Chapter Text
Berkeley, CA - July 2003
It’s too hot, once again. There’s always a week, every summer, where the Bay Area turns into an oven and the fog refuses to roll in and relieve them. Regulus knows he and James shouldn’t be adding to the heat wave, but he’s weak.
Regulus can’t resist those hands as they trail down his bare stomach and find their way to the front of his boxers. James slips his hand underneath the fabric, teasing him with the tips of his fingers on the skin of his hip bones. Regulus was in the middle of making two sandwiches for them, one of his hands still currently wrapped around a butter knife.
Fuck it. They’ll just have to shower before they leave.
The knife drops to the counter and as the sound rings out, Regulus braces himself for what he knows will come next. Who needs food when you have James Potter running his hands across your stomach?
He lets James stroke him gently, staying still and pretending like he barely notices the attention. Because it drives James up the wall not to get the attention he craves, and Regulus remains a bit of a glutton for the control he can command over James.
They rarely have to rush anymore, enjoying years of languid touching. But today, they really should try.
After Regulus is hard and finally feeling needy enough to give in, he turns around, seeing the look in James’ eyes that only means one thing - that James has to have Regulus, and that he has no interest in waiting. Regulus loves when James gets like this, because it gives him the upper hand. To torture. To make the foreplay slow and soft until James is practically on his knees begging for more. In fact, several times over the years this has literally happened. James has dropped to his knees and told Regulus that if he continues his teasing that James will die. Fall to the floor and perish, as James likes to say from the floor with his pouty lips and pleading eyes.
So Regulus doesn’t let it get that far. Because they have somewhere to be in less than an hour. He takes a page out of James’ playbook and drops to his own knees in the middle of the kitchen before pulling James’ briefs down so he can step out of them. He looks up at the statue of the man he’s lucky to call his own, and smirks at the unchecked desire flickering in James’ eyes.
He takes James into his mouth, and doesn’t tease. He takes him in fully, and absorbs that moans he can feel vibrating through James’ entire body.
James reaches down and pulls at Regulus’ hair. A physical demand to get up. James moves Regulus toward the last drawer at the end of the kitchen and turns him around, letting him support himself on the edge of the counter. He pulls the drawer open, where in true James fashion, he keeps a small bottle of lube. There used to be condoms there, in the beginning. But they’ve been monogamous for so long, tested and cleared, that they no longer need them.
James uses his slick hand to open Regulus up slowly. This part never gets quicker. James is always generous and gentle. Always afraid of going too fast and hurting Regulus. And Regulus doesn’t mind. He loves the lead-in to the main event.
“Are you ready?”
Regulus lets his head fall back onto James' body and nods his head. James kisses his cheek as he guides himself inside of Regulus. Regulus’ mouth parts at the immediate fullness. James brings his free hand to Regulus’ neck and lays it across his throat. Their skin is sticky from the heat, making James’ hand cling to Regulus’ skin as he turns his neck back. James’ mouth falls into Regulus’, kissing him with more tongue than anything as he pulls out slowly and pushes in again, forcing Regulus to moan directly into James’ mouth.
Regulus still sees stars every time James loses control and starts to thrust faster and harder. It’s a bit of a routine, but Regulus can assure anyone that even knowing what will come next, he will never get tired of fucking James Potter.
“Touch me, James.”
They need to hurry this up. They’re going to be so late.
James wraps his arm around Regulus’ body and takes him into his hand. Regulus groans at the pressure, ready to spill over the edge. He briefly wonders how long James will need until his answer comes through a harsh whisper in his ear.
“Fuck, I’m close.”
Regulus grabs for James’ free hand, bringing it to the counter so they can hold on tight as James fucks him faster until Regulus is spilling out onto the counter and James is spilling into Regulus. It’s a symphony, the way they can let their moans and panting fall freely from their mouths. Because this is their apartment. Just theirs. No roommates who may walk in and find them buried in each other in the middle of the kitchen.
They both need several minutes to catch their breath before either of them can move for a towel and soap to clean the fucking mess they just made in their own kitchen. Jesus Christ, they are so lucky they live alone.
James looks at the clock in the kitchen. “Fuck, we are so going to be late.”
They make panicked eye contact and both dash for the shower to get ready at lightning speed.
On their way to the front door James stops at their little entry table and grabs a pen.
“James! We do not have time for this.”
James pauses and pinches his brows together, until Regulus throws his hands up, conceding.
