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Regulus is done with his life, and his brother. He regrets getting back on good terms with him (he doesn't but still) because now his brother has taken it upon himself to get him a date to his Christmas party.
And oh no, Regulus can't just show up with Pandora as his plus one, because she is his friend and also, she is dating Xeno, and both of them are coming. So that's how he finds himself with his current predicament.
A blind date. Set up by his BROTHER.
As if life isn't humiliating enough as is, he now has to go on a blind date every weekend for the whole of December before he finds himself a proper date for the said party.
Against his wishes, he puts a little bit effort into his clothes and wears all his rings, and a couple of necklaces to go with the whole outfit. All in the name of at least he tried, so that Sirius will get off his back.
….
Regulus is before time. No, he isn't eager or anything, he just likes to be punctual and as the clock ticks seven, he is sure his date is not one for being on time.
He doesn't even know his date's name and as the time starts to be ten after seven, he starts to think maybe Sirius played a prank on him. But….he won't, would he? Not after all this time, right?
He thinks of texting Sirius, and has typed the text as well, when the hostess shows a man to his table. He looks up from his phone and freezes.
James. Fucking. Potter.
He doesn't realise he has said it out till James says, “Here for your service,” and he sits down.
Regulus can't himself say anything. He is just numb, he just stared at him.
The memories come flooding back, Hogwarts 6th year, James’ final year, secret meetings, conversations, kisses and so much more. And then all of a sudden nothing. Why? Because Regulus was afraid of the world knowing, and James was afraid of Sirius knowing. They had shouted, screamed, yelled and cried together. But keeping themselves a secret was taking a toll on them, Regulus was okay with the close people knowing, but James had been terrified. Of Sirius. Of his sexuality.
Regulus felt like a secret, something filthy and dirty and he couldn't take it anymore. He already felt like that due to his parents but he couldn't take it from James. Not his James as well. And now here they both are.
On a blind fucking date, set up by none other than his brother.
He had thought that maybe with time he'll be okay seeing James, maybe they will talk a bit. He had thought it would be Sirius’ wedding and not a day before. He already avoided his brother's birthday parties, preferring to go on a birthday lunch and he generally tended to avoid all social interactions where the Gryffindor friends of his were to be present. And it worked.
He hadn't seen James for almost 5 years now and now he looks- he looks so fucking fit, Regulus might cry. He has aged like wine, and Regulus hates him for it.
“So how have you been?” James asks, at last.
“Small talk, Potter? That's what we have been reduced to?!” Regulus snarks back, because who asks that.
“Well, I haven't seen you since Hogwarts. And you have somehow made it seem like you don't exist, I don't get how. And now this…”
“Yeah, kind of ironic isn't it? You were so afraid of what Sirius would say, only to be set up by him with me on a date. Fate works in weird ways, wouldn't you say?”
“I am sorry, Reg. You know how it was, it took me another couple of years before I came out. And I don't know what to say about the date.”
Regulus deflates, and slouches a bit. Just then the waiter comes. He scans over the menu, picking a beer and some fish and chips to go with it. He doesn't want fancy today, he wants that grease to ease his nerves.
When he tells his order, James looks at him in shock, his mouth agape.
“What?” He asks irritably, “I can't get fish and chips anymore?”
“No- no, of course you can. I was just surprised, is all. I haven't ever thought of you having fish n chips by choice.”
“You don't really know me anymore, and a lot can change in 5 years.”
James mumbles clearly under his breath, before he asks the waiter to get him the same order as Regulus, which makes him irritated.
“I heard you left your parents, that must have been hard…” James says after a while, and against his better judgement, he finds himself answering.
He tells him about leaving school, getting his inheritance and then just when the parents started with his marriage proposals he gave them the finger and left home. All his inheritance intact. That's how you do it, Sirius.
The conversation flows from there, he talks about school and that he is pursuing potions mastery now and how he wants to begin an apprenticeship next summer.
