Work Text:
1991
“What do you think of the name Reginald?” Peters asked suddenly when they haven’t spoken for too long.
Half of Sunset Curve (the better half Bobby jokes) lay on the floor of the studio, looking up at the ceiling with their shoulders touching and nothing to do but work on songs and bum around until their other two bandmates show up for practice later today.
“No offense but I don’t really dig it for an album name,” Bobby wrinkled his nose, fingers faintly plucking at the guitar strings. “Way too formal.”
“I meant for me, dude. When Luke and Alex came out I realized I could do the same thing, but I’ve been waiting until I had a name to do it. Get the whole ordeal over with in one go.” He nudged their shoulders together, hands resting on his stomach and too nervous to look at Bobby. This conversion had played out in many different ways in their head but now saying it out loud makes it too real and a little scary.
The actual scary part isn’t how his friends would react, he knows they’ll love him still, it’s being openly himself around strangers at gigs or telling his parents. Just the thought makes his stomach uneasy. He thinks he can deal with it as it comes, take things one step at a time. Right now he just needs a name.
There’s a few moments that pass before Bobby says anything and Reggie restlessly tugs on the sleeves of his flannel.
“Reginald,” he finally says, checking to see how it feels in his mouth then smiles. “Man, the guys at the club are going to get a kick out of this, when I tell them I’ve made out with a Reginald.”
“Reggie for short.” The bassist adds hesitantly. “But if it’s not any good I can look for something else, something cooler.”
Bobby sits up, setting his guitar to the side of them, and looks down at Reggie with a faint but fond smile that makes everything feel a little less scary. “Nah, I dig it. Maybe a little too refined for your dumbass, but I think Reggie fits you pretty good.”
Reggie shoots up from their spot on the floor with a wild grin on his face. “First of all, rude. But do you really think so? Because I wanted to do something from Star Wars, but Luke beat me to it. I don’t want to look like I’m copying him.”
“Of course you dorks would,” Bobby chuckles with the shake of his head and leans against Reggie who can’t stop smiling now. “But I can’t remember any country singers or fictional characters named Reginald. Where you’d think of it?”
“Oh, uhm,” Reggie slouched into himself with a shrug, his smile slightly faltering. “My mom had a brother, he died when they were young I think and I was going to be named after him if I was, you know, born differently.” Reggie brings his knees to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs and head resting on top. “I know it’s dumb but I want be able to say my parents picked my name out. Luke just picked whatever felt right to him, and Alex just shortened his name but I guess I rather do it this way. I am being weird about this?”
He can feel Bobby run a hand through his hair, roughing down a few stray curls and Reggie glances towards him, catching the soft expression on the other boy’s face.
“I think you’re weird in general but not for this. Plus, naming yourself after a dead guy is pretty cool. Acutally, I think Elton John’s birth name was Reginald, that’s pretty rad- kind of gay but rad.” Bobby laughs when Reggie elbows him in the side.
“I can’t believe you sometimes, but,” Reggie stretched his neck out to kiss Bobby's cheek, enjoying the way he went a little pink. “Thanks, Bobbers. Means a lot. Especially since I know you hate getting all sweet and personal.”
Bobby abruptly stretched out his arm, pushing Reggie away and the bassist half rolled on his side in a small fit of laughs. “I don’t know why I try with you.” He scuffed.
“Because you love me,” Reggie quipped, a little too pleased with himself seeing Bobby roll his eyes but still grinning despite himself. Sometimes it felt like Reggie lived to make Bobby smile, it’s a pretty good reason to live, he thinks.
“Keep telling yourself that, babe.”
Reggie rolled onto his stomach, arms propping his head up with eyes squinted closed and tongue sticking out childishly. “I rather hear it coming from you.”
They never actually said ‘I love you’ without it being a part of a lame joke and Reggie is fine with waiting until they’re ready to be more sincere about it. There would be plenty of chances later in life to say it, no need to rush.
“Yeah, yeah. So are you going to tell the others? I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear the news.” Bobby asked, sounding disinterested despite the affectionate way he kept running his fingers through the bassist’s hair.
“Oh, hell yes!” Reggie gasped, already excited.
And when Alex and Luke walk in chatting among themselves an hour later Reggie can’t stop himself from excitedly scurrying to his feet. Stumbling around as he narrowly avoided tipping over one of their songbooks and almost crashing into Alex. He bounced onto the couch feet first with suddenly too much energy and it startled his bandmates for a moment, not expecting the outburst.
“Dudes!” He nearly squealed, grinning so widely his cheeks hurt. “Sunset Curve is officially a boy band!”
Luke and Alex stare at him with matching looks of elated bewilderment, mouths slightly gasped but they’re smiling and it’s reassuring to see.
“Peters, I support you, obviously, but I’m going kill you for calling us a boy band.” Luke’s smile goes a little stained as he grabs Reggie by his flannel and shakes him back and forth playfully.
Alex places a hand on Luke’s head and he stops jolting Reggie around, although the bassist is laughing. “What he means to say is we’re really proud of you, dude. Thanks for trusting us to come out.” They share a warm smile for a moment. Reggie is unaware that Bobby’s shoulders have relaxed slightly, relieved that the bassist can fully be himself around their friends now.
“Oh!” Reggie’s face lights up. “You are not going believe what I’m going change my name too!”
“As long as it’s not after Obi-Wan then I already think it’s great,” Alex remarked, nudging Luke teasingly who pushed him back. “Star Wars isn’t really that rock and roll.”
“Says you,” Luke muttered a little embarrassed, arms crossing over his chest and slouching onto the couch. “I still think Skywalker is a perfect middle name.”
“Cough, nerd.” Bobby pretended to cover up the insult and Luke sticks his tongue out at him.
Reggie bites back a grin, properly sitting on the couch and Bobby flashes him a smile, small but relaxed, the type that’s only meant to be shared between the two of them. It never fails to make Reggie feel a hint of pride that he was special enough for it.
“I want to be Reginald. Like Elton John was,” he folds his arms over his chest proudly, as if it's the most obvious and smartest choice, but his leg is still bouncing with so much excitement that it radiates off him.
“Reggie for short,” Bobby throws in, leaning against the wall by the dart board. His attitude shifted back to be more distant with the others around, not one fond of too much physical contact.
“Reggie for short,” he confirms with a smile.