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The worst part about breaking up with James Potter wasn’t the breakup itself.
It wasn’t missing him. Or their friends picking sides that didn’t really exist because everyone still talked to both of them anyway. Or opening Instagram and seeing James smiling in blurry party pictures like he hadn’t ripped Regulus’ heart out a month ago.
No.
The worst part was that James kept existing in the world like he was impossible to forget.
Every corner of Regulus’ life still carried something of him.
The clove cigarette smell that clung to Sirius’ hoodies. Terrible songs playing at college bars. The stupid post-it notes James used to leave hidden inside his books:
“you’re pretty”
“stop studying and kiss me”
“your brother hates me but i think he’s funny”
Regulus still found some of them sometimes.
And hated the fact that he never threw them away.
That night, he was trying to study. Finals season was approaching and Regulus — as always — was aiming for perfect grades out of pure self-inflicted pressure. Ever since he’d dropped out of law school to major in literature, it felt like he could finally breathe for the first time in his life.
That was also when he agreed to move in with Sirius, who was studying music.
And when he met James Potter.
He could say his downfall started when he agreed to date James.
But honestly?
It started the moment James tilted his head slightly and smiled crookedly at him for the first time.
That was when Regulus realized he was doomed.
The glow of his laptop illuminated the dark bedroom while rain tapped softly against the apartment window. The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead, pushing the heavy November heat around without actually fixing anything.
Regulus had been rereading the same line for ten minutes.
Because part of him kept replaying their last fight.
“You can’t just run away every time something gets hard!” James had snapped.
And Regulus, exhausted, shot back:
“And you can’t turn everything into a joke all the time!”
Silence.
Then:
“So that’s it?”
And Regulus — too proud to take it back — answered:
“Maybe.”
His phone vibrated violently against the bed.
Regulus almost ignored it.
Almost.
Then he saw the name lighting up the screen.
JAMES POTTER.
He stared at the ringing phone like it was a physical threat.
One.
Two.
Three times.
By the fourth call, he answered just to make it stop.
“Hello?”
He regretted it immediately.
Pure chaos exploded through the speaker.
Music blasting.
People yelling.
Glasses clinking.
Someone screaming:
“PUT ON THE SAD SONGS!”
And then—
“REGULUUUUUS!”
Regulus closed his eyes.
“Oh my God,” he sighed, falling backwards onto the mattress, his spine grateful after hours hunched over his laptop.
“Love of my life!”
“James, it’s two in the morning,” Regulus replied, carefully containing the irritation in his voice despite the way his heart had already started racing.
“I know!” James sounded dangerously excited.
Which meant trouble.
Big trouble.
“Are you drunk?”
“A little.”
From somewhere in the background, Sirius yelled:
“HE’S FUCKING LYING!”
“SHUT UP!” James shouted back. “THIS IS A ROMANTIC PHONE CALL!”
Regulus pressed his fingers against his forehead.
Because of course.
Of course this would happen to him.
“What do you want?” Regulus asked with a defeated sigh.
For a second, James went quiet.
And somehow that was worse.
Because James Potter being silent never meant anything good.
“I miss you,” he finally admitted.
The words were so simple they hurt more than they should have.
Regulus looked away toward the dark reflection in the window.
“James—”
“No, wait. Listen first.”
Loud music again.
People yelling.
Then James speaking away from the phone:
“MARLENE, GIVE ME BACK THE MIC!”
Regulus’ eyes widened.
“James.”
Guilty silence.
“Where are you?”
“At karaoke.” The happiness in James’ voice was obvious — which meant he was about to do something incredibly stupid.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“James Potter, don’t you dare—”
“I’M GONNA SING FOR YOU!”
Regulus hung up immediately.
Instantly.
His phone vibrated again a second later.
SIX🐾:
answer him for the love of god this is funny as hell
MARLS:
never seen a man suffer this much
LILY GINGER:
i tried to stop him. swear.
PETER (ALMOST PAN):
JAMES CLIMBED ON THE TABLE
MOONY BROTHER-IN-LAW:
you know he’s not gonna stop, right?
Regulus threw the phone away like he could physically escape the situation.
