Chapter Text
It’s a good night, tonight. There are enough people that they don’t have to stand around waiting for more customers, but it isn’t so crowded that either Lily or James has to constantly leave their station behind the bar to intervene in an argument of any sort. She likes these nights best, when she can do her job and occasionally have a lighthearted contest with James to see who is the better bartender (it’s usually a dead tie).
“Oi, Evans! Twelve o’clock!”
Lily glances first at James—who is currently multitasking between mixing a drink and staring intently ahead—then follows his gaze to the door of the bar where two people, new to the bar, are entering: a dark-skinned woman with blonde braids down to her waist where her low-rise jeans and crop top reveal a navel piercing, and a curly-haired man dressed in all black with enough silver on to suggest that he’s either filthy rich (if it’s all real) or has recently robbed a jewellery shop. Their arms are linked, but this does nothing to confirm whether or not they are involved romantically. Even so, Lily does love a challenge.
She looks back at James who is already watching her, a grin spreading across his face that she can read like big, bold text.
“You take him, I’ll take her?” she poses with a matching smirk, though it isn’t really a question by now.
He winks. “You read my mind.”
While James pours and serves his drink, then moves to add it to the tab of the customer, Lily braces her hands against the top of the bar to lean slightly against it and nod towards the pair as they grow closer to her. It’s because she’s observing that she notices the woman’s eyes widen ever so slightly as she makes eye contact with Lily before she leans in to whisper something to her (hopefully) friend. The corner of his mouth rises in somewhat of a smirk and then he’s looking right at her like he knows something she doesn’t. There’s something about these two… it doesn’t feel quite the same as it normally does. See, Lily and James are known by their friends as ‘the twin disasters’ because of how easily they fall for people; and the two of them have an unspoken pact to, essentially, be each other’s wingman and wingwoman for life. No matter the person.
But this? First of all, they hardly ever go for two people that know each other, but as rare as this is, it’s more than that. She can’t explain it, primarily because she doesn’t quite understand it herself, but there’s something… almost special about these two. And she’ll be damned if she doesn’t figure out what it is.
”What can I get for you?” she asks as casually as she can muster when they finally reach the bar, wiping it just for the sake of having something to do with her hands.
The pair share a brief look before the woman—Lily really needs to find out her name—turns to her. “What would you recommend for someone who wants to have a bit of fun and keep her memories of tonight by tomorrow?”
It isn’t completely intentional, if she’s honest. Frankly, Lily—and James, now that she thinks about it—has a problem around pretty people. They mess with her wiring. She just… stops functioning as she should. And one of her coping mechanisms for this is, well, flirting. So, instead of recommending a drink like any normal person would, she leans a little closer and says, like it’s some kind of dark secret, “Well, my phone number’s probably a good place to start.”
That manages to silence all three of them, and the woman’s friend—shut up, Lily is manifesting—is smirking wider now like he’s enjoying this, almost as though it’s amusing him. Well, either they’re just friends, or she’s straight and that’s her boyfriend, which would be truly unfortunate for both Lily and James.
And then, the woman has the audacity to do something that completely knocks Lily off her game. She laughs. It’s light, and unfortunately short-lived, more of a chuckle than anything, but it’s there and it steals the very breath from Lily’s lungs for the few seconds that it lasts. Oh, this is bad. Two sentences in and she’s already losing her footing on the slippery slope that is falling for people.
In other words, she’s screwed.
”Have you ever been told you’re not very subtle?” she inquires smilingly, which makes Lily’s current task of not staring at her mouth particularly difficult.
“Constantly,” she confirms, and then, because she’s nothing if not persistent, “Now, where did we land on me giving you my number?” This makes her smile again, so of course she continues. “Or the other way around, I’m not fussed, really.”
The woman rests her forearms on the top of the bar so that they’re a few inches apart now, and it’s insane how the rest of the room melts away in her proximity. It’s magic, no other way to describe it. She’s magic. Ethereal.
”How’s about we start with two tequila sunrises, and depending on your service, I’ll offer a… deserved tip?” she offers, leaving Lily practically entranced. She’s shamelessly hanging off of her every word, and judging by the expression on her friend’s face, she isn’t hiding it at all—not that she was trying to.
”Sure,” she almost chokes out with the way she suddenly feels breathless. “W— would you like to start a tab, or…?”
A hue of triumph engulfing her features now, the woman holds out a card between two fingers in the same manner one would hold a cigarette. Lily takes it with slightly shaky fingers and is about to ask for a name when she adds, “Make it out to Pandora.”
Pandora. Oh. That— that’s really—
Pandora. Pandora. Pandora.
It is without a doubt that Lily will be obsessing over this information for a long time coming.
The pair of them walk off to take a couple of seats, Lily presumes, and she spins around on the spot to face James who has already unbuttoned his top two buttons, the whore. She means that affectionately. She thinks.
