Chapter 2.
“So we’re really doing this huh?” Regulus says as he moves his knight.
“Yeah I guess so.” Sirius replies. The day after Dorcas and Mary gave them the news, Regulus came over to Sirius’s place to talk it through. It’s honestly shocking Regulus hasn’t actually met any of Sirius’s friends, considering one of them lives with him. But really anytime he’s over, Potter isn’t in the house- which, Regulus isn’t complaining about, but still. He thinks he should at least get to meet him, especially the attractive one, but of course he wouldn’t ever admit that. Regulus also has his own place, but it’s quite small. He’s also still in contact with his parents, but barely. He simply sends them horrifically large checks once in a while and calls it a day. What more can he do really? Nonetheless, whenever Regulus comes over, they always play a game of chess. Tradition? Habit? No one’s sure, but they were forced to learn as kids. Of course Sirius hated it, but he likes to have something he can share with his brother nowadays he supposes. They’re both startlingly good, but unsurprisingly, Regulus is better. He almost always wins. Just as Regulus was about to checkmate him, the door slams open.
“Heelllooooo my favorite sluttttt. How have you beeenn?? My I haven't seen you in foreverr- oh, um hello. Sorry didn’t see you.“ the voice almost knocks Regulus out of his chair. And when he looks at the stranger he genuinely has to grip the table for balance. It’s James Potter, he registers moments too late, he knows from social media and Sirius’s pictures. But gods be good he looks fucking delectable. It seems he’s just come from the gym- his hair is wet, he’s wearing criminally short shorts, and the water from his hair is making his shirt stick to his- 8 pack? 12 pack? Regulus does not know for the life of him but he is so so unfairly fit. Regulus realizes he’s just sat there staring, but truly he cannot tear his eyes away. James clears his throat and walks back toward Sirius, kissing him on the top of the head obnoxiously.
Sirius rolls his eyes even as he starts to grin. “Prongs you saw me like 5 hours ago.” He says teasingly.
“Oh my deearr, that is 5 hours too longg!” James replies grinning. Then he looks back at Regulus and coughs again- he should really drink some water, Regulus thinks stupidly. No, you know what, Regulus needs water after that sight. Merlin.
Nonetheless he awkwardly gets up and grabs a water bottle for him- “Um, water?” James stands there frozen.
Sirius all but cackles. “Reggie! Merlin's sake’s- it’s his house!! You don’t need to offer him water.” Regulus rolls his eyes and shoves the water bottle in James’s hands.
This, and Sirius’s words, seem to break James out of his trance. “Oh yes Reggiee, no need at all.” He says and begins to grin.
Regulus glares at him. “No.”
“…yeees?”
“No.”
“Maybee?”
“Potter.”
James laughs and shakes his head. “Alright Reg. Can I call you Reg?”
Regulus glares at him again. Then as he opens his mouth to disagree, he looks at James making something akin to puppy dog eyes. He rolls his eyes so hard. Dammit. “Fuck’s sake. Fine whatever.”
James literally beams. His whole being seems to light up. Regulus almost smiles, he thinks he would do anything to make than happen- wait no what the fuck. Why the fuck would he- no, nope. He got caught up in his thoughts. Definitely fucking not. He couldn’t care less whether James was happy or not.
His thoughts are interrupted by the three of their phones going off at once. Regulus looks up confused, to see Sirius pulling out his phone first.
Then he starts laughing. “Jesus, it’s just Mary. I’m guessing your manager messaged you too Reggie?”
He checks. “Yep, it’s her.”
James checks. “Damn, how are they so in sync?” He sighs, “Women terrify me.”
Sirius looks at him and raises his eyebrows. “Women don’t necessarily terrify me, but god Mary does. OH and Lily. So scary.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, even knowing Pandora and Dorcas can be very scary at times. He has experienced it first hand. “Potter you’re quite literally straight.” He says it as a confident comment, but really its more of a question- leave him alone, okay? He is struggling.
James pouts. “I’m very much pansexual thank you.”
Regulus chokes. “Oh, cool, sorry, yeah, cool, um-”
His panic is rudely interrupted by Sirius. “Hey guys, did you read the message? It’s time bitches.”
Regulus checks the message.
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Thursday, February 26th
3:06 p.m
Dorcas: Bitch let's go. Scheduled the meeting with your brother and his friends. 3:45. Hit the road, don't be late, I’ll be there too.
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Regulus didn’t realize they would have to go on such short notice, but oh well.
“Alright fuckers get in the car.” Sirius says getting up from his seat.
“Wait wait.” Regulus says. Sirius looks at him in concern. Regulus moves his rook. “Check mate.” he smirks.
Sirius flips him off. “Fuck you.”
“I’m not our parents. Incest isn’t really my forte Siri. It’s alright though if you, you know, swing that way. ” Regulus’s smirk grows. Sirius fumes.
James bursts out laughing. “Jesus-” he says through laughter, trying to regain his breath.
