People were scattered throughout the hall, carrying out various tasks with relative enjoyment. Mariah shuffled her way past the tables, locating James, where he was hovering in the corner, watching everybody else finish the preparations. She smiled as she approached him, noticing his lack of response. Once she had reached him, she paused and reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder gently to get his attention without startling him too much.
“James?” She prompted, keeping her voice low so as to not terrify him. When that did not succeed in pulling James out of whatever trance he was in, she sighed and tried again, slightly louder. “James,” He blinked a few times and turned his head to look at her, still clearly a little out of it, but somewhat in the same plane of reality as her.
James frowned and blinked at her a few times, scrunching their nose up as he tried to remember where he was and what he was doing. Eventually, he realised and smiled, trying to catch up on what Mariah had been saying. “Riah, hey, you okay? Can I help with anything?” He pushed himself away from the wall and looked down at her kindly.
The two of them had become rather good friends over the past two years, as had Benvolio and Remus. Peter’s partners fit in perfectly with the group and they were all equally thrilled to hear about the engagement, all of them trying to do anything they could to help. Even now, with only two hours to go before the guests began to arrive, they were perfecting preparations to try and make it the best wedding possible.
“Yeah, there was, actually. I need to go to Pan for my makeup soon so I was going to ask if you could take over my place setting out the glasses over there,” She pointed to the far side of the hall. James looked over and nodded, there was one other person over there, though he couldn’t see who it was.
Immediately, James smiled and nodded. “Of course I will, Riah! Wouldn’t want to keep the bride waiting on her big day, would we?” She grinned, bowing down dramatically, making Mariah swat at his arm playfully.
“Oi, could you stop being an idiot for once in your life, please? You’re going to ruin my wedding day.”
Faking a horrified gasp, James put a hand to their chest and looked away, laughing to himself and stepping past Mariah to go and begin to set out the glasses on the tables, ready for the reception later on.
“Bye, Akesse. Can’t wait to see you in that suit, Pete and Ben will probably pass out!” He called over his shoulder, succeeding in making Mariah laugh.
As she drew closer to the table, James started to see the person hovering around a little better, internally yelling at himself for not noticing sooner. Their body seemed to go into autopilot, their feet continuing to drag him forward, even as her brain was screaming to turn around before they got close enough to talk, seeing as that would be a rather awkward conversation, given their past.
He approached the man slowly, trying to seem busy, not wanting to be caught checking for changes since James had last seen him.
Black, shoulder-length hair, impeccably smooth and shiny, as it always had been. Slim shoulders, making him look smaller than he was. James could only imagine the gorgeous grey eyes on his face, though he daredn’t step any closer to look, in the fear of appearing as a stalking ex who cannot get over him. Because James did not want to be the creepy ex-boyfriend Regulus told all his new partners about.
Regulus seemed to notice his arrival, as he turned to look at him, expression completely masked. It infuriated James, but they couldn’t blame him; he didn’t have much reason to let James know what he was feeling, they hadn’t spoken in over three years.
His eyes flickered over James, taking him in, as if he was trying to figure out if he was real or not. Then, he took a deep breath and stepped back a little, picking up a napkin and refolding it to find a distraction. “James,” He muttered in acknowledgement, trying to seem unbothered.
“Regulus,” They responded, voice slightly stunted and quiet. It took James immense effort to not slap herself right then and there out of humiliation.
Regulus paused, clearing his throat and looking away. “You look nice.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
“Thanks.”
They stood in silence for a good while longer, continuing to set out the preparations on the tables as if the other wasn’t there. Eventually, James gave up on sitting silently, and sighed, turning to face Regulus, leaning back onto the table behind them and watching Regulus work silently.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” He eventually managed, voice no louder than a murmur, but Regulus heard it. Of course he did.
He paused and turned around, mirroring James’ position and looking right ahead at him. “Well, I am one of Mariah’s closest friends, as you should very well know by now,” He clipped.
“You know that isn’t what I meant.”
“Yes…it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” James nodded, without talking, and Regulus tried to find a way to keep the conversation going. “Have you…started seeing anyone lately?”
James shook her head slowly. “No. What about you?”
After a short pause, Regulus replied. “Not really. I’ve tried seeing a few people but none of them really fit, you know? I have a rather specific type,” James tried to stay calm, but it was proving rather difficult with the hint-dropping Regulus had done, be it intentional or not.
“Right,” He whispered, looking away.
