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Regulus sat at the kitchen counter nursing some tea. He watched Lily bustle around the kitchen to make something to eat. She sometimes insisted on cooking the muggle way even though it was slower. Something about it being fun and feeling more real. He didn't get it, but it was fascinating to watch. James was also at the counter next to Regulus reading about the previous night’s Quidditch match. It was oddly domestic, but Regulus figured he should be used to it by now.
Domestic is how most of his days felt living with James and Lily. It hadn't started with just them. Sirius and Remus had lived here too. They had enough space because Remus and Sirius roomed together along with James and Lily. Regulus took the last room when he appeared on their doorstep one day rain-soaked and desperate. It was all fine until Sirius and Remus moved into their own place together. Sometimes it felt odd to Regulus that he was still here. Like he was intruding on James and Lily, not that they ever said that or even implied it.
Sometimes it was like he was an extension to them. They’d invite him into their room for whatever reason. Sometimes James wanted to talk Quidditch before bed, sometimes Lily wanted help with something she was working on, and sometimes it felt like there was no real reason at all. The part that made it strange to him (not strange enough to stop doing it though) was how he would stay there through the night. He never let himself in the bed with them but he’d fall asleep on the small loveseat in the room. James and Lily never said anything about it. They never even showed that it bothered them. If Regulus didn’t know any better, he’d think they enjoyed it. A part of him hoped they did because secretly he did too.
That wasn’t the oddest thing, though. Ever since he’d been there they would have movie nights. It wasn’t bad at first. It was the whole apartment after all. They’d all squeeze into the living room together once a week and watch whatever muggle movie interested them. Then the other two left, but the movie nights didn't stop. It made the younger Black brother feel like he was intruding on what would be a date night for James and Lily. Well, the idea of it did, because, for whatever reason, the couple included him in a way that felt intimate.
Last week, while watching a film about a predatory shark, they had ended up piled together on the couch. Nothing unusual until it came to how they were together. James and Lily had cuddled up next to each other and before Regulus could process what was happening, he was lying across them with his head in James’s lap and a blanket over him. Occasionally James would run his hand through Regulus’s hair too and Lily would rest her hand on him. They fell asleep like that too. This was what confused him the most because it wasn’t out of the ordinary for movie nights to be like that. All three of them would end up tangled together in some way and they’d fall asleep like that.
Tonight, though, Regulus was planning on missing out on the ritual. Barty and Evan were going clubbing and asked him to join. Normally, he would have said yes without much thought, but he found himself wrestling with the idea at first. Barty had to talk him into it. It wasn’t until Barty said that it couldn't be healthy treating himself like he was a part of James and Lily’s relationship when he wasn’t. That was like a slap in the face because he was right. Regulus secretly enjoyed movie night more than anything because it made him feel like he was part of them. So in the end, he agreed. Now he was sitting at the counter to tell the couple that he’d be absent tonight.
“So,” He gathered their attention, “I know we would all usually watch a movie tonight.”
Lily and James both smiled almost in sync. Lily nodded for him to continue.
“Unfortunately, I’ll be gone tonight. Barty and Evan invited me out and I decided to go.”
It was like both James and Lily had their faces splashed with cold water when the statement left his mouth. Lily stopped stirring the soup she was making and used a spell to keep it going. James folded up his newspaper and set it down in front of him. They both looked distressed by the information. Regulus sat waiting for one of them to speak. For one of them to tell him what he’s done that’s so wrong because he couldn't understand. He thought they’d be happy to have the night to themselves.
“Are you upset with us?” James blurted out.
Lily gave him a side eye before ultimately agreeing with his question and staying silent so the younger wizard could answer.
“No, why would I be upset? I’m just going out with friends, that’s all.”
Regulus’s eyebrows had creased and the corners of his mouth tipped downwards to convey his confusion.
“But,” Lily spoke with just a tad bit of sadness in her tone, “It’s date night tonight.”
Every single thought Regulus had immediately flew out of his head. His mind went absolutely blank. All that was in his head was that Lily called tonight date night.
“...What?” Regulus managed to pull himself together enough to get one word out.
“It’s date night, Reggie, that’s why we’re confused. Why are you going out with Barty and Evan tonight?” James tried to clarify, but he clearly had the wrong idea of where Regulus’s confusion was coming from.
“What do you mean?”
Now somehow the couple looked even more confused than before. He felt like he was in a weird stand-off waiting to see who would speak again first.
“What do YOU mean?” James asked.
“Reg, why are you acting so confused right now?” Lily asked, “I mean you already told us at the start that you know what tonight is.”
“Right, it's movie night.”
“I suppose you could call it that too,” James said.
“That right there!” Regulus spoke louder than he meant to at first, “What do you mean ‘too’? Is it not just movie night?”
“No…” He said slowly, “It’s date night?”
“Regulus, darling, are you sure you're okay?” Lily looked worried now more than she was confused, “Did you hit your head? Are you feeling sick? Do you think you need to go to see a doctor?”
“Doctor? What? No,” Regulus put his face into his hands and took a deep breath before looking at them again.
“Why do you two keep calling tonight 'date night’ if it's the three of us?”
Lily and James eyed one another before Lily, definitely the smarter of the two, seemed to finally catch on to what was happening.
“Regulus… We’re dating. All of us. We thought you knew this,” She said softly, “Remember when we went to that muggle coffee shop three months ago? The conversation we had?”
Regulus thought back until he reached the memory she was talking about. He had been feeling depressed for a few days and the couple invited him to get coffee with them one morning. They practically begged him and then finally with reluctance, he got out of bed to go with them. The three barely had sat down when James started talking about how much they enjoyed his company.
