Golden, golden, golden
When Regulus wakes up to his air-pods digging into his cheek and his phone discharged, he is once again taken aback. Has his insomnia been cured or something? See, he doesn’t need therapy! (Lie.)
Whatever it is, Regulus is grateful. Also, the podcast episode he was watching last night was undoubtedly hilarious. James is so sure of himself, Regulus can’t even be annoyed. It’s just funny. He’s such an idiot.
Today is Saturday, so there is no class, but Regulus is going to the Library anyway. He has to be at the top of his class. The last time he wasn’t, in sixth year, his parents didn’t give him food for an entire week. Yeah, it’s that bad.
He sits down in the quiet of the Library, feeling rather refreshed, and starts studying Accounts.
Someone pokes him on his right arm and softly says, “Hey.”
Regulus is startled. James?! What the fuck, that was fast.
“Are you following me or something? Get out of my face.” Regulus practically growls, not so kindly.
“Just listen to me-“
Regulus opens his mouth to protest but James keeps going,
“I’m not pleased to talk to you either, alright? But I heard what Walb- your mother was saying. I know her-“
“No, you don’t.”
“Do you really think you can top your class? Really?”
Did he? He knows he’ll get amazing marks. But the highest? He’s missed most of the lessons…Regulus remains quiet.
“Yeah that’s what I thought, so listen..”
Regulus really does try to listen, but his eyes suddenly feel heavy and it feels too quiet, like the voices in his head have shut down…he feels good…relaxed…almost like he’s in a drea-
“Regulus!”
Regulus’ eyes shoot open. Fuck. He just fell asleep while James was talking to him. This is it. This is worse than getting hard in a match. Okay, maybe not that bad, but a close second.
“Am I that boring?” James deadpans.
“Oh my god,” Regulus whispers. James’ voice puts him to sleep.
James’ voice puts him to sleep….
Regulus, who has struggled for ten years not being able to sleep, falls asleep immediately listening to James’ voice. What the fuck…
James rolls his eyes. “As I was saying…here.” He hands him a bundle of papers.
“…What?”
“Dear god, can you listen to me for once?!” James says loudly.
Regulus involuntarily flinches.
James swallows. He continues rather softly, “Notes, they’ll help. And questions from last year. They reuse it a lot.”
Oh. “Thanks.”
That earns him a small smile from James before he gets up and leaves.
James notes do help. He doesn’t know what to think about the fact that he helped him, or that his fucking voice makes him sleepy. Is there a psychological reason behind this?
BCJR
party 2night come
come
u coming?
come
come home 6pm we’ll go together
reg
come
RAB
Can’t you go with Evan?
BCJR
hes at his aunts house
tmr hell come
pls booze i need
lets go
Barty’s poor comprehension while texting makes Regulus want to kill someone.
RAB
Idiot. I’m coming
BCJR
send pic
Regulus shakes his head fondly and makes his way home. He’s pleased to find Lily there. “B, you should’ve told me Lily’s coming. I would’ve come right away.”
Lily walks up to him and kisses him on the cheek. She’s wearing a short green coloured satin dress with green lace heels that extend up to her knees. She’s gorgeous. “I told him that!”
Barty just smirks, “I wanted you to come for me.”
Regulus and Lily let out identical groans and Barty fucks off somewhere else, probably to get dressed.
There is no way James voice puts him to sleep. He’s just overthinking this and connecting unrelated dots. A lot of people fall asleep in the Library, it’s not a James thing.
“What are you thinking?” Oh, he forgot Lily was here.
He shrugs, “Where’s the party anyway?”
“Ravenclaw dorms, at Pandora’s.”
Pandora creeps Regulus out so bad, she somehow always knows what Regulus is thinking. No one ever knows what Regulus is thinking. He met Pandora when she was with Lily and then never again. “Wait- She’s your ex?”
Lily laughs, “We’re great friends; it’s not awkward, really. She’s dating a lovely drug dealer, I’m trying to date a lovely Mary…”
Regulus smirks. “How’s that going by the way?”
“All we do is fuck! I’m not complaining but I wouldn’t mind knowing her favourite colour and shit. Whenever I ask her out, on a date, she suggests we should meet at her flat and I’m a weak, weak woman.”
“Stop complaining! At least you’re getting action,” Regulus huffs.
“Hm…when’s the last time you got laid?” Lily raises her eyebrow.
“Just-“
“Barty and Evan don’t count.”
Regulus closes his mouth. Well… That makes it difficult.
“We need to get you laid!” Lily exclaims.
