A Wedding
“Oh can we please frame it?” James asked, putting a pout on his face to try and get Regulus to agree.
“No,” Regulus said, not even looking up from his laptop. That sort of made the whole pouting thing a bit useless, but James was desperate.
James had already tried to get Regulus to take a break, which was unsuccessful because he was ‘in the zone’. James understood the zone, okay, he did. He’s been stuck in it for the past couple of weeks; going into the studio early in the morning and leaving late at night. So he gets it, but he’s so bored. Peter made all of them take four days off, which conveniently fell around Barty and Evan’s wedding.
“I just think we should hang your accomplishments,” James said. He was lying on his stomach, holding his head up with his hand and kicking his feet a little bit while he just watched Regulus. He loved to watch Regulus, but he was so restless. He had spent the day traveling, and he had already taken a nap, so now he was full of energy.
Regulus, without even looking, grabbed the certificate out of James’ hands and set it to the side. “Not happening.” It was his certificate that basically verified that Regulus was equipped to officiate a wedding, which was something he was actually going to be doing in just a couple of days.
That was when James made his decision, no matter the consequences. He inched his hand forward and then suddenly shut Regulus’ laptop, grinning while he did it.
“Can we go swimming?” he asked, pretending like he didn’t notice that Regulus was glaring at him. He started dancing his fingers on Regulus’ leg, mostly out of boredom but also because he knew that Regulus was more inclined to agree if James was touching him.
Regulus let out a breath, and James could see his resolve breaking. “I was working,” Regulus said, opening his eyes to actually look at James now.
“I know, but I’ve missed you,” James said, and it was so true. He’s hardly seen Regulus in the past couple of weeks. The last time he saw him was when he tagged along to go wedding dress shopping with Barty, and that had just been a couple days after Christmas. They’ve both been busy though, so James just wants to spend time with him without either of them needing to think about work.
With the two of them, that was almost impossible. It was like James breathed music, and lyrics were always coming to him at the most random times. He had burnt his grilled cheese a couple of days ago when he had a song idea and forgot he was cooking at all. And Regulus was overworking himself, he always did. Not to mention, he stole almost all of Alecto’s clients. James was pretty sure that he was not supposed to know about that, but he had grown curious about what Regulus was always doing, and who he was working with. So he looked it up, and all of their roads led back to Alecto at some point. James had wanted to be angry, because revenge was never the way to go, but honestly he couldn’t have been mad about this if he tried.
James’ fingers might have danced a bit too high on Regulus’ leg, and he sucked in a breath. He was so wound up; stressed to the point that James could see it in the set of his shoulders. “Please?” he asked. “It’s later now anyway, you shouldn’t work after the sun sets.”
“I don’t want to hear about overworking coming from you,” Regulus said, and James just batted his eyelashes a little bit. He knew he hasn’t been great about taking time for himself recently. He was barely responding to Regulus’ messages during the day, and Peter had to keep reminding James to eat. He was just feeling so inspired that he hated the idea of taking breaks.
“Okay, fair. But I know when it’s time for a break.”
“Liar.”
“You have a beautiful pool, Reg. We have to use it.”
“We have used it.”
“More often.”
It took only another minute or so to convince him, and it might have had something to do with the teasing touches that James kept giving him. It got him to forget about his work though, so James considered it a win when they were finally in the pool. The sun had set relatively recently, making the sky a beautiful red-ish color.
Regulus always looked so peaceful in the water. He hated swimming, despised it, but he loved being in the water. So Regulus would always just relax a bit while James would swim around.
Well, that’s normally what they would do. But Regulus was against the side of the pool, head leant back and eyes closed. It was the least stressed out that James has seen him since he arrived, and it still wasn’t good enough.
James swam over to him, practically boxing him in. Regulus lifted his head up lazily, like even that motion was too much.
“Hi,” James said.
Regulus let out a breath. “Hi,” he said back, head ducking to rest on James’ chest. More and more of the tension in Regulus’ shoulders was finally starting to leave, and James couldn’t help but think that this was his best idea yet.
“I have a question,” James said, hands having a mind of their own and just trailing all over Regulus.
“Okay.”
“Are you gonna have to wear one of those robes?”
Regulus lifted his head up, an amused look in his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“For the wedding. You know? Like how the priests-”
“That’s enough.”
James grinned. “I think you should.”
“I am not wearing a robe.”
“Why not?”
“The wedding is in two days, you know? I already have what I’m going to wear.”
James shrugged. “I’m sure if I brought the idea up to Barty and Evan, they’d love it.”
Regulus groaned. “No.”
“No?”
“I hate that you’re friends with them, you know?” Regulus said, although the way he smiled made James think it was the opposite. In fact, James knew that it was the opposite.
“Sure, sure.”
“I hate you.”
“So, the robe?”
“I refuse.”
“You’d look cute.”
“I always look cute.”
“Cuter. You’d look cuter,” James corrected.
“James, I am being so genuine when I say that I will never forgive you if you convince Barty and Evan to make me wear a robe.”
James bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “Umm, too late?”
“Too late?” Regulus asked, raising an eyebrow. He had moved James’ hands off his body now, which meant he was probably a little upset. Which was understandable, but James had only mentioned it to Barty as a joke, and Barty was the one who thought the idea was brilliant. So, really, not James’ fault.
“I love you?” James tried.
Regulus shook his head. “I am going to drown you.”
“I’m stronger than you,” James said, although he actually wasn’t sure about that. Regulus used to dance, and it hasn’t really been that long since that ended. He had to be strong for all the lifting and such he was always doing.
“You really wanna test that?”
