You don't have to hold me anymore

Regulus ~

“This is bad.” Evan paced back and forth, pushing his hands through his hair. “We need Dorcas. I’m calling Dorcas.” He decided.

“We don’t need Dorcas! Don’t disturb her, she’s on a romantic getaway, Ev!” Pandora yelled at him.

“It’s really not that bad.” Regulus said more to himself than them.

“You’re right, it’s good, really good!” Barty’s grin widened.

Evan stopped pacing just to glare at his boyfriend, “How is this in any way good?” Evan’s eyes pierced through Barty’s soul.

“He kissed Potter! Has that not been the goal for the past like- eight fucking years?” Barty explained, making Evan’s glare even more intense.

“Yes but James doesn’t actually want him, so I imagine it would just hurt.” Pandora explained.

“Doesn’t hurt.” Regulus repeated this mantra for the sixth time.

“See! Doesn’t hurt! By the way things are going, he and James are going to be far past just snogging very soon! So by the end of this, he’ll have it all out of his system and we won’t have to hear about Potter ever again!” Barty explained, smirking like he’d solved some big puzzle.

“You’re an idiot.” Evan sounded like he hadn’t slept in six years.

“No, he has a poi-”

“Dora, if you say he has a point I will stab him.” Evan smiled at his sibling sweetly.

“He has a point… not the past snogging part but the system part.” Regulus cut in, Barty burst out laughing while Evan went back to pacing.

“See! See! Are you seeing, Ev?” Barty cackled.

“... Maybe we should call Dorcas.” Pandora sighed, wrapping their arms around Regulus.

“I don’t need Dorcas, this is fine.” Regulus promised. “It was just a kiss, it didn’t mean anything.”

“It didn’t mean anything to Potter, it did mean things to you.” Evan corrected.

“It won’t once the two weeks is-” Evan glared at Barty which shut him up pretty quickly.

“Seriously, it’s fine… I don’t even care that much.” Regulus lied, snuggling into Pandora's arms.

“Yes you do, don’t lie.” Pandora whispered to him.

“Can we just say I don’t? Just for now.” Regulus asked, holding on to Pandora tightly.

“Okay, only for now.” Pandora whispered.

Regulus didn’t know how to feel. He kissed James. He’s had dreams about this for Godricks sake! Still, it felt wrong, like he’d given James something James will never understand the deepness of. Years of wanting him and now it’s right there, all he has to do is make up some stupid excuse of how the Aunties are looking so James should hold him or kiss him. And James would do those things and probably not think of it again. But Regulus, he’d think of it for years. This one kiss with James Potter is going to stick in his memory more than his first kiss. He’ll be old and grey recounting this as the first time he’d felt anothers touch. James will retell this as one of his great pranks, fooling all his relatives.

Bloody hell, it’s only day one.

—---------------------------------------------------------

James ~

“But did you really have to kiss him though? There was no reason for that! Completely uncalled for!” It’d been an hour and Sirius was still complaining about the kiss. James wasn’t even sure why he told him, it just felt important.

“Please stop asking! He’s just going to reiterate the same stupid idea that they needed to ‘practice’ in case it came up.” Remus mimicked James’ earlier actions.

“Which it probably won’t.” Peter added, while Remus dramatically nodded along.

“Key word: probably! It still could, I was just being prepared.” James defended himself.

“By kissing my little brother?!” Sirius yelled.

“He’s almost 20!” James argued back. They’d been going in circles for the past hour.

“I don’t care! It’s still gross. Do you have no loyalty?” Sirius complained.

“Honestly Prongs, why’d you even tell him?” Remus laughed.

“It’s his brother! I needed his consent-”

“Consent denied!” Sirius cut him off.

James spared a look over to Peter, asking for help, Peter smirked. Oh no. “Was it a good kiss though?”

“What?!” Sirius yelled while Remus doubled over laughing.

