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Regulus has had hook-ups, one night stands, and maybe some real relationships, but in the end it was always a mess.
The first relationship Regulus has ever been with is with Benjy Fenwick. They met at Grindr. He was a middle-sized bloke, lean, rough beard, 2 years older, and worked as a bartender.
They lasted about 3 months until Regulus ghosted him. It was going quite well before it started going downhill. They thought the other was attractive, they spent time with each other, had touches of affection, and some good sex; but in the end Regulus felt like he was showing a different version of himself to Benjy.
Regulus didn't feel safe nor comfortable, he felt like he was wearing a mask or a glamour around the person who he was supposed to be loved by and despite of Regulus' lack of genuine love in his life he knew this wasn't how it's supposed to feel like.
His second relationship was with Kingsley Shacklebolt. They (again) met at Grindr. He was quite tall, dark skin, 4 years older, and worked in the corporate business.
Regulus was wary at the time, most people in that kind of business usually were married and he didn't want to go through all that trouble.
They lasted a year and a half before it ended. After Benjy, Regulus decided he was gonna show his true self, he won't hide from people with masks. He was gonna show his true personality and he wasn't gonna care about what other people think, with the help of his friends of course.
Regulus was pleased to realized that Kingsley liked when Regulus was needy and mean. It gave him a boost of self-confidence and that maybe there were people that liked Regulus just as he is.
But as always, everything came to an end. Kingsley was given a job promotion that required him to live in another country, a country that had completely different time zones with Regulus'.
Kingsley suggested they stay as friends, but Regulus was quick to turn it down and send his regards before he arrived to his house and wallowed in his misery.
His third relationship was something completely different. It started 2 months after Kingsley left, Regulus saw a post of Kingsley kissing another man. He couldn't handle it and went to the nearest bar and got himself pissed.
That's where he met the worst person that he has ever came across in his whole entire life.
Tom Riddle.
Tom had a different aura from Regulus' past relationships, starting with three points: he was filthy rich, he was a known person, and he had connections, specifically connections to Regulus' family.
Regulus knew he should leave before it's too late but he couldn't, not when Tom is giving him the exact attention he wants. Not when he knows exactly what to say when Regulus is down.
One night, Tom told Regulus that he was coming with him to a family party.
What Regulus didn't know was that said family party contained his family too.
The moment they locked eyes, Regulus ran. He ran out the door, into the streets, and 5 miles straight all the way to Barty's place, knowing all his friends would be there. It was game night Friday after all.
His friends, as always, patched him up as good as new. Pandora helped him with his feelings, Evan gave him water, tissues, and some advice, Dorcas held him like he was something worth holding, and Barty spatted curses and death threats to Tom.
After he physically healed from his past relationship, Regulus swore to himself he would never fall in love again.
Until James Fucking Potter.
Regulus was mindlessly scrolling through Grindr, although it was something he did often he never actually texted another guy after him.
Then he received a notification.
James
hey im James
would u like to hang out some time?
Regulus was debating on texting him back, but he swore, he swore he wouldn't do this kind of stuff again. But as he looked at James' profile picture he couldn't help scoff.
James Potter
21 / 🇪🇸
i like:
guys or girls im good with any
something real
uh my mom's cooking???
Regulus biggest mistake was taking a peek at his profile picture.
James had bronze skin and hazel eyes with gold round glasses with a bright smile. He was wearing blue-green swim shorts and was shirtless, holding a surfboard in his hands. He has muscular biceps that Regulus couldn't wait to touch and immediately he felt his mouth water because fuck did James look hot. Hotter than any man Regulus has ever seen.
Fuck it.
Regulus
sure
is this a one night stand kinda thing
James
it can be whatever u want it to be baby
Regulus
oh using pet names already i see
anyway im guessing your bio is fake then?
James
my bio??
Regulus
it said you're looking for something real
James
well i am looking for something real but only if u want to..