“I second that notion.” Of course this is the moment Barty walks back into the room. He hands Regulus his black skin tight crop top and wide-legged black trousers. “Wear this and you’ll get railed for sure.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, “Do you have to be so crass?”
He gets up and makes his way to his room to dress. Maybe he does need a lay.
-
The party was buzzing with loud music, drunk people and flashing lights. The seniors never come to parties organised by freshers, so Regulus doesn’t even have to worry about running into his brother. He’s sitting on a countertop in the corner with Barty towering in front of him, between Regulus’ spread knees.
“Bloke at 3 o’clock is staring at you.” Barty leans in to whisper in Regulus’ ear.
Regulus swivels his head to find a fit, really fit, man indeed looking at him. “I want to lick his muscles.” Maybe Regulus is a bit drunk.
He gets up and walks to the man, he can hear Barty snicker. “Hey,” Regulus says in his most sweet and innocent voice.
The man smirks and gets closer to him. “Hi, beautiful,” he extends his hand, “I’m Kingsley.”
Regulus takes his hand, “Regulus. Enjoying the party, Kingsley?” Regulus licks his bottom lip.
Kingsley’s eyes darken and he leans down to speak in Regulus’ ear, “I can think of ways it can be more enjoyable.”
Regulus smirks. He’s still got it. He can get any man he wants.
But it is important to always remember that the Universe hates him. Suddenly there’s a loud crash somewhere and people everywhere go quiet.
Regulus makes his way to the living room to see what’s happening. Imagine his surprise when he finds James Potter there, next to Severus Snape with a bloody nose. He has so many questions, but what are they doing here? They usually don’t attend juniors’ parties, Lily’s just here because of Pandora. Lily’s right next to James and her eyes are glassy. Okay, something is very wrong. He makes his way to Lily and James. Barty’s also come here. “We need to get out of here.”
Lily sniffles and nods, and they follow Regulus all the way back to Slytherin dorms, to Regulus and Barty’s flat.
When they’ve all settled down, Lily still looks lost and James genuinely looks worried about her. This is clearly something he needs to handle delicately. He first finds an ice pack to give to James because his knuckles are bloody. It would be so hot if this wasn’t James. Then he crouches down and takes Lily’s face in his hands, “Love, what happened?”
Lily leans into the touch and whispers, “Snape called me a sl-slur and that he could ‘fix’ m-me.” Her voice cracks.
Regulus is going to burn this man down. Pure, violent rage engulfs him, fuck he would’ve punched this jerk too. Good job, James. “Do you want me to kill him or severely injure him?” Regulus asks seriously. Throughout his years of being a gay man in a community full of bigots, he has mastered how to inflict harm upon people without getting in trouble. It’s his favourite topic to research.
James chuckles from beside him, even Lily is shyly smiling now. “That was a really cool punch James,” Lily says.
“I’d punch him again, that bastard. No one talks to my friends that way.”
James is so corny. Fine, you did something good but do you have to project yourself as such a hero?
“What were you doing at the party anyway?” Regulus asks James, he’s genuinely curious.
“I didn’t know there was a party there. I just came to get some…notes…from Xeno. He’s Pandora’s boyfriend.”
Regulus snorts. “Aren’t you supposed to not take drugs as an athlete?”
James looks caught red-handed, it’s hilarious. “That’s not- I don’t- All I’ve ever done is smoke pot, okay? I was getting this for my friends, not myself. Just- Shut up.”
It’s so relaxing making James stutter. He’s already feeling tired and sleepy. Wait. Oh for fucks sake. Why’s he feeling sleepy? No it’s the alcohol. It’s NOT James.
“I’m gonna leave.” James abruptly stands up.
“Wait, I’ll come with ya James,” Lily says, she turns to Regulus, “I’m okay really, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re the best person I know Lily, never forget that.” Regulus says and he means it.
Lily gives him a shy smile before leaving with James.
Long day.
Barty’s already asleep on the couch, he drank way too much. Regulus can’t wait to sleep.
When he’s tucked in his bed, he tries to sleep. It shouldn’t be very hard. He tries, and tries, and tries. Fine. He puts on the podcast episode with James from where he left off.
“And get this: Sirius, my bestfriend, he needs no introduction surely. So, I wake up and that absolute whore is lying face down on the kitchen slab. My god, I get so worried like what the fuck happened... Turns out his one-night stand left in the morning. Like every one-night stand ever." James laughs, "He was so worked up about the guy. So if you are the bloke who left my bestmate after fucking him to oblivion, please come back, he wouldn’t shut up about you!” James says on Regulus’ screen.
Regulus closes his eyes and involuntarily drifts into dreamless sleep.