i can go anywhere i want (just not home)
regular is james
bold is regulus
bold and italics is remus
italics is sirius
[ Incoming Call ]
sirius black
[ Accept ] [ Decline ]
“What in the ever-loving fuck do you want, Sirius?”
“Well, good afternoon to you too, Regulus. My evening was lovely, thank you for asking.”
“Ha, very funny. I'm in the middle of prepping, what do you need?”
“I was just calling to make sure the plan was still on for James’ party tonight.”
“Oh. Absolutely, yeah.”
“Good.”
“...”
“...so, how was meeting Effie and Monty yesterday?”
“It was…nerve wracking. But good. According to James, Monty really likes me.”
“Ha! Effie had the same reaction when I met her. She jokes about me being her favorite all the time.”
“Truly, though, they were lovely. Though, the thought of seeing them again is still a little scary to me.”
“It gets better as you see them more often, I promise. I was the same way when I met them for the first time, but it definitely gets easier.”
“How was your first time meeting them?”
“Technically, it was getting off the train home from school, my second year. Mum and dad were late, so I stayed beside Effie and Monty for a bit until I saw them enter the station. Effie slipped me a package of biscuits just in case I didn’t have anything to eat, which, at the time, confused me. But later, I learned James had talked to his parents about ours, and she took it upon herself to make sure I was taken care of when I wasn’t at school.”
“She’s an incredibly kind woman.”
“Absolutely. But my first time officially meeting them as…well, as mum and dad, was when I left. I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go; I didn’t know either of Remus’ parent’s addresses, and I didn’t know Peter’s or James’, but I knew James’ phone number by heart. So I found a phone box, and Monty came to pick me up. That’s when I met them for the first time.”
“Your mum and dad Effie and Monty, not James’ mum and dad Effie and Monty.”
“Yeah, exactly. It was weird at first, but I got used to it, and now, whenever I talk about my mum, it’s Effie. Same goes for Monty.”
“I’m glad you had them, and James, when you left.”
“I am too. I’m glad you had a support net too, Reggie. Those are always the most important, in my opinion.”
“I’d have to agree with you on that.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“You remember the plan for tonight, yeah?”
“I do indeed. Everything should be ready by the time you lot get here.”
“Awesome. Let me know when you’re ready for us.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
“Ha. Do you need us to get alcohol?”
“Probably. There’s still a little left in here, but probably not enough, with the way you all drink. Especially you and James.”
“I take offense to that. I drink just fine, thank you very much. My tolerance is incredible.”
“It definitely is not.”
“Hey! My tolerance is good, and we both know that!”
“And I’m straight.”
“...”
“Sorry, I thought we were telling blatant lies.”
“You suck. I hate you. See you at 6?”
“You suck even more. And I hate you most. See you at 6.”
[ Call Ended - 15m35s ]
If there’s one word to describe Sirius Black, it’s stubborn. That stubbornness was only doubled, tripled, even, when paired alongside Lily Evans. Once they had a plan, it was damn near impossible to get them off of it. He knew his attempts at prying information out of them were fruitless, but he had still tried, which led to the same result; promptly being told to shut up and stop asking questions. Even his attempts to pry information out of Regulus had failed- something he anticipated, but still loathed. Stubbornness ran in their blood, no doubt.
It was the day after James’ birthday, and he knew Sirius was planning something, he just didn’t know what . They’d already gone to get their nails done; Sirius had gotten blood red acrylics, Lily had gotten a burnt orange color, and James had gotten a bright fire engine red. They’d taken him out to get a new outfit for the party, which had led them into multiple charity shops, which they left with far too many bags from. And now, on top of that, Sirius and Lily were dragging him into a Tesco on the basis of getting snacks for the event, even though he knew damn well Sirius and Remus had already gone shopping for them.
Logic would lead James towards the idea that they’re simply stalling for…something, probably related to the party. But, James never claimed to be a logical person. For all he knew, it was going to be a small get-together with the three of them, Remus, and Mary, over at Sirius and Remus’ flat, since Regulus had said he’d needed to finish up a commission that was due the next day. He was a bit disappointed that Regulus wouldn’t be there, but sometimes, deadlines are important. Plus, he’d spent the previous night with him, and a few nights before that, so he wasn’t too heartbroken by it. So, he simply followed their lead, allowing them to drag him into shop after shop.
“Y’know, I have no idea why you’re so insistent on keeping me out all day, Pads. I’d like to at least get ready before the party.” James said, following Sirius.
Sirius brushed him off, grabbing his hand and leading him into the store. “We’re retrieving party supplies, James, lighten up a little,” He teased, dragging James along behind him. “It’s your party, we need alcohol, so pick some out. Besides, we’ll get you home so you can get ready, don’t you even worry. Lily and I will help you look,” he paused to make a chef’s kiss with his hand, a loud kissing sound leaving his mouth. “...absolutely stunning.”
Lily laughed, linking her arm with Sirius. “Exactly, we’ll make sure you look hot and ready for tonight. Now, pick some alcohol before I pick some. And we both know none of you can handle the stuff Mary and I drink.”
James huffed, amused by their insistence, and followed them towards the drink aisle, where they picked out a few handles of tequila, vodka, and James’ favorite brand of whiskey, Firewhiskey. They filled their basket up with crisps and biscuits and candy, and, after about a solid hour in the supermarket, they left with an arm’s each worth of bags.
“Alright, now we should be good to go back to your place, James,” Lily said, opening the trunk of her car.
James raised an eyebrow at that. “I thought the party was happening at Sirius’ place,” He said. “Did the plans change?”
Sirius laughed. “No, Jamie, it’s still happening there. We all just need to get ready. Plus, I brought everything to get ready, and so did Lily. And the incredible lighting in your place is just the cherry on top.” He said, dumping his bags in the trunk. Lily and James followed suit, before they drove back to James’ flat.
Once there, Sirius dragged his impossibly large makeup back into the living room and plopped down on a chair, turning it so it was facing a window with natural light. Lily followed suit, and James, who didn’t wear makeup, turned his attention towards choosing music for the group. He eventually landed on a playlist Sirius had made, with music ranging from Ice Nine Kills to Chappell Roan to Fleetwood Mac.
