My Star

“Is it going to be weird that i’m there?” Remus worried while watching Regulus check his outfit in the mirror.

“No, why would it be?”

“I don’t know…” Remus said, falling back into his friend’s bed.

“It’s going to be fine. You and Sirius can be all weird and then we can eat and leave.” Regulus slipped on some rings, throwing Remus a couple that he thought would go with his outfit.

“Ow,” He said catching the rings on his stomach, “…we’re not going to be weird.”

***

They were weird. Sirius’ door opened to unsurprisingly Sirius, but surprisingly a very well polished Sirius. The usual vintage band t-shirt he would sport at dinners was replaced with a clean black button down. Clearly he had spent time getting ready. He grinned upon opening the door.

”Hey, Reggie! Hey, Remus!”

Regulus just hummed in response while Remus tried to say hi back, words getting lost in throat. Regulus worried that they would be standing here for hours if he didn’t break up their little staring contest. 

“Is it going to be like this the whole time?” He groaned walking through the door and pulling Remus inside behind him.

”Let me introduce you to my brother, brother.”

Regulus rolled his eyes. The three walked into the kitchen to see a the back of a messy haired man collected plates from a cabinet. He turned around upon hearing the others. 

”This is-“ 

Regulus’ heart dropped.

“James?”

After what felt like an hour of staring James grinned widely.

”Do you two know each other?”

”No.” Regulus answered at the same time that James replied with a “Yes.”

The older boy raised an eyebrow at him.

”Let’s just eat,” Regulus said hiding his face by look down at his feet. 

Dinner hadn’t even started yet and it was a disaster, and it didn’t help the way James teased him. 

“Let me get that for you,” He said pulling out Regulus’ chair for him. The younger was too caught off guard by the entire situation to argue. 

“I was talking to James a couple days ago, the day after that party I made you go to if you remember-“

”A bit,” Regulus replied keeping his voice flat.

”Right. So I asked if he saw you there and he said he would have no way knowing because you've never met! Isn’t that crazy?”

”Insane,” James nodded, staring directly at Regulus.

”I could’ve sworn you’ve guys crossed paths before.”

”Nope. Not once.” Regulus said, taking a large bite of pasta in hopes of finishing fast so that he could just leave.

“You probably wouldn’t have seen him anyway, Reg was busy flirting with some hot guy,” Remus laughed.

Regulus sent him a death glare.

“My baby brother flirting?!” Sirius gasped.

”A hot guy?” James inquired, leaning onto his hand to show his interest, “Do tell.”

“He was… okay,” Regulus said staring at his fork.

“Okay?” Remus started, “You said he was-“

“Sirius!” Regulus interrupted, “Did you have a nice time? I never got the chance to ask.” 

Sirius perked up, “I did! Even with Prongs abandoning me. He found a guy of his own to flirt with.”

“What was he like?” Remus asked.

“Pretty. Mean. Brilliant. Full package really.”

”Mean?” Remus laughed.

“Prongs is a weird one alright. Probably should keep him away from Reggie the grump.”

The group laughed. Regulus maybe a bit too hard. 

“I’ll be right back!” Regulus announced standing up from the table and speed walking to the bathroom. Avoiding eye contact with James as much as possible. 

When he reached the bathroom he went to the sink and splashed cold water onto the burning skin on his face.

This is not happening. He told himself. This is not happening. If James is Prongs and Prongs is James and- fuck. Regulus suddenly remembered the texts Prong-James sent to Sirius. Was he in love with him? Or was James just making fun of him. He was teasing him a lot right now. Regulus felt sick and giddy all at once. He splashed his face one more time and after drying it stepped out of the bathroom, ungracefully slamming right into a figure.

Regulus felt hands catch his waist and looked up to see James.

“You okay? Sorry I don’t mean to startle you like that.”

“What-what are you doing here?” 

James tilted his head, “Hm? Was that not a signal? I thought you wanted me to follow you,” He said bringing one hand up the rub the back of his neck. Much to Regulus’ horror (and delight) he brought the hand back down to hold his waist. 

Regulus was paralyzed for a moment before regaining consciousness and peeking around the corner to see if Sirius and Remus looked suspicious. Although the pair seemed deep into their own conversation, smiling and laughing. 

“Come with me,” Regulus said as he grabbed Jame’s hand and dragged him into the bathroom. He promptly shut the door.

“In your brother’s bathroom? Scandalous. Well if you can be quiet-“ 

“N-no!” Regulus sputtered, “That’s not what I meant!” 

