Marauders one-shots

Perks of fame

*TW: smut*

*James' POV*

Sirius' concert is even more intense than I'd expected. He's commanding the stage like he was born to do this. Every word, every note cuts deep. He's singing about the things he never really talked about, things he usually just buried. The crowd is hanging on every word and the whole place feels charged. When he glances my way I see it in his eyes, he's sharing a side of himself he never lets out.

The applause roars as he takes a bow, Remus joining him, clapping him on his back. Sirius laughs and for just a moment, it's just the two of them in their own world. Watching them, I'm hit with a memory I'd almost forgotten about. The warmth that we used to share, the closeness that I haven't felt in a long time. It's like I'm on the outside, looking in.

The energy of the place, the weight of the concert... it's all too much. I slip out of the venue, filling my need for fresh air. My thought are spinning as I walk through the quiet Paris streets, trying to shake the memories that keep creeping up. And of course they lead me right back to Reggie. They always do.

The memory of him feels too real tonight sharper than it has been for years. Sirius' lyrics, his voice, everything about the concert makes me feel closer to that specific part of my past. The one thought I thought I buried. The part I left behind, including him. It's like I can almost hear his voice, see him sitting there, the way he used to be. All the things we left unsaid are right there, floating between us.

I keep walking until I find myself in front of a café, one of those cozy places with warm lighting spilling out onto the street. The kind Reggie would love. And then, as if I've conjured him out of thin air, I see him. Right there, sitting by the window, hunched over a notebook, dark hair falling over his shoulders.

I stop dead, my breath catching in my chest. It's him. My mind goes blank, I can't move. He looks at me, his eyes meeting mine through the glass. His face barely shifts but I know him well enough to see the surprise there. maybe even something else, something he's trying to hide.

''James.'' He says softly, his voice carrying a quiet intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. ''Reggie.'' I nod, he gives me a slight nod back, gesturing toward the empty seat across from him. It's not exactly an invitation but I take it, slipping into the booth. For a moment neither of us says anything. The air between us feels heavy with all the things we didn't say back then.

''Didn't think I'd see you here.'' I say, my voice barely steady. There's so much I want to say but I can't bring myself to start. He shrugs, looking down at his notebook. ''Paris is a good a place as any other.'' His voice casual but his hands are tense, fingers tracing the edge of the page. I glance at the notebook, his handwriting looping across the page in that same, familiar scrawl. Seeing it's like a punch to the gut, a reminder of how close we used to be.

He clears his throat, breaking the silence. ''I've heard about you.'' He says, his voice turning cold. ''Managing Sirius, never thought you'd end up there.'' ''Yeah.'' I reply, feeling the edge in his words. ''Life is strange that way.'' I study his face, trying to read him, trying to see if there's anything left of the boy I used to know. He looks back at me, his gaze unflinching. ''And Sirius?'' He asks, a bitter note in his voice. ''He's doing well?''

I nod, not sure what he wants me to day. ''Yeah, he's... he's doing okay. Figuring thing out.'' Reggie looks down and I see something flash across his face. Anger, maybe hurt. He gives a short sigh. ''I guess we all had to figure things out in our own way.'' His voice is soft but tight, as if he's holding back more than he's saying.

''Reggie, I...'' The words stick to the inside of my throat but I push through. ''I'm sorry. For everything, for not being there when you needed me.'' He raises an eyebrow, looking at me like he's deciding if he believes me. He lets out a small, bitter laugh. ''It's funny, isn't it? His gaze sharpens. ''You're sorry now but you didn't want to know back then. It was easier for you to walk away.''