A bit later, Sirius let out a frustrated sigh, reaching for a cotton round. “I can’t get my fucking eyeliner right,” He said, frustrated. Lily looked up from her mirror, setting a makeup brush down.
“I can do it for you, if you’d like,” Lily offered. James watched as the two turned in their chairs to face each other, and Lily took the eyeliner pen in her hands, carefully drawing a wing shape from the outer corner of Sirius’ eye, dragging it back to meet at the inner corner. She brushed some maroon eyeshadow around the lines to blur them, giving Sirius a perfectly messy winged liner.
Sirius looked at her work and grinned, thanking Lily profusely.
“It turned out great, Lils,” James said, grinning as he watched the two get ready. Eventually, they both finished their makeup, giving them enough time to get ready before they had to leave.
“Now, go get dressed, and don’t make us late, Prongs,” Sirius teased, punching him gently in the arm as James walked away.
He opted for one of Regulus’ favorite shirts for him to wear; it was a red silk button down shirt, and he kept the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up just above his elbows. He slid on a pair of black trousers, tucking the front of his shirt into the front of his pants and pulling on it slightly to create a more flowy silhouette.
Sliding a few gold rings on that he had picked out from one of the charity shops, he picked out the necklaces he wanted to wear; a small gold chain, and one silver necklace with a small “R” charm hanging from it. He adjusted his hair a bit, adding some pomade into it, before sliding his shoes on and heading back out into the living room to meet Sirius and Lily.
Lily had on a light pink floral midi dress, the kind where the sleeves puff up at the top, and a few pieces of gold jewelry. She’d pulled her curls up into a messy bun on the crown of her head, a few strands of red hair framing her face, and she’d chosen her mary janes to wear with them.
Sirius had pulled on quite the number. A maroon corset, which Lily was currently lacing up for him, with his leather jacket on top, a pair of black bell bottoms with stars creeping up from the hem of the leg, and his platform docs, along with a plethora of silver rings, necklaces, and piercings, too. His hair was down, but he’d teased it so it had a bit more volume than normal.
“Damn, James, you look hot,” Lily teased. James let out a laugh, shaking his head, while Sirius laughed loudly, agreeing with her. Lily finished tying Sirius’ corset up, and the group grabbed some last minute things like their coats and bags.
“Ready to go?” Lily asked, and James grinned, nodding. They all walked down to the parking lot, hopping in Lily’s car and starting the drive over to the party.
Regulus, Remus, Peter, and Marlene had been setting up for the party in Remus and Sirius’ flat for the past few hours, though Peter had left to quickly finish something up at the shop about an hour ago. There were balloons, confetti, and streamers everywhere, alongside the impressive collage of horrible photos of James that him and Remus had put together earlier.
“Where’d you put the streamers?” Remus asked, flustered.
Regulus lifted his head from the balloon he was helplessly attempting to tie off, before blowing a piece of hair out of his face. “Uh,” He said, trailing off, eyes scanning the room for the last roll of streamers. “Maybe check the patio?”
Remus shuffled off to the patio as Regulus turned his attention back to the balloon, quickly tying it off and tossing it off into the large pile of balloons him and Marlene had accumulated.
“If I have to blow up another balloon in six years, it’ll still be too soon,” Marlene huffed, dropping her last balloon into the pile, and flopping down onto her back on the floor. Regulus laughed, tugging his jacket off.
“I know,” He said, sighing. “I feel like I’ve just ran a marathon. Maybe we just need to get in shape.”
Marlene laughed, lifting her head up off the floor. “Oh, I’m in shape, I just despise blowing up balloons.”
“You work out?” Regulus asked.
Marlene nodded again. “Yep,” She said. “My bāchan and I used to take walks daily when I was a kid, and then once I moved from Okinawa to London for secondary school, it turned into runs daily, then I started weight lifting, and it spiraled from there. If I’m not at work, or with Dorcas, I’m probably either at the gym or working out in some way.”
Regulus nodded. Him and Marlene had definitely grown closer over the past few weeks. Her and Dorcas had finally made it official a week or two prior, but they’d basically been dating for the past few months anyways, so he’d ended up spending a lot of time with her when the two girls came over to his flat, or he went to Dorcas’. He’d spend a lot of time listening to stories from her childhood in Japan, and they were all quite lovely. She spoke very highly of her bāchan, which always made him smile.
He’d also started learning how to make Japanese food from her, which was always exciting. Marlene had taught him how to make onigiri, and she’d even taught him how to properly prepare unagi, which he’d only had a few times in his youth. They had been in charge of the food preparations, which mostly included Marlene doing the cooking, and Reg doing the prepping. He had a knack for chopping and preparing things, but trusting him with a wok and high heat seemed like a recipe for a kitchen fire, if you asked him. Though, if you asked James, he was a natural in the kitchen.
He was certainly better than Sirius, he knew that much.
“I haven’t really worked out in a bit,” Regulus said. “I went for a bit when I first left home, mostly to work on, y’know, looking like a man. But I haven’t been in quite a bit.”
“We should go together some time,” Marlene exclaimed, sitting up and reaching out to grab Regulus’ hand. He laughed, squeezing her hand back.
“I’d definitely be down.”
It was only around 4pm, and the rest of the group was getting there at 5, so they put the finishing touches on all the decorations and decided to start getting ready. Marlene quickly shuffled off to their bathroom to get ready, while Remus went into his bedroom, and Regulus into their office. He quickly changed out of his joggers and t-shirt into a pair of black slacks, quickly discarding his binder off to the side, before pulling out a roll of trans tape.
After adhering the tape, he pulled out the black, lacy button-down top he’d chosen. The top was completely sheer, save for a few silk black accents around the shoulders, and it was something he knew he’d never wear normally. He’d never worn anything this adventurous to an event before, but for his boyfriend’s birthday, he figured he’d pull out all the stops. He slid the top onto his frame and it up, deciding on the fly to leave the top two buttons undone. Regulus loved the way it looked when James wore his shirts like that, so he figured he’d give it a try.
