Chapter Text
June 1, Sunday
When I finally decided to move out from home (if you can even call it that) and asked Sirius to help me search for a flat near his, this is definitely not what I meant. Yes I wanted to be closer to my brother but being actual neighbors had not crossed my mind at all.
Now I just have to be ok with it because I already paid for it and I am standing at the front door apparently waiting for some people I don’t even know. Despite of this I do appreciate my brother trying to help me in every way possible.
He really is the reason behind this decision, I couldn’t bear anymore to think about how our relationship had changed since he moved out when I was 16 a he was 18. He practically run to his best friend’s home as soon as he finished school and was of age. I mean I understand he had a terrible relationship with our parents but when he asked me to come with I just couldn’t. It’s not that I have a great relationship with them but since I always behaved they weren’t as hard on me. Maybe they were too tired from all that took to raise Sirius.
What surprised me the most was them not being super transphobic when I came out as at 14. Of course they didn’t like it but I think behaving so well all my life got me not their acceptance but also not any type of rejection. Or maybe it was just the fact that Sirius had already cut my hair off when they came home one day and all the anger was directed to him. They thought I was joking up until a month of Sirius calling me “he” and me wearing his very masculine clothes in public. At some point they just acted like nothing ever happened and treated me like a boy.
Of course that doesn’t mean things were perfect, I stayed in that house these last four years out of comfort because they barely acknowledged my presence or maybe it was actually fear of going out to the world and living by myself what really kept me in there.
As the years passed I got tired of living with an alcoholic mother and a father that spent the entire day at his desk working. At least they’re were not as annoying as when Sirius was around, although he may or may not have been just as annoying with his rebellious personality. But it’s understandable wanting to break the rules when there’s too many of them in a house so uptight. Now they are getting old and with the mean teenager out of the picture they just don’t even give a shit about what their now only son does or doesn’t do.
Perhaps being this close to my brother isn’t such a bad idea after all. Maybe with his loud and happy personality he could bring a little more joy and excitement to my boring and miserable life that consisted in studying and seeing my friends once a month.
“Come on Reggie, I didn’t tell you it’s in the same building because I know you wouldn’t have said yes” Sirius pointed out.
“Yeah exactly” I shot back rolling my eyes “But whatever, it’s fine now, I just want to bring all my stuff in and relax in my new home, I don’t get why you won’t even let me see it yet”
“I already told you we have to wait for my friends so they can help us, I know it’s not that much stuff, but I really want you to meet them and if we do this all together it’s an excellent experience for you to bond with them, right moony?” he asked as he looked out for the boy at his side who had been almost completely silent this entire time, I liked him already.
“I don’t want to be involved in this love, but I agree with you brother tho, it’s just some boxes, all the furniture already came with the flat, we could get started without them” his boyfriend responded while taking his hand and looking at him in a certain way so that Sirius wouldn’t be mad, which definitely worked by the way.
Thankfully before anyone could say anything else, two boys appeared from the stairs “Pads I’m so sorry we are late, Peter just wouldn’t let go of his books, you know how he is” one of them said.
When I turned to take I look at them I almost gasped because it should be illegal for someone to look that good in the middle of a Sunday afternoon.
This man with the glasses had the most beautiful tanned dark skin that matched his eyes just perfectly. His hair was a mess and that somehow fitted him like it couldn’t be any other way. And I don’t even want to think too much about his body and how his muscles look thanks to his really tight clothes because I’m sure everyone would notice me blushing.
I forced to look away from him after just a few seconds and noticed the person standing next to him. “That’s such bullshit prongs, how could I be studying when the summer break literally started yesterday? You took way too long to fix your hair which by the way doesn’t make any sense because it’s even worse than earlier” The other boy said. He was way shorter, had a kind of blondish hair and some freckles all over his face.
“I don’t care whose fault is it as long as you’re here, Regulus meet my mates prongsie and wormy, guys this is my dear brother” he said pointing at me while I frowned because what the hell are those nicknames?
“That’s definitely a way of introducing someone Sirius” Pretty boy said “Hi I’m James Potter nice to meet you Regulus” He stated while he held up his hand looking at me and before I could even react he just smiled at me. He smiled like he didn’t know he had the shiniest smile on the entire town and I almost melted but I was able to pull myself together and shake his hand with my best poker face.
-
An hour and a half later I had learned a lot of things. First of all the other guy was named Peter and the reason they kept joking with him about books was because he’s studying to be a doctor and spends most of his time locked up in his room and sometimes they don’t even see him on the weeks when he has a lot of exams.
On the other hand James works part time at a gym more as a hobby, which definitely explained a lot, but since he is 22 he’s also working for his father hoping one day he would take over the business.
Remus is a history teacher at some high school which surprised me a little bit with him being so young but he does look like he puts a lot of effort into things, I mean he’s dating my brother, that alone must require a lot.
We had almost emptied most of the boxes so in the end Sirius was kind of right that five work better than two but I would never admit that to his face.
When we were about to head out and go eat something at Sirius an Remus’s place my brother just put one arm over my shoulder and the other over James looking at us with some weird smile “I’m so happy two of the most important people in my life finally met, I mean I love moony and Peter, but you Reggie have always been my brother and James here took me in his family so he’s also like my brother” he said while trying to get us three to hug “I really hope you get along well because now you could consider each other brothers as well if you think about it” he pointed out.
All I could think to my self was fuck no I don’t want to see James like that but I just smiled and nodded. “You guys go prepare some tea at your place and I’ll meet you there, I just want to change my clothes real quick” I informed as I walked to my new room before even waiting for James’s response to Sirius’s corny speech.
