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Chapter Text

“What the fuck is N.. Ne.. Nebraska?” Sirius groans, looking down at his plane ticket, “isn’t that like.. all corn?”

“No,” Orion snaps, his voice cold and distant, “if you were to listen every once in a while-“

He stops when Walburga’s hand finds its way onto his arm. “What your father is trying to say is that your host family is from Nebraska — and no, Sirius, it’s not all corn — I’ve heard it can be quite pretty, actually.”

“Quite pretty? That’s a load of bullshit-“

Regulus rolls his eyes, looking down at his phone.

Are your parents actually making you go to America? That’s some crazy homophobic bs

Regulus, again, rolls his eyes at Narcissa’s text.

Yeah some major bullshit. I swear. Sirius is actually excited. Can you believe that?

“Regulus are you listening to me?” Walburga says, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Sorry, mother.”

“Now, like I was saying. You will. Will. Uphold the family name, even in America. I’m sure the Potters.. are good people… but still. Hold up the name. You have a lot to be proud of.” She points her finger in their faces, making them back off, “I better not hear any bad things from the Potters.”

Regulus and Sirius make eye contact then immediately split, trying not to burst out laughing.

The Blacks are well known in France, having come from money and power. But in America? They don’t care. All they care about is beer and football.

“Flight 765 to Omaha, Nebraska is now boarding.”

“Don’t forget to call when you get there. I want to talk to this.. Fleamont,” Orion says, straightening his shoulders and standing taller.

“Yes father,” Sirius groans, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

“Yes father,” Regulus repeats, unplugging his phone from the wall and putting his charger in his back pack.

“See you next year,” Walburga says before walking off. Orion follows, walking a safe distance away from her. The Blacks don’t show affection in public. That was one of the first rules Regulus learned.

And just like that, the Black brothers are off to a completely different country.

“Do you know anything about the Potters?” Regulus asks Sirius as they find their place on the plane.

“Not really. Mother said it’s the two parents and a kid my age. James,” Sirius says as he hands the ticket to the gate agent, “also mother said they have a dog.”

“Really?” Regulus says, his eyes lighting up. He’s always loved dogs. He also hands his ticket to the flight agent, watching as she scans the barcode.

“Have a nice flight,” The woman says, smiling.

“You too-“ Sirius starts before stopping himself. He clamps his mouth shut and starts to walk down the bridge to the plane.

“Idiot,” Regulus mumbles under his breath. He takes the tickets from the agent, a smile on his face, then walks down the bridge to the airplane.

In all honestly, Regulus isn’t scared. He’s just annoyed. His parents are so unbelievably petty that they are sending Regulus and Sirius to America, the Midwest specifically. People from the Midwest are so homophobic.

“Maybe. Just maybe. A trip to America would set your mind straight,” Walburga threatened after Sirius was caught bringing a boy home.

Sirius finds their seats, luckily, they are sitting right next to each other.

“I call window,” Regulus says, already slithering his way into the window seat.

“But-“

“Nope.”

Sirius groans as he flops down into the middle seat. He curses under his breath as he gets his phone out.

“How long is this flight again?” Sirius asks, turning his phone to airplane mode.

“Fourteen.. hours. Something like that,” Regulus mumbles, already pulling out his headphones.

Sirius groans again as he picks a movie out on the little screen in the back of the seat in-front of them.

Regulus completely ignores the flight attendant at the front of the plane. He’s heard this speech so many times he practically has it memorized. He knows the safety precautions from the flights he would take with his family. The Blacks do a lot of traveling.

Sirius is paying full attention. He does this every time. He gets so paranoid about the idea of crashing then relaxes as soon as they are in the air. Regulus thinks it’s probably not healthy to work himself up like that, but it’s always so funny to see Sirius grip the arm rest as they take off.

—

It’s not even two hours into the flight when Sirius falls asleep. He rolled his head to the side, resting on Regulus’s shoulder. His mouth is slack and slightly open. It didn’t annoy Regulus at first, but now the heavy weight of his brother’s head is pissing him off.

Regulus curses as he sets down his book, marking the page with a book mark. He cradles Sirius’s head in his hands and tilts it, making his head droop over to the other side.

Finally, Regulus can relax and read his book.

That’s until Sirius starts snoring so loud that Regulus can’t focus. He gets a strange urge to cover Sirius’s mouth with a pillow.

Regulus sighs then puts his headphones back in, blasting music so loud to block out his brother’s snores.

—

It’s six hours into the flight when Sirius wakes up again. Regulus had fallen asleep, book in hand. His head is back and tilted, mouth slightly parted.

Sirius groans, reaching up to massage his sore neck from the awkward sleeping position. He turns the movie he was watching back on, putting in his headphones. Then he looks back over at Regulus and sighs.

He carefully slips the book from Regulus’s grasp and puts the bookmark in. Then, ever so gently, he coaxes Regulus’s head to his shoulder. He doesn’t want Regulus to wake up with a sore neck.

That’s the thing about Sirius. He’s always looking out for Regulus, even if he doesn’t know it. Sirius has taken the brunt of the abuse from his parents. The screaming. The yelling. The fists. Sirius has taken it over and over again so Regulus doesn’t have too. And he’d do it over and over and over again, if it guarantees Regulus is safe.

He loves Regulus, even if he doesn’t say it.

“Soda?” A flight attendant passes by with a cart, her very thick American accent catching Sirius off guard.

“Pardon?”

“Soda?” She repeats, gesturing to the cart.

“Right… errr… waters fine,” Sirius mumbles, his eyes scanning the cart.

“And for your friend?”

“Waters fine for him too.”

And there he goes again, taking care of Regulus without Regulus knowing.

—

The fourteen hours to America is the most boring fourteen hours Regulus has ever felt. He woke up with four hours left in the flight. He finished his book with two hours left. Sirius fell back asleep with an hour left. Regulus has been staring at the map on the screen, watching as they fly over different states.

Regulus opens the screen to the window, looking down as they pass squares of green and brown. It’s different from flying over France. France, all you can see are cities or just green. In the US, you can see squares of farm land, gravel roads, and barely any cities for miles.

Regulus likes watching the squares go past, so that’s what he does. He doesn’t even realize as Sirius wakes up and packs his things up. He doesn’t even realize that the plane had started to descend until the seatbelt light came on. He quickly fastened it over his stomach then looks back out the window. They are so low now that Regulus can make out cars on the busy streets of Omaha. There’s a river right next to the airport, one that Regulus assumes is the border. He’s done a decent amount of research, thank you very much.

Finally, after what feels like ages, the plane touches the ground. They pull into the gate and wait, wait some more, then are cleared to get off the plane. Regulus quickly packs his things up, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Sirius does the same. They both walk off the plane; Regulus curses at somebody that bumps into him.

Eppley Airfield is so tiny it makes Regulus feel out of place. There aren’t many gates and they are all in the same terminal. Regulus scans the room. In the middle is a small shop, which has a large shelf for books and magazines. There is a bar with basically no one in it expect an old guy with a beer.

“Where do we.. go?” Sirius mumbles, standing next to Regulus.

“Baggage claim?”

“Right, probably.. and where’s that?” Regulus points to a sign that leads them to baggage claim. They walk around the corner of the airport, back through security, around the Scooters (an American coffee shop) and down the escalator. They finally reach baggage claim, which only has two sad little carousels. Sirius quickly finds their bags.

“Now what?” Regulus asks, yawning. The jet lag is starting to kick in, making him increasingly tired.

“Um.. well.. I texted the Fleamont guy that we made it off the plane.. so.. he should be here soon. He said he’s in a red truck,” Sirius mumbles, rereading the text Monty sent him.

“Right.”

“That one?” Regulus points through the glass doors.

“No.. that one’s too nice… he said it’s pretty beat down.” The two brothers walk out the glass doors and onto the sidewalk outside of the airport.

Regulus won’t lie, Omaha doesn’t smell great, but it’s nothing compared to Paris. Paris is filled with so many people, so many factories, that Omaha seems refreshing. Omaha is a small city compared to some others. Regulus likes it.

“Do these people live in Omaha?” Regulus asks, almost hopeful.

“No,” Sirius mutters, looking down at the photo Monty sent of his truck.

Well, the little tiny flicker of hope Regulus had is now gone.

“They live like.. 30 minutes from here. That’s what mother said at least. Johnson.. something. County maybe? I don’t know. It’s a small town though.”

Perfect. Just perfect.

Finally, a beat down Ford pulls into the pick up lane. It’s diesel. Regulus can tell because he can smell it.

A man gets out of the truck and walks over to them.

“Sirius and Regulus?” He says, his voice gravelly and deep and so American.

“Mhm.” Sirius gazes up at him, not slightly imitated. If anything, he’s interested. Monty is tall, strong, and tan, but something about him is so soft. He has round circle glasses and dark brown hair. He’s in a red shirt with jeans, and actual boots. Like the ones Regulus would see in movies. He smells like his truck and tobacco. The smell of tobacco is overwhelming.

“Well, we better get going,” Monty says, quickly lifting their heavy bags into the back of his truck with no effort at all, “excuse the mess. Busy week at work.”

Sirius and Regulus climb into the back seat. Regulus awkwardly fiddles with his fingers as Sirius falls into a light conversation with Monty.

“Well,” Monty mumbles through a mouth full of chewing tobacco, “James is quite the football player. Quarterback.”

“Wait, like real football? With the pads and stuff?”

“What do you mean- oh. Do y’all not have football back in France?”

“Well, no.”

Monty almost looks offended. He spends the entire car ride to Johnson County rambling on about football. He talks about the NFL and college football. Apparently, the Potters are big Eagles fans, since that’s where Monty grew up.

Regulus observes Omaha through the back window. There is basically nobody walking, almost everyone is driving. They drive past a little league field, where a club baseball team is having practice. Sirius swoons over that.

“I’ve always wanted to play baseball.”

They drive past UNO, the University of Nebraska- Omaha.

“That’s where I went to school,” Monty says “where I met my Effie.”

Regulus notices the amount of confusing roads and mentally notes to figure them out. There’s a bunch of merging and passing that goes on. Monty does it without even thinking. Regulus admires that.

After a while, they make it out of Omaha and onto the interstate.

“This, if you keep going, will lead ya to Lincoln, but we get off only a couple miles onto the interstate,” Monty explains, carefully timing when to switch lanes.

“Lincoln?” Sirius asks, moving his gaze from the window to Monty.

“It’s the capital. It’s smaller than Omaha, though. Where UNL is and everything. You get the gist,” Monty explains lazily, looking over his shoulder and switching lanes.

“Oh.”

The car falls back into a comfortable silence as they make it off the interstate. The road to Johnson County is gravelly and bumpy. Monty turns left past a gas station and up the hill.

“Thought I should show ya. This is the high school you’ll go to.” Monty slows down and drives past the high school. It’s tiny, almost a third of the size of the one back home. Regulus notices the football field, which is way larger than he expected them to be. The bleachers on the side are really tall, almost scarily tall. “James will be driving you to school each day. He has a drivers license and everything.”

Monty drives past the high school and down a hill, onto yet another dirt road. This time, Monty takes a left and pulls into an old farmhouse.

It’s white with a long wrap around porch. Each window has a flower pot, blooming with different types of flowers. The windows are open, along with the screen door. There’s rocking chairs on the porch, a basketball hoop in the driveway, another truck, and an above ground pool in the back. The entire property is enclosed with trees, casting shade over the home. In the back, Regulus can spot an old barn.

Monty parks the truck and turns it off, getting out and walking to the back to get their bags. Regulus and Sirius quickly make eye contact then get out at the same time, Regulus’s shoes squeaking ontop the mud.

It smells much nicer out here than it does in Omaha. It’s fresh and clean. Refreshing. Regulus can smell something cooking from the house and his stomach involuntarily grumbles. He curses himself then walks around the truck to help Monty get their bags out.

“I just want to warn you. My wife is very excited to meet you two,” Monty chuckles, walking towards the porch. A golden retriever pads over from the other side of the house, then immediately breaks out into a run when it notices Monty. “Well, hello buddy.”

