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Chapter Text

Frank turns the projector off with a flourish. "Any questions, concerns, or threats?"

James Potter sits frozen, mouth hanging open, as he processes his captain’s words. There is no way that Frank would assign James to such a high-stakes mission when he has no undercover training. 

"James, you're the only person on the force with a background in street racing. The mission will be blown instantly if we send anyone else." Frank stalks around the table and drops a thin file in front of James. "This is all our information on these drug smugglers, which is absolutely nothing. We only know that the suspects drive Honda Civics and that the drivers are involved in the street racing scene. We need an agent involved with the scene to investigate. What better way than to send in a racer?"

"I haven't raced in years, Frank," James protests, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia for the adrenaline-fueled days of his youth when the asphalt was his playground. He pushes the feeling down. He left that life behind after almost being arrested as a teenager, a close call that served as a wake-up call to the consequences of his reckless behavior. 

Not long after graduating high school, he pivoted toward a more honorable career path and enrolled in the police academy. Now he upholds the law with honor and dedication. He doesn't miss his life of crime at all. Not one bit. 

Frank sighs. He knew convincing James to agree to this would be like pulling teeth. "It's got to be like riding a bike - you never forget," he offers, his tone encouraging, trying to remind James of the thrill that he once chased. 

"Jesus Christ on a taxicab, Frank!" James exclaims, his hand absently running his unruly hair as if seeking solace in the familiar gesture. "I don't have any training! I don't know what to do." 

"Just be yourself with a few adjustments. Street racing isn't new to you," Frank reassures him. 

James pulls the file closer and flips it open, revealing the scant information they have on these smugglers. Aside from the number of confirmed drop-offs and the days they occurred, they have nothing to go on. The need for someone to be involved with the gritty scene is crystal clear, however, James didn't expect the task to fall upon his shoulders. 

His past as a racer is a tightly held secret known only by Frank, the officer who caught James at seventeen and helped turn his life around. The repercussions on James' career if this gets out are unpredictable. If he goes undercover as a street racer, it will inevitably raise questions about how he became so skilled once he's exposed to the public eye. 

Frank let out a deep, heavy sigh. Slowly, he pulled out the chair opposite James, carefully settling into his seat before placing his elbows on the table. "Listen, James," he began, his tone filled with empathy, "I know this is a sore spot for you. If there were any other viable options, believe me, I wouldn't put you in this position." 

James' brow furrowed. "If I agree to this, it could jeopardize everything I've worked for." 

Frank leaned closer, his voice soft yet determined. "Trust me, James, I won't let you lose your job over a task that I assign. We all make mistakes, especially in our younger years. 

"Promise you'll protect me, even if this goes south," James says.

"I promise. Alice will kill me if I let anything happen to you."

"I'll do it. I need more details about what I'm supposed to do. Am I observing, engaging, or following a suspect?"

"We don't have any clear suspects yet. So far, everyone involved could be one. Your job is to find a way into the scene, observe the people, and report anyone who looks suspicious. We recommend focusing on the racers first."

"Noted. Give me more information on known racers."

Frank turns the projector back on and switches to a new PowerPoint. He moves with purpose, his laser pointer leading the way as he delves into the introduction of their first suspect. "This is Lucius Malfoy, twenty-six, a washed-up street racer." The image displayed shows a striking figure - a man exuding a blend of charm and ruthlessness, his bleach-blond hair cascading past his shoulders. 

"What happened to him? An accident?" James leans closer, his focus fully captured. 

"His wife's cousin, Sirius Black, twenty-four, burst onto the scene out of nowhere. He quickly put Lucius to shame. Sirius has reigned as the Race King for the past two years while Lucius fled with his tail between his legs. Despite suspicions, there is no evidence linking Lucius to the current case because he devotes most of his time to his young son. Conversely, his wife Narcisa, frequently partakes in race events. It could be a connection. Keep a close watch on her." 

"What about Black?"

Frank switches to another slide. Sirius Black's face fills the screen. His appearance is striking - with long hair, tattoos, hardened eyes, and features that exude a rugged handsomeness. A wave of irritation washes over James as he gazes at the mugshot. The sheer audacity of someone being so cheery in the face of arrest is baffling. 

"Sirius is a revered figure, practically a celebrity within racing circles. People idolize him, with some even going as far as to worship the ground he walks on. The question is whether his fame acts as a shield against criminal pursuits or if his skills enable him to operate a large-scale drug smuggling enterprise right under our noses." 

"There is also Sirius’ team. It consists of Regulus Black, twenty-three, Sirius' brother. He's a racer too but doesn’t often frequent the track. He works at Black's Cafe, which is attached to Sirius' garage.”

James gazes longingly at Regulus Black's picture, his chest tightening as he beholds the image of a man who embodies perfection. Never before has James encountered someone so flawlessly captivating. As James drinks in the details of Regulus' features, he cannot help but notice the striking resemblance the man bears to his illustrious brother. From the matching dark curls (albeit different lengths) to the identical gray eyes that pierce through one's very soul, the similarities are uncanny. 

However, it is the subtle nuances that set Regulus apart, intriguing James beyond measure. There is an undeniable aura of confidence and poise that surrounds Regulus. James is drawn to Regulus, unable to pinpoint if it is because of his entrancing eyes, the soft curve of his lips that hold a promise of secrets untold, or the way his tousled hair falls effortlessly into his face. 

Enthralled by Regulus Black, an intense desire stirs within James. Although he was hesitant about accepting this case at first, Regulus' soft smirk beckons James, igniting a flame of curiosity within his heart. He needs to look away because his opinion on taking this case is dangerously close to changing. 

Frank snaps his fingers loudly next to James' ear to catch his attention. Startled, James lets out a small yelp and leans away from the offending sound. "Are you even listening to me?" 

Upon receiving a stern look from Frank, James refocuses his gaze on the other man, deliberately avoiding Regulus' picture. "Yeah, sorry about that. I zoned out for a brief moment. It's the ADHD acting up." 

Frank grunts in acknowledgment. "Moving on, there is Remus Lupin, in a known relationship with Sirius. Despite his skills, he doesn't participate in the racing due to a childhood injury. Then there is Lily Evans who occasionally races, While she may not rival Sirius' talent, she holds her own behind the wheel." 

Lily captivates James with a magnetism that nearly rivals Regulus. She is undeniably striking with fiery red tresses expertly tamed into a carefree bun and intense green eyes. She is not ashamed of who and what she is, which is a breath of fresh air in a world of two-faced people. James is going to have difficulty keeping his priorities straight when surrounded by such beautiful people. This isn't fair. 

"Next is Marlene Mckinnon, although she never races, she is often found in compromising positions with a racer named Dorcas Meadowes. Completing Sirius' team is Pandora Lovegood, whose skill as a mechanic brings a significant amount of business to Sirius' garage." 

Pandora is cute in an odd way. In every photo Frank displays, she is wearing bright green headphones and a blue headband that keeps her wild blonde hair out of her face. Her eyes sparkle with an unmistakable liveliness, complimented by a radiant smile. James can't imagine how someone who looks so innocent got mixed up with a criminal like Sirius.

Even if Sirius isn't behind the drugs, he's still committed multiple crimes. Maybe James can also get evidence of those crimes while he's undercover. What he won't do is try to get close to Regulus Black. That is a terrible idea.

"For the other racers, Dorcas Meadowes, a hell of a woman. She's a tough one. Don't piss her off."

