Chapter Text
They never talked about Regulus crying the night before which Regulus was grateful for. Regulus left them only for meals, but they met up after. Sirius was insistent to have Regulus around now, and Regulus wanted to be near James.
Regulus’ breath catches as Pandora walks up to him and the marauders when they were just chilling around the castle. Regulus abruptly gets up, and he walks away from the marauders. He doesn’t want them to hear any of what Pandora plans to say. He meets Pandora about ten feet away from his brother.
“You didn’t come back, and you didn’t go to your dorm.” Regulus simply nods. It wasn’t a question. “How’d you end up with your brother?” That was the question.
“I don’t know, maybe it had something to do with the fact I was extremely high, and I didn’t have anywhere I could really go,” Regulus states sharply. He watched as Pandora isn’t effected by his jab.
“I was right,” Pandora comments. “It is good for you to be with your brother.” Regulus’ mood turns sour.
“For your information, this has nothing to do with Sirius. I actually found out something about James, so no, you were not correct. I’m here because of James. You should know that,” Regulus spits. Okay, he knows he’s being stupid. Arguing with one of his closest friends, but she’s making him feel like he’s in the wrong here. He’s not.
“I know that Sirius looks a whole lot happier to have to around. I know that you look more relaxed with them then you ever do before you’re high. I have known that James hasn’t been interested in Lily for months. Seems like it took you a while to catch on though.” Okay, fuck. Regulus feels those hit. He knows that he shouldn’t say anything back. He’s trying not to. He chokes on his words. He ends up finding something else to say.
“They’re coming tonight. I invited them,” Regulus tells her. Afterwards, he forced himself to walk away from her. They’re both just going to get more upset if he continues.
“Thanks for running that by us first.” With that, Regulus hears Pandora walk away. Regulus takes a deep breath before making his way back to his brother.
“What did she want?” Remus asks. Regulus shakes his head. He doesn’t really want them to know.
“We all fought last night, or well, I fought with them. That’s why I was just out and about last night. I don’t think I’m a very good friend,” Regulus whispers. He leans into James. He feels James’ arm settle around him.
“Maybe not, but we all have our days. Some days we do better, some days we do worse,” Remus states. Regulus nods. He forces himself to relax. His hands are shaking and his chest is hurting.
“Okay, fuck it, I need to get high,” Regulus pushes up from his spot. He doesn’t look at the others. They follow behind him. “Do you have that map thing, or whatever, can you find Dorcas?” Regulus asks. He hears one of them dig through their bag.
“Looks like she’s walking to the seventh floor,” Sirius says. Regulus sighs with relief.
“Thank god, that’s where we need to go, come on,” Regulus speeds up.
The marauders are fast behind him, and eventually, he’s pacing in front of the blank wall. He listens to their noises of surprise when the door emerges. “Dorcas should be in here, right?” Regulus looks to Sirius. He shrugs, looking confused.
“She’s not on the map anymore, so maybe,” Sirius states. Regulus just opens the door.
Inside is Barty and Dorcas. They have a small joint rolled between them. “Hey, Regulus- and friends?” Barty greets. He looks at Regulus in question.
“Sorry about last night or whatever, but I just really need a smoke. Pandora gave me a hard time,” Regulus explains. He flops onto the couch, and he watches as the others hesitantly walk around. “You can come sit. I promise it won’t poison you.” Barty and Dorcas laugh, and the others slowly make their way over. James sitting on Regulus left, Regulus already having Dorcas on his right. Then Sirius and Remus are on James’ other side.
“Here, Regulus you can share this one with them if they’re wanting to smoke. Barty and I will have this one,” Dorcas hands him a slightly bigger joint. Regulus happily takes it. He lights it with a snap, and he takes a deep inhale. He leans his head back as he exhaled. James chokes from beside him. James’ face turns red as Regulus looks towards him.
“Sorry, that was just a little, uh, attractive,” James states. He earns an aggressive slap against his head from Sirius “What? It was!” James says defensively.
“Regulus, give me that fucking joint,” Sirius snatches it from Regulus’ fingers. Regulus is offended by his outright rude action.