Monty kneels down and pets the dog. Regulus now sees what’s so soft about Monty. He’s not scary, just a big man with a heart to match it.

“Boys, this is our doggy, Buddy,” Monty says, moving Buddy by his collar to face the two Black brothers.

“Hi, Buddy,” Sirius greets, ruffling the dog’s fur. Regulus steps forward and pets the dog as well, a soft smile on his lips.

“James should be getting home soon so let’s get you two settled,” Monty says, effortlessly lifting the two bags into his shoulders and walking in the house. Sirius whistles under his breath then follows.

The house makes Regulus stops in his tracks. He felt like he was wrapped in a warm hug the moment he stepped in. The shoes aren’t neat beside the door, instead thrown into a pile. Both Regulus and Sirius take off their shoes and place them neatly. The house smells like vanilla, baked goods, and laundry.There are so many photos on the walls, Regulus doesn’t even know where to start. Nothing about the house is perfect, and that’s what makes it so perfect.

There are clothes on the floor, some of which Regulus assumes belongs to James. A backpack has been long forgotten by the back door. Their mail and keys are all tossed into one bowl on the counter. Winter clothes have been tucked underneath the counter in an old laundry basket, a glove hanging off the side.

Regulus follows Sirius and Monty through the house. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are all an open floor plan. There are flowers in every single room, all in full bloom. The windows are all open, including all the screen doors.

Monty leads them both up the stairs, “so. The room at the end of the hall is mine and Effie’s, this one,” Monty knocks on a door, “is James’s. These two are yours. And then the bathroom is right here.”

Sirius and Regulus nod at the same time. Monty opens the first door.

“This one is Sirius’s.” The room is smaller than Sirius’s back home, but a part of him likes that. There is a dresser, a desk, a twin sized bed, and a large window. On the bed is a tiny box with a hoodie next to it.

Welcome Home, Sirius - Love, the Potters

Sirius almost, almost, tears up as he reads the note. Inside the box is a bottle of shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, a small bottle of cologne, and a box of chocolate. The hoodie says Johnson County Central High School . It’s a maroon color with the letters in white.

“Thank you,” Sirius mumbles, his fingers tracing over the letters.

“We’ll let you settle in. Cmon, Regulus,” Monty waves Regulus along to the room next door. The room is almost identical to Sirius’s. Almost everything is the exact same way. Monty sets his suitcase down and slowly closes the door, giving him space.

On the bed is a care package identical to the one Sirius got, except his hoodie is gray with maroon lettering. Regulus sets his stuff in the box and gently closes it, putting it on the nightstand. He flops down on the bed and falls asleep so quickly that he doesn’t remember closing his eyes.

—

“Get up, asshole, it’s time for lunch,” Sirius shakes him awake.

“Mm..” Regulus groans, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He’s so unbelievably jet lagged.

“Cmon. Get up.” Sirius drags him by his arm and forces him to get up. He ruffles Regulus’s messy hair slightly, trying to fix it. “Good enough. Let’s go.”

Sirius leads the way down to the dining room. Regulus almost melts at the smell of a home cooked meal. He feels like he could eat literally anything. Monty is sitting at the head of the table, reading the paper. A woman, who Regulus assumes is Effie, is plating food for them.

“Ah, how nice of you to join us,” Monty mumbles, mouth full of chew, “James will be here soon. He just had to finish up some football conditioning. Sit, make yourselves comfortable.”

Effie comes over with plates of food and Sirius greet in a typical French way, two kisses on the side of her cheeks. She blushes and tenses.

“Idiot,” Regulus mumbles. Even he knows that in America kissing people on the cheeks is not a custom.

“What? What did I?” Sirius asks, genuinely confused.

Effie sets down her plates of food, a soft smile on her lips, “that’s not a custom in America, darling. You either shake hands or hug.”

Sirius blushes so fast that Regulus has to cover his mouth to keep him from laughing.

“I’m so sorry, miss. I didn’t realize-“

“It’s okay, darling, just don’t go around doin’ that. Most Americans won’t appreciate it.” Effie smiles then walks back into the kitchen. Sirius slumps down into his chair. Regulus makes eye contact with Monty, who’s smiling into his paper.

“Oh, go on ahead and eat you two, don’t wait up for me!” Effie says from the kitchen.

Regulus feels odd with the permission to eat before everyone is at the table. Clearly, Sirius doesn’t because he’s diving into the food before Effie even finished her sentence.

In the Black family, you’re always supposed to wait until everyone is at the table until you eat. Sirius, obviously, hasn’t been good at following that rule. Regulus has watched him pop a couple mouthfuls of food into his mouth before his parents sat down.

So, slowly, Regulus reaches over and grabs himself a sandwich; ham, cheese, mayo, and bread. He also grabs a spoonful of fruit and a handful of chips. He felt so sickeningly American in this moment.

That’s when the front door swung open.

“Buddy, seriously, your paws are- ma! You didn’t tell me that they were going to be here now!” James exclaims, quickly jumping out of sight.

Regulus caught a glimpse of his bare chest.

James quickly puts a shirt on then walks into the kitchen, face slightly pink. He’s sweating, his dark hair sticking to his forehead.

Regulus blinks, looking from Monty to James. They look so alike. Same hair. Same skin tone. Same glasses. Same nose. But James had Effie’s eyes, that’s for sure.

“Sorry, honey, I thought your father told you,” Effie says, sliding a glass of lemonade to Sirius and Regulus. “Well, this is Sirius.”

Sirius lifts his gaze and waves, his mouth full of food.

“And Regulus.”

“Hey,” James says, smiling.

“Hi,” Regulus says, his French accent immediately causing James to blush even more. 

Chapter Text

“You are much too thin, darlin’, much too thin,” Effie says, loading Regulus’s plate with more food at dinner that night. Regulus and Sirius both make eye contact, wondering what the food was. Regulus can see tater tots and hamburger.

James is happily chewing away, talking to his father with a mouth full: “N’, Pa, Evan sai’d that he can’t play til’ his ankles he’aled.”

“James Fleamont Potter,” Effie says, her hands on her hips, “don’t talk with your mouth full.”

James swallows, “sorry, ma.”

Effie chuckles and smacks James over the head with a tea towel. Monty laughs, pouring a bit of hot sauce over his food.

Regulus looks down at it, and honestly, it doesn’t look that good. It’s a slop, basically, of tater tots, meat, and cheese. Next to it is a small salad with ranch and a bowl of berries. Regulus looks over at Sirius to see him thinking the same thing.

“Right, this must be new to you,” Effie says, wiping down the counters with her tea towel.  She had noticed their matching confused expressions and smiled. “It’s tater tot casserole. A Midwest essential.”

“Ma’s is the best,” James chimes in, shoving another forkful into his mouth before finishing his previous bite.

Cautiously, Regulus lifts his fork and scoops up some of the casserole. He gingerly lifts it to his mouth, then his eyes widen in surprise. It’s such a plain and basic meal, but it sends a surge of warmth through his body.

Sirius, seeing Regulus’s reaction, lifts a forkful to his mouth and immediately reacts the same way.

“Good?” Effie says, smiling like she already knows the answer.

Both Sirius and Regulus nod at the same time. The brothers quickly finish the food, already getting seconds.

Effie smiles as Monty comes into the kitchen. He quickly swoops down to kiss her cheek while he pours himself a glass of whiskey. Regulus sees James’s nose wrinkle in mock disgust and he smiles.

“So,” Monty says as he sits back down, swirling the whiskey in the cup. “I know it’s your first night, but better early. We give this talk to James every year. No need to be alarmed.”

Sirius and Regulus both make eye contact, quickly swallowing and focusing their eyes on Monty. Sirius can’t see it, but Regulus has the tiniest hint of fear in his eyes.

“We told Sirius this when we sent him off to school. No. Boys,” Orion had said, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

“It’s nothing serious, I assure you,” Monty says, his voice quickly soothing Regulus’s nerves. Effie sits down next to Monty, lacing her hand in his.

“So, both me and Monty don’t.. necessarily.. care if you drink, just as long as you’re safe,” Effie says, “it’s either here, at the Lupin’s, Pettigrew’s or Mckinnon’s, or I have to know their parents. Simple, right?”

Both Regulus and Sirius nod. Regulus swallows the lump in his throat. He’s genuinely surprised at how lenient the Potters are. They don’t care, they just want all of their kids safe.

“No drinking. Ever. None. If I ever find out you did, you will. Will. Get punished,” Orion said lazily, yawning as he talked.

“Me and Monty don’t like to be too strict, darlin’, we just like making sure you’re safe, is all. People in this town take care of each other, but you can never be too sure. Now, either of ya don’t have to do this if you don’t want, but we would like you to join our family circle.”

“Give me your phone, Regulus Black, I need to track you.”

“You, of course, don’t have to do this if you don’t want,” Monty assures, “it’s just a safety precaution. We have James’s at all times.”

James nods, bored by his parent’s speech.

Hesitantly, both Sirius and Regulus hand over their phones, already unlocked. They’ve never had the privilege of locking their phones.

“Sirius Orion Black, if you don’t take this passcode of your phone!” Walburga screamed one time. Sirius had accidentally left his phone downstairs.

“Oh, no, dearie, that would be an invasion of your privacy. I’ll let you two do it. Just send me your number and I’ll add you, simple as that,” Effie assures, pushing their phones back with her palm. Both Regulus and Sirius look shocked, but they put their phones back.

“One last thing,” Monty says, “eyes on me, boys, all of you.”

All three boys look up at Monty.

“I’m not sure what you’re into.. err.. sexually.. but me and Effie will support you no matter what.”

All three boys blush, looking away from each other.

“Okay, haha, be quiet now, pa,” James mutters, his tan cheeks painted with pink.

—

After two slices of cherry pie, a cup of tea, and two servings of tater tot casserole. Regulus is properly stuffed. Not in a bad way, he noticed, in a way that makes Regulus feel warm. Warm and loved. Loved in a way his parents never made him feel.

“No food for you tonight, Regulus. You didn’t score enough on your test.”

So yes, technically, Sirius took the fists and the kicks. The yelling and the screaming. Sirius beared the physical abuse.

But Regulus took the emotional. His parents always made him feel like he wasn’t enough, a weight constantly pushing down on his shoulders. If he didn’t meet the right grade? no food. If he didn’t get a good score on his piano performance? No bed. Literally, Orion took his bed out of his bedroom once.

But here, in Nebraska of all places, he feels safe and warm and loved.

He’s been lying in his bed, listening to the cicadas chirp outside. James suggested he sleep with the windows open.

“Ma and Pa don’t like using the heater in the summers. Gets too hot. I think it gets too cold at night, so I always sleep with the window open.” James said after their third game of UNO. Effie and Monty suggested all three boys go upstairs and play, but after the first game they got bored and started talking.

Regulus smiles, thinking back to earlier that night. James isn’t want Regulus thought he was going to be. Regulus thought he would be just like the movies. A stereotypical jock. Annoying, cocky, arrogant-

You get the point.

But James is the opposite. He’s a ball of sunshine. His laugh is so contagious that it made Regulus smile. James’s smile is so wide, Regulus wonders how his mouth doesn’t cramp. James told them all about his friends, which in Regulus’s opinion, he has too many. Regulus can’t remember the names of them all, but there definitely was a Remus, Evan.. and a Barty.

James also talks, like a lot. He talked their ears off. Of course, Sirius matched it. Regulus stayed quiet. Just observing.

Regulus falls asleep with a soft smile on his face, listening to the crickets chirp.

——

“They are from France, Remus,” James says, opening his can of Coke.

James went to Remus’s work, or more like Remus’s bar, after his football conditioning. He’s sweaty, gross, and his shirt is sticking to his skin but neither of them seem to care.

The Lupins moved to Nebraska from Wyoming for a reason James still doesn’t know, but it’s been a few months since then and Remus is James’s best-friend. They bought a small bar in town and have owned it ever since. Remus still hasn’t told James why they moved, but James assumes it has something to do with the scar on Remus’s collarbone and his limp.