“Why would you ask that?!” James yelled, holding back his laugh.

“Well?! What’s your answer, Prongs?” Sirius looked at him as if he’d committed a crime.

“It was barely a kiss, Sirius! It was literally a peck!” James was completely lying, the first one definitely was a peck… the second one however. James wasn’t going to talk about that one because if he did, he’d have to lie and say it wasn’t the best kiss he’s ever had. It’s a shame Regulus is a dude (and Regulus) they fit together really well.

“Was it a good peck then, aye James?’ Peter asked, riling Sirius up again.

“I’m going to kill you.” Sirius glared at James before running at him.

“Dinner?” Remus smiled over at Peter.

“Dinner.” Peter agreed before pulling James away from Sirius, as Remus pulled Sirius away.

“I’m going to poison his food.” Sirius informed them all as they made their way down to dinner.

“Mine or Regulus’.” James asked, somewhat praying it was Regulus’.

“Yours!” Sirius yelled before Remus clamped his hand down around his mouth.

“No yelling in public. Out here you are normal and not bat shit crazy.” Remus reprimanded. “Why would licking my hand make me move it? You’ve licked me a thousand times before why would this change anything-“

“Remus!” Peter and James yelled at him in unison.

“See! That’s how it feels, James!” Sirius proclaimed while peeling Remus’ hand off his face.

“Regulus didn’t lick me!” James yelled, feeling his stomach flip.

“Keep it that way.” Sirius threatened.

The rest of the walk to dinner was just pointless bickering between the four boys. By the time they got to the dining area everyone was already there except themselves and Regulus. James sat down next to Peter, leaving a space beside him for when Regulus comes.

“Where’s Regulus?” James whispered over to Pandora.

“Not sure.” They lied.

James would’ve pressed them more if Peter didn’t cut in. “Is it unclassy to order chicken strips on a cruise?”

“Yes but you don’t really care.” Peter nodded along. “Plus Remus is probably going to order pizza, so you’re not alone.” James added.

“Yeah. Either way I’m going to ask it in a rich English voice.” Peter decided.

“Better hurry mate, servers are coming around.” James turned back over to Pandora, “So, is Reg-“

“James. James!” Peter whisper yelled while slapping his arm.

“What?”

“Does that waiter look familiar?” Peter asked, still pinching James’ arm as if he somehow lost his attention in the last millisecond.

“I don’t know, Pete. Can’t tell much from the back of his head.” James squinted trying to see whatever alerted Peter. “I’ll call him over.” James waited for him to turn around to raise his hand, beckoning him over. The waiter stopped and looked at him confused before pointing at himself. James nodded and waved him over again.

“Holy shit!” Peter whispered to him, “It’s Edgar! Edgar fucking Bones, remember that bloke?”

As the waiter awkwardly shuffled over with a dazed look on his face, it finally clicked for James. “Holy shit- Godrick, that’s Edgar Bones? He was in Reg’s grade, right?” James asked.

“Yeah but I think Reggie hated him.” Remus chimed in from the side. “You’re very loud.”

“Very loud.” Pandora added.

“Hello. I’m announcing my presence so you have time to stop talking about me before I hear you and make you all feel embarrassed because we strive for comfortability here at the Lady Nelson Express.” Edgar announced from behind them.

“Thank you.” Pandora smiled up at him earnestly while Remus held in laughs.

“What can I do for you?” He asked, switching all his focus into flipping his notepad open.

“Do you not recognise us, Bones?” Peter looked up at him, a smirk playing at his lips. Godrick, James knew that look.

“I do but I’m not allowed to have in-depth conversations with customers anymore.” Edgar explained.

“Why?” Sirius turned around to look at him.

“Dad says he got a complaint that I made a customer have a ‘deep discomfort’ last time I did.” He looked ashamed.

“How’d you do that?” Remus asked, still suppressing giggles.