”Well?” he prompts with a small smile that suggests she still hasn’t quite gathered her wits about her.
”Pandora,” she replies, even though she is very aware that he was asking about their drink orders. “Don’t know his name, but they want two tequila sunrises.”
With a nod, he begins making the requested drinks, seeing as Lily is still rather wobbly in the knees to even move at the moment, and he dutifully does not make fun of her. Not that he could, because it’s his turn when it comes to serving, and then how the tables will turn anyway.
After their realisation that they were better as friends, they made a pact when they began to realise that flirting with customers was rather fun, and also inescapable with the way their mouths tend to disconnect from their brains so often, that should they ever go for the same person—this is yet to happen—or two people from the same group—this happens a lot—one of them gets to take the orders and make the drinks, and the other serves. That way, they both get an equal chance. It started with a coin toss, and they’ve been switching ever since. Today just so happened to be Lily’s turn with the orders.
And she really, really hopes that Pandora returns for more drinks. Or perhaps she’ll go to her. After all, her service absolutely has to be incredible tonight.
~•~
James is admittedly rather nervous. He much prefers taking orders because there’s less time between the arrival of the people and their ordering to overthink anything. But when it’s his turn to serve? He has all the time in the world to think about every possible little detail that could go wrong, which is what he is still doing as he makes his way over with the two drinks on a small tray.
That being said, he is also very good at hiding his nerves. All it takes is a little fake-it-‘til-you-make-it to distract both himself and the person he’s talking to. Observe:
He flashes a grin at mystery-man, as he’s dubbed him in his head, as he lowers the tray onto the table between the two friends, according to Lily’s opinion. Then, he takes a drink in each hand and places them on either ends of the table before standing upright once more and reflexively glancing at mystery-man one last time. What he isn’t expecting, is for him to already be looking. What he isn’t expecting, is to meet blue-grey eyes and find himself unable to look away. What he isn’t expecting, is for mystery-man to incline his head towards where James’ hands rest beside him and point out, “Your hands are shaking a little, there.”
And for the first time in, well, forever, James freezes. Because not once has anyone seen past the façade. They are always distracted by his face, his lack of done-up buttons, his arms where he’s rolled up his sleeves, but never, never has anyone called him out so bluntly. And never has anyone looked so smug while doing it.
Then again, smugness has never looked so good on anyone, so perhaps he’ll bypass it.
”Ah, well, I have a condition, you see,” he begins, not realising how that sounds until mystery-man’s expression falters, so he quickly continues, “Its main symptom is that I get quite nervous around pretty people.”
Across the table, Pandora stifles a snort and mystery-man throws her a glare before looking back up at James. “Subtle, aren’t you?”
He shrugs lightly. “I don’t much see the point in making you figure out what I’m trying to say; I prefer to be obvious. More fun that way, no?”
He winks, and then revels in the way that a slight tinge of pink shines through on mystery-man’s cheeks, despite how stony his face remains. So he is getting somewhere, then.
”How so?” he demands, bristling as though he has noticed James’ internal glee and is aware of the reasoning behind it.
James purses his lips for a moment before taking a step towards his chair. Then another. “Well, it’s like this, yeah? I could drop some very subtle hints all night, but what good is that if you don’t actually notice while you’re still here?”
”Are you calling me stupid?” he interrupts seemingly irritated as he crossed his arms.
He fights not to sigh. Oh no. Pretty, apparently smart, and mean? James is doomed. This is verbatim his type. Well, shit.
”Of course not,” he answers, placing one hand on the top of the armchair by mystery-man’s head and the other on the armrest closest to himself so he can lean a little closer. Mystery-man appears glued to the other armrest like he has a phobia of proximity, but James sees past that. He notices the constant swallowing, as subtle as he may be, he notices the rapid flutter of his pulse on the side of his neck, and he notices the whitening of his skin on his hand where he’s gripping the other armrest too tightly. He has a chance here, and he would never dare waste it. “I’m just saying that I don’t know you well enough to make an accurate estimate of your intelligence, and therefore can’t be sure whether you’ll catch onto my hints by the time you leave. And something tells me that I won’t be too happy if I let you leave here before I…” he trails off for a moment, cocking his head as he looks him up and down slowly with a small smirk that mystery-man can’t seem to tear his gaze away from. “Well, we’ll see about that.”
And with that, James straightens up again and glances between the two like nothing out of the ordinary has happened. “Can I get you two anything else?”
With a grin, Pandora shakes her head, eyes full of mirth, and seeing as mystery-man doesn’t seem very coherent at the minute, he makes his way back to the bar. Belatedly, James notes that he still doesn’t know mystery-man’s name, but he doesn’t think that that’ll be a problem by the end of the night. There’s something different about this one, special. And he’ll be damned if he doesn’t figure out what it is.