James also talks about his life, how he surprised everyone when he chose broom making, instead of Quidditch or even the Aurors. He talks about his job with passion and enthusiasm and Regulus’ heart aches. Aches with want, hope and what could have been.
They eat their food, then order another to share, with beers. He feels a slight buzz, but otherwise he is okay. He feels himself being transported 5 years back, staring into the sky while James talks about everything and anything.
Soon enough, it's closing time and they have to leave. He doesn't want this time to end, he wants to spend the rest of eternity in this night, and he knows he can't. He knows it's an illusion and it won't work.
Just as they are leaving, James paying the bill because Regulus is still a student, and he shouldn't be paying. Notwithstanding that he is filthy rich, with more galleons than he knows what to do with.
It's freezing outside and James suggests ice cream and well, Regulus cannot say no to that face. Even after all this time.
They then ice cream, neither wanting the night to end early, he ends up inviting James over to his flat afterwards.
….
Christmas Eve
They had been keeping their relationship under the wraps for the past 3 weeks now, but decided to go together for Sirius' Christmas Eve Party. Let Sirius gloat and all that be damned.
So they knock on his door at sharp 7 o'clock, almost half hour before time. Lest Sirius starts being dramatic about it.
Sirius opens the door, and he shrieks, “Oh my god, YES! Moony, get your sexy arse here at once.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, while James smiles shyly. Remus comes from inside the house, takes a look at their joined hands and mutters a soft about time, before a timer goes off in the kitchen and he is off.
“See, I told you Reggie, the blind date would work. I just knew it, you both would work well. And you do, right?” He asks, and looks at him questioningly.
Regulus nods his head and smiles at his brother. And his brother then starts talking to James who can't help keeping a smile off his beautiful face.
Before he knows it, all their friends are here and he feels himself just soaking in happiness.
They are all sitting in a circle, talking about everything and nothing, reminiscing their school days, when Marlene says, “These lovebirds sure took their time to get together. I couldn't stand the tension between them in school. It was like oof, get a room already.”
It gets a few laughs from the group all around and murmurs of agreement.
“Well, you can all thank me for it,” Sirius bows and Barty snorts beside him, “what is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you know…” Barty starts, before Regulus interrupts him, “Barty, don't you dare. I'll will hex your balls off.”
“Please, don't” Evan murmurs, but Sirius interrupts him.
“Oh no, no. You're telling me, what now.”
Regulus looks at James, who looks a bit guilty but apparently the Gryffindor courage is a lifelong thing because he says, “ Well, Sirius and others…thing is, we were dating in school,”
Confusion erupts all around them.
“You have been dating this whole time?”
“Called it!”
“Way to go, Potter, hope you come out of this alive”
“I'm so confused right now.”
James goes on, to further explain, “Yes, we were dating about five years ago but we ended things. Rather I ended things, because Reg wanted to come out and I… I was afraid of your reaction, Pads and well…I'm really grateful that not only do you don't have any problems but are also very happy about us. And moreover, Reg forgave me for what I did back then. I know, his friends haven't, and that you all are still wary of me, but please trust me when I say this, I love Regulus, I have only loved him. And I'll continue to love him for as long as he lets me, and hopefully that's forever. And I'll dedicate my entire life to showing you that, this is real and I won't ever leave you again, love. I'm very sorry.”
Regulus is slightly tear eyed, rapidly blinking back tears, before whispering to James, “I love you too, and of course I forgave you. We were so young, mon coeur, how could I still have a grudge?”
“What the fuck, just happened” Mary says, while Barty and Evan assess James before nodding in a slightly threatening manner.
All throughout this, Sirius sits completely still between Barty and Remus, before he slowly looks at James, and says, “You mean to tell me, my baby brother was sad all throughout the summer after our graduation and his seventh year, because you thought I will be mad? I'll give you a headstart, James. Don't let me catch you.”
James mutters fuck, pecks Regulus softly on the lips, wish me luck to which Regulus laughs and then off they both go.
A truly chaotic Christmas, but Regulus wouldn't trade this feeling for anything else in the world.