James has no intention of getting on Dorcas' bad side. The woman looks like she could snap him in half. Beautiful and dangerous. "No problem here. Stay away from the scary racer lady."

"Next is Evan Rosier. He's not the fastest racer, but he's a crowd favorite. Interestingly, there are whispers of him being accompanied by a mysterious, dark-haired man both before and after races. Look into that. Last is Mary Macdonald, a force to be reckoned with. She dominates every race Sirius doesn't enter. Contrary to her fierce competitive spirit, Mary is described as a kind and gentle soul off the track." 

"Got it." James gives Frank finger guns.

Frank, not for the first time, reevaluates every decision that led to James Potter being in his life. He would have far fewer gray hairs if he had simply looked the other way when he stumbled upon a group of teenagers street racing. "Don't do anything stupid. These people are criminals, James. Remember that. You're not there to make friends. You're there to make arrests."

"Come on, Frank. You've known me since I was seventeen. I'm a professional."

…

A day later, after James has secured lodging at the Racer's Edge, owned by Peter Pettigrew, and fueled by excitement, James can't resist the temptation to visit Black's Cafe. He's not ignoring Frank's warning per se, more like taking the initiative. What better way, he reasons, to get connected with the street racing scene than to befriend the Race King... and his brother. 

A quant, little bell jingles melodically as the door opens to reveal a tastefully decorated interior, where varying shades of green blend harmoniously to create a calming ambiance. Tables are neatly arranged along the walls, while a wide counter stretches across the back of the room. 

"I'll be out in a moment," someone calls out. 

James' heart skips a beat at the sight of a man emerging from the back, strands of the beaded curtain tangling on his messy bun before releasing him. Disappointment sinks in as James realizes this is not the Black brother he hoped for. 

Sirius casually leans against the polished wood of the counter, flashing a flirtatious smile. "Hey, there, handsome; what can I get you?"

James is thrown off by a taken man showing interest in him. However, he isn't supposed to know Sirius is taken, so a little harmless flirting is a good way to build rapport with Sirius. He settles into a seat at the counter and leans closer to Sirius, subtly scanning him head to toe before responding, "I'll take whatever you recommend, darling." 

Sirius smirks. "Oh, yeah? What about our tuna sandwich? It tastes like shit, but it's the only thing I can make. I don't normally work here." 

“That’s fine with me as long as it comes with your number.” 

Sirius tosses his head back. His shoulders shaking with what sounds more like a bark than laughter. "You're brave; I'll give you that." 

Slightly embarrassed by Sirius' reaction, James asks, "Was I not supposed to say that?"

Instead of addressing James' worries, Sirius simply places a pre-made sandwich in front of him and slides a can of Coke across the counter. "That'll be five-fifty." He states, matter-of-factly. 

James fumbles his wallet out of his pocket and hands Sirius a wad of crumpled bills. Sirius takes the money and leaves for the back room again. James takes his time eating his tuna sandwich. It's not as bad as he expected based on Sirius' earlier words. James could eat it more often if needed. 

Minutes later, Sirius saunters back into the main room. Taking a seat on the counter next to James' food, he nonchalantly props his grungy boots on the wood and encircles his knees with his arms. 

James hides a grimace at the thought of germs migrating to his mouth. Not offending Sirius during their first meeting will serve him in the long run. 

"I've never seen you around these parts," Sirius leans his cheek on one bent knee. "You new in town?"

"Yeah. I just moved a few days ago. I came this way looking for excitement.

Sirius is visibly interested. "What kind of excitement?"

"Don't know yet. Something to get my blood pumping."

"You know your way around a car?"

"I'd say. Used to be a street racer in my teens."

He's got Sirius hooked. It's obvious from the way Sirius' eyes widen with curiosity and a hint of admiration.  The air between them crackles with the shared thrill of an unexpected connection. Sirius leans a little closer, almost in James' personal space. "Why'd you stop?"

"Almost got arrested, had an officer breathing down my neck after that. I needed to put on a show that I'd changed my ways. It never went away, though- the yearning to be behind a wheel."

Sirius bites his lip in thought. "I know somewhere," he says suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I know somewhere you can race. Where do you live?"

"At Peter's. I work there too."

"Fantastic. Listen, I'm a bit of a street racer myself. We're racing tomorrow night. You should show up. Get back into it."

"What a coincidence. Will I get to see you?" James asks.

"I'll be racing. We'll see."

"Sirius Orion Black," the voice makes Sirius' spine rigid. He slides off the counter immediately.

"Remus, my love, my darling, my moon!"

Another man, a brunette with piercing golden eyes, hastily pushes through the beaded curtain that leads to the dimly lit back room. James catches a fleeting glimpse of another dark-haired man before he ducks out of sight. 

The newcomer deftly backs Sirius up against the wall, one hand on the wall above Sirius' head and the other resting possessively on Sirius' waist. "What have I told you about carelessly inviting strangers to races, Sirius? It's almost as if you want the cops to knock at our door." 

"What can I say, Remus? I chase the adrenaline," Sirius purrs, seductively licking his lips. 

"Is that why you're flirting with another man right now?" Remus glares at James over his shoulder. James lifts his hands in a show of innocence.

“We weren’t flirting. We were just talking.” 

"Bullshit," Remus mutters, forcefully pushing away from Sirius. He lays one hand on the counter and swiftly vaults over it, seizes the back of James' shirt, and proceeds to whisk him away through the front door. His slight limp does nothing to hinder his' lethal assault. 

James is left gasping on the dirt road when Remus throws him. Remus is on James before James has time to regain his senses. James raises his arms to protect his face, leaving his torso open. Remus doesn't miss the opportunity. He lands a ferocious blow squarely in James' stomach. James grunts, biting his tongue so a whimper doesn't escape. He's dealt with worse than a jealous boyfriend. He can take whatever Remus dishes out. That said, he wishes someone would help him. 

Remus takes a moment to breathe so James bucks his hips, dislodging Remus enough for him to crawl away. "What the hell?" he rasps. 

Remus squats in front of James, grabs the front of his shirt, and hauls him closer, their faces mere inches apart. "I better not ever catch you around here again. Stay the fuck away from my boyfriend." This close, James notices delicate scars on Remus's face. Even after taking a beating and being actively threatened, James can't help but wonder how Remus got them. 

"I don't even want your boyfriend!" James yelps. No, he wants his brother instead.

"Sirius, you started this; go stop it, now!"

James, too absorbed in studying Remus' face, doesn't register the voice until Sirius thwarts Remus' next punch by wrapping his arms around Remus and shoving him back. "Hey, cool it! It didn't mean anything!" He guides Remus back toward the cafe. Sirius smiles apologetically at James after Remus gives him the middle finger before they both disappear inside. 

Light, barely audible footsteps alert James to someone's approach. An angel meets him when he looks up - or the closest thing on Earth to one. Regulus Black, with an expression void of emotion, looms over James. "Ignore those idiots. That shit happens at least three times a week. Sirius purposefully flirts with customers just to rile Remus up, claiming 'a jealous Remus is a sexy Remus.' I don't see it. Remus looks like a wet dog most days." 

James sits there like a tongue-tied idiot. Regulus kicks his shoe. "Hey, did he give you brain damage?"

James' brain comes online with a screech. He scrambles to his feet, hurriedly wiping the dirt from his hands and clothes. "No! No, I'm fine. I'm James!"