“Excuse me? I was smoking that!” Regulus says in disbelief. Sirius rolls his eyes as he takes a hit.
“And, apparently turning on Prongs at the same time,” Sirius mutters as he exhaled the smoke. Regulus can see the way Remus looks at the action. Regulus snatches the joint back.
“And, apparently you’re doing the same to Remus,” Regulus hears them both sputter, and try to defend themselves. Regulus simply takes another deep inhale before holding it to James, whose trying not to laugh.
“Thanks, love,” James says it like it’s natural. He doesn’t even notice that he’s said it until Regulus freezes. Regulus brain has short circuited. James hesitantly grabs the joint from his fingers. “Sorry, it just kinda slipped.” James looks away as he takes an inhale. Sirius and Remus have quieted now slightly. Regulus feels his brain start back up, and he’s in James’ lap before he knows what he’s doing.
“Call me that again,” Regulus whispers in James’ ear. James’ eyes are wide, and he’s completely forgotten about the joint in his hand.
“Absolutely not!” Sirius yells. Regulus is pushed off of James roughly which naturally leads to Regulus pushing Sirius back just as hard. This easily leads to them wrestling on the floor.
Regulus ends up with his arm around Sirius’ neck, and Sirius aggressively bending his fingers back. They pause like that for a second before they both just let go of each other. Regulus can hear Sirius grumbling as he walks back to the couch. Remus is now holding the joint. Barty and Dorcas are laughing their asses off.
“Shut up,” Regulus tells them. That only causes them to laugh harder. He throws himself next to James.
“I’m sorry to say, but that was kind of funny, love,” James whispers. Regulus feels his face heat up abruptly. He covers his face quickly. Okay, yes, that has a significant effect on Regulus, but, just shut up!
“Stop,” Regulus says shakily. He looks up to find James looking at him with a crooked smile. He quickly looks away.
“You’re cute,” James whispers. Regulus shivers at the words. He feels James’ arm wrap around his wrist. Regulus allows himself to be pulled into James’ chest.
Regulus looks up with Remus says his name, “Regulus?” He’s holding out the joint. Regulus takes it. He holds it between his teeth as he shuffles to better face James.
“Want to shotgun it?” Regulus mutters. He sees James’ eyes light up at the words. He watches as James nods happily. Regulus looks over to find Sirius pretty preoccupied in, well, Remus.
Regulus throws his leg once again over James thighs. He grabs James’ hands, and he put them on his own hips because James is too nice for his own good. His hands were just covering.
Regulus take a long hit from the joint before grabbing the joint from his lips. He connects his and James’ lips. He brings them closer before he exhaled into James’ mouth. He feels the way James quickly inhales it. They only break away when James exhales the smoke to the ceiling.
Regulus brings the joint to his mouth once more with a raised eyebrow at James. When James gives him a smirk, he gives it another big inhale. He grabs the joint from his mouth, and he smashed their lips together. Regulus wraps his arms around them back of James’ neck, joint hanging from his fingers. He slowly exhaled into the kiss. It takes a second longer than before for James to begin inhaling it. James pulls Regulus even closer after he does so. James pulls away slightly, and he exhaled the smoke over their, very close in proximity, lips. They sit there for a few seconds.
Regulus jumps slightly when he feels someone grabbing at the joint in his hands. He looks over to find Remus with a raised brow and a secret smile on his face. Sirius is still completely facing him. Regulus lets Remus take it. He feels James head turn to look at Remus. He feels the quiet laugh that it brings out of James.
Regulus uses one of his hands to turn James face back up him, and the only one tills his head back using his hair. He feels the slight vibration of James’ throat from the hand grabbing his chin. Regulus smirks as he kisses James.
“Okay, Regulus, I see you!” Barty cheers. Regulus breaks the kiss quickly. He knows what’s about to happen before it happens. He laughs as Sirius completely shoves Regulus from James’ lap. Regulus lands in Dorcas’ lap.
“Hi, babe.” Regulus winks at Dorcas before launching himself at his brother. He lands in Remus’ lap; they both blush heavily. Sirius is back on him in seconds. Regulus is having a lot of fun; everything feels carefree right now.
