Chapter Text
Regulus had been excusing Dorcas’ invitation to join her cruise across South America for weeks.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with her—they’d been friends since grade school—but the idea of boarding a 150,000-ton floating death trap in the middle of the ocean? Absolutely not. Especially when he couldn’t even swim.
He thought he’d successfully avoided it, but his resolve crumbled one evening when she’d cornered him during dinner with Sirius and Remus. It was an ambush, meticulously planned. He could practically see the mischievous glint in her eyes as she left him no escape route.
‘It'll be great for you, Reg!’ Sirius declared, slamming his fist on the table for emphasis, causing the silverware to clatter.
‘You need to get out of the house once in a while!’ His grin was wide, too wide.
‘You’re drunk,’ Regulus replied flatly, taking a deliberate bite of the Chinese Remus had brought to the apartment earlier.
Dorcas looked far too smug at the look Regulus shot her. Sirius, predictably, just laughed and leaned into Remus, who gave Regulus an apologetic shrug.
As Sirius started rambling about how much fun the cruise would be, Regulus found his gaze lingering on the two of them—how they leaned into each other with the kind of easy familiarity that spoke volumes. They looked good together, naturally after Remus had been one of the people there for Sirius when, at sixteen, he escaped the torment of their abusive home. A pang of something unspoken stirred in his chest.
I want something like that. He thought, before shaking the idea away. Nope. Definitely too drunk for this.
Regulus stood in front of his half-empty suitcase, paralysed with indecision. He wasn’t packing anything in particular—just staring at the carefully folded clothes, silently screaming inside. They were supposed to leave in half an hour, and he had no idea what one even wore on a cruise.
He glanced down at himself: a black silk button-up and matching trousers. Stylish, sure, but practical? He had no clue. Maybe he’d just stay in his cabin the whole trip. That sounded reasonable. Avoid people, avoid water, avoid everything. Perfect.
His phone dinged, breaking his spiralling thoughts. He sighed, expecting another text from Dorcas—she’d already checked in on him twice in the last hour; It’s not like he’s delicate or anything—he just hates boats, okay? But when he unlocked the screen, it wasn’t her name he saw, but Sirius .
Regulus ran a hand through his hair, bracing himself as he opened the message.
Make sure to get some good dick 🤞
For a moment, Regulus just stared at the screen, unblinking. Then the words sank in.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ he muttered, shoving the phone into his back pocket. His ears burned as he kicked his backpack across the room with more force than necessary.
Before Regulus could conduct the perfect plan to shun Sirius for the rest of his life, a knock echoed from his apartment door.
‘Reggie!’ The voice was muffled, but unmistakably female. Only two people dared to call him “Reggie,” and since Sirius didn’t qualify, it had to be Dorcas.
‘Coming, ‘cas!’ he called back, wrestling his suitcase upright and fumbling for his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He stumbled through the living room, muttering under his breath as he went, just to find Dorcas leaning casually against the frame.
‘I need to change my locks,’ he grumbled, narrowing his eyes at her.
She smirked, tilting her head as she looked him over. ‘You look like shit.’ before adding ‘That’s new,’
He shot her a glance that would make most men quake, though his glare didn’t carry much heat. Her observation stung, though— he never looked like shit. His hair was usually perfectly styled, sleek and dark, framing his face just right. Now it was a frizzy mess, thanks to practically no sleep.
Dorcas’ smirk widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes as he pushed past her into the hallway. ‘Rough night?’
‘You have no idea,’ he muttered, kicking the door shut behind him.
She let out a small chuckle, ‘seriously Reg, this’ll be good for you.’ she smiled. Regulus only groaned
They stumbled through the bustling cruise terminal toward the towering ship when a woman with shaggy blonde hair streaked with pink tips held out a hand from behind a small booth.
‘Just the two of you, then?’ she asked with a bright smile, her sharp canines catching the light as her pale eyes crinkled with easy cheer.
Regulus opened his mouth to reply, glancing at Dorcas out of the corner of his eye, only to smother a laugh when he caught her reaction. Dorcas, eyes wide and cheeks flushed, stumbled over her words as she glanced nervously at the blonde woman— Marlene, her name tag read.
‘Y-yes!’ she finally blurted–a little too loudly–fumbling with their tickets as Regulus bit his cheek to keep his smirk at bay.
“Not a word,” Dorcas grumbled under her breath as they passed the check-in booth and stepped onto the ramp leading to the ship. Right , Regulus thought. This is exactly why he hated boats.
The cruise ship loomed above them, a floating city teeming with bustling staff, wailing children, and thirty-somethings eagerly proclaiming they were “finally trying something new!”
Perfect.