You Should Take It As A Compliment
Regulus was a smart kid, so he was only mildly surprised when he was bumped up a year. He was not, however, very happy about needing to be in the same classes as his brother. Not that he doesn't like his brother, he got over that after he moved out. It was just that Sirius was the only one who knew. Who knew about his past. And that was scary.
"Oi! Baby Black!" Regulus also was not very happy about needing to be in the same classes as his brother's best friend.
"What is it, Potter?" Regulus replies blankly.
"Heard you're joining us for the rest of this year. Welcome," James says, sitting beside Regulus, who slides his chair slightly over as to not be in the direct space of James Potter.
"Yes, I am. Thanks for the warm welcome. Anything I should know about?"
"Probably, you see, Black, Sirius and I are kinda like celebrities here. We are, after all, the main parts of The Marauders-"
"Ugh," Regulus says, but James ignores him.
"-so I'd be prepared to deal with people wanting a lot of autographs. Also, don't use the water fountain near the art classes. Rumor has it someone put food dye in it so it dyes everybody's mouth blue," James says, leaning back onto the back two legs of his chair.
"Was that 'somebody' you, by chance?"
"I was just trying to help, no need to accuse me of breaking the school rules!" Regulus rolls his eyes. By now he's far too accustomed to James and Sirius' antics. He's grown used to the pranks, and knows to take they're warnings seriously. Or rather, Siriusly.
"Fine, fine. Now I have to get to class. Good bye, Potter." Regulus stands up and starts to leave the library.
"Bye, Reggie," James says, then promptly falls off the chair. Regulus stifles a laugh.
***
By the end of the day, Regulus was quite tired. There were so many classes that he had to pay attention to, and write homework down for, and all this other stuff that just tired him out. He was almost happy when he got to go home. But then he remembered that he lives with Barty and Evan. He sighs as he steps onto the bus outside the school.
The bus ride is short, thankfully, so he gets off pretty soon.
During the drive home, he'd finished some of his homework, so he only had a little left. The apartment is loud when he steps inside, Barty and Evan playing chess and blasting Taylor Swift.
"Turn that retched music off," Regulus says, dropping his bag. Barty and Evan have a free period last, so they're allowed to go home early on Mondays.
"You love it!" Barty says, but lowers the volume a little. It's kinda true, hard not to love her music. "How was school, Reggie?"
"Alright, I guess."
"Any romance?" Barty asks with a smirk competing only with the devil himself.
"No, you kiff."
"Alright, alright, just asking!" Regulus rolls his eyes and walks to his room, calling behind him,
"Don't fuck on the couch!" He hears Barty say 'no promises' before his door shuts. He sits on his bed, leaning against the headboard, and pulls out his laptop. He finishes a few tasks for English, making up deep shit to please the teacher, before checking his emails. He has a few from various teachers, none of which catch his eye as important until he sees one from a teacher he doesn't recognize the name of.
Dear Regulus,
You have been selected to be a part of an extracurricular activity. Congratulations! Come to S7 at fourth period Thursday to find out your team and the rules.
Sincerely,
Mrs Williamsburg
Fuck, Regulus thinks, just to separate me further, I have to be chosen for some stupid goody-two-shoes extracurricular. He closes his laptop and tosses it gently to the side. He glances at the corner of his room, where his practice drums are. Well, might as well get some practice in. He walks over, flipping the outlet switch with his foot as he passes. Headphones on and plugged in securely, one ear still bare, he picks up his sticks. He clicks play on his phone and Custer comes on, loud. Can't be good for his hearing, but it's what he needs. He follows the beat pretty much perfectly, the occasional slip-up here and there. He's a good drummer, took lessons for a while after moving out. When Sirius was learning guitar. He wanted to be just like him...
"Idiot," he mutters at the memory of his former self, and plays harder.
"Dude! Shut the fuck up!" Someone yells. Regulus stops drumming and turns around, seeing an annoyed Barty standing behind him with his hands on his hips. Regulus pauses the music and drops his headphones around his neck.
"You can't even hear what I'm playing."
"I can hear you banging the drum kit, though. So stop. Or play quieter."
"Yeah, whatever." Regulus puts his sticks back, and hangs up his headphones as Barty leaves. He turns off the outlet as he walks back to his bed. "Shit, I have homework." Pulling out his books with one hand, he pops a mint in his mouth with the other. With the sharp flavor, he focuses on his work.
***
Thursday showed up in a flash, and Regulus was completely unprepared for the meeting. He thought it was going to be a bunch of nerdy strangers, but no. Well, yes. There are a bunch of nerdy strangers. But also... James Potter. You've got to be kidding me.
"Ah, you must be Regulus. Please, sit beside..." The only adult in the room pauses, glancing around for an empty seat. Not James, please not James. "Daniel." Regulus breathes a sigh of relief, until Daniel waves and he sees that Daniel is across from James. Well, not exactly.
James was sitting at a square table, nobody beside him. Daniel was diagonal, leaving the empty space beside him directly in front of James. Just my luck, Regulus thinks as he drops his bag next to the chair and sits down.
"Baby Black," James says in greeting, tipping his head down and pretending to lower a hat.
"Shut up," Regulus responds, tapping his leg against his thigh.
"How rude," James says, hand over his heart.