Regulus wrinkles his nose at him, a small, amused smile playing at the corners of his lips. The sight is undeniably adorable, and it tugs at something warm in James' chest. He averts his gaze, lest he make more of a fool of himself than he already has. 

"You should go," Regulus inclines his head toward the cafe, his words carrying a warning, "Remus is typically our voice of reason, the one who keeps a level head, but he loses his shit when it comes to my brother. He won't hesitate to attack you again if you linger. I won't help you again if he does." 

A pang of urgency drives James to act before Regulus walks away. He reaches out, his fingers grazing Regulus' bare arm, and a rush of awareness floods him as he registers the feel of exposed skin beneath his touch. Dear God, how did he not notice yet that Regulus is wearing a tank top that shows off his toned arms? James would happily let Regulus suffocate him just to be closer to those arms.

Regulus frees his arm with a disgusted look. "Don't touch me."

"I'm sorry!" James backs away a few steps. "Just wanted to know your name."

"Regulus," he turns and heads back to the open garage.

"If I come back, will I see you again?" Goddammit, James! Act more desperate, why don't you?

Regulus' face has a tiny smirk as he tilts his head back toward James, a gesture that speaks volumes without needing words. "I work here most days," he replies. It's not a direct answer, but it's also not a flat-out denial. James will take what he can get. 

James stands like an idiot in the street, gazing at Regulus' retreating figure. Curse Frank for assigning James to this case because just the mere thought of Regulus sends a shiver down James' spine, igniting a heat that he can't resist. 

A 60-second conversation, and James is already obsessed. Everything about Regulus is magnetic. Meeting the snarky boy in person only solidified that thought. James has a thing for people who are mean to him. Regulus better keep his mouth shut the next time they meet, or James will fall to his knees then and there. 

Chapter Text

Having been absent from the street racing scene for so long that he's almost forgotten what the atmosphere feels like, James experiences a wave of nostalgia as he weaves through the densely packed crowd. The familiarity envelops him with each scantily-clad person he brushes past. His unconventional outfit, a purple crop top and low-waisted jean shorts, stands out amongst the typical garb at street races. He hadn't planned to attend a race so soon into his mission, and therefore, hadn't packed any sexy clothes.  

He's lucky he made it to the race at all. Peter, an old school friend of Remus', chewed James out and almost fired him for pissing Remus off the day before. James resorted to begging Peter for another chance. Frank would kill him if he fucked this mission up before it started. Luckily, Peter was easy to win over and even gave James the location of the race Sirius mentioned, with a grave warning to stay out of Remus' way. 

Showing up at the event, despite the explicit warning from Remus to steer clear of Sirius, is a risky move, however, driven by determination and his lust for Regulus, James has other priorities than his safety. There is a one-in-a-million chance that Remus will see him, but James keeps to the shadows anyway because he is slightly afraid of Remus. 

James eats his words as the next few seconds unfold like a movie scene. The crowd parts at just the right time for James to inadvertently lock eyes with exactly who he was trying to avoid. He withdraws from Remus' unwelcoming gaze and changes his course. He doesn't doubt that Remus will swing if James gets within grabbing distance. Despite James' physical fitness from his time in law enforcement, Remus could snap his spine like a fucking twig. James likes his spine intact, thank you very much.

He flinches harshly when a hand falls heavily on his shoulder, his heart pounding with dread. However, to his surprise, the perpetrator is Dorcas Meadowes, which does not alleviate his fears in the least. He suppresses the urge to shove her hand off. “Umm..." his words fail. He went from the frying pan into the fire. Which is worse, an angry man who would love to kill James or a scary as fuck woman he knows nothing about?

"Pissed off Remus, didn't you, love?" Dorcas says.

Caught off guard by Dorcas' intimidating aura, James stumbles through a feeble attempt at forming words, looking like a fish with how often his mouth opens and closes in three seconds. 

Dorcas takes pity on him and continues the conversation. "No need to be scared of me. I don't bite. Unless you've done something to deserve my anger." She leans up on her tiptoes to be closer to James’ face. "Have you done something for me to be angry at?"

"N-no!" James answers quickly.

"I'm just teasing, love. I'm Dorcas. What's your name?"

"James P- Parker."

"Well, James, I have some people I'd like to introduce you to," Dorcas announces excitedly, threading her arm through his and skillfully navigating them through the crowd. James scans the area, hoping to find a sympathetic face that would offer him an escape from Dorcas.

Dorcas leads him to the start line, where tonight’s racers’ cars are lined up. James’ car, loaned to the police station specifically for this case, sits at the end of the line. A dark-haired man casually lounges on the hood of a sleek silver car, the amused tick of his lips signaling he is no stranger to Dorcas' antics. "Cas, please, we've talked about this. Stop adopting random strangers." 

Dorcas playfully wags a perfectly manicured finger in the guy's face. "Shut up, Barty; you love it when I find strays. Besides, you'll like James. He's pissed Remus off." 

Barty reappraises James in a new light. "We're more than willing to welcome anyone who's on Remus’ bad side. What's the story? What did you do to him?"

"His boyfriend flirted with me," James says, still annoyed. This is all Sirius' fault. If Sirius hadn't flirted with James, Remus wouldn't hate him, and James wouldn't be stuck with these two wacky people. 

"Sirius would flirt with a toad if it meant Remus would fuck him harder."

"Such vulgarity, Barty," another man slides confidently onto the car beside Barty.  He doesn't spare James a glance as he takes a long drag from his cigarette, leisurely exhaling a plume of smoke in the direction of a group of women, who giggle and blush at his attention.

"Like you've not said worse, Evan," Barty retorts, amused. 

Evan is one of the men from Frank's brief, meaning Barty must be the mysterious man Frank ordered James to look into. Maybe his accidental run-in with Dorcas will be helpful after all. 

Unable to quell his instinct to be nice to everyone, including potentially dangerous people, James extends his hand to Evan with a happy smile. "I'm James!"

Evan haughtily stares at James' hand just long enough to make him uncomfortable before he shakes it. Feeling Evan's firm grip tightening almost to the point of pain, James fights back any show of discomfort, determined not to show weakness. He needs to impress these people enough to be welcomed with open arms. "Evan Rosier," Evan says with a cold tone, dropping his lit cigarette at James' feet. 

James stomps it out.

"What a good little servant," Evan smirks.

"Fire around a bunch of cars isn't a bright idea, asshat," James snaps.

"I'm not often full of those."

"Clearly!" James spits at the same time Barty says, "You're full of me instead."

Barty stares at James, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ooh, the little boy has bite," he cackles gleefully. "Can we keep him?" he asks Dorcas. 

"I'm not an object you can keep!" James says defiantly. 

"It's cute that you think you have a say in the matter," Barty chuckles, leaning forward to playfully pinch James' cheek. 

James slaps Barty's hand away, frustrated by the blatant disrespect. He isn't usually mean, but this is more than he can handle. "I'm leaving." 

Dorcas stops him by grabbing his wrist. "They're just being assholes."

"Relax, newbie; we're just playing," Evan laughs.

"Well, it's not funny!"

In a sudden flurry of movement, a dark-skinned woman flings herself across Evan's lap in her haste to reach Barty. "He's here! He's here!" she exclaims, smacking Barty’s arm. 

"Mary, who the actual fuck are you talking about?" Evan questions.

"Regulus Black!"