“There’s always time for this, Reg.”
James finishes his scribbling and pins the sticky note to the cork board that hangs in their entry way. Full of layers and layers of various colored paper.
Regulus steps up to read the newest addition.
‘Do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?’
Regulus smiles and looks at James, who’s now the one waiting on Regulus to follow him out the door.
“The Flaming Lips?”
James leans in and kisses Regulus’ cheek. “Okay, now we really have to go.”
Regulus nods and takes a last glance at their lyrics board. Buried underneath is the first sticky note James pinned there on the first day they moved in together. Below hundreds of other lines and bridges and verses lies Regulus’ favorite.
The one that reads: ‘You’re the closest to Heaven that I’ll ever be.’
Regulus blushes at the memory as he slips his hand into James’. They sprint onto the street and take a left toward Oakland.
They make it to the venue with only five minutes to spare. Paul Simon is already spinning when they enter. Obvious Child blares through the speaker, which means Marlene must be here too since she’s the Paul devotee. Sirius and Remus roll their eyes when they see them both walk in with wet hair and still flushed faces.
“Really? This day is about Peter, and you two are late because you were having sex?”
James shrugs, and Regulus immediately moves away, not wishing to discuss his sex life with his brother even after all this time. He finds Marlene hanging decorations and gets to work - turning the room into an idyllic haven of flowers and greenery.
When the room is ready, they all step out onto the street for a breath of fresh air. Sirius immediately kneels to pet the black dog tied up to the bike rack outside.
Regulus shakes his head. “I still can’t believe you let Sirius keep that beast.”
Remus laughs, shaking his own head. “You act like I can ever tell Sirius what he can and can’t do.”
Sirius pauses his petting and glares up at them. “He needed a home, Remus! He was all alone at People’s Park.” He nuzzles his face into the dog’s, getting licks of approval in return. “My sweet Padfoot.”
James chuckles from beside them. Regulus and James privately laugh about the silly name Sirius landed on for his adopted street mutt.
Peter and John finally stroll-up to the storefront, in matching suits and glowing smiles to match.
“Looking sharp, boys. Ready to get married?” James hugs both of them before allowing everyone else to take their turn to congratulate the two.
Sirius hugs them each last, before throwing out one of his many, many remarks about their decision to have a commitment ceremony. “You know, Remus and I are waiting till marriage is legal to do this. To make it officially official. We’re out there every day fighting for the legislation. And we’re close, I can feel it.”
Almost in unison, the entire group responds together. “We know, Sirius.”
Remus kisses Sirius’ cheek, always deeply in awe of Sirius’ passion for fighting for all of their rights to marry on paper. But today isn’t about that. Today is about Peter and John wanting to celebrate with those they love. To share their agreements for a lifetime together with friends and family.
Everyone strolls into the store, leaving James and Regulus alone on the street, looking up at the red neon store sign.
‘The Astronomy Tower.’
Telegraph Avenue’s newest record store, venue, coffee shop, and local haunt for misfits. Named for the two stars who funded it. With the money that Regulus got for both of them by threatening his parents that he would come out publicly if they didn’t agree to release half of both of their inheritances. Blackmail is, arguably, wrong. But when it comes to the Black family, sometimes you have to sink low to get anywhere. And Regulus can’t admit honestly to feeling any regret.
Because look at his life. Look at the man he lives with. The man who fucks him stupid and eagerly lets Regulus do the same to him whenever he’s in the mood. A guy who took the money Regulus offered and immediately gave half of it to a man named Dave who previously lived on the street. Look at this store.
At some point, all of them agreed that Telegraph Avenue needed to be preserved. Needed something to combat the boy bands and the pop music that was taking over the radio. So, The Astronomy Tower was born - to keep real music in Berkeley. To have all their favorite bands playing at all times. To let local artists come and play their songs.
James takes Regulus’ hand, ready to lead him inside the small paradise that they all built together. James opens the door, and Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet spills out from inside. Sirius must have finally kicked Marlene off the stereo.
He pauses for a second, looking at Regulus with a question in his eyes.
“Do you think we should tell Sirius that we secretly love Britney Spears?”
Regulus puts a hand to his chest, feigning absolute horror. “Absolutely not. He’ll make us sell our portion of the store.”
They both fall into a fit of laughter as they cross the threshold, ready to watch two people they love commit to each other. James has no idea. That the moment marriage becomes legal for them, Regulus plans to ask James to do the exact same thing.