Rose tint
“You did what?” Remus exclaimed, staring at James like he grew a second head. Maybe then he’d have an average-sized brain! Remus thought.
“I know, but trust me!” He tried reasoning with the three shocked and distrustful faces in front of him. “This person was amazing, they’re a great fit!”
“Hope you weren’t thinking with your dick when you decided to throw away our only poster!” Sirius said, and James knew he wouldn’t be saying that if he knew it was Regulus.
"Let's just focus on song writing, yeah?" Peter came to James' defence, and James mouthed a 'thank you.'
When they meet for song writing, they bring what they've written and put it in a hat. Whatever song they pull out is the song they vote on and most of the time they work together to flesh them out.
"I'll do the honours." Peter said, digging his hand deep inside the top hat Sirius stole from Orion. He pulled out a piece of A5 paper and started to (somehow) read it aloud. "You're as important as my motorbike. My precious baby. When you run out of fuel we wait, if you ever break I will throw myself at the grave. With my hands on your grease gun?"
"It's a metaphor, Peter." Sirius said. "I think it's the best song we've ever wrote."
"Not many people want to make love to their automobiles." Remus said, unwrapping a galaxy chocolate.
"I don't think a song about chocolate will do too good either." James smiled. "Aroma like chocolate, sweet smelling and all. You make me melt with marshmallows and sprinkles."
"It appeals to a wide demographic." Defended Moony.
James prayed to God that Regulus wouldn’t drop out immediately.
Since Regulus told James he would be at their rehearsal in a few days he had been brainstorming a few new names and designs. Mostly because if they were to keep Regulus he would not want their band to be bright red - that boy detested that shade of red. James jokingly said to Regulus when they first met that his favourite colour must be blood red because he was so pale. That didn’t go down too well, with Regulus kicking him out of his own house in the freezing cold only for Euphemia saying he deserved it. It was the one time Regulus visited, but now it wouldn’t be the last.
In fact, his next visit was in three days. On the list, James had:
Queer as fuck
Life on The Rainbow
James and The Band
Sirius’ Bitches
The Hot Chocolates
Feta Fitties (James really liked this one.)
But none of them seemed like a great fit. Especially since the first two would involve him coming out and the third one he wrote when he had writer's block.
The next day, James went in early to watch Regulus again. Hiding in the storage cupboard (no, it was not a weird thing to do) he listened in. As Regulus began, James didn’t know the song, but it was most likely perfect. “Don’t blame me, love made me crazy, if it doesn’t you ain’t doing it right.” He added an upward inflection at the end, changing pronunciation from an ‘i’ to an ‘e’.
Then, James thought he must have reached the bridge and he had to peek out from behind to see this. There was so much power, so much force behind the note, and Regulus looked perfectly in control. Like the note was hard for him to hit, but James had heard higher yesterday. James was transfixed. By the way Regulus' hair fell in front of his face, how he scrunched his eyes, the way his hands gripped the unplugged microphone.
He was perfect.
The perfect fit for the band. James knew it, he could feel it. As easily as breathing, James could picture him and Regulus (along with Remus, Sirius and Peter) on stage together, performing to a silhouette of thousands of people, and James’ focus on watching Regulus perform like he just did. Not needing to focus on any movement because he knew every song like the back of his hand, but focusing on his star of the show.
“I… Er…” James did intend to say something, really, he did. But nothing could come out right. Syllables could barely string themselves from letters, let alone those forming words or god forbid sentences. “Uh…”
“Pleasure once again, James Potter.” Regulus took deep breaths, flipping his head back and adjusting his hair in the mirror. James, being the helpful person he is, wanted to offer a hand, but refrained. “Is this some weird little hobby of yours? Maybe I should get the police involved.”
“Only for you.” That sounded a lot smoother in his head.
“Ah, a stalker. I had my suspicions, what with your feeble attempts at romancing Lily Evans before she ‘willingly’ said yes, and that is still under review I’m afraid: the ‘willing’ and the ‘yes’.” Regulus finished adjusting his hair.
“I’m a very willing partner.” He shrugged, this time knowing it came off right and he smirked.
Regulus kept a passive face, but James wasn’t shaken. “Still trying to be a natural flirt, I see? Majority of those people are cretinous, so you are on the right track. Keep at it, James, may be the only thing you get an A* in.”
James rolled his eyes, but he enjoyed this. He wasn’t able to have this with a lot of people, especially with one he didn’t know so well. “Always with the comeback.”
“Oh I know.” Regulus gave James a fake smile. Suddenly, James felt the urge to make that real.
Tentatively, James shuffled forward. “We still on for Friday?”
Regulus’ lips pursed, and James’ stomach dropped. “We will have to reschedule.”
“Why?”
“figure skating must be a priority.”
From the way Regulus’ eyes lost emotion, James knew it wasn’t his words. Of course James knew Regulus was a figure skater, Sirius had been one too, once. Before he ran away the same summer Walburga was going to put Sirius in competition for a spot on a tour.
In all honesty, that was the reason why James didn’t want to tell them, not until they knew Regulus could sing. Maybe Sirius already knew.
“We rehearse every Friday, it’s the one day we constantly keep free.”
“Unless you’re willing to face the wrath of my mother we will choose another date.”
“OK.”
“Pardon?”
James couldn’t believe he was doing this, not after what Sirius told him about Walburga. “I’ll meet you at the Ice Rink and drive you to my house.”
But Regulus wasn’t given the chance to say no, as James had, once again, strode out the room before he could so much as utter a letter.