"Hello, there! I'm Mrs Williamsburg," the adult says. She's short and old, with graying brown-black hair framing her face and resting on her shoulders slightly. "Welcome to Future Problem Solving for 2023! We have great fun here, a lot of laughs. But first, I have to sort you into teams. These teams are based off of year group and classes, so if you have a few classes with anyone in this room, you're probably in the same team. It just makes it easier to communicate with one another." She then starts listing names of people Regulus doesn't know. Then his own name. And James'. Shit, fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
"If you have any issues, speak to me later. But for now, get into your groups and chat amongst yourselves." Regulus felt like he just might perish if he looked at the smug look he knew was on James' face. So, naturally, he immediately looks. But it's not smugness he sees. Worry, yes, nervousness, kinda, but no smugness. The other people in their group weren't there, and Daniel had moved to sit with his own team, so Regulus was left with gorgeous James bloody Potter.
"Well, I guess we'll be working together, then," Regulus says, (just) trying to defuse the tension formed between the two of them.
"Seems like it. So, how's school going?"
"It's going somewhere, that's for sure. How's music?" Regulus asks. He can't help wanting to know about Sirius' life, even if it's just a little bit learned through James.
"Good so far. Don't you play something?"
"Yeah."
"Usually people then say what instrument they play."
"Right. Drums. I play the drums."
"Ah, interesting. Peter does too."
"I know," Regulus says truthfully. Everyone knows all about the Marauders, a band consisting of Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James. Or rather, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, as their fanbase would call them. Remus on bass, Peter on drums, Sirius on guitar, and James on vocals and guitar as well. Though, everyone does their own singing as well. They're extremely popular in the school, the pictures of gigs they host in small bars and garage parties blow up on the internet. Now, he's not going to admit this, but Regulus follows all of them and a few fans on social media. Pinterest, to be precise. (gots to love pinterest. iykyk)
"I'd love to hear you play," James says. That, now that, got Regulus' attention.
"I'm not that... it's just a hobby, you know? I can only play a few songs-"
"Full songs? It took me ages to learn full songs. How long have you been playing?"
"As long as Sirius' been playing guitar. We started at the same time."
"You must be good. It probably runs in the family." While he's not going to tell James, he is good. He's been playing for three years and can play most things after hearing it a few times through. But, he's not going to tell James that.
"I should practice with you sometime, then," Regulus jokes. But apparently, the joke is lost on James.
"Totally! Come by my house anytime, we'll probably be practicing. Or should be practicing, at least. I don't know how we got so far when we mostly play garage band during practices."
"Good decisions, I see. I might come by then. Have Sirius text me."
"Or...I could? Do it myself, I mean. Text you. I- umm. I could text you myself."
"Sure. Have Sirius give you my number, then."
"Ok, that's all the time we have for today! But, next Thursday, make sure you're here on time," Mrs Williamsburg says.
"I'll see you around, Black."
"See you, Potter," Regulus says as he leaves the classroom. Maybe it won't be so bad after all...
Well, maybe it would be.
It started with the fact that both of the other team members in his and James' team never showed. Leaving Regulus alone with James for hours every week. Fantastic. Secondly, there was a lot of talking. A lot. And Regulus can talk to people. Most of the time, at least. But talking to James is much harder than talking to other people, especially for Regulus. Amazing. And lastly, James was good. And while it might seem odd that after complaining about fairly reasonable things, Regulus complains about his teammate being good at what they're doing; here he is, wishing he could keep up with James' bullet-fast brain.
"But that could go in communication because that's what cell-phones are, right? Communication devices. Anything else could go in technology," James offers.
"Yeah, but what about the communication between countries," Regulus says, but he knows he's not going to win this battle. And he shouldn't win, James is right.
"Nah, that's government and politics. Meanwhile we still have basic needs empty, any ideas?" James asks, speaking quickly while typing and glancing at his paper.
"Maybe... the fact that it's causing useful item life to go down?" Regulus questions. Except, he's not questioning because that would involve wanting James' approval. Which he doesn't. Does he?
"Perfect." James types wicked fast, probably able to from how much guitar he plays.
They continue writing, and having quick conversations about each topic and where it should go. James had the better ideas, but oh well.
After they finished the table they were assigned a few weeks ago, they were allowed to just talk. About nothing and everything. School, music, plans. They became... friends isn't the right word. Close, is better. Regulus listened to James tell a story about a band practice where Peter knocked over his drums. Regulus laughs. Laughs. And James looks far too happy about that.
"You should take it as a compliment. I don't often laugh at people's stories."
"Trust me, I take it in highest regard." Regulus doesn't know whether to smile (again? This can't be happening. Regulus thinks) or roll his eyes. So he ends up rolling his eyes, with a smile. "Oh? Another smile? And I perhaps, amusing you?"
"How dare you accuse me of such feelings," Regulus says, feigning offence.
"My sincerest apologies, good sir,-" no matter how many times Regulus hears 'sir' or 'mr', it still makes him happy, "-that was very rude of me."
"Truly," Regulus says with a slight smile. Just then, the bell rang.
"You want to hang out with me at lunch?"
"I... um as long as I'm not intruding."
"Nope. It was you or Lily, but Lily's sick."
"Sirius?"
"He's with some other friends."
"Sure, then." Internally, Regulus was freaking out.