Work Text:
Regulus had found himself in an extraordinarily painful situation.
That was the one piece of advice that every relationship book offered - once you have your soulmate, do not let him go.
But Regulus was a fool, and he had managed to do exactly that.
Now he was alone in this shitty bar, sipping his shitty drink and thinking about all the shitty things he had done that had led to this moment.
It had started with the small things. James, his lovely James, had called it from the start - Regulus was too selfish, too closed-off, too mean to ever be in a happy relationship. And sweet, kind, everloving James deserved better.
“I’m sorry,” Regulus mumbled drunkenly, tipping his head forward so his curls were almost dangling in his drink. “I’m so sorry, Jamie.”
He blamed his family, in a way. They had made him like this, made him a cruel, unlovable monster. Everything was their fault…
But no, that wasn’t true either, or Sirius would have turned out as fucked up as he was. Regulus couldn’t use that as an excuse, then. Maybe he was just an asshole of a human being.
“Why does this shit always happen to me?” he groaned, and the woman opposite him scoffed.
“Having a self-pitying session, are you?”
Regulus peered up at her through bloodshot eyes. “Pretty much.”
The woman scrutinised him. Something about her was oddly familiar, and Regulus racked his brain, trying to think through the haze of alcohol.
It came to him suddenly. She was a friend of Sirius. A friend of James. “Macdonald?”
Her eyes widened almost comically. “No way. Baby Black?”
“I hate it when people call me that,” Regulus mumbled petulantly, but the woman - Macdonald - was too busy ogling him to hear.
“What are you doing in this shithole? Shouldn’t you be eating caviar off a silver spoon in your fancy ass restaurant?”
Regulus glared at her. “This is a perfectly respectable establishment.”
She laughed incredulously. “And I’m the Queen of England.”
The bartender shot her a nasty look, and she smiled apologetically before turning back to Regulus. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”
“Drowning my sorrows in alcohol.” Regulus sighed. “I lost the love of my life.”
“Shit, I’m sorry,” Mary said, taking a swig of her drink.
“Yeah, he’s getting married tomorrow.”
Mary spat out her mouthful of beer all over the table. “What did you just say?” she spluttered.
“I said he’s getting married tomorrow.” Regulus repeated impatiently. “Keep up.”
“No, it’s just… The love of my life is getting married tomorrow too.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence.”
Mary regarded him suspiciously. “I have a feeling you know exactly what’s going on.”
“You’re in love with Evans, yes?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, take a fucking guess who I’m in love with.”
Mary’s jaw dropped. “James? You’re in love with James? No fucking way.”
“I know,” Regulus said mournfully. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”
“Your brother’s best friend?” Mary breathed. “Who’s about to be married? Shit. That’s rough.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, you have my condolences..” She raised her glass to clink against his.
“And you have mine. More drinks? Maybe something a little stronger?”
Mary grimaced. “I think I’m going to need it.”
Later that night, the two of them were stumbling down the street, drunk out of their minds and having been kicked out of the bar for ‘depressing singing’ that was ‘driving away customers’.
They had no regrets. Sobbing to sad love songs was the only way to alleviate the pain.
It was a strange situation, that was for sure. If you had told Regulus mere hours ago that he would be arm in arm with Mary Macdonald of all people, bonding over their partners leaving them, he would have laughed in your face.
Then again, mere hours ago, he had also been unable to do anything but lie in bed and cry over James.
“I think… I think we’re very fucked,” Mary slurred, and Regulus realized he must have said some of this out loud.
“Yes, I think so,” he agreed, clutching her arm for support. The world was spinning slightly.
“We should do something about it!” Mary cried dramatically, and Regulus squinted at her, swaying on his feet.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Mary said impatiently. “We should stop the wedding.”
Regulus blinked owlishly up at her. “We can’t stop it. It’s tomorrow.”
“It’s never too late to be happy,” Mary said wisely, and Regulus considered this.
“Yes… yes, we should be happy. Why should they get to be happy, and not us?”