He decided against wearing the coat he’d picked out right now, knowing he’d end up getting warmer and warmer as the night went on. He slid on a few chunky silver rings, his normal necklace stack, and the small gold letter “J” pendant James had gotten him, before heading back out to add the finishing touches.
Remus, who was currently getting music set up, had opted to wear a slightly cropped David Bowie tank top, brown trousers, and his beaten up old converse. He’d even decorated his cane, with help from Regulus and Marls earlier, with a small string of fairy lights and greenery.
Marlene had changed into a pair of black denim shorts, fishnets, her docs, and a small tank-top that read “ADHD: A DAMN HARD DICK” in big letters across her chest. She’d also touched up her makeup, adding some black eyeshadow and a dark red lipstick. He let out a small laugh at her shirt, which caught the attention of Remus.
“Jesus, Reg, you look good,” He said, causing Regulus to flush.
“Thanks, Remus,” He said. “I’ve never really worn anything like this before, so I’m a little nervous. I’ve also never used trans tape before, so we’ll see how that goes, I guess.”
Marlene looked up from the serving dish full of onigiri that she had been finishing up, her jaw dropping. “You don’t just look good, Reg, you look hot. If I wasn’t a lesbian, I’d be on you like a bee on a flower,” She said. “Y’know what would look good with this look? Some eyeshadow. If you’re comfortable with it, at least.”
Regulus thought about it for a moment before shrugging. “Fuck it, why not?”
A few minutes later, Marlene had given him a soft black smokey eye, topped with a small amount of black shimmer, which Reg was very pleased with. He hadn’t really explored with makeup much since leaving home, but if this is what he could look like if he just had a little fun with it, he decided he should play with it more than he had before.
After he looked, in Marlene’s words, “sufficiently shaggable”, she packed her makeup back up and continued putting the finishing touches on the food.
A short while later, Dorcas, Pandora, and Peter all arrived, snacks and presents in tow. Mary came in not too long afterwards, complaining about an annoying customer who had stayed in the bookshop twenty minutes past closing and didn’t even buy anything. The group mutually agreed to hunt him down, and murder him for his transgressions against their beloved Mary.
While they were sitting and chatting, Regulus got a text on his phone.
[ 17:48 ] hey, we’re almost there, are you idiots ready
[ 17: 49 ] yes indeed we are
[ 17:50 ] sick, we’ll be up in a minute
“Alright, losers, they’re almost here,” Regulus announced, sliding his phone back in his pocket. “Get ready.”
James knew, for a fact, that his throat would hate him in the morning. They’d been loudly singing along to Chappell Roan the entire drive to Sirius’ flat, per Sirius’ request, and if he had more coordination, he could have joined Sirius and Lily in their Hot to Go dance routine.
Lily pulled into Sirius and Remus’ building, parking and grabbing her purse before the three of them exited the car. Sirius had a bounce in his step, which tipped James off that something might be up, he just didn’t know what.
“Ready?” Lily asked, and James grinned, nodding.
The three made their way into the building, Sirius leading the way since Lily had only been here once before. The elevator trip was long, but Sirius and Lily fussing over their appearances in their compact mirrors made James chuckle to himself, and kept him entertained. As the trio headed to Sirius’ front door, Sirius pulled out his keys, unlocking the door and pushing it open.
Sirius stepped out of the way to let James walk in first, and when he did, all of the lights in the living room turned on. Dorcas, Peter, Pandora, Mary, Remus, Marlene, and…Regulus, all popped out from various hiding spots, screaming “SURPRISE!” at the top of their lungs. James froze, his heart swelling up as he looked across all of his friends.
“Happy birthday, Prongs!” Sirius exclaimed, grabbing James’ arm and squeezing it tightly. James barely heard him, though, since his eyes were glued to Regulus. God, he looked incredible, it nearly took his breath away.
He blinked a few times before grinning brightly, laughing at how excited his friends were. “Holy hell,” He said. “Thank you guys. So fucking much.”
James was quickly bombarded by a giant hug from Marlene, followed by a group hug from Lily and Mary. Dorcas, Pandora, and Peter gave him the most bone crushing hug he’s had since secondary school, and Remus opted to give him a gentler hug because of that.
Then, Regulus walked up, after the rest had gone to drop their gifts off in the lounge.
God, James thought to himself, he looks incredible.
“I thought you couldn’t be here tonight,” James asked breathlessly, his hands settling on Regulus’ hips. Regulus just smirked, wrapping his arms around James’ neck and kissing him softly.
“I lied,” Regulus said, after pulling away. “It’s a surprise party, James, why would I spoil it?” He teased.
James laughed, pressing another soft kiss to Regulus’ lips. “Fair enough.”
Soon enough, each person had a drink in their hand. James had been dragged into a small group of people dancing; namely Sirius, Marlene, and Pandora, who had all jumped with excitement the minute Taylor Swift came on. They sang loudly, horribly off key, drinks splashing out of their cups and onto the floor. Lily, Remus, Dorcas, and Regulus were all standing in the kitchen, watching as Dorcas finished up the last of the snacks that Marlene had abandoned in favor of drinking and dancing with her new friends.
James laughed loudly as Sirius damn near screeched the chorus of Style as loud as he could, grabbing James by the hands and dancing with him. Marlene and Pandora had started dancing together too, and eventually, Peter and Mary joined them.
A few drinks later, James was pouting. He couldn’t find Regulus, and hadn’t seen him since James had pulled him in for an overly dramatic slow dance to Lover. Stumbling out to the back patio, he found a very giggly Regulus, sitting and laughing with Lily. James smiled happily and walked over, plopping down in Reg’s lap.
“Hello, birthday boy,” Regulus said, as James laid his head down on his shoulder.
“Missed you,” He mumbled, his glasses pressing awkwardly into the bridge of his nose.
He felt Reg’s hand come up to his back, rubbing it in small circles. “I missed you too, chérie.”
James listened as Regulus and Lily talked for a bit longer. They were talking about Taylor Swift, of course. She’d be releasing a new album later in the month, and it was evident that everyone was very, very excited about it. Especially Reg and Lily. It made him…happier than he’d ever realized, that Regulus and Lily were getting along. He had worried towards the beginning that Reg wouldn’t like Lily, given her history with him, but they’d gotten along beautifully in the end. Lily hadn’t just been an ex, she’d been one of his best friends for a very long time, and watching Regulus become such good friends with her made his heart swell with love.