I thought about putting on something nice to impress James but who was I kidding? That boy was definitely straight and it would be dumb to get involved with my brother’s best friend anyway so I just changed into something comfortable.
When I went to the living room I was not expecting to see him standing there alone. “Hey, do you need something?” I asked confused.
James showed that beautiful smile and got closer to where I was standing. “No sorry, Sirius just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t bail on us so he sent me here to force you to go to his flat before you locked yourself in here”
I rolled my eyes because of course he did that. “Ah so he can’t trust my word and he had to send one of his mates instead of him just telling me” I responded bitterly.
“Come on Reg, you know he just wants you two to be closer” he said softly. “You will have to get used to him being overprotective as your big brother” he pointed out.
I just looked away “First of all don’t call me Reg, and secondly I know he means well but sometimes I just want him to be normal and don’t treat me like a child. We aren’t kids anymore” I said still not looking at him.
James took out his phone, typed something and handed it to me “Here, save your number and send a message so you can have my contact and anytime you need anything and don’t want to bother Sirius or if you’re just tired of him, you can text me and I’ll be here” he informed with a soft smile.
I thought it was stupid but I also couldn’t miss the opportunity to have his number so I saved mine and send myself a text. Then I gave him his phone back and walked out to my brother’s place without saying a word. He just happily followed me.
June 7, Saturday
One week after moving in I was already bored as fuck. I didn’t really have many friends that I could hang out with. My best friend is Pandora. We met in college when we started two years ago but now she’s on a trip with his weird boyfriend for two weeks so I can’t see her. Then I have Barty, Evan and Dorcas but we don’t hang out as often since we graduated high school. We are still friends just not as close as I’m with Panda. Sometimes the five of us would do something since I introduced them to her. But now I just don’t feel like seeing them.
Sirius has invited me like three times to his place just in these few days I’ve been here so that was enough time with him this week. I mean I really appreciate all the effort he is putting into mending our relationship, which is not broken or anything, we simply aren’t as close as when we were kids. His boyfriend is really nice too. I might even like him better sometimes because he is really quiet and already recommended and lent me lots of his books.
Scrolling through my messages I saw James contact. Something inside of me really wants to just text him but I pushed that thought aside quickly. Because what the hell would I even say? He would probably think I’m his best friend’s weird little brother anyway.
Although he did say to call if I needed help with anything. I definitely do not. There are many things I have been procrastinating to start but I do know how to do them myself. Maybe I could just play like I’m a useless spoiled brat who doesn’t know how to do anything by himself. It’s a dumb idea but I’ll text him anyway. I mean he’s probably going to say he’s busy and I will never bother him again.
Hey
Hi Reggie
Didn’t think you’d actually text me tbh
Don’t call me Reggie
You said I couldn’t call you Reg so I’m just exploring my options you know
Whatever
Did you want something?
Never mind, this was stupid
NO wait
You can ask please :(
Anything you need I will help I swear
Ugh stop being such a good person it’s annoying
Umm ok?
I need to hang some paintings and didn’t want to ask Sirius for help because I already saw him enough this week
But you don’t have to help me I just didn’t know who else to ask
Of course I want to help
Be there in 15
?Wait you’re actually coming
Well yes that’s what I said
Do I have to bring any tools? I assume you have a hammer and nails
No I don’t have that stuff, that’s why I texted you
Oh okay
I thought it was simply because you don’t know how to do shit
I definitely know how to, I just needed you for the materials
Don’t come if you’re going to mock me
I’m leaving my house already :D
-
I knew he was hot but damn when I opened the door it still shocked me how good he looked. It’s like the tools box made it even better.
“Hello Reggie” he said with a grin that indicated he knew the nickname bothered me and still used it.
Without even saying a word I just let him in and walked to my room where the paintings were. “Well we could start with these ones and then move to the ones I want to hang in the living room” I muttered.
“Ok you can show me exactly where you want each one and I will do all the work since you clearly don’t know how to” he responded.
“I do know, I just think you are going to do it better” I shot back while I grabbed the first one measuring where I wanted it. “This high up would be great”
James put the nail in that exact spot I pointed and started hammering. His arm looked bigger with the force he was putting into it and I just had to play it cool so he wouldn’t notice how aroused I was near him.
We were moving pretty fast hanging these paintings. In the meantime James didn’t stop talking. Not for a second. Not even when I gave him three word answers to his million questions. “So Sirius never told me what career you’re studying” James pointed out looking at me.
“Psychology” I answered shortly.
“That’s actually not what I expected at all” he said as I lifted an eyebrow “No no, but in a good way” he tried to explain “ I think it’s a really interesting degree, mental health is so important these days, I do therapy myself” James informed with a weird face like there was something else in his mind that he would not tell me.
“That’s great James” I softened up and smiled at him in a reassuring way.
“Yeah it definitely was hard to start and even harder to keep going but the process was worth it and now I can say I’m in a very good place” he stated looking happy and sad at the same time. “Well that was the last one, I really should get going, I don’t want to bother you any longer”
He was not a bother to me at all right now and I wanted to tell him that but somehow all I said was “Yeah okay, thanks for the help today” while I opened the door for him “Take care James”
“You too Reggie, and call me if you need anything please, don’t be afraid to do so” he replied before walking away and leaving me even more intrigued than when we first met. This boy is more than just a hot body. He is actually really easy to talk to and isn’t that same idiot he is with my brother when we discuss something kind of serious. Now I need to know everything about him.