“Exactly!” she yelled, hiccupping. “We should be happy. And Lily… Lily makes me very happy…”
She stopped suddenly, sitting down on the sidewalk and burying her head in her hands. “I miss her.”
“I know,” Regulus said miserably. “I miss him too.”
“Let’s stop it, then,” Mary said earnestly. “They’re not good for each other. Please, Regulus, I know. I’ve been forced to be around them for weeks.”
Regulus nodded slowly. “They don’t make each other happy. We make them happy. We should be with them.”
“Yes, yes. We want everyone to be happy!”
“Then let’s do it,” Regulus declared, still unsteady on his feet. “Let’s stop this goddamn wedding.”
Mary nodded eagerly. “We need a plan.”
Regulus woke the next morning with a cracking headache and an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Oh, and a vaguely familiar woman making tea in his kitchen.
“Morning, Reggie!” she said cheerfully, forcing a mug into his hands.
“No, please, that’s even worse than Baby Black.” he groaned. “What… what’s going on…”
“I need you up and ready,” Mary grinned. “We have a wedding to gatecrash!”
Regulus gaped at her. Ever so slowly, the previous night was coming back to him in sharp clarity.
“No. No, absolutely not. We are not crashing Lily and James’ wedding.”
“Oh, yes we are,” Mary said, putting her hands on her hips. “You promised.”
“I was drunk!”
“That doesn’t mean you meant it any less.”
She did have a fair point. Regulus groaned and covered his eyes. It was too early in the morning for this.
“Listen, Regulus,” she began. “I’m Lily’s friend, first and foremost, and that didn’t change when she… when we broke up.”
Her voice cracked a little, but she continued on, determined. “I’ve helped plan her wedding, I’ve watched her and James together, and I promise you that they are not in love. This whole thing is a huge mistake, and it needs to be stopped before anyone else gets hurt.”
Regulus stared at her, enraptured.
“So please, just trust me on this. Stopping this wedding is the best thing that we could possibly do, and this is our last chance.”
It only took that much persuading for Regulus to be fully onboard with the plan. The truth was, he missed James like he was the sun, and Regulus was a man locked in the dark. He needed his warmth. He needed his light.
Regulus looked at Mary, who was staring at him beseechingly.
“When does this thing start?”
Regulus couldn’t remember the last time he had worn a suit.
Maybe it had been at his father’s funeral. That was certainly not an occasion that brought back fond memories, but Regulus was thinking about it nonetheless.
It had been the last time he had seen Sirius, after all.
James had always had his heart set on the two of them having a tearful reunion, with lots of hugs and a truckload of tissues. Regulus had skirted around the topic with supreme skill - he didn’t want to break James’ heart, but he knew that was impossible. The Black brothers didn’t do forgiveness.
And there was a lot to forgive. If Regulus was being honest, he still resented Sirius a little for leaving, even though he knew that his brother had every right to.
“He didn’t want to leave you, Reg,” James had been fond of saying. “But he had to. They were going to kill him.”
They being his parents. Regulus knew this also, and he hated himself for it all the more. As much as he despised his mother and (now deceased) father, he couldn’t quite bring himself to not love them all the same.
Regulus couldn’t forgive Sirius for leaving. Sirius couldn’t forgive him for staying.
But they were adults now, and things were slowly getting better. They sent cards for Christmas and Birthdays, and occasionally had dinner together, at the request of James.
Not anymore, though. James had been one of his only links to Sirius. Regulus hadn’t seen his brother for months, since they put their father to rest.
May he burn in hell.
And so Regulus was wearing that same suit from all that time ago, staring at himself in the mirror, about to crash his brother’s best friend’s wedding, one that Sirius was sure to be in attendance at.
Oh, how had things gone so wrong?
“Looking spiffy, Black,” Mary said cheerfully, coming up behind him to look at herself in the mirror.
“I could say the same for you, Macdonald.” Mary was wearing a jaw-dropping, floor length lavender dress that matched her purple hoop earrings. She looked incredible, and if Regulus wasn’t a gay man, he would have fallen in love with her then and there.
They were at the wedding venue already, before most of the guests arrived, sequestered away in one of the many dressing rooms. James and Lily were getting married in a fucking palace. This place was huge.