Regulus
yk most people on grindr don't typically want something real
James
in my defense i don't think you're "most people"
Regulus
cliché
James
is this a yes to something real then?
Regulus
its a maybe
James
great!!
u live near ######?
Regulus
i didn't even say yes??
James
answer my question love
Regulus
yes i live near there
James
alrightyyy
meet me at the park near there at 6pm tomorrow?
if ur free
Regulus
tomorrow? excited much?
James
very much actually
Regulus
ill be there
It's been an hour since Regulus texted James and he's still panicking. Don't blame him, it's been a while since he's been this spontaneous.
He called his friends to tell them about it, and obviously it came with a bit of banter, teases, threats, advice, and some warnings.
Regulus is internally screaming. What sits right across from him is a fucking Greek god.
Who sits right across from him is James, looking devastatingly hot, much to Regulus' disappointment.
James is wearing a red spider-man shirt with baggy jeans and his red converse. His hair is ruffled and messy, Regulus thinks that's probably normal.
Regulus is wearing a dark green sweater with black slacks paired with his very-used loafers.
"So… what's your favorite color?" James asks curiously.
"Are we seriously doing this right now?" Regulus deadpans.
"Well, you did agree to the looking for something real."
Regulus glares at him.
"Okay fine, since you're so shy, I'll do it first."
"Hi Regulus, my name is James. I used to live in Spain when I was younger before I moved here. My favorite color is red and my favorite food is my mom's cooking. I'm pansexual…"
Regulus realizes that James could talk for hours and could never get tired, he also could listen to James for hours and never get tired of him talking.
"Okay, now you're turn."
"What—no-how do i even—" Regulus splutters.
"Relax, I can just ask you questions. Is that easier for you?"
"Yeah, that's good."
"What's your favorite food?"
"Umm.. pasta?"
"Color?"
"Green."
"Hobby?"
"Reading or drawing."
They go on with this for hours until the food arrives and goes. Regulus' phone lights up because of his friends wanting to know what's happened with his date.
Regulus realizes it's 9pm and he has spent 3 hours talking to James, and he didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
When they leave the restaurant, James accompanies Regulus home despite his objections. Once they reach his door, James gives Regulus a flower with a grin in his face.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
"Stole it from someone's garden. Not your garden though."
"Isn't that like the same crime as littering?"
"Regulus, just accept my flower." James sighs.
"Only one flower?" Regulus smirks.
"I'll get a huge bouquet for you next time." James says as he hands Regulus the flower and says good night to him before he leaves.
It's been 3 months since their first date, Regulus has been living happily and in love, once again. Regulus' friends know all about James and they can tell he makes him immeasurably happy.
Regulus is waiting for James to pick him up. It's their 5th date (not that Regulus was counting).
There's a knock on the door and it opens to show James with the same grin and same bouquet he always brings, but it holds a different kind of flowers this time.
"Hey love."
"You do know that I was joking. You don't need to bring flowers all the time."
"Yeah, yeah. Stop talking, when will you kiss your sad and miserable boyfriend?"
Regulus rolls his eyes but kisses him with affection.
James and Regulus finished eating, when Regulus came back from the bathroom, James is paying the bill.
Regulus learns that when James is determined to do something, nothing can stop him, so he guiltily lets him pay as he sat back down.
Suddenly, a waiter came asking them if they wanted to be the first ones to try a new dessert they had.
James looks at Regulus, and he shrugs.
"Yeah sure, we'll do it."
The waiter leaves then comes back with something that looks like cake. It has 3 layers, each containing white heavy cream in between it with strawberries on the very top.
Regulus recognizes it immediately.
"This is from France, it's called Mille-feuille." The waiter says.
"Mille-feuille." Regulus mutters at the same time the waiter describes the sweet treat.
James and the waiter both looks at him. Guess he hadn't said it as quiet as he thought.
"How'd you know what it was called?" James asks after the waiter leaves for them to eat in peace.
