Fic: Remember Regulus for marseverlasting
Title: Remember Regulus
Author:
Giftee: marseverlasting
Characters/Pairing: Regulus/Sirius, Regulus/OC
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,459
Author Notes: marseverlasting, I snooped around your profile and saw that you had an icon of Orson Welles and had listed Citizen Kane as one of your interests. I just hope you like the two as much as I do. :]
Summary: Regulus and Sirius go out for the night to muggle London.
Regulus hated him more than anyone else, more than his mother and pompous fucked father, or that little twit who thought he was better than Regulus at Quidditch. His hatred was more than just some dumb House rivalry. It was a war, a battle between brother and brother, between fake and real, because that was what Sirius was - fake, an act with nothing but cold stage in front of him. Regulus knew it, but did anyone else? No, of course not. Not in a million years would they think that their precious hero, their gallant star was just another coward.
He watched his brother from across the dinner table with a bit of chewed carrot still on his tongue. Regulus moved the left-over food to the roof of his mouth, his gums dry and sticky, his swallowing silent. Sirius ate his supper like some sort of dog, his mouth open, his lips smacking. He stretched his long legs under the table, the tips of his school shoes hitting Regulus’ shin. Pain prickled up Regulus’ leg, and it made him scowl because he knew there would be a bruise in the morning.
Their mother stalked into the dreary kitchen like one of those muggle Army Generals Regulus had heard about. Her presence was enough to send any House Elf scurrying away in fear, especially with her features so stern, her back so straight and sturdy. Her beady eyes skimmed over the table, and she smiled faintly. Regulus couldn’t see if she was smiling at Sirius or him, but he suspected it was at Sirius, only secretively, because to everyone else around she was still mad at him for becoming Gryffindor scum.
"How was the train ride?" asked their mother, her hand coming up to brush the hair away from Regulus' forehead. Sirius mumbled something incoherently, his fingers fiddling with a loose string on his robe, his eyes narrowed.
Regulus felt his mother's hand slip from his forehead as she looked disapprovingly at Sirius. She moved to the other side of the table, her dark eyes cold, her faded, pristine face set in deep lines. "Sirius, you will answer me respectfully."
Sirius shrugged, his expression unconcerned. "It was . . . good."
"And what about those friends of yours? The blood traitor and the half-breed." Their mother had a nonchalant air about her when she asked this, her hand waving in the air lazily.
Sirius clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw straining. "James, Peter and Remus are fine." It sounded like Sirius was choking on his own patience, the air whistling loudly through his nose.
Their mother sat down beside Sirius and chose tea instead of pumpkin juice, like always. "Well, that's unfortunate." Sirius forged a grin, and their mother smiled back genuinely.She liked how the conversation was going, Regulus could tell. "So," she chimed in, her voice ringing. "What are your plans for tonight?"
"I was thinking about going out."
"But you just got home."
Leaning back in his chair, Sirius smirked. "Exactly."
Their mother fell silent and Regulus had to roll his eyes at how incredibly dramatic it all was. He snorted quietly - Sirius really was nothing but a big dolt. What was he going for with 'exactly' as his big punch line - tears? - because Regulus didn't want to cry, he wanted to laugh straight into Sirius' puckered face.
"Take your brother with you." It was their mother's turn to smirk as outrage bloomed across Sirius' features.
"What? I can't take him with me!" Sirius' voice was high and pouting. He quickly glanced at Regulus, his eyebrows creased together.
"Why not? He's your brother." Regulus heard the anger start to etch its way into their mother's voice. "Take him with you."
Sirius made an appalled noise, standing up abruptly and spilling pumpkin juice on the precious table cloth. "Fine," he said as he stalked out of the kitchen. "But Regulus better be ready when I am!" Sirius slammed the door behind him for good measure.
Regulus looked up at his mother. "Do I really have to?"
"Yes - you have to make sure he doesn't run off with those friends of his," said his mother without taking her eyes off the cracked door.
~*~
Regulus stared at his reflection in the foggy mirror, drops of water and sweat still dotting his shoulders and chest. Strands of black hair curled against his temples, wet and dripping. He ran both hands through his hair, fingers smoothing down the curls. He liked his hair short. It was the complete opposite of Sirius' own style.
Rubbing the moisture off the glass with his palm, Regulus watched as his arm flexed and curved. He turned to the side and stood completely straight. He still thought himself too skinny and short, and he suddenly wished he looked more like Sirius. He would have a broader chest and longer limbs, with strong, arched shoulders to match. All the girls would stare and whisper and Regulus would know that he was liked.
