Chapter 3
“He’s been laying there for almost thirty minutes just staring at the ceiling. Do you think that means the date went good or bad?” Peter asks, and Sirius gives him a sideways glance before slowly approaching his best friend.
“Hey, Prongs… Prongy, how you doing buds?” He asks hesitantly, sitting at his feet on the bed. James sighs, and then grins, the first expression he's made since he’d gotten back.
“Good. Amazing. Spectacular,” he breathes, and Peter snorts.
“So… the date went good?”
“It was brilliant, Pads!” He springs up into a sitting position, causing Sirius to tumble off the bed and laugh.
“Come on, James, spill. It’s almost one, don’t leave us hanging,” he whines, and James sighs in content and grins once more.
“He’s just so… extraordinary. He’s so pretty and everything about him intrigues me. I mean, he could name almost every star in the sky! Did you know his name stood for ‘little prince?’ It suits him, oh god.” He covers his face and lays back, and Sirius’ face falls for a moment at that before he grins once more.
“So- you get any action?” He wiggles his eyebrows and elbows James, and James flushes dark red, grinning.
“He kissed me,” He smiles, and Sirius raises an eyebrow.
“That’s it? Did you at least get some tongue action?”
James flushes again, clearing his throat. “Well… no. He kissed me on the cheek.”
Both Peter and Sirius are quiet for a moment before Peter sighs. “All you got was… a cheek kiss?” He asks, and James raises a finger in defense.
“It was- a nice cheek kiss. Cute.” He grins widely, biting his lip, and Sirius rolls his eyes.
“A cheek kiss does not usually stand for second date, Prongs,” he states, and James shakes his head quickly.
“No! We’re still talking- and we’re already planning another date,” He tells him quickly, and Sirius raises an eyebrow and smiles.
“Alright, that's my boy! Maybe he was just shy. So, I take it he took it well when you told him about the band, huh?”
James’ eyes widen comically, and Peter and Sirius stare at him for a moment before they both groan, and Peter takes his shoe off and throws it at him.
“You dumbass! You still haven’t told him?” He snaps, and James raises his hands in defense.
“It never came up!” He replies, and Peter groans once more in exasperation as Sirius shakes his head.
“Mate, most people don’t casually ask, ‘hey, by the way are you in a band with millions of fans?’ I mean, most people wouldn’t have too. Most people would know you.” He huffs, and Peter shushes him, sitting on the bed.
“Prongs, when do you plan to tell the poor bloke? Are you planning to just string him along for the ride?” He asks softly, and James eyes widen as he shakes his head.
“Of course not!” He snaps, and Peter runs a hand down his face.
“Then you really oughta tell the dude. If you plan for this to be… serious, you should prepare him. There’s a lot of things you have to warn him about, number one being Lucius.”
James opens his mouth as if to defend himself, and then closes it again before sighing, shoulders sagging. “I know, but what if- what if that’s a deal breaker for him, you know?”
Sirius snorts. “What kind of strange person would this be a deal breaker for. ‘Oh no, the really hot dude I’m going out with is famous and rich and knows how to sing and play the guitar.’”
James shakes his head. “A smart person, and unfortunately for me he seems like one. I mean, what kind of person would wanna deal with paparazzi following them and psychotic fans sending death threats for dating their idol? Not to mention, as Peter has said, Lucius.” His bottom lip puckers, and Peter sighs, laying a comforting hand on James’ shoulder as Sirius lays his head on the other.
“If you truly want it, I’m sure you can make it happen. I mean, that hot man in the coffee shop did say Reg- your man likes someone persevering.” Sirius states, and James opens his mouth to reply before pausing and turning a sly grin towards Sirius.
“Hot man? You mean- oh, that tall guy? Remus or something?” He grins, and Sirius does as well as he sits back up.
“Hell yeah, Remus- Moony. Did you see him?”
“Mmh, not quite my type. He seems to be yours though,” He elbows him, and Sirius bites the inside of his cheek as his grin widens.
“He was,” he sighs, and James’ grin widens.
“Get his number!”
He gives him a look, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know. He didn’t seem to care for me much while I was there.”
