Chapter Text
April 16th
Regulus’ hand cramps as he quickly scribbles down the last few sentences in his notes while the rest of the class files out of the room.
It isn’t a surprise that people are so hasty to leave, listening to their History professor drone on about trench foot for over an hour is enough to numb anyone's mind. It’s certainly a feat to be able to babble about mere nonsense yet somehow make it all relevant to their assignments.
It took Regulus until after their first and second test to realize it was probably best to write down everything the old man said – whilst simultaneously praying that he’d find the actual test material somewhere within all the pages.
Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Regulus slams his notebook shut with much more force than needed, if only to make a point. Shoving it in his backpack and tucking in his chair, Regulus starts towards the door to finally escape the classroom and find his friends.
People often told Regulus that he walks with determination, and that he always appears to be in haste to attend to something important. Of course, he doesn’t see what they mean, and thinks that perhaps everyone is too relaxed. Scoffing, Regulus weaves through the crowd of students walking by as efficiently as possible, careful to not bump into anyone.
“Regulus!” His brother’s voice and firm clamp on his shoulder startles him out of his zoned-in mission to the end of the hallway.
They both pull over to the wall and away from the flow of students, and Regulus tilts his head at his older brother, waiting expectantly for whatever Sirius was going to say.
Instead of an actual answer, Sirius narrows his eyes at Regulus, studying him for a quick beat. “Why do you look so bitter?”
Regulus rolls his eyes, looking away for a moment. “Do you need something?” He finally spits back, making sure to exaggerate his scowly expression to piss off Sirius.
“Stop being such a prick, I just wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to offer you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join me and my mates during lunch. You know our table, so meet me there after the bell.”
Regulus opens his mouth to protest but Sirius quickly cuts him off –
“Don’t even think about it. It’s important! Look, trust me, it will be worth your while.” Sirius grins at Regulus, then skips back down the hall before Regulus can get a single word out.
This was usually how interactions went between them. Sirius, and his sarcastic tones and purely comedic gestures; and Regulus who stares right through him yet nods along to please his brother and entertain his antics. Honestly, he didn’t mind. Usually.
Putting their short conversation aside, Regulus can’t help but wonder why he wanted to speak to him during the break, much less with all of his friends. They are all somewhat one and the same, with eccentric personalities and chaotic energy enthralling to most of the student body and intimidating to the rest.
However, it is not that Regulus is intimidated by Sirius and his friends. Rather, what troubles him is more so the fact that they are quite loud and spontaneous people, always in the spotlight and always up to something. Anything involving Sirius’s friends was something Regulus would stay far away from.
Though he is curious as to what would randomly prompt them needing him today of all days.
It’s not that today is anything special, it’s not. These days, things have been pretty low-key.
In fact, Regulus would say he’s quite comfortable with the routine he’s settled into as of late. Nothing exceptionally out of the ordinary has happened, and he was able to comfortably go about his day knowing what to expect. In other words, perfect.
Down the hall, Regulus spots Barty alongside Pandora by the water fountain.
Quickly, Regulus speeds up his pace to meet them.
Before they notice or acknowledge his presence, he watches from a couple feet away as Barty shoves coins into a vending machine and selects a snack. The machine whirrs, and the poor bag of crisps gets wedged in between the shelf and the glass.
Barty then kicks the machine hard, and winces while stumbling back at the pain he caused himself.
Hobbling around on one foot, Barty looks up to find Regulus laughing at him from a distance. Barty frowns back at Regulus, clearly not finding it as amusing as he is.
“It stole my money–” Barty cried, motioning to the vending machine with the snack still stuck inside it, “-and it injured me!”
“Poor you,” Regulus rolled his eyes dismissively, “my brother wants me for something. It involves his friends, I assume.”
“Yeah, I dunno mate. Good luck with that.”
Barty turns away from Regulus, more focussed on less important things. Regulus can’t help but sigh, waving back at Pandora who greets him just as the bell to begin class rings.
***
Regulus clutches the strap of his backpack with much more force than needed as he cautiously approaches his brother and the few members of his friend group that have already made it to the table.
Sirius eagerly waves him over, and Regulus winces slightly before giving in and walking up to the table.
Sirius’s friend Peter is sitting there already, he appears to be rearranging the contents inside of his sandwich. He offers a smile to Regulus, which he responds with a curt nod of his head.
“You can sit if you want,” Peter says before popping a pickle into his mouth that had fallen from the bread, motioning to the empty seats around the table.
Regulus sits, and turns towards Sirius.
“So?” Regulus questions finally. “What is it you wanted to say that just had to wait until now?”
Sirius smirks for a moment. “Well, you know how mum’s been about keeping busy once school is over, and I figured that you might as well put some of your skills to use.”
Regulus lifts his brow.
“Basically, Pete and Remus are working at the community centre for the summer camp, and the rest of us thought it was brilliant. The pay isn’t terrible, and the job can’t be that bad either. So, obviously I applied too.”
“You applied, and that has to do with me… how?” Regulus questions, not following what Sirius is saying.
“Well, I realized that they had lots of openings, and they were looking for lifeguards.”
“What–”
Sirius cut him off. “You’ve had your qualifications for a while now, and weren’t doing anything with them, so I sent them your resume too” Sirius said, saying the last part quicker as to lessen the blow.
The Black brothers stared at each other in silence. Regulus’s expression darkened as Sirius retreated further into his seat.
Regulus finally snapped.
“Are you out of your mind? I am not working in some filthy pool with a bunch of children to look after. I’m perfectly content staying home this summer.”
Before Sirius could say anything, more of his friends ran up to the table, all taking their respective seats.
James Potter sat down across from Regulus, and apparently oblivious to the expressions on both his and Sirius’s faces, he felt it was perfectly fine to talk as if nothing was wrong at all.
James starts excitedly, “Sirius, want to share something today? I’ve ran outta cash. Oh, hiya Regulus, guess what!”
Regulus does not respond, but James continues anyway.
“My supervisor at the pool asked about you since she got your resume, and I told her that you’d take the job! Brilliant, innit? We’re all going to get to work in the same place!”
James grins innocently, and Regulus turns his head to glare at his brother who is nervously grinning at him.
At that moment, Regulus came to two conclusions. One, was that he was to bid his peaceful summer reading inside the house and drinking iced tea farewell. And two, being that he was going to kill Sirius.