"There's no way. He hasn't been at a race in months." Dorcas says, scanning the crowd. 

"He's here today. I swear. Look over there," Mary points across the street.

Sirius and his crew are gathered near a sleek, red car. James' eyes briefly settle on the others before his attention is snagged by Regulus, who is a vision in sinfully tight pants that accentuate his ass and a sheer, mesh top that stops just shy of his belly button - oh my God, is that a belly piercing? - and shows off the scars on his chest. 

James can't catch his breath, his lungs seemingly having forgotten how to function properly. Regulus isn't doing anything remotely sexy, oblivious to the effect he has on James while engaging in an animated conversation with Lily. They are both so stunning that the world fades away. Until a forceful tug on James' head yanks his attention elsewhere. 

He meets Barty's heated gaze. "What the fuck, man?" 

"I just saved your ass," Barty hisses.

"What?"

"You weren't even trying to be subtle with your staring. You might as well stab yourself now because that’s what will happen if Regulus Black catches you looking at him. He hates anybody outside of his brother's crew. He barely tolerates those people as it is."

"I talked to him," James blurts, not believing Barty's words. Regulus wasn't warm and chummy with him, but he didn't seem bloodthirsty.

"You what?"

"Talked to Regulus. I was at Black's Cafe yesterday. Regulus stopped Remus from beating my ass to oblivion."

"That's not normal. Regulus doesn't do stuff like that. He enjoys bloodshed. If it wouldn't land him back in jail, I'm sure he'd stab people on the street just to watch them bleed out... for fun."

"That is so cute; he has a hobby," James sighs dreamily.

Mary gapes at James. "You're deranged."

"Maybe, I've never gotten tested."

They don't stop James from staring after that, whether it be because they're intimidated by his lack of self-preservation or because they don't care enough about a stranger to stop him from doing stupid things. 

Sirius is on the ground, all but his insanely long legs tucked under his car, tinkering with something. He blindly reaches for a nearby wrench, feeling around on the asphalt. Regulus kicks the tool out of Sirius' reach. Sirius gives Regulus the middle finger, unaware of which of his friends it is directed at. 

"I'm going to go talk to him," James decides.

Mary grabs him as he passes her. "Didn't you hear anything we said?"

"Yes."

"You're still suicidal enough to talk to him?"

"Yes."

Mary lets go with a huff. "Okay, then. I won't plan your funeral."

"No need. I've had it planned for the past five years."

"You're a strange man, Parker," Dorcas says.

"So I've been told," James gives them finger guns before crossing the street.

He would like to pretend that Regulus lights up when he sees him coming, but reality harshly contradicts wishful thinking - Regulus frowns at James and tells him to fuck off. James ignores the order and boldly settles against the wall beside Regulus, opposite Lily. 

"How's life, Reggie?"

"Don't," Regulus bites out, "call me that."

"Reg?"

"I will stab you."

Oh, there's the blood lust. "God, please do," James claps a hand over his mouth in mortification. Not for the first time he wishes he had a brain-to-mouth filter. It would help in situations like this.

Regulus dismisses Lily with a nonchalant wave of his head, clearly apathetic toward her. She shoots James a piercing glare before striding off. "Is that something you're into, James?" Regulus asks, his voice carrying a suggestive tone that sends a shiver down James' spine. 

"I would be into anything if you say my name like that again." Shit, James, shut up! Regulus makes him go stupid, well more stupid than usual.

"You're cute," Regulus remarks, twisting one of the many ornate rings adorning his slender fingers. James desperately tries to maintain his composure, forcing his thoughts to stay strictly professional, instead of delving into daydreams of Regulus' skilled fingers in a different setting. 

Ever so oblivious to Regulus' condescending tone - one typically reserved for dealing with misbehaving toddlers - he focuses only on Regulus' words. "You think I'm cute?" 

"As if," Regulus turns away disdainfully, not sparing James a second glance. 

Feeling a surge of desperation, James blurts, "What do I have to do to earn a date with you?" The words surprise even himself, he's never this bold with people he's interested in. Then again, he’s never had someone play hard to get with him. 

Regulus freezes, caught off guard. James curses his mouth for running without permission again. He's sure Regulus is going to make good on his threat and stab him. Although James wouldn't mind being stabbed so much if Regulus is the one who does it, the paperwork involved dampens the appeal.

Regulus slowly turns. "What?"

Slightly emboldened by the lack of knives, James continues. "How do I earn a date with you?” 

"You think you're worthy to go on a date with me?"

"Fuck no," James answers without hesitation. "You are a god, perfection personified. No one in this world comes close to comparing to your magnificence. I am not worthy to even look upon your glory. I am lower than a worm when in your presence." 

Regulus is shocked into silence, his brow furrowing as he processes James' overly dramatic declaration. 

Marlene, another member of Sirius' crew, is not. She perches on the curb a few feet to the left of them, unable to contain her laughter or hide her eavesdropping. "Damn, Regulus," she teases, gasping for breath between giggles. "That boy is undoubtedly smitten with you. If you don't say yes to a date, I will. I would give anything for a woman to talk to me like that." 

Regulus blushes. "Shut up! He hardly even knows me. We just met yesterday. Besides, you already have a girlfriend." 

Marlene shrugs. "I can never have too many partners." 

Regulus ignores her. "You want to know what you'd have to do?"

James nods like an overeager puppy.

"Come in second place in this race."

James' big mouth once again runs before he can reign it in. "Second? I can come in first."

"You're confident."

James shrugs. "I have reason to be."

"Prove it. Win against my brother in this race, and I'll go on a date with you."

Shit. James has made a grave mistake. He was so preoccupied with Regulus that he forgot other racers existed. Racers like Sirius fucking Black, who's held the title of Race King for years. On the other hand, James hasn't raced since he was seventeen. He's fucked, blown his chance with Regulus before it ever existed.

Not one to back down, James takes the bet. "Deal." He hopes he sounds more confident than he feels.

"Good luck, you'll need it," Regulus leaves James against the wall, Marlene still losing it, and disappears into the crowd.

Lily accosts James seconds later. Placing a slender finger on the middle of his chest, she says, "You'd better pray to every god in existence that you lose this race, shit stain. Regulus Black is mine." The gravity of her words hangs heavily in the air, solidifying the rivalry that has ignited between them. 

"I'm not religious. Praying isn't my thing." Fuck, James! Is losing control of your mouth around pretty people a chronic illness he can find a cure for? Lily scoffs and stalks away, probably looking for Regulus. 

Marlene pats James’ leg in comfort. "Ignore her. She's been after Regulus for years. He is one hundred percent gay. Everyone knows it, but Lily won’t accept she has no chance. I'm pretty sure Regulus isn't even aware she's been into him since she was nineteen. Go win your race and get your man."

"Will do. Nice to meet you..."

"Marlene Mckinnon."

"James Parker." James makes his way back over to Dorcas and her... crew? Friends? He has no idea what to call them.

Barty's mouth hangs open. "Holy shit," he whispers reverently. "You did it. You talked to Regulus."

"Got threatened by Evans as well," Evan pipes in.

"Not helpful, Evan," Dorcas shoves him.

James nods in satisfaction. "I have a date with him if I win this race."

"He set you up for failure, man," Evan says grimly. "Nobody has ever beat Sirius. The only person to even come close is Mary."

"I have some pretty good motivation."