“So, these, Black brothers are.. French? From Paris? With the accents and everything?” Remus asks, chopping the tomatoes for the line upstairs. James and Remus are both in the prep room, Remus actually doing work while James talks his ear off. Remus isn’t actually interested. He has work to do.

“Yes, Remus. One’s name is Sirius and the others is Regulus,” James rambles, mindlessly turning a tomato in his hand. Remus snatches it and starts to cut.

Remus chuckles at the look on James’s face, “like the stars?”

“Huh?”

“Regulus and Sirius are star names, idiot.” Remus rolls his eyes.

Remus took an astrology class in his big high school in his old big city. He used to live in Cheyenne, which in reality isn’t that big of a city, but it’s huge compared to where he lives now.

Everything changed on March 10th, 2024. Remus had just turned sixteen, and by just, I mean literally that day. He was driving down his neighborhood street, waving his parents goodbye as he set off to the coffee shop down the highway.

It was supposed to be a simple drive, an easy drive. A drive he had done a million times with his parents in the car.

But somehow it ended with his car rolled over in the ditch.

In all honesty, he doesn’t remember anything after that. He remembers the taste of his blood and the screaming of his parents. But after that it’s a blank.

He remembers waking up days later in a stiff hospital bed, his body aching, especially his left leg. He remembers hearing his parents talk to the doctors about treatment and something about Omaha.

“They have really good physical therapy in Omaha. It’s relatively inexpensive. Hopefully.. he’ll have full use of his leg.” One doctor had said, rambling so quickly Remus didn’t understand.

It was only a week later that their family was off. Remus was in the backseat, his leg, which was still bandaged and wrapped, was propped up on the middle seat. His collarbone hurt like hell. Apparently, when the window shattered, glass fell all over him. Cutting his face, his sides, and the largest one, his collarbone.

His wheelchair was shoved into the seat next to him.

The physical therapy did end up helping. He was able to walk with a cane after 3 months, and after 6 he was able to walk on his own.

His parents found a small house in Johnson County and they quickly moved out of Omaha and into the small town. Hope had always dreamed of owning a restaurant, so when the opportunity of a bar came across, they couldn’t resist.

It’s been a year since Remus’s accident, and sometimes he forgets it ever happened. He forgets the life before this one. Of course, he still has bad days. Some where he can’t walk without a cane or can’t bend his neck a certain way. Some days, he can run with the kids in the park, or chase after James when James steals his clothes.

James still doesn’t know about his accident, but he never asks questions about it. He doesn’t ask questions on days where Remus doesn’t want to hang out. He doesn’t ask questions when Remus doesn’t want to go play baseball in the field. He doesn’t ask questions when Remus wears a shirt to the pool or the river.

Remus appreciates James so much, so damn much, except for when he shows up while he’s working.

“James, yknow I love you, but please be quiet so I don’t cut my finger,” Remus groans, adjusting his knife on the onion again. “And anyways, aren’t your new friends coming home from their thing soon?”

James didn’t seem to pick up on the annoyed tone in Remus’s voice. Remus is so tired and his leg is starting to ache and he just wants to finish his work.

“Oh, shit, yeah, you’re right,” James says, glancing down at his phone. His wallpaper is a photo of Remus, James, Marlene, Peter, and Dorcas. James was playing the gutiar while Dorcas sings. “Hey, I think I’ll ask Ma if we can come here for dinner. Want to join?”

Remus internally groans. He doesn’t want to join the Potters for dinner. As much as he loves Effie and Monty, it’s so much work to be around so many people. And new people? No thank you. But Remus doesn’t really have a choice. He would rather spend dinner surrounded by people that like him instead of chopping vegetables.

“Fine.”

“Okay, see you later,” James grins, his eyes flashing behind his glasses. He picks up his football bag and pads then leaves, but not before saying goodbye to Hope and Lyall.

“He’s a good boy,” Hope says, sitting down in the chair James was.

Hope is an older woman. Remus’s parents had him at an older age, so Hope’s hair is already starting to grey and Lyall is already starting to bald.

“Yeah, whatever,” Remus mumbles, shifting the way he’s sitting. Today is one of his badder days, ones where his leg is aching. It rarely ever hurts anymore, it just aches.

“Leg?” Lyall says, looking over his shoulder at Remus. He’s been doing paperwork all day and he looks so tired, so damn tired.

“M’ okay, dad.”

“Go lay down.”

“Dad-“

“Remus John Lupin, if you don’t get your ass out of the chair.”

Remus groans and sets his knife down, quickly scooping the vegetable in a container. Remus sets the knife in the sink, wincing at the look on Gideon’s face. Gideon is the dishwasher at the bar. He’s been working there since before the Lupins bought it.

“Sorry, Gid,” Remus mutters, looking at the stack of plates Gideon still has to wash.

“It’s fine,” Gideon grumbles, but Remus doesn’t miss the way he curses under his breath.

Remus gets his keys off the counter, shifting them slightly in his hands. After they moved to Nebraska, Remus wouldn’t even touch the keys. Lyall had suggested taking him driving but every time Remus would refuse. It took Remus almost 5 months to finally even pick the keys up.

Now he’s able to drive. He doesn’t even attempt going to Omaha or Lincoln. He either has his parents take him or sometimes James.

He’s able to drive the short two minutes back home without freaking out, even if he goes ten miles under the speed limit.

“Bye mom, bye dad.” Remus waves and Hope and Lyall look up at the same time, waving goodbye to Remus.

Remus heavily sighs as he limps out to the truck. It’s a small, beat down blue one, but it’s all Remus wanted. It’s all enough that he can easily get in and out of it. He grabs the handle and pulls himself into the drivers seat, clicking the key into place.

He starts to drive home. It’s a calm and peaceful drive, expect for when he passes another car. His hands clench the wheel so tight, trying to stay on his side of the road.

Get it together, Remus.

Remus lets out a breath as the tiny car passes. Now it’s just a straight shot home.

Calm down, Remus, you’re fine.

Remus pulls into the driveway of his home. Safe and sound.

Chapter Text

Remus feels really out of place at the table. It’s literally his family’s bar, yet he feels weird. James is on his left, his leg pressing against Remus’s bad one. It aches, oh how it aches, but he won’t say anything. His friends are more important right now. Hope, his mother, and Lyall, his father, are sitting across from them, next to Monty and Effie. Effie has been talking to Hope all night and Monty has been making small talk to the Black brothers. One of the Black brothers is on Remus’s right.

In all honesty, he already forgot their names.

The one on his right is taller than the other, but shorter than both Remus and James. He’s got long, silky black hair that almost reaches his shoulders. Hidden behind his hair, is a little tattoo right under his ear. Two stars right next to each other. He has pale skin, like really pale, almost to the point Remus wonders if he’s healthy. The Black brother is also strong, like really strong. Remus can see it in the way his muscles flex when he reacts for something.

The other one is next to the taller one. He’s shorter than all of them, but only by a couple inches. His hair is neatly trimmed and the same color black as the other brother. He has barely noticeable freckles on his cheeks. From what Remus can see, his skin is completely unmarked and the same pale color as the other Black. He has a lot of rings on his slim fingers.

Remus is also amused by the way that they act. Both of them ordered a salad with water, while everyone else at the table either got wings or a burger. The brothers both put a napkin in their laps, almost automatically, and both of them don’t put their elbows on the table.

Remus glances over at James, who has buffalo sauce all over his face. Remus doesn’t understand how someone can be so messy. He has sauce all over his lips, a bit on the collar of his shirt, and on the frame of his glasses. He’s smiling at Lyall, talking his ear off about football.

“Yeah, so, basically, I’m the quarterback, right? Evan’s playing wide receiver once his ankles healed, but if you ask me his ankle is fine, he just doesn’t want to go to conditioning,” James mumbles with a mouth full of food.

Lyall chuckles, “well, kiddo, I don’t blame him. From the looks of it, conditioning is giving you hell.”

“Definitely, sir, I can barely walk. My legs hurt so bad. We ran 20 in 20s yesterday. Which is 20 hundred yard sprints in 20 minutes,” James rambles, “Fabian passed out on the 17th. It was hot yesterday.”

“Telling my secrets, are we?” Fabian says. James jumps and whips his head around.

Fabian and Gideon, the Prewett identical twins, have worked at Lupin’s Bar since before they bought it. Gideon is a dishwasher and works in the back, mostly keeping to himself. Remus has notices he’s shy like that, he likes being in the back.

Fabian, on the other hand, is a server. He likes being able to help people. He likes talking to people he knows and serving them.

“Sorry, Fab, just talking about the 20 in 20s from yesterday,” James says, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Ah, brutal, those were,” Fabian flashes a smile, cleaning up the wing basket from in front of James. “It was hot yesterday, Mr. Lupin, I promise I wasn’t just weak. I’ve been sick, yknow that.”

“I do, which is why I asked you to take the day off,” Lyall says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Can’t do that, Mr. Lupin!” Fabian calls over his shoulder as he walks to the next table.

“I didn’t know he was behind me,” James mumbles embarrassingly, wiping his hands on another napkin.

Lyall chuckles, “that’s alright. Fabian is quite the sweetheart.”

“That I am!” Fabian calls from the table over, causing that table to break out in laughter.

Remus smiles, looking down at his own half eaten burger. It’s good, really good, no doubt Molly’s cooking.

Molly Prewett, the younger sister of the twins, is the head chef. At the age of 16. Honestly, Remus is really impressed by her. She’s only a year younger than him, but she cooks amazingly. She has the same red hair that her brothers have, but she isn’t as slim and as tall.

“So,” Effie announces, setting her fork down in her wing basket, “I was thinking that the boys could have Remus over tonight for a bonfire, only if your okay with it, Hope.”

Hope, Remus’s mother, immediately nods, “of course. It’ll be good for him.”

Remus internally groans. He really, really, really, doesn’t want to be sat around a campfire with all of James’s friends and his new brothers.

God, James is lucky Remus loves him.

“James, darlin’, you can invite who you want,” Effie says, politely cleaning up the plates and baskets.

“Well, we better get back to work. Thank you for inviting us to dinner. Don’t worry about the price, it’s on the house,” Lyall says, giving Effie a quick hug and Monty a firm handshake. (Remus didn’t miss how Monty slipped a 20 under a plate for Fabian) “Nice talking to you, James.”

James smiles, “nice to see you too, Mr. Lupin!”

“And, of course, nice to meet you, Sirius and Regulus,” Lyall says, reaching over to shake their hands.

Ah, there it was

Remus remembers their names.

Sirius and Regulus.

The star brothers.

—

Regulus feels really out of place. James introduced all of his friends to them, but he doesn’t remember all of them.

The ones closest to him are two boys. One of them is taller and he has dark black hair. It’s short and the ends are a faded green. He’s dressed in a Johnson County faded t-shirt with jeans that have holes in them. Not cut out holes, faded holes. He has a silver chain dangling from one of the belt loops.

Don’t even get Regulus started on the man’s converse. The black on them has faded so much that its a dark gray now. The once white soles are now a gross brown from mud. The left shoe is being held together by a long strip of gray duck tape.

The man standing on his left is smoking a cigarette. He’s shorter than the dark haired man but only by a couple inches. This man has pure white hair with pale skin and very noticeable freckles. He’s dressed in an AC/DC black sweatshirt with jeans and clean white converse.

On the other side of the bonfire is a group of four girls.

The one on the far left is a redhead. She’s a bit chubby with large hips and a round stomach. She’s not very tall but not too short either. Her hair is a fire red with matching brown freckles all over her skin. She’s wearing an oversized red crewneck with black joggers and a pair of white On-Clouds.

The girl next to her is really tall, like really tall. She has brown skin with short curly brown hair. Regulus thinks she’s dressed really cute, with a pink top and jeans. She’s also got the cutest pair of converse he’s ever seen; they are white with tiny pink bows all around them.

