Did You Know We Were Named After Stars?
It was the next morning. James had already woken up even though he had no sleep last night. He fell asleep on the floor since it warm outside and the wooden floors of the shack they stayed in provided a nice amount of coolness.
But in reality, he just wanted to look at Regulus. His rhythm snores and those pretty curls of him kept him all night thinking all of the possibilities with him. Not in that way. It was just James excited and his social butterfly awakening excited to know a new person. He liked to observe the surroundings and the people. James never found the meaning of his existence, but ever since he was little he always existed for someone else and would give his entire heart to them without saying a single word.
He was a giver, that’s who he was. Although tough times were near, he still liked sinking in the people he knew. James felt alive when he lives a boring life with people. He would rather live a boring life with people than be alone.
Sirius had been busy for the last few months because he recently started helping his dad with mapping out the lost pearls' foregrounds. And that means James had been just bored for the last few months. He would party with the rest of the crew but they also have things to do.
And James didn’t have any work to do because his parents quite literally don’t trust him. Other than conversing with any kind of people. You know treaty. Any business meeting. Easy work for James. He got bored too quickly. And as time went by he didn’t really know what to do with himself. Well, at least now he wasn’t as miserable, cause Regulus is here.
James woke the Black brothers up by quite literally throwing himself at them. And well he did quite get a punch in the face by Sirius. And a grunt from Regulus.
"Why the fuck do you keep doing this James? gosh." Sirius complained face squirmed up like he just smelled a horrible scent and then he proceeded to rub his hands on his face trying to wake himself up.
Regulus on the other hand didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look at James.
Rude.
"Reg, don’t you want to say something about this?" Sirius asked hoping that he was gonna say something cunning enough so James could be more put together if you will.
"Stop being a prat and get up, I want to shower I smell like horse shit" Regulus blurted out in a raspy voice.
Yeah, that got James kicking his feet like a little girl. Well in his mind anyway.
"Well sorry to inform you but, they are no showers. We the lost pearls are not as rich as the death eaters to put actual hot water showers on a moving boat." Sirius responded with ease, scratching his head and getting up to look for his belt.
"What in the actual fuck." Regulus stomped away angrily. He could have a bad hair day, or he could have blood dripping down his body but he couldn’t live without a shower.
"Quelle petite chatte gâtée." Sirius whispered silently facing his back from Regulus so he doesn’t hear.
"I heard that Sirius, you are a pussy as well. And a dirty one." With that Regulus was out of the shack with his long jacket thrown over his shoulder.
James could not bare himself any longer before he straight burst out laughing. Let’s just say Sirius hit him a little too hard this time.
-
A shower later, Sirius, Regulus, and James had breakfast before they left the shack.
Regulus prepared his favorite meal since he was little, grilled cheese with tomato soup. His grandfather and also Andromeda would cook this meal every time he felt sad. It was a comfort meal. Sirius didn’t know that yet, in his memory Regulus’s favorite meal was still fairy bread. But Walburga their own mother had to restrict their food only to only fine meats and salads. According to her, it was her way of raising healthy boys. Well if he knew how unhealthy they were mentally because of her.
"Where did you learn to cook?" Asked James casually sipping on his soup "This is really good."
Sirius and Regulus both paused before responding anything.
Sirius talked first.
"James, we don't talk while we eat. It's a Black thing. It's carved into our DNA." Sirius blurted out, glaring at James. It seems as if every memory that Sirius had of the Blacks would re-surface around Regulus. Maybe that's why he disconnected.
"This is my favorite meal, and I was always hungry after dinners because of the food mum gave me so I would make this. The ingredients aren't hard to find either although the cheese I found was always moldy, I estimate it's been sitting there for a least a hundred years old" Regulus explained precisely. James realized how detailed Regulus's descriptions were, he might have remembered all too well Regulus's innocent blinking lashes made James shutter, and hard to find his words, with each and every response he did for Regulus, Sirius had more and more of a suspicious glare as if he knew what was up.
Oh.
Oh.
"Um, that's- cool I guess. Sirius looked at him more and more weirdly. He lifted a brow and James knew. He might have noticed his attraction towards Regulus. It's not his fault he's so pretty. And he became more attracted to him by the second because of how he talked. Softly, with delicacy and you can never tell what he was thinking. James thought Sirius and Regulus would be similar to each other but seems like the Potters influenced Sirius as much as possible.