Eventually, they dragged James back into the flat, got him some water and snacks, and sat him down to open gifts. James sat on the big plush couch his friends had in their living room, nestled between Sirius, who was the one who managed to get him on the couch in the first place, and Regulus, who had his head resting on James’ shoulder in a feeble attempt to keep him in one spot.
“So,” Remus started, setting a large bag down on the coffee table in front of him. “Sirius, Peter, and I went in together on a gift for you.”
James quirked an eyebrow up as he leaned forward, bringing the bag down to the floor in front of him.
“Took us bloody forever to decide on a gift, though,” Sirius piped up.
Over the past few months, the four of them had become quite inseparable. They’d gotten at least three more tattoos, just as an excuse to hang out with Peter. Pete had tried to give them a discount multiple times, but they’d refused every single time. But Pete had fit wonderfully into their group, and if he hadn’t lived through secondary school with Sirius and Remus, he would have been certain he’d been their friend since the very beginning.
James laughed at Sirius' comment, pulling out the pieces of tissue paper and pulling out a vintage polaroid camera and a few rolls of film. His jaw dropped as he lifted the camera out of the bag, running his fingers over the grooves in the metal. “What the fuck,” He whispered, blown away.
“You’d mentioned wanting one in 6th year,” Sirius grinned, sitting up to bump his shoulder with James’.
“How the fuck did you remember that?” James asked, laughing.
Remus simply grinned, taking his seat back down next to Peter. “Because we love you. Sirius and I remembered that and picked out the film, while Pete picked out the camera. He knows more about vintage cameras than we do.”
Pete laughed and bumped his glass with Remus’, taking a drink as he watched James fawn over the camera for a few more minutes.
Lily and Mary had gotten him a few new sweaters, one of which was hand knit by Mary herself. Dorcas and Marlene got together and got him a couple of stupid t-shirts, James’ favorite being the pastel pink shirt with “Alpha Male” written in glittery writing with a kitten on it. Marls had also picked out a matching “ADHD: A Damn Hard Dick” baby tee for James, which he immediately knew Regulus would be appreciating.
Pandora had picked out a few pieces of jewelry, giving an abridged, yet still thorough description of each crystal on each piece. Amethyst for anxiety, Black Tourmaline for protection, and Rose Quartz for love and peace.
The only person left was Regulus. But that was quickly shut down by Regulus’ hand on his thigh, giving it a soft squeeze. “I’ll give it to you later,” He said, pressing a soft kiss to James’ cheek.
The rest of the night was filled with long talks, smoke breaks, a lot of alcohol, and a near friendship ending Mario Kart tournament, ending with Peter and Regulus as the winners. James was taken aback by how competitive Regulus got with Mario Kart; and, in the same note, how casual he was considering he was bloody incredible at the game. Since James was properly sloshed, him and Reg stayed behind for a bit, getting him some food and water.
After James had sobered up enough, Regulus decided to bring James back to his flat. Plus, James wouldn’t let him go when he announced he was going home. He whined and pleaded with Reg until he relented, making sure he was sufficiently sober to hold onto him while he drove James back to his flat on the back of his bike.
So, there they were, curled up in Regulus’ bed, holding each other as James squinted to look at his boyfriend’s face. James felt Regulus brush a curl away from his forehead, smiling softly at the boy in front of him.
“Oh,” Regulus said, pulling away from their embrace. “Your gift.”
James blinked a few times, watching Regulus get out of the bed and walk to his closet. “Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten.”
Regulus laughed, rolling his eyes, and bringing the gift back to him.
He handed James a wide but thin box wrapped near perfectly. “Well, now I feel bad tearing this wrapping paper up,” James teased, making the Regulus laugh.
“Oh, just open it,” Reg said, grinning brightly.
James carefully unwrapped the paper, taking the lid off of the box and pulling the painting out. There, in oil paint on the canvas, framed in a lovely antique gold frame, was a painting of his childhood home. Standing on the front porch was his mother and father, and in between them, a young James. He immediately recognized the photo as one from his childhood. He couldn’t have been more than 6 years old, judging by the gap where his front tooth was missing and his glasses were crooked. The photo had been taken before a family vacation they’d taken to France, per his mother’s insistence. James hadn’t seen the actual photo in years, and he’d assumed that his parents had possibly just lost it.
“Reg…” James said quietly, looking over at him. He had tears in his eyes.
Reg looked back at him cautiously, reaching a hand out to his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
James sniffled a little. “This…this is beautiful. I haven’t seen this photo in years.”
Regulus nodded, as if he’d known that already. “Yeah, I talked to your mum about it and she found the original. It was in pretty poor condition, so I had to add some parts back in, but I tried to recreate it to the best of my ability. I made a second one for your parents, too.” He said, gesturing back to his closet, where James could see a second present wrapped in similar paper.
James set the gift off to the side before turning to Regulus, brushing a few pieces of black hair out of his eyes and pressing a kiss to his lips. “I love it,” He whispered into the kiss. “I love it, and I love you.”
James felt Regulus pull away a little. “You…you love me?” He asked quietly.
He just nodded furiously, grasping at Regulus and bringing him into another kiss. “God, yes, I love you more than anything,” He said.
Regulus softened in his arms, returning the kiss with the same passion. “I love you too, James.”
James grinned and pressed Regulus down into the sheets. “If I hadn’t gotten to take your outfit off earlier, that might take the spot for the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten.”
Regulus just laughed, half-heartedly swatting James’ shoulder.
regulusblack: remember how you said the eyeshadow made me look “sufficiently shaggable”
marthebartender: yea why
regulusblack: it worked lol
“Y’know, I really don’t understand how you still can’t cook to save your life,” Regulus grumbled, stirring the pasta currently cooking.
Sirius scoffed, picking up the chopped onions and garlic on the cutting board in front of him, sliding it into the mixing bowl. “Remus is a far better cook than I ever have been, so I leave it to him. Besides, didn’t you not know how to cook until James taught you?”