Next to them, is a couple of girls. Regulus remembers that they are both openly lesbian.

One of them has dark skin with braids to her legs. The braids have threads of dark red in them and gold accents. She’s very tall with long legs and long arms. She’s wearing a soft blue hoodie with leggings and a pair of sandals.

The other girl is blonde. Her hair is short and shaggy. Her ear is covered in piercings, along with one on her nose and her lip. She’s dressed in a warm, red, Johnson County sweatshirt with a bottom bell pair of jeans and brown boots.

Regulus thought she contradicted herself. She’s dressed like a stereotypical cowgirl, but her hair and piercings make her look like she’s from the city.

Regulus directs his gaze over to the group of boys on the other side of the fire.

“Idiot! You don’t- JAMES!” Remus exclaims as James pours a bit more lighter fluid over the fire.

“What?” James says, a mock innocent smile on his face.

Next to them, is a shyer boy. He’s round and shorter than the rest of them. He has sand colored hair and light skin. He’s wearing a soft blue hoodie with jeans and boots.

He’s talking to Sirius, who he’s taken a liking too.

Regulus is envious of Sirius. He’s so easily fit into a group of people while Regulus is sitting by the fire, slowly sipping a can of Coke.

“Regulus, right?” The green haired man says, sitting down on the log next to him. The freakishly pale boy sits on his other side.

“Err.. yeah.”

“I’m Barty. Barty Crouch Jr and this is my friend Evan.” He gestures his thumb to Evan. Evan smiles and nods, lighting another cigarette.

Soon enough, the group falls into a soft conversation. Evan talks about his football career. (And how James was right about him faking his ankle injury).

Barty tells Regulus the names of everyone again, and Regulus actually remembers.

The red-headed girl’s name is Lily Evans. She’s really sweet, according to Barty, and on track to be valedictorian.

The girl next to her, with the curly hair, is named Mary Macdonald. Evan says she’s really nice and gives the best advice. She’s also the best singer in the school, getting all the solos for the choir concerts.

The dark-skinned girl is Dorcas Meadowes. Barty says she’s also very sweet. She’s a good singer as well, but she’s more into show choir than concert choir. She also tutors freshman in her free periods.

Next to Dorcas, is her girlfriend, Marlene. She’s the one with the shaggy blonde hair and the abundance of piercings. Evan says she’s been going to Johnson County since she was a baby, growing up with Peter and James. She’s very cocky, Evan says, but she sticks up for the ones she loves.

Evan quickly skims over Remus, since Regulus already knows him. Remus is very book smart. He’s quiet at first, but doesn’t shut up once you crack his shell. Also, according to Evan, he sometimes has a mysterious limp, which Remus blames on a sprained ankle, but Evan doesn’t buy that.

Finally, the rounded man next to them, is named Peter. Barty says he’s really shy and doesn’t talk much, but he’s good friends with James. They grew up together.

“Okay, I think that’s all of them,” Barty groans, lifting up his hand to count everyone off, “Peter, Marlene, Dorcas, Lily, Remus, and Mary.”

—

James loves bonfires. They have always been a way to connect in the Midwest.

When he was younger, his parents would invite their friends over to drink around a fire.

Now, James gets to invite his friends over to hang out.

He likes having people at his house, so he feels disappointed when they have to leave.

“Thanks for having us, James,” Marlene says, wrapping her arms around James in a quick hug. James relished in it, smelling her perfume. A floral scent with a hint of vanilla.

“No problem, Mar, anytime.”

Marlene pulled back and smiled, taking Dorcas’s hand and walking to her truck.

A pang of disappointment.

Next was Lily. She grabbed her bag of popcorn she brought then wrapped her arms around James, “thank you, James.”

“No problem, Lils.”

Lily smiles then moves to give Remus a hug.

A pang of disappointment.

Next was Mary, with a quick hug to James and Remus, she was off.

A pang of disappointment.

Finally, was Peter. He waved at them all as he climbed into the front seat of his old Chevy.

A pang of disappointment.

“Ma said I could stay,” Remus shrugs, helping James clean up the trash from the get together.

James’s heart heals slightly.

“Good.”

James loves Remus.

Chapter Text

“Not fair! I called it first!” Sirius groans, his fist limp on the door. He slams his hip into the door, then immediately feels bad, mentally apologizing to the door.

“Ha! You’re too slow!” Regulus teases through the door, laughing.

Regulus and Sirius both wanted to shower after the bonfire. Regulus hates the smell of the fire and so does Sirius. So, they both ran up the stairs to the shower.

“Reg! I called it!” Sirius groans.

“I beat you!” Regulus laughs, his voice sing-song.

Sirius whines are cut off by the sound of the shower running. “You suck.”

“You swallow.”

“Fuck you.”

Sirius slumps down and walks back to James’s room. James clearly doesn’t mind the smell of a bonfire, because he’s already in pajama pants and a sleep shirt. Remus is sitting on James’s bed, his phone propped up on his knee.

Sirius notices that Remus always has his left leg straight, always in front of him. It’s almost like having his leg straight hurts him.

Sirius wants to know what that’s about.

“So, this is my room,” James waves his hand around, “mi casa es tu casa.”

Remus snorts at James’s Spanish, “dude, you need to pay attention in class.”

Sirius’s eyes scan the room. He’s caught glimpses of it, through the door frame, but he’s never actually seen it.

It’s a soft brown color with white baseboards. The window is open, with red curtains framing the nigh sky. On the windowsill is a tiny potted plant, no doubt from his mother.

James’s walls paint a story of his life.

Posters are scattered over the wall, hung up with different colored thumbtacks.

Sirius wonders if Effie and Monty don’t mind if James puts holes in the walls with tacks.

The posters are of sports teams, Philadelphia Eagles and the Phillies are the pro teams. UNL Cornhuskers, UNO Mavericks, K-State Wildcats, and Iowa State Cyclones are all college posters. There are posters of his old teams, some from when he was a kid and some from now.

In random places on his wall are photos. Sirius can make out ones of him and Peter. Others of James and Remus. A few of the whole group; Evan, Barty, Remus, James, Marlene, Peter, Dorcas, Lily, and Mary. One picture is of James and Lily.

Lily is pressing a kiss to James’s cheek. James is smiling, his glasses crooked. It’s right after a football game. James is sweaty and gross, his hair sticking to his skin. Lily’s red hair is slicked back into a bubble braid. She’s wearing his jersey over her cheer uniform.

Another photo is of James as a kid. He’s slung over Fleamont’s shoulders, his little mouth open in a laugh. Fleamont has his head turned, looking at his son.

“Pretty nice, huh?” James says, leaning back against the bed frame. He laces his fingers together and place them behind his head.

“Your parents don’t mind if you put a hole in the wall? With the tacks?” Sirius asks, genuinely curious.

James seems taken aback, “holes in the walls? Dude, it’s like the size of a pin. Besides, they’ll have to paint my room anyways. I’ve been in this room since I was a baby.”

“Right, yeah,” Sirius mumbles, almost surprised.

“Sirius Orion Black, you just put a damn hole in my wall!” Orion had yelled after Sirius had hung up a poster. It was one poster, of his school logo. He had won it in a raffle. Sirius remembers being so proud of it.

Sirius settles himself down on the floor. The room had fallen into a comfortable silence. James is on his laptop, checking film from last year’s football games. Remus is sitting on James’s bed, his eyes closed and his head back.

“Hey, have you ever seen this?” James scoots over, his laptop still in his lap, “film?”

Sirius shakes his head, his eyes glancing down to the screen. There’s a little picture for the video and notes about each play on the right.

“I’ll show you. It’s pretty cool, at least I think.” James presses play on the first video and points, “that’s me — number 7 — and that’s Evan - number 10.”

Sirius watches as James’s tan finger moves over the screen.

“Oh! This one is my favorite! Watch!” James says, his finger pressing play on the computer.

“Potter to Rosier! 49 yard touch down! Cardinals win! 27-21!” A voice a lot like Fleamont’s booms over the video. James, number 7, threw the pigskin down the field to an open Evan. Evan jumped up and caught it, tumbling backwards into the end zone.

“Cool, huh?” James says, replaying the video again and again.

“Explain football to me, James,” Sirius says, his eyes glued to the screen.

He’s always wanted to learn American football.

So, James explains football to Sirius, using dramatic hand gestures. They talk for so long they don’t notice Remus falling asleep on the bed, or Buddy padding into the room just to fall asleep with his head in Remus’s lap.

James’s lecture is broken up by Regulus opening the door. “Bathrooms yours.”

Sirius smiles sympathetically at James as he pushes himself off the ground. He walks past Regulus, throwing him a dirty look, then goes into his own room. 

The bathroom is small and painted a soft white. The curtains are a soft blue, hung with silver hoops. James’s shampoo and body wash is stacked in one pile in the corner. Regulus’s freshly used ones are stacked neatly in a line on the edge. The shower isn’t large, barely big enough for two people, but it’s comfortable. The tile on the walls is a gray color, some of the tiles darker and some lighter.

On the counters, is a complete mess. James’s toothbrush is laying on the counter, out of the holder. He has three different types of toothpaste. There’s a large bottle of mint mouthwash next to his razor, the matching shaving cream on the other side of the counter. Sirius chuckles softly at the sight.

He really doesn’t understand how one person can be so messy.

The room is still steamy from Regulus’s shower, so Sirius cracks the tiny window to let out the air. He starts the shower, adjusting the temperature, then he strips. His pants pool at his ankles as he pulls his shirt off his head.

Sirius has scars all over his back.

Yes, technically, both Sirius and Regulus faced their parents torment, but Sirius took the physical. The fists and the boots and the cane.

The scars are little pale marks, running down his entire back. Some of them are long and wide, others are short and narrow.

Sirius sighs at his own body, the mirror beginning to fog up from the shower. He strips out of his boxers and steps into the stream.

“Holy fuck—“ Sirius curses, jumping out of the water stream. “That’s hot.”

Sirius adjusts the temperature then steps into the water, letting it run down the rivets of his body. He leans his head back, sighing.

It’s been a long two days.

First, he flew across the world to stay with complete random strangers.

Second, he’s suffering from a severe case of jet lag.

Third, he’s never met so many new people at the same time. And somehow, all of them are friends with James.

Fourth, Sirius really wants to know Remus.

Remus, Sirius noticed, isn’t like the rest of James’s friends. Most of them, immediately greeted Sirius. With either hugs or kind smiles or little waves.

Remus just nodded then went back to stoking the fire.

He’s intriguing.

Sirius wants to pick apart the pieces of Remus and inspect them until Sirius knows every single thing. He wanted to know the secret behind the scar between Remus’s eyebrows and the limp in his walk and the shake in his hands. Sirius wants to read between the wrinkles on Remus’s forehead and soak in every single freckle.

Sirius runs his hands down his face, groaning as he lets the water run down. His hair is freshly washed and his body sudsy from soap. Sirius likes the smell of James’s soap. It’s woody with hints of spice.

Sirius turns off the water, wraps a towel around his waist, and quickly dries his black hair with another towel. He unlocks the door and steps out of the bathroom, his bare feet padding across the floor as he enters his bedroom.

The room has gotten significantly messier than the first day. Sirius didn’t bother to unpack his suitcase, instead, his clothes have been thrown over the floor. His bed is messy, with his pillow being halfway on the floor. His cologne and deodorant, which he used this morning, are laid out on his bed with both of the caps off.

Sirius kneels down next to his suitcase, searching through the articles of clothing for a pair of boxers. He finds a soft black pair, sets it aside, and searches for a pair of sweatpants. After he finds his clothes, he sets them on the bed and lets the towel fall to the floor—

“Sirius, oh fuck!” James opens the door just to quickly cover his eyes, “sorry! Sorry!”

Sirius freezes, his hands over his privates. His body flushes red, head to toe. “James!”

“Sorry! Sorry! I.. oh fuck. I’m sorry!” James repeats, peaking in through the crack in the door, “we are all planning on going for a drive.. so.. err.. I thought I should tell you.”

