s way different from most of our songs and I'd like to think that each song and melody holds a bit of our souls. If you ever wanted to know us, listen to this album.” Pandora hummed, smiling slightly.
“Can we delve into a bit of its history or…”
The band looked at each other before responding, “We can.”
“We are all runaway kids if some of you didn’t know. We grew up to love bloody fists and harsh words because that’s what got us heard. We found a family in each other who wouldn’t judge. Growing up I had someone who was my world until life happened and we grew apart.”
Behind Sirius’ back, Andy linked her hand with Cissa’s as they listened to Regulus. They watched as he inhaled and took a steadying breath, something so miniscule and unnoticeable to the untrained eye. Only family would know his tell of anxiety.
Pandora leaned into him as he continued to speak, perhaps for the longest he has ever had in an interview.
“This one is for the survivors, the forgotten kids and the little broken people who wouldn’t mind loving in the dark.”
Cissa felt Sirius squirm a bit. Good. She always loved making people uncomfortable before ruining them for the better. Perhaps then he’d understand that the snake only bites when provoked.
“Everyone please welcome ‘The Royal Court’ for their last song of the night.”
–––––––––––
“Welcome to the ‘Season of the Sticks’.”
“As you promised me that I was more than all the miles combined
You must have had yourself a change of heart like
Halfway through the drive
Because your voice trailed off exactly as you passed my exit sign
Kept on drivin' straight and left our future to the right”
Of course Regulus wrote this song for Sirius. Why wouldn’t his seventeen year old self have a mental breakdown through music.
“Now I am stuck between my anger and the blame that I can't face
And memories are somethin' even smoking weed does not replace
And I am terrified of weather 'cause I see you when it rains”
Sometimes Regulus hated himself when it came to how pathetic he was when it came to his blood…
“And I'll dream each night of some version of you
That I might not have, but I did not lose
Now your tire tracks and one pair of shoes
And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do”
At least the pain got him somewhere. He’s now filthy rich with his counterparts. His little band. The pain was worth it.
“So I thought that if I piled something good on all my bad
That I could cancel out the darkness I inherited from dad
No, I am no longer funny 'cause I miss the way you laugh
You once called me forever now you still can't call me back”
So what if he inherited the worst of his parents? So what if he carved himself out and shut down like Orion? So what if his tongue was as silver and sharp as Walburga’s? It doesn’t matter now anyways, he made it.
“And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas”
Regulus was alright now. Even if he wrote this the day he saw Effie shopping and she didn’t realise it was him until he asked after his brother. He cooped up in Abe’s bar that whole weekend. Abe let the four of them spend Christmas there getting drunk and singing for the poor sods who had nothing else to do but be at Hog’s Head.
“Oh, that'll have to do
My other half was you
I hope this pain's just passin' through
But I doubt it”
Pandora always said the pain would lessen and his heart would be sewn up again. He didn’t believe her. He should’ve. She was always right about those things.
And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas
And I'll dream each night of some version of you
That I might not have, but I did not lose
Now your tire tracks and one pair of shoes
And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do