Chapter 6 – "I'm Taken for the Night"

When Sirius dropped by a few days later, he could hear yelling from the front hall even before he had entered. He stopped and looked at the two squabbling young men, but upon noticing him, Remus stormed off (probably to the library, which had sort of become his personal room), only muttering a quick 'hello' to Sirius on the way.

"Blimey... marriages problems?" Sirius said and took off his jacket.

"Piss off," mumbled Regulus. "He's just so… argh! I wish it were time for the break-up soon."

Sirius sighed. "It looked like the two of you had a blast in the Eye the other day, though. Pretty good acting, I do say." He showed Regulus an Instagram profile that was dedicated to the two of them, called Regimusforever. "I'm almost jealous of all the attention you're getting. If only they knew how you fight like cat and dog at home."

Regulus watched the short clip of them kissing in the gondola, remembering what had actually been a lovely day until those girls at the café made the comment about the wet dream and Regulus took his frustration out on Remus. "So what do you want? You're not here to try talking me into going to that party again, are you? I said I wasn't in the mood, and I doubt Remus is either, with the attitude he's sporting today."

"I am here to get you to go out, yes. Let loose a little. Might be good for Remus too. The two of you need some fun instead of being cooped up in here all day, getting on each other's nerves. I'll talk to Remus, yes?"

Regulus groaned but decided to give in. It had been a whole week since he and Remus had been out in public (not counting their private London-tour), so it was probably a good idea to show off his fake boyfriend some more. "Alright, alright. But there best be plenty of booze, because I need it."

o0o0o

Sirius found Remus by the window in the library and went over to sit down on the sill next to him. "You alright?"

"Fine..." Remus mumbled.

"So – we're going to a party. Want to come?"

"Probably best I don't. I might ruin the mood."

Sirius sighed. "Come on. It'll be fun. And it'll loosen up Reggie, too."

Remus was silent for a moment. "He keeps putting me down because of me job and dialect. Every time he's mad he tells me I'm just someone who sells me body and that I talk like a halfwit."

Sirius sighed. "Try not to mind him. Reggie is just... He must feel threatened by you in some way or you make him feel insecure, because that's his defence mechanism: lashing out, getting personal. Not very charming, but that's my brother for you."

"Aye, I know." Remus paused for a second, biting his lip. "I guess I lash out at him, too… in defence."

"Well, that's a vicious cycle, isn't it? Anyway, come with us tonight. It'll be fun. More than that fund-raiser shite last time. This isn't as posh, and it's mostly young people."

Remus finally agreed. "Okay... I'll go."

o0o0o

"Stay close to me, yeah?" said Regulus when they arrived at the party. "I don't mean glued to my hip the whole time, but don't go too far and don't stay away too long. And for God's sake don't flirt with people!"

"Why would I flirt with people?"

"I don't know. Just don't."

The party was already in full swing, people laughing and dancing, generous amounts of alcohol being consumed.

"What would you like, darling?" Regulus asked Remus when they stopped at the bar.

"I'd love a sex on the beach," Remus smiled. "Nice to not be the one making them for once. I'm a bartender meself," he explained to the bar maid.

She laughed. "Well, one of those coming up. The same for you?" she asked Regulus, her eyes running over him appreciatively.

"Yes, please. I've never tried one of those, but if Remus likes it, it must be good."

"It's very good," Remus said. "The real thing too. Isn't that right, luv?" he winked at Regulus and had to restrain himself from laughing at the blush creeping up the model's neck.

They sat down at the bar, Regulus ordering another drink as soon as the first was finished. "Make it a double," he said.

"Maybe start out slow?" Remus suggested, but Regulus just ignored him and drank half of his double gin and tonic in one go.

Regulus knew quite a few of the party guests by sight and some by name. He didn't know the host of the party, however, but he guessed it was someone from the film industry, since they had been invited by Sirius.

"Regulus!" sounded a voice from behind. Regulus turned to see a tall brunette he had danced with at some other party, if he remembered correctly. "Come dance with me," she smiled and took his hand to pull him onto the dancefloor.

"Sorry, darling," he said, pulling his hand out of her grasp and took Remus' hand. "I'm taken for the night."

She eyed Remus. "He can't spare you for a few minutes? I'll bring you right back."

"No, Remus is new in town, I'd rather not abandon him here."

"You could have given the poor bird one dance," Remus said when the disappointed girl had left. "It's not strange to dance with other people than your partner at parties, you know. I'm only here for another few weeks and then your life goes back to normal."

"Yes, and she'll be here in another few weeks. Besides, I'm not interested in her," said Regulus and ordered another drink. The alcohol was loosening him up and he had forgotten what it was he and Remus had been fighting about earlier that day. "Cheers," he said, bumping glasses with Remus.