"Hurry the fuck up!" Sirius said, banging on the door. "Stop wanking in there and come on!"
"Shut up!" Regulus yelled back as he blushed deeply. "I'll be out!"
~*~
Bright orange light stung Regulus' eyes, and he brought his hand up to block out the intrusion. He walked just behind Sirius, his steps even and his stride straight. They were on a crowded muggle street with tourists streaming out from the restaurants and pubs. Kids cried, dogs barked and Regulus' mind swarm with all that was foreign.
A man who smelt of cigars and whiskey bumped into Regulus, making him turn and scowl deeply. Sirius strode confidently through the crowd of muggles, and Regulus slightly admired him for his ease. He supposed Sirius could manage any situation, could stand out and make friends even in the most distant places.
Regulus felt like he was on display in a cage, with muggles standing and gawking at him for being unordinary. He felt their eyes following him, burning him with their stares, even though he knew it was all in his head.
"Where are we going?" Regulus asked, hoping his voice didn't sound uncertain.
Sirius snorted. "It's not about where we are going, it's about where you are going."
"What? You're leaving me?" Regulus flinched. He sounded too desperate.
"Don't be so shocked," said Sirius, turning to him. "You're not old enough for where I'm headed."
"I'm old enough for anything!" Regulus snapped. He stared hard at Sirius, his eyes narrowed. "What the fuck am I going to do?"
Sirius shrugged. "I dunno - go see a movie or something."
"Alone?"
"What? Is little Reggie afraid?" Sirius asked with a condescending grin, his teeth bared.
Regulus shot him a furious look. "No, I'm not." And he wasn't - seeing a movie just filled him with something weird and unnerving. He couldn't exactly explain it, but his stomach twisted at the thought nevertheless.
Sirius smirked, his eyes knowing. Regulus suddenly felt anger surge through him and he roughly pushed his brother. Sirius stumbled back, knocking into a woman who was looking through her purse. She turned around quickly, her expression stunned. Sirius didn't apologise or even look back, but instead darted for Regulus, shoving him into a light post.
"Get off!" Regulus gasped, his arms flailing about. "Get the fuck off me!"
"What if I don't?" Sirius asked breathlessly, his hands grabbing at Regulus' arms. "What are you going to do, Reggie?"
"Don't call me that!" Regulus yelled, trying to knee Sirius in the groin. "Get off me, you dolt!"
Sirius leaned into Regulus, the sharp edges of his body nailing him to the light post. "You can't do anything to me." Regulus tried to twist away, but Sirius was too heavy against him.
"Sir-ius, ge-t off m-e!" He was panting and a thin line of sweat had formed on his forehead. Sirius was laughing like a howling dog, alarming the muggles who were around. When Regulus finally managed to push him off, he realised that people around were staring.
Catching his breath, Sirius pointed across the street. "Look, remember?" Regulus glanced and spotted an old movie theater - the same theater where Sirius and Regulus had sneaked off to when they were younger.
"Wow, I forgot it was around here," Regulus said quietly, rubbing his arms where Sirius had grabbed him. He turned to Sirius, pausing to form his words correctly. He didn't want to sound like he was begging. "Come, see the movie with me."
Sirius seemed uncertain, his expression hard. "I dunno - it depends on what's playing."
Regulus shook his head and started to cross the street. His eyes darted around nervously, because, damnit, muggle cars scared the living Jesus out of him. It was all that metal and wheels, something he had no clue about.
He didn't look behind him to see if Sirius was following, but something in the pit of his stomach told him that he would. He just had to.
The ticket booth was incredibly shabby with old-fashion wallpaper peeling off on the inside. The glittering red paint, long dulled by the sun, was chipped at the corners. It was a harsh comparison to its former glamorous self, a past of only ten years in the making. A teenage boy sat, doodling on a newspaper. He didn't look up when Regulus approached.
Regulus knocked against the window with two knuckles. "What's playing?" The boy glanced up at him, and wordlessly pointed to the sign up above. Regulus leaned back to see Citizen Kane bolded against the electric board. The "C" of Citizen was lopsided and the "a" of Kane was hanging by the curve of its loop.
"Citizen Kane?" Sirius asked, coming up to stand beside him. Regulus smirked at the awkward sound of his voice. "Didn't we see that movie a long time ago? It had that man in it - William or Welish or something like that."
