Prompt 30 - Uneven
@jegulus-microfic January 30 Word count 995
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“James?...James?” Regulus’s voice was small.
“Do you really mean that?” James was trying very hard to stomp down the feelings that were slowly beginning to bloom through him.
“Yes. James, I want to come home.”
“Then come home, Reg.” He knew the words had more meaning behind them, but he couldn’t examine that right now.
“Okay,” Regulus said, the hope clear in his voice. “I’ll call you when I have a date.”
“Okay, Reg.”
They’d stayed on the line, not saying anything until James had said goodnight, and they both hung up. James stroked Leo.
“What am I going to do, boy?”
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“Is it because of me?” Barty asked seriously when Regulus went to him on Monday morning to ask about breaking his contract. Regulus shook his head.
“Not in the way you think. You made me realise that what I really want is back home.” He waited for Barty to ask about it, but he didn’t.
“I really don’t want to lose you as an employee.” Barty had recovered quickly, moving on to the next task. “Let’s spitball some ideas and see if we can figure this out.” Regulus hadn’t even thought of that as an option.
They spent most of the morning agreeing on a compromise.
He and Barty had discussed him working remotely back in England and flying to New York every three months for a few weeks. It was a good plan. But at the end of the day, it was his father, Bartemius Crouch Sr, who had the final say.
He was called into Crouch’s office that same afternoon. He was nervous. This man was the one in control of his future. He knocked on the door and waited to be called in.
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Sirius had told him the date that Regulus was returning two weeks ago, and Regulus had messaged him the night before to say he’d landed and asked if he’d come over for dinner this evening. He’d agreed instantly, only remembering about Lily when she got out of the shower and joined him in bed.
He fretted over what he was going to say all night. He tossed and turned, eventually leaving the bed, worried he would wake her.
The sun rose, and he hadn’t slept a wink. He heard movement upstairs as Lily woke. He put down the whisky he’d been nursing when he heard her coming down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and went straight to the kettle for a cup of tea.
“Erm—Lily—We need to talk.” He needed to get this over with. He’d been putting it off. Not quite believing that Regulus would come back. But now it was real. He was back in Grimmauld Place, and James had run out of time. He didn’t know what would happen between him and Regulus tonight, and he didn’t want to lie to Lily. She deserved better.
He cleared his throat and continued. “Regulus is back.” She barely reacted. She just nodded slowly as she stirred the teabag around her mug.
“For good?” She asked. Something flashed in her eyes, but it was gone so quickly James couldn’t tell what it was.
“Yes.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Lily nodded again.
“Are you getting back together?” Her lips were pursed, and her shoulders had squared. James felt very small and found he couldn’t meet her eyes.
“He wants me to go over tonight for dinner. So we can talk.” He still couldn’t look her in the eyes. She folded her arms across her chest, holding herself tightly.
“I don’t want to upset you, Lily. But Reg he—” Lily cut him off.
“James, I need to tell you something.”
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Regulus looked at the table he’d just set. Something was off. He walked around it, scrutinising his place settings. His eyes narrowed in on the culprit. The knife and spoon on James's side were uneven.
“Well, we can’t have that, can we? It has to be perfect.” He told the offending cutlery as he carefully rearranged them. He smiled down at the now beautiful table.
‘Knock, knock.’ His eyes flashed in horror as he looked at the clock and realised he’d lost track of the time and James was here.
He hurriedly removed the apron and smoothed down his shirt. The door sounded again as he jogged up the steps out of the kitchen and towards the front door. He paused for a moment to check his reflection in the hallway mirror. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes were too wide, but he doubted James would care.
He took a steadying breath and opened the door.
James stood there illuminated by the porch light and looked just as mouthwatering as he always had. Regulus had to concentrate to not jump into his arms and start kissing him.
“Hi,” He breathed.
“Hi,” James replied just as breathy.
They stood and stared at each other until Regulus realised they were still in the doorway and he hadn’t invited James in.
“Come in. Dinner’s nearly ready. I made chicken Kievs. Hope that’s alright?” He babbled as he led James down into the kitchen.
It was warm and cosy in there. Regulus busied himself with opening a bottle of wine while James shuffled from foot to food behind him.
“Reg. Somethings happened.” He froze, hand hovering over the wine bottle. He looked up at the devastated expression on James’s face.
“What is it, James?” His voice came out quiet and cracked. He could have sworn the temperature of the room had dropped.
James swallowed repeatedly, wringing his hands together. All manner of scenarios played in Regulus’s mind. “James, I need you to talk. My imagination is going wild here.” His heart was thundering in his chest. He could feel it in his ears.
James finally looked him in the eye and took one last shuddering breath before he answered.
“Lily’s pregnant.” Regulus felt the blood drain from his face. “I’m the father.”
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La Mode nationale, no. 4, 30 janvier 1897, Paris. No. 1. — Coiffure de théâtre. Bibliothèque nationale de France
No. 1. — Coiffure de théâtre avec petit fond élevé en feutre blanc brodé. Sur le côté, grosse touffe en violettes des bois s'évasant derrière en cache-peigne. Tout autour, bandes de fourrure noire. Devant, sur le sommet, tête de petit chien couché, cachant le pied de deux grandes plumes noires retournées, d'une touffe de plumes de coq, reliées entre elles par un nœud de ruban mauve. Haut collier de chien en perles fines.
No. 1. — Theater headdress with small high bottom in embroidered white felt. On the side, large tuft of wild violets flaring out behind like a comb cover. All around, bands of black fur. In front, on the top, the head of a small dog lying down, hiding the foot of two large black feathers turned over, a tuft of rooster feathers, linked together by a knot of purple ribbon. High fine pearl dog collar.
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