Sirius replies after his body turns back to its normal shade, “okay.. just.. let me get dressed then I’ll be out.”

“Right, okay. Right. Sorry again. Err.. I’ll just.. go,” James awkwardly mumbles, closing the door.

Sirius shakes his head at James’s awkwardness. He pulls his boxers on, then his sweatpants and an old t-shirt. He quickly rubs on some deodorant and sprays his cologne on his neck.

He walks down the stairs, pulls on his shoes, then goes out to the truck.

It’s the same red truck that Monty drove Regulus and Sirius to the Potter’s in. Sirius slides into the back drivers seat.

James is in the drivers seat, messing with the FM transmitter, which allows him to play music. Regulus is in the passenger seat, texting on his phone. Sirius knows he’s texting Narcissa, since that’s his favorite cousin. Remus is sitting in the back passenger seat, his head back against the rest and his eyes closed.

James and Regulus are both quiet, being respectful of Remus’s much needed sleep.

“So, where are you taking us?” Sirius says, more loudly than he meant. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Remus shift, then slowly open his eyes.

“I was thinking Walmart. It’s a Midwest thing. There isn’t much to do here expect to go to Walmart. It’ll be fun,” James says, finally connecting his phone to the transmitter. He presses play on his phone and Knee Socks by the Arctic Monkeys starts to play.

Sirius hums and relaxes in his seat. As James starts to back up, Sirius looks over and studies Remus. Remus is completely relaxed into the seat, expect for his hands, which are balled into fists in his lap. Sirius wonders why he does that.

Remus’s eyes are closed. There’s a little scar between his eye brows. His lips are chapped and a little bitten. He has multiple freckles on his nose. He has a small wrinkle on his forehead because he raises his eyebrows so much. His eyelashes are so full that Sirius is sure girls are jealous of them. His hair is soft and falls perfectly over his head.

“Fuck!”

James exclamation snaps Sirius out of his thoughts. The car flies forward as James slams on the brakes. Remus’s eyes snap open, a flash of terror, then a deep breath.

“What was that?” Regulus says, his eyes looking out the window.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s a deer.”

Both Sirius’s and Regulus’s eyes widen.

“Look!” James says, pointing past the steering wheel. A fawn and a baby deer walk in front of the truck to the stag that just bounded across. “I guess you probably don’t get that a lot in France. Here is pretty common to hit a deer. Ma hit one a couple months ago. Costed a million bucks to get it repaired.”

“Woah,” Sirius says as James starts to drive again. The roads are bumpy, which bothers both Regulus and Sirius, but James and Remus seem perfectly fine with it. Actually, Remus has his head back again, eyes closed.

Regulus is back on his phone, his hands shaking from the rocky road.

Sirius finally decides to just relax. He leans back in his seat, getting out his phone. He scrolls through Instagram, liking a photo every once in a while.

The car settles into a comfortable silence as James merges onto the interstate towards Omaha. James’s playlist songs add sound to the car, but it’s so low that it’s comfortable.

James can’t sit still, Sirius notices. He’s either drumming his fingers on the steering wheel or adjusting his hands or moving his hair or messing with his glasses. Sirius thinks he has an abundance of energy.

“So.. how much longer?” Regulus says, finally looking up from his phone.

“Uhh.. 30 minutes?” James says, looking from his phone to the road.

“30 minutes?!” Sirius and Regulus say at the same time. 30 minutes, to them, seems far.

James shrugs it off, “yeah. It always takes 30 minutes to get to Omaha.”

Chapter Text

^ I know! Lucius just won’t listen to me! Anyways, I want a picture of this James. You’re describing him to sound like Zeus. Picture! Soon!

Regulus rolls his eyes at Narcissa’s text, his face slightly turning red. He was NOT describing James like Zeus, for your information. He sighs as he sets his phone back in his lap.

It had been around 30 minutes since they left. The group is now in Omaha, or Regulus assumes so. The traffic isn’t bad because it’s almost 9:30 pm.

James’s driving isn’t horrible, Regulus thinks. He’s taken a couple sharp turns, and almost hit a deer, but other than that Regulus has felt safe. James is a quiet driver, which Regulus has notices that it’s the only time James is quiet. Regulus likes it, a lot, actually. It’s calm.

Regulus looks back to see both Sirius and Remus asleep. Sirius is slumped towards the middle, his phone still on his lap and his legs crossed under him. His neck is cranked in an awkward angle which makes Regulus sure his brother will complain about it.

Remus is asleep in his seat. He’s clearly more comfortable with his legs straight out. His head is lolled back, his mouth slightly open.

Regulus wonders why Remus sleeps so much. He’s slept practically the whole time Regulus has known him. But, in Remus defense, Regulus knows that Remus is a busy person. He doesn’t bother to ask, since it’s not his business.

James pulls past a Canes and into the Walmart parking lot. He shuts off the car, unplugs his phone, and gets out. Regulus follows in suit.

“I’ll wake up Remus, you get Sirius?” James says, walking around the truck to Remus’s side. Regulus nods and walks over to Sirius’s side.

“Wake up, asshole,” Regulus says, shaking Sirius awake.

“Fuck off,” Sirius grumbles.

“Get up, we are here.” Regulus grabs Sirius wrist and practically drags him out of the car. Sirius huffs, but finally gives in. Remus, who’s rubbing his eyes, is standing next to James on the other side of the truck.

“Ready to go?” James asks.

Regulus nods, ignoring Sirius’s protests to being woke up. James leads the group into the store.

Regulus thinks it’s so.. bland. Everything is either blue or gray, and the lights are so blinding.

As soon as you walk in, there is a large section of fruits and vegetables, next to the meat section.

“Ma said she needed some milk so we will get that first, then we can go look around,” James says. He starts to walk in the direction of the milk aisle. He moves like he knows the place like the back of his hand. Which, Regulus thinks, is probably true.

James and Remus have lived their whole lives here. Well, at least James has. Remus has only spent a short time.

Regulus can’t help but feel like an intruder into their lives. Regulus knows, technically, the Potters chose him, but it doesn’t make him feel any less guilty.

Regulus snaps out of his thoughts when he feels a gentle hand on his bicep. He turns to see Remus guiding him in the direction James and Sirius went.

“James got distracted by the ice cream, so he’s another aisle down,” Remus explains, “I don’t want you getting lost. This place is a maze.”

Regulus makes an ‘O’ shape with his mouth as he follows Remus down the aisle.

He’s come to like Remus, a lot, actually. Remus is quiet, but not a shy quiet, he just doesn’t talk. Remus isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and Regulus likes that.

Regulus likes how calm Remus always is. He’s like a direct contradiction of James. They balance each other out, loud and cocky to quiet and calm.

Regulus and Remus turn the corner to see Sirius and James fighting over an ice cream flavor.

“Mint chocolate chip literally tastes like toothpaste,” James huffs, crossing his arms over his chest like a pouting child.

“It does not! It’s a perfect combination of mint and chocolate!” Sirius counters, mocking James’s stance.

“Just get the stupid chocolate so we can go?” Remus says, glancing between the two different tubs of ice cream — chocolate and mint chocolate chip.

“But—“

“We can get a mint whipped cream or something. It’s basically the same thing,” Remus says, his voice calm and a little annoyed.

“Oh,” James and Sirius say at the same time.

“Want to go ride the bikes?” James says. Sirius eyes light up and before Regulus can realize what happened, James and Sirius are gone.

Remus sighs, rubbing his temples. He grabs the ice cream and walks down to the milk.

“Fucking children. I’m friends with children,” Remus mumbles.

Regulus smiles as he jogs up to catch Remus. “Do you know what kind of milk Effie needs?”

“Yeah, the Potters always get the red cap.” Regulus nods, looking at the fridges of milk. Remus reaches down, a small wince of pain coming over his face. He grabs the milk and straightens up, the flicker of vulnerability gone.

Regulus pretends he didn’t notice.

Remus walks down the aisle to where the whipped cream is. He kneels down, winces, and grabs the green bottle of mint whipped cream.

Regulus pretends he doesn’t notice.

The duo sets off towards the toys — where the bikes are.

“So, um, Remus?” Regulus asks, messing with his ring on his finger. He takes Remus’s low hum as a sign to continue. “How long have you lived in Nebraska?”

“Around.. 6 months I think? It was a couple weeks after my 16th birthday,” Remus says, shrugging his shoulders.

“Right, and where did you live before that?”

“Cheyenne,” Remus responds, then chuckles at the confused look on Regulus’s face. “It’s in Wyoming, which is another state. It’s around.. 7 hours.”

“That’s the one with all the cowboys, right?” Regulus asks.

“Yeah, there are a lot of cow—“

“WEEEE!” James exclaims as both him and Sirius ride around on the kid bikes. James isn’t a small person, so his body is crouched into the bike. Sirius, who also isn’t small, looks the same way.

Regulus shakes his head but can’t keep himself from not smiling. Regulus opens his phone, pulls out his Snapchat, and takes a dual camera photo. One side is of him and Remus, pretending to be annoyed. The other side is of Sirius and James riding the bikes.

^ It’s only been a day and we are already sick of them :(

Regulus sends the photo to Narcissa then closes his phone.

“Sirius! Watch this!” James says, leaning backward on the bike to hit a wheelie.

“Hey! I want to try!” Sirius says. He pulls the front tire up to ride, until he looses his balance and falls off the side. Remus tenses, but both Regulus and James burst out laughing.

“Idiot!” James says, stopping his bike fully to clutch his ribs. Regulus smiles so wide the muscles in his cheeks hurt.

Sirius pouts, his bottom lip turned out. “It hurt.”

“You fell, stupid.”

“Hey, that’s not nice,” Sirius pouts at Regulus, until he can’t and starts to laugh too.  Regulus sees the corner of Remus’s lips turn up.

James walks over and offers a hand to Sirius, pulling him back to his feet. Remus wheels the bikes back into place.

“Oh, good! You got the milk!” James says, beaming at Remus.

“And the ice cream, and the whipped cream,” Remus adds.

“You’re amazing, Remus,” James says, his smile bright like a ray of sunshine.

“Right, what else did you want to get?” Remus asks.

“Oh, um, nothing, I think. Unless you guys want some snacks?” James asks, looking around at the group, “ma was thinking we could watch a movie? I know it’s late, but she says she already made cookies.”

Remus smiles, “we can’t deny your mother’s cookies.”

“Cmon, I want to eat like a true American fat man!” Sirius says, already heading down the toy aisle and back towards the food. James laughs, throwing his head back as he sprints after Sirius.

“No, I’m serious. Effie makes the best cookies,” Remus says, looking down at Regulus, “it’s so hard to deny them.”

Regulus and Remus follow Sirius and James down the candy aisle.

Sirius looks like a little kid in a candy store. He’s gazing at the candy like it’s made of gold. James is already down the aisle, picking out a pack of gummies.

“Go ahead. Pa is paying. Pick what you want,” James says, flashing Monty’s card between his fingers. Sirius grins and picks out a bag of gummy bears. Remus picks out a chocolate bar. Regulus hesitates, then grabs a small pack of Reeses.

“Ready?” James asks, counting all of the items and placing them in a hand-held basket. Everyone nods as James effortlessly picks up the basket and walks towards self checkout.

James quickly buys everything, puts it all in one bag — ignoring how Remus says the plastic will break — and sets off back towards the truck.

“You all can go to sleep if you want,” James says, putting the bag in the middle back seat. “I don’t really mind.”

Sirius nods, his body slumped down and his eyes half-lidded. Remus, who’s in the back passenger seat, is already asleep, his head back and his mouth open. James chuckles as he moves over to place the seatbelt over Remus.

Regulus settles into the passenger seat, buckling his own seatbelt. He leans back as James messes with his FM transmitter. Soon enough, Friends by Chase Atlantic starts to play.

James pulls out of Walmart and back onto the interstate without saying a word.

Regulus wants to know why James does that. James is never quiet, expect for when he drives. Is it concentration? Regulus wants to know.