"Orson Welles," said the boy behind the counter. His voice was nasally and Regulus spotted the acne marks on his cheeks for the first time. "He was married to Rita Hayworth - lucky bloke."
Sirius stared at the boy. "Who the fuck is Rita Hayworth?"
"You know, the redhead bird with the long legs . . . Gilda? The Lady From Shanghai?
"Bird from where?" Sirius blinked a few times at him. Regulus rolled his eyes.
"Give me two tickets," Regulus said, his hand rummaging in his pocket for the muggle money.
~*~
The seats were ratty and sticky from spilt drinks, and the whole theatre smelt of mildew and London rain. Regulus and Sirius sat directly in the middle of the front row, shoulders touching slightly. Only one other person occupied a seat - a woman with round glasses and grey hair. She sat three rows from the back, to just the right of Regulus.
A clicking could be heard from the top floor, and the black and white movie started silently. Sirius shifted next to Regulus as the looming music of the opening scene began playing. Regulus watched as a dark castle floated into view, with a rusty sign that spelled "No Trespassing" on the gate. It made him think of Hogwarts, and how the castle looked on cold, rainy nights. A single window stood luminescent from the far corner of the scene, and Regulus pictured himself in that bedroom - the only room with a light on.
"Xanadu," Regulus murmured, finally remembering when exactly he saw the movie. He had been young - around seven or eight. Sirius had been ten or eleven, but Regulus couldn't be sure. It was back when they used to run off and do muggle sort of things - like see a movie or eat a hamburger, because it was exhilarating for them to even imagine what their mother would do if she ever found out.
He remembered how it was before Hogwarts, before Sirius became a Gryffindor and suddenly realised he was too good for anyone in the family. Regulus frowned, and one hard line etched its way into his forehead. He had admired Sirius, practically worshiped him. Sirius was always just so much better than Regulus; he never made mistakes.
Regulus watched the film play out with an unsettling feeling in the pit of his mind. It was weird to understand the different points of the film that had confused him when he was younger. He felt innocent again, felt like a boy who had no idea what the world had in store for him.
Sirius suddenly put his hand on his shoulder, mimicking the dialogue."On the other hand - I am the publisher of the Enquirer. As such, it is my duty - I'll let you in on a little secret, it is also my pleasure - to see to it that decent, hard-working people of this city are not robbed blind by a group of money-mad pirates because, God help them, they have no one to look after their interests!"
Regulus snorted, and mouthed, "You money-mad pirate!" Sirius laughed loudly, and the woman in the back angrily went "Shh!". Regulus turned around to glare at her.
In a loud, obnoxious voice, Regulus repeated, "We expect to lose a million next year, too. You know, Mr. Thatcher - at the rate of a million a year - we'll have to close this place in sixty years."
He smirked up at the woman, watching her reaction. She stood up and left the theatre.
~*~
"I can't hear you!" Regulus yelled, his hands coming up to cover his ears. "It's too fucking loud in here!"
Sirius yelled something back, pointing to a door that lead to the club's sitting room. Regulus looked up at him questioning, but Sirius just turned and headed for the door. Regulus had to squeeze through groups of dancing muggles to follow, bodies bumping into him, sweaty forms nudging him.
Finally making it through the opening, he breathed deeply. It had been so crowded on the dance floor. Regulus spotted Sirius sitting at one of the puffy red sofas, his legs arched to the floor, messy hair falling into his face.
"What did you say out there?" Regulus asked, sitting down next to Sirius. "I couldn't hear you."
Sirius shook his head. "I said I was coming in here." He leaned further into the cushion, his eyes staring across the room. Regulus followed his gaze to a boy who sat alone. The boy had brown hair that curled at the ends. He looked up and caught Sirius staring. Their eyes locked, and Sirius seemed to smile suggestively.
"Stop staring at that boy like that," said Regulus. "People will think you're a poof."
Sirius tore his eyes away from the boy, and glared down at Regulus. "I'm not a poof! I can get any woman I want."
Regulus snorted, feeding off Sirius' anger. "Right. Why were you staring at that boy over there then?"
Sirius laughed. "I don't like him!"
"Why not? It seemed like you did."
"Why don't I like him? For one thing he doesn't have a cunt," Sirius said, curling his hand into a circle. "There is nothing better than sticking it into a woman who is wet and dripping." He thrust two fingers into the hole his hand made.
Regulus stared at him. Sirius stood up and walked over to a blonde girl who had been eyeing him for the whole time. Wet? Dripping? What the hell was Sirius talking about?
