Prompt 15 - Double Fault
@wolfstarmicrofic August 15, word count 912
Previous part First Jegulus part
Sirius had been booted out of the kitchen by Remus. There were customers waiting, and he didn’t have the luxury of hiding away. So he came back out warily, ensuring that he gave James and Regulus’s table a wide berth.
The morning rush began to quiet down and Remus came out from behind the counter, bringing a coffee for himself and refills for James and Regulus. He sat down with them and began to have a loud conversation with Regulus. Sirius saw it for what it was immediately. Remus had that mischievous look he only got when he wanted to unleash a bit of chaos into the world.
“You look exceptionally clean if you don’t mind me saying,” He caught Remus saying to Regulus. Yep, he was definitely baiting him. Sirius took a deep breath and went to clear the tables in the far corner.
“Oh, yes, the shower at my friend’s flat is outstanding, with plenty of room and perfect pressure. James and I could have had twice as many shower partners in with us and still had room.” Regulus had raised his voice, so there was no escaping the conversation. Sirius shuddered as he swept spilt sugar off the table and into his cloth.
“Really? Sounds like a very well-thought-out space. I may join you next time if it really is that spacious.” He felt his eye begin to twitch with Remus’s response. The man with the rat phone case was back again. He was very interested in something on his screen when Sirius asked him if everything with his meal was alright. The man had squeaked out a yes and jabbed his fingers at the screen again when Sirius moved onto the next table.
“Evan and Barty would love that. But just a warning, they are looking for a third,” Sirius saw red. It was as if there was a double fault line beneath his feet as his body began to shake with rage.
"Twice! Twice you’ve been in here. I haven’t seen you for five years. You come back and the first thing you do is steal my best friend, and now you’re trying to set my boyfriend up?! Nope, you can go straight back to that house of horrors you call home!” He screamed across the small space. His regulars were used to him by now. He swore some of them came in just to see if he’d go off on one. Regulus muttered something quietly that he didn’t catch, and he watched as James wrapped a protective arm around him.
“Hey, Sirius, stop, yeah,” James said seriously. But Sirius could taste victory. Regulus wasn’t going to win this time.
“No, he can’t just come here and upset everything then go back to Mumsie and Dadsies as if nothing happened.”
“Hey, sweetheart, let’s stop, yeah. James and Regulus are going now anyway.” Remus tried to soothe him and began to usher him back towards the kitchen away from them.
He watched as James took Regulus’s hand and led him towards the door. He’d never realised how small his brother looked.
“Yeah, go on then, baby brother, go on home to your precious mummy and daddy.” He sneered, going for the kill.
“I can't, they kicked me out,” Regulus choked out, fighting back tears as he spun his head around to look at Sirius.
Every drop of rage he was feeling evaporated instantly. He’d done it. He’d told them, and they’d thrown him away as though he was nothing. He couldn’t believe it. Regulus had done everything they’d ever wanted him to do. He was their perfect son, and they couldn’t just let him have this one thing for himself? Well, he has me, he thought stubbornly.
Sirius walked purposefully across the café and wrapped his arms around his little brother. He wasn’t about to let him feel the way he had when he’d left that house.
“I’m so sorry, Reggie,” He murmured into his hair. Holding him close. By the time Regulus had relaxed into the hug, he’d made a decision. “There's a flat upstairs, above the café. It’s yours if you want it,” It was just going to waste after all and, at least this way, he knew who’d be up there. Regulus was hardly going to steal all their fancy appliances and sell them to some random dude named Ste.
“Really? You’d do that for me?” Regulus’s face was a mess, but apparently, he still had some energy to drive Sirius mad. “Even if I take James up there to shag?” Sirius rolled his eyes at the tiny smile Regulus gave him.
“Had to spoil this beautiful moment, didn’t you?” He barked a laugh and ruffled Regulus’s hair to get him back. “Here,” He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out the keys to the café. He removed the one for the flat and the one for the side door. He held them up and waved them pointedly. “Do not make me regret this,”
That was the moment James decided was the perfect time to add his own contribution to the Lets Actually Drive Sirius insane fund. He picked Regulus up like a newlywed and headed to the door with his parting comment.
“Come on, love. I want to hear more about this shagging. Sounds fun.”
The café erupted with cheers. Sirius knew he’d done the right thing, but damn, it was a hard pill to swallow.
“I’m already regretting this!” He shouted after them. But he didn’t mean it. Not really.
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