“Yeah, but that’s exactly it. You lived with Effie and James for so many years, how the hell did you not pick anything up from living with them for that long?” Regulus said, setting the wooden spoon down next to the stove. He turned around to look at Sirius, who had turned around already.
Sometimes, it shocked him just how similar they looked. When they were younger, they hadn’t looked very similar at all. But now, after years of growing, plus the testosterone, they looked almost identical, save for a few differences. Sirius had their mother’s nose, while Regulus had their father’s. Reg had Walburga’s silver eyes, while Sirius had inherited the slightly more blue eyes from Orion. But, after so many years, he’d stopped associating their respective features with their parents, and started trying to focus on the aspects they shared.
They had the same hair, Sirius’ was just longer. Their hands were the same, though his had callouses in different places than his brother. His brother’s hands were littered in tattoos, fingertips calloused from years of playing the guitar, while Regulus only had one tattoo on one of his fingers, and the insides of his fingers were calloused from holding pens, pencils, and paint brushes.
Sirius shrugged, brushing his hair out of his face. “I dunno. I was too focused on shoving the food in my mouth to pay attention to the culinary genius of the Potter family,” Sirius said, laughing.
Regulus smirked and rolled his eyes, shaking his head and turning his attention back to the pot behind him. Sirius pulled his phone out to change the song they were currently listening to, scrolling through his hundreds of playlist to find the right vibe for the night.
It was just the two of them tonight; Remus was visiting his mum in Wales, and James was visiting his parents tonight for their monthly dinner visit. Sirius and Reg had decided that, on the times they don’t visit the Potters with James, they’d have their own family dinner. Just the two of them. It had really helped them start to grow and get even closer than they already were.
A knock on the door pulled Regulus’ attention from the pot on the stove, and Sirius looked up from his phone. “I’ve got it,” He said, patting Regulus’ shoulder gently before going to answer the door. Regulus heard some quiet talking over the music, before Sirius called his name. Regulus frowned, turning the stove down to a lower heat and the music down, before meeting Sirius at the door.
There, in the doorway, he saw two men in suits, one of them holding a manilla folder stuffed with documents. He stood next to Sirius at the door, crossing his arms as one of the men held out his hand. The man grimaced before pulling his hand away.
“I’m Agent Avery, this is Agent Mulciber. You must be Walburga and Orion’s daughter-,”
“Son. I’m their son.” Regulus cut them off.
The two men shared a confused glance with each other, before shrugging. “Alright then. Well, anyways, I’m here to inform you of the passing of Walburga Black. She requested you two be informed directly.” Avery spoke up.
Sirius blinked a few times. “She died?”
“Yes, sir,” Mulciber confirmed. “She passed two days ago. A heart attack.”
It was Regulus’ turn to blink. He felt light-headed.
“We’re here to inform you that the reading of her will is going to be held at 12 Grimmauld Place tomorrow morning at 11am. If you choose not to attend, you will be sent a letter or be called by the executor of the will.” Mulciber went on to explain. He opened the folder in his hands, flicking through the pages before handing Regulus a stack of neatly secured documents.
Sirius shook his head in disbelief, before speaking up a few moments later. “Alright, well, who’s the executor of the will?”
“Your father, Orion.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sirius’ jaw clench, before he took a deep breath and sighed. “And how did you find this address?”
“We are unable to disclose that information at this time,” Avery quickly cut in, sending a glare towards Mulciber, who had started to speak up.
Regulus gritted his teeth. “Is there anything else of importance you need to tell us?” He asked.
Avery shook his head. “That’s all. You’ll hear more at a later date. Thank you for your time, and I’m sorry for your loss.”
The two left as quickly as they had arrived, leaving Sirius and Regulus to stand in stunned silence together.
Regulus felt as if he couldn’t move.
In the blink of an eye, Sirius was pulling the papers out of Regulus’ hand, taking him to the living room and sitting him down on the couch. He went back and closed the door, then started to clean up the kitchen. They’d be ordering takeaway now.
In times like this, he starts to really remember that it wasn’t Walburga or Orion that raised him. It was Sirius.
Sirius is the one who taught him how to tie his shoes, how to brush his teeth, how to take care of his hair. He taught him how to read, write, and count. Sirius was there for everything his parents weren’t. He was there when Regulus was featured in an art show at the age of 9, and his parents decided that a board meeting was more important than supporting their child. He mended every wound, put band aids on every scuffed knee, kissed his boo-boos, everything. He did everything a parent was supposed to do.
And that fact alone is what sent him into tears the second Sirius sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug.
Regulus sobbed into his brother’s shoulder, holding onto him so tight he thought he might break. He couldn’t quite tell what he was actually crying over- his mother dying, knowing he would have to see his father, or the crushing realization that his brother, his Sirius, was both of them wrapped into one. He felt Sirius shake in their embrace, soft sniffles coming from him as they held each other. Reg felt Sirius’ hand come up to the back of his head, softly petting his hair as they hugged and cried in each other’s arms.
It was gut wrenching.
[ 06:43 ] gooooood morning!!!!!!
i hope you slept well sweetheart <3
are you still on for today? <3
[ 07:18 ] helloooo? <3
is everything alright?
[ 07:31 ] i’m starting to get worried reg
[ 07:45 ] i’m on my way over
[ Incoming Call ]
prongsie
[ Accept ] [ Decline ]
“Hello?”
“Moony, have you heard from Reg or Sirius this morning?”
“No, I’m in Wales right now. Why?”
“I’ve been texting Reg all morning and I haven’t gotten any response yet, we were supposed to meet up at 8 for breakfast but it’s past 8 now and he still hasn’t said anything.”
“...hm.”
“I know. I’ve even been to his flat, and he’s not there.”
“...”
“...”
“I mean, have you tried Sirius and I’s? Sirius might know where he is.”
“...no, I haven’t. Should I?”
“It’s worth a shot.”
“You’re everything to me, Remus Lupin.”
“I know, James Potter. Keep me updated, alright?”
“Will do. Later, Moony,”
“Later, Prongs.”
[ Call Ended - 6m21s ]
When James pulled into the parking lot of the apartment, the first thing he noticed was that Sirius’ bike was missing. His car was there, but his beloved bike wasn’t.
