Chapter 35
“So, you’re moving in?” James was lying in Regulus’ bed, smoking. Regulus had been given direct instruction before moving into his flat that smoking was prohibited, and he really hadn’t paid attention to the rule. But he was now actively working against it, trying to smoke as much as possible, letting the place stink of the unhealthy smell of nicotine. James ‘the non-smoker’ Potter was helping out, claiming a ‘post shag fag’ was delicious. They were passing their second one between them.
“I don’t have to move in,” Regulus murmured, shy. He had called James as soon as his dinner with Sirius was over, but he had only just finished recounting the night when Sirius arrived back to James, calling for drinks, ready to announce his plans for Regulus to move in. James had snuck out in the early hours of the morning, and it was nearing 5 as they lay beside each other, both left just in their boxers, the duvet draped more over Regulus than James.
James passed him back the cigarette, eyes watching as he took a drag, smoke leaving his lips. “You don’t, no, but you should.”
“Should I?” Regulus looked at him from the side of his eye. James looked far too good considering it was so late, and their previous activities had been so tiring. His hair was messy, and his lips were pinker than usual, his cheeks a darker colour that had set in during the first kiss at the door, and hadn’t drained away yet.
James nodded, slightly eager in his action. “I would have suggested it, but I didn’t want to seem clingy.”
“Clingy?” Regulus repeated the word.
James blushed. “Yeah, well, I just don’t want to come across as too much.”
Regulus felt a glow of warmth within him. “You’re never too much, James,” he promised, and when the boy looked over at him, expression soft, Regulus wondered if it was possible to love a person more. He tilted his head slightly, reaching out his free hand to cup James’ cheek, as he had with him rather a few times. “You’re amazing,” was all he could think to say, feeling far too soft to say more.
James managed to blush more, moving his head to press a quick kiss to Regulus’ palm. “You’d tell me if I was, though?”
“I would,” Regulus promised, his thumb caressing his cheek before he retracted his hand, passing James the cigarette. “I don’t want to move in if I’d be too clingy, though.”
“I like you clingy,” James informed him, smoke gleefully escaping his lips with his words. “And I’d like you there, I think. So close.”
His hand moved, one of his fingers trailing a small line up his exposed thigh. “Yet so far… You’d hardly shag me with my brother next door, would you?”
James snapped his hand away, paling. “Well, no.”
“So, there are downsides, then, aren’t there?” Regulus dropped his hand to hold onto James’.
James easily interlocked their fingers, his other hand reaching to stupid the cigarette out in the small bowl Regulus had brought in to use as an ashtray. “I suppose we’d just have to be careful, wouldn’t we?”
“Sneak around,” Regulus mumbled. “Might not be terrible.”
“We could always tell him... Let you move straight into my room,” James offered.
Regulus thought it over for the hundredth time, something he’d been doing since Sirius knocked on his door. He’d been weighing his options carefully, attempting to run through reasons to tell him. The best he could come up with was that his brother was making an effort to patch things up, and attempting to be better.
But there were more reasons not to tell him. He could be vicious in his words and cruel in his actions. He’d outed Regulus to a room full of people with just a handful of drinks in his system. He’d channelled the same energy as his mother in many respects, his words harsh, his glare mean, just sending warnings not to be friends with James. He might be making an effort, but he was on shaky ground, still. Regulus didn’t need to look over his shoulder to find an audience that close, overlooking his every move so early on in a relationship as serious as this. Especially an audience like his brother.
He shook his head slowly. “Not yet... Please,” he mumbled.
“There’s no rush,” James promised him as he dropped his head onto his shoulder, slumping into the older. James pressed a kiss against his head. “We can tell him whenever you want, Reggie, okay?”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t say that,” James kissed his head again. “I kind of like sneaking around, really. Upping the stakes at the other flat but could be fun.”
“You’re a menace,” Regulus informed him.
“Your menace,” James murmured into his hair.
They fell asleep, eventually, curled into each other, waking tangled together late into the afternoon when James’ phone rang, shaking them both awake. James fell out of bed looking for his phone, ending up finding it in his jeans pocket, where they’d been abandoned outside Regulus’ bedroom door, in the haste of kicking them off for contact the previous night. Regulus curled into the duvet more as he watched James finally pull it out of his pocket, answering it. “‘Lo?”
There was speaking on the other end, James yawning as he scratched his stomach, looking rather casual as he leaned against the door, still just in his boxers. Regulus admired him, letting his eyes take in every inch of him as James spoke. “No, no, just out at the minute… No, I’ve been out all morning... Needed to pick up some stuff.”
