✫one✫
Regulus believes himself to have done exactly one right thing in his life, and that's going to Dumbledore after almost dying in that cave. Inferi, the bitches, almost got him and that was the problem. Dumbledore set him up in a safe house, a cabin in the far woods in France. Unexpected of anyone to find him, and James Potter was there too. He has his own room, Regulus in one up the stairs.
They'd started a routine, Regulus waking up early, dressing in dark trousers and a sweater, making breakfast, then spending all day with his nose in a book, sitting either on the porch or at the window when it's raining, mostly found smoking. James was assigned to him, his only duty as an auror at this point and his only one for a while.
James noticed a few things about Regulus, and they were just a little different. He had a blanket that if dropped would thud and make a loud noise. He would read from morning until late, finishing books in hours to a day. The guy wouldn't take a single sip of the coffee offered to him, but he'd down cups of tea or hot chocolate in minutes if available. Regulus won't eat eggs unless they're scrambled without a spot of runny yolk. He doesn't eat lunch, then has a salad for dinner almost everyday, only ever caeser too. He smokes like a chimney, without a cigarette in his hand he gets kinda twitchy and plays with random things.
James also noticed Regulus didn't talk a lot. He said only as many words as necessary, asking for little and never really saying much then. James thinks it has to do with the scar across his forearm and the large circular scars around his mouth in a mismatched pattern. So here they are, two months into their stay, both in the kitchen and working seamlessly to make breakfast. James had actually woken up that morning and made sure to say his daily 'great morning isn't it Reggie.' That was always replied with a slight hum and a nod.
"Do you want some more books? You're piling the ones you finished." Regulus hasn't left the grounds. He can, but only with James by his side and wand always at the ready. They can't go into any wizarding communities and can't even leave the country to see someone, or share their location.
Regulus nods slightly, looking at the stacks of books. The libraries shelves are becoming a bit bare as he picks his way through the selection. James writes it on his hand with one of his markers.
take regulus to book store
"When would you like to go? Today is Tuesday, so it won't be busy or anything." Regulus shrugs, grabbing one of his tea packs. "We can go today, around ten. Do you wanna shower before?" Regulus nods, dipping his tea bag into the water before deciding against it and dumping the entire thing out.
"I will shower now." The words sound like a struggle, then he's off up the stairs. James shrugs to himself, taking his bagel and cream cheese to his room so he can get dressed.
Regulus takes a while in the bathroom, and when he exits he looks well put together. He isn't allowed a wand, so the holster is removed from his belt. James is dressed in a pair of light blue jeans and a jumper from a couple years ago. Regulus stands there, sharp gaze landing on James, and it makes him feel so insecure. His outfit doesn't stand up to the pleated tan plaid trousers, light beige sliggtly oversized button up tucked in, and a chocolate argyle knit sweater vest. He slips on his Doc Martins at the door, James putting on his beat up high-tops.
"You're dressed pretty nice for the bookstore." Regulus nods, sliding his messenger back over his head. "Do you wanna get something to eat, maybe explore the nearest towns?"
"Yes, sounds nice." His voice is rough, half-up French braid keeping the dark hair from his eyes.
"I can drive, or we can walk." Regulus eyes the car wearily, shaking his head. Instead he heads for the trail, beginning to walk in the opposite direction of the town they are supposed to go to. James spots him lighting the cigarette between his lips.
"That's not the right way."
"I thought you were a Marauder, Potter. Scared of a little adventure." In truth Regulus didn't want to go to the town they were supposed to, it was larger than the other. James jogged a little to catch up with him, smiling brightly.
"O'course not Regulus." James feels short next to Regulus, stockier in build, only 5'8 compared to the others 6'1 without the two inch boots. The taller just shrugs, one hand finding its way to his pocket, leading down the forest road and into the village.
The houses are old, everything glowing in a warmth the October wind couldn't blow away. Regulus looks over the street, realizing he knows exactly where he is. "I speak French, follow." Then he takes off walking, James just there as a precaution at this point.
They walk through the town, Regulus leading into the large bookstore. He finds the counter, smiling to the woman behind it.