"Do you think you could work your magic on Remus?" Evan asks wistfully, leaning his head on Barty's shoulder. "We'd greatly appreciate it if you could get us in with him - even as booty calls. We're not picky." 

James grimaces, remembering how Remus almost tore him to pieces the day before. He's not eager to repeat the encounter. If Barty and Evan want to sleep with Remus, they'll have to proposition him themselves. Something tells James that they've already tried, been rebuked, and haven't given up yet. "You're going to have to be happy with nothing. Remus seems pretty content with just Sirius." 

Disheartened, Evan mumbles, "Damn," even though he expected nothing else. 

Mary pats James’ shoulder. "The race starts soon. You should get ready. Go ahead and give up your plans for a date with Regulus. You’ll never get past me, let alone Sirius."

"Don't knock me out of the competition so quickly. I might surprise you."

Mary snorts. "Keep dreaming, newbie." She pats James once more before heading off to get ready herself.

…

James grips the wheel of his car nervously, his knuckles turning white under the pressure. Once again he let his mouth get the better of him, and he's paying for it now. It's been seven years since he was behind the wheel for a race. He’s not even been involved in a car chase despite being a cop for a few years now. His nerves are unwarranted. Frank is right; street racing is similar to riding a bike, however, with James' luck, he'll forget everything he knows and look like an utter fool... and lose his chance at a date with Regulus. 

Evan breaks James' focus as he revs his engine, trying to goad James into a pre-race showdown. He flips James off once they lock eyes. Barty sticks his tongue out at James before he leans in through Evan's driver's side window and threatens, "Win this fucking race or we're through for the month."

Evan cracks a cocky smirk. "I will."

Barty kisses Evan filthily before retreating into the rowdy crowd. 

Sirius' spiffy car is next to James' at the starting line. He lays into his horn until James looks over, and enthusiastically waves both hands at him, resembling the playful gesture of a toddler. He had been too busy going through his pre-race checklist to look for his new friend, which is unfortunate because he had been looking forward to talking to his new friend again. Oh, well, there's always time after the race.

James waves back, feeling slightly guilty over the wager he made with Regulus. Going off Sirius' warm greeting, he has likely not been informed of the bet.  Is Sirius an overprotective older brother or is he a chill, “I'm not your parent” type of brother? Either way, James hopes Sirius stays unaware until this race is over. He does not need another obstacle against him. 

A barely dressed woman walks into the middle of the street, carrying a white flag. She waits for a signal from a woman with wild, frizzy curls before she raises her arms and brings them down in a sweeping motion. James floors it. The woman's black and white hair whipping around her face is the last thing he sees before he grips the wheel tighter and prepares to fight for his life. 

Adrenaline pumps through his veins as he accelerates, his focus locked on the road and racers ahead. Sirius, as expected, takes the lead effortlessly. If James wasn't his competition, he would be breathless with awe at Sirius' skills that are evident in every move he makes. 

He finds himself engaged in a fierce battle with Evan and Dorcas, all three fighting for second place. It's a test of skill and determination that James wins. Despite the chaos of the race, he's in his element, his instincts guiding him flawlessly past the other two. His muscle memory takes over, somehow bringing him neck-in-neck with Sirius in a display of skill that he won't remember later. 

As Sirius speeds down the road, his focus abruptly shifts from the finish line he's so close to passing to the heart-stopping sight of a child darting into the road. Desperation takes hold as Sirius swerves, forgetting about the racers behind him, narrowly avoiding the child, whose parents snatch him out of harm's way at the last second. Grappling with the sudden loss of control, Sirius collides with a nearby building. 

Meanwhile, James streaks past the crash, blissfully unaware. 

Sirius is plunged into a disorienting realm of fragmented sensations - where colors blend in a kaleidoscope, shouts echo disjointedly, and pain pulses through his every fiber. He can't tell if he's alive or dead.

Then, as his consciousness flickers back into awareness, Sirius awakens to a familiar presence cradling him in her lap and gently combing her fingers through his disheveled hair. A makeshift bandage stems the crimson flow of blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. Sirius slowly blinks his eyes open, struggling to bring the world into focus. 

"Oh, thank God. He's awake! You're awake," Marlene alerts the large crowd around them from her position sitting in the middle of the street, not far from Sirius’ ruined car. She leans over Sirius' flushed face, her blond curls tickling his’ neck as she presses her shirt harder against his head, doing her best to stop the bleeding.

"How do you feel?"

"Alive. What happened?"

"You crashed into a wall, stupid."

"No," Sirius mumbles. "Who won the race?"

"James did."

"It should have been me," Sirius pouts.

"Someone should stab whoever brings a toddler to a street race," Regulus grumbles. "There's no way James would have won without Sirius crashing."

The crowd parts, James bodily pushing people out of his way. "I swear I didn't notice! I wouldn't have kept racing if I had known. Dorcas, Evan, and Mary stopped immediately to get you out of the car."

Sirius' car! Pandora is going to be pissed if he totaled another one. She might make good on her favorite threat and actually castrate him this time. "How is it?”

"Your car?"

Sirius nods.

"The crash wasn't bad; you hit your head pretty hard because your seatbelt wasn't on - what's up with that, by the way? Who doesn't wear their seatbelt when driving? - so your car should be fine after a few fix-ups."

"Not a problem. I'll fix it."

"You can fix it?" James asks incredulously.

"I own a fucking garage. Do you think I just sit outside all day acting pretty? Of course, I can fucking fix my damn car."

Right, Sirius owns the garage. James assumed Sirius hired Pandora so he wouldn't have to do any work. In James' defense, he's not paying much attention, too busy thinking of places he can take Regulus on their date. No matter how, James still technically won the race. He won their bet.

Regulus Black now owes James Potter a date.

Chapter Text

Sirius leans back against the plush leather seat of James' seat, a deep sigh escaping his lips, momentarily easing the throbbing ache in his head that was caused by the chaos of the police arriving.

James shoots a concerned glance in Sirius' direction, sensing his discomfort. "How are you holding up?" he asks softly, doing his best not to disturb Sirius further.

Sirius winces as James careens around a sharp turn, the sudden force slinging him into the door, his head bouncing lightly against the headrest. Through clenched teeth, he mutters, "Just focus on driving."

Ever a nice person, James wants to stop and take a closer look at Sirius, but they can't waste time, not when they're in immediate danger of being caught by the police. While James' life won't be impacted should they get caught, the stakes are high for Sirius, who faces imprisonment as a prime suspect in a drug smuggling investigation.

The success of James' mission hinges on evading police detection tonight, as any slip-up could result in Sirius' capture. James and Frank can kiss their case goodbye if that happens because James will lose all trust he's garnered with the other racers for being the only one around when their Race King was arrested.

However, with Sirius at his side, James can't call Frank and tell him to keep his men off their tails. James' involvement with this case isn't public knowledge for obvious reasons. His co-workers aren't aware they need to keep his actual occupation a secret. If another officer recognizes James, it could jeopardize everything.

They'll have to rely on James' getaway driving skills. He slows down a little, giving Sirius a reprieve from his motion sickness. Sirius gives him a thankful smile as he leans against the cold window.

Sirius mumbles directions to his house, and angry comments about his supposed friends bailing and leaving him stranded, his voice a blend of frustration and hurt. James' jaw clenches as Sirius continues babbling about his fake friends. He barely knows Sirius and is irritated on his behalf.

