K9 Companions

10

The lively banter of the fire station continued into the evening, the atmosphere buzzing with the kind of camaraderie that only a tight-knit group could cultivate. Sirius leaned back against the couch, a mischievous grin on his face as he watched his brother, Regulus, who was still sporting his vibrant pink and blue hair, attempt to pour himself another cup of coffee.

With the late afternoon sun streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room, Sirius seized the moment. “So, I do have an honest question,” he began, his tone teasing. “Where did ‘Rainbow Reg’ come from? Because I can’t for the life of me remember ever hearing that.”

Regulus paused, the coffee pot hovering in mid-air as he shot a glare at Sirius, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance. “You dummy,” he said, rolling his eyes dramatically. “You were drunk and blurted it out!”

Sirius’s brows shot up in surprise, and he leaned forward, genuinely intrigued. “Really? I said that? I don’t remember any of it!”

Regulus let out a deep sigh, setting the coffee pot down with a clatter. “You had the whole damn base calling me that for so long, even our Sergeant!” He placed his hands on his hips, trying to maintain a stern expression, but a smile threatened to break through.

The rest of the team had gathered around, amused by the unfolding drama. Eddie leaned against the wall, arms crossed, chuckling. “Oh man, I wish I had been there to witness that,” he said, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Can you imagine the look on Regulus’s face?”

Regulus shot a glare at Eddie, which only fueled the laughter. “It wasn’t funny! I was mortified every time someone called me that!”

Sirius, unable to hold back, burst out laughing. “I can’t believe I did that! What was I thinking?”

“You weren’t thinking,” Regulus replied, his tone lightening as he shook his head. “You were three shots deep into Everclear and tequila. That’s what you were doing.”

The laughter in the room escalated, with everyone joining in. Buck, sitting beside Sirius, shook his head with a grin. “Note to self: don’t let a bunch of soldiers get alcohol.” He held his hands up defensively, as if to say he had learned his lesson the hard way.

“Exactly!” Regulus exclaimed, finally pouring himself a cup of coffee, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “It’s a miracle you didn’t do anything worse. I mean, what if I had woken up with my hair dyed a completely different color?”

“Can you imagine?” Eddie said, chuckling. “‘Rainbow Reg’ would be the least of your worries if you woke up looking like a clown!”

“I’d have to find a way to get back at Sirius,” Regulus said, his eyes narrowing playfully. “Just wait until I get my hands on some of that Everclear myself. Then we’ll see who gets the last laugh!”

Sirius held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay! I promise I won’t drink Everclear again, especially around you. Just spare me the dye!”

The team roared with laughter again, the bonds of friendship deepening with every shared moment. Sirius took a deep breath, the warmth of their camaraderie filling the room. “You know, Reg, I think this is a look you should rock more often. It might just become your signature style!”

Regulus’s expression softened at his brother’s teasing, and he let out a small chuckle. “As if I’d ever go for something this outrageous again. I’m still recovering from your drunken antics!”

Just then, Buck leaned closer, a glint of mischief in his eye. “Hey, how about we get everyone on board with a ‘Rainbow Reg’ t-shirt? I can already see the design—fluffy clouds and a rainbow.”

“Absolutely not!” Regulus shouted, but the laughter that followed his protest suggested he wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. “You all are never going to let this go, are you?”

“Not a chance!” Eddie chimed in, clapping Regulus on the back. “This is prime material! We should definitely have a ‘Rainbow Reg’ merchandise line. I mean, who wouldn’t want to wear that?”

“Clearly, everyone except Regulus,” Sirius added, winking at his brother. “But don’t worry, Reg, I’ll make sure I keep my fabulous hair under control when we launch the line. Wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m trying to outshine you.”

Regulus laughed, the tension melting away as he realized how much he missed this—being surrounded by laughter, with his brother and friends. “You really are impossible,” he said, shaking his head but unable to hide his smile.

“Hey, I’m just here to have fun!” Sirius replied with a grin. “And to make sure my brother is the best-looking ‘Rainbow Reg’ in the room.”

“Right,” Regulus said, rolling his eyes once more. “Because that’s exactly what I need—more attention.”

But the laughter continued, filling the fire station with warmth and happiness. As they settled into their evening routine, the camaraderie only grew stronger. Stories were shared, jokes exchanged, and the bonds between them deepened with every shared laugh.

Sirius took a moment to glance around the room, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over him. It was moments like these that reminded him how fortunate he was to have such a close-knit family—one built not just on blood but on friendship and shared experiences.

As the evening wore on, Buck finally spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over them. “Alright, enough about Regulus’s hair! Let’s talk about something else. How about we plan a little get-together this weekend?”

“What do you have in mind?” Regulus asked, intrigued, his interest piqued by the change in topic.

“Barbecue!” Buck exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. “I’ve been wanting to fire up the grill and show off my cooking skills. Plus, we can invite some of the other crews. It’ll be fun!”

“Count me in!” Eddie said, his face lighting up. “I can bring the drinks. Just not Everclear, right?”

“Definitely no Everclear,” Sirius said firmly, holding up a finger. “We can’t have a repeat of last time.”

“Agreed,” Regulus added, shaking his head. “I want to keep my dignity, thank you very much.”

The team continued brainstorming ideas for the barbecue, laughing and joking as they made plans. The excitement in the air was palpable, the anticipation of a gathering filling them with energy. It was clear that this barbecue would be one for the books—especially with “Rainbow Reg” in the mix.

As they finalized the details, Sirius felt a deep sense of contentment settle over him. The world outside may have its challenges, but here, surrounded by friends and family, everything felt right.

With the laughter and chatter filling the station, Sirius couldn’t help but smile. No matter what else happened, this was home, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. As the night continued, the bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and laughter intertwined, creating memories that would last a lifetime. And for Sirius and Regulus, “Rainbow Reg” was just another chapter in their story—a tale of brotherly love and the joy of living life together, one laugh at a time.