~*~
"May I sit here?"
Regulus cracked his eyes open, the vibration of the music drumming through his head. A girl stood over him, pointing to the open seat on the sofa.
"What? Yeah, sure." Regulus blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up. He must have fallen asleep. He looked around but he couldn't see Sirius anywhere. "Have you seen my brother?"
"No," said the girl, smiling at him. "What does he look like?"
"He looks like me," said Regulus, his head falling back into the cushion. "I think he left."
"Don't worry. He'll be back."
Regulus looked at the girl, his eyes lazy. She had short black hair that was tucked behind her ears. Her face was small with full lips and dark eyes. He thought she looked a little like a boy.
"What is your name?" she asked, her long, pale arm draping over the arm of the sofa.
"Regulus."
The girl looked surprised. "That's a weird name. I'm Ashlee." She smiled even wider at him. "You’re not from around here, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
Regulus tensed a little when she scooted closer to him. He felt the heat of her thigh pressing into his and something deep in his stomach stirred. His eyes travelled down the length of her flat chest, to her black-clad long legs that were crossed at the ankle. He really liked what he saw.
"Where are you from?" Ashlee asked, her hand coming up to play with the sleeve of his shirt.
Regulus shrugged with one shoulder. "Nowhere."
"Oh, I see." Ashlee moved her hand up to finger his hair. She ran her long fingers through it, brushing it away from his face. Her face was so close to his, and Regulus could smell her sweet breath. She had been drinking.
"You smell really nice," Regulus whispered, leaning into her. His heart was pounding faster than normal, and it made him feel alive, wanted. If Sirius could flirt like this, then he could too.
"I want to give you my number," said Ashlee, putting a hand on his chest.
Regulus looked at her, confused. "What number?"
"My telephone number. Do you have a pen?"
"A what?" Regulus blinked at her while she slid away from him.
Ashlee leaned over and yelled, "Hey, Darleen! Do you have a pen?"
A plump girl shook her head. "All I have is my lipstick."
"That will do," said Ashlee, leaning even further to grab the lipstick. "Here, will you hand me that napkin over there?"
Regulus looked at the table next to him. He lifted a half-empty glass off the napkin and handed it to her. She placed it against her slim thigh and wrote messy numbers with lipstick against it.
Smirking, Regulus said, "Do all girls write with lipstick?"
Ashlee's head shot up, her mouth slightly open. "Oh."
"What's wrong?"
She stood up quickly, her hand balling up the napkin. "Oh - you - I need to go."
"Why? What about your numbers?" Regulus asked, also standing up. He was very confused, and everything suddenly became very awkward.
She stared at him, her eyes slightly worried. "Do you really want to telephone me?"
"Yeah -" Regulus tried to say, but Ashlee's lips against his silenced him. Cupping his hand within hers, she brought it down to her crotch, and pressed deep into her pants. Regulus felt the swell of a penis against his fingers.
"You're cute," said Ashlee, walking out of the room, and leaving Regulus with nothing but the crumpled napkin in his shaking hand and an uncapped red lipstick at his feet.
~*~
Sirius was very drunk, Regulus could tell. He slurred some of his words and the smell of alcohol just radiated off him. They sat on a bench in a park that Sirius had stumbled upon. "So, some bird just gave you her lipstick?" Sirius asked, his head falling back against the wood.
"No, she left it," Regulus said quietly, staring at his hand through the dark. The hand that touched it.
Sirius looked at Regulus. "You met a girl?"
Regulus shrugged, "Kind of."
"Was she wearing this?" Sirius held up the lipstick, his fingers wrapping around the base.
"No, but her friend was."
"She had a friend!" Sirius eyes were big. "Did anything happen?"
Regulus smirked. "Yes, actually. We kissed."
"Really?" Sirius asked, his hand grabbing Regulus' jaw. "Did she smudge this all over your lips?"
"What are you do - stop it!"
Regulus tried to twist away as Sirius smeared the lipstick against his lips, his nails digging into Regulus' chin. He tasted the chalky stuff on his teeth and tongue, and it made him gag slightly. Sirius started to laugh, his head dropping to rest on Regulus' shoulder.
"You look nice like that," Sirius said, his voice muffled by Regulus' shirt. Regulus tried to push him off, but Sirius' body just slumped against his. He had fallen asleep.
Regulus sighed, wrapping his arms around his brother. He kind of liked Sirius being this close to him. Something in the back of his mind screamed against it, but Regulus was too tired to do anything about it.