He furrowed his brow, cutting the engine of his car and heading up to the apartment. James unlocked the front door (thank god Sirius gave him a spare) , and walked inside, being greeted first by a mess of papers on the coffee table. There were blankets and pillows left on the couch, which wasn’t too odd for Sirius and Remus. Sometimes the bed was too soft for Remus’ joints, so he opted to sleep on the much firmer couch. James frowned as he passed by the mess, first making his way into the main bedroom.
There, he saw a mess of Sirius’ clothes strewn out across the floor, along with multiple pairs of his shoes. His frown deepened as he looked through Sirius’ closet, a large amount of clothing missing, presumably strewn across the floor.
When he made his way into the guest room, there he saw Regulus’ favorite hoodie left haphazardly hanging off the bed, along with a pair of sweats. Curiosity piqued, he reached into his phone and called Sirius.
Declined.
He called Regulus.
Declined.
Both declined on the first ring.
James grasped onto Regulus’ hoodie before practically running out of the apartment.
12 Grimmauld Place was an ominous building. Black painted brick, deep emerald green curtains in the windows hiding what was inside. It was almost as if the building had been charmed to suck the life out of the people who got near it, drawing them in and draining them of any joy or love they had in their body.
It was working on them.
He figured they looked a bit ridiculous, standing next to their motorbikes in front of their parent’s house. Regulus had borrowed one of Sirius’ coats and dress shirts, since he wasn’t prepared for attending a will reading for his fucking mother when he went over. Sirius was wearing a leather jacket, per usual, but had toned the rest of his outfit down, all things considered.
Regulus stood anxiously beside Sirius, staring up at the building. “Isn’t it weird?” Sirius asked, a billow of smoke leaving his lips.
Regulus shrugged. “Coming back? Yeah. I never thought I would.” Sirius passed the cigarette to him, and he took a drag, letting the taste of it engulf him.
“We don’t have to, y’know,” Sirius commented. “They probably didn’t leave us anything, anyways.”
Regulus nodded. “I’d agree with that.” He said. He took another drag. “Though, they did invite Andy.”
He saw Sirius’ head snap towards him out of the corner of his eye. Without looking, he handed the cigarette back to his brother.
“I haven’t talked to her in years,” Sirius mumbled, before taking another drag.
“I’ve kept in contact with her, albeit not as frequently as I’d hoped to.”
“Isn’t Dora like, 5 now?”
Regulus thought for a moment. “Something like that.”
They sat in anxious silence for a few moments, sharing the smoke, before he heard Sirius drop the cigarette and stomp it out with his boot. “Ready to head in?” He asked.
Regulus scoffed. “Fuck no, but we have to, huh?”
Sirius laughed quietly, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Guess so.”
Slowly, the two brothers made their way up to the front of the house, Sirius leading the way. They shared a short look before Sirius raised his hand to knock on the door, an immediate sense of dread filling Regulus’ chest.
“What do you mean they’re missing?” Peter exclaimed.
James was standing at the reception desk of Betty’s Garden, where he was talking with Peter. Dorcas was in the middle of an appointment, and he couldn’t get ahold of Pandora. So Peter was his only hope.
Which, as it turned out, was not turning out well for either of them.
Peter had no clue where Regulus was. He knew that he had gone over to Sirius’ for dinner last night, since that was normally his plan on nights where Remus and James would both be gone. But other than that, he had no clue. The two of them, though smart together in different circumstances, were clueless, hopeless idiots right now.
Peter poured through Regulus’ social media, while James made a mental list of all the possible places he could be. He could be out with Pandora, he could be at his art studio, he could be at Flourish and Blotts, he could be anywhere. He honestly had no clue.
Eventually, Dorcas finished up with her client, and came out to help.
“So, you’ve checked his flat, Sirius and Remus’ flat. Anywhere else?” Dorcas asked.
James shook his head. “I figured one of you might know where he was. I couldn’t get ahold of Pandora, though.”
Dorcas hummed, thinking for a few moments, before gasping. “Holy fuck, I’m an idiot. I have his location.”
Peter and James immediately perked up at that while Dorcas pulled her phone out. She scrolled through her apps before finding the tracking app. “We used to share our locations when we were going out on dates more frequently. Obviously we don’t now, but we never stopped sharing them after we got into relationships.” She muttered, zooming in on Regulus’ current location.
She paused for a moment before glancing over at Peter. “Am I seeing this right?” She asked softly.
“Show me,” James said, leaning across the counter to look at Dorcas’ screen. He felt his heart stop for a moment before reading the text.
Last seen at: 12 Grimmauld Place, 25 minutes ago.
“His location isn’t active anymore, so he must have his phone off, but he might still be there.” Dorcas said.
Peter stood up from his chair. “Well, what are we waiting for? We need to go get him.”
“We can’t just go barging into Grimmauld Place, Peter, it might be dangerous,” Dorcas said. “You know how their parents can be. They’re fucking crazy. We have no idea why he’s even there in the first place.”
“Well, do you think something bad happened?” James asked.
Dorcas shrugged. “I have no idea. I mean, for all we know, Walburga could be dead or something.”
Peter snorted humorlessly. “I sure fucking hope so.”
James frowned. “I mean…there’s no harm in just driving by, right? I mean, Sirius’ bike wasn’t at his flat. If we see Sirius’ bike there, it could have been Regulus who took it.”
“True,” Dorcas said. “I mean, they both could be there. Don’t you have Sirius’ location or something? Or does Remus?”
“Remus is in Wales right now,” James said.
“Does being in Wales mean he has absolutely zero cell service? Or Wifi? Call him,” Peter said, and James quickly did just that.
[ Incoming Call ]
prongsie
[ Accept ] [ Decline ]
“Hey, any news?”
“No, not yet. Do you have Sirius’ location?”
“Yeah, why? What’s up?”
“Sirius wasn’t at your flat earlier, and Regulus’ location says he’s at Grimmauld. Sirius’ bike wasn’t at your flat either.”
“...fuck, let me see.”
“...”
“...jesus christ, Sirius is there too.”
“Thanks Moony, I’ll keep you updated, I promise.”
“Please do.”