“Well, I am a stronger swimmer, at the very least.”
That had not been the right thing to say, because not even a second later Regulus was trying to push James’ head under water. James did not mind in the slightest though because of the way Regulus practically wrapped himself around James.
“You’re like a fucking rock,” Regulus mumbled petulantly. James couldn’t stop laughing, and he kept Regulus where he was, smiling up at him. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“I did just try to drown you, you know?”
James nodded, the same dopey look still on his face. “Mhm, you tried really hard, Reg.”
“You’re patronizing me.”
“You did try to drown me,” James pointed out. “It’s only fair.”
“I wouldn’t have actually let you drown,” Regulus said like it was obvious.
“You really know how to make a guy feel special.”
“Shut up.”
“See? How sweet. I am swooning.”
Regulus’ eyes shifted all over James’ face for a moment, and James could tell that he was thinking about something. He would always get that look on his face, and he would chew on his tongue a little when he was trying to figure something out.
“I get to dress you.”
James raised an eyebrow. “Usually you’re trying to get me out of my clo-”
Regulus leaned in to kiss him, which belatedly James realized was just to get him to shut up, but James appreciated it nonetheless, despite how short it lasted.
“For the wedding.”
“Mm, right. Okay,” James said, blindly agreeing.
Regulus rolled his eyes, but then he kissed James some more, and truthfully his mouth alone could get him anything he wanted.
———
James loved shopping. Regulus did not. Which is the reason why James was so confused when Regulus ditched James at the house the next day to go shopping.
“You’re going shopping?”
“Yes.”
“Am I invited?”
“No.”
“So you’re going alone?”
Regulus had just smiled and patted James on the cheek. “Always so attentive.”
And then he left.
Regulus’ house was huge. Marlene no longer lived with him, which made it feel impossibly bigger. Evan and Barty were having their wedding here. Or, on the land surrounding it anyway. People would probably be arriving soon, which was also probably a small part of Regulus’ plan; to make James welcome all of their guests.
It wasn’t as if there would be strangers or anything though. It was all people that Regulus knew.
Dorcas arrived first actually. James was still a little bit scared of her, even more so when she asked if she could cut James’ hair.
“My hair?”
“It’s too long.”
“I love my hair.”
“You look ungroomed.”
James smiled proudly at that. “I am ungroomed.”
She rolled her eyes and then turned her head in a small circle, looking for something. “Where can I set up?”
“Set up?” James asked. He was having a hard time keeping up with her, if he was honest. He was still stuck on the part where she wanted scissors anywhere near James’ head.
Dorcas turned her head back to him, eyes a bit narrow as she looked him up and down. “All men are useless.”
“Oh?”
James still had no idea what was going on, but he let her ‘set up’ in one of the living rooms. It had a lot of natural light, and Dorcas had seemed pleased with that, at least.
James: come home!
please!
ducky <3: what?
James: dorcas is here ?
ducky <3: okay?
James: I miss you?
ducky <3: is that a question?
James: I am scared of her!
what are you shopping for anyway?
ducky <3: you
James: hmm?
ducky <3: your outfit
also
you like dorcas
what is the issue?
James: she has taken over our living room??????????!!
ducky <3: our?
James: …
or
your* living room rather
ducky <3: I like the idea of ‘our’
James: really?(!!?!?!!)
ducky <3: shut up
yes, i do
now go entertain my friends
James: on it !
James thought he could do just about anything at that moment, even face Dorcas. Regulus was open to the idea of them… sharing things. Like a house, for example. And that simple fact was making James far too giddy.
He opened the door for Pandora with a huge smile on his face.
“You look insane.”
“I’m just happy?”
“Mm. Doesn’t suit you.”
“Everything suits me.”
“Dorcas is here?” she asked.
James nodded and pointed to the living room. “I think she’s setting up a torture chamber,” James told her. Dorcas had kicked him out not even a minute after he had gone back in there, so James really had no idea what she was doing.
Pandora gave James a once over. “She said you said no to a hair cut.”
“I did.”
“Hmm.”
And that was that before she was walking in the direction James pointed in. For his own safety, James stayed in the kitchen and let himself imagine what it would be like if he was allowed to call it ‘his’ kitchen.
***
Evan snorted, showing Barty something on his phone. Regulus was a bit busy trying to find something ridiculous for James to wear. Whatever he chose was going to be fine though, James could pull off literally anything. He just walked around with confidence, so nobody would even bat an eye if Regulus dressed him in a bird costume.
“The girls are trying to cut James’ hair,” Barty said, and Evan turned his phone around to show Regulus.
“Not his hair,” Regulus said, barely even thinking about it. He happened to like James’ hair. It was messy, which meant Regulus never had to worry about messing it up.
“You know, I agree with that,” Barty said, and he grabbed Evan’s phone to type something back to Pandora.
Truth was, Regulus was too distracted to do this. He had left the house with a clear goal in mind; to find something for James to wear. Instead he had ended up insinuating that he would like it if James moved in. And maybe James didn’t even notice what Regulus meant, maybe he was doing just fine and not even thinking about everything that his message had implied. Because it was too soon, wasn’t it? And it wouldn’t be fair of Regulus to ask James to move to Spain. His whole life was in London; his parents, his music, his friends, Sirius, etc. It was all there.
“You’re fretting.”
“I am not.”
“You are,” Evan agreed.
Regulus sighed. “He doesn’t think I meant right now, right?”
Barty shrugged. “It’s James.”
“I know that.”
“So he probably does.”
Evan nudged Barty, telling him to shut up, and Regulus felt his stomach drop. Not right now. Regulus would ruin it if they lived together. Regulus could already see everything they’ve built falling apart so easily after just a couple weeks of them living together. And then what? They were just supposed to be domestic forever?