***
Author:
Giftee: marseverlasting
Characters/Pairing: Regulus/Sirius, Regulus/OC
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,459
Author Notes: marseverlasting, I snooped around your profile and saw that you had an icon of Orson Welles and had listed Citizen Kane as one of your interests. I just hope you like the two as much as I do. :]
Summary: Regulus and Sirius go out for the night to muggle London.
Regulus hated him more than anyone else, more than his mother and pompous fucked father, or that little twit who thought he was better than Regulus at Quidditch. His hatred was more than just some dumb House rivalry. It was a war, a battle between brother and brother, between fake and real, because that was what Sirius was - fake, an act with nothing but cold stage in front of him. Regulus knew it, but did anyone else? No, of course not. Not in a million years would they think that their precious hero, their gallant star was just another coward.
He watched his brother from across the dinner table with a bit of chewed carrot still on his tongue. Regulus moved the left-over food to the roof of his mouth, his gums dry and sticky, his swallowing silent. Sirius ate his supper like some sort of dog, his mouth open, his lips smacking. He stretched his long legs under the table, the tips of his school shoes hitting Regulus’ shin. Pain prickled up Regulus’ leg, and it made him scowl because he knew there would be a bruise in the morning.
Their mother stalked into the dreary kitchen like one of those muggle Army Generals Regulus had heard about. Her presence was enough to send any House Elf scurrying away in fear, especially with her features so stern, her back so straight and sturdy. Her beady eyes skimmed over the table, and she smiled faintly. Regulus couldn’t see if she was smiling at Sirius or him, but he suspected it was at Sirius, only secretively, because to everyone else around she was still mad at him for becoming Gryffindor scum.
"How was the train ride?" asked their mother, her hand coming up to brush the hair away from Regulus' forehead. Sirius mumbled something incoherently, his fingers fiddling with a loose string on his robe, his eyes narrowed.
Regulus felt his mother's hand slip from his forehead as she looked disapprovingly at Sirius. She moved to the other side of the table, her dark eyes cold, her faded, pristine face set in deep lines. "Sirius, you will answer me respectfully."
Sirius shrugged, his expression unconcerned. "It was . . . good."
"And what about those friends of yours? The blood traitor and the half-breed." Their mother had a nonchalant air about her when she asked this, her hand waving in the air lazily.
Sirius clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw straining. "James, Peter and Remus are fine." It sounded like Sirius was choking on his own patience, the air whistling loudly through his nose.
Their mother sat down beside Sirius and chose tea instead of pumpkin juice, like always. "Well, that's unfortunate." Sirius forged a grin, and their mother smiled back genuinely.She liked how the conversation was going, Regulus could tell. "So," she chimed in, her voice ringing. "What are your plans for tonight?"
"I was thinking about going out."
"But you just got home."
Leaning back in his chair, Sirius smirked. "Exactly."
Their mother fell silent and Regulus had to roll his eyes at how incredibly dramatic it all was. He snorted quietly - Sirius really was nothing but a big dolt. What was he going for with 'exactly' as his big punch line - tears? - because Regulus didn't want to cry, he wanted to laugh straight into Sirius' puckered face.
"Take your brother with you." It was their mother's turn to smirk as outrage bloomed across Sirius' features.
"What? I can't take him with me!" Sirius' voice was high and pouting. He quickly glanced at Regulus, his eyebrows creased together.
"Why not? He's your brother." Regulus heard the anger start to etch its way into their mother's voice. "Take him with you."
Sirius made an appalled noise, standing up abruptly and spilling pumpkin juice on the precious table cloth. "Fine," he said as he stalked out of the kitchen. "But Regulus better be ready when I am!" Sirius slammed the door behind him for good measure.
Regulus looked up at his mother. "Do I really have to?"
"Yes - you have to make sure he doesn't run off with those friends of his," said his mother without taking her eyes off the cracked door.
~*~
Regulus stared at his reflection in the foggy mirror, drops of water and sweat still dotting his shoulders and chest. Strands of black hair curled against his temples, wet and dripping. He ran both hands through his hair, fingers smoothing down the curls. He liked his hair short. It was the complete opposite of Sirius' own style.
Rubbing the moisture off the glass with his palm, Regulus watched as his arm flexed and curved. He turned to the side and stood completely straight. He still thought himself too skinny and short, and he suddenly wished he looked more like Sirius. He would have a broader chest and longer limbs, with strong, arched shoulders to match. All the girls would stare and whisper and Regulus would know that he was liked.
