Chapter Text
Summer, it wasn’t Regulus Black’s favorite season. Rather, it was his least favorite. He hated the sun, he hated sweating. He hated swimming when there were other people around. He especially hated the way living near the beach meant there was sand in every crevice. It was in the house, the car, and somehow all of his shoes.
So, Regulus hated summer, but there was one thing he didn’t hate—freedom.
Every year since Regulus was four and Sirius was five, Walburga and Orion Black dropped their two children at their beach property. They’d leave them there with their au pair, Kreacher, and then galivant off to do whatever it was they did when their children were absent. Sirius’ guess was murdering innocent babies somewhere in Europe. Regulus thought it was more likely tax fraud or money laundering. Maybe both. (Definitely both.)
Sand and sweating aside, summer was the only time of the year Regulus was allowed to exist outside of Regulus Black, heir to the Black empire. There, he was just Reggie, Sirius’s baby brother. (Which was frankly annoying, because he wasn’t a baby anymore. But Regulus suffered this because it meant being free, and most of all, being with Sirius.)
“So… what do you say? Operation slut-it-up?”
Regulus reached out, grabbing a pillow to hit Barty over the head. “No.”
Barty dodged the pillow, grabbing it before the fabric could make contact with his face. “What do you mean no?”
“I’m sorry, are you asking me for the definition of the word no—”
“Oh, shut up, you pretentious whore,” Barty rolled his eyes.
“I thought the problem was that I’m not a whore.”
Barty sighed. “You are a whore, I know it, the lord knows it, our entire high school knows it. You’re the only one who doesn’t. You need to give in to it, Reg.”
“I absolutely do not.”
“He has a point,” Evan spoke up absently from where he was sitting at Regulus’ desk, typing speedily on his phone.
Barty looked surprised for a moment that Evan was agreeing before straightening and nodding seriously. “Yep, I’m right. I’m always right.”
“That’s pushing it,” Evan muttered, but Barty had already received Evan’s approval. It was too late now; it was going to go to his head.
“Who are you texting?” Regulus interrupted, cutting Barty off before he could say a word.
“Dorcas,” Evan said.
Regulus’ eyes narrowed. “Why are you texting her as if you’re breaking up over text mid-brunch?”
Evan’s head shot up, scowling. “That happened one time. And if Dorcas weren’t a lesbian, I would date her so well and never break up with her.”
“Yeah, because Dorcas kills and eats her exes once she’s done with them,” Barty remarked. Regulus turned, and Barty scrambled off the bed, hiding behind Evan before Regulus could reach for another pillow.
“I’m going to kill and eat you,” Evan snarked as Barty grabbed onto his shoulders, ducking behind him to avoid Regulus’s glare.
“Oh, kinky. Please do.” Barty grinned.
Evan instantly blushed, and Regulus resisted the urge to bash his head in as Barty just smiled, completely clueless. Idiots.
“Anyway,” Evan cleared his throat. “She’s just talking about summer plans, nothing life-threatening. You’re really sure you want to stay in Cousins the entire summer, Reg? I mean… it’s not too late to join us in Greece.”
Regulus just shrugged. “You’ve been to Greece once, you’ve seen it all.”
“I’m pretty sure many people would disagree,” Evan raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, c’mon, Ev.” Barty’s hand was still on Evan’s shoulder, and he barely contained a flinch as the other boy leaned over. Barty’s chest was practically touching Evan’s back, but Barty seemed unaware. “You know Regulus just wants to see his brother… and you know, slut it up.”
“There’s no slutting happening,” Regulus insisted. “I’m going to have one last normal, quiet summer before college. That’s it.”
“I’m just saying, no need to let an opportunity slip through your fingers.”
“What opportunity?” Regulus scoffed. “Nothing is different.”
“Yeah, it is, you’re hot now. I’m telling you, you’re going to be a stunner this summer, Reg. Everyone in Cousins will be talking,” Barty said confidently.
“I wasn’t hot before?”
“Eh, I mean you’ve always been pretty,” Barty said casually, and Regulus swallowed. “But you always wore those stupid glasses and stiff outfits. Plus, you never took your nose out of a book long enough for anyone to see your face.”