There was more chattering on the other side of the phone. “No, just looking for a book, actually. My dad wants a specific copy of some economic journal, so I’m checking the shops for it.” More chatter. “No, no, I’ll be home in a bit. I was actually going to meet Reggie for some coffee, so I might be a bit… Yeah... Yeah, of course, I’ll see you in a bit, yeah? Yeah.” He finally hung up, trudging back to the bed when he fell back beside Regulus, his phone discarded on the bedside table.
“Are we getting coffee?” Regulus questioned, Pushing himself up a bit.
“Yes,” James nodded. “It’s a date.”
“A date?”
“You were just complaining I don’t take you on any, so I’ll take you on one,” James shrugged.
“So romantic,” he huffed the words with a laugh as James shrugged.
“Do you want roses?”
“I might,” he shrugged back.
James rolled over, grinning easily. “Then I shall get you some.”
“Promise?” Regulus questioned.
James kissed him in response, and he felt like he was momentarily flying, as he often did when James kissed him. It was short-lived as the taller pulled away, reminding Regulus that they had to be dressed before leaving the house. When they were finally dressed, they slipped out of Regulus’ flat, James keeping a hold on his hand until they arrived at the street below, gently letting go of him.
They bumped shoulders every few steps, and found themselves in rather a nice cafe a few minutes later, sitting across from one another, James’ foot hooked around Regulus’ ankle under the table. They both ended up ordering their usual coffees, along with toasties for their lunch.
James spent the wait for their food describing a phone call he’d recently had with his parents, who apparently gushed about Regulus, and were desperate to see him again soon. Conversation about nothing and everything flowed, subjects easily transitioning into each other. It was easy for time to slip away as they finished their lunch, and emptied their coffee mugs. James made jokes that cracked Regulus up, and watching James light up at his reaction was really quite easy.
They lost track of time easily, really, neither of them noticing the sky darkening outside the window of the cafe. It was only Regulus’ phone ringing that drew them out of their own little world. He answered it without even looking at it, still giddy after a ridiculous comment James made. “Hello?”
“Is James with you?” Sirius’ voice was accusing, the laughter falling away from his lips. James rose a single eyebrow at the paling of Regulus’ face.
“Yes…” Regulus replied.
“Thank Christ. He said he’d be home ages ago! It’s almost dinner time!” Sirius snapped. “I thought he’d die! The idiot hasn’t answered a single phone call.”
Regulus tapped his phone, indicating to James who pulled his own from his pocket, frowning as he held it up. “His phone died.”
“Idiot,” Sirius reiterated. “We’re going to get chips for dinner, do you want to come?”
The invite was another olive branch from his brother, so he agreed quietly, his brother putting int the request for them to pick up the food considering they were already out. “He says you know their orders?”
James nodded. “Are you coming?”
“Apparently,” he shrugged. “Suppose I should get used to the dinners.”
“We don’t always eat together,” James got up, dropping some money on the table. It was far more than they owed, but they had taken up rather a lot of time simply hoarding the table. “Just sometimes.”
The chip shop that James claimed was the best in town was relatively empty when they arrived, which meant their orders were taken, and food was handed over quickly. James had remembered his friend's orders easily and opted for small bags of chips for them considering they’d only had lunch recently.
“Home!” James called from the front door as they walked in. Regulus was dutifully carrying their bags of chips while James held everything else together in a bag. He kicked the door shut behind Regulus, flashing him a wink as he turned back to make his way further into the flat. Peter was curled into himself on the armchair, while Remus and Sirius lay on the main couch in the living room, Sirius laying practically on top of Remus, who lift a hand in a wave.
Sirius was already stumbling off the couch. “James! I thought you died!”
“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” James shrugged, shoving the bag into his friend's hands once he got close enough.
“Good!” Sirius declared, peering inside. He looked back at Regulus, offering a small smile. “Welcome.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Regulus nodded back, feeling awkward all of a sudden.
Sirius was dramatically turning Remus and Peter, holding his arms out, the bag still clutched in one hand. “You two must be nice to Regulus! He’s going to live here!”
Regulus couldn’t help himself as he offered a shrug, eyes boring into the back of his brother's head. “They usually are nice to me. It’s really just you who wasn’t.” There was a cruel part of him that took satisfaction in seeing his brother go rigid. He regretted it as he sat James’ smile falter, though, quickly slipping from his face. “Sorry.” He murmured instantly.