"Hurry the fuck up!" Sirius said, banging on the door. "Stop wanking in there and come on!"
"Shut up!" Regulus yelled back as he blushed deeply. "I'll be out!"
~*~
Bright orange light stung Regulus' eyes, and he brought his hand up to block out the intrusion. He walked just behind Sirius, his steps even and his stride straight. They were on a crowded muggle street with tourists streaming out from the restaurants and pubs. Kids cried, dogs barked and Regulus' mind swarm with all that was foreign.
A man who smelt of cigars and whiskey bumped into Regulus, making him turn and scowl deeply. Sirius strode confidently through the crowd of muggles, and Regulus slightly admired him for his ease. He supposed Sirius could manage any situation, could stand out and make friends even in the most distant places.
Regulus felt like he was on display in a cage, with muggles standing and gawking at him for being unordinary. He felt their eyes following him, burning him with their stares, even though he knew it was all in his head.
"Where are we going?" Regulus asked, hoping his voice didn't sound uncertain.
Sirius snorted. "It's not about where we are going, it's about where you are going."
"What? You're leaving me?" Regulus flinched. He sounded too desperate.
"Don't be so shocked," said Sirius, turning to him. "You're not old enough for where I'm headed."
"I'm old enough for anything!" Regulus snapped. He stared hard at Sirius, his eyes narrowed. "What the fuck am I going to do?"
Sirius shrugged. "I dunno - go see a movie or something."
"Alone?"
"What? Is little Reggie afraid?" Sirius asked with a condescending grin, his teeth bared.
Regulus shot him a furious look. "No, I'm not." And he wasn't - seeing a movie just filled him with something weird and unnerving. He couldn't exactly explain it, but his stomach twisted at the thought nevertheless.
Sirius smirked, his eyes knowing. Regulus suddenly felt anger surge through him and he roughly pushed his brother. Sirius stumbled back, knocking into a woman who was looking through her purse. She turned around quickly, her expression stunned. Sirius didn't apologise or even look back, but instead darted for Regulus, shoving him into a light post.
"Get off!" Regulus gasped, his arms flailing about. "Get the fuck off me!"
"What if I don't?" Sirius asked breathlessly, his hands grabbing at Regulus' arms. "What are you going to do, Reggie?"
"Don't call me that!" Regulus yelled, trying to knee Sirius in the groin. "Get off me, you dolt!"
Sirius leaned into Regulus, the sharp edges of his body nailing him to the light post. "You can't do anything to me." Regulus tried to twist away, but Sirius was too heavy against him.
"Sir-ius, ge-t off m-e!" He was panting and a thin line of sweat had formed on his forehead. Sirius was laughing like a howling dog, alarming the muggles who were around. When Regulus finally managed to push him off, he realised that people around were staring.
Catching his breath, Sirius pointed across the street. "Look, remember?" Regulus glanced and spotted an old movie theater - the same theater where Sirius and Regulus had sneaked off to when they were younger.
"Wow, I forgot it was around here," Regulus said quietly, rubbing his arms where Sirius had grabbed him. He turned to Sirius, pausing to form his words correctly. He didn't want to sound like he was begging. "Come, see the movie with me."
Sirius seemed uncertain, his expression hard. "I dunno - it depends on what's playing."
Regulus shook his head and started to cross the street. His eyes darted around nervously, because, damnit, muggle cars scared the living Jesus out of him. It was all that metal and wheels, something he had no clue about.
He didn't look behind him to see if Sirius was following, but something in the pit of his stomach told him that he would. He just had to.
The ticket booth was incredibly shabby with old-fashion wallpaper peeling off on the inside. The glittering red paint, long dulled by the sun, was chipped at the corners. It was a harsh comparison to its former glamorous self, a past of only ten years in the making. A teenage boy sat, doodling on a newspaper. He didn't look up when Regulus approached.
Regulus knocked against the window with two knuckles. "What's playing?" The boy glanced up at him, and wordlessly pointed to the sign up above. Regulus leaned back to see Citizen Kane bolded against the electric board. The "C" of Citizen was lopsided and the "a" of Kane was hanging by the curve of its loop.
"Citizen Kane?" Sirius asked, coming up to stand beside him. Regulus smirked at the awkward sound of his voice. "Didn't we see that movie a long time ago? It had that man in it - William or Welish or something like that."