It appears that Lily had been watching the entire time, as she mouths whore at him the second he looks at her. He grins and winks before joining her behind the bar and helping her prepare orders. So his methods aren’t her thing, they work without making anybody uncomfortable and that is all that matters.
~•~
”You were absolutely blushing,” she insists for what feels like the millionth time so far.
”I was not.”
”You were.”
”Was not.”
”Were.”
”Not.”
”Were!”
”Not!”
Huffing, Pandora tosses her arms up in the air exasperatedly. She is all too aware of how stubborn the two of them can be and that this petty argument could continue for a literal eternity if she lets it, and it is for that sole reason that she drops it. But honestly, they came here to have some fun, and even though Pandora has insisted countless times that she is sure the bartender could provide that for her best friend, he sticks to childishly refusing each and every time. Twat.
It’s just that she knows him, through and through. They’ve been best friends for forever. And she understood the second the bartender walked over that Regulus was a goner. At this point, all he’s doing is being frustrating.
”Seeing as you’re so persistent,” he begins, leaning forwards on his elbows. “How about we talk about you and her?”
She doesn’t need to ask who he means. “What about me and her?” she inquires lightly, as though it means nothing when in reality, the word her has her heartbeat speeding up steadily.
Regulus rolls his eyes. “Dora, she’s been eyeing this table like a hawk so she can be the first to come and refill your drink.”
”How would you know that?”
”Because I have eyes?”
There it is again. Deflecting. Frankly, she is very aware that he is only redirecting her to this topic of conversation so that they won’t talk about him and his issues anymore, but she isn’t an idiot. Especially when it comes to Regulus. He’s only doing this because he thinks he doesn’t deserve it which is just utterly ridiculous, as she has explained to him thousands of times, yet the information never seems to absorb. In one ear, out the other? More like an attempt to go in one ear which is then rebounded by the fucking eardrum.
“Okay, so?” she quips back. “It’s not like I control her every move.”
”Yes, but you’ve also been looking at her a lot,” he points out; honestly, lying to Regulus has never worked. She may as well have her deepest, darkest secrets tattooed in bold across her forehead.
”It’s a free country, Reg.”
He hums. “I’m aware, I’m just saying that you shouldn’t criticise me for things that you’re also doing.”
”At least I can admit that she’s attractive.”
”I didn’t say he wasn’t.”
“But you’re pretending you haven’t noticed. Why is that?”
He opens his mouth only to snap it shut directly afterwards. Looking away, he remains silent, and Pandora recognises the wave of the white flag when she sees it. Fine, she’ll let him be for a bit. But if she happens to slip the bartender his number or something later, she won’t be held accountable.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Lily appears to take their empty glasses. “So, can I get you guys a second drink?”
Pandora eyes Regulus for a moment who seems to be in one of his not-so-obvious strops, and decides that if he’s going to be so irritating, then he may as well be drunk. She adores drunk Regulus, as rarely as he visits. He actually isn’t afraid to let a little loose—they’ve even danced together while drunk before, Pandora has seen video footage. Perhaps that Regulus will admit that he’s attracted to the flirty bartender.
”We’d like a couple of your strongest shots, please,” she declares, not paying him any mind when she notices Regulus’ head snap up to stare at her incredulously. Two can play this game.
Lily’s eyebrows climb up her forehead, but whatever she’s thinking, she doesn’t comment aloud. “Er, sure, did you have a price range in mind?”
”Nope,” Pandora replies, popping the ‘p’ as she leans back care-freely in her chair. “Just something to help us get drunk, and soon.”
This again seems to surprise Lily, but she dutifully remains silent, nods, and walks away to get their drinks. Pandora feels oddly triumphant despite their lack of bickering, and then Regulus is finally—and unfortunately—opening his mouth.
”We’re getting drunk?” he says precariously yet somehow making her feel as though she’s being scolded. He has that talent.
”Yes, we are,” she tells him happily. “Sober you is not matching my energy right now and I need my wingman.”
Regulus appears to finally realise that she won’t give in with this, so he sinks back into his seat resignedly, sighing, “So long as I don’t have to dance again.”
If it were up to Pandora, that part would be compulsory.
~•~
An hour or two and quite a few rounds of shots later, Regulus is in that state of mind where he is beginning to justify every impulsive thought he has with the words what could possibly go wrong? He has never been much of a lightweight, and even when intoxicated he’s pretty damn good at hiding it, hardly stumbling or slurring his words; but if there’s one way to measure the alcohol in his system, it’s to ask him to do something stupid. For example:
He drags himself away from Pandora who is yet again trying to convince him to dance with her, but this time instead of returning to his seat in the calmer area of the bar, he plops down onto a stool in front of the bartenders’ work station. To his subconscious dismay, it is the ginger one who Pandora seems to like in front of him and not the other one. It does strike him then that he still doesn’t know either of their names, but is that a requirement before you or your friend do something you might possibly regret later? Either way, perhaps he should be grateful because in his current state, making out with someone he barely knows is sounding better and better.