“Are you ready for this?” Mary asked gravely, and Regulus swallowed nervously, but nodded. Yes, he was ready.
“Right, you know the plan,” she said, clapping him on the back. “And whatever you do, don’t get spotted. You were definitely not invited.”
“I wonder why,” Regulus muttered bitterly, and she laughed.
“At least you’re not a bridesmaid in this fucking thing.”
“Small victories.”
Mary laughed again, albeit far more nervously, glancing up at the clock. “Right. I have to go help Lily get ready. Remember, be unobtrusive.”
Regulus saluted her, and turned back to the mirror after she had slipped out the door. He ran a hand over the lapels of his jacket, and sighed.
What was he doing?
There was a chance that James would never forgive him for this, he thought regretfully. Ruining one of the most important days of his life - that was not something one could come back from. But if he didn’t do this, Regulus would never forgive himself.
Steeling his nerves, he looked up at the clock, checking that enough time had passed between now and Mary leaving. It wouldn't do to get caught together before the main event.
He pushed open the door, stepped out into the corridor, and bumped head first into a man hurrying the opposite way.
“Shit, sorry-” the man said, reaching out to steady him. “I didn’t-”
The man’s amber eyes widened suddenly as he looked down. “Regulus?” He had run straight into Remus Lupin.
Well, fuck.
Regulus dragged Lupin back into the dressing room he had just left, shutting the door quickly behind them.
“Regulus what’s going on-” he looked extremely confused as Regulus turned to face him, thinking quickly.
Lupin was one of James’ best friends, he knew that. He was a part of the Marauders, or whatever the fuck they called themselves. He was one of the only ones that had known about James and Regulus, so there was a chance he would understand…
But he was extremely close with Lily, so it was also likely that he would get Regulus kicked out.
Even now, understanding was dawning in Lupin’s eyes. “You’re here to crash the wedding, aren’t you?”
The look on Regulus’ face must have given it away, and Lupin laughed softly. “Shit, you really are.”
“I have to,” Regulus whispered miserably. “I can’t let him marry someone else.”
Lupin looked deep in thought, and Regulus could practically see his mind whirring. “You can’t be here alone, though, you wouldn’t know where the venue is… Mary, then?”
Lupin was too smart for his own good.
“Yeah,” Regulus sighed, slumping into a chair. “I, uh… We bumped into each other at a bar last night. One thing led to another, and we ended up here.”
The other man stared at him in bemusement. “You mean this wasn’t even planned? You just decided to show up?”
“We have a plan,” Regulus said defensively.
“Sure you do. Does… does Sirius know you’re here?”
“Of course not. I’m not supposed to be here - it seems I was uninvited by the lovely bride to be.” Regulus scoffed, and Lupin’s gaze turned sharp.
“Don’t take this out on Lily. Your breakup wasn’t her fault.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, abashed.
“But you do have a point,” he mused. “And honestly, I agree with you. This marriage shouldn’t happen.”
Regulus blinked. “You- what?”
“I think that James and Lily were both in, ah… a difficult spot,” Lupin said carefully. “And they turned to the other for comfort. That doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other, but I don’t think it’s necessarily in that way.”
Regulus’ hopes were rising, and rising fast. “So you’ll help us, then, Lupin?”
Lupin sighed. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. And call me Remus.”
Regulus pulled him into a hug, burying his face in the other man’s shoulder. Lupin - Remus - looked startled.
“Am I going insane or did Regulus ‘bitchy’ Black just hug me?”
Regulus groaned. “I think I’m still a little bit drunk.”
Remus helped him hide, as the wedding venue slowly started to fill with people. Regulus was crouched behind one of the sweeping curtains at the back of the hall, the stained glass windows above him sending light ricocheting in a dazzling array of colours.
He idly watched the guests find their seats, and had to stifle a laugh as he saw a middle-aged man dressed in an ill fitting suit try to sit on a chair, only to have it buckle beneath him.
But the laugh died in his throat a second later as a door behind the man opened, and his brother walked through.