“He has a ring,” Regulus blurted out. It’s the first time he said it out loud since he found out. He has actually barely thought about it at all. Work has been helping to keep his mind busy, but this was also the first time he has seen Barty and Evan in a while, and he was not working, so his mind had plenty of room to think about it.
He found out on Christmas. Which… well maybe he shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but he loves to eavesdrop. He finds out a lot by listening to the conversations he isn’t supposed to hear.
Barty’s jaw actually dropped.
“You’re joking,” Evan said.
Regulus shook his head. It’s just, Regulus has never thought of himself as being married. Whenever he would look ahead to his future, it would always be just him- although to be fair, he was still in the claws of his parents at the time, where he wasn’t really allowed to be gay. But now? He can’t stop thinking about it, about what it would be like to have a husband. About what it would be like for James to be his husband.
He can’t do it, he knows that. He can’t force James into a life with him, and Regulus can’t force himself to be ready for such a commitment. What they are doing now is even a lot for him.
“Effie gave it to him.”
“Holy shit.”
“He isn’t going to ask.”
“Don’t say that.”
“No, I mean like… I told him no already, essentially. I made it clear that I’m never going to get married.”
“But he has a ring?” Evan asked.
“Yes.”
“And you’re stressing about it?”
Regulus sighed. He knew it was stupid, but James had a ring. A ring from his mother that was someday supposed to be for Regulus, and he didn’t know how he was supposed to cope with that.
“You two are getting married,” Regulus said, and both of them started smiling. See? That’s how Regulus should be thinking about it, with butterflies and soft smiles. Instead he just feels a bit nauseous.
“Well, we’ve been together for a lot longer than you and James,” Evan said. Which was fair, but still. “And just because he has a ring doesn’t mean he’s going to use it.”
“I think he wants to though. One day. I think he wants marriage.”
Barty hit Regulus’ arm. “Idiot. He wants you.”
“For now.” Barty hit him again, which, ow. “Stop that.”
“Stop being stupid,” Evan said with a shrug.
“But-” Barty hit his arm again, in the same spot.
Regulus glared at him. It probably wasn’t fair of him to doubt James’ intentions, but Regulus doesn’t know how to simply not do that. He’s waiting for the day he ruins it all and sends James running. He has never been good at making people want to stay. He wished it didn’t always come back to that, to Sirius, but it does. Even if he knows why Sirius left, even if he knows it didn’t have anything to do with him, Regulus still wasn’t enough for him to stay.
“James texts me,” Barty said, and Evan’s eyes widened.
“What?” Regulus asked.
Barty looked between Evan and Regulus for a moment. “He can’t know I showed you.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Barty grinned, and Evan sighed, giving up on trying to get Barty to stop whatever it was that he was doing. Barty opened up his messages and handed it to Regulus. Which… well it was not what he was expecting.
James: I want his babies
Barty: do you suddenly have a uterus?
James: he made french toast?!
for him, i will grow one
And then:
James: his hair has grown more
Barty: okay?
James: he looks good
unholy
on my knees rn
Barty: rn????
James: well.
not rn.
but soon as he lets me <33
Barty: is this really what we’re doing now?
James: feel free to ramble about evan :)
It went on and on, for almost a month. Barty would send gross texts about cute things that Evan did, and James would… well he would do the same thing but about Regulus.
“Nauseating, right?” Evan said.
Regulus honestly did not know what to say. The messages were all so random, some of them sent at times and days where Regulus knows he wasn’t even with James.
“He just wants you, babes,” Barty said, taking his phone back. Regulus felt a bit frozen.
It was one thing for James to say these things to Regulus, when they were alone or if they were whispering to each other in a crowded room. It was another thing entirely for James to be talking to somebody else about how much he loved him.
“He’s the reason I have to wear a robe,” Regulus said, trying to find fault in James.
“Only for the ceremony!” Evan said, as if that made it any better.
“I’m going to look ridiculous.”
“You always look ridiculous.”
“I do not.”
Barty shrugged, agreeing with Evan. “You do.”
“I hate you guys. Why are you here?”
“You invited us,” Evan reminded Regulus, even though he did not actually need the reminder.
“You are always sure to make me regret it.”
———
The rest of that night was spent back at his house. Dorcas and Pandora had set up a makeshift sort of salon, or that’s what they were calling it anyway. A couple of other people arrived too, which was probably a relief for James who had sent him about twenty text messages after Pandora got there.
Regulus wasn’t avoiding him. They were past that, but he was very careful about his words. And it just so happened to be convenient that there was a lot to do before the wedding.
Regulus had essentially been put in charge of everything, and he wasn’t the best at delegating. He gave Dorcas a couple of tasks, because he could trust that she would actually get stuff done. But there wasn’t anyone else that he could trust with not messing it up. And honestly, neither Barty or Evan would have cared if everything wasn't perfect. Regulus did care though, since they wouldn’t do it themselves.
Dorcas was painting the nails of everyone who asked- Sirius, currently- and Pandora was off with Barty. They were doing some last minute work on his dress, but he had also seen them sneak off with two bottles of wine, so they were sure to be gone for a while. Evan seemed perfectly calm for a man who was set to be married in eighteen hours; he was half asleep on the couch and attempting to carry a conversation with Lily.
“Maybe I should marry you instead,” he said.
“Hmm?”
“I could be Evan Evans. Glorious.”