“I need the glasses to see!”
“That’s what contacts are for. You know, the things you wear now?”
“I only wear them now because I was tired of breaking glasses; it’s not for looks.”
“Firstly, that’s on you for always sitting on them—”
“Barty, you kept sitting on them!”
“You kept taking them off!”
“They give me a headache—”
“I’m sorry,” Evan interrupted. “I could not care less about Regulus’ glasses. Both of you shut it. Barty, you’re doing more harm than good. Regulus…” Evan shook his head. “Look, Barty’s being a menace, but he has a point. “Have a little fun this summer, step out of your comfort zone. This is your last chance before you’re trapped by the shackles of corporate America.”
Regulus groaned, flopping back on his bed. “Don’t remind me,” he muttered. “Four years of college surrounded by pretentious assholes. Then, I get to look forward to working in some stupid office in a stupid suit for the rest of my life. Wonderful.” No one said Regulus didn’t have to do that. Sirius would. He’d say something about Regulus following his dreams, but Barty and Evan understood.
“Just have fun this summer, Reg,” Barty said after a second. His voice was unusually soft for a moment as he looked at his friend. “We’ll join you in a few weeks, and we’ll have the time of our lives. Just don’t become a hermit while you’re there. You’re eighteen, you’re hot, and rich. Live a little!”
“Also finish packing,” Evan remarked, looking to the digital clock next to Regulus’ bed. “You’re supposed to leave in an hour.”
“Fuck,” Regulus sighed.
“That’s not the attitude, Reg!” Barty said, finally letting go of Evan’s shoulder. He moved across the room, grabbing Regulus’s arm and pulling him off the bed. “C’mon! To Regulus’ Summer!” he held up his hand like he was holding an invisible glass.
Regulus rolled his eyes. “I’m not doing that.”
Barty grabbed Regulus’ arm, touching their hands in a mock toast. “To your summer…” he said expectantly.
Regulus let out a long sigh. “Fine. To my summer.”
Barty whooped, and Regulus couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling that everything was changing.
____
“Kreacher?” Regulus said hopefully as the older man loaded Regulus’ stuff into the trunk.
“What, child?” Kreacher said the words sharply, but Regulus had known the man his entire life. He knew Kreacher cared for him, and despite his tone, would likely agree to whatever Regulus asked.
“Can I drive?”
“Do you know how expensive this car is?”
“Do you know how rich I am?”
Kreacher scoffed. “Spoiled brat,” he muttered under his breath, but got in the passenger seat anyway.
Kreacher instantly put his headphones in, and Regulus knew he was listening to one of his weird history audiobooks. Regulus actually found them quite interesting, but he wasn’t complaining. It meant he could listen to music on the drive instead of spending four hours listening to the details of civil war prison conditions.
Regulus was far too old to need an au pair these days, but Kreacher had become an integral part of the Black family. He did basically everything when it came to Regulus (and once Sirius). It was Kreacher who helped Regulus turn in his college applications. It was Kreacher who took Regulus to swim meets and band performances. Kreacher, who helped Regulus with his calculus homework and taught him how to drive.
These days, since his parents seemed convinced Regulus was on the right track, he barely even saw them. It was better that way, safer. They couldn’t hurt Regulus if he was well-behaved.
That was Sirius’ problem, he never knew when to quit. He couldn’t just apply to the colleges he was told to. He refused to stop getting in trouble at school or stop hanging out with the “wrong” people. That had been his downfall. So, Regulus was everything Sirius wasn’t. He never spoke out of turn, he never disobeyed or got detention. Regulus was perfect.
Regulus was tired.
The unspoken truth was, even if Regulus did let loose a little this summer, he had to be careful. A lot of very rich and affluent families had houses at Cousins Beach. If word got around about anything that wasn’t good for the Black’s image, his parents would know.
Regulus could never truly let his guard down. He couldn’t forget about his responsibilities or the rest of his bland, promised life. But at least summer meant Sirius. Sirius whom Regulus hadn’t seen in person in a year. They’d barely even been able to talk in case their parents caught on. The only communications Regulus had exchanged with his big brother had been through Dorcas’s phone.
