#rosekiiler

[addisonstars]

till' death do we part

written for day 13 of december for @jegulus-microfic with the prompt "jail" totaling 827 words (oops)

tw: implied/refrenced homophobia

James gets a call from the county jail at 11:37 p.m. and to say that he wasn’t happy was a bit of an understatement. Regulus, Barty and Evan all went out for drinks tonight, claiming it was “boys night,” and James didn’t care. (He may have cared a bit though when Regulus went out in that outfit and James didn’t get to see it in action. 

But he definitely did care that Regulus said he’d be home before 11, and he had yet to receive a call, or even a text from Reg saying that he was still alive or that he would be a bit late. What he instead receives is a call from the county jail at almost midnight. 

He begrudgingly picks up, wondering who would be calling him from jail. “Hello this is James Potter-Black speaking.” 

A pause occurs on the line before Regulus, of all people, starts talking. “Hey babe,” he laughs sheepishly, sounding a little drunk. 

James almost laughs himself, if not for his head spinning with thoughts. What could Regulus be in jail for? Why would he be in jail? It was probably due to the influences of Barty and Evan, those motherfuckers. 

“You wanna explain something dear,” he rolls off the bed, slipping into some sweatpants and shirt. Grabbing his keys and wallet, he walks to his car, already driving to the police station. 

“Um, can you come get me?” He sounds nervous, a little embarrassed to be where he is right now. 

James rolls his eyes, “I’m already on my way, love.” 

“Oh thank you,” 

“Mhmm, but do you want to tell me why you're in there?” He flicks on his blinker as he makes a turn, waiting to hear Regulus’ voice through the speakers. 

“I’ll explain when you get here, ok? And do you mind bailing Evan and Barty out too?” 

James sighs, because of course they were all in jail too. “Whatever you want, baby; just you better have a real good explanation as to why you're for one, in jail, and two, in jail.”

“I do. I think.” 

“I’ll see you soon love, please don’t get beaten up while you're in there.” 

***

After James pays the fine and gets all three of them out of jail, they pile into his car. In the morning they will come back for Regulus’s. 

“So,” he clears his throat, “any three of you want to explain what the fuck you were doing in jail.” 

Barty and Evan hold their hands up, as if they did nothing wrong. Regulus looks away but starts talking. “I…um…punched someone.” 

James tightens his hands on the steering wheel. “Ok,” he said, and that's not what he thought it was for, “why did you?” 

“There was some guy calling me a…faggot… and some other shit like that.” He carefully avoids James' eyes on him. “He noticed my wedding ring and snorted and said that it was probably a guy that I was married to, and that I was just some…” he sniffles and trails off, visibly distressed and not wanting to repeat what the guy said to him. 

James has to keep himself from swerving off the road when Reg tells him that stuff. He doesn’t want to quite comment on that information yet, so he looks in the rearview mirror and pointedly stares at Barty and Evan, asking that they chime into this lovely conversation. “We just helped Regulus beat the guy up. Truly.” 

He believes that he really does; those guys would do anything for Regulus. They sit in silence the rest of the drive, going to drop Barty and Evan off at their flat. On the way to their own house, James reaches out to grab Regulus’s hand and squeezes his hand. 

“Hey love, Reg,” Regulus looks up at him, remorse etched in face. “I’m not mad at you, I’m not. I’m glad you stood up for yourself.” He smiles at Regulus. “Maybe next time, don’t, ya know, take it to where you're going to jail for it, but I’m not upset about it, I promise love.” 

Regulus nods. “And you don’t have to tell me what the guy said or anything. I don’t really want to know what he said or I might have to go beat the guy up himself,” he laughs, trying to brighten the situation. 

Looking over at Regulus, he still looks a little distraught. “Reg look at me.” Regulus obliges, looking James in the eye. “I love you. I love with all of my heart, and nothing will ever stop me from loving you. Not homophobes, not somebody's words, and not even death will ever stop me from loving you, ok? Nothing. I love you Regulus Potter-Black, and nobody will try to stop me.” 

Regulus nods again, “I know. I love you too, Jamie. Maybe even more than you love me.” He smirks.

James laughs, rubbing Reg’s ring on his fourth finger. “Never. There’s no way.” 

-a.s.