"Orson Welles," said the boy behind the counter. His voice was nasally and Regulus spotted the acne marks on his cheeks for the first time. "He was married to Rita Hayworth - lucky bloke."
Sirius stared at the boy. "Who the fuck is Rita Hayworth?"
"You know, the redhead bird with the long legs . . . Gilda? The Lady From Shanghai?
"Bird from where?" Sirius blinked a few times at him. Regulus rolled his eyes.
"Give me two tickets," Regulus said, his hand rummaging in his pocket for the muggle money.
~*~
The seats were ratty and sticky from spilt drinks, and the whole theatre smelt of mildew and London rain. Regulus and Sirius sat directly in the middle of the front row, shoulders touching slightly. Only one other person occupied a seat - a woman with round glasses and grey hair. She sat three rows from the back, to just the right of Regulus.
A clicking could be heard from the top floor, and the black and white movie started silently. Sirius shifted next to Regulus as the looming music of the opening scene began playing. Regulus watched as a dark castle floated into view, with a rusty sign that spelled "No Trespassing" on the gate. It made him think of Hogwarts, and how the castle looked on cold, rainy nights. A single window stood luminescent from the far corner of the scene, and Regulus pictured himself in that bedroom - the only room with a light on.
"Xanadu," Regulus murmured, finally remembering when exactly he saw the movie. He had been young - around seven or eight. Sirius had been ten or eleven, but Regulus couldn't be sure. It was back when they used to run off and do muggle sort of things - like see a movie or eat a hamburger, because it was exhilarating for them to even imagine what their mother would do if she ever found out.
He remembered how it was before Hogwarts, before Sirius became a Gryffindor and suddenly realised he was too good for anyone in the family. Regulus frowned, and one hard line etched its way into his forehead. He had admired Sirius, practically worshiped him. Sirius was always just so much better than Regulus; he never made mistakes.
Regulus watched the film play out with an unsettling feeling in the pit of his mind. It was weird to understand the different points of the film that had confused him when he was younger. He felt innocent again, felt like a boy who had no idea what the world had in store for him.
Sirius suddenly put his hand on his shoulder, mimicking the dialogue."On the other hand - I am the publisher of the Enquirer. As such, it is my duty - I'll let you in on a little secret, it is also my pleasure - to see to it that decent, hard-working people of this city are not robbed blind by a group of money-mad pirates because, God help them, they have no one to look after their interests!"
Regulus snorted, and mouthed, "You money-mad pirate!" Sirius laughed loudly, and the woman in the back angrily went "Shh!". Regulus turned around to glare at her.
In a loud, obnoxious voice, Regulus repeated, "We expect to lose a million next year, too. You know, Mr. Thatcher - at the rate of a million a year - we'll have to close this place in sixty years."
He smirked up at the woman, watching her reaction. She stood up and left the theatre.
~*~
"I can't hear you!" Regulus yelled, his hands coming up to cover his ears. "It's too fucking loud in here!"
Sirius yelled something back, pointing to a door that lead to the club's sitting room. Regulus looked up at him questioning, but Sirius just turned and headed for the door. Regulus had to squeeze through groups of dancing muggles to follow, bodies bumping into him, sweaty forms nudging him.
Finally making it through the opening, he breathed deeply. It had been so crowded on the dance floor. Regulus spotted Sirius sitting at one of the puffy red sofas, his legs arched to the floor, messy hair falling into his face.
"What did you say out there?" Regulus asked, sitting down next to Sirius. "I couldn't hear you."
Sirius shook his head. "I said I was coming in here." He leaned further into the cushion, his eyes staring across the room. Regulus followed his gaze to a boy who sat alone. The boy had brown hair that curled at the ends. He looked up and caught Sirius staring. Their eyes locked, and Sirius seemed to smile suggestively.
"Stop staring at that boy like that," said Regulus. "People will think you're a poof."
Sirius tore his eyes away from the boy, and glared down at Regulus. "I'm not a poof! I can get any woman I want."
Regulus snorted, feeding off Sirius' anger. "Right. Why were you staring at that boy over there then?"
Sirius laughed. "I don't like him!"
"Why not? It seemed like you did."
"Why don't I like him? For one thing he doesn't have a cunt," Sirius said, curling his hand into a circle. "There is nothing better than sticking it into a woman who is wet and dripping." He thrust two fingers into the hole his hand made.
Regulus stared at him. Sirius stood up and walked over to a blonde girl who had been eyeing him for the whole time. Wet? Dripping? What the hell was Sirius talking about?
