Work Text:
"It will be good for you Reg." Barty didn't even have to turn away from his dresser to see the doubt on Regulus's face, he simply knew it was there.
"Barty. I'm not so sure about this." Regulus pulled at the threads of his throw blanket. "Reg. You will forget about James AND you will live a little. It's a win win." Regulus sighed. "Yeah, ok, your right."
"Ok you really need to get something other than formal clothes. We will make it work though." Regulus rolled his eyes as Barty layed Regulus's clothes across his bed.
"REGGIE DINNER!" Sirius's voice could be heard from downstairs.
"Ooh Euphemia's cooking." Barty opened Regulus's door.
"Yeah no your leaving." Barty laughed.
"Ok but you aren't chickening out. I will be back at 8."
"Yeah. Yeah. Now go."
They both walk downstairs with Barty rushing out the door. "By Mrs. Potter!"
"Oh. Bye Barty?" Euphemia wasn't sure when Barty got there but she didn't mind. James and Sirius on the other hand did mind.
"What the hell Reggie! Why didn't you tell me Barty was over?"
Regulus rolled his eyes at Sirius.
"Because. It's none of your business Sirius I can hang out with my friends."
"We aren't saying you can't! We just wish you wouldn't push us away. You've been doing it a lot lately. I mean come on, you used to always tell us if Barty was coming over. Granted it was to tell us to not be annoying, but still we miss that, we miss you."
Regulus looked down at his hands as he began to fidget with his rings. He knew he was pushing them away but what else was he supposed to do, tell them the truth? Yeah right. How would that go. 'Oh hey sirius I think I am in love with James and I kinda just wanna smash my face into his face tell I die from the lack of oxygen.' Sirius would kill him.
"I'm sorry." He spoke quietly kinda hoping they didn't hear him.
"Reg. You don't have to be sorry. We just want to be apart of your life. Maybe we are a little harsh about it, but we love you. I love you."
Regulus couldn't breath. James just said that he loved him. He knew he didn't mean it like that which was the part that crushed his heart into a million little peices.
"I-"
He stopped. Not daring to look James in the eyes.
"I love you too. Um I mean I love you guys too."
Fuck.
"Boys. The food is getting cold. Can we maybe wrap this up?" Fleamont gave Regulus a knowing look which scared the hell out of him.
Dinner was silent and sort of awkward.
Around 8, Barty was true to his word, walking into the house as silent as possible with the spare key Regulus gave him.
He slowly walked up the stairs to make sure the floor didn't creek.
"Reg?... you ready to go?" Barty whispered through the door wanting to make sure he didn't disrespect Regulus's privacy.
Regulus slowly opened the door.
"Yeah I'm ready." Regulus came out wearing dress pants and a button up shirt that was tucked in and had the top three buttons undone. As well as suspenders that were the same color as the pants.
Barty looked at Regulus.
"Wow Reg. You look great. I am suprised you left the top buttons open though."
"Yeah well it is a party. Now lets go."
They walk downstairs once again trying to be quiet. Barty whispered to himself about the address, neither of them noticing the third body in the room.
"And where are you going?" James spoke as he crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder against the door frame.
"MERLIN-! Potter!" Barty jumped out of his skin while Regulus barely flinched.
"We are going to a friends house."
James rolled his eyes. Regulus knew he wouldn't believe him.
"I'm not dumb Reg. I've been your age before, and your not going to that party." Regulus glared at James. "You are one year older than me. I am not a kid James!"
"Reg. That's not what I meant. I know your not a kid."
"Than why don't you fucking treat me like it!"
James looked at Regulus with shock.
"Reg-"
"No. I am going to that party if you like it or not." Regulus began to leave dragging Barty with him.
"Reg!" Regulus turned to look back at James.
"Just, stay safe, ok?"
"I'm not dumb James."
James let out a sigh as Regulus left.
"You love him, don't you?"
James jumped and looked over.
"What no! No! Why would you think that?"
Fleamont stepped closer resting his hand on Jame's shoulder.
"Son, you look at him the same way I look at your mother. Like your world would fall apart if he ever left. Like there are a million stars but he is the only one that matters. I know it is hard
James but you can't let your star fade."
James looked over at where Regulus had just been standing.
"What about Sirius?"
Fleamont smiled. "He will understand. Maybe not in the beginning but eventually he will."
James smiled a sad smile.
"Thank you dad. What are the chances of Reg liking me back?"
"I would say they are high. Maybe a little lower after you called him a kid."
"I didn-"
"I am messing with you James. Now get some sleep."
James let out a sigh "I will."
He lied. He did not sleep. Regulus was at a party where anything could happen and James wouldn't be able to stop it from happening.
Regulus and Barty walked in to the party that some random slytherin was throwing. There was people everywhere and a ton of booze. Regulus was beginning to think James was right, which would be a first.
Barty left to get drinks but had yet to return so Regulus was left alone on the only couch that didn't have a couple making out on it.
"Hey. You must be Barty's friend, Regulus right? I'm Alvin."
Regulus looked up to see a handsome man that he has never met, suprised to see that the man looked similar to James. The dark skin and the hazel eyes. He was missing the muscle though.
"Um. Yeah. Hey."
The man chuckled.
"Barty was right. You are cute." Alvin smirked.
Regulus knew Barty set this up and he knew it was wrong, but it was the closest thing to James that he was gonna get.
"And I am right when I say that your handsome." Oh god that was cheesy. What the fuck is wrong with him.
Alvin slowly leaned forward.
"Oh yeah? Handsome enough to kiss and see where the night takes us?"
Regulus smirked. "Get me a drink and we will see." Alvin did just that. Regulus drank every drink that Alvin gave him he was getting more and more intoxicated by the minute.