Sirius looked as dashing as always, in a black tux with a crimson tie, and Regulus watched as he said something over his shoulder, smiling as he did.
That signature smile of his made Regulus want to run straight to his brother, just as he had done so many times when they were younger.
But he had to wait, frozen, as Sirius turned back around when Remus walked through the door.
Remus was smiling at Sirius, and walked forward to put an arm around him. Regulus watched in confusion as Sirius leaned into the touch, then reached up and pressed a kiss to Remus’ lips.
Regulus blinked. Huh. He hadn’t known about that.
But there was no time to dwell on it, as Remus caught his gaze where he was only partly concealed by the curtain. His eyes remaining fixed on Regulus’, he leaned over to say something to Sirius.
Sirius’ head whipped around so fast, Regulus thought he was going to give himself whiplash. His brother met his eyes for the first time in months, and Regulus’ breath caught in his throat.
Shit.
Sirius made a beeline for him, and Regulus gulped, ducking back behind the curtain and pressing his back to the wall. His pulse was racing.
Shit, shit, shit. Why had Remus told Sirius? This was going to be a disaster.
The curtain was ripped back, and his brother’s half-shocked, half-furious face appeared behind it.
“Why the fuck are you here?” were Sirius’ first words to him.
“For the wedding food.”
“Don’t get snarky with me, Reggie. Why are you here?” he demanded, and Regulus sighed, sending a prayer to the heavens.
“To stop the wedding.”
He had thought that honesty would be the best way forward, but judging by the way Sirius went quiet, he feared he might have gravely miscalculated.
“Just hear me out,” Regulus began, but Sirius’ gaze was cold.
“No, I don’t think I will. You should leave.”
“But-”
“Now, Reg.”
“I love him,” Regulus stated plainly, and Sirius’ eyes widened. “I love him, and I fucked up, and I can’t let him marry Lily. I love him, and I won’t let him go, not for anything.”
“You love him,” Sirius said slowly. “You… you love James?”
“Yes,” Regulus said, and he’d be damned if that wasn’t the truest thing he’d ever said in his life. “I really do.”
“How… you were together? When?”
“In his last year. My sixth. I… I was in a bad place, and he was getting over Lily’s rejection, and we just found each other.”
“You hid it from me? All this time?” Sirius looked absolutely shattered.
Regulus held his gaze. “Are you telling me you would have accepted it? Even back then?”
Sirius was lost for words. “I… Well…”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway. We broke up almost a year ago.”
“And you still love him?”
“I’ll love James forever.”
Sirius laughed in disbelief. “I don’t even know what to say, Reg.”
“Please let me stop this,” Regulus whispered. “I can’t live without him, Sirius.”
His brother looked torn between anger, shock and denial. Regulus held his breath as he waited for his decision.
“I have to go,” Sirius said eventually.
“Are you going to kick me out?”
Sirius paused. “No. No, I’m not, Reggie.”
“Thank you. Thank you,” Regulus breathed, new hope welling up inside of him.
His brother’s gaze lingered upon him, searching up and down every inch of him, and Regulus could feel the intensity of it cutting a path straight to his soul.
“Don’t break his heart, Reg,” Sirius said finally, and he pressed a hand to Regulus’ shoulder, slipping back out of the curtains.
Regulus hadn’t missed the single tear that slid down his brother’s face before he left.
James was standing at the altar, and Regulus’ stomach had dropped like a boulder from a cliff.
He was there. After all this time, James was right in front of him, and yet so, so far. Regulus wanted to scream.
If anything would harden his resolve, it was this. He was so close to getting the love of his life back. All he had to do was speak.
He thought he was going to pass out if he looked at James any longer, so he scanned the rest of the church. James’ parents were sitting in the front row, as well as what he presumed was Lily’s family, all dressed in ugly shades of pastels.
Slowly, the crowd quieted down until the entire hall was silent, and Regulus flinched as the organ began blaring a tune that sounded like a death march.
First was the flower girls, and Regulus snorted as they strew roses down the aisle. James hated roses, said they were the most generic flower ever. They must have been somebody else’s choice.