Peter was in the kitchen, and Regulus was pretty sure he was still trying to bake a cake. Regulus had not wanted to leave the cake as something so last minute, and he would have much preferred to buy one from somewhere, but James convinced him to let Peter do it. It was taking everything in him to not walk into the kitchen and try to take over, but Marlene and Remus were in there with him, and he was pretty sure that they were just keeping guard.
“Hey,” James said, tugging at Regulus’ sleeve to get his attention.
He thought that James had vanished upstairs with Pandora and Barty, but apparently he was back already. “Hi.”
“Can we talk?”
Regulus frowned. Even he knew enough about relationships to know that that was not a good sentence. “You are not allowed to break up with me before the wedding,” Regulus said, and he was being serious too. He didn’t have the space to worry about anything else tomorrow. His two best friends deserved a day, a good day that was just about them.
“We’re not breaking up,” James said easily.
“Decide that yourself, then?”
“I did, actually.”
“Mm, cute.”
James tugged on his sleeve one more time. “Come with me. Please?”
Regulus sighed, but he wasn’t going to say no, especially now that he knew that James was not dragging him off to tell him that it was over. It wasn’t a viable fear, but that has never stopped him before.
They go into Regulus’ room, which always feels different when he’s awake. He doesn’t really know how to explain it, but it doesn’t feel like it’s his. Slowly, he’s been decorating it more, adding more personality and such, but it feels most like a place he can call home when James is in it. Before James, it’s just a room that he sleeps in. With James, it’s safe.
“So, what’s up?” Regulus asked, trying very hard to be nonchalant.
James smiled, although Regulus could tell he was worrying about something. There were different levels to James’ smiles, some of them as easy as breathing, and others that looked like they were so difficult to keep up, and yet he always did it anyway.
“I was thinking about what you said earlier,” James said, and Regulus felt himself freeze little bit. This could either be really good, or really bad, and Regulus didn’t even know which he wanted. “I- I love the idea of us having something together, you know? Something that is ours-”
“James-”
“I’m not ready.”
Regulus stopped himself from saying what he was going to say, and he felt a little bit of the tension release from his shoulders. “Oh.”
“Oh? Is that good or bad?” James asked, and Regulus remembered how nervous he had seemed to bring this up.
Regulus stepped forward and pulled James in for a kiss. He always kissed James when he didn’t know what to say, and right then he really had no idea what to say. Sometimes it felt like the only way he could communicate was when his lips were on James, pressing words into his skin that he couldn’t say out loud. James always understood best like this too. It would show if Regulus was angry, or if he was happy, or sad. Everything that needed to be said could be said when they kissed.
“You’re not mad?” James asked.
“Why would I be mad?”
James shrugged. “I- I don’t know.”
“I wasn’t asking you to move in,” Regulus said, trying to figure out a way to fix this. He hated seeing James upset in any capacity, especially if he was the one who caused it.
“I wasn’t sure.”
“I mean… inadvertently. I didn’t mean to, I guess.”
“Reg-”
“One day. I would like it one day, you know?”
“I know,” James said.
Regulus felt himself relax, and he sat down on the edge of his bed, looking up at James for a moment. “Barty told me something today,” Regulus said, because there was absolutely no way he was going to keep it to himself.
“Oh?” James asked. Based on the look on his face, James had no idea what Regulus was going to say, which made it all the better.
“He showed me your messages.”
“Messages? What- Oh.”
Regulus was smiling while realization dawned on James.
“Well I can’t help it,” James told him with a shrug, arms coming to rest around Regulus’ neck and one of his knees on the bed next to where Regulus was sitting. Of course he wouldn’t be embarrassed. Regulus hoped that maybe he would, just a little bit. It would only be fair, considering how many times Regulus has embarrassed himself because of James.
“You realize that he is one of my best friends,” Regulus said, hopelessly amused. “That would be like me texting Sirius about you.”
James frowned. “You guys don’t brag about me?”
“We hardly talk about you,” Regulus said. It wasn’t really a lie, either. If they were talking about James it was in small sentences and phrases. Regulus thinks they are still working out how to love each other and love James, all in different ways. It’s easier than he thought it would be, actually.
“So who do you talk to about me?” James asked, and he was lightly dragging his fingers all over Regulus’ face, like he was mapping it out. Soft touches and soft words.
“Who says I talk about you at all?” His voice was a bit… quiet. He much preferred to focus on the way James touched him, and the way James looked at him.
James raised an eyebrow. “You don’t?”
“What’s there to say?” Regulus said. His voice was giving him away, it always did with James. He couldn’t even properly pretend to be mean anymore. It sort of fell flat when Regulus gazed up at James like a lovesick fool and melted into his touch.
“You’re creative,” James mumbled. He was looking a bit distracted now too- his wandering fingers had started tracing Regulus’ lips. “I’m sure you could think of something.”
Regulus actually couldn’t think of anything at that moment, and James leaned down to press the lightest possible kiss to Regulus’ lips. It was a feather brush, something small that always said so much.
“We have company,” James said, reminding both of them how many of their friends were downstairs. He rested their foreheads together, keeping Regulus close.
Regulus sighed. “I fucking hate hosting.”
James grinned, and Regulus could feel it against his mouth. “You’re the one who went and moved into the prettiest house.”
“We all make mistakes.”
***
James was very worried about getting his hair chopped off. Dorcas looked like she was genuinely going to do it, too. The way she was watching him from across the room. She trimmed up Lily’s hair, and Pandora was doing Emmeline’s makeup, and Regulus…
Where was Regulus? He would never stand for anyone trying to come near his hair, James was sure of that much.
“Just a trim?” Dorcas asked.
“Stay far away from me,” James said, even though they were all the way across the room.