Sirius broke the long silence first.
"Wait, I thought fairy bread was your favorite meal?" He asked objectively. This time all of his attention was on Regulus, it was the first time in a while he had looked into his little brother's eye. How much he had changed. There was no longer a baby face, he grew into the sharp jawline of the Blacks, and once blue-greenish soft eyes because sharp and grey. His hair is more curled than usual. Maybe cause he grew it out. Past his ear.
"Since you left, mum didn't let me eat any more sugar. And also another personal reason is that every time I ate it I thought of you. And the good times we had" Regulus gave a fake smile, though he looked stunning he couldn't hide the sadness behind his eyes. And with every memory, he dug up answering their questions it felt like a slash in the heart. Both for Sirius and his memory, the answers to his questions felt like a slash in the heart.
Both for Sirius and for Regulus. Sirius's face darkened by the second. Once bright eyes fell over to the food he was eating, absorbing the guilt of leaving Regulus. Though he never regret staying with the Potters, he did owe a massive apology to Regulus. He never ever thought Regulus would go through such terrible consequences. Sometimes Regulus felt like the older brother.
"Well, that took a turn" James mentioned, looking in between them. Sensing the uncomfortable air. It seems like they could say one memory with also living the trauma after it again. Regulus said nothing, hoping Sirius would answer but he didn't instead Sirius threw a spoon at James. James dodged it making it almost hit Regulus in the head.
"You dickhead! that almost hit me!" Regulus accused while he put a hand through his curls. Sirius didn't know why he did it, but this was the brother he knew. He would rather forget old times and make new memories instead although Regulus was not that forgiving. He would hold grudges all the damn time.
"Sorry. I just, can't handle anything you say to me. I owe you the most Reggie." Sirius said, this time facing Regulus. This nickname Sirius gave was what he called Regulus most of the time. It was way cuter than his full name. Which seemed more distancing after not talking for years.
"Don't call me that. You know I hate it." Regulus lied, he was the one facing the table this time. His gaze fiddled around the room. He was on the verge of tears.
No, you don't, you fool.
"Look, I know I'm not the right person to say this but I'm gonna say it anyway," James took a very deep breath before saying the important part "I know you two are gonna cry every time you speak to each other but before then living in the present I beg you, do happy stuff together and make new memories, that way you aren't in a verge of tears every time you talk you pieces of shit" This talk was oddly motivative.
"Told you he was a good friend." Sirius stated now smiling leaning into James. Regulus blinked blandly full of boredom before saying anything.
"Well, I see that. Doesn't add to his intellectual knowledge though. Well, no shit in reality he thanks James for breaking the weird truce between them. The more they talked the more distanced they seem.
They finished their food in silence before heading out the door. Sirius clung closer to James and he followed Regulus like a lost poppy.
Farther and farther away they could a tall man with curly hair and scars on his face waving to them. Regulus immediately recognized who he was. It was Lupin.
Remus Lupin.
"Hello Regulus," Remus blurted out while going in for a hug, James was in shock as well as Sirius. Regulus hates hugs but somehow lets this man hug him. "How've you been?"
"Good." Regulus uttered, resisting a flush on his cheek. His skin was so pale that any sort of flush would be noticed immediately. Both Sirius and James looked with jealousy before Remus noticed them.
"Hi, you two" Remus nodded, still holding Regulus. They nodded.
Sirius was glaring at Remus for hugging his little brother instead of him and James wanted Regulus to hug him. They went on walking and saying nothing as they walked onto the peer.
The lost pearl's ship was already there. Waves and waves of pirates picking up rum and food to sell it at the shore. It was how they made money. Apart from all the opium, they stole from the death eaters, giving it away to the muggle police department. They earned more money this way than selling it.
"Welcome to your new home Reggie," Remus said while lifting a hand and waving to the ship "Hope you enjoy your stay" Remus placed a kiss on Regulus's cheek. Well, he was half Italian and according to them is how they greet people.
"I will, thank you so much. I wouldn't be here without you" Regulus responded. And it was true. He couldn't decide whether or not to stay or to follow the Potters but Remus convinced him it was a good idea. Remus was also someone that escaped from tragedy. He knew what Regulus felt.