"Cheers, luv."

"Let's go mingle a bit, shall we? After all, we're here to socialise," said Regulus and took Remus' hand pulling him off the bar stool.

Making their way around the place they were constantly stopped by people who wanted to chat. Regulus knew some of them, most knew who he was, and many had heard of the scandal and subsequent news about him and Remus.

Remus acted the loving boyfriend, caressed Regulus' shoulder and back as the model was making conversation with the many curious people. He knew how to play his part, but inside he was still a little affected by the last few days' bickering.

Regulus was getting in a good mood, feeling strangely proud when people complemented Remus. "Yes, he's quite a darling, isn't he?" he smiled and wrapped an arm around Remus' waist.

One of the people they were talking to smiled at Remus and asked, "What do you do for a living, then, Remus?"

"I'm a bartender," Remus replied, hoping they wouldn't ask too many questions about drinks.

"You don't have to work with that any longer, though, if you don't want to," said Regulus to him. "You can do anything you want, darling. I'd like nothing more than to finance an education, you know that. Would be such a shame to waste your talent." He looked at the others again. "Remus is very smart. He could become whatever he wants to. He just couldn't afford uni before; losing his parents at a young age and all."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear you lost your parents," said a woman. "How did that happen?"

"Me dad died in a car crash when I were little and me mam had an aneurism when I were twelve." He forced a smile as if sad being reminded of being orphaned. "Were a long time ago, though."

"So, did you grow up with relatives or in foster homes?"

"Foster homes. Most of me family is gone and I don't see the rest of them."

"Oh, that's so sad. So it wasn't a hard choice moving to London to be with Regulus, then? I mean, you didn't have a lot tying you to your home-town, did you?"

Regulus pulled Remus in to give him a kiss, almost feeling sorry for him for the loss of the imaginary parents.

Remus kissed him back, and then smiled. "No, not hard at all."

As the night progressed, Regulus got drunker and more affectionate with Remus, frequently kissing him and even feeling him up a bit.

"I've never seen you like this before, Reggie. You never were one for public displays of affection," commented Sirius when Remus had left for the toilet and the brothers had a brief moment to themselves.

Regulus shrugged. "Have to play the part, haven't I? Nobody can be in doubt any longer."

"Not with that display, no," said Sirius and downed the rest of his drink. "I heard the tragic story of Remus' childhood from a couple of birds. Great story. Way to make you look the hero, whisking him away to London for a fresh start." Sirius laughed. "He should become an actor instead. He knows how to play on people's feelings, that's for sure."

"He should. His talents are a bit wasted, actually, if you ask me."

"Well, you haven't actually experienced his talents in the sack first-hand, have you?" Sirius winked. "Or…?"

"Oh, piss off," said Regulus.

Remus returned from the bathroom and all three went back to the group they had been sitting with before (which included James and a handful more of his and Sirius' friends).

"Are you having a good time?" Regulus asked Remus.

"Very," Remus smiled, taking Regulus' hand, weaving their fingers.

Regulus smiled and leaned in so only Remus could hear. "I'm sorry if I've been a bit on edge lately. Just been stressed, I guess."

"It's okay. I'm sorry too. I haven't been so nice either," Remus said, letting his thumb caress the top of Regulus' hand.

The music suddenly stopped and the host of the party jumped onto the small stage at the end of the room.

"Oh, I know what this is!" beamed James. "Karaokeeee!" shouted he, Sirius and several others who obviously knew the host well and had been to his parties before.

"Oh, no," groaned Regulus. "What did we do to deserve ear torture?"

The host started out himself, doing a not too horrible version of Viva la Vida, and then a few quite horrible performances by others followed.

"Oh, please kill me," groaned Regulus, holding his hands to his ears, as a woman screamed her lungs out to a Mariah Carey song.

As she was finishing up, James and Sirius caught each other's eye. "Now, yeah?" said Sirius.

"Fuck, yeah," said James, and off they went towards the stage. They disappeared behind the stage for a minute and then climbed onto the stage - Sirius in a leather jacket and James in a blond wig.

"Oh, no..." groaned Regulus. "John Travolta is my brother!"

The audience were screaming with joy as the duo started an energetic version of The One that I Want from Grease.

"Gayness runs in the family, I see," grinned the man standing next to Regulus.

"We're not... He's not..." started Regulus, eying his brother doing a very convincing erotic dance move against James.

"Could've fooled me," laughed the man.

"Or maybe they're just comfortable enough with their sexuality to make a show like this without wanting to shag each other afterwards or being afraid people think they are," Remus said.

"I think my brother would try anything once," laughed Regulus and took a large gulp of his drink.