It worked for less than thirty seconds.
Because a video arrived.
And against every ounce of common sense he possessed, he opened it.
The image appeared shaky, colorful neon lights cutting through the camera while Marlene laughed uncontrollably behind it.
The karaoke bar was packed.
People dancing between tables. Drinks raised in the air. The floor probably sticky from spilled beer.
And at the center of it all: James.
Standing on a stage far too small for his energy.
Black button-up shirt open at the collar. Hair completely messy. Cheeks flushed pink from alcohol.
And those eyes.
Even through a screen, Regulus would recognize those eyes anywhere in the world.
James dramatically grabbed the microphone.
“This song,” he announced, stumbling slightly over his words, “is dedicated to the most beautiful, annoying, emotionally repressed man I’ve ever loved.”
The entire bar screamed.
Sirius nearly collapsed laughing.
And then it started.
“Liga pra mim…”
Regulus immediately buried his face into the mattress.
“No fucking way.”
But James kept singing.
“Eu tenho tantas coisas pra te falar…”
And he sang terribly.
Absolutely terribly.
Off-key. Dramatic. Ridiculously theatrical.
But he also sang like someone genuinely in love.
And somehow that was worse.
“Todos sabem que eu te amo…”
His voice cracked on that part.
Just slightly.
But Regulus noticed.
Because he knew James better than anyone.
Knew the way he laughed when he was nervous. The way his fingers trembled when he got emotional. The way he turned vulnerability into jokes so he wouldn’t look scared.
The video shook when Marlene started screaming the lyrics along with him.
Peter jumped around in the background holding a drink. Lily had the exhausted expression of someone who had completely given up on controlling anything. Sirius kept making heart hands at the camera. Remus was laughing into his beer.
Complete chaos.
James pointed directly at the phone camera.
“Você anda louco pra voltar…”
And Regulus felt his chest tighten.
Because the worst part?
It was true.
He had wanted to go back. Every single day.
Ever since he walked out of James’ apartment pretending it wouldn’t destroy him.
The music got louder. More chaotic.
“IF YOU MISS YOUR EX MAKE SOME NOISEEEEE!”
The entire bar exploded.
James was laughing in the middle of the song now, completely stripped of dignity.
Then he grabbed the phone from Marlene’s hand. The camera moved absurdly close to his face.
For one second, the bar disappeared.
No music. No yelling. No friends.
Just James staring directly at him.
“Regulus.” His voice came out quieter this time. More serious. “I know you’re watching this.”
Regulus couldn’t look away.
“I was an idiot.”
From somewhere behind him:
“TRUE!” Sirius yelled.
“SHUT UP, SIRIUS!” James snapped, throwing an empty cup in Sirius’ direction while the entire bar burst into laughter.
James sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“But I love you so fucking much. And I’m tired of pretending I don’t.”
Something inside Regulus cracked open.
Because James always did this.
Found every fracture and slipped right through it.
“So…” James smiled softly — vulnerable in that rare way almost nobody got to see. “If you still feel something for me…”
He hesitated.
“Come pick me up.”
Silence.
Then he added:
“Also I think I lost my wallet.”
The video ended with James blowing a kiss at the camera.
Regulus laughed involuntarily, covering his face with one hand.
Idiot.
Complete idiot.
The room fell silent again except for the rain outside.
Regulus stared at his phone for a long moment.
He should ignore this. Go to sleep. Preserve whatever dignity he still had left.
Instead, he grabbed his car keys and texted:
“if you throw up in my car i’m breaking up with you again”
The reply came in less than five seconds.
“😍”
The rain had eased by the time Regulus parked in front of the karaoke bar. He could still hear the music from the street.
Neon lights flickered behind fogged-up windows, people laughed loudly on the sidewalk, and someone inside was very clearly trying to sing “Evidências” completely off-key.
Regulus turned off the car and stared at the building for a few seconds.
Maybe he still had time to leave. Maybe there was still a chance to preserve what little dignity he had left.
Then his phone buzzed.
JAMES:
“i think i found my wallet”
“it was peter’s”
Regulus closed his eyes slowly.
