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Regulus Black is not what you’d call an ‘early bird.’ He’s practically nocturnal with the most screwed up sleep schedule one could imagine. It doesn’t help that it’s essentially his job description to become so. His daily... well, nightly shifts start at 10 o’clock. Working as a bartender at the local pub, The Three Broomsticks. Even before his job, he couldn’t sleep while it was dark out. The boy he’s in love with couldn’t be more opposite. In fact, it’s a miracle they ever see each other with how directly contrasting their sleep schedules are. Speaking of, there he is.
He could never tell how James could sleep so well. Always telling him to ‘live right’ and go to bed before daylight. Although, he had to admit that it probably had some benefits, given how fucking ethereal James always looked. Waking up at sunrise wasn’t exactly appealing though. James grinned when he saw Regulus, walking quickly over to the bar and taking the seat right in front of where he was stationed.
“Hey Reg. Could I have an Oxford, on the rocks please?” Regulus wrinkled his nose. “Can’t you just have it neat for once? Adding all that ice totally dilutes it and chills your taste buds so you don’t get the full flavor profile.” Despite his protests, he was already filling a glass with ice. James laughed brightly. “Regulus please. I’m not insane. Straight whiskey just fully stops being pleasant. I don’t get how you stand the stuff.”
“Yeah well. I shouldn’t be surprised; you ruin coffee too. All that damn sugar. It’s practically diabetes in a cup.” Regulus slid his drink across the bar to him and started shaking a drink for a girl seated a few spots down. “Damn Reg, nice arms. I knew bartenders always have good arms but good loooord. Those are nice. Seriously.” James whistled appreciatively. Regulus felt goosebumps rush down his back. Doing everything in his power not to turn bright red, Regulus glared. “Shouldn’t you be in bed James?” James let out a quiet laugh. “Well darling, you’re always saying how nice it is to wake up when it’s dark as a lake out. Didn’t you say something about the haze of waking to the smell of a bonfire?” Regulus rolled his eyes. How dare James use his own love for the night against him? “Yeah yeah. Midnight is better than noon and all that. But seriously. You’re going to hate yourself tomorrow if you don’t get your beauty sleep.”
“Aw Regulus~ you think I’m beautiful???” The red returned to Regulus’s cheeks with a vengeance. “Not what I said!” Regulus declared indignantly. “But what you meant?~” James asked teasingly. “No!”
Now, don’t get him wrong, James was gorgeous. The problem was that he knew it. Bright as the morning and soft as the rain, James knew everything that Regulus could say before he said it, so what was the point? James’s brow furrowed. “Regulus.” He said in a tone that wasn't anywhere near teasing. Regulus was slightly taken aback by the sudden shift, but James looked serious. “Yes James...?” He asked, hesitantly. “How much trouble would you be in if you took 20?” Regulus was confused to say the least. “None. Barty can cover me for a minute. Why?” James smiled. “Have him do that. There’s something I want to show you.”
Regulus yelled for Barty as he and James walked out. “Barty! I’m taking 20, cover me!” Barty stuck his head in from the back, a half-smoked cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth. When he saw who Regulus was with, he grinned. “Ok! Get laid!” Regulus' mouth dropped open, and he slammed the door behind him and James. “Oh, my fucking god. I’m sorry about that. I’ll kill him later, don’t worry.” James looked embarrassed but also slightly pleased and flushed. “No, it’s ok. I get the teasing friend dynamic.” Regulus raised one eyebrow. “Of course you do. You're friends with my brother. Being a dick is his greatest talent.” James snorted a laugh at that and Regulus found himself awfully pleased at being the cause of James genuine laugh. James checked his watch and grinned. “Ok come on. We don’t have much time. You should have just called in sick or something.” Regulus spluttered. “What??? You came in randomly and told me to take a 20! I’m not missing a shift for you Potter!” James sighed. “Well, if you hurry, you won’t need to!”
James had somehow gotten Regulus into his car. This was feeling more and more like a kidnapping by the minute. “I’m supposed to be working right now James. Alice doesn’t mind if I take breaks but if I randomly vanish with you, she really will think I’ve bunked off to fuck you, and I really will be in trouble.” James hit the gas a little too hard and Regulus jolted forward. “Bloody Hell! You can’t just say stuff like that when I’m driving Reg!” Regulus smiled smugly. “Well, I just did, so you better focus up because I am not dying in a car with you of all people.” James gasped, offended. “Excuse me! I’d be an excellent car crash companion! In fact, I could start a business where people would pay me to be in car crash with them!” Regulus laughed. “Not very sustainable, is it? I feel like you would die sooner or later and as little as I care what happens to you, it’d be a pain to deal with my brother in mourning.” James huffed. “You’re a shit liar. You totally care about me. You’d miss my pretty face and charming personality, not to mention my excellent sense of humor and top tier flirting skills.”
Regulus rolled his eyes again. Sirius always used to say that they would get stuck like that one day. “I would totally not miss you flirting. It’s a pain while I’m trying to work, and also, you’ve just kidnapped me. So. I don’t know how much I’d miss that.” James gasped. “Kidnapped??? No no no! This isn’t a kidnapping! It’s a date!” Regulus froze. “A... date?” James looked very pleased with himself. “Yup! A very quick date because you’re kinda always working or sleeping so... I needed a time to do it, and I figured now would work because there’s this super cool thing, I need to show you and we’re totally almost there, I promise.” Regulus is pretty sure that James didn’t stop for breath once during that. “I... yeah. Ok. Sure. This works but you know you could have asked, right? Instead of stealing me from my job?” James grinned sheepishly. “Yeaaaaaaahhhhh. That was the one fault with my plan... but let’s not dwell on my mistakes because we’re here!!!” Regulus stepped out onto the road which led to a little grassy cliff overlooking the lake. “It’s pretty James but what are we doing here?” Regulus felt a strong warm hand on his lower back and melted a little into the touch. “Look up.” James breathed near his ear. He smelled like cinnamon and morning dew and somehow? It totally worked. Regulus tilted his head upwards and felt the breath punch out of him. The sky was bright and nearly totally filled with stars.
“It’s... it’s beautiful Jamie.” Suddenly unable to help himself anymore, Regulus spun around to face James and kissed him vigorously. Hands going to his messy brown hair and tugging lightly, James melted into him and sighed into his mouth. Pulling apart ever so slightly, James said, “God, if I’d known you would kiss me like that I would have kidnapped you ages ago.” Laughing softly, Regulus pulled him back in. Needless to say, he didn't go back to work that night.