They fell into another awkward silence.
“How’s Sirius?” Regulus asked, looking genuinely curious.
“Alright. He’s been doing pretty okay. If you like, I can take you to him no-”
Regulus quickly raised a hand to cut him off. “No, that's okay. I don’t wish to talk to him, I just wanted to be sure he was okay, that’s all.”
“It’s a shame we didn’t stay in contact after school,” Said James, regretting it the second the words left his mouth. They were about to backtrack and rephrase to save themselves, when Regulus smiled softly and agreed.
“It is,” He mumbled. “It would have been nice. Maybe then, this wouldn’t be so awkward.”
They looked at each other for a few painful seconds, until James pushed away from the table, though he didn’t step any closer.
“I’ve missed you, Reg.”
Regulus nodded slowly, looking just past James’ face. “It’s nice to know I’m appreciated, I suppose.”
There was a beat of silence before Regulus spoke again. “I’ve missed you too,” He said, softly.
“Really?” She gripped the back of the chair next to her nervously, watching as Regulus laughed sharply.
“I wouldn't say it if I didn’t mean it, would I?”
“Good point,” James paused. “It kind of feels like you aren’t really here.”
Regulus approached him slowly, stopping a few centimetres away to reach past him and adjust the arrangement on the table. “Well, unfortunately for you, I am. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
James stayed quiet for a while, then he started to laugh. Properly, loudly, freely laugh. And all Regulus could do was stare in confusion.
“Why are you laughing at me?”
James placed a hand on their stomach and desperately tried to breathe. “I’m not…it’s just…you’re still so blunt.”
Regulus quirked a lip and hardened his gaze. “Is that an issue?”
“Is- No! No, it’s cute.”
Regulus laughed quietly, taking a step back. “You’re not making it any better for yourself right now.”
“I know,” She groaned.
“You think I’m cute?”
“Well, I wouldn’t have dated you for two years if I didn’t, would I?”
“Well, yes, obviously, but I’d have thought it would change with time, after, you know…” Regulus’ voice trailed off awkwardly.
Awkwardly laughing to herself, James shook their head. “No, it hasn’t,” She paused, asking himself if it was a smart idea to keep talking or not. “I don’t think it ever will.”
“That’s rather presumptuous,” Regulus smiled.
“I suppose. It’s true, though. Time doesn’t change the fact you’re pretty, if that means anything to your ego.”
Regulus nodded, trying to hide a smile. “Why do we keep beating around the bush like this?” He whispered, looking at the ground stupidly.
“What?”
Regulus looked up, face in an expression of slight bewilderment. “We just…I think we both know where we want this conversation to go but neither of us are doing anything about it.”
“And what, exactly, would that be?”
Sighing and leaning back, Regulus glared. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
Having completely given up, Regulus tutted and turned around, finding something to busy himself with until he felt a hand gently resting itself on his shoulder, feeling breath against the back of his neck. He turned around and met her kind smile with a look of disapproval.
“Stop it, you’re teasing me now,” He stepped away and turned back around.
James whined softly, stepping closer to Regulus and lowering his voice.
“Reg,” No response.
“Regulus.”
Nothing.
“Reggie.”
Silence.
“Sweetheart, look at me,” That time, he got a tired huff.
“Reg.”
Nothing at all.
They stopped talking and took a moment to consider what they were about to do, then, James stepped forward even closer and carefully slid her arms around Regulus’ waist, giving him time to pull away if he wanted to. When he didn’t, James moved closer, pressing their backs up together and resting her head on Regulus’ shoulder, pressing their nose into his neck to prove a point.
“I’m sorry.”
Relaxing considerably, Regulus turned around in James’ grip and put his hands on their shoulders so the two of them were in a gentle embrace they had not shared since their school years. James lifted his head and they both looked at each other awkwardly.
Eventually, Regulus laughed shortly and let their foreheads rest together. “That was very forward of you.”
“I suppose. You never used to mind, so I just assumed…” They trailed off.
Regulus nodded in understanding, their noses tapping each other softly. “It’s okay. You were right, I don’t mind.”
“Okay.”
Regulus laughed to himself. “Mariah planned this from the second she sent you over here, I know it. She wanted you to want to be my girlfriend again,” James hummed and nuzzled his face closer, into Regulus’ cheek. “Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Want to be my girlfriend again,” He whispered and James laughed, nodding his head happily.
“I wouldn’t mind that one bit.”