When they pulled into the large driveway of the Black’s summer house, Regulus practically threw himself out of the car, needing desperately to stretch after the long drive. Kreacher got out from the passenger side, much more calmly, instructing Regulus to pop the trunk.
Regulus turned to look behind him as they began unloading bags. Peeking over the trees, he could see the roof of the neighboring house.
“Go on then.”
Regulus jerked his head back to look at Kreacher. “I- are you sure? I can help you with the bags—”
“Go,” Kreacher repeated. This time, Regulus didn’t argue.
He took off across the driveway and through the trees, easily cutting through the secret (meaning the gardener was nice enough not to tell Walburga and Orion) path to the neighboring property. Regulus couldn’t slip through the space in the gate quite as easily as he did at seven, but he squeezed through anyway.
As Regulus broke through the trees and onto the other driveway, the house was the complete opposite of the Black’s. It was painted blue, but the color had faded over the years and was now nearly white. The front garden wasn’t perfectly trimmed. Rather, bright flowers grew wildly, splashing the landscape with color. There was an array of shoes and flip-flops in a pile outside the door, and a beach towel had been left to dry on the porch railing.
The screen door slammed open, and quicker than Regulus could register, someone was barreling into him so hard he was nearly thrown backward.
“Jesus Christ, Sirius!” Regulus complained.
Sirius paid him no mind, lifting Regulus up and swinging him in a circle. “You’re here!”
“No shit,” Regulus muttered trying to fix his hair as Sirius put him safely back on the ground.
“Whoa, Reggie what the fuck?” Sirius had pulled back, holding Regulus’s face in his hands. “What happened to you?”
There was the sound of the door opening again as everyone else seemed to be alerted to Regulus’ arrival.
“What?” Regulus asked in confusion as Sirius gaped at him.
“Whoa,” Peter Pettigrew’s voice came from behind Sirius, and Regulus looked around his brother to frown.
“Why is everyone looking at me as if I grew an extra eye?” Regulus snapped as Effie Potter paused behind Peter as well, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Effie said warmly. She stepped forward, pulling Sirius off Regulus so she could kiss him on the cheek. “You’ve always been such a sweet boy, but you got absolutely gorgeous.”
“Who’s gorgeous?”
“Reggie! Reggie got un-nerdy!” Sirius exclaimed turning around to face his best friend.
Regulus looked around Effie to meet James Potter’s eyes. He was pretty sure the world froze.
James had opened his mouth to speak, but as soon as his gaze fell on Regulus, the words seemed to die on his tongue. “Oh,” was the only thing he said, eyes widening.
Sirius was thankfully too caught up in the apparent change in Regulus’ appearance. He didn’t notice the way his best friend was practically drooling.
No way. No fucking way. Regulus was being delusional. James was probably just surprised that Regulus had finally ditched the glasses. James Potter was not looking at Regulus Black as if he wanted to eat him.
But…
But shit, he kind of was.
Nope, nope, nope. Barty was an idiot who had gotten in Regulus’ head. It was not Regulus’ summer. It was just another summer. Sure, this one, Regulus had stopped wearing his glasses and stopped slicking back his hair. Maybe, he’d taken a little bit of fashion advice from Dorcas because he figured this was the only time in his life, he could get away with not dressing business casual. After this, it was offices, suits, and polos. So, sue Regulus, he wanted to wear something he actually liked for a short time. That did not mean he was about to “slut it up” as Barty so eloquently put it. He was going to have a quiet summer. Today Regulus would find his only friends already at Cousins, and maybe finally compare their thoughts on the reading bucket list they’d made last summer. Then, maybe he’d watch a movie with Effie and Monty and then return home to help Kreacher cook dinner and even get in a night swim.
No partying, no sluttiness, no trouble.
Sirius slung an arm around Regulus’s shoulder, ushering him up the front porch. Everyone headed inside, chatting warmly. Regulus was forced to sit at the breakfast bar, a variety of snacks shoved lovingly in front of him. Sirius took the spot next to him, and everyone instantly got the memo, giving the brothers a bit of space.