“Do you want your makeup done?” Pandora asked, and James turned his head and noticed that Emmeline was getting out of the chair.
“He wants his hair cut,” Dorcas said.
“I do not.”
“You’re not allowed to touch his hair,” Regulus said, walking into the room all of the sudden. James instinctively smiled at the sight of him.
“My knight in shining armor,” James joked, holding his arms out. Regulus moved toward him without really even thinking about it, letting himself be wrapped up in James’ arms. “Where have you been all day?”
James has hardly seen him since they woke up this morning. He’s been running around everywhere, and James would catch glimpses of him, but he always looked busy. Well, he probably was busy. It was finally the wedding day. James is excited. He loves weddings, especially small ones like this. It feels like such a grand way for Evan and Barty to prove that they love each other.
Regulus sighed. “They delivered the wrong flowers, and the chairs were hardly in straight lines, so I had to fix that, and I had to pick up the stupid dog-”
“Dog? What dog?” James asked.
“Oh. We got them a dog as their wedding gift.”
James frowned in confusion, but he seemed to notice that Regulus was whispering now, which meant this was probably a surprise. “What?”
“It’s also the ring bearer.”
“A dog?”
“She’s very well behaved.”
“Where is she?”
“Alice and Mary are playing with her somewhere.”
James rubbed Regulus’ shoulders a little bit. He seemed stressed. “Have you ever thought about delegating?” he asked.
“It needs to be perfect.”
“It will be.”
“I delegated the cake,” Regulus offered.
“That’s because Peter’s a fantastic baker.”
Regulus shrugged, pulling back a little bit so James could see his face. “It’s still delegating.”
James leant in and gave him a kiss. He’s come to notice that Regulus asks for them. Never in an explicit way, but he’ll tilt his head up and start making heavy eye contact. And it’s a question for which the answer is always yes. James will never deny him a kiss.
“I think you need to relax,” James told him, an idea forming in his head.
“I’m fine.”
“What more do you need done?”
“James-”
“Let me help,” James said. “Please?”
Regulus sighed. “The bouquets. Evan wants every guest to have their own bouquets of flowers.”
James smiled, delighted to help. “I will get right on it. First, you need to sit in that chair.” He pointed in the direction of Pandora, who was bobbing her head to music while searching for a new song on her phone. She seemed to sense them looking at her though, and she looked up.
“I don’t have time-”
James pressed a finger to his lips, pulling at Regulus’ wrist until he started moving with him. “Pandora is going to pamper you. Relax.”
James was well aware of how rare it would be if Regulus actually did relax, but at least this way he would be occupied with something that didn’t stress him out. He only ever let Pandora do his makeup. James saw it once, the way he just became a puppet for her, letting Pandora control everything. Getting Regulus to let go was a bit hard at times, but he was clearly trying. And he was delegating.
Regulus sat down in the chair, and Pandora looked pleased, her hands cupping his cheeks. “Oh how I have been dying to get my hands on you,” she said. She looked up at James. “He’s like a doll.”
“He is a doll,” James corrected, the corners of his lips turning up.
“I am right here,” Regulus said.
“Shh. Mama’s got this,” Pandora said, and James knew that Regulus was in the best possible hands.
Dorcas was distracted now too, Marlene had finally come to join them and Dorcas seemed content to just run her fingers through her hair over and over again.
James meant to go make all of the bouquets, and he was still planning on it. But he saw the dog. Mary and Alice and Emmeline were all playing with her outside, and James was practically forced to join them. He loved dogs, he always has.
“Does she have a name?” James asked, sitting on the ground with all of them.
Alice was holding onto her leash so she wouldn’t run away, but honestly it didn’t look like she was trying to get anywhere at all. “Regulus said he wanted Barty and Evan to be able to name her.”
James fell in love as soon as he got his hands on the dog. She was big, a Noufandland with lots of black fur that was shedding everywhere. She licked James’ face, and he laughed, falling backwards a little bit.
“I want a dog,” James thinks out loud, unable to help it. He hadn’t really thought about it, or even really thought it was a possibility. His parents used to have a dog, Charlie. She died a couple of years ago but James still has her as his lock screen. He had been crushed when she died, he grew up with that dog. But he hasn’t really thought about having one of his own because of touring.
“Why don’t you get one with Regulus?” Mary asked.
James blinked, because he also hadn’t really thought about that as a possibility. They wanted something they could share, and neither of them were really ready for something like moving in together. But they could have a dog together, right?
“Great, he’s plotting,” Emmeline said.
“I absolutely am.”
After a while of the four of them sitting and talking, Alice coughed to get James’ attention. “Regulus is glaring at you through the window,” she said, and James stood up immediately. The bouquets.
“He is supposed to be relaxing,” James said, turning his head to look. Sure enough, Regulus was in the kitchen, looking at James through the window above the sink.
He said goodbye to the girls, and the dog, a smile finding its way onto his face as he walked back inside, ready to face Regulus. Really, it was just a small detour, and he couldn’t be blamed. It was a dog, Regulus had to know how distracting that could prove to be.
“Hi, lover,” James said, shamelessly trying to butter him up. Regulus looked stunning, actually. Pandora did an amazing job in only about thirty minutes. Everything about him was just a little bit glittery; his cheekbones, his eyelids, his lips. He was glowing. “You look beautiful.”
“Mhm,” Regulus said, unamused.
James sighed. “I got sidetracked,” he admitted, stopping himself from glancing at the dog.
“I noticed.”
“Are you terribly upset with me?” James asked with a nervous smile.
Regulus rolled his eyes. “No.”
“No?”
“I sent Remus and Sirius on the job an hour ago anyway.”
