Chapter Text
From the moment Regulus stepped in the office he knew he'd hate it.
But Sirius, determined to get Regulus out of that house, kept offering him a job. As stubborn and Regulus was trying to be he accepted.
Still from the moment Regulus stepped in the office he knew he'd hate it. unfortunately he didn't hate it, he actually enjoyed it quite a lot, well mostly. Apart from Sirius' infuriatingly good looking business partner.
James Potter.
His first day was smooth, it was nice to spend a day being normal and unnoticed after years of torment. He moved out into a small apartment with just enough room for a garden on the balcony, the only thing he wanted really.
He was excited to start a new chapter, a life. He would be a friendly, chill guy who was easy to hang around. That new attitude lasted around and hour. He first noticed James when he was flirting with a girl with beautiful red hair.
Regulus didn't know when James saw him, but one moment he was pinning a photo of Llewelyn to the felt wall of his cubical and the next the chatty man was leaning casually on the wall staring at Regulus.
"Do you need something?" Regulus asked cheerfully
He smiled "No, I haven't seen you before"
"I've been here" He answered a bit annoyed, still trying to be friendly. "My brother works here"
"I think I'd remember seeing you" he man said seriously
"Huh, well aparentally not" he said with a smile.
was this guy trying to hit on him? Ten seconds after flirting with that girl? Regulus crossed his arms waiting for a response. He laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. Regulus was caught off guard, he dropped his arms.
"My loss," he smiled and tilted his head "So you're a new hire? do you want me to show you around, give you all the information on your coworkers" he joked
Regulus shifted in his chair "Why?"
he stared at him then nodded "Your new, I like to make sure new hires are well....settled"
What the fuck does that mean
"Are you okay?" he asked
"I'm James" he said holding his hand out
"James?" Regulus said slowly, he tried to remember where he heard that name. He heard a lot of 'James' before but looking more closely he looked kind of familiar.
oh shit-
"You two are aquatinted then?" Sirius said walking up behind James
shit
"why didn't you tell me you hired someone?" James asked turning around
"You didn't seem to mind a second ago" Regulus mumbled under his breath James gave him a coy smile.
Sirius moved around James to hug Regulus. He rolled his eyes and stood up. James looked very confused.
"James, this is my brother." he said grinning
Regulus crossed his arms again watching James face pale. He covered his mouth with his hand.
"Regulus" Regulus said as a smile spread across his face.
It had been months since he started, James took every chance to flirt with Regulus he could. It pissed Reg off, he didn't like office flirts. Especially ones that think everyone should love them just because they can flash a smile and offer up dinner.
And damn it James thought he could get anyone to like him by offering a 'good time'. He always found James staring at him during meetings or when he'd pass his desk he'd stop and try to talk. Every time Regulus would look away or ignore him.
But right now, at this party he wasn't sure he could look away. It was a few days until Christmas, Sirius and James spared no expense on the drinks, food and games. He was sure this was a reason why everyone in the company liked them so much. they treated them like people, people who wanted to get really really drunk at a work party. Sirius had left as soon as his boyfriend, Remus (Regulus very much approved of and loved), had arrived.
He looked around for someone he could talk to, he had asked Evan if he could come but he said no, he didn't even give a excuse just a straight up 'no'.
he resided on Lily, who he found out was the girl James was talking to the first day they met.
she spotted him from the across the room and smiled. Before he could take a step she was next to him.
"Hello Regulus, you don't look like your having much fun"
He smiled "No I am," his eyes fluttered across the room to a drunken James "He's not being very professional"
She laughed "Nobody here is being very professional right now."
he rolled his eyes "He's the boss"
"wouldn't you rather a boss you can get drunk with?"
He didn't say anything, instead taking a sip of his own cup. He had already downed ten vodka shots and was feeling messy.
"He's a dick" he slurred, leaning on her a bit "He flirts with everyone alllll the time!"
"He's not that bad. And Besides he was actually a great boyfriend"
It had only taken a few days after meeting Lily that she had told Regulus she and James had been together for a few years. But she never went into details.
"Was" he emphasised "He was a great boyfriend. If sooo great why isn't he still yours?"
She looked at him flatly and smiled "I found a better girlfriend"
Regulus pouted feeling a bit betrayed "Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend? Show me"
She pulled out her phone and showed him a picture "I don't like to tell everyone I meet"
"You should" he said looking at the photo, "she's beautiful"
"You think everyones beautiful" she switched off the phone "But yes, she is."
She passed him her drink and told him to watch it as she went outside for a bit. When she left Regulus felt someone touch his should and he froze before quickly moving by hitting it off. He turned around to see who is was going to loss their hand, to see James.
"Potter" he said bitterly
"Regulus!" he shotted over the music,
seriously unprofessional.
So was the outfit, baggy jeans and a half buttoned dress shirt pulled together by the Santa hat he wore.
His skin was a even darker shade in the dim coloured lights around the office.
he looked hot dumb, regulus corrected himself he looks very dumb
"What do you want James" he felt his frown slipping into a smile
James looked around wide eyed before leaning in and whispering "Reg you look nice"
The seriousness of his tone made Regulus confused, he looked kind of scared to tell him.
"Are you drinking that?" James asked pointing at the cup in Regs hand.
"No" he started, James took it and threw it back
"That was Lily's." he said curtly
James shook his head "I'll buy her another"
"You can't buy your way out of everything." Regulus said angrily
James shook his head "No but for the most part you can"
Regulus hated him, he hated him.
Then he fell forward a bit, shit he was so drunk.
James caught and steadied him.
"you okay?"
"can we go outside?"
James nodded seriously and they walked to the elevator, when they got to the ground floor Regulus realised James wasn't just holding him up, they were keeping each other up. In fact James looked like death. His head was nestled firmly in Regs shoulder.
"Where do you want to go" Regulus asked
James lifted his head and grinned "Take me anywhere"
Regulus rolled his eyes and scoffed to hide the red spreading over his face.
When he looked at James again he looked needy, like he was waiting or internally telling himself off, James stood up and opened his mouth, and Regulus had the best thought
if his mouth is occupied he can't speak
Before James could say anything Regulus kissed him.
When he moved away James looked shocked but he closed his mouth and tugged Regs hand pulling him closer.
James kissed him and Regulus congratulated himself on his smart thinking.
---------
Sun streamed through the window, Regulus rolled over and covered his eyes. Why hadn't he closed the curtains people in other apartments would be able to see him from theirs.
He rolled back over and felt the blankets shift, he opened his eyes and saw an arm. He blinked a few times and carefully lifted the blankets up.
shit.
shit.
where was his shirt? he wasn't going to wake this boy up, this was a drunken mistake. He didn't even really remember it if he didn't see the guy it wasn't real.
He slipped out of the bed easily enough and looked on the ground for his shirt.
No
He looked at the dress shirt on the ground. Not his, he bit his lip.
No he prayed
The boy grumbled from bed. "Peter. Not. A. Morning. Person."
Regulus slapped his hand over his mouth and closed his eyes tight.
It wasn't it couldn't be. He opened one eye and saw James half covered by the blankets, his blankets in his bed.
"James" he whispered
He grumbled again
"James" he said are urgently
"Pet-" he started lifting himself up angrily, his mouth fall open.
Regulus made an annoyed hand gesture "James what the fuck"
His eyes were bright for a second before he snapped his mouth shut again and rolled his eyes "Five more minutes?"
"Nah uh" he said loudly "No." he ran this hand through his hair "James were is my shirt"
"How would I possibly know?"
"I don't know" he growled "You were the one that took it off"
James laughed softly at that "the suns barely risen, can I please have a few more minutes?"
"James!"