"I've got to go to see count the cargo, I'll be right back. James, you better teach Regulus the basics. Or I'll teach him." Remus threatened before waving goodbye and walking to the peer. He was working sort off as a manager. Sirius recruited him. In reality, he found him hot and decided to give him a job. Turned out this man was beauty and brains. Like Regulus.
They wasted no time getting on the ship.
The ship was everything Regulus wanted for a ship. It was nicer than expected. Very old money-like. All of the ship was maroon and the furniture was all made out of rosewood. There were plenty of people, going around the ship. More than Regulus thought. Sirius went off to do some work that Effie ordered. James' mum would always make them do some chores to keep them busy. But most of all it was to keep them busy so they don't get depressed half of the time. James spends time waiting around to show Regulus the ship. Regulus thought he was too over excited. Like a kid in a candy shop. He noticed James' detailed descriptions of everything and how he was so attached to every single part of the ship.
The first toured the upper deck.
"So Reg, this is the upper deck," James started pointing at the first part of the ship "This is where we hang out most of the time. If you don't mind the traffic going around. You know people working to move the cargo around. You can grab a seat," And he actually grabbed a chair to demonstrate to Regulus. "And sit on it and drink some rum. If you're old enough to drink."
"I'm not, but I can drink some." Regulus responded blandly. Fluttering his innocent lashes again.
God, he is so pretty.
"No you can't," James whispered softly in his ear "Not without my approval anyway" He ran a finger on his nose. Regulus only blinked. Why the fuck did I agree to do this.
"Anyway, moving along. This is where the driver is, thats my dad" James said waving at his father Regulus did the same. Regulus hardly talked because James was so intimidating. Although it seems like he was such a down-to-earth person, Regulus couldn't deny his kindness.
"Your dad seems kind" Regulus whispered while waving to Fleamont Potter.
"He is actually" James responded looking a Regulus smirking.
Gosh, that smirk is so annoying, and beautiful at the same time.
After they looked around the plank they moved on to the downstairs area. According to James the rest of the ship was not interesting enough to tour. Though he did show Regulus around just so he doesn't get lost. They traveled across a few places, the halls, the grand kitchen, the dining room (both for the crew and for the Potters), and bathrooms which to Regulus's surprise wasn't that big of a deal (showers were okay but they don't require hot water), then the storage area where they were lots of rum and food, also this was the time Regulus had a cat in his arms. He found him in the storage room while James was getting some rum for Regulus, and some cheese for good measure. James remembered the details easily.
The cat was jet black with bright green eyes. Kinda looks like Regulus in cat form. She purred in Regulus's arms while she tried to climb up his shoulder and ended up staying there.
"You found my cat!" James mumbled excitingly, petting her immediately making her lick his hands.
"It's mine now," Regulus started. He thought it was quite cute that such a big bloke like James owned a cat and that he treated it like it was the most precious thing in the world "Does it have a name? if not, can I name it"
"Well, I've only been feeding her for a week," James explained grabbing the cat and putting it in his arms "So you can name it. Just know she's a lady."
"Did you know me and my brother were named after stars?" Regulus asked, giving James a light smile. But James could tell this smile was real. Regulus didn't hide his teeth or his grey eyes. They looked straight into James as he thought for an answer.
He couldn't think about anything other than Regulus.
"Your brother never told me."
"Sirius is the brightest star of the night sky" He began, looking out the ship's tiny little windows "Regulus, is the brightest star in the constellation Leo. I shall name this cat after a star as well, how about Capella?"
"Capella Ara Potter! How fancy that sounds?" James laughed, holding the cat by her arms and lifting it up high like a baby.
"Surname Black I assume, since is my cat" Regulus glared, that cat was his no matter what.
"Well I guess we will give him two surnames, Capella Ara Black-Potter" James said, looking at Regulus with puppy eyes hoping we would comply with his hideous idea.
"It's not like she is our child Potter."
"Call me James, no need for Potter," James winked and continue to tell his nonsense. Well, it made sense only to him. "I am actually your brother's best friend anyway. And I'm older than you so that means I get my privileges, and also why'd you think of us this way? that's very bad Regulus you shouldn't-
Regulus grabbed the cat and walked out of the room slowly knowing James would shut up and follow him again.
"I need to teach you manners the next time around" James had talked to himself because Regulus had gone upstairs to look for his bedroom.