Then the bridesmaids and the ushers walked down, and Regulus watched as Sirius, the best man, and Marlene McKinnon, the maid of honour, walked down the middle, arm in arm.
He found it funny because they were acting like a typical straight couple, when he knew that they were two of the gayest people on earth.
After them was Mary and Remus, who both shot him winks as they passed. Regulus didn’t miss the way that Remus’ gaze lingered on Sirius’ ass as he walked behind him.
Regulus was getting even more nervous now, as the wedding party was lined up on either side of James, who was still standing at the altar.
He tried to catch Mary’s eye, but she was staring behind him, utterly transfixed, as the music changed subtly and the bride walked out.
Lily’s long, white dress trailed behind her as she floated up the aisle, and Regulus thought, somewhat meanly, that her dress looked like a giant pastry.
Everyone was looking at her, but Regulus’ eyes were fixed on James.
He was staring at his bride-to-be like everyone else, but Regulus could tell his heart wasn’t in it. Come on, Jamie, Regulus thought. You know you wish it was me walking up that aisle.
“Dear friends and family of the Bride and Groom,” the preacher began when everyone was settled. “We welcome and thank you for being part of this important occasion. We are gathered here today…”
Regulus tuned out the monotone voice as he stared at James. He couldn’t help but notice that he looked exceptional in his tux, and even though it was his wedding day, James’ hair was as unruly as ever.
Regulus was truly nervous now, and his eyes were fixed on James as the long-winded speech finally came to the end.
“And if there are any objections to this union,” he heard the preacher say, “Speak now, or forever hold your peace.”
There was utter silence in the church, and Regulus knew that this was his last chance.
He stood up from his perch behind the curtains, striding forward into the ceremony, hands shaking. At first, not many people realised what was going on, but as he came to a halt in the middle of the aisle, he could feel horrified looks bouncing off his skin.
He locked eyes with James.
“What are you doing?” someone hissed angrily from behind him, and he opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak.
From the side of the altar, Mary stepped forward, her purple bridesmaid dress swaying as she joined Regulus.
“I am not the kind of girl,” she said, her eyes fixed on Lily. “Who should be rudely barging in on a white-veil occasion.”
“But you,” Regulus finally found his voice, and he looked pleadingly at James. “Are not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl.”
James stared back at Regulus, and the ghost of longing flitted across his face. Emboldened, Regulus carried on.
“Don’t say yes, James. Don’t get married. I love you, and I never stopped loving you. I fucked up, I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t change. I’d do anything for you, I swear. So don’t say yes.”
“Run away now,” Mary said to Lily. “I know you don’t love him, Lils, not really. You said to me that night that this is exactly the kind of life you wanted to escape from; the stereotypical housewife. You can still escape, I promise. Run away now.”
Lily looked helplessly at Mary, who was staring at her with pure adoration in her eyes. “Please, Lily. I’ll meet you when you’re out of the church, at the back door. Please.”
“Don’t wait, James, don’t say a single vow.” Regulus begged. “You need to hear me out, I had to speak now.”
James stood, frozen, at that altar as Regulus turned on his heels, striding out of the double doors with tears burning in his eyes.
He had said all he could. Now it was up to James whether he followed or not.
It only took a minute. But in that minute, Regulus spiralled, standing in the frosty air outside the church. James would hate him for this, he would never be forgiven, Regulus had lost him-
The door banged open and there he was, tux dishevelled, glasses crooked.
“James,” Regulus began, “I-”
James surged forward and pulled Regulus into a kiss. It was a kiss like no other - one of new beginnings, promises and young love.
“I’m so sorry, Reg,” James finally said when they broke apart. “You were right. You were right about it all. I don’t love her, and I never did. I love you. You’re the only one for me, and I’m so sorry I didn’t see that before.”
“James,” Regulus breathed. “You don’t have to apologise. I know I was awful, you had every right to leave-”
“Let’s not dwell on the past, darling,” James said softly, tucking one of Regulus’ curls back behind his ear. “We’re together now. That’s all that matters.”
“I love you,” Regulus said, searching James’ eyes.
“I love you too, Reg. Always.”