"Lucky guess." Regulus says eyeing the dessert. He knows that James knows he's lying. He's glad that he let it go.
After they left the restaurant, James felt stiff beside him.
"Why did you lie to me?" James asked.
Regulus looked at him with a confused face.
James continues, "On our first date, you said you're favorite dessert was ice cream. But I saw you Regulus, I saw the way your eyes lit up. I know that the dessert we just ate was your favorite. And you knew it beforehand."
Regulus stays silent, feeling guilty.
"And you knew the name of it and said it perfectly, with the accents and all. You're French too, aren't you?"
James stops walking and looks at Regulus in the eye, "Why are you lying to me Regulus?"
Regulus could feel his eyes start to burn and he quickly looked down. The sight of James' face so sad and so opposite of what he was used to seeing made his heart ache. And he was the one who did that.
"Look, James. I-I've had partners in the past, yeah? They all left me okay? And that just did a toll on me. They thought what I liked was too much, too hard to get, too whatever-excuse-they-made. Just stuff like that. And I-I really like you, James, so yes I lied but only because I didn't want you to get scared."
It was so silent Regulus could hear James' breathing and no doubt he could probably hear Regulus'. They're in the middle of the street and its night, Regulus thinks it's the most common way to get dumped. His eyes sting at the thought and he subtly tries to wipe his eyes.
"Regulus."
"Yes."
"Look at me."
Regulus' eyes remained down.
"Reg, look at me." James asked one more time and gently holds the other's face.
His eyes were glassy and there were tears in his eyes just waiting to fall.
James hugs him tightly and feels him shirt get wet but he doesn't care, not when Regulus has been treated so badly.
"Regulus, promise me something okay?"
James feels his head move but he doesn't know if it was a nod or a shake of his head, he continues, "Promise me that you won't hide your personality, your likes and dislikes, you don't have to share it all at once, you don't even have to say it, I'll just figure it out myself. Just don't hide from me."
"I promise."
James pulls away and Regulus can't help but feel the need to want more. James shows his pinky finger with a gentle smile.
"You're such a child, Potter." Regulus scowls as he wipes away his tears but links his pinky to the other anyway.
James walks with his fingers tangled with Regulus' swaying slightly. They reach his flat and James bade him goodbye.
"Thank you, Jamie."
"No need, good night Regulus."
"Good night, James."
"Reg?"
"Yes?"
"I really like you too."
It's been a year and just as James has said, he learns everything about Regulus.
James know now that Regulus takes his coffee black with a dash of sugar, that he loves cats, that his favorite color is, in fact, green, that he'll only eat specifically green apples, that his favorite genre of books is literary fiction, that he is a light sleeper, that he's ambidextrous, that he prefers seafood over meat, that he doesn't have a favorite flower because he never had been given flowers before James (James is determined to give him a different flower every time they meet until he finds one that he loves), that he doesn't like summer or the heat, that he gets cold easily and has seasonal allergies, that he likes to draw but won't show his drawings to anyone, that he can speak French and spent most of his childhood in France, that his favorite fruit is dragon fruit, that he doesn't like cold water because it hurts his teeth, that he doesn't like shrimps because he doesn't want to get his hands dirty when peeling it, that he doesn't like oranges because of it's pith, and most importantly, that he loves James.
James won't particularly say that it's easy to give Regulus everything he wants.
Because it's not.
Most restaurant serve cold water rather than warm nowadays, and dragon fruit isn't the type of fruit that you can get all year round. It's so easy to wake him up but it takes time to let him fall back to sleep, James has to drive to a store 30 minutes away just to buy specifically green apples because Regulus likes to eat those and to always remind himself to never forget to bring a jacket in case he gets cold.
No, loving Regulus isn't easy, but it's worth trying.
Regulus is worth trying.
His smile and the way his face somehow lights up is worth trying.
And 3 years later, James no longer puts sticky notes around his house to remind himself, it comes as instinct, like his body involuntarily breathes.
Loving Regulus is James' second nature.