[ Call Ended - 3m16s ]
Regulus hadn’t been in this room in years, even long before he had left.
He hated it.
The roughness of the wallpaper against his hands, the sound it made when it rubbed against his trousers, it all rang in his head and made his skin crawl. Sirius reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it once before letting it go again. He felt his shoulders relax, only slightly, before returning his gaze to the front of the room.
They were standing in the back of the room, away from everyone. Andromeda stood next to him, her shoulder pressing against his a soothing reminder that even if he was back in this god forsaken building, he was safe. At the very least, he was safe with her.
Nobody had recognized him at first, which wasn’t shocking. Hormone therapy and a haircut will do that. Eventually, something clicked for everyone in the room, and he assumed it was the fact that Andy had gone out of her way to avoid everyone except him and Sirius. She’d even gone through the trouble of parking her car next to their bikes, so they didn’t have to run into anyone else.
Other than a few glares and sneers from family members, he’d actually been taken aback by Narcissa and Bellatrix.
Narcissa had gone out of her way to come over to them, greeting the three of them with a soft smile and some small talk before telling Regulus and Sirius that they looked happier. Even if she couldn’t outright say it, since her husband Lucius was lurking nearby, she made it known that she was supportive and proud of the two of them for getting out. It made Regulus’ heart ache, knowing that she probably had wanted to do the same, but couldn’t. He hoped that one day, she could.
Bellatrix, on the other hand, had done the opposite. She glared at the three of them, grumbling under her breath about the disgraces and mutts in the back of the room. She bared her teeth and turned her nose up as they stood silently, simply waiting for the reading of the will to begin.
Orion stepped to the front of the room, looking over the group before clearing his throat and flipping through a few pieces of paper.
“As I am sure you are all aware, my wife, Walburga Black, passed away recently. We have gathered you all here to perform the reading of her will. Now,” Orion announced, sliding his readi by glasses onto his face. “Onto the reading.”
As he began to list off all the assets and money that had been left to people, a small murmur began to erupt, presumably people deciding what they were going to do with their newfound wealth. Orion got to keep the house, and their summer homes in France and Italy. A small sum of money was left to each of Walburga’s relatives.
Surprising no one, Sirius and Andromeda had both not gotten anything.
Surprising everyone, including Regulus, was that on the last page of the will, Orion revealed that Walburga had left “ her only daughter ” close to £5,000,000. All eyes turned to the back of the room in shock, and Regulus felt faint. In the terms, it stated that if anyone were to contest the will, they would lose out on any money they were obligated to, and that money would then be returned back to Orion if he were to outlive her.
He felt both Andromeda and Sirius press closer to him, guarding him from the inevitable onslaught of words he was going to receive from the people in the room.
“That is all,” Orion said dryly, neatly stacking the papers on the table in front of him. “Thank you for your time.”
The next few minutes were a blur. He felt Sirius tugging on his arm, he heard his relatives hurling insults at him for how much he had gotten, he heard Andromeda telling everyone to get fucked and leave him alone.
All Regulus could manage to do was storm out of the house, get on his bike, and leave. He could still hear Sirius calling out for him as he drove away.
When they were younger, in the quiet early morning hours before Orion and Walburga woke up, Sirius and Regulus would walk to a secluded little flower garden a few houses down the road. One of their old neighbors, he couldn’t remember her name, had planted a community garden in the back of the courtyard nearby. The two of them would often walk there together, just sitting and talking in the moonlight, until they saw the sun starting to creep back up over the horizon. He remembered the soft grass, the wethering of it from where they would each sit, the flowers littered across the blades.
Why did it feel so empty now?
The flowers had wilted and the grass had died once the woman had moved. He remembered hearing rumors that she was moving into an assisted living facility, since her children had refused take care of her in her old age. He wondered if that’s how his mother would have ended up, should she have outlived Orion. Neither him, nor Sirius, would take care of her if it came down to it. And that thought crushed him.
Regulus pulled his knees up into his chest and sobbed, chest heaving, loud cries ripping through his chest. His eyes burned, his throat ached, and he cried until he couldn’t make sounds anymore. He’d been strong for so long, but the death of his mother had destroyed him.
A hand on his back pulled him out of his despair, and when he turned his head to look at the person, he had been expecting Sirius. Instead, he was met with the warm, brown, concerned eyes of James.
“How did you find me?” Regulus asked, his voice scratchy.
James crouched down beside him, settling into the dead grass. “Long story. Dorcas had your location, and Andy showed us where you might be.” He said.
“Where’s Sirius?”
“With Andy. She’s taking him home right now. Remus is on his way home from Wales now, too.”
Regulus didn’t respond. He sniffled a few times, his head falling to rest on James’ shoulder. James rested his head on top of Regulus’, pressing a soft kiss onto the top of his head.
“My mum died,” Regulus said quietly.
“Yeah.”
“Andy told you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah,” James responded. “We were worried about you, y’know.”
Regulus nodded. “I know. I kind of just…shut down when I get overwhelmed.”
“I know, darling,” He said softly, reaching his hand around to brush some of Regulus’ hair out of his eyes. “I know it’s hard to reach out. I know it’s hard to ask for help, or talk to people when scary things happen. But I’m here. Even if no one else is, I’ll always be here.”
Regulus sniffled again. “I love you,” He whispered.
“I love you too, sweetheart.” James said.
They sat in silence for a bit longer, before Regulus sighed again. “Last night, when I was at Sirius’, that’s when the detectives came to tell us that she died. I don’t even know how they got Sirius’ address, honestly. It scared the shit out of him,” He said. “Today was the reading of the will.”
James nodded. “I assume neither of you got anything?”
Regulus swallowed hard. “No. Sirius didn’t get anything. But I did.”
“Oh?” James said. “Why would she still leave you anything?”
“I have no idea,” He whispered. “But she left £5,000,000 to her only daughter.”
“Jesus Christ,” James said. “Well…it’s not like her only daughter exists anymore, right? I mean, she’s been dead for years, she just didn’t know it.”
Regulus laughed a little, rolling his eyes. “You’re not wrong. Apparently if I contest the will, all the money will go back to dad since he’s still alive. But honestly, I’m tempted to just take it and donate it all to some charity she’d hate just to spite her.”