“Prongs!!” Sirius exclaims. “You’re meant to be on my side!’
James shrugs and continues to laugh. “Sorry pads. That was fucking funny. Anyway I’ll change really quick, you guys get in the car though, I’m on my way.” And he disappears behind the wall.
“Hang on.” Regulus starts. “I’m going in my own car.”
Sirius rolls his eyes. “Don’t be difficult Reg, save the environment and shit. Just come with us. We’re all headed to the same place.”
Regulus does not have the strength to argue at this point. He sighs, “Fine whatever. Let’s go.”
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The car ride was, a thing. James drove, Sirius sat next to him, and Regulus sat in the back. He got frequently distracted by James singing along to the music though. Gods, no wonder he’s the lead singer, his voice is beautiful. It’s not fair really, he needs to have some flaws.
Eventually though they reached the building and walk into the meeting room.
He is immediately knocked over by someone hugging him and practically yelling in his ear. “Reggie!! You’re here!”
Regulus sighs. “Yes Dorcas, unfortunately I am.”
She rolls her eyes fondly. “Come on, sit, we have a lot to go over.” He nods in the direction of James and Sirius.
Sirius looks absolutely baffled. “You can hug him??” He looks ridiculous really, his eyes bulging out of his sockets.
Dorcas rolls her eyes exponentially hard. “Yes Black, I am his best friend, I can hug him for Merlin's sake.” Sirius looks no less baffled.
James clears his throat. He scratches the back of his head and offers his hand to Dorcas. “Erm nice to meet you-” He looks at her name plate on the desk. “Meadowes, Dorcas Meadowes.” He shakes her hand.
Dorcas smirks. “You as well Potter.” But she’s mainly looking at Regulus as she says it. He raises his eyebrow at her, annoyed. Her smirk only grows. “Let us sit. Lupin and Pettigrew are already here.”
A woman, Mary Macdonald, sits at the table. Regulus recognizes the name as Siri’s manager.
And indeed, Lupin and Pettigrew are seated as well. The four sit down, they say their hellos and get to business.
“Alright, firstly.” Mary says, looking at each of them. “We’re all on board and aware of the plan, correct.”
They all nod. “Yep, go on tour with my baby brother.” Sirius adds. Regulus rolls his eyes, so does Macdonald, he notices. Maybe she’s not half bad, he thinks.
Dorcas however seems to find this entertaining. “Precisely, Black” She grins at him, he rolls his eyes. It’s just a reflex at this point. Then she seems to harden into professional mode again. “Let’s talk documents.”
After signing many documents and agreements, Mary claps her hands. “Cool! Okay so I know you lot are too immature for all the business shit,” she looks pointedly at Siri and his friends. “But basically we’ll set up a tour bus for you lot, show times, plane tickets, blah blah all the boring tour bullshit. And we’ll tell all of you when to announce it on your socials. Feel free to drop little hints and just get people excited.” She glares daggers at james. “HINTS Potter.”
James groans while his friends laugh at him. “That was once Mary. I didn’t mean to- they just, guessed.”
“Oh? Pardon?” Mary counters, raising her eyebrows. “You leaked the NAME of the album for fuck’s sake.”
“Shut up.” James murmurs, and looks to the floor.
Sirius cackles. “Oh its alright Prongs we forgive youu.” He coos.
Regulus, regrettably, has to keep himself from laughing. How does one accidentally leak the name of an album? It's horribly, stupidly, cute. He scolds himself for that thought.
Mary claps. “Alright everyone, you can go. Get excited people, we’re about to create the scandal of the century.” Her and Dorcas high five. What an unusual friendship.
Remus stands up first, Sirius directly afterwards to hand him his cane. “Thank you Sirius. I’ll be off then.”
Sirius pouts. “Wait no Moonyy, can’t you come to our place??” He makes puppy dog eyes at him. Jesus what is wrong with him and James. Cut from the same cloth.
Remus sighs. He seems to have the same problem with Regulus with the 2 golden-retriever-puppy- eyes. “Fine.” Sirius beams and hugs him.
James and Peter seem to come to an understanding using their eyes, and Peter gets up to walk after his brother and Lupin. Then James looks at Regulus. “Um, you want to come with us? We’ll have like- dinner probably.”
Regulus has the urge to smile- which, ew. He disgusts himself. “Sorry James, I have plans tonight, just with friends. Pandora needs some help with some things. Another time perhaps.”
James deflates. Oh no, oh god no he hates that. Regulus hates that. He sighs. “Don’t pout, stop it.”
James looks at him through unfairly long lashes.
“Jesus.” Then Regulus does something so stupid. Why does he do it- don’t ask him, he doesn’t know, he didn’t know what to do. He’s barely met James, but he seemed so sad dammit. He kisses him on the cheek. James beams. Well, now he seems ecstatic. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can Regulus is out the door.
“Wait!” James yells down the hallway. “I- uh- have a good nightt!!!”
Regulus smiles where no one can see him. Merlin he’s an idiot.