“I’m not sure. All I did was point out that when they’re eating crabs they should try not to imagine the crab’s family because it might humanise the crab in their mind, which might stop them from wanting to eat it. I was just helping them enjoy their meal.” Edgar looked genuinely confused at how that could be upsetting.

“We promise not to tell him you spoke to us then, how ‘bout that?” Peter smiled up at him.

Edgar took a second to genuinely stop and think, “I would appreciate that a lot.”

“Consider it done, might even put in a good word for you.” Peter smirked.

“I didn’t know you worked on a cruise ship, Eds.” Sirius jumped in.

“It’s my Dad’s. I’m only working here for now.”

“What are you doing after this?” Peter called his attention back to him, which Edgar gave very willingly.

“I want to open a potions store, I’m just saving up.” Edgar answered, staring down at Peter intently. He said every word with uncertainty, as if he was waiting for someone to tell him he was in fact answering his personal questions correctly.

“That’s really cool, but I meant what were you doing after your shift?” Peter corrected him. Pandora dropped their cup, completely stunned.

“You should word your questions better, I’m not sure how I was supposed to know you were talking about my shift and not my future after this.”

“I’ll word it better next time.” Peter promised, giggling at Edgar’s reprimand.

“Do you still want to know my answer?” Edgar asked.

“Of course.” Peter fluttered his eyelashes at him like a 1950s rom com leading lady.

“Probably going to sleep.”

“Alone?” Peter smiled up at him innocently.

“Mostly, I’m sceptical that the boat might have ghosts on it from the previous owners but Dad tells me that that’s just the ocean hitting against the boat but it’s not. The ocean sounds like: shhhh bump bump shhhhhh. And the ghosts sound like:” Edgar clapped his hands together loudly.

“Oh yeah, definitely not the ocean mate.” Remus laughed.

“I should take your orders now.” Edgar announced.

James watched as Edgar drew a little doodle next to every order he was given. Peter sat staring up at him with a smirk playing at his lips.

“I’ll have the chicken strips. Any suggestions with those?”

“I’m not entirely sure what part of the chicken the strips are so do not rule out any possible options.” Edgar told him with severity in his eyes.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Will you be bringing our food to us or should I be expecting someone else?” Peter asked.

“Do you want me to bring it to you?” Edgar’s cheeks turned pink.

“I’d prefer that, yes. But if you’re busy… I could always find a way to see you again some place else.”

“I’ll bring it.” Edgar nodded a few times before turning away without a goodbye. He stopped after a few steps and turned back around to Peter, “I-“ He clamped his lips together looking back in the direction of the kitchen. “I’ll go get your food.” He turned away again, actually leaving this time.

“Merlin, Pete! Could you be any more obvious?” Remus laughed.

“What? He’s hot and I’ll probably never see him again after this. Let me enjoy this cruise.” Peter rolled his eyes.

“Enjoy is one way to put it.” Pandora remarked, still in complete shock.

While Peter and Pandora went on arguing about Peter’s definition of enjoyment, Regulus sat down on the seat next to James, earning him a stray look from Aunt Arshia.

“Hey, what took you so long?” James asked, picking up his hand and holding it atop the table.

“Took a nap.” Regulus placed a quick kiss to James’ cheek, James felt his stomach twist.

“You feeling okay?” James asked, pulling his hand up to caress Regulus’ cheek.

“Just tired.” Regulus answered, leaning into his touch.

“Are you still hungry?”

“Not really, I just didn’t want to make you look bad by not showing up. making you sit alone would raise some eyebrows.” Regulus explained.

James stood up and pulled Regulus up with him, “Come on, let’s bring you back to bed.”

“James, you don’t have to skip dinner.” Regulus argued.

“I’ll get Pete to sneak me some food, he has an in with the chefs now.” James winked, pulling Regulus along behind him.

“What does that mean?” Regulus asked.

“I’ll explain in the room.” James promised, squeezing Regulus’ hand a little to emphasise.