* Cissa <3 saved your snap in chat

^THATS JAMES?!

Narcissa saves the snap that Regulus took, the one of Remus and Regulus shaking their heads at Sirius and James, in chat. She drew a large red circle over James’s face.

^ Yeah, that’s James

Narcissa sends a snap back that makes Regulus smile. It’s a photo of her and Bellatrix, both pretending to be swooning over James.

Regulus is pretty sure that if his cousins actually met James, they wouldn’t like each other.

Regulus shuts off his phone and leans his head on the window, watching the Nebraska land go by. It’s boring, Regulus thinks, but it’s refreshingly new. Most of the land is farm land, but there are old farm houses. Earlier, they even passed cows and horses.

Regulus looks over at James. This is one of the rare moments when James is quiet, but he’s not still. James is drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song.

Regulus leans back in his seat slightly, subtly studying James.

Regulus can’t deny that James is practically perfect. James has big, teddy bear brown eyes hidden behind the silver rims of his glasses. His skin is a perfect tan color, with small freckles all over. James’s nose slopes perfectly and doesn’t make his face look awkward. His jawline is perfectly chiseled. His lips are soft and pink, not too big, not too small.

Regulus finds himself wondering what they taste like.

Regulus clears his throat and looks away to keep himself from blushing too much.

James turns his head, just slightly, then looks back at the road.

“So.. uhh.. when does school start?” Regulus asks once the awkward silence starts to get unbearable.

“August 23rd, so.. about a week and a half,” James says, “but ma said you guys will go in a day before so you can get a tour and everything.”

“Oh.. okay.”

James nods then turns back to the road.

Regulus spends the rest of the car ride in silence, looking out the window.

It’s not until James turns into the driveway that Regulus realizes they are home.

“You get Sirius, I’ll get Remus?” James asks.

Regulus smiles as he makes his way to Sirius’s side of the car.

Chapter Text

“Oh, thank you, ma,” James carries in the bag of groceries on the counter. Effie has spent the time since the group left making cookies for the four boys.

“Of course, darling,” Effie says. She takes the plate of cookies and sets in on the coffee table, next to the popcorn and waters. Effie sets out the ice cream so each boy can make their own bowl, which they all do immediately. “There should be extra blankets in the ottoman. Don’t stay up late, boys. And don’t eat that ice cream on my couch.”

Effie kisses James’s cheek then goes down the hall to her room.

“James, I think I’m inlove with your mother,” Remus says, his mouth already full of cookies. He already finished his small bowl of ice cream.

The other three boys eat their ice cream at the table, respecting Effie’s wishes.

James’s face goes red and he flips Remus off as he sits down on the sofa. He settles down on the corner, holding a cookie in one hand and pulling the blanket up with the other. Sirius quickly makes himself comfortable, flopping down next to James. He takes the other half of the blanket and drapes it over himself, ignoring James’s protest.

Remus sits down on the other side of the couch, his leg propped up on the coffee table. He reaches forward and grabs a handful of cookies, smiling to himself.

Regulus sits down in the arm chair, setting down his phone. Buddy pads over and lays his head on Regulus’s foot. He smiles down at the dog, leaning his hand down to pet Buddy.

James sighs as he scrolls through Netflix, trying to find a movie to watch as a group. Sirius kept suggesting superhero movies, which Regulus shut down right away.

Soon enough, the group decides on a comedy movie. Remus leans back on the couch, half asleep. He doesn’t even stir when Buddy leaves Regulus’s side to lay his head in Remus’s lap. Sirius snuggles up with the blanket, moving the tiniest bit closer to James.

James smiles and wraps his arm around Sirius’s shoulder.

They looked so brotherly it made Regulus want to throw up.

Regulus doesn’t want to say he’s jealous, but it’s something close. He’s a deep feeling, one buried in his stomach. It’s not fair, really. He’s had Sirius for years, but James comes along and snatches him up?

Sure, Regulus gets along with James and Remus. He’ll make small talk and laugh and smile, but Sirius? He just clicked. It’s like Sirius has spent his whole life here.

It’s almost like Sirius belongs here.

Far away from Paris.

Far away from Regulus.

“Seriously! Gross!” James complains as Remus falls asleep, the sandy haired man drooling on James’s blanket. “Gross, gross.”

James uses his fingers and tilts Remus’s chin the other way, so he’s drooling on his own shoulder.

Regulus pretends to not notice the scar on Remus’s neck.

It’s small, almost unnoticeable, but the way Remus’s shirt is falling on his collarbone, makes it stand out to Regulus. It’s a sliver of pale skin, thin and jagged.

Regulus has also noticed the one on Remus’s eyebrow, and hand, and wrist. Regulus just wants to know, but clearly James either already knows, or doesn’t care, because he never talks about it.

Regulus can’t seem to figure James out either.

James is so loud and obnoxious when he’s with his friends. He shines.

But back in the car, when it was just Regulus and James awake, James was quiet. He was gentle. A certain warmness that attracted Regulus in a way he didn’t understand.

James wasn’t loud. He didn’t talk with his hands or use his eyebrows to express his emotions. The words slowly slipped from his lips and caressed Regulus.

It made him feel safe. Warm. At home.

He didn’t need a bonfire with hundreds of people, then a trip to Walmart, then a movie night.

All Regulus needed was a talk.

Regulus looks over to see Sirius asleep as well, his head lolled over towards Remus. James still has his arm around Sirius, gently holding his shoulder. His thumb is rubbing circles over the bone.

James hands never stay still.

For some odd reason, one Regulus can’t explain, or figure out where it comes from, he wants to reach out and soothe the tension from James’s hand.

Maybe he’s just worried about his new friend.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

—

Regulus doesn’t realize time passes until all three of the other boys are asleep. James’s head is back on the couch, his mouth slightly parted. Sirius is slumped on his side, his head on Remus’s shoulder. Remus, on the other hand, is resting his head on Sirius’s, his mouth open with drool. Buddy is lying on the edge of the couch, his little dog head in Remus’s lap.

Regulus sighs and reaches over to turn the TV off.

He needs some air.

He takes the blanket off his lap, folds it into a neat square, then grabs his phone and slips out the back door.

Immediately, he’s refreshed by the clean air. Regulus sits down on the Potter’s porch swing, his head tilted up towards the sky.

He can see the stars so clearly here. There’s not enough pollution or clouds or city lights to block the view. Thousands of little twinkling lights ignite the sky, along with a round moon. A full moon.

Regulus relaxes into the swing, his eyes scanning the constellations. He had to learn them once, back in his old boarding school. So, slowly, he raised a finger and started to name the constellations.

Andromeda

Aries

Carina

Canis Major

Ara

Regulus does this until he’s too tired to stop. He covers his mouth in a yawn and leans back into the cushions of the swing.

“Regulus?”

Regulus whips his head around to see a sleepy Remus walking towards him. Remus’s hair is a mess, and his shirt slightly bunched up. “What are you doing out here?”

Regulus shrugs, “couldn’t sleep. I guess.” He scoots over as Remus sits down on the swing, his gaze directed towards the sky.

“You’re named after a star, right? Both you and Sirius?” Remus asks, his gaze never leaving the stars.

Regulus looks over at him, mouth agape. No one has ever guessed that first try. Ever. “Um.. yeah, we are. How did you know that?”

Regulus pretends to not notice the way Remus tenses, “I.. I had some time to study stars and the moon. It’s pretty cool, actually.”

Regulus just stares at him as Remus talks about astronomy. He talks about how the moon controls the tides of the oceans, how a lunar eclipse works, how stars explode.

Remus is so confusing to Regulus.

There’s so many things to discover.

Why does he act the way he does?

Why does he limp?

Why does he know all of these things?

“Why do you have a limp?” Regulus asks before he even realizes what he said, but it’s too late to take it back. He wants to know. No, he needs to know.

Remus freezes, and moves his head to look at Regulus, “what?”

“Why do you have a limp?” Regulus repeats.

Remus blinks, then blinks again.

“And the scars? And why do you know all this?”

“You’re.. quite observant.”

“It comes with moving to a new country, with randoms.”

The corner of Remus’s lips turn up, “I might as well.. tell you, I guess.”

Regulus smiles in relief, leaning back into the cushions. He hugs a pillow to his chest then nods at Remus to talk.

“Well, um, I’m pretty sure I told you I used to live in Wyoming, correct?” Remus asks, and Regulus nods in confirmation. “I lived with my mom and dad in Cheyenne.”

Regulus nods again.

“I had just turned 16, and like, I mean literally just turned 16. My mom.. wanted some coffee, so she asked me to drive down the street to a coffee shop at the edge of the block. I had taken that street with my father so many times, I didn’t really worry about driving by myself.”

Regulus feels a pit in his stomach, growing bigger and bigger as more words flow from Remus’s mouth.

“I.. don’t remember much after that… I just.. apparently.. I hit another car and rolled into a ditch. I messed up my leg pretty bad and scraped all over, so that explains the limp and the scars.”

Regulus feels sick. So sick. He was so worried about Sirius getting stolen by James, he didn’t even dare to think about what might be happening to Remus. He honestly didn’t care.

“They had better doctors and stuff in Omaha, so that’s why we moved and.. yeah.” Remus tilts his head back up towards the sky, “yknow, I haven’t told James that.”

Regulus’s eyes widen, “you haven’t?”

“You.. you’ve seen how he is. He’d be up my ass about taking my meds or not walking too fast,” Remus sighs, “part of moving here was a fresh start.”

The corner of Regulus’s lips turn up, “he would be up your ass.”

“Yeah he would.”

The two fall into a comfortable silence, Remus looking up into the sky and Regulus out into the forest.

“It’s really nice here,” Regulus says.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Way better than back home.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Whys that?” Remus says, tilting his head towards Regulus.

“Well, my parents suck, so that’s part of it. But it’s so fresh here, like I can actually breathe. It’s so.. calm. Back home, there’s so many people and tourists, you can’t really do anything.” Regulus closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, taking in the feel of the fresh air and the sound of the bugs.

“That makes sense. Maybe someday we can all come visit you?”

Regulus softly smiles, “maybe someday.”

The pair fall back into a comfortable silence, taking in the atmosphere around them. The smell of Effie’s fresh flowers, the sounds of the bugs and the owls, the feel of wind on their faces.

That is until Remus yawns. “I better go back to bed. Get some sleep, alright? You look like a zombie.”

Regulus scoffs. “Yeah, yeah. Goodnight, Remus.”

“Night, Black.”

Remus gets up from his seat on the swing and pushes his pillow back into place. He smiles once at Regulus, then turns and opens the sliding door to go inside.

Regulus sighs as the door clicks shut.

Remus intrigues him.

Regulus wonders how long he’s been keeping all that inside.

Regulus wonders how stupid James has to be to not notice.

Regulus runs his hand down his face, then gets up, pushing his pillow back into place. He walks back into the house to see James and Sirius still asleep, both in the same positions. Remus is asleep again, with Buddy’s head in his lap.

Regulus walks past them and up into his room. He left it very tidy this morning. The only sign someone was there is the tiny pilot of dirty clothes, which Regulus has no where to put.

Regulus slips out of his clothes and into his sweats and a sweatshirt. He opens his curtains and cracks the window, sighing as the sound of the bugs comes through.

Regulus crawls into bed and relaxes. He sees now why James likes to sleep with the window open so much. It’s peaceful. Calm. It’s nice to feel the night air on your face.

Before Regulus knew it, he was drifting off into a deep sleep.

While his brother, and 2 new friends slept on the couch downstairs.

Chapter Text

“Okay, Sirius, you have, technically, more credits than Regulus because of your extra schooling, so you can either have senior release, or pick some extra classes,” Mrs. Burbage, the guidance counselor, tells Sirius, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Sirius won’t lie, he’s incredibly bored. The counselor has been going on about credits and classes and other boring stuff for almost an hour.

Effie nudges his side and he straightens his back, “what’s my options again?”

