otherwise engaged
Regulus lay flat on his back in his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he listened to the irritating sounds of rhythmic thumping coming from the room beside him. He groaned and grabbed his pillow, pulling it over his face.
Sometimes, he really hated sharing a flat with his brother, especially when his boyfriend was spending the night. Or the week, as it had transpired. Remus had been here for days, and Sirius had been spending as much time in his bedroom with him as he could, making as much noise as was humanly possible.
Just when Regulus was starting to think about throwing himself out of the bedroom window and hoping he'd land in the traffic two storeys below, he heard Sirius's mobile phone ringing in the room next door. Sirius grumbled audibly, then shut the phone off. It started ringing again almost instantly, and this time there was a loud bang, as either Sirius or Remus—probably Sirius—launched the phone against the wall. It didn't stop the ringing, unfortunately.
Regulus probably could have ignored the ringing if it wasn't for the aggravating tune.
'We're no strangers to love…'
"For god's sake…" Regulus groaned, pressing the pillow harder onto his face. He wondered idly how hard it would be to smother himself.
'You know the rules, and so do I…'
The thumping started again, then the phone stopped ringing.
And started again almost as soon as it finished.
'We're no strangers to love…you know the rules, and so do I…'
Three times, the phone stopped ringing and started again. Three times, Regulus lay with his pillow over his face and contemplated his death. When the phone rang a fourth time, he jumped off the bed and stormed towards the door. If he didn't shut off the phone, or shut up Sirius's noise, he was going to go insane.
He left his bedroom and stomped down the corridor to hammer his fist on Sirius's door. "Sirius!"
"What do you want? I'm a bit busy."
"Answer your phone before I murder you."
"I can't, it's on the other side of the room. Go away!"
Regulus banged on the door a few more times, but got no more responses from Sirius. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever horrendous sight he was going to witness, and pushed Sirius's bedroom door open.
He saw Sirius's naked backside for a fraction of a second before Remus screamed and the covers were thrown up dramatically. Sirius fell to the bed and glared at Regulus, pulling the blankets up over him and Remus. Remus had shrunk down until Regulus could only see a fraction of his face—which was as red as a tomato. "Sirius!" gasped Remus, as he tried to dissolve into the mattress.
"Oh for god's sake, Moony," Sirius muttered, folding his arms over the top of the blankets as he stared daggers at Regulus. "Don't act so innocent. We both know what your mouth was doing two minutes ago."
'...we're no strangers to love…'
"Why is that your fucking ringtone? Can't you just pick a normal one like everyone else?" hissed Regulus, looking around the bedroom. Sirius's room was an absolute mess, there were clothes and shoes scattered everywhere, about four empty mugs on the nightstand, and god knows what else littered all over. Regulus kicked clothes out of the way—ignoring Sirius's protests—until he found the mobile. He pressed the green button and put it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Regulus?" the familiar voice on the other end of the phone answered. It was James. "Why have you got Sirius's phone?"
"Sirius is a bit…" Regulus glared over at his brother, who was shaking his head at Regulus. "He's otherwise engaged."
"Oh...I need to speak to him. It's important."
Regulus turned away from Sirius's bed and lowered his voice. "Why are you ringing him and not me?"
"Aww, are you jealous?" James chuckled. "Just put him on, it'll only take a minute."
"I don't really want to go near him right now."
"Just chuck me the phone so I can get this over with and you can get out of my room!" yelled Sirius. Regulus lobbed the phone across the room, where it landed in Sirius's lap. Sirius put it to his ear. "You better have a really good reason for disturbing me, Prongs. I was just about to—"
Regulus put his hands over his ears before he had to listen to whatever Sirius was just about to do. When he removed them again, Sirius was shouting.
"You're disturbing me to ask me what to buy Regulus for Christmas? Have you actually gone mad?" Sirius scowled at Regulus. "How about you buy him absolutely nothing—because you're not going to get the chance to give him a present when I get hold of you!" he threw the phone back at Regulus, who caught it expertly. "Get out of my room, Regulus!" He pulled the covers over his and Remus's heads. "Now, Remus. Prepare to be knighted by my special sword."
Regulus resisted the urge to throw up in his mouth as he backed away towards the door.
"Oh, Regulus? Leave the light on, will you?"
Regulus shuddered as he ducked out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him. He leaned against the wall in the corridor and put the phone back to his ear. "Hello?"
"Did he really just call his dick his special sword?" James asked. He was wheezing, as though he was recovering from bouts of laughter.
"I'm trying not to think of what he was referring to," Regulus muttered. "It's your fault I ended up in that room in the first place. I think I need to bleach my brain."
"Don't blame me!"
"You do realise he has 'Never Gonna Give You Up' as his ringtone, don't you?" Regulus asked. "You called him about five times, and he was quite happy to just carry on whatever he was doing while it was ringing to itself. I was going mad."
"Fair enough," James laughed.
Regulus rolled his eyes, but smiled to himself. "Were you really just ringing him to see what you could buy me for Christmas?" Regulus asked.
"Well, I didn't want to ask you directly," James said. "I wanted to surprise you. But I think I might have an idea now."
"Oh yeah?"
"How about I just wrap up my special sword with a big ribbon instead?"
Regulus snorted and shook his head. "Please, never say those words ever again."
Written For:
- Winter Funfair/Naughty Elf on the Shelf: 1. (dialogue) "Don't act so innocent. We both know what your mouth was doing two minutes ago."
- Winter Funfair/Naughty or Nice: Naughty 14. (dialogue) "Leave the light on."
- Winter Funfair/Snowman 7. (trope) Roommates
- Winter Funfair/Decorate the Christmas Tree: Tree Decorations 2. (character) Sirius Black
- Winter Funfair/Postal Panic: Character 8. Regulus Black / Wish 6. Write about siblings
- Winter Funfair/Advent Calendar: 15. James/Regulus
- Winter Funfair/12 Days of Shipmas: 4. Write about someone not answering when needed
- Writing Club/Gotta Catch Them All: 24. (word) normal
- Writing Club/Showtime: 8. (genre) Humor
- Writing Club/Throwback: 28. (word) light
- Writing Club/Artist Appreciation: 10. (word) blame
- Writing Club/TV Spree: 29. (dialogue) "Prepare to be knighted by my special sword."
Word Count: 1,084