"Yeah, that's a bromance if ever there was one," said another of Sirius' and James' friends.

After a few minutes and a roaring applause, Sirius and James jumped down and grabbed Remus. "Your turn," said James, starting to pull Remus by the arm towards the stage.

"What? No!"

"Oh, yes. We already picked a song for you so you can't back down."

"Don't force him to go up there and make a fool of himself!" said Regulus and latched onto Remus' other arm.

"Who says he's going to make a fool of himself?" said James, pulling harder on Remus so he was nearly torn in half.

"Everybody makes fools of themselves up there! And don't force him to do something he doesn't want to!"

"It's just for fun!" James insisted. "You're just afraid he'll embarrass you."

"Rightly so! It's enough that my brother does it!"

Sirius and James finally managed to wrench Remus free of Regulus' grasp and dragged him onto the stage. "Alright!" Sirius said into the microphone. "My brother's boyfriend will sing for us now. Remus Mercury – take it away!"

Remus looked down at Regulus who seemed even more uncomfortable than he was and then his eyes shifted to the screen. Somebody to Love by Queen.

"You're such a wanker," growled Regulus at Sirius who returned to their table. "He's only doing it because he feels it's his job!"

"It's just for a laugh," Sirius said.

"He's not laughing, is he?" said Regulus, pointing towards the stage.

And then Remus started singing and Regulus shut up, eying the escort in astonishment. Everyone else went silent as well for a few seconds and then all started to cheer and clap.

"He's good..." said James, staring up at the stage. "He's bloody good!"

Regulus could only agree, his eyes glued to his fake boyfriend as he got more and more into the song, moving around on the stage and gesturing with his arms to underline the lyrics. Towards the end of the song on the high drawn-out note of "somebody to looooooove" Remus pointed down at Regulus as he sang his heart out.

Regulus felt his cheeks burn red as Remus was pointing at him and people were cooing and awing. He was embarrassed but also strangely proud. When the song ended, Regulus hurried over to edge of the stage and caught Remus in his arms when he got down.

"Ey up, luv," Remus grinned, a little surprised at the enthusiastic greeting.

Regulus hugged him and gave him a kiss when he let go. "I didn't know you could sing like that. You were brilliant!"

"Well, I'm just full of surprises," Remus beamed, feeling happiness bubble inside him.

"Aren't they just the most adorable couple?" sighed a girl standing next to James and Sirius.

"I could drool over them all day," said her friend.

Sirius snickered and looked at James. "So my brother had to become gay to become this popular. Who would have guessed?"

"I always thought there was a bit of gay to him, if you know what I mean," said James. "Actually, I've almost been half-expecting him to come out at some point."

"What?" laughed Sirius. "Because he's pretty? As opposed to manly handsome me?"

"No," James said, sounding rather serious. "More a vibe I got from him. I always thought he was different. Never really that much into birds, even in his teens. Not the way you and I were."

"He's had loads of girlfriends," said Sirius. "Well, a good handful, at least. He usually has some beautiful model on his arm at parties and arrangements."

"Yes, but has he ever looked as comfortable with any of them as he does with Remus?" James nodded at the two in question who still stood close, talking in a small crowd, Regulus' hand around Remus' waist, and Remus' in Regulus' back pocket.

Sirius eyed the two. "I guess not," he admitted.

Regulus and Remus slowly made their way back to the table, flanked by several guests who complemented Remus on his performance.

"Thank you," Remus kept saying, blushing a bit at all the praise. "Me mam were a music teacher so I've always done a lot of singing."

o0o0o

The taxi dropped them off at 4 a.m. and they stumbled inside, both quite drunk. Regulus nearly fell but grabbed onto Remus for support, both of them laughing. "I had fun," said Regulus once he had regained his balance. They were standing close, practically pressed against each other, and Regulus suddenly noticed that Remus had amber eyes. And then they were kissing; for perhaps the twentieth time that night, but this time was more heated, more intense, Remus' hands running up and down Regulus' back, and Regulus pressing into Remus, holding on for dear life. After a bit, Regulus broke the kiss. "Oh – there's no one here to see us," he giggled. "We don't have to act anymore."

Remus needed a moment to collect himself. "No, you're right..." He took a deep breath and then continued, "You need me to help you to bed?"

Regulus laughed as if it were the funniest thing he had ever heard. " 'm not that drunk."

"You can hardly stand," Remus pointed out and started walking towards the stairs. "I'm going that way anyway," he winked and helped Regulus up the stairs, slowly to make sure he didn't trip.

Regulus plopped onto the bed two minutes later, just in his boxer shorts, asleep the second his body hit the matrass. Remus lay down beside him and pulled the covers over both of them.