Mrs Burbage sighs, clearly annoyed with his attitude, “you can either take extra lessons, such as art, music, maybe a speech class? Weights, PE, college classes? Or, you can take senior release, which would let you out early, but I don’t recommend that since you can’t drive.”

Sirius blinks, a little overwhelmed by the sudden announcement of classes.

“There’s also shop classes, of course. Woods, metals, and welding.” Mrs Burbage scrolls down on her MacBook, showing Sirius his options for classes.

Suddenly, Sirius knew what he wanted. All of them. Every single shop classes they offered.

Okay, reasonably, he probably couldn’t do that, but he wanted too.

His dad never let him try woods or metals or welding back home. Orion said it wasn’t worthy of a Black’s hands.

“It’s middle class work, son. It’s not worthy of your time.” Orion had said the first time Sirius had shown interest. His class was going on a field trip to a glass working and woodworking shop, and if Orion had signed his permission slip, he would have been able to try the wood working machine.

Instead, Sirius sat back and watched his bestfriend cut wood with the saw, his eyes green with envy.

“I’ll take the shop classes,” Sirius says, a real genuine smile on his face. Effie gently squeezes his shoulder as Mrs. Burbage writes that down.

“So, we have woods, metals, welding, and small engines, you would have time in your schedule for two of those,” Mrs. Burbage says, holding her pen and ready to write down his choices.

Sirius really isn’t that interested in woods. He doesn’t want splinters or saw dust on him. And he doesn’t really care for welding, so that leaves small engines and metals.

“Small engines and metals,” Sirius says, looking over to see Effie with a gentle smile on her face. One that warms Sirius’s heart. Mrs. Burbage writes a rough draft of his schedule and hands it to Sirius. Sirius smiles down, reading the schedule in his head.

P1 - English 12

P2 - Small Engines

P3 - Metals

P4 - Biology (which Sirius really didn’t want to take, but it’s required)

P5 - Strength and Conditioning

P6 - American History

P7 - Spanish 1/Spanish 2

“So, we can talk extracurriculars really quickly. Nothing major. We offer 2 available sports for males in the fall, football and cross country, then 2 in the winter, basketball and wrestling, then 3 in the spring, baseball, track, and golf. None of these are required, of course, but all coaches are prepared to teach a foreign exchange student. Now of course we have some clubs,” Mrs. Burbage explains, passing another paper his way.

SPORTS AVAILABLE

Football

Cross Country

Wrestling

Basketball

Track

Baseball

Golf

“And clubs will go more in detail on the first day of school, since they are usually through the teachers.” Mrs. Burbage smiles, her hands lacing together ontop of the table.

“Looks good, honey?” Effie asks, her hand gently on Sirius’s shoulder. Sirius nods, folding the papers and tucking it in the pocket of his jeans. “Why don’t you go out and hang out with James in the hallway? Send Regulus in?”

Sirius nods, offering Mrs. Burbage a gentle smile, then walking out to the hallway to see James slumped down a chair, staring at the wall. Regulus is sitting in a chair next to James, texting on his phone.

“Mrs. Burbage wants you,” Sirius nods to Regulus. He silently stands up and walks into the office

——

Regulus walks in, and is immediately greeted by the smell of peppermint. He observes that it’s from the tiny diffuser in the corner of her office. Her office is small, but comfortable. Posters of colleges on the wall, helpline posters, a small cart of fidgets, and a closet full of self care supplies. Regulus sits down next to Effie, her hand on the back of his chair.

Effie noticed that Regulus doesn’t really like comforting touches, not like Sirius does, so she keeps her hand close, but not touching.

“So, Regulus, right?” Mrs. Burbage says, writing his name on a piece of paper. Regulus nods, his hands neatly folded in his lap. “Okay, honey, so, we have 4 required courses for you. English 12, American History, Pre Calculus, and Biology. Which leaves 3 open periods for you.”

She passes a paper across to him, full of classes.

4 stick out.

Forensic science, Art, Choir, Spanish.

Regulus thinks it through.

Forensic science sounds cool. 1/3.

Art, is something he’s always loved to do, even when Orion said no. But now he’s across the world, so he can. 2/3.

Choir, also sounds fun, but he can’t really sing, nor does he want to deal with choir kids. 2/3.

So that leaves Spanish.

“Forensic science, art, and Spanish,” Regulus says, passing the paper back to the counselor. She smiles, and writes a rough draft of the schedule. She passes the slip of paper back to Regulus, and he reads the schedule in his head.

P1 - English 12

P2 - Art

P3 - Forensic Science

P4 - Biology

P5 - American History

P6 - Pre Calculus

P7 - Spanish 1/Spanish 2

“So, I’ll give you the same speech I gave your brother,” Mrs. Burbage says, “We offer 2 available sports for males in the fall, football and cross country, then 2 in the winter, basketball and wrestling, then 3 in the spring, baseball, track, and golf. None of these are required, of course, but all coaches are prepared to teach a foreign exchange student. We have clubs, but those will be talked about on the first day of school.”

Regulus has absolutely no desire to play a sport. He doesn’t even want to go to the games, but he knows Sirius will drag him along.

“There is one club in particular that I think you’ll like. It’s called Speech. You write a speech, about really anything, then you perform it for.. an award, basically. You’ll be scored,” Mrs. Burbage explains, a warm smile on her face. Effie smiles as well, “you don’t have to do it, of course, but it’s an option.”

Regulus nods, his mind turning over the idea. It does sound fun, and he does like to write.

“Well, we better get going. James needs to head out to football conditioning, and I’ve got to go get these two brothers some new clothes,” Effie says, shaking Mrs. Burbages hand and putting her leather purse over her shoulder.

Regulus blinks. He didn’t know Effie was going to take them shopping. He opens his mouth to protest, then snaps it shut. He holds onto the makeshift schedule as they leave, walking out to find James working on film again, Sirius peering over his shoulder.

“Oh, hey, ma,” James says, closing his laptop to look at Effie and Regulus. Sirius perks up aswell.

“Hi, love. Ready to go to football? I’ll take these boys out to the Grenta outlets and we’ll get some school clothes. Do you need anything, James?” Sirius tenses the same way Regulus did, but he doesn’t open his mouth. Instead, a tiny flicker of excitement in his eyes.

Both Black brothers grew up with getting one shirt, one new pair of pants, and a pair of black dress shoes for each new school year. Everything else, they had to buy themselves.

James, on the other hand, seems used to getting new clothes for each school year, so he shrugs, “can you see if they have that blue Nike sweatshirt I wanted?”

“Of course, honey. Okay, okay, we need to get going so we can make it back for dinner. Run hard at conditioning, okay?” Effie kisses James’s cheek, which causes him to break out in a grin.

“Okay, let’s go boys.” Effie grabs both of them by the elbows, dragging them behind her. They leave the school to the sound of James’s laughter at the Black brother’s faces of surprise.

“Have fun!” James sing-song voice rings throughout the hallway.

Chapter Text

James is so excited, he’s practically bouncing off the wall.

His first day of senior year

But he’s also nervous. So nervous. The feeling builds up in his chest, infecting every happy cell in his body. Once this year ends, he’s done with Highschool. Forever.

James wouldn’t say he’s afraid of change, but it does make him nervous. Very nervous. Change can be a good thing. Like Sirius and Regulus coming, or Remus moving into the town.

Change can also be bad. Like when he had to change his basketball position because he hurt his knee. Or when his childhood dog passed.

And James fully believes that graduating is a bad change.

He’s leaving behind the sports he loves. The hallways he’s walked through, left a legacy in. The people he’s met. The teachers that stayed patient with him, even when he didn’t understand.

He’s growing up.

And that scares him.

James doesn’t want to leave all that behind. He doesn’t want to move out and deal with bills and a wife and kids and a job.

He doesn’t want to admit that to anyone, though, so instead he just takes extra long in the bathroom. Fluffing his hair and making sure the Senior Sunrise shirt that Mary made is laying perfectly over his muscular frame.

Mary and James, are a surprising duo, but one James finds himself liking. Mary’s soft and sweet. She’s all smiles, and she never gets mad at James when he’s too much. Mary and James set up a senior sunrise get together where their whole group sits on the track and watches the sunrise, then they will all go back to James’s and eat breakfast that Effie made.

“James, are you done? You made me wake up at the ass crack of dawn for this. I need to fix my hair,” Sirius groans from outside the bathroom. James chuckles, sprays his cologne, then opens the door to see a sleepy Sirius. His long hair a mess, rings and earrings off, the tiny bit of eyeliner smudged.

“You look like hell,” James jokes, leaning against the bathroom door frame.

Sirius grumbles, “you’re the one that made me get up before the sun even rises.”

James laughs, getting out the way so Sirius can walk into the bathroom. Sirius grumbles in French as he closes the door. James walks down the hall, past Regulus’s room, to see him fussing over his hair, grumbling the same way Sirius had.

“Your hair looks fine, dude,” James says, leaning against the door frame to Regulus’s room. Regulus’s room looks perfect. Everything is in its place. He had unpacked his clothes, all neatly folded or hung up. The small amount of skin care, (which surprises James because all he uses is a bar of soap), is laid in order on Regulus’s dresser. His cologne and deodorant are next to each other, matching scents. On his nightstand, is a book, and a large waterbottle. Everything about Regulus seems perfect to James.

Regulus’s face goes slightly pink, “it’s not perfect. This one stupid piece of hair—“

James chuckles, “here.” He walks over, taking a bit of the gel on his fingers. “My hair is the same way. Won’t stay down.”

James, who doesn’t realize the way he was Regulus’s heart racing, gently applies the gel to Regulus’s hair, making it stay down. “There. That’s better.”

“Y-yeah.. thanks.” Regulus whispers, looking into the small mirror.

“You better hurry up. Once Sirius is done in the bathroom, we’re heading out.” James says, his shoulder accidentally brushing Regulus’s on the way out.

——

Regulus’s head is spinning. He knows, logically, that James is a gentle person. He’s caring. Touchy. Loving.

But the way that James touched him. Gentle. Sweet.

Keeps making him shiver.

It was something Regulus hasn’t experienced in a while. Especially from someone that’s not Sirius.

“Regulus, honey, let’s go! I need to get a photo before you boys leave!” Effie says from downstairs. Regulus straightens up, spraying his cologne then going downstairs. James is standing there, waiting for Effie to take a photo of just him. His glasses sit perfectly on his nose, and the red of his Senior Sunrise shirt just makes him look even tanner.

Sirius is standing next to Effie, making faces at Buddy to try and get him to come over. Sirius has always loved dogs, but for some reason, Buddy just doesn’t like him. Buddy has taken a liking to Regulus, which honestly just pisses Sirius off.

“Ah! Perfect! Oh my boys, cmere, cmere!” Effie takes their wrists and pulls them to stand next to James. Regulus on his right, Sirius on his left. James, being taller than both boys, wraps an arm around their shoulders. “Oh, handsome, aren’t they Monty?”

Monty just lets out a grunt, the corners of his lips turning up.

The trio smiles, but all Regulus thinks about is how good it feels to have James’s arm around him.

Regulus can’t really tell if he just likes being held, even if it’s a loose arm around his shoulders, or if it’s because it’s James that’s holding him. James is warm, his arm is soft, but muscular, and he smells so good. Regulus likes the smell of James’s cologne.

“Okay, ma! You took enough photos!” James says, smiling as he takes his arms back. Effie envelopes James into a big hug.

“Oh, you’re all grown up, my baby boy, aww..” Effie coos, causing James’s face to go pink.

Sirius hides his snort with a laugh.

“Cariño, James will be fine,” Monty comes over, places his hand on the small of her back.

“He’s all grown up, Monty! Look at my boy,” Effie sniffles, pinching James’s cheek. James scrunches his nose, but doesn’t pull away from his mom.

“We better get going,” Sirius says, checking the time. He straightens up, smoothing his gold senior sunrise shirt. Regulus, does the same, making sure his green shirt falls perfectly over his body.

“Okay, ma, that means let me go—“ James groans as Effie envelopes him into a hug.