“Reggie was the same way,” he sighs dreamily, and Sirius rolls his eyes, making a gagging sound.
“Don’t get all mushy on me, Prongs,” he replies, and James smacks him with a pillow.
Remus was having an internal crisis. His best friend had been sad for years about his long lost brother, and here he was, again, standing in their coffee shop with his hands in his pockets.
So, maybe Remus didn’t tell Regulus about his brother, but could you blame him? He hadn’t seen him since he was sixteen, a full seven years, and all of a sudden there he is.
“Hi.” The man states after an awkward moment, and Remus narrows his eyes. What was he supposed to say to this man? The man who had abandoned his best friend in an abusive household. This man who was extremely attractive and waiting for him to reply.
‘“Hi,” he says after a moment, because he’s so insanely skilled with words and wise beyond his years.
“Hi. Hello.” Sirius repeats, and then grins nervously, rapping his knuckles on the counter. Remus rolls his eyes.
“Yes, you’ve said that,” he says sarcastically, and Sirius laughs.
“Sorry, sorry- just… Can I order?” He shifts awkwardly, and Remus blinks and then curses internally because of course all he wanted was to order, and Remus had just stared at him like an idiot.
“Yes, of course. What can I get you?” He asks, and Sirius smiles, leaning on the counter.
Sirius grins, studying the menu for a moment. “An Americano, please. And a muffin as well.”
Remus nods and writes that name, before glancing up. “The name for the order?” He asks, even though he already knows.
Sirius feigns a pout and then winks. “You don’t remember? Well you can call me the man of your dreams,” and at the deadpanned look he gets in return he grins sheepishly, “Sirius.”
Remus makes a face, “Sirius? Like s-e-r-i-o-u-s? Seriously?”
Sirius snorts. “S-i-r-i-u-s. Sirius,” he replies, “Like the star.”
“Of course,” Remus mutters, and he probably should’ve known by the fact he’s Regulus’ brother and how many times Regulus had mentioned him. He goes into the back to give the order and returns a few minutes later with the drink and muffin.
“So… are you here to deliver another message to Regulus for James?” He grunts, passing the order to him and telling him the price. Does he know, he wonders? Does this man know that his best friend was going on dates with the brother he abandoned?
Sirius shakes his head as he pays. “Actually, I came for you.”
Remus’ eyes widen. “Excuse me?”
Sirius grins sheepishly. “Yeah, I was just wondering… could I get your number?” He asks, sounding almost hesitant, and Remus feels his heart stutters because this hot man who was his best friends estranged brother was asking for his number- which, stereotypically, meant the man was attracted to him.
“I- uh,” and, oh, how, how he wants to say yes to this overly attractive man in the leather jacket with tattoos and rugged looks because who wouldn’t want to say yes- but he knew better. He knew better than to hurt his friend like that. “I think it would be for the best if you didn’t,” he mumbles. Sirius’ face falls slightly as he takes his drink, and he gives Remus a small smile.
“Oh- okay. Sorry to bother,” He clears his throat, blinking his eyes quickly, and Remus swiftly shakes his head.
“No- no, you didn’t bother, it really wasn’t you,” except yes, it was, because this man had abandoned his best friend. For some reason, that didn’t make the slight ache go away as he continues to try and explain, “It’s more like… wrong place wrong time?” He chews the inside of his cheek, and Sirius studies him for a moment before smiling again.
“No need to explain, doll. Maybe we’ll meet again at the right place, right time.” He muses as he winks, takes his muffin, and walks out the door, the bell chiming above it. Remus blinks, watching him climb onto a motorcycle and drive away.
Fuck.
Marauders band performing at central stadium!
“Did you want to buy that, sir?” Regulus blinks, looking up at the man behind the counter before back at the newspaper. He sets that and a chocolate bar onto the counter as he swallows thickly and nods.
“Uh, yeah, thanks,” he mumbles, mind running too fast. He pulls out his card and pays, still staring at the front page of the paper as he walks out the shop.
Because under the title of the newspaper was the band. And front and center of that picture was James. His James.
What the fuck was this? Since when has he been in a famous band known all over the world? How had Regulus not known? Why didn’t James tell him?
Now he knew why James had looked so familiar.