”Look who it is,” she greets as she shakes a container up and down in a manner that makes Regulus feel a little queasy just watching. Then again, that might only be the alcohol.
”I don’t really know you, so I can’t be sure whether this is necessary right now,” he begins, pointing a finger at her like a parent telling off their child for being naughty. For some reason, this appears to amuse the woman. “But if you do anything to hurt my friend, I will make sure the police never find your body. Got it?”
”Are you threatening me?” she asks with a small smile that suggests he hasn’t done a very good job of it.
”Well if you have to ask, I clearly haven’t done it right,” he grumbles, slouching due to the lack of back support. What would his parents say now? Oh. Bad idea. This is not the time nor the place to think about them.
“Okay, er, what was your name again?”
”Regulus. Why?”
“Oh, you’re a posh one, aren’t you? Right, well, Regulus, I have no interest in hurting anyone, including your friend, Pandora. Frankly, she’s absolutely gorgeous, and I don’t think I would know how even if I did want to, alright?”
Regulus, being as inebriated as he is, ponders this for a moment while the woman pours a drink. “You think she’s gorgeous?” Because of course that’s what he chooses to focus on.
”Don’t you?” she returns, like he’s blind if he disagrees. “I mean, I don’t know what your… preferences are, but you have working eyes, yes?”
”I do like women,” he confirms, then pauses to think, like he doesn’t already know the next part. For some reason, the bartender from before pops up in his mind, with his hair, and his glasses, and— “I like men too. And obviously, I know she’s gorgeous, she’s my best friend. But I want to know—“ he cuts himself off, maybe because he isn’t one hundred percent sure what it is that he wants to know. “Do you like her?”
This, for some reason, produces a brief huff of laughter from the woman. “Oh, you’re blunt, aren’t you? No wonder James—“ she stops herself there, like she had gotten too close to revealing something she shouldn’t have. “Anyway, to be completely honest with you, I think it’s too early to answer your question. I mean, is she jaw-droppingly beautiful? Yes, absolutely. But I’ve only had one conversation with her, and it consisted of me taking her drink order and payment. Not exactly a brilliant first date.”
“But you would go on a date with her, if she asked?” he persists because, well, it feels like his duty as a best friend. He would expect the same from Pandora. “Or if she agreed when asked?”
The woman shrugs. “I have no reason not to.”
Squinting, Regulus attempts to figure out whether this is all a setup or a joke of some sort. So he’s a sceptical person, he’s only doing it to ensure that his best friend doesn’t get hurt. Besides, if Pandora gets hurt, he will personally make sure that this woman pays for her mistakes; he doesn’t threaten people lightly.
”What do you think of picnics?” he inquires curiously. She doesn’t need to know his true intentions just yet.
”Okay, and the next question is…” Regulus trails off as he scrolls down the screen on what is not the first and likely won’t be the last of many buzzfeed quizzes. “What is your ideal date like? Going to the cinema, a study date, a restaurant dinner, a picnic, watching the stars, or staying indoors and watching Netflix?”
Pandora purses her lips in thought. “Picnic,” she answers after some time. “Sounds quite nice, could be a little intimate.”
He wrinkles his nose automatically, even though he is aware that that is not what she meant at all. He clicks the corresponding answer and continues. “Right, next up is…”
”Picnics?” she echoes as though she doesn’t quite understand the concept. “Are we still talking about— you know what, never mind. Er, can’t say I remember going on one, which sounds a little sad now that I think about it, but I’m not opposed to them. Why?”
”So you’d be open to one, say, as a date?” he presses. He really is a lot more open with his dialogue when he’s had so much alcohol.
”You—“ she stares at him in silence for a moment before tucking her lips in to prevent a smile. “Are you asking me out for her?”
”Maybe I am, maybe I’m not,” he dodges. “What’s your answer?”
The woman does smile then, amused again which Regulus supposes isn’t the worst thing in the world. “If she agrees, then yeah, sure, why not?”
Regulus looks her up and down once in slight suspicion before mentally confirming that she doesn’t seem so bad. He nods before getting to his feet. He is just about to go find Pandora when something causes him to turn around one more time.
”What’s your name?”
She looks up like that’s the first thing that he’s said tonight which has managed to surprise her. “Lily.” Beat. “And my friend over there is James.” She points in a direction diagonally behind Regulus, and when he spins around on the spot, he finds that the other bartender from before is watching him from across the room, bottom lip caught between his teeth. Unlike most, he doesn’t look away when he’s caught; no, he insists on being frustrating and maintains eye contact when Regulus notices.
With a strange feeling in his stomach, he swallows and goes to find Pandora.