James laughed, “I know, Love, i’m just messing with you. This is far from romantic enough for our first kiss.”

“Stop talking like that!” Regulus said now entirely flushed.

”Are you not happy to see me? I must say this is a brilliant turn of events.” James’ smile never left his face.

”We don’t know each other.”

”What?” James asked, his smile finally dropping into confusion, and a little bit of hurt.

”We briefly spoke once. I barely remember it,” That was a complete lie and Regulus knew it, “We’re going to get through this dinner and then never see each other again.” Regulus was extremely overwhelmed, this was not how he expected his night to go. 

”Love-“

”Don’t call me that.” Regulus huffed as he left the bathroom.

”Regulus, you o-“ Remus started when he came back. 

“It’s nothing.” Regulus cut him off.

James came back to the kitchen a minute later with an unreadable expression. Sirius seemingly tried to communicate something with his eyes but the boy just shook his head.

This was the most painful dinner Regulus has ever been at, and he had his share of painful dinners growing up in his family. Sirius tried his best to make conversation but with both James and Regulus being almost completely quiet, it was just Remus and him having a conversation. A painfully flirty one at that. 

“Yeah, i’m an english major.”

”You must be really smart,” Sirius said almost dreamily.

“I’m okay,” Remus blushed back.

Sirius hummed, “I bet you could teach me something-“

Regulus slammed his hand onto the table when his brother’s hand started to inch even closer to Remus’. 

“Can we not?” Regulus grumbled.

“Oh is that an issue for you?” James spoke up with a challenging tone, “Two people liking each other?” 

“Who says they like each other?” They were clearly not talking about Remus and Sirius.

“I just think that if two people have a connection- like those two,” James tried to bring the conversation back to the pair that were now completely silent, “It shouldn’t matter who they are or who they happen to know.”

“Thanks so much for your input,” Regulus glared, “But some people-“

”Would you like a tour of the place?” Sirius asked Remus, wanting to get away from this fight.

”More than you know,” Remus said quickly getting up.

James and Regulus were left staring at each other. 

“Look what you did,” Regulus told him with his arms crossed and nose scrunched.

James rubbed his temple while laughing lightly.  

“Are you insane?” Regulus asked confused of how James was laughing right now.

“No,” James told him, “It’s just- how can someone look so cute while wanting to murder me.”

Regulus looked away, “Maybe you just have a weird kink,” he mumbled. 

James laughed a bit louder. “Do you really never want to see me again?”

Regulus paused, “I don’t know.”

“I know we don’t really know each other and if it wasn’t for Sirius we would have probably never seen each other again. But we did.”

”But that’s the problem! And you’re not just a random guy you’re literally some big actor so that’s another layer- and- and“ Regulus rambled so fast he mixed up his words.

”I know. I know this isn’t ideal… but what if is is?”

”What do you mean?”

“Our lives are so interconnected! C’mon I know your family believes in all that universe stuff.”

Regulus laughed slightly and James beamed.

”Just… don’t throw this all away so soon. I really like you, Regulus.

”You don’t know me.”

”Then let me.”

Regulus considered this for a moment. What’s the worst that could happen. You ruin this like you always do then Sirius and you have and falling out and never see each other again and Remus will go with him. Leaving you completely alone. As usual his anxiety was not helping.

”Maybe,” He decided on, “but… no one can know. Especially not Sirius.

“Done,” James smiled like he’d just gotten the best news in the world, “I’ll make it worth your wild, Love, I swear.

***
After talking for a while longer Sirius and Remus came back looking very happy with linked hands. By this time it was already later than Remus and Regulus had agreed to stay. 

“You ready to go?” Remus asked him.

”I think, yeah,” Regulus replied looking at a smiling James. Regulus cleared his throat, “Thanks for having us, Sirius,” he said moving to the door.

Sirius nodded and walked the pair over. At the door he got on the tip on his toes to whisper something into Remus’ ear who turned pink and leaned to whisper something back that Sirius full on giggled at. 

Regulus stuck his tongue out in disgust while putting his jacket on. James approached him to say a final goodbye for the night.

”I’ll text you okay?” 

”I might respond.”

”Perfect.”

Before Regulus felt his face go completely red he pulled his friend away from his brother to walk out the door. 

“What was that all about,” He asked Remus, scrunching his nose in disgust at him and his brother’s antics.

”What do you mean what was that? What was all that.” Remus asked referencing him and James. 

“Nothing. I just had a headache. I think-“ Regulus cut himself off when he turned to look at his friend, “Is that a fucking hickey?!”

”Uh… no?”