It was James’ turn to laugh now. “Still being petty even after she’s dead, huh?”
“It runs in the Black blood, James,” Regulus joked back. “I’m pretty sure I have a week to decide. I’ll figure it out one way or another.”
“I’m sure you will, darling,” James said. They sat in silence for a bit longer before James stood up, reaching a hand out for Regulus.
“Let’s get you home, love,” James said. Regulus grabbed his hand, pulling himself up.
“I guess we have to take my bike home, huh?” Reg asked. James just grinned, wrapping an arm around Regulus’ shoulder as they walked towards his bike.
“I’d love to ride with you.”
[17:51] how’re you doing?
[17:54] better, i think. still very frazzled. still not sure about what to do with the money.
[17:56] i say take it and blow it all on hookers and coke
[17:59] great plan honestly
[18:01] i know, thank you
but genuinely, if you don’t want it, don’t take it. contest the will. yeah, it’s a shit ton of money, but do you really want to be riding high off of money that you got from that bitch
[18:04] no, i really don’t. it is a massive amount of money, but i just feel too grossed out by it to accept it
i dunno, i still have a few days to figure it out
[18:07] do whatever you think is best, petite étoile. i’ll be here for you no matter what.
[18:11] i know you will. i love you
[18:13] i love you too baby brother
[06:41] good morning love <3
i had to leave early for work but i ordered you some breakfast that should be delivered by the time you’re awake
text me when you wake up darling <3
i love you <3
[08:31] good morning james <3
i got the breakfast you ordered :)
[ Attachment: 1 Photo ]
[08:34] good morning sweetheart!!!
i’m glad you got your breakfast
[08:36] i definitely would have forgotten to eat this morning if you didn’t order me anything, so i deeply appreciate it
thank you darling <3 i love you
[08:37] can i just say
i’m so glad i can say that to you now
i’ve been wanting to say that for months
[08:39] oh really?
[08:43] really really
i fall in love fast
[08:45] i know you do, jamie <3
[08:47] what time is your meeting today darling?
[08:50] 10am :P miserable i know
hopefully everything will be alright
[08:53] call me when it’s over <3
[08:56] i will, i promise <3
i’m gonna go get ready now
i love you <3
[08:59] i love you too!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo <333
Regulus was grateful that they’d decided to meet in a third party location for this. He hadn’t been in his family home in so long, and even the short amount of time him and Sirius were there for the reading of the will left him feeling drained, lifeless, and suffocated.
His father’s business office was large, and on the top floor of a very high skyscraper in London. The meeting room, which was painted the same deep emerald of the place he used to call home, now left him feeling anxious and antsy in his chair. He dragged his nails across the corse texture of the chair’s arms, taking a deep breath before letting his hands fall onto his thighs.
He’d tried his best to look as normal as possible, the normal band tees and denim jackets traded out for a plain black t-shirt and a black sport coat. His hair was neatly styled, and the only real remnants of his personality left were his septum, the two necklaces he’d chosen, and his rings.
Regulus knew he was early for the meeting; but by this point, his father was late. Their meeting was scheduled for 11am, and it was now 11:05. If there was one thing he knew about his father, it’s that he was never late, unless he really didn’t want to be there.
He almost laughed at the irony.
The door to the meeting room slowly opened, revealing his father, and one Lucius Malfoy trailing behind him. Lucius carried a sleek briefcase, setting it down on the table and pulling a laptop out of it as Orion sat in the chair at the front of the table, directly across from Regulus. Lucius sat himself down next to Orion, before retrieving a small stack of papers and carefully placing them in front of the man.
“Hello,” Orion spoke, voice gruff and full of disgust.
Regulus nodded. “Hello.” He said simply.
Orion cleared his throat, and Regulus watched as Orion fiddled with a few pieces of paper. “I’m sure you remember Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa’s husband,” Orion said, vaguely gesturing in the man’s direction. “He will be representing the family.”
Regulus simply nodded again. “Nice to see you again, Lucius.”
Lucius sneered in disgust.
An icy silence fell between the three of them, before Regulus finally sighed. “I’d like to contest the will,” He said simply. “While I appreciate that Walburga left me anything in light of our relationship, I simply do not want the money.”
Orion seemed taken aback by Regulus’ words. “Oh?” He asked.
He could see Lucius out of the corner of his eye, typing away on his laptop. Regulus immediately knew it was some kind of document or contract stating that he would not be accepting anything from the will. The Black family was meticulous about their paperwork, even little things such as loaning a family member a bit of money had a contract and written agreement behind it.
The Malfoys were even worse than them in that regard.
“Yes,” Regulus took a deep breath. “While I appreciate the sum of money, and while I acknowledge that I am very privileged to be receiving it, no amount of cash will ever rectify the abuse you put Sirius and I through. Additionally, Walburga left the money to her only daughter.”
Orion laughed, shaking his head in indignation. “Abuse? Really? You children have no concept of abuse. Your mother and I made sure you were well taken care of. If anything, you’re abusing yourself now.”
“And what is that supposed to mean, Orion?” Regulus asked.
“Look at you,” Orion said, gesturing towards Regulus. “You’ve destroyed yourself. You’ve massacred the beautiful body your mother and I gave you. Injecting yourself with these chemicals to turn yourself into something you’ll never be. It’s pathetic.”
Regulus felt his nails digging into the palm of his hands. “I’ve always been this, Orion. You were simply too busy brown nosing business executives to pay attention.”
“I will not take this disrespect from you, young lady-,”
“Do not fucking call me that!” Regulus exclaimed, standing up from his chair. “You will not ever call me that again, do you understand me? I have never, and will never, be your daughter. The Black family bloodline ends with you and that wretched bitch Walburga, because as of three years ago, you have no fucking children.”
“Do not disrespect the woman that gave birth to you, woman,” Orion bellowed, standing to meet Regulus’ gaze.
Regulus seethed before slamming his hands down on the table, his rings leaving small indents in the wood. “Fuck her. You can keep her fucking money, for all I care. I don’t want it. Signed, Regulus fucking Black.” Regulus said, before storming out of the meeting room, leaving a very baffled Orion and Lucius behind.