~*~
"May I sit here?"
Regulus cracked his eyes open, the vibration of the music drumming through his head. A girl stood over him, pointing to the open seat on the sofa.
"What? Yeah, sure." Regulus blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up. He must have fallen asleep. He looked around but he couldn't see Sirius anywhere. "Have you seen my brother?"
"No," said the girl, smiling at him. "What does he look like?"
"He looks like me," said Regulus, his head falling back into the cushion. "I think he left."
"Don't worry. He'll be back."
Regulus looked at the girl, his eyes lazy. She had short black hair that was tucked behind her ears. Her face was small with full lips and dark eyes. He thought she looked a little like a boy.
"What is your name?" she asked, her long, pale arm draping over the arm of the sofa.
"Regulus."
The girl looked surprised. "That's a weird name. I'm Ashlee." She smiled even wider at him. "You’re not from around here, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
Regulus tensed a little when she scooted closer to him. He felt the heat of her thigh pressing into his and something deep in his stomach stirred. His eyes travelled down the length of her flat chest, to her black-clad long legs that were crossed at the ankle. He really liked what he saw.
"Where are you from?" Ashlee asked, her hand coming up to play with the sleeve of his shirt.
Regulus shrugged with one shoulder. "Nowhere."
"Oh, I see." Ashlee moved her hand up to finger his hair. She ran her long fingers through it, brushing it away from his face. Her face was so close to his, and Regulus could smell her sweet breath. She had been drinking.
"You smell really nice," Regulus whispered, leaning into her. His heart was pounding faster than normal, and it made him feel alive, wanted. If Sirius could flirt like this, then he could too.
"I want to give you my number," said Ashlee, putting a hand on his chest.
Regulus looked at her, confused. "What number?"
"My telephone number. Do you have a pen?"
"A what?" Regulus blinked at her while she slid away from him.
Ashlee leaned over and yelled, "Hey, Darleen! Do you have a pen?"
A plump girl shook her head. "All I have is my lipstick."
"That will do," said Ashlee, leaning even further to grab the lipstick. "Here, will you hand me that napkin over there?"
Regulus looked at the table next to him. He lifted a half-empty glass off the napkin and handed it to her. She placed it against her slim thigh and wrote messy numbers with lipstick against it.
Smirking, Regulus said, "Do all girls write with lipstick?"
Ashlee's head shot up, her mouth slightly open. "Oh."
"What's wrong?"
She stood up quickly, her hand balling up the napkin. "Oh - you - I need to go."
"Why? What about your numbers?" Regulus asked, also standing up. He was very confused, and everything suddenly became very awkward.
She stared at him, her eyes slightly worried. "Do you really want to telephone me?"
"Yeah -" Regulus tried to say, but Ashlee's lips against his silenced him. Cupping his hand within hers, she brought it down to her crotch, and pressed deep into her pants. Regulus felt the swell of a penis against his fingers.
"You're cute," said Ashlee, walking out of the room, and leaving Regulus with nothing but the crumpled napkin in his shaking hand and an uncapped red lipstick at his feet.
~*~
Sirius was very drunk, Regulus could tell. He slurred some of his words and the smell of alcohol just radiated off him. They sat on a bench in a park that Sirius had stumbled upon. "So, some bird just gave you her lipstick?" Sirius asked, his head falling back against the wood.
"No, she left it," Regulus said quietly, staring at his hand through the dark. The hand that touched it.
Sirius looked at Regulus. "You met a girl?"
Regulus shrugged, "Kind of."
"Was she wearing this?" Sirius held up the lipstick, his fingers wrapping around the base.
"No, but her friend was."
"She had a friend!" Sirius eyes were big. "Did anything happen?"
Regulus smirked. "Yes, actually. We kissed."
"Really?" Sirius asked, his hand grabbing Regulus' jaw. "Did she smudge this all over your lips?"
"What are you do - stop it!"
Regulus tried to twist away as Sirius smeared the lipstick against his lips, his nails digging into Regulus' chin. He tasted the chalky stuff on his teeth and tongue, and it made him gag slightly. Sirius started to laugh, his head dropping to rest on Regulus' shoulder.
"You look nice like that," Sirius said, his voice muffled by Regulus' shirt. Regulus tried to push him off, but Sirius' body just slumped against his. He had fallen asleep.
Regulus sighed, wrapping his arms around his brother. He kind of liked Sirius being this close to him. Something in the back of his mind screamed against it, but Regulus was too tired to do anything about it.
***