As soon as Lily raised the alarm about incoming police, everyone split. No one spared a thought for Sirius, a victim of a recent car crash, as they frantically fled the scene. Even Marlene left her bloodied shirt pressed against Sirius' head wound and ran with Dorcas. James was the only one who stayed to help a disoriented Sirius to safety. He half-carried Sirius to his car and buckled him in before speeding away from the police who were closing in on them.

What kind of friends abandon you in a time of need? James would rather take a bullet to the head than do that to any of his friends.

A group of motorcycles suddenly emerges from the shadows and quickly flanks James' car. James' heart pounds, his hands trembling with fear as he desperately reaches his right arm out and smacks at Sirius' shoulder. "Who the fuck are they? That's not cops!"

Sirius' face drains of color, his voice barely above a whisper as he mutters, "Oh, shit."

They are royally screwed. James is sure not many people scare Sirius Black, so whoever manages to do it is not someone James is interested in meeting. Breaking away from the group, one of the bikers speeds up and pulls level with James' window, signaling for him to follow as they approach a dimly lit street ahead.

James goes against his every instinct and leaves the decision in Sirius' hands. If it were solely up to James, he would hit the gas and disappear into the night without a second thought. However, Sirius is more versed in criminal politics and seems to recognize these people. It might be better to obey them than fight. "What do we do?"

"Follow them," Sirius replies with grim determination. "We have no choice."

Drawing in a ragged breath, James steels himself for what lies ahead as he navigates the car onto the aforementioned street, where the motorcycles loom ominously in the shadows, their presence casting an eerie glow on the otherwise dark street. One of the riders, obviously the leader, halts midway down the street silently ordering the others with a hand gesture to swarm behind James' car, effectively hemming them in with a display of force.

James profoundly regrets letting Frank talk him into this stupid mission. Frank is a great guy and mentor, but if James lives through this, he will never take another case from him again.

He is alone with a criminal as his only ally, surrounded by God knows who, on a random street. His hand shakes as he locks the doors, knowing deep down it won't be much defense against the men. Yet the action brings a faint sense of security.

Before James left for this mission, Kingsley put a tracker on his car and in his right earring, ensuring that James would be safe if something went awry, however, James' first check-in is still pending, leaving Frank and the rest of the team in the dark about his progress. No one but Sirius, and now these strangers, know where he is and who he is with.

Distracted thinking about seeing Regulus again, James forgot to inform Frank that he was attending the race. Since his mission doesn't officially start until tomorrow, no one is on standby to routinely check his trackers. By the time morning comes and his location is traced, James could be dead.

"Sirius," he says, words barely audible, "who are these people?"

So far, the newcomers haven't moved save for the leader shifting in his seat to stare directly through James' windshield. He hasn't removed his helmet yet, but James feels the weight of his intense scrutiny. He is a variable in a situation that has been going on far longer than he's been involved. Of course, this man would want to keep an eye on him. Tension rises in the air, every passing seconds feeling like an eternity.

Sirius sinks lower in his seat with a defeated sigh, shoulders slumping. "It's my cousin's husband and the group of morons who worship the ground he shits on," he mutters bitterly, disdain dripping from his words.

The mere mention of Lucius Malfoy makes James wish to jump off a bridge. After his briefing with Frank, he delved into researching Lucius, and although he didn't find much, what he did learn strikes a deep-rooted fear of him in James' core.

Lucius held the title of Race King with an iron grip for six years, crossing paths with his future queen at one of the races. Known for his ruthless nature, Lucius stayed at the top, with whispers circulating about racers mysteriously disappearing after almost beating him in races. He was vicious and not above getting rid of people he declared a problem.

Depending on how this confrontation goes, James could be just that. He's wary about being on Lucius' radar. He'd prefer to stay far away from it - maybe on the other side of the world, away from Lucius and his hate list.

It wasn't difficult for Sirius to burst onto the scene out of nowhere and successfully strip Lucius of power, for Lucius commanded a limited circle of devoted followers who stuck by him out of loyalty, while the majority were coerced into submission through fear. All Sirius needed to do was win a few races, bat his long eyelashes, and charm the pants off people with his bright eyes and kind smile. In no time, Lucius was deserted as his once "loyal" followers gravitated towards Sirius, tired of Lucius' tyranny. Having lost his support, Lucius fled and hasn't been involved in street racing since

James pretends he's unaware of who Sirius is talking about. "Who?"

"I forgot you're new here. Lucius Malfoy was the Race King before me. He is my cousin Narcissa's husband, who he only married because of my family's money."

"Why have they cornered us on an empty street?" James tries to keep his voice level but fails.

"That would be mine and Reggie's fault. Regulus is-"

"Your brother," James cuts him off. "I'm aware."

Sirius stares at him in mild surprise, his eyebrows slightly raised before he dismisses the topic as unimportant for the time being. "Anyway, Lucius only married Narcissa for her family's wealth, ignoring everyone else in the family. Not long after, her parents died, leaving her broke. She and Lucius dove into street racing to make money. Mine and Reggie's parents died a few years later and we inherited everything... well he inherited everything, and I was disowned. We didn't need to work, so we focused on crossing off items on our bucket lists. I became a street racer and Regulus opened the cafe.

"Once he recognized me, Lucius tried to finally bridge a friendship until I rebuffed his sleazy attempt at getting our money. He then vowed to destroy us and anything we love, hence why he is acting like a toddler having a tantrum."

James forcefully drops his head onto the steering wheel, setting off the horn, the beep shattering the tense silence. A surge of frustration and confusion engulfs him as he wonders what kind of messed up family drama he unknowingly got tangled in. With a deep breath, he slowly lifts his head, his gaze meeting Lucius'. "Let's get this shit over with," he mutters, his hand gripping the door handle.

Sirius frantically locks the doors back, his eyes wide with fear. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Getting out so we can face this bitch," James says as if he makes perfect sense.

"You don't understand. Lucius is dangerous."

"I've faced worse than Lucius. Look at him, waiting, trying to intimidate us. We need to show him it's not working." James unlocks his door and is out of the car before Sirius can stop him again.

Unwilling to let Lucius think him a coward, Sirius swiftly joins James. They stand shoulder-to-shoulder, arms casually crossed, exuding a false sense of nonchalance that fools no one.

After dismounting his bike with more flare than is needed, Lucius removes his helmet, and stalks toward them, his heels clacking on the pavement. "Such a pity what happened to your car," he drawls.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. I'll fix it soon." Sirius says through clenched teeth.

"I've already had my men take care of that for you," Lucius flicks a hand at his men behind the two.

Sirius' body tenses at the thought of Lucius destroying his precious car. Pandora spent weeks crafting the perfect racing car, and Sirius will be damned before he lets Lucius get away with ruining her hard work. "How about you tell us what your pathetic, groveling ass wants so we can refuse and leave?"

"Why so eager to go? Don't you want to hang out with your dear cousin?"

"I'd rather scoop out my own eyes with a spoon made of salt," Sirius hisses.

James forcefully pushes the mental image Sirius' words cause down before he can vomit. He's seen some gruesome sights while on a job, but that one is new. "Hey," he interjects, "just tell us what you want. We don't have all night."

Lucius sighs, the heaviness of his breath mirroring the weight of their standoff. "If you insist; Narcissa and I are in a pickle with some friends we borrowed money from."

"I'm not giving you money," Sirius says firmly. "You do not get to ignore my brother and me for years, treating us worse than the dirt beneath your ridiculously polished heels, then come crawling to us when you need money."