During his free period, Regulus made his way to the cafeteria to grab an apple before settling in the library with Lily Evans, Emmeline Vance, and Dirk Cresswell. Never did he interact with these people outside of these sessions more than a nod of acknowledgement. They were mere colleagues. However, he may now be making an exception for Lily. Him and Cresswell were doing the same lessons, and Lily and Emmeline took Animal Care as well as the lessons they all shared. Even if Regulus and Cresswell were a year younger they were smarter than some of the people in their classes.
“Hi Regulus.” Lily greeted, smiling, her books already open.
“Evans, tell me how you can date such a neanderthalian prat?” Regulus thought he’d get through one second without complaining but it appeared James Potter held such a grip on his mind that it was impossible not to think of his bespeckled face.
“Oh dear, what has he done now?” Emmeline sighed. From her bag that read ‘Love is Sharing Your Coffee’ she pulled out a bar of dark chocolate. This is why she’s tolerable, Regulus thought.
Mother didn’t let Regulus eat dark chocolate, or any chocolate. He’d never had sweets or crisps, a cake for his birthday. The first time he tried cake it was at James’ house when Sirius forced him to visit. It was the only time he’d gone around because Mother saw Regulus with a single speck of chocolate by his mouth. She cut his cheek when she swiped it away. Sirius still went, Regulus always covered for him. They were brothers: Regulus thought they’d do anything for each other.
“Be James Potter.” Regulus got out his work, gracefully sitting although he desperately wanted to flop down like an uncouth idiot. He took a chunk of dark chocolate and savoured every second of it. Emmeline brought mints, too, because if Mother smelt anything of that on him he would be sent to the basement.
Cresswell spoke first, “I was thinking we could-”
“I don’t know what you see in him, Evans. I don’t know what anyone sees in him.” Regulus snapped after he finished with the chocolate. “'Bow to me because I'm James Fleamont Potter! All revel in my presence because I'm such a positive person everyone loves me and I know everyone loves me!' Can he be any more irritating?"
"Regulus." Lily sighed, shaking her head. She knew Regulus wasn't fond of James, and she knew he kept his comments in check when around her. “He’s honestly not that bad.”
‘Not that bad’, Regulus rolled his eyes, but bit his tongue.
Sirius kept watching the clock, waiting for it to strike twenty-three minutes to. “Which means… what, Sirius?” McGonagall questioned.
Sirius’ head snapped to her and she was looking with the eyes that said ‘I know you weren’t listening’. “Basil maybe wasn’t the best choice of plant.” He smiled, cheeks flushing but only slightly. The class laughed, and McGonagall shook her head.
“Try again, Sirius.” He glanced at the clock. “If you answer you can leave.”
“In the Victorian period it meant good wishes, and love, but basil used to mean hate. It… resembles the complicated situation that led to the severed head in her plant pot.” Some people chuckled, and Sirius eagerly awaited the word ‘dismissed’.
“Very well done, Sirius, now go. Dismissed.” Sirius already had his things packed, ready to leave and meet Remus at the school gates. After Remus’ physio appointments once a month, Sirius would either be with him or be waiting for him when he got back. “Now, Miss Smith, can you-” the door closed and Sirius was rushing out.
When Sirius burst through the main entrance to the cleanly cut courtyard, with a mossy fountain and benches in the middle, there Remus was. Hope was fussing over him, as was the norm after a physio visit, and Lyall was (as always) solemnly smiley. Remus said it was his dad that found him in bed, covered in a rash from head to toe when he was little. His Mum had been working. And, when Remus was about to be put into an induced coma, his parents came to say goodbye: it was the only time Remus had ever seen his dad cry.
“Mum, I’m fine.” Remus smiled and his cheeks lit aflame when he saw Sirius.
“He’s right, Hope, don’t want to embarrass him in front of his boyfriend.” Lyall bumped shoulders with Remus.
“Moony!” Sirius called, speed-walking but trying to act casual and confident. Lyall smiled at the nickname. “Hey Hope, Ly.” Sirius was hugged by Hope and held out his hand for Lyall to shake.
“Hey kid, how you doing? How’s the band coming along?” Lyall asked.
Sirius leant against the car. “Amazing, impeccable, flabbergasting.”
“That’s great to hear!” Hope clapped. “Oh, we can’t wait to see you guys perform.”
“Neither can we.” Because Sirius didn’t even know if they were going to step out on the stage without a singer. "Me 'n Moony have a History thing together, so can he come round tonight?"
“I don’t see why not.” Hope smiled. “Would James be taking you three back?”
“Yes, if Moony wants to get started tonight.” Sirius looked to Remus, and Remus smiled. He had no idea about this history project, and they didn’t have History in the morning.
Remus said goodbye to his parents, hugging them in turn when they squeezed him first. Whilst waving them off he said to Sirius, “We have no History project.”
“Yes we do.”
“Go on.” Remus smiled, turning to face his boyfriend. Who grinned wider than he had after receiving his first birthday cake.
Unconsciously, they leaned into each other. “What?”
“You say a sex joke, I tell you to keep it in your boxers, and we carry on with our day.”
“Am I that predictable?” Sirius panicked. “Oh God no… I’m becoming Peter with his lame dad jokes. Quick, kiss me.”
Remus indulged, “Why?”
“Ha!” Sirius exclaimed, a proud edge in his eyes. “Didn’t see that coming, did you?”
“Did you see this?” Remus grabbed Sirius, pulling him in for a kiss Sirius wasn’t prepared for.
“Always have to beat me don’t you?” Sirius grumbled, but kissed Remus again after looking around.