Alvin handed him a shot of... well he didn't really know but he knew it was strong. He tossed back the shot. Before he could even process the burn of the liqour Alvins lips were on his.
He kissed back and imagined it was James.
He slowly pulled at Alvins hair.
"Mmm James." Regulus slurred through the kiss.
Alvin pulled back quickly.
"Oh my merlin. I am so sorry!"
Alvin looked at Regulus with a sad smile. "It's ok Regulus. Barty said you were in love with someone and needed a distraction for the night. Seems James is the guy your in love with."
Regulus didn't know how it happened but here he was ranting to Alvin about James.
"He said he loved you."
"He didn't mean it like that."
Alvin sighed. "Regulus. He said he loved you and he cares about you. He doesn't seem to want to hurt you and maybe he is your brothers best friend but not even a sibling can get in the way of true love. Go for it Reg."
Regulus smiled. "You know what I will I am gonna go for it. Maybe when I can walk straight but I am gonna go for it."
Alvin laughed. "Go home Reg. I will talk to Barty."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"Oh and Alvin?"
"Yeah?"
"Come around any time you like. I would like to be your friend but nothing more if that is ok with you."
"Yeah thats ok Reg. I want to be your just friends no benefits but did kiss once as well."
Regulus laughed as he waved and walked out of the house grabbing a bottle of fire whiskey that he drank all of on the way home.
James was sitting on the couch when Regulus got home.
"Um hello?"
James looked up quickly.
"Reg."
"What are you doing?"
James sighed. "I was worried about you."
"Why? I'm fine." Regulus took a step and wobbled a bit.
"Reg. How much did you drink?" James stood up amd grabbed Regulus to stabilize him.
"I don't know. Alvin handed me like five or six drinks and about some shots I think. Oh and a bottle of fire whiskey. That is it though unless you can transfer liqour from one tongue to another then Alvin did that too."
James heart dropped to his stomach. "Reg. Who is Alvin? Did you want to kiss him? Merlin did he force you? Please tell me he didn't do anything else."
"I kissed him back but I wanted to well I didn't want to kiss Alvin, I wanted to kiss James as in James Potter, but he could never like me, I am too skinny and pale. Don't tell James I like him he would hate me."
James didn't know what to say but be knew that it didn't matter Regulus wasn't ok right now and that is what mattered.
"I won't tell James, but he would never hate you. He wouldn't know how to."
Regulus smiled. "You must not know James at all." He laughed before laying down on the couch with his head in James lap and quickly passing out.
"Trust me I know him. He could never hate you Reg. You aren't too skinny or pale. Your so pretty my star." James played with Regulus's hair before falling asleep as well.
In the morning Fleamont saw the state of Regulus and instantly grabbed him a potion off the shelf.
"James. Hey."
James woke up and blinked his eyes. "Hmm oh hangover cure. Thanks dad. and don't tell mom please."
Fleamont looked at Regulus and then back to James. "Of course not. She already worries to much about the boy. No need to stress her out more."
Fleamont walked away as James began to play with Regulus's hair again, this time taking time to admire his face.
"Good Morn- What the fuck!?"
James looked up in shock at Sirius who had his jaw dropped.
"Sirius I can explain. Just please quiet down he needs the rest."
James slowly moved Regulus's head so that it was resting on the pillow. He grabbed Sirius and dragged him into their room.
"Look I'm sorry but I think I love Reg."
"James! That is my little brother!"
Downstairs Regulus stirred awake. He rumbed his eyes and looked at the table in front of him to see hangover cure and a glass of water. He grabbed them and downed both.
He heard voices shouting upstairs so he went up to investigate.
"Regulus? OF ALL PEOPLE?"
He heard Sirius shout his name so he opened the door.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Oh and you! My best friend? Really?"
"What are you talking about Sirius?"
"Oh give it up! I know you and James love each other he told me!"
Regulus stared at James in shock.
"You love me?"
Sirius looked between both of them before turning to James.
"Shit. That was not my intention. Fuck. I know I'm upset but I wouldn't have said that if I knew you hadn't told him. James look I just wish you would have told me earlier but I get why you didn't just don't hurt him. Please. I will leave you two alone now."
"I won't Sirius and thank you."
Regulus walked completely in the room as Sirius shut the door.
"I'm not quite sure what to say."
"Then don't say anything Reg. I know you want to kiss me you sort of told me last night and ranted about the reasons I would never like you."
"Oh merlin that is embarassing." James laughed as he pushed Regulus's hair behind his ear.
"Do you still want to kiss me Reg? Because I want to kiss you."
Regulus responded with smashing his lips on James in a heated kiss.
The kiss went on for some time before Euphemia called them down for breakfast.
They sat beside each other at the table both smiling and red in the face.
"So I see you two confessed." Sirius looked at Fleamont shocked. "You knew?"
"Of course I did. So did Euphemia."
Sirius looked over at James and Regulus who were both shocked. Regulus cause he didn't know they knew and James cause he didn't know Euphemia knew.
"Eat your food boys. I worked hard on it." Euphemia chuckled as they all started to eat.
Sirius examined Regulus as he ate. He has never looked so happy. As he was watching Regulus laugh at something Fleamont said something caught his eye.
"James."
"Yes Sirius?"
James looked at Sirius only to see his eyes on Regulus.
"I'm gonna kill you."
James was confused until he noticed what Sirius was looking at. Right on Regulus's neck was a huge purple hickey.
"Fuck."
James ran as Sirius chased after him.
"What is his problem?" Regulus was the only one that seemed confused.
"Um you have a little something right here son." Fleamont pointed at his own neck to show Regulus what he meant.
Regulus's face turned red as Fleamont and Euphemia laughed.
He would be telling Alvin and Barty about this later but for now he was happy and he just wanted to live in the moment.