“Just one more minute, honey. Just one.”

James looks at his father for help, but Monty just shrugs, smiling at his wife.

“Okay, darling, cmon.” Monty pulls at Effie’s arm, pulling his wife into his arms.

“Be safe, James!” Effie calls out as the group goes out the door.

The group of boys walks to James’s truck. James driving, and choosing the music, Regulus in the passenger seat, and Sirius behind Regulus. James is quiet while he drives, his fingers tapping the beat of the music. Regulus stares at James’s hand.

It’s not quiet, just like James. Everything about James is loud. His smile, his warmth, his love. It’s loud.

Regulus doesn’t understand how someone can be so loud, so warm, and so gentle at the same time. He’s a complete ray of sunshine, and Regulus finds himself melting at the seams for James.

The group pulls into the parking lot of the school, where everyone else is waiting. Lily is standing with Mary, fixing the orange bow in her hair. It matches the senior sunrise shirt she’s wearing. Lily’s is pink, and she also has a matching bow in her red hair.

Marlene is fiddling with her camera, making sure the lighting is correct. (But really she just wants to take photos of her gorgeous girlfriend). Dorcas is posing in the sun, her purple senior sunrise shirt shining against her dark skin.

Barty is sitting on the ground, groaning because it’s so early. His dark black and green hair messy from sleep. Evan, his bestfriend, is standing over him, hands on his hips as he laughs.

“Moony!” James exclaims as Remus gets out of his own his truck, his hair messy from sleep.

“Moony?” Sirius tilts his head, confused on the random nickname.

“Don’t ask,” Remus mumbles, his voice thick with sleep. “It’s a stupid nickname.”

“It’s funny!” Barty exclaims from the field. Barty was the one to come up with the nickname. It was a bonfire after a football game, and Barty was drunk, saying how Remus was secretive like the moon. The name just stuck.

Remus rolls his eyes, running a tired hand down his face. “Can we hurry this up? I’m hungry.”

James grins, wrapping an arm around Sirius’s shoulder as they go down to the field. The girls smile as they come down, and Barty finally pushes himself to his feet.

“Okay, everyone is here!” Mary smiles. “Can we get a group photo first then the individual ones?” Mary turns her head to Marlene who nods.

The group positions themselves, boys in the back, girls in the front. Regulus is standing between Barty and James, feeling short between the two taller boys. Marlene sets up the camera, then runs back to join the photo, smiling as her arm loops around her girlfriends waist. The camera clicks, and everyone smiles. Marlene runs to go see the photo.

“Okay, relax! Relax!” Marlene says as everyone swarms her, “I’ll get the photo out!”

Regulus is standing next to James, his scent enveloping the air around him. “Happy you came?” James whispers, smiling down at Regulus. Regulus looks up, nodding. Despite his best efforts to think this whole thing is stupid, he’s liking having all these friends.

“That’s good.” James’s hand pats his shoulder, before leaving to go get a photo with Lily. Regulus watches as Lily hesitates before getting on James’s back. He hears the reassurances that she’s not to heavy, that James is strong. He jokingly flexes his muscles.

Regulus watches as the two take a perfect photo, both their smiles bright.

“The sun is rising! Cmon!” Before he can even realize what’s happening, Dorcas grabs his hand, leading him to the east side of the field. The group stands and watches as the sun rises, a start of their new beginning together. 

Regulus feels Sirius’s hand on his shoulder, and normally he would shrug it off, but instead, he lets Sirius be close.

Chapter Text

Regulus has never been more bored than he is currently.

He’s sitting in his English class, listening to his teacher bore on about the syllabus. Something about how the tests are worth half the grade, and something else about late docks.

Regulus takes in the surroundings. The classroom is boring, and very very dull. All the walls are a cream color, with minimal posters about English. The desks are set up in pods of 4. Regulus is sitting next to a girl he believes is named Pandora. Sirius is across from him, James next to him.

James is, surprisingly, listening to the teacher, his gaze focused on Ms McGongall. His middle finger tapping his bicep where his two arms meet, crossed over his broad chest.

Sirius is looking around the room aswell, but his eyes are bored and unfocused. His fingers messing with a silver ring on his left pointer.

Pandora, the girl sitting next to Regulus, is focused on her notebook infront of her, sketching away. She’s a shorter, blonde girl. From what Regulus can tell, she seems sweet. She’s quiet spoken, but doesn’t seem to be shy.

And the weirder thing is that she seemed comfortable talking to James. James and Pandora, at the beginning of the class, exchanged a small greeting.

Regulus believed James was a stereotypical jock. He knew that the older boy was nice to the Black brothers, but he didn’t think he’d be that way in school. So far, every person James has talked too has smiled back at him.

Maybe James isn’t as stereotypical as Regulus thought he was.

The teacher passes out a copy of the syllabus, “well, I don’t want to start a lesson on the first day, so we will begin our Native American unit tomorrow. The rest of the time is yours.”

Regulus looks down at his schedule. Period 1 — 8:00 - 8:55. Then he looks at the clock. 8:42.

“Whatca drawing, dora?” James tilts his head, looking at the pale girl.

She lifts her head, speaking in a dreamy voice, “the field. By my home.”

James looks curious, his head resting in his palm. “The one with all the flowers?”

“Yes, James.”

“It’s pretty out there.”

“Yes, it is.”

Regulus studies the pair. Looking from afar, they are so different that they look like they wouldn’t even talk. But everyone seems comfortable talking to James.

“What do you have next, Reg?” James reaches over, taking Regulus’s schedule. “Ah, art.”

“Oh, me too!” Pandora says, lifting her head from her sketchbook. “You must be one of the Black brothers?”

Both Sirius and Regulus look up, heads tilted in the same way.

“People talk,” James explains, “ma has church on Sundays, lunch after with her friends, one of which is Dorcas’s mom, Dorcas’s mom knows Evan’s dad, Evan’s dad knows Pandora’s mom.”

“Nothing travels faster than a word,” Pandora mutters, her voice soft and dreamy.

“.. I guess not.” Sirius huffs.

“So, which one are you?” Pandora looks into Regulus’s eyes, her eyes soft.

“I’m Regulus.”

“And I’m Sirius.”

“Like the stars?” Pandora whispers. Regulus remembers how Remus knew the stars. How he made the same reference. He wonders if Remus and Pandora are friends.

“Yeah, like the stars,” Sirius says, resting his head on his crossed arms on his desk.

The bell rings, signaling the end of class.

Just as Regulus goes to pick up his pen, it slips off the edge of the table. Both him and James lean down to pick up at the same time, hands brushing slightly. Regulus tries to ignore the warmth of James’s hand. James places the pen in Regulus’s hand, then warmly smiles at him as the group parts ways.

“You seem to be close with James, for only being with him for a week or so,” Pandora notes as they walk down the hallway to art. She had offered to guide him to the classroom. Regulus finds himself liking Pandora more and more, especially now that they talk.

“Yeah, I guess so. He’s hard not to be friends with,” Regulus mutters, adjusting his books in his hands.

“That’s true,” Pandora’s dreamy voice echos through his brain the rest of the day.

You seem to be close with James, for only being with him for a week or so.

——

Sirius thinks he’s having the best day of his life. English, his first period, was okay. It was boring, but manageable. He felt like he was in heaven during his small engines and metals classes. He got to work with metal on the first day. Biology was exactly what he expected it to be, boring and unnecessary.

Now it’s time for lunch. Sirius walks in and follows James through the line. The food looks tolerable. A slice of pizza and a side of peas. He gets to make his own salad, so he makes a small area of lettuce, some tomatoes, and a drizzle of ranch on-top. James says it’s required to have ranch on salads. He follows James around, punching in his lunch code before walking over to the lunch table.

Regulus is already sitting down because he refused strongly last night to eat school lunch. Effie kindly packed him a lunch. It’s something warm and homemade, with a salad on the side and a cut up apple. Sirius sits down next to Regulus, who immediately scrunches his nose in disgust to the school lunch.

“That looks disgusting,” Regulus grumbles under his breath. Sirius snorts at the disdain in his brother’s voice.

Soon enough, the table fills up. James, with the school lunch, and who eventually got doubles; Sirius with school lunch; Remus and Regulus, both with packed lunches; lastly, Evan and Barty, who were suspiciously both late from their last class.

Sirius notices the slight flush to Evan’s pale skin.

And how Barty’s hood is slightly messed up.

James talks to almost everyone that passes by. Girls, boys, even some teachers. He just talks. Asks how their day has gone. Asks about their families. Just talks.

Sirius focuses his gaze on his food, and pretends that American pizza isn’t a disgrace.

He’s slightly aware of the way Remus moves next to him. Remus is a big guy, and Sirius knows that. Sirius isn’t short, per se, but he’s not exactly tall either. He comes in around 5’11, while Remus is probably 6’4, maybe. Remus is broad shoulders and arms and legs, but something about him seems small, seems soft.

Sirius knows Remus is hiding something.

He’s always been good at reading people.

He knows when people are hiding secrets. He can read their emotions, even if they are hidden behind a mask, like a book. Sirius knows. And he’s determined to read the lines of Remus Lupin.

——

James feels like he might collapse. He’s been running so much. So many pushups. He just carried a man on his back for 50 yards. His pads are digging into his skin. Sweat dripping down his body. The sun beating down on the back of his neck. He can feel the sweat sticking to every inch of his body.

Finally, just as James feels like his knee is about to give out from under him, his coach finally says to bring it in. He jogs in with the rest of the team, ignoring how his knee flares up at the movement.

“Good work today, lads. I know it’s hard, but you’re all working well. We have our team scrimmage on Friday, so tomorrow will be a lighter practice. Potter, break us down.”

James almost melts at the words lighter practice. “Cadets on 3. 1, 2, 3-“

“Cadets!” The word rings out after James’s command.

James, once again, ignores the pain in his knee as he walks to the locker room to slip off his pads. He puts them in his locker, then throws his school backpack on his shoulder.

“James, are you going to the party on Friday? My parents are out of town. Have the whole house to myself,” one of his teammates, Carson, says as he too slips off his pads.

“Maybe. I’ll see,” James mumbles. In all honesty, the last few weeks of football have killed him, but he never turns down a chance to party.

Carson smiles at him as James leaves the locker room.

James walks into the parking lot, feeling like he’s dragging his knee behind him. He doesn’t like to admit it, but the injury keeps flaring up.

James doesn’t say anything to his coaches.

He’s too afraid.

It’s his senior year.

He has to play.

His drive home is silent, expect for his tapping on the steering wheel.

His mood brightens as he gets home to Buddy running up to greet him. He kneels down to pet the dog, smiling as it nuzzles into his hand.

“How was practice, kiddo?” Monty, whose shirt is extremely dirty from working on a car, asks his son.

“.. long,” James grumbles, hiding his wince as he stands back up to full height.

“Get some rest then. Your ma has already made dinner for you and the boys,” Monty says, patting James on the shoulder then walking back over to the car he was working on.

James swings his backpack onto his back and walks inside. The house smells like he was transported to heaven. Fresh cooking, laundry, and his ma’s citrus candles.

His shoulders instantly loose their tension.

Sirius had clearly just showered because his hair is wet. He’s in a pair of black sweatpants with a red shirt. Regulus looks more put together, with the clothes he wore to school on. Both of them are sitting at the table, respectfully eating in silence.

James knows that they grew up with manners forced upon them, having seen it in the way they walk and talk, but eating in silence is weird. Even to James.

He sits down next to Sirius, Regulus across from him.

James smirks as he sees Regulus’s noise crinkle at the smell of his sweaty body.

“Don’t you know how to shower?” Regulus retorts, now playing with his food instead of eating it.

Sirius snorts as Effie brings over a plate for James, larger than the other twos.

“Eat, sweetie, you need your protein to grown big and strong,” Effie squeezes his biceps, smiling as James’s cheeks flush red.

“Really, ma?” He grumbles as he starts to eat his steak.

He doesn’t notice how both the Black brothers look at how his biceps flex.