"James, are you done?" A very familiar voice cuts through silence that had fallen between Regulus and the unfairly handsome stranger after the weird light and the hitting and hissing. "Pack Leader Barnes is getting pretty impatient, he wants us out of his territory by-"
Regulus pokes his head out of the stranger's, James, arms, squinting. "I'm sorry, is that...? Remus?"
Remus, who had been standing outside the kitchen window, probably James' point of entry, stares at him, something unreadable passing over his eyes, right before the very open, very overwhelming panic sets in.
"Regulus." Remus states, and now he's climbing inside the kitchen, glaring daggers at James while also shooting confused looks at Regulus. Right. Is Regulus gonna be in trouble? "James, let him go. That's Sirius' little brother."
James does not let Regulus go, what he does do is suck in a breath and the look he gives Regulus is different, almost offended. "No way!" He exclaims, leaning close to Regulus' face. So, so close that Regulus can see his pupils dilatate the longer he stares. "He's far too cute, Remus, you've got to be mistaken here."
"James Charlus Potter, release him now!" Remus comes over, swatting at James' head and arms. "Say 'Hi, Sirius' little brother, I'm sorry I broke your window, Sirius' little brother' and most importantly, 'Goodbye, Sirius' little brother', understood?"
Once again, James doesn't let go, though he does look away to scoff and glare at Remus. Regulus isn't as petrified as he'd been in the beginning, he could easily push and weasel out, but... Goddamn, that's a good jaw he's staring at. James is so broad, too, much taller than he is as well, it kind of makes Regulus want to squirm closer, if anything.
James must take notice, because his eyes find Regulus' once more, and they crinkle at the corners with the force of his smile. He licks his lips, a movement that Regulus can't help but track. "Hi, Regulus." James says, ignoring all of Remus' prior suggestions. "It's so nice to meet you. Has anyone ever told you you've got beautiful eyes?"
"Oh!" Regulus glances down, suddenly shy. "Not, uhm. Not really? People usually compliment my mouth."
One of James' hands, the one that had pulled Regulus close at the beginning, tightens at the nape of his neck. Regulus has been growing his hair out, and some strands get caught in James' rings, pulling.
Clearly understanding that he won't make James budge, Remus decides then that it's time to treat Regulus as a ragdoll, dragging him out of James' arms and into his own. "Are you done?!" Remus, now that Regulus is distracted from James, is for sure about to have a stroke. "Did you clear the place? We're on a tight schedule!" He looks down at Regulus, frown and voice softening for him. "Regulus, let's go outside. You can explain to me what you're doing here, alright?"
Regulus nods, and ridiculously follows Remus out of the window, rather than the front door, which he could easily do. He glances back at James before he does, and finds him staring back. When he notices Regulus actually looking, he waves.
That's when Regulus realises that, hey, James' other hand is covered in... Something. Uh.
"Reggie," Remus calls, opening his arms to help him. "There's some glass, be careful."
Regulus pushes the sleeves of his sweater over his hands, just to be safe. "Thank you, Moons." Remus is always so nice to Regulus, the sweetest brother one could ask for, really. Regulus and Sirius had their issues growing up, Sirius was a real jerk most of the time, but Remus has never been anything but kind, genuinely so. People like that are not easy to come by, Regulus knows it well. "What's going on? Is 'rius nearby?"
Remus tuts, patting Regulus on the back once he's safe on the ground. "Your brother is sulking at the hotel. He's gonna be real mad when he learns about this. Let's start easy, what were you doing in there?"
"...I told you I was staying over at a friend's, right?"
Remus stares. Again. Regulus has been stared down so many times tonight, it's unreal. "Regulus... You did not mention the staying over being out of the fucking country!"
"I'm sorry! I thought that once I mentioned Emmeline you'd put it together?" Regulus doesn't mean to pout, he's a grown man, he's been one for the past three years, but... It's Remus. "She's been chilling in America for like, three months, I told you!"
"Unbelievable..." Remus shakes his head, sighing. "This is just... Oh my god, Regulus, Sirius is going to kill you!"
Regulus stomps his foot on the ground, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well! It sure sounds like Sirius is here, too! Without mentioning it, either!" Yeah, no, Regulus feels twelve again. How embarrassing. "And it sounds like he's got the biggest secret here, not me!"
Remus groans, slapping one hand over his face, wholly resigned. "Reg-"
A loud crash, soon followed by a resounding boom and a piercing wail almost makes Regulus jump out of his skin and into his next life.
Remus stares at the second floor, the window there breaking not two seconds after the fact. Regulus shrieks, but Remus simply pulls him closer and away.
"Mh." The light Regulus had seen before comes back, a tad more dim than when it had first happened. Remus shakes his head. "He's good as done, I presume. Incredible, what you can accomplish when you're not flirting with strangers."
Regulus' cheeks heat up, fiercely so. He must look just like a red streetlight in the night. "Shut up..."
"No, Regulus." Remus grabs him by the shoulder, shakes him a bit. "For all of our sakes, do not fall prey to James' stupid charms. Don't."
Regulus glares at the ground, muttering. Remus, despite having learned how to brother Regulus over the last few years, truly has no clue what it means to order to a little sibling to not do something.
Rookie mistake.
James Potter could be a serial killer for all he cares, he wants him in his pants, now.
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