“James, remember what we talked about? Gentle approach,” Lily had lightly scolded him then furthered his thoughts, “What he means is that we really like you, Reg, and we want to ask if you’ll come with us to dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, I can do that,” Regulus had said before adding “I like you guys too. I wouldn't still live with you if I didn’t.”
And that had been the conversation. They moved on to dinner plans afterward then regular day-to-day talk. He had thought they were doing that because they knew he wasn’t feeling good. That they had been reassuring him that they enjoyed his company and liked him as a friend and flatmate. He was now putting together that the conversation had been them asking him out.
The movie night cuddling didn't start until after that day. The frequent invitations to their room and him staying the night with them didn't start until after that day. The light touches, occasional hugs, and pet names he got from them didn't start until after that day. Regulus had been dating James Potter and Lily Evans for three months. And he didn't even know.
“Oh Merlin,” Regulus put his head down on the counter and groaned frustratedly, “I’m an idiot. An actual bloody idiot.”
“What do you mean, Reggie?” James asked.
His tone was as soft as Lily had made hers. They had all put together what was happening by now. The younger wizard lifted his head.
“You two asked me out three months ago in that coffee shop,” Regulus stated, not knowing what else to say.
“Yeah, we thought you said yes.”
“I did, but I thought- I was upset and you guys- I didn't know that’s what you meant.”
The admission hung in the air waiting to be latched on and replied to by one of the other two.
“Oh my- Regulus we’re so sorry,” Lily said rapidly, flushed with embarrassment, “We thought you knew and said yes and we just thought you were taking it slow because that’s the general tone you give off. We’ve been all over you these past few months.”
At that moment, Regulus saw a realization flash across Lily's face.
“Wait, if you didn’t know we had asked you out, then why haven't you told us to stop what we’ve been doing?”
It was Regulus’s turn to feel embarrassed (again) now. His face tinted red up to his ears and his cheeks warmed with the blood rush. He looked down at his hands when he answered, unwilling to look at either of them when he gave his second admission of the day.
“I didn't… because I liked it. I thought if I mentioned it in any way, it would stop.”
For what appeared to be no reason at all, James laughed. Lily’s face looked borderline horrified when he did. Regulus’s eyes were fitted on the Potter along with a glare almost immediately after the sound. The younger wizard opened his mouth to defend himself when James spoke before he could.
“Am I the only one who is finding the humor in this?” He asked with a bright smile.
“What the bloody hell are you going on about, James?” Lily narrowed her eyes, “You better have a good reason for laughing at a time like this.”
“Oh I do,” James sat up straighter, “We thought we’d been dating Reggie for three months. He did not know this, but he accepted our affection because he likes us. He likes us, Lily Pad, and he didn't know we were already dating. It’s a little funny, that’s all.”
Lily stared at James like she wanted to hex him until Regulus smiled and then to the others' surprise, chuckled.
“Fine, you two win. I like you two and somehow did not put together we were already dating,” He said.
“Does this mean I have to mentally change our anniversary date? Cause I already have the other one memorized,” James complained lightheartedly.
Lily had gotten close enough to him to swat the side of his head. He ducked back while smiling and Regulus quietly snorted upon seeing Lily’s annoyed expression.
“We could keep the same date,” Regulus answered with a shrug, “⅔ of the relationship knew it was happening so you're the majority rule.”
James laughed loudly and brightly like he always did.
“Majority rule, eh?” He said, “Lily hasn't answered yet.”
“I think we should change it to today. After all then it’s the real date for all of us,” She replied.
James sighed and checked the calendar on the wall, making a mental note of the date. Regulus smiled a little while looking down at his tea that had gone cold. He slid off his chair and made his way to the house phone. Lily had taught him how to use it and in turn he showed Barty and Evan how to use one.
“What’re you doing?” James questioned curiously.
“Calling Barty and Evan’s apartment to let them know I won't be going out tonight,” Regulus answered while dialing the numbers and then added on an afterthought, “Like you both said, it’s date night.”
Lily laughed and returned to her soup, making sure it hadn’t burned. The phone rang three times and Regulus hoped one of the two wizards were home. After the fifth ring, the phone picked up and he could hear rustling before Barry's voice came in.
“Stupid muggle shit,” He heard his friend mumble.
“Hello?” Barty finally spoke through the phone.
“Hey Barty, it’s Regulus.”
“What’s up? Need more details about tonight? We’re going to that new place on-”
“No, I don't need more information,” Regulus interrupted, “I was just calling to let you know that I can’t go out tonight. I’m staying in with James and Lily.”
He could hear Barty's dramatic groan through the receiver.
“Dude, we talked about this. Why are you staying in with them tonight? It’s not sane.”
“I think it’s very sane.”
“And why is that?”
Regulus smirked even though he knew Barty couldn't see him.
“It’s date night.”
He heard his friend yell something into the phone he had already taken away from his ear. Without another word he hung up the phone. His proud smirk stayed on his face as almost immediately the phone began to ring. He could hear James in the kitchen cracking up with laughter.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
That night, the three of them watched Rocky. Just like it had been for the last three months, they cuddled up together and fell asleep on the couch. Regulus had been in the middle of James and Lily. Lily had rested her legs across the boys’ laps while Regulus leaned into James's side.
The following day, Regulus received an owl with two different letters. One from Barty and one from Pandora. He should've known Barty would tell her what he said. Just like he expected, Barty’s letter was filled with question after question. Pandora’s on the other hand was short and simple. It read: Barty is an idiot and so are you. Meet in Diagon Alley around 3?
Regulus looked over at James and Lily eating breakfast and felt a smile wanting to appear. He then quickly scribbled out a letter to send back. It said: Yes, I have SO much to tell you.