“You’re alright?” Sirius asked, softly.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Mother and Father have been okay to you?”
“I haven’t seen much of them this year.”
Sirius breathed out a sigh. They both knew that was the preferred outcome. If they weren’t there, they couldn’t hurt Regulus. Not physically. “Good,” Sirius murmured. He paused. “I’ve been worried sick. I think James genuinely thought I was going to lose my shit this entire year.”
“I know, I’m fine. We’re okay.” Regulus said instead of none of it had to be like this.
Because that wasn’t fair. Even if Regulus thought it often. Even if sometimes he resented his brother. Regulus would never wish to trap him. Not Sirius. The bright, blinding, whirlwind of a person he was. Sirius wasn’t made to be kept in a cage.
“Are we?” Sirius asked nervously.
“Yes,” Regulus assured him.
Sirius’ grey eyes flicked over Regulus’ face as if he were looking for cracks. “Okay, I believe you,” he said after a moment. Sirius went quiet before reaching out to grab Regulus’ chin fondly. “Look at you,” he said softly. “All grown up. When the hell did that happen?”
Regulus rolled his eyes, but let Sirius grab him by the neck. He pulled Regulus forward so he could kiss him on the forehead. If Regulus lingered in his brother’s warmth for a second… that wasn’t anyone’s business.
See, if Kreacher held the technical responsibilities of Regulus’ parent, Sirius loved him like one. Sirius had wiped away Regulus’ tears through every skinned knee. He taught Regulus to tie his shoes and ride a bike. He was the one who held Regulus for hours when he was thirteen, and he had his first anxious breakdown.
“You don’t need to be anything for me, Reggie. Just yourself. I don’t expect anything from you. Let me love you. That’s all.”
Regulus tried. It turned out that was harder than he’d expected at thirteen.
A gap had grown between them over the past few years. It wasn’t that they loved each other any less, but it’d gotten more difficult to express. They’d formed some silent truce when Sirius had left for good. Their differences were pushed in an attempt to keep ahold of one another. During Sirius’ senior year of high school, before he was disowned, they’d fought constantly. Screaming matches, cold shoulders, the works. Regulus had cried himself to sleep every night, knowing he was losing his brother.
In the end, Sirius had sworn that just because he couldn’t stay, didn’t mean anything was going to change between them. Still, Regulus felt as if he’d been abandoned. He’d been terrified to see his brother again, terrified something would have changed. But Sirius didn’t look at Regulus as if he loved him any less.
“So, any plans for the day, Regulus?” Effie asked, leaning across the counter from him.
“I’ve got to go find Rem, catch up.” Regulus shrugged. “Other than that, just settle in.”
“Ah, the fabled friend. I’m still not convinced he exists,” Sirius remarked. “Another human who likes books as much as Reggie? Sounds made up.”
Regulus rolled his eyes because it was a running joke that Remus was Regulus’ imaginary friend since none of them had ever met him. The truth was, Remus, had only tolerated Regulus because of their mutual love for literature. He didn’t interact with most “rich snobs,” as he put it.
Regulus tried to swat at his brother, who quickly jumped off his chair to avoid it. “Let me get you your new phone if you’re going out.”
“Oh, Sirius,” Regulus balked. “No—”
“Yes. You know how this works. Mother and Father watch your phone, I want you to be able to communicate with us.”
“I don’t want you to pay for it,” Regulus protested.
Sure, Sirius wasn’t exactly struggling financially. Despite being cut off from the Black fortune, their uncle Alphard had left Sirius enough money to get by. Still, Regulus didn’t want Sirius using it on him. Until Sirius graduated and got a full-time job, that was all the money he had. Sure, the Potters would always support him, but Regulus knew if it came down to that, Sirius would suffer for a long time before asking for help.
“Don’t stress it, Reggie, I’m working this summer anyway. The money isn’t a problem.”
“You’re working?” Regulus repeated in surprise.
“Yep, I got a job at the Sunrise Diner, down by the water.”
“Doing what, serving?”
“Yep,” Sirius grinned. “Wooing customers, getting tips. You know.”