Sirius whirled around, and a part of him silently feared that he would snap at him. But Sirius really just looked rather dejected. “Sorry.”
There was an awkward silence for a few moments before James swooped in, a hand-clapping Regulus on the shoulder in a casual manner. “Why don’t we eat?”
They made it to the couch, Remus making space for his boyfriend to sit beside him normally as Pete unloaded the bag. James sat on the other couch, nodding for Regulus to sit with him. They took separate ends, Regulus tucking his legs underneath himself as Sirius snapped back to his usual self, briefly explaining the premise of the baking show they were watching before the pair arrived.
Regulus felt easily drawn into the show as he silently ate, the rest of the group doing the same. It was really a rather nice flat, feeling much homier than Regulus’ stark apartment. The whole place just felt warm, and it was easy to relax on the couch. He felt himself grow tired as he watched on, an empty bag of chips discarded along with James’.
James kept his arms wrapped around himself, his legs drawn up to himself as if he were attempting to hold himself together. Regulus couldn’t help but watch him for a few moments, eyebrows raised as he took in his appearance. There was always a temptation to reach out to him, but he held back, acutely aware that giving here, until they told everyone, would be a process of holding back He supposed he was used to it, though, considering he’d gone so long without a touch from him. He could go longer if he had to.
Sirius and James eventually cleared away the mess from dinner, Regulus still tucked in on himself as ads played between episodes of the show. “So,” Remus dragged his attention from the screen. “When are you moving in?”
“Soon, I suppose. Probably best be out before month's end rather than the last day,” he offered, although he hadn’t really given it too much thought.
“We can help,” Peter offered, smiling at him. Regulus really knew Peter least, even though he’d known him longer than Remus. But he supposed he was nice as he offered a smile back, crossing his arms.
“Might move next weekend, then,” he nodded. “Settled before classes start again.”
Peter nodded enthusiastically before stopping. “I can’t actually help that weekend. I have to see my mum. It’s her birthday.” He grimaced as he said it as if devastated by the idea he’d have to see her.
“What weekend?” Sirius came back, holding a box of Christmas chocolates that he’d no doubt saved. He dropped them onto the coffee table as Remus sat up.
“Next?” He looked as if he were calculating something. “We were going to go away that weekend too,” he nodded. “London.”
“Were we?” Sirius questioned, dropping down beside his boyfriend.
Remus nodded quickly. “Oh, yeah. All the kids will be back to school, so it won’t be too touristy!”
Sirius appeared to light up at the idea. “Okay, yeah, yeah, we should do that! Romantic getaway with my Moony,” he had a smile so gentle as he looked at Remus, Regulus almost didn’t recognise him.
“I’ll help you move in,” James assured him, appearing out of nowhere. It almost made Regulus jump. “I have no plans.”
“Because you have no other friends?” Regulus questioned.
“I have you, Reggie,” James winked, and Regulus had to look away to stop the blush that threatened him. But the rest of the group were distracted, uninterested in what James and he were doing.
He didn’t have a response, instead finally getting up, nodding behind him. “I should get going, anyway. Don’t live here yet,” he shrugged, as the group looked back at him.
James looked ready to say something, but Sirius was stumbling off the couch, barrelling towards him before wrapping him into a hug. “I’ll see you soon, okay? You call me if you need anything! Thank you for coming over!”
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” Regulus pulled away easily, scratching his neck awkwardly. He gave a small wave to the others, glancing at James one final time, to find him mouthing words promising a call soon, which Regulus nodded at.
He almost forgot it was winter outside, the comforting warmth of the apartment melting away as he stepped onto the street, beginning his journey home. He had to give his brother credit. The man really was trying. He was attempting to bring them back together, and patch things up so they could get back to some sort of normalcy. Growing up in their house, with their mother, Regulus doubted they even knew what normalcy was. But he supposed he could give a little room for Sirius to attempt to bring them back to one another.
“That was okay, wasn’t it?” James questioned, once he was home and lying on the side of his bed, his phone pressed to his ear.
“It was,” he replied, yawning into his arm. “I think it’ll be okay.”
“It will,” he promised. “I’ll help you pack, and move, and it will all be okay. Your mother won’t be able to send any more nasty letters, and you’ll be with me.”
“I’ll be with you,” Regulus repeated, unable to help the small smile that tugged on his lips. “We’ll chat tomorrow, yeah?”
“Of course,” James mumbled. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”