He pauses, appraising Lucius.

"Actually," he says thoughtfully. "I think I would enjoy the sight of you on your hands and knees for once. Go on, beg. It might work." His glare doesn't waver as he waits for Lucius' response.

"This isn't a joke, Black," Lucius sneers. "Last chance. Give us the money, or I will make your life hell."

Unruffled by Lucius' threat, Sirius says, "You already make my life a living hell, so I'm disrespectfully declining your offer."

Lucius' lips turn down in displeasure. "So be it." He motions for his henchmen to act. They raise their guns in sync.

James' survival instincts kick in as he leaps to shield Sirius from the gunfire, the jarring impact sending them both crashing onto the asphalt. The aftermath of James' weight sprawled on top of Sirius, his elbow in Sirius' stomach, can't be good for Sirius' concussion, but it's better than being riddled with bullet holes. The same cannot be said for James' car, which is more hole than car once the shooting dies down.

Lucius flips them off before mounting his motorcycle and tucking his long hair into his helmet. "Remember," he yells over the rumble of his bike, "this could have been avoided if you weren't a stubborn dick." He makes a swift exit, followed by half of his men.

James and Sirius stand frozen, their eyes wide with horror, as the rest of Lucius' men callously pour gasoline over the smoldering remains of James' beloved car, the acrid stench of fuel permeating the air. One of the men tosses a lit match through one of the car's shattered windows.

"That's my fucking car!" James screams after the men as they retreat down the street, his voice echoing after them.

Sirius scrambles to his feet. "We need to get out of here, now! The car will blow any second."

Fear and adrenaline pump through their veins as they seek shelter behind the nearest building, the ground trembling beneath their feet as the defeating explosion rips through the night. Aww, fuck, this is so going to catch the attention of the police, which is not good. Mcgonagall assigned him that car. Having to request a new one and explain what happened to this one is not a pleasant thought.

Chapter Text

Luckily for them, Sirius' house is only about a fifteen-minute walk from where they're at. Sirius spends the time seething with quiet anger despite James' awkward attempts at small talk. "This is it," he declares out of the blue, stopping in front of a beautiful mansion with a large, ornate gate. 

James stands there with his mouth open in disbelief, a blank expression on his face. He's been so lost in thought during their walk that he completely missed the luxurious houses that line the street. When Sirius casually mentioned inheriting his parents' wealth, James never imagined it to this extent. He wouldn't be surprised to find out the Queen uses this place as a vacation home. 

With a house this size and their parents' money, Regulus and Sirius are set for life, never having to work again, Sirius said so himself, so why turn to illegal street racing for fun? Why risk their extravagant cushy lifestyle for a simple thrill Sirius could find somewhere else? 

James glances at Sirius out of his peripheral vision. The only reason that comes to mind is that the Blacks are using street racing as a cover for drug smuggling, a deceitful scheme that not only puts them at risk but everyone they drag into it with them. James’ gut tells him that the Blacks are not involved, however, he can’t write them off so quickly. Emotions are a hindrance on the job. He can’t let his feelings toward Regulus cloud his judgment. 

That being said, James is reasonably sure that Sirius and his crew are innocent, making his suspicions fall on one man; Lucius fucking Malfoy. 

Lucius stands out to James as a prime suspect due to his potential motive; he was humiliated and chased away from his only income after losing his wife's fortune, and turned away when he asked his family members for aid. It's likely that Lucius became desperate for money and took an extra step into the illegal side of things. Not to mention, he has the driving skills to be a successful drug smuggler. 

It is much more likely that Lucius is responsible than Sirius or Regulus. Not that they matter to James. He isn't absolutely enamored with Regulus or starting to like Sirius as a friend. The Black brothers mean nothing to him. They are not influencing James' opinions on this case, not at all. To even think so is ludicrous. 

Sirius punches in a four-digit code on the keypad, and with a mechanical whir, the gate swings open smoothly. James' eyes widen in amazement as they proceed down the long, winding driveway, flanked by clusters of vibrant blossoms, swaying in the gentle breeze. The path is lit by a line of star-shaped solar-powered lights. James resists the urge to stuff one of the lights in his coat and run off with it. 

Reaching the porch, Sirius pauses momentarily, his head resting on the doorknob. "I want to thank you," he mutters.

"No need," James smiles. "I did what anyone would do."

"Except they didn't," Sirius points out, pushing open the door, gesturing for James to follow him as he steps into the foyer. The interior is different from what James expects. The decorations are similar to what James assumes rich people have, but contrary to the raucous party scene he envisioned, the living room is filled with a serene ambiance. 

A record player softly serenades the room with jazz melodies, blending with the laughter spilling from the kitchen. Four people sit on the floor, playing a card game. Among them, James recognizes Lily, Marlene, and the elusive Pandora Lovegood. 

Pandora sports her usual green headphones with a soft smile, standing out among Sirius' criminal friends. James wonders again how Pandora ended up with such a hardened group of criminals when she exudes an aura of purity and kindness. James will feel terrible for taking advantage of Pandora, but if he ever needs to poke around for information on anybody, she would be his best option to approach. 

Sirius leaves James at the entrance to the living room and crosses the room, the plush carpet stealing the sound of his footsteps as he makes his way to the record player, which sits on a shelf in the corner. Everyone is so engrossed in their conversations and games that they are oblivious to the newcomers. Sirius switches off the record player, its sudden silence not catching the others' attention. Instead of clapping his hands or yelling for attention, because he is an overdramatic man, Sirius delivers a firm blow to the rickety shelf, the resulting thud rippling through the room, startling everyone, including James who watched him do it. 

Lily's piercing gaze shifts from her cards to Sirius' scowl and finally lands on James, who swallows nervously. She tosses her cards onto the ground, making Pandora flinch as they land in her lap. "Why the fuck did you bring that bitch here?" she snaps. 

In a fit of anger, Sirius yells, "Because that bitch kept me out of fucking handcuffs!" The laughter cuts off in the kitchen and a fleeting shadow creeps near the door just out of view. Sirius rejoins James at the door and continues his tirade, speaking quietly to spare Pandora from distress. "He didn't just flee the fucking scene knowing I have a concussion and my car is totaled! That bitch saved my fucking ass, unlike the rest of you. Except you, Pandora, you didn't do anything wrong, you weren't there." 

"Hey, Sirius, there's no need to be angry," Marlene says. "We were going to search for you once the heat died."

"You were going to search for me?" Sirius repeats mockingly, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Search where? The fucking jailhouse? You should all be ashamed of yourselves - sans Pandora. Not one of you thought about anyone but yourselves tonight. We are a family, bound by trust and loyalty, two qualities that only James expressed tonight. We fall apart by only caring for ourselves. I would have risked prison to make sure all of you escaped, but you abandoned me in my time of need." 

"I'm sorry, babe," Remus says as he exits the kitchen. Regulus follows after him, mirroring Remus' movements as they lean against the living room wall in almost identical poses. "I thought Marlene had you because she was tending to you after the crash. Once I realized she didn't it was too late to go back. If you didn't come home tonight I was going to scour the jails tomorrow." 

Sirius glare softens. "I'm not angry at you, Remus, never you. I know you did whatever was best for you. I would never want you to take unnecessary risks. I'm glad you're safe." 