“Do you know how to be a server?”
Sirius scoffed. “Don’t be silly, Reggie. First of all, they train you. Secondly, I served at a restaurant near campus the entire year.”
Regulus didn’t know that. He had no idea Sirius had held a job, much less a food-service job. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with that, in fact, Regulus was proud of his brother for making money for himself. But it wasn’t a Black family thing to do.
Suddenly, the gap between them felt strikingly apparent. Regulus hadn’t known that. He probably didn’t know anything about Sirius’ life right now. What classes he’d been taking, the people he met, the TV shows he liked. For the first time in his life, Regulus didn’t know everything about his brother.
Regulus did accept the phone from Sirius (though with some complaints). He quickly held his tongue as soon as he saw that Sirius had bought Regulus a case with his constellation on it, and even done the icons and theme of the phone green.
“You did all this?” Regulus asked quietly.
“Course green is your favorite color. And if I didn’t, you’d leave it as the ugly factory set wallpaper forever. I made it cute for you.”
Regulus did not throw his arms around his brother because he’d had enough cheesy moments for the day. He did, however, briefly consider it.
“Right, thanks,” Regulus muttered. Sirius just grinned. That bright charming grin.
Sirius Black. Center of the whole fucking universe. Conceited and vain, too loud, too brash, too pretty, too rich. People said he could have whatever he wanted. It was true, but not because he was spoiled, but because Sirius got himself whatever he wanted. He had a way with people and a little bit too much nerve. This was a deadly combination. Sirius was the brightest star in the sky, and Regulus was made to orbit him.
It wasn’t something that Regulus minded. He was okay standing in his brother’s shadow. The problem came with the fact that nobody took him seriously. For Sirius’ friends and most people in Cousins, he was always just Reggie, Sirius’s baby brother. Forget the fact that he was an adult and his own person.
“I’m going to see Rem now,” Regulus informed his brother. He quickly, turned, leaving the room to avoid any more affection. God, Regulus had missed Sirius too, but there was no need to be pathetic about it.
“Oh hey, Reggie, heading out?” James greeted him as Regulus passed him in the hall.
“Yes, bye.”
“I- okay? Bye?” James called after him, but he didn’t sound genuinely hurt by the dismissal. It was nothing new. Truthfully, Regulus had never been very nice to James— which had absolutely nothing to do with the massive, pathetic crush Regulus had been nursing since middle school. No, that wasn’t related. And really, you could barely even call it a crush. It was a slight infatuation. Regulus had always been a quiet kid, James had been pretty, a little older, and sweet to Regulus. Everyone crushes on their big brother’s best friend. It was probably a rite of passage.
“I cleaned up your bike for you, sweetheart!” Effie said as Regulus stepped back into the kitchen. Instantly, Regulus felt warmth blooming in his chest. Maybe, there was one other good thing about summer— being loved.
“Thanks, Effie,” Regulus said softly.
She caught him by the wrist before he could leave the room. “You really have grown up so beautifully. Not just in your looks, which I’m sure you’ll hear about that from everyone,” Effie winked. “But I see you, Regulus. You’re becoming a wonderful young man and I’m excited to see what you do in life.”
Regulus just nodded. He didn’t know how to respond to that. He didn’t want her to see who he became. Regulus wasn’t going to do anything great. He was going to be his parents' well-behaved puppet for the rest of his life. He wondered if she saw right through him as he let him go with a quick kiss.
“Be back for dinner, alright?”
“Yes, Effie.”
With that, Regulus left her in the kitchen, heading out to the garage. Sure enough, his bike was clean and well-maintained, leaning against the wall.
Regulus did not think about how this summer felt like the last. He simply hopped onto his bike and took off down the road. The route to Remus’ house was familiar and he let the warm summer breeze kiss his skin.
The freedom was nice.
“Well, hello,” Remus greeted when Regulus dropped his bike on the front lawn.
“Hi,” Regulus said breathless from his bike ride. He plopped himself on the porch steps next to his friend. Remus’ jeans were as worn as ever, and his hair was just as messy. He had a book in his hand, Regulus prodded at it. “What are you reading?”