“You gave me a job that was already being completed?”
“Well I figured that at least one of the three of you would have some sort of attention span, but I’m pretty sure they went off to shag somewhere.”
James shrugged, because that was likely true. Remus and Sirius were always disappearing together. “Yeah, probably.”
“I have to go help Barty get ready,” Regulus said then, grabbing the wine glasses that he must have poured just before James came back inside. “I- Can you please help with the bouquets?” Regulus asked. He actually asked, in a sincere way. James felt a bit guilty. He was meant to be easing Regulus’ stress, not adding to it.
“Yeah, of course.”
“I won’t have time to, and I know you like flowers and pretty things, so I thought you would like to-”
“I’ll do it,” James interrupted. “I promise.”
Regulus seemed to believe him, which was good because James meant it. “Thank you.”
Regulus had just passed James when he stopped him. “Reg?”
He turned to face James. “Hmm?”
“I- you’re doing a really good job.”
“What?”
“With the wedding. Everything outside looks beautiful, and… well you just did an amazing job, is all.”
Regulus, in a move that James can say he didn’t see coming, set the wine glasses down and stepped into James’ arms for a real and proper hug. James was more of a touchy person than Regulus was in the sense that James initiated it a lot more. James got the sense that Regulus needed this though, he needed to be held and told he was doing a good job because everybody else was too busy to remind him.
“You’re a good friend to them,” James told him, one of his hands carding through Regulus’ hair.
“They deserve a good day,” Regulus said quietly. He kept saying that, and James got the sense that Regulus’ motivations for helping them plan this whole thing went a lot deeper than he would ever admit. James knows that Barty and Evan haven’t always been like this, how they are now. He doesn’t know a whole lot about their childhoods, but he knows it wasn’t easy for them, despite how casual they both seem about everything now.
“So do you.”
“Today isn’t about me.”
James held him a little bit tighter. All of James’ days felt like they were about Regulus, in one way or another. “You should still take time to breathe.”
“I can breathe when I’m with you,” Regulus said quietly, and James felt himself melt a little bit.
“Me too.”
———
James is halfway through the bouquets when Sirius and Remus finally come back. When he got to their little station they had only made about three of them, and James went back and fixed those anyway. It took a bit longer than he thought it was, but that was mostly because tying them was a bit tricky, and James wanted them to look perfect.
“Prongs?”
“Padfoot,” James said with a nod, ignoring his confusion. If he’s honest, James actually liked making the bouquets. It was sort of mindless work, and James could let his mind travel to wherever he wanted it to.
“Do you- uhh do you want help?”
James smiled. He always found a way to make a one person job into a two person job so that he could do it with Sirius. The dishes, or a coffee run, or hanging up a picture frame. He didn’t much like to be alone, and it helped that he always wanted to be around Sirius.
“Have you seen the dog yet?” James asked.
Sirius’ eyes widened. “Dog?”
“Regulus got Barty and Evan a dog. She’s outside.”
Sirius looked up at Remus, silently asking him if he wanted to go. “I’ll help James. You go play with the dog.”
Sirius did not need to be told twice. If there was anyone who loved dogs more than James did, it was Sirius. He could probably stay out there for hours.
“You don’t have to,” James said.
Remus shrugged. “I’ve more dexterous fingers.”
James raised an eyebrow at him. “What?”
“For tying them,” he said, gesturing with his head to where James was struggling to tie a bow.
“Oh, have at it then.”
They worked in silence for a couple minutes. Remus never felt the need to fill silence in the way Sirius and James did. Sometimes, James would chatter at Remus for hours, just talking about everything and nothing, and Remus would just listen, interjecting his opinion whenever the situation called for it. Other times though, James would exist in silence with him.
“I need to workshop an idea,” Remus said suddenly.
“Okay.”
Remus took a deep breath. “And I need you to tell me if I’m being crazy.”
“Moony, you’re the most level headed person I know.”
Remus shrugged. “Yeah, but never about Sirius.”
“Oh, so this is about Sirius?” James asked, suddenly very intrigued. He didn’t get a lot of information out of Remus, especially not about their relationship. He got the sense that they liked to keep a lot of it to themselves, which was not what James would have expected out of them. Ever since the interview, where they told the whole world they were in love, Remus and Sirius have both been pretty quiet about each other in public. James doesn’t think they regret it, per se, but nobody wants to have every aspect of their private life available for scrutiny.
“Yeah.”
“I am all ears,” James told him honestly. He was still making the bouquets, because he had promised Regulus he would get them done, and he was insistent on making good on that promise. It was going faster with Remus too, and he probably enjoyed having something to do with his hands.
“I want to marry him,” Remus blurted out, and James froze. His face didn’t though, his grin just kept getting bigger and bigger, and he was probably looking at Remus like a lunatic, but he couldn’t help it. The joy was just being spread around today, he supposed. “Stop that.”
“I- I literally can’t. Are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
“I- You- Oh my God!”
“James-”
“You want to marry him. Oh, he’s going to be so happy,” James said, absolutely delighted. Sirius would be ecstatic too. This is a long time coming. Sirius will never admit it, but James is pretty sure he used to write Sirius Lupin on his papers just to see how it looked.
“James,” Remus said, a bit louder. And, oh. Remus was clearly very nervous about this.
“What’s wrong?”
“What if it’s too soon?”
“It’s been like fifteen years.”
Remus sighed. “I just got him, you know?”
“You’ve always had him.”
“Not properly. And… well what if he says no?”
“He wouldn’t.”
“But if he does?”