Pandora and Regulus exchange a knowing look filled with contempt at Sirius' blatant favoritism and bias. Pandora covers her mouth to stifle her giggles as Regulus exaggeratedly rolls his eyes. Sirius may be their leader, but Remus calls all the shots. Sirius is so whipped. If Remus told Sirius to drive off a cliff going one hundred miles per hour, there is no doubt that Sirius would comply without hesitation. 

Unable to handle the tension any longer, James nudges Sirius' shoulder. "Hey, can I use your bathroom?" He doesn't need to pee but is in desperate need of a respite from the awkwardness. 

"Yeah. The guest bathroom is up the main stairs and two doors down on the right side."

James ignores the burning heat of Lily's stare on his back as he follows Sirius' directions.

"You have no business bringing that bitch here, Sirius," she states. "We don't know anything about him."

"She's not wrong," Marlene says. "What if he's a cop or something?"

"You two need to shut the hell up," Sirius orders. "You seem to forget there was a time when I didn't know you."

"That's bullshit. We met each other in high school. You're trusting some fool you just met on the street."

"Your opinion doesn't mean shit, Lily. I make the shots, and I say James is one of us now. I'd be dead or jailed without him."

"But-"

Sirius cuts her off with a wave of his hand, an uncharacteristic display of rudeness from him when he typically maintains composure and rationality even in fits of rage. While it takes a lot to make Sirius lose control like this, disloyalty is always a trigger due to the mistrust and treachery that ran rampant in his childhood. The betrayal of his close friends abandoning him is causing him to regress to the person he was before his parents died. Sirius doesn't like that person. He fought long and hard after being disowned to shed the terrible man Walburga and Orion had molded him into.

Keenly aware of the impending explosive outburst, Remus intervenes. "Sirius, let's go upstairs so I can check out your head." 

"I don't want to go upstairs."

"I need to check your head, Sirius." Remus gives Sirius a pointed look. After so many years together, they can read each other like magic. Sirius wants to escape this situation before he loses control of himself, but sees leaving without a decent excuse as fleeing. "You wrecked your car. There are all sorts of injuries you might have. Come upstairs with me."

Sirius nods. "Alright, fine."

Everyone knows he is running away, but they stay quiet, allowing him to retain his dignity. James walks down the stairs while Remus and Sirius walk up. "Where are you going?" he asks. 

"I'm checking on his head," Remus answers, having softened slightly toward James after he rescued Sirius. 

Lily, quick-witted as ever, is in James' face as soon as the other two are out of sight. "What's your real reason for being here? I know damn well you didn't save Sirius out of the goodness of your heart. No one is that selfless." 

James smirks as he meets Lily's glare unflinchingly. "Maybe I did it because his baby brother owes me a date, and I want to get on his good side." He did save Sirius out of the goodness of his heart, but she doesn’t need to know that. 

“I would advise you to take this situation more seriously."

"Why? Because you'll hurt me if I don't?" James scoffs. He's faced far worse in his line of work than this short spitfire of a woman.

Lily, fueled by anger at James' cheeky response, raises her hand threateningly. James flinches, but a pale hand riddled with rings closes around her wrist before she can hit him. Regulus forcefully turns Lily to face him, keeping a tight grip on her arm. She winces and tries to tug her arm free. "Regulus, stop, you're hurting me." 

Regulus' mouth wrinkles in disgust. "Would you shut up already, Lily? Sirius gave his order. You know better than to start a fight. I thought you were supposed to be smarter than that." Lily tugs harder at her arm, genuinely whimpering in pain now. Regulus lets go, smirking slightly at the light bruise that is already forming. Lily will think twice about laying hands on the property of the Black brothers from now on. "Get out of here," he orders. "Don't come near James again."

With no other choice, Lily obeys. Fuck you, Parker , she mouths to him behind Regulus' back as she leaves the house. The porch swing creaks, so James assumes she's sitting there to cool off.

"Thank you," James says.

Regulus brushes an unruly curl out of his eyes with a flick of his hand, annoyance crossing his face. "Don't thank me, Parker," he states coolly. "I didn't do it for you; it was merely to keep peace within my brother's team. He's right; we fall apart by thinking only of ourselves - or some sappy bullshit like that." 

Regulus strides back to the kitchen. James follows him, uninvited. 

Regulus groans when he notices James. "What are you doing?" 

"I'm compiling a list of the best places to take you on our date."

"We don't have a date."

"Oh, but we do. Our deal was that if I won tonight's race, you would go on a date with me. I won."

"Only because my idiotic brother crashed his car."

"Technically, I still won."

"Fine. You won. I said I'd go on one date with you if you did, but I never said when I would."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm picking the time for you. How does tomorrow sound?"

"Terrible."

"Perfect. Give me your phone." Regulus stays still. James takes matters into his own hands and plucks Regulus' phone from his back pocket, holding it in front of Regulus' face until the face ID works. "Here you go," he says as he types his number into Regulus' contacts. "I'll text you when I'm coming to pick you up." He sends a text to himself from Regulus' phone so he'll have his number.

Regulus snatches his phone away, pretending to delete James' contact but secretly saving it to favorites. "What the hell, Parker? I didn't agree to this."

James pretends he didn't hear Regulus. "Since I'm the one who brought your brother home, I'm going to check on him. I want to make sure his head is okay."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Why?"

"He went upstairs with his boyfriend. Why do you think?"

"Sirius crashed his car today, I'm sure they won't be fucking."

"You'd be surprised. Marlene once walked in on them fucking after someone shot Remus."

"That's gruesome. Where is Sirius' room?"

"Third floor. The last door in the hallway. If he isn't there, Remus' room is at the beginning of the hallway."

"Thank you."

"Whatever."

James deftly maneuvers around the huddled group engrossed in their card game on the living room floor and heads to the mansion's third floor. The hallway is shrouded in darkness, yet a faint glow seeps from beneath the door at the hallway's far end, providing just enough light for him to walk safely. 

He knocks on the door. Remus opens it a few seconds later. "What do you want?"

"I'm here to check on Sirius. I drove him home, so I'm worried about his condition."

"Come in." Remus beckons James into the room.

Sirius sits shirtless against the headboard of his bed, his hair tousled and face pinched in pain. Regulus' assumption about Sirius and Remus getting it on up here couldn't be further from the truth. That wouldn't happen after Sirius wrecked his car only an hour earlier. 

"James," Sirius says, happy to see the other.

"Hey, man." James sits on an armchair near the bed. "How is your head?"

"I've had worse. I'll be fine. How did it go downstairs? My people are always a bit touchy with new people."

"It was fine. I talked with your brother for a few minutes."

Sirius winces. "That isn't good. What insult did he give you? Did he threaten your mother or sister?"

James blinks, dumbfounded. "Neither. We made a bet at the race that if I won first place, he would go on a date with me. It wasn't by ideal circumstances, but I still won the race. I told him I'd pick him up for our date tomorrow.”

"Holy shit. He agreed to your bet, and didn't even try to stab you?"

"Why does everyone keep mentioning Regulus stabbing me?" James wonders aloud. "I'm starting to think he doesn't like me."

Sirius shakes his head. "My brother likes you; trust me on that. Usually, he doesn't like anyone."

"Oh yeah? How can you tell?"

"You're still alive. Reggie has killed suitors over far less than a date.

The revelation doesn’t scare James. Regulus stopped Lily from hitting him and hasn’t threatened him so far. That’s enough encouragement for James. He won’t give up until Regulus is irrevocably in love with him.