Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 998

Frequent Flyer

"We've got to stop running into each other like this," James quipped as he knelt down beside the familiar man, his paramedic bag in his hand. "If you really want my attention, you know you could just ask me on a date. You don't have to get yourself beat up."

Regulus Black—a frequent flyer for the ambulance crew—gave a pained chuckle, pressing his hand to his ribs.

"Okay, okay, no more jokes," James promised. "You wanna tell me who did this to you?"

Regulus just gave him a look and James rolled his eyes. "Being in a gang is bad for your health."

"You think?" Regulus muttered.

James' partner, Remus, helped him unload the stretcher, and together, they managed to get Regulus on it. James secured his neck and Remus wrapped a blanket over him before they lifted him carefully and carried him to the ambulance.

"I'll drive," Remus said, when James moved towards the front of the vehicle. He took the keys from James' hand. "You've already got a rapport with him, you ride in the back."

James nodded, patting Remus' shoulder before he stepped up into the back of the ambulance and closed the doors. Remus started the engine while James started his paperwork, running the usual tests on Regulus.

"No blues and twos this time, boss?" Regulus asked, his eyes on James.

"It's a quiet night," James replied. "We don't really need them. At least you weren't stabbed this time."

"Small mercies," Regulus replied. "You know… I'm not there by choice. Once you're in… it's not so easy to get out."

"I know," James replied softly. "But it's possible, if you know the right people. You can be protected."

"I'd have to leave the city," Regulus said. "I don't know where I'd go; London has been my home all my life."

"Maybe you won't have to leave," James said, putting his clipboard in place on the bed they'd set Regulus on. "Do you trust me?"

Regulus stared at him for a long moment. "Yeah. I think I do."

…

Armed with only a phone number, Regulus got up from the bed. He'd been discharged only two days after being admitted. It was quicker than usual, but Regulus could only thank the heavens for small mercies.

Hospital food was the worst.

He looked at the number for a long moment. He'd been debating ringing it for the last hour. While he did trust James, did he really want to pull the man into the middle of Regulus' mess?

James was everything that Regulus associated with happiness. He was bright and sparkly, funny and kind.

He wasn't made to get into the middle of a gang-war.

But if he didn't call him, how much longer would Regulus survive at all?

With a heaving sigh, Regulus slowly dialled the number and raised his phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hi. It's, uh. Regulus. I've been discharged."

"Sit tight at the hospital," said James' cheerful tone. "I'll be there in twenty minutes to pick you up."

…

The last person Regulus was expecting to see when he was led into James' living room was his older brother, Sirius.

"Reggie," Sirius gasped. "Oh, I'm so glad James found you."

Regulus glanced quickly at James, who was watching him with trepidation clear in his eyes.

"I just want to be clear," he murmured, when he caught Regulus' gaze. "This wasn't a manipulation. I didn't even realise you were Sirius' little brother until yesterday. He showed me a picture of you and him from when you were younger and I recognised you."

"Why are you showing off pictures?" Regulus asked, looking back at Sirius. "Last I knew, you'd washed your hands of all of us."

"I'll always regret not taking you with me when I left," Sirius said, running a hand through his hair. "I was angry, but that doesn't excuse leaving you behind. I'm sorry, Reggie."

Regulus just nodded, a little unsure what he was supposed to say.

"I uh. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing here," he admitted, clenching his hands together. "I—"

"You're going to stay here and I'll keep you safe," James said softly. "No strings attached, the spare room is yours for as long as you want it."

"Why?" Regulus asked. "Why do you want to help me?"

"Because I was nearly seduced into a gang myself when I was younger," James admitted. "And then I had an accident and I nearly died and the paramedics that looked after me were amazing. One of them helped me see that gang life wouldn't get me anywhere in life, so I decided to follow in his footsteps instead. But I know how easy it is to fall into something like that."

Regulus nodded, swallowing hard. "I, uh. I'm still tired. Do you mind if I—"

"Course not," James said, nodding to the stairs. "Come on, I'll show you your room."

Regulus followed but turned back to look at Sirius. "You'll be here again, right? You're not just going to disappear?"

"I'll be here as much as you want me to be," Sirius promised softly. "I won't leave you again, Reggie, I swear."

…

"Hey, James?"

James looked up from the paperwork he'd been working on with a small smile.

"What's up, Reggie?" he asked teasingly, knowing that Regulus hated it when anyone but Sirius called him that.

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Remember last time you picked me up in the ambulance?"

James nodded, tilting his head slightly with curiosity. It had been weeks since then—weeks of them living together, finding a comfortable rhythm, getting to know each other when one of them wasn't bleeding out on the concrete.

"You said if I wanted your attention, I should just ask you on a date, right?"

James arched his eyebrow, his lips tilting up in a smirk. "Right."

"So… will you go on a date with me?"

With a small nod and a wide smile, James said, "It'd be my absolute pleasure."