Idiot.
Complete idiot.
When he stepped out of the car, the damp air of the early morning immediately clung to his skin. The entire street smelled like rain, cigarettes, and spilled beer.
And then the karaoke bar door slammed open.
“HE CAME!”
James Potter appeared on the sidewalk pointing at Regulus like he had just witnessed a religious miracle.
Behind him, Sirius nearly fell down the stairs laughing, only staying upright because Remus grabbed him at the last second, accidentally dropping his beer in the process.
“I TOLD YOU!” James turned to his friends. “I TOLD YOU HE’D COME!”
Regulus crossed his arms, trying to ignore the ridiculous way his heart immediately started racing at the sight of James.
Because honestly?
It was unfair.
James looked too good.
Hair messy from sweat and excitement. Black button-up half undone. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Cheeks flushed pink from alcohol and adrenaline.
And that smile.
That specific smile that always felt like it belonged only to Regulus.
James crossed the sidewalk, almost tripping over his own feet.
“Hi,” he said breathlessly, like he’d just run a marathon.
Regulus raised an eyebrow.
“You put on a karaoke show for the entire city.”
“Technically, it was a serenade,” James replied with a grin, adjusting his glasses.
“Technically, it was public humiliation,” Regulus shot back.
“Did it work?”
Regulus hated how hard he was fighting not to smile.
“Unfortunately.”
James smiled so instantly and brightly that something in Regulus’s chest simply gave up resisting.
Behind them, Sirius made the loudest emotional noise imaginable.
“OH MY GOD THEY’RE GETTING BACK TOGETHER!”
“Shut up, Sirius,” Regulus answered automatically.
“Don’t talk to my future brother-in-law like that!” James protested.
“Potter, I swear to God—”
“Oh, so you do still wanna marry me!”
Regulus dragged a hand down his face. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you still came to pick me up.”
Fuck.
James always did that. Took every tiny opening and turned it into a victory.
The karaoke door opened again and Marlene stepped outside, cigarette between her fingers.
“So,” she said, “are you two gonna kiss or can I go back inside?”
“MARLENE!” Lily appeared behind her looking horrified. “You can’t just ask that!”
“Yes, I can. We’re all adults here,” Marlene replied, amused.
Peter appeared next, holding a half-empty basket of fries.
“I bet fifty bucks they’d make out on the sidewalk.”
“PETER!” Lily practically yelled.
“What? I’m investing in love,” he said with a laugh, shoving another fry into his mouth.
James looked dangerously close to laughing again.
Regulus pointed a finger at him. “Don’t.”
“Sorry,” James said, failing miserably to hide his smile. “It’s just… you actually came.”
And this time, his voice sounded different.
Softer. More sincere.
The group behind them naturally quieted down, like everyone noticed it at the same time.
Regulus looked at James for a second too long.
Because there he was again.
Ruining everything. Walking back into Regulus’s life without permission. Turning him into a lovesick idiot every single time.
James shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked lightly on his heels.
Nervous.
“I meant it, you know,” he murmured. “About missing you.”
Regulus glanced away toward the wet street. “Do you sing sad Brazilian breakup songs for every ex, or am I special?”
James smiled softly. “Only you.”
That was unfairly effective.
Very unfairly effective.
“You’re still an idiot,” Regulus said more quietly.
“But I’m your favorite idiot.”
Before Regulus could answer, Sirius physically inserted himself between them.
“Alright, enough,” he announced dramatically. “You’ve both suffered enough. Now kiss already because I’m freezing out here!”
Before he could continue, a hand grabbed the collar of his jacket and yanked him backward.
Remus.
“Can you stay quiet for thirty seconds?” he asked, exhausted.
Sirius immediately turned toward him looking offended. “Moony, I am WITNESSING love!”
“You are interrupting love,” Remus corrected.
“This is censorship.”
Remus ignored him completely.
He still had what was left of his beer in one hand and a half-dead cigarette in the other, clearly very used to handling drunk Sirius in public.
“Continue,” he told James and Regulus, gesturing lazily with the cigarette. “Before he gets another idea.”