He clenches his jaw. He had gone to the shop to buy Remus a chocolate bar for when he finished his late shift per request, but now he changed directions, heading back to the coffee shop and slamming the door open as he’s sweeping the floor. Remus looks up, giving him a confused look.
“Reg? What are you doing here?” He asks, continuing to sweep away in front of the counter. Regulus marches forward, dropping the chocolate bar and paper onto the counter.
“Did you know?” He asks, and Remus pauses, heart doing a flip. Had Regulus figured out his brother had come by?
“Know what?” He asks nonchalantly, continuing his sweeping.
“Know that James was in a fucking famous band?” He shoves the paper towards him, and Remus eyebrows raise as he takes the paper.
“Holy shit- I’ve heard about this band. I didn’t realize- holy shit,” his eyes roam over the people in it. He glances from James to Sirius, and then back at Regulus, who was fuming.
“In that band- my brother is in that band, Remus,” his voice shakes slightly, and Remus sighs.
“Oh, fuck,” He mumbles, wrapping an arm around his best friend- who resists, futile, for a moment before giving in and leaning into him.
“I haven’t seen him in almost eight years. I- I didn’t even know if he was alive- and the boy I've been seeing is best friends with him. And they’re both in a band. And James never told me,” the tremor stays in his voice as he tugs away. He’s not crying- he didn’t cry, but he wipes at his nose.
“Fuck.” Remus repeats, shaking his head.
“Why wouldn’t he tell me he was in a whole band?!” The emotion in his voice shifts suddenly, and now he’s furious once again, pacing back and forth in front of the counter. “I mean- who withholds that kind of information from a person they’re going on dates with? Who the fuck doesn’t tell someone they’re going out with that they’re famous?!” He throws his hands into the air. “It’s not like it’s private fucking information! I mean- for fucks sake.” He continues cursing.
“Maybe he was scared to tell you?” Remus inputs, and Regulus fixes him with a deadpan look.
“About? I mean- shouldn’t he be proud?” He snaps, and Remus raises an eyebrow.
“So… are you upset he’s famous?”
“Of course I’m fucking upset!” Remus raises his hand in surrender. “I mean- maybe if he told me right away, ‘oh by the way I’m in a band and famous,’ I could have let it go easier.” He rants.
“Would you still have gone out with him if you knew?” Remus asks him, and Regulus pauses, and then sighs.
“I don’t know, it’s just. He’s in a band. My brother’s in a band with him. My brothers still alive, and he’s here, where I live,” his voice breaks, and he slides down the counter to the floor, cupping his face as he lets out a shuddering breath. Remus follows suit, sitting next to him and rubbing his shoulder gently.
“So is that what you’re really upset about?”
“No. Yes. Fuck,” he shakes his head. “I’m upset because the boy I’m seeing is famous and I’m like the only person in the world to not know. I’m upset because my brother is here and he hates me and I love him and I want to talk to him, but he wouldn’t want to see me because I was horrible, and he’s famous now and I didn’t know somehow, and maybe if I had known sooner I could have contacted him but now it’s been almost eight years and it’s too late- and he left me in that house to get famous,” he takes a deep breath from his rambling, lifting his head as he blinks rapidly.
Remus gives him a pitying look, and he turns away from it, biting his lip hard enough to taste the bitterness of his blood.
“It’s not too late to contact him. Maybe-”
“No,” He states, standing abruptly, and Remus eyes him nervously as Regulus fumbles for the phone in his pocket.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
“Obviously, I can’t trust him. He can’t even tell me something as simple as this,” he snaps, and realization dawns on him after a moment as Remus as he frowns.
“Are you sure? You really like this man, Regulus, I haven’t seen you act like this for anyone in a long time. I think you’re taking out your feelings of your brother on him- it’s not like he knew.”
Regulus grits his teeth as he unlocks his phone. He had three missed messages from James- they had been planning their next date, and after talking James had suggested an art museum and lunch. Regulus hesitates for a moment in his contact, staring at the messages.
He shakes his head. “I’m not. This isn’t about that.” He states, but Remus isn’t sure he believes him. Neither is Regulus.
He hits the block button.