Remus silently marked his page before turning the book over so Regulus could read the title.
“How was your year?” Remus asked as Regulus turned over the book to read the synopsis on the back.
“I’m alive.”
Remus snorted at that, and Regulus suddenly realized he’d missed his friend very much. “Good, what would I do without my favorite rich boy?”
“Read books on your own,” Regulus shrugged. “What a horror.”
“I’d live,” Remus said, as Regulus ran his hands over the smooth cover of the book.
“Shame. I think you’d be standing here on your porch every day, looking out into the distance. You’d mourn me.”
“I’m not your fucking widow,” Remus rolled his eyes. “Give me back my book, Regulus. You’ve lost privileges.”
Regulus rolled his eyes but obeyed, nonetheless. That was one of the reasons Sirius and his lot had never met Remus. It was partly because as a year-round resident of Cousins, Remus ran in very different circles than the “summer home snobs” as Remus put it. But that aside, Regulus had also never introduced them on purpose. Remus called him Regulus. Never Reggie, not once, not ever. That person didn’t exist to Remus. Regulus was never the little kid trailing along. He was Remus’ equal.
“I don’t assume you can stay for dinner? Ma has been asking about when you’d be back,” Remus said, tucking the book to his chest.
“Not tonight, the Potters want me back,” Regulus told him. “I just wanted to give you my phone number.”
“Really?” Remus’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought your parents watch your phone.”
“They do, Sirius bought me another one for the summer.”
“Jesus, a whole extra phone,” Remus muttered, with a shake of his head. Regulus instantly felt a little bad. Remus’ phone was sitting on the porch next to his feet. The screen was cracked, and it was the same one he’d had for the past five years.
“Yes,” Regulus said simply. He never tried to argue with Remus about money or privilege. He didn’t know what Remus’s life was like. It was the same when Remus never said a word about Regulus’ family. If Regulus said he couldn’t text Remus because his parents would severely punish him for it, Remus just said okay. They didn’t know one another’s struggles, and they didn’t overstep.
“Give me, I’ll put in my phone number.” Regulus dutifully handed over his new phone, watching as Remus added himself as a contact. He paused as a notification popped up, holding up the phone for Regulus to see. “James is texting you. It’s dinner time, apparently.”
“Ugh, Sirius must have put him in and given everyone my number,” Regulus sighed.
“Hm,” was all Remus said in response, handing Regulus back his phone.
“What?” Regulus asked, narrowing his eyes at his friend.
“What?” Remus asked blankly.
“You said hm.”
“Oh, nothing,” Remus said innocently. “It’s just that you clearly haven’t gotten over that crush. You said you’d do it this year. If I recall, you said that eighteen was way too old to be nursing a childhood crush and that—”
“Okay, I get it!” Regulus cut him off. “I tried okay, it didn’t go away. I tried to go on dates or whatever, and it didn’t work. Barty says I just need to whore it out of my system, but I don’t know.”
“You could try,” Remus shrugged. “A little sex never hurt anyone.”
“Says you.”
“Excuse me?” Remus pushed Regulus lightly. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m just saying,” Regulus shrugged. “You’re a little bit of a whore underneath the whole loser thing.”
“I’m not a loser or a whore. Shut the fuck up.”
“You’re both, and I support it,” Regulus said. Remus tried to push him again, and Regulus stood, jumping off the porch steps. “I’m just a loser, so don’t worry about it.”
“I know, you are a loser. Don’t think that changes just because you got pretty, I’ll gut you, Black.”
Regulus crossed his arms. “Why the fuck is everyone talking about the way I look? I swear it isn’t that big of a difference. I stopped wearing glasses. That’s it.”
“Firstly,” Remus said, looking entirely unimpressed. “It’s not just the glasses, it’s mostly the hair. Wearing it loose looks much nicer. Plus, your clothes are way better. You aren’t dressed like a mini frat boy.”
“Says you who dresses like a grandpa,” Regulus protested.
“It works for me,” Remus shrugged.
Regulus couldn’t argue with that. It was true, Remus was hot in his quiet, nerdy way. Girls loved him, he barely had to do anything but exist, and they were all over him. Unfortunately for said girls, Remus was very, very gay.