“I ALWAYS HAVE GREAT IDEAS!” Sirius protested.
Remus took a sip of beer. “You tried climbing onstage to sing Sonho de Amor with James and fell on top of Peter.”
“It was an artistic accident.”
“My hand still hurts,” Peter complained, showing off a couple red scratches.
Marlene laughed so hard she nearly choked.
“You’re so cruel to me,” Sirius said dramatically, reaching for Remus’s beer.
“And you’re too loud. Life is about balance.”
James was laughing quietly now, clearly too drunk and too in love to hide any of it.
And Sirius, noticing that immediately, pointed at them.
“See this, Moony? This is true love. If you ever break up with me, I’ll do worse.”
Remus visibly recoiled. “Worse how?”
Sirius grinned dangerously. “Trio elétrico.”
The entire group fell silent.
“No,” Remus answered immediately.
“Yes! I’ll rent a giant sound truck, blast Calcinha Preta at full volume, and follow you around the city!”
“Sirius Orion Black—”
“‘REMUS LUPIN COME BACK TO ME’ written across the side,” Sirius finished, spreading his hands like he could already see the banner.
James burst into tears laughing, quickly followed by everyone else — including Regulus.
And Remus?
Remus looked at Sirius with that exhausted expression that always hid ridiculous amounts of affection underneath.
“You are completely unhinged.”
Sirius grinned. “But you love me.”
Remus rolled his eyes, trying and failing to hide his smile. “Unfortunately.”
“VICTORY!” Sirius threw both arms in the air.
“You just turned your brother’s reconciliation into a musical stalking threat,” Remus muttered, wrapping an arm around Sirius’s waist.
“That’s because I’m romantic,” Sirius replied proudly, resting his free hand on Remus’s shoulder.
“That’s because you need therapy,” Remus teased.
“And you still like me anyway,” Sirius shot back before kissing his cheek loudly.
Remus opened his mouth to respond, but James interrupted first.
“Okay, sorry, but you two are WAY worse than me and Reggie.”
“Impossible,” Lily answered instantly.
“You’d break up and get back together on the same day just for the drama,” Marlene added.
Sirius looked genuinely emotional. “Babe, did you hear that? We have cinematic chemistry.”
Remus took the beer from his hand. “You’re not drinking anymore tonight.”
“That was disturbingly marital of you.”
“Padfoot…” Remus warned.
“Fine,” Sirius muttered, pouting while Remus squeezed his waist, immediately making him smile again.
The group burst into laughter once more.
And in the middle of all that chaos, James looked at Regulus again.
Just looked at him.
No jokes. No performance. No audience.
Just… James.
And that always ruined him.
Regulus sighed in defeat. “Did you actually lose your wallet?”
James shrugged. “Maybe.”
“James.”
“I found it later,” he admitted with a grin.
“Then why did you say that?”
James looked genuinely confused. “Because I thought it’d improve my chances of you coming to pick me up.”
Marlene doubled over laughing. “He’s an evil genius.”
“He’s disturbed,” Lily corrected.
But Regulus—
Regulus started laughing.
Quietly at first. Then for real.
And James looked at him with that completely defenseless, hopelessly in-love expression.
Like he still couldn’t believe he’d managed to make Regulus laugh.
Fuck.
Holy fuck.
Regulus grabbed the front of James’s shirt before he could think too hard about it.
“You’re never doing this to me again,” he muttered.
James smiled slowly. “So you forgive me?”
“Don’t push it,” Regulus said, rolling his eyes fondly.
“Reggie…”
“Maybe a little—”
James didn’t even let him finish.
He grabbed Regulus by the waist and kissed him right there in the middle of the rain-soaked sidewalk while Sirius screamed like he’d just seen David Bowie resurrected.
“I KNEW IT!”
Peter almost threw fries into the air trying to create a “rice toss” effect before Marlene stopped him.
Lily covered her face with both hands. “Oh my God, I hate all of you.”
And Remus, still holding Sirius by the waist to stop him from climbing onto Regulus’s car in celebration, just muttered:
“Don’t give him ideas.”
“TOO LATE!” Sirius yelled back. “LOVE WINS TODAY!”