Sirius ends up on top of Regulus, Regulus on his stomach on the ground. Sirius pins his arms against the ground. Regulus burst out laughing. He feels Sirius begin to get up, Regulus seizes his opportunity.
Regulus stops laughing abruptly, and he pushed himself up quickly and slightly tilted. That cause Sirius to go careening to the floor. Regulus quickly grabs Sirius’ wrists. The pins his older brother to the ground. Sirius is looking ip at him in betrayal.
“James! Regulus just completely cheated! Remus! This is unacceptable!” Sirius yells. He tried to get free, but Regulus doesn’t let up. “I had won!” Sirius and Regulus both pause as the door to the room opens.
Evan, Pandora, and Marlene walk in. They abruptly stop seeing the scene in front of them. Everyone burst out laughing after a few seconds. Regulus gets up, releasing Sirius. Sirius quickly begins complaining to Remus and James, who’s watching Regulus instead.
“I didn’t know they were going to be here,” Evan states. He flops next to Barty, who instantly wraps his arms around Evan.
“We didn’t either,” Dorcas confirms. Regulus blushes slightly from where he’s standing.
“I did. Apparently, he only tells you shit when you get him mad first,” Pandora states grimly. Regulus can feel the mood shift. His own smile, no matter how small it was, instantly drops.
“Still on about that shit?” Regulus asks, stepping towards Pandora. His high is making his emotions spiral faster than he can control. “I would think you could understand that I don’t fucking care what you have to say about my life. I don’t care that your right once again. Don’t you dare act like you know everything,” Regulus’ words are sharp. Either they don’t land, or Pandora is good at not showing the fact they do.
“Well, I’m sorry that you blew up at me even though you know I’m correct. Just because you don’t want to hear it doesn’t make it less true,” Pandora states. She’s looks as calm as she ever is. She looks like this isn’t hurting her. That makes Regulus even more mad because it hurts Regulus so much to be fighting her right now. Does he not mean as much as he thought he did to her?
“Just because you want everyone to know that you’re always right, doesn’t mean we always want to fucking hear about it. Maybe, we don’t want you to constantly know everything about our life, Pandora! You know more than I do half the time! That’s fucking frustrating!” Regulus is shaking. He’s shaking, and he doesn’t know what it’s from. Anger, hurt, fear? He feels arms wrap around him. He feels himself instantly relax into them. He turns to see Evan. He tugs Regulus into him. Regulus shakes in Evan’s hold. “James,” Regulus whispers. Evan seems to understand because he backs them up. Soon Regulus can feel the arms around him change.
“Hey, Reg,” James’ voice is soft. Regulus is still shaking. His chest is still hurting, but it’s dulled.
“I’m sorry that you had to see that,” Regulus mutters. James’ hands begin running through Regulus’ hair. He feels himself relax even farther.
“Don’t apologize, I can see that whatever happened has hurt you, and that’s okay. Don’t apologize for being hurt.” James’ voice steady despite how high he probably is. Regulus’ chest still hurts, and he’s still shaking. He feels one of James’ hands begin running up and down his spine. The pressure is soothing.
“It hurts so much to fight with her, but it seemed like she wasn’t effected at all,” Regulus whispers. He feels James take a deep inhale below him, and Regulus copies it.
“She’s over there completely obliterating a joint, so I think she feels bad as well.” That surprised Regulus. Was Pandora actually upset about it. He looks up slightly. His vision swims, but he can make out what James said. Pandora getting absolutely zooted by herself. He turns to push his face back into James’ chest.
“Did I go too far with what I said?” Regulus questions quietly. James hums from below him. “Be honest.”
“I think, with no context, it seems like it, but I don’t think so. If I take into account that something had to have happened before this that upset you, I think that you didn’t go too far. You made it clear that you were hurt, and that’s important. If you just yelled at her, without making it clear that it hurt you; I think that would’ve been too far.” That helps Regulus relax. He digs his chest even more into James. He kind of wants to crawl inside of him and simply never leave.
He doesn’t know when it started, but he feels his grip on reality loosing. The last thing his remembers of that night is James pressing a soft kiss on his head.