“I don’t like you,” Regulus said because he didn’t have a proper argument.
Remus knew it and grinned. “I know,” he shrugged. “Come to the bonfire tomorrow.”
“You’re going?”
“Lily is going. We’re stealing free beer, abducting her, and then making a break for it.”
“Ah,” Regulus said knowingly. “Well, we have to avoid my brother. He’ll be pissed. But I’m in.”
“I have no issue with that. I prefer to avoid rich assholes.”
“You don’t know my brother is an asshole.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve heard enough from you and this entire town to know he is.”
Regulus paused. “That… fair. But he’s not a bad guy, just a lot. Also, overprotective. He thinks I’m still a kid.”
“If you say so,” Remus shrugged.
Regulus didn’t know how he could possibly explain Sirius Black to someone who had never met him, so he just shrugged. “Okay, I’ve got to get home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Text me,” Remus gestured to his own phone at his feet. “For the first time ever, we can do that. God, I take it back, maybe your brother isn’t the worst. I’ll send you Lily’s number too.”
“Okay,” Regulus reached down, grabbing his bike. “Bye, Rem.”
“Bye, Regulus.”
It was as Regulus was returning to the Potter’s, barely beating the setting sun, that his phone pinged.
[Remus, (508) 224-6782]
Remus
A miracle has occurred.
Regulus has a phone he can text us from.
(508) 224-6782
No fucking way???
REG!
Regulus it’s Lily, omg hi!
Are you back?
Regulus quickly added her number, shaking his head at her enthusiasm. He put his bike back in the garage before stepping inside the house.
Regulus
Yep. Just got here today.
Lily
Omg I need to see you asap
Remus
He’s coming to the bonfire tmr.
Lily
Are YOU going to the bonfire Rem??
Remus
We’re kidnapping you.
Lily
You can try!!
____
“Swimming?”
Regulus looked up in surprise. James was standing in front of him, he was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, and his hair was slightly damp from the shower.
“Does it look like I’m swimming?”
James’ face broke into a grin as he looked down at Regulus, fully dressed with only his feet in the water. “I suppose not.”
Regulus just scoffed. James clearly didn’t get the memo, because he rolled up his pants before sitting down next to Regulus.
They sat in silence for a long moment, and Regulus briefly considered pushing James in the pool. The only thing that stopped him was the consequence. Meaning, James would have to get back out of the pool, stupid clothes plastered to his body, leaving nothing to the—
“So, you’re not so different.”
“What?” Regulus choked out, trying to beat down the awful, explicit images in his mind.
“You look different, I was scared you’d be different. But you’re still just—”
“Little Reggie?” Regulus mocked.
James paused tilting his head. “I was going to you’re still just Regulus. Which is good, I quite like Regulus,” he said with a soft smile.
“No, you don’t,” Regulus said, this time he did try to push at James, consequences be damned.
James caught Regulus’s wrist before he could even get close. “Yeah, I do, you can’t stop me.”
“Ugh,” Regulus said in disgust. “I haven’t missed you.”
Regulus didn’t know how James knew that was a lie, but he must have. He just smiled.
Once, Regulus had overheard James and Sirius talking.
“Why are you okay with Reggie being so mean to you?” Sirius had asked. “Doesn’t it hurt your feelings?”
James just shrugged, completely unbothered. “No, it would if he meant it. But he doesn’t.”
Regulus never figured out how James knew he didn’t mean it. Surely, he didn’t know about the crush. If he did, Sirius and Peter would know as well, and Regulus would never live it down.
At the same time, Regulus and James both seemed to become aware of the fact that James was still holding Regulus’ wrist. Regulus jerked back, and James quickly let go. Regulus thought he might have been going crazy in the dim light, but it almost looked like James… blushed.
“Um,” James stood suddenly. “I’ll leave you to it. I think my mom wants me to watch a movie with her.”
“Right, okay, goodnight.”
“Night, Regulus.”
James disappeared into the house. Regulus sat there, trying to catch his breath.
Night, Regulus.
Not Reggie. Regulus.