“I cannot think of a single scenario where Sirius would say no. How’re you gonna do it? When? Where?” James asked in succession. He was just too happy, even if Remus looked a bit like he was going to throw up.
Remus shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I mean it has to be big, right? It’s Sirius.”
“Not necessarily.”
“It has to feel big though,” Remus said, and James got the sense that he was talking to himself now. “He- he likes big feelings, you know? Like the happy ones that just take over.”
“Mhm.”
“Like you right now,” Remus said, regarding James carefully then. “You can’t tell anyone.”
His face dropped, and James knew that. He did. But… well how was he meant to keep it to himself? “No-one?”
“No. Especially not Sirius. Or Regulus.”
James’ jaw dropped. “He’s really good at keeping secrets though.”
“It’s his brother.”
“Even better.”
“James-”
“Fine, fine. I won’t tell.”
And he really wouldn’t, because Remus asked him not to. Still, James did finish the bouquet and then tackle Sirius into one of the biggest hugs they have ever shared, actually lifting him off the ground and squeezing him tight. He couldn’t help it, he was so happy for them.
***
Barty was pacing. He just kept pacing, and Regulus was trying really hard to not snap at him, but he was trying to zip up Barty’s dress. That was proving to be difficult though because Barty wouldn’t stop fucking moving.
Pandora was only halfway done with his makeup too, but she seemed to have a bit more patience for him at that moment.
“He’s not going to leave me at the altar, right?”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “Obviously not.”
“He’s not just doing this to appease me?”
“He loves you,” Pandora reminded him.
Regulus had honestly thought that they wouldn’t get wedding jitters. They’ve been friends for literal years, and they were both equally excited about the wedding. Clearly though, despite all of that time knowing each other, Barty is still stressed about whether or not Evan even likes him.
“He made a joke about marrying Lily,” Barty pointed out, as if that would ever happen.
“She’s a lesbian,” Regulus said. “And it was a joke.”
“Still. Maybe he wants someone else-”
Regulus stood up abruptly. “Shut up.” Barty did immediately, which Regulus can confirm that he did not really expect. He was thankful though, because even if it was his wedding day, Barty was giving him a headache. “It’s Evan.”
“Exactly.”
The thing about Evan and Barty is that it wasn’t always obvious that they would be together. When they were younger, they were so different. Too different to really be romantically compatible. They were good friends, they all were, but they hadn’t always seemed so inevitable. It wasn’t until they were growing up and getting ready to leave school that Regulus first saw it. Barty had been late to school after spending the weekend with his parents, and Evan noticed the way Barty winced when he sat down. Evan didn’t say anything, instead he got up and went to get plates full of Barty’s favorite foods, making sure that he didn’t have to get up and try to do it himself. Barty had blushed, and Evan acted like he hadn’t even done anything. That’s just how they were with each other, doing small things that had big impacts. After that, they felt pretty inevitable.
“He’s fretting in the room next door,” Regulus told him. Which… well maybe he was selling Evan out a little bit, but Evan would forgive him. Regulus has been going back and forth between the two rooms for the past hour, and they were both a special kind of difficult.
“He is?”
Regulus saw only one way to fix this, because they truly were both worrying. In less than two minutes, Pandora and Regulus left Barty in the room, making sure to shut the door, and then they brought Evan to stand outside of it. Barty wanted the dress to be a big reveal when he walked down the aisle, so Regulus gave Evan specific instructions to not go inside.
Regulus knocked. “Barty, Evan is outside. Ease each other’s anxieties.”
And with that, he left them to talk. They didn’t believe in a lot of the superstitions surrounding weddings- Barty is wearing black, so clearly he doesn’t care for them- but they both thought it would be special to have a first reveal type of thing.
Regulus, Dorcas, and Pandora waited on the stairs, sitting quietly and just waiting.
“Marlene told me you’re gonna wear a robe,” Dorcas said, breaking the silence.
Regulus sighed, and Pandora snorted, failing to keep in a laugh. “I hate everyone.”
“Clearly not, if you’re actually gonna wear it.”
Regulus shrugged. “It’s what they want.”
It was that simple for Regulus, at least for today. Tomorrow, if Barty asked him to wear a robe, Regulus would probably throw a fork at him. But just for today, they could have what they wanted. Regulus wasn’t the only one who was doing something just because the grooms wanted him to. Dorcas was in a dark green suit, and Pandora in a dress made of the same color, because that was what they requested. They had simultaneously been so picky about some things, and also completely impartial to others. It had made planning the thing almost impossible.
It was another twenty minutes before Evan said that they were both fine now, which Regulus didn’t entirely believe. But Barty stopped moving enough for Regulus to zip up his dress and for Pandora to finish his makeup.
He didn’t look like a bride, not really. His dress was long and black, loose and flowy on the bottom, sort of falling like a dark cloud because of the lace layers. His makeup was light, and Pandora had only really made his eyes and lips pop.
Pandora fixed the strap of his dress. “You look very handsome, Bartemius,” she said.
“He’ll like it, right?”
Regulus nodded. “He’ll probably pass out at the sight.”
Barty grinned. “Good.”
In Evan’s room, they were just sitting there. Evan had also gotten his makeup done. It was a bit warmer than Barty’s, and he just sort of glowed in all directions. His suit was dark blue, almost black but not quite. At the very least, it would look good in photos next to Barty.
“You guys look ready,” Regulus said, sitting down in the spinny chair. The room was Regulus’ room, actually, but he let Evan take it over to get ready.
“Really? I don’t feel ready.”
“Well you look it, and that’s half the battle,” Dorcas said.
“Barty wants to see you,” Regulus said to her. Dorcas had a way of understanding Barty that the rest of them never really did. It was like they had a secret language.