"Puis-je commander tous vos livres en anglais, s'il vous plaît?¹" The woman gives him a wide-eyed look, paling slightly.
"Oui, mais cela prendrait du temps et coûterait très cher. Souhaitez-vous les livres en anglais que nous avons en magasin maintenant et payer le reste sur un plan?²" Regulus nods, smiling slightly.
"S'il te plait.³" The woman begins typing on her screen, nodding slightly.
She explains the plan and Regulus gives her the debit card, his own personal account even Dumbledore couldn't cancel. The goblins had been his friends since the beginning, and they enjoyed the favors they did, especially when they payed him in return.
When they leave the store he has two bags of books and a small smile on his lips. James even decided on picking out a couple of the ones in English. They step into an alley James sending the bags back to the safe house. Regulus leads out and looks around. He pauses, getting another cigarette and his lips quirking upward.
"You wanna grab lunch?" He looks to James, he'd already asked this question. Regulus didn't understand why he was asking again. Regulus just nods, heading left down the street and up a couple blocks. The cafe he remembered, Antoinette's, is still there with a slight face lift. He nods appreciatively, then heads inside. James follows, standing with him at the front.
"Regulus Black, it is wonderful to see you." His accent is thick, twisting the sound of each word.
"You too Snowflake. Can I have my usual table and drink?"
"One booth far away from the bathroom but close to the kitchen and a chocolate milk comin' right up." He leads to the table, setting out two menus. "Glad to see you brought someone, what would you like to drink, Guest?"
"Oh, um, what do you have?"
"He wants peachberry tea, make at table, and a jar of honey." The teen nods, heading toward the kitchen. A young girl, dressed in a light dress and full of smiles runs up to them.
"Regulus!" It's a squeal, and he picks the girl up onto his lap. "Regulus I know the English more now. Where were you, it has been so long."
"Sorry Michelle, I had school and other things going on. I promise to visit more often. Now get on, I bet you have homework to do." She nods, hops off his lap, and takes off running into the kitchen and past a woman who looks in her late forties. The woman squeezes Regulus' shoulder as she walks past.
"How do you know all of them?" James rests his head on his hand, Regulus' smile faltering. His hands drop to his lap, nodding slightly.
"My family used to come here, summers at a time." That's all the explanation James got before the teen known as Snowflake comes back to the table with their drinks. He takes their orders, Regulus ordering the same pot-pie for both of them. Regulus starts making James' tea, finding the calm in the practiced movements.
"You have a lot of habits." Regulus looks up at James, whose just pleased Regulus left the house with him.
"Everyone does, I am not special."
"No, your's are the same most days."
"Explain." Regulus doesn't see it, the patterns in his life. He.jusy enjoys the things he does for the times he does them.
"You eat breakfast everyday, always the same kind. Then you read until late, drinking somewhere between ten and twenty cups of hot chocolate or tea. Then you eat a salad or something light for dinner, only a caeser salad, and then you read until I go to bed. Then I don't really know. You only sleep until about five, then you get up and restart the whole process." Regulus hums, pouring James' tea and adding the honey.
"I enjoy those things and now I can actually do them." Regulus refuses to talk more about the topic, instead sitting in silence until the meals arrive. James has to admit it's amazing, Regulus not finishing most of his. He pays for them both, then leads back out of the town and down the road to their cabin.
Regulus changes quickly back into a pair of sweatpants and a jumper, sliding on his thick fluffy socks. He quickly begins organizing the library, James changing into a pair of pajamas. "I'm going to go stay in my room. If you need anything come get me, yeah?"
Regulus nods, ordering the books by author and title. James goes to his room, pulling out his phone to call Sirius. Regulus uses the ladders to place books on the top shelves, then heads up to his room. He takes his phone and dials for Evan Rosiar, then deletes the number. He can't talk to those people anymore, those people are who he's decided not to be. Instead he pulls up a mindless game, swipping on the screen to control his character so he doesn't run into trains and such.
The day had been nice, ignoring James' realization of his habits. At least he hasn't figured the weighted blanket yet, that's nice. He doesn't need the questions right now.