Dorcas nodded, gave Evan a kiss on the head, and said that she would see him out there.
“I’m nervous,” Evan said the moment the door shut.
Regulus shrugged. “Makes sense.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You’re pledging life with a man named Barty Crouch.”
Evan smiled. “He’s taking my last name, you know?”
“Probably excited to be rid of his.”
“Mhm.”
“Rosier is a much prettier last name,” Regulus says.
“By eons.”
———
The actual matrimony part snuck up on all of them, somehow. They were going to lose daylight if they didn’t get the two of them out there, where Regulus was supposed to marry them. He was going to wait as long as he could before he had to put the robe on, but the second it was over his head, he noticed it was actually quite comfortable.
“You look spiffy,” James said, and Regulus turned around, already preparing to say something until he actually saw James, and all words left his mind.
He looked mouth-watering. Regulus couldn’t stop himself from staring if he tried. He had undoubtedly made the right choice, putting him in a tarnish-orange suit, one that fit more casually than rigid. He was wearing lip gloss too, and Regulus was reminded of all those months ago at the award show.
“Reg?”
Regulus blinked, a bit broken out of his trance. “I am so in love with you,” he said, because he felt like he didn’t say it enough. He felt like there would never actually be an enough for that sort of thing. He wanted James to hear it and nothing else for eternity. He wanted him to know just how deeply it ran.
James smiled, the kind of smile he reserved just for Regulus.
“I also hate you for making me wear this.”
James barked out a laugh, a loud one like he hadn’t expected for Regulus to say anything that was that funny. “I am madly in love with you, too,” he said, eyes soft when he looked at Regulus.
Regulus didn’t say anything. He was a little scared to speak, actually. To move. He absolutely did not have time to deal with James looking so… gorgeous. If either of them moved then Regulus would surely end up on his knees, and, again, they really don’t have time for that.
“That look is dangerous,” James said, probably noticing the way that Regulus was practically undressing him with his eyes.
“Oh, well.”
James smiled. “You have a wedding to officiate,” he said, reminding both of them again. Now was absolutely not the time.
“I know.”
“We shouldn’t.”
“I know,” Regulus said, this time he took a step forward though. Would one kiss hurt all that much? They were wasting time just staring at each other anyway.
And then they were reaching for each other, lips on lips, and Regulus was messing up James’ hair and his lip gloss, and honestly just trying to ruin some of how perfect he looked so that he could get through this damn wedding.
It was a knock at the door that broke them apart, and James really did look thoroughly disheveled. Good.
“Regulus.” That would be Dorcas, of course.
“Yeah?”
“Potter in there with you?”
“Yeah.”
She opened the door just then, taking in their appearances. “For fucks sake. Shag later.”
It took a moment for them to realize she was holding the door open for them, and they both scrambled out. Today was not about them, and Regulus could put his impure thoughts about James on a back burner until the ceremony was done, at least.
———
Regulus did not cry. He couldn’t anyway, considering he had to officiate the whole thing, and crying would have made that impossible. But he had come close during the wedding vows. Pandora did not keep it together for very long, and Dorcas almost made it to the end only to start crying because of the way Barty was smiling.
“So you’re a priest now, too?” Monty asked a while later. Everyone was well on their way to being drunk, and Barty and Evan loved all the attention they were getting. Regulus didn’t actually expect the Potter’s to show up. They didn’t know Barty or Evan very well, but they had still insisted on inviting them.
Regulus was not drunk, just a little bit tipsy. He had taken off the stupid robe almost as soon as the ceremony part was over.
“Just for the day,” Regulus told him. He was in the corner of everything, watching everyone. If there is one thing that Regulus misses about the tour, it was that everyone was always together.
“James told me you did all of this.”
Regulus shrugged, unsure how to respond. It wasn’t a question. “Sorta.”
Monty patted him on the back, a smile on his face. Regulus liked Monty. He had a mind that worked similarly to Regulus’, and once they spoke for hours about their different theories without realizing that time had even been passing.
“I’m glad it’s you.”
“What?”
“I’m glad you’re the one my son fell in love with. You’re a good kid, Regulus.”
Maybe that shouldn’t have made Regulus feel as light as it did, but for the second time that night Regulus thought that he might cry. “Oh.”
“Me and Effie are gonna head back to the hotel, I think. Have a good rest of your night.”
Regulus had meant to say something, but he honestly felt frozen. He’s never had someone be glad that he had entered their life, not in such an explicit way. And Monty had said it with no room for interpretation.
“Regulus!” Evan was calling him over, and Regulus went, trying to stop himself from grinning like a maniac.
“Yeah?”
“This dog is ours?” he asked. Regulus looked down to the dog he had picked up earlier in the day. He had forgotten to tell them that they got to keep her, apparently. James was smiling a little bit guilty, like he was the one who had spoiled the surprise.
“Oh, yeah. She doesn’t have a name yet, so, that’s up to you.”
Barty’s jaw had dropped, and he kept looking from the dog to Regulus. “You got us our ring bearing dog.”
They had brought it up as a throwaway thing, but Regulus had spent a long time trying to figure out how to get it to happen. “Congratulations?” he said, unsure what he was really supposed to say in this situation.
Barty and Evan both hugged him at the same time, something that they probably would have asked about before, but they were drunk and it was their wedding day, so he gave them a pass.
“Thank you,” Barty said, and Regulus knew how much all of this meant to him.
He nodded. “Of course.”
They hugged him again, and now Regulus was crying a little bit. It was the good kind though, where he felt so much and didn’t know what to do with any of it.