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july 3: boggart | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 654

*surgeon x patient au*

previous part, part one

When James had stepped into Regulus' room he hadn't been ready at all. Regulus had been avidly texting Evan and wasn't prepared at all for James of all people to just saunter in his room. He hadn't even knocked. As a result, Regulus jumped with a start, clutching his chest. He relaxed, but only slightly, when he saw it was James who had interrupted his gossip session with Evan. Regulus hastily turned his phone off, mentally willing Evan not to blow up his notifications while he was busy talking to James. Evan had a habit for freaking out if Regulus didn't respond within 10 seconds. Quite similar to how Barty would freak out if Regulus didn't show him enough love.

A package deal from the beginning, Evan and Barty were Regulus' best friends, annoying as they may be in their own, unique ways each. Evan and Barty had been dating for a solid 3 years, although those 3 years had more than a few break ups and get-back-togethers. Regulus was pretty sure though that despite their overdramatic tendencies, Evan and Barty really did love each other. Pandora and Regulus even had a bet going for who would propose first. 

Regulus raised an eyebrow at James. "Obviously no one's ever taught you to knock?" He rolled his eyes, fighting the tiny smile that was threatening to dawn on his lips. "You scared me like a boggart, James."

James didn't respond to Regulus' quips, he simply went to stand at the foot of his bed, wearing another one of his stupid, dazzling grins. He fluttered his eyelashes just slightly, and Regulus hated that his heart did a flutter at the same time. "You paged?" James asked, voice coated in honey. 

Regulus stiffened just slightly, making a desperate, last-ditch attempt to fix his into something neutral. "Y-Yes." Regulus internally screamed at himself for his stutter. "I've decided I want the surgery."

"That's all you paged me for? Just to tell me that?"

"Yes." Regulus swallowed. For some reason, he wanted nothing more than to drag James closer. But he also wished for James to just leave. Regulus was annoyed with himself and was afraid he might take that out on James. "You can leave now."

James laughed and Regulus could've choked on the sound. "Actually, I have to stay and give you information about getting the surgery," he replied, coming around to sit next to Regulus on his bed. Regulus moved over instinctively without even thinking about what he was doing. He felt his face flush when James' leg brushed against his own. 

"Well, get on with it then," Regulus answered stiffly. 

"The surgery is called Open Reduction and Internal Fixation. In the surgery I'll be setting the bone fractures with some screws. We'll be doing this as soon as possible to try to prevent any further injuries," James told him. 

Regulus nodded. He wasn't really listening due to the... distraction right in front of him.

"After the surgery though, it could take anyway from 3 months to a year for you to recover," James continued, "your knee is gonna hurt, be swollen, and stiff. You might need a brace for it, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there, love. You'll be needing some physical therapy and you won't be able to drive for about 6 weeks."

Regulus absentmindedly nodded again. He hadn't caught a single word.

"Oh, and you'll also be needing a pair of crutches," James added. He poked the tip of Regulus' nose, drawing him back to the present and out of yet another fantasy, where he may or may not have a starring role. "You still with me, Reg?"

Regulus blinked. "Um, yes." Blinked again. "Don't call me that."

"Okay, Reggie," James smiled again when the other boy scowled. "Now, I've got to tell you about the possible complications."

Regulus nodded. It might not hurt to try to focus this time.

next part

july 4: wings | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 728

*surgeon x patient au*

previous part, part one

Regulus stirred slightly in his sleep. Yesterday had been an emotionally taxing day. What with him discovering he fancied his own doctor and then said doctor flirting right back at him. So, of course Regulus was a bit tired. After James had finished giving Regulus a rundown of everything to expect from getting surgery, he stuck around for another hour, claiming that if anyone needed him, they could just page him. After spending more time with James, Regulus realized that underneath James' outer layer of charisma, was a dumb, funny, sweet, and overall annoying man. Regulus couldn’t help but be intrigued.

Regulus stirred again in his sleep. His eyes slowly fluttered open and he yelped when he saw a face staring down at him.

“Barty!” Regulus cried, jumping back as his friend grinned in his face. “I thought I told you to stop waking me up like that!”

“Hello, past lover,” Barty crooned, clutching Regulus’ face tightly and smacking a dramatic smooch on his forehead.

Regulus groaned, a small smile on his lips. He glanced to the side and made eye contact with Evan. “Mate, how many times have I told you to put a leash on him?” he asked as Evan peeled Barty off Regulus and deposited him in a chair on the side.

Barty smirked evilly up at Evan. “He has.” He bit his lip, eyes dark.

Evan snorted, smirking back down at Barty.

“Christ, Barty, you’re in public,” Pandora chimed in from where she was standing on the opposite side of Regulus’ bed. “Hey, Reg,” she purred, giving him a quick hug.

“How has my favorite past lover been feeling?” Barty sat his head on his fist. 

Regulus rolled his eyes.

Barty shot up from his chair at the sound of his friend’s silence. “You’re not all of a sudden dying now, are you?”

Regulus raised an eyebrow at his best friend.

“Oh, Reggie, tell me you haven’t sprouted angel wings and plan on flying to heaven!” Barty wailed, jumping into Regulus’ lap.

“Barty.” 

The other man looked up from where he had been hugging Regulus’ waist and smiled at him mischievously. Regulus couldn’t help but grin back and respond with a deadpanned, “Oh, yes, actually, I’ve already died and I am a ghost.”

“Reg, but seriously, how are you?” Pandora asked quietly.

“The painkillers they gave me have got the pain down to almost nothing,” he shrugged. He didn’t feel anything, just a twinge every now and then. The power of the medicine honestly impressed him more than anything. He squeezed Pandora’s hand reassuringly to let her know he really was okay.

Barty snapped his fingers in his face to get his attention. “Dollface, you think you might be able to slide me some of whatever they’ve got you on?” Barty quirked an eyebrow up then scowled when Evan hit him on the shoulder.

“No,” Evan reprimanded. “You’ve just gone clean 2 weeks ago.” His eyebrows were furrowed together. “Please, love, you’re doing so good this time,” Evan pleaded, face gone softer.

Barty’s face also softened. “I know,” he murmured, “was just trying to poke a little fun at our boy all hopped up on the hospital’s meds.” Barty pouted innocently at his boyfriend. “I didn’t mean it, Ev.”

Evan nodded stiffly, gripped Barty’s shoulder affectionately, then turned to dig in the bag he had thrown over his own shoulder. “Regulus, I’ve brought you that book we were texting about yesterday,” he said handing him a book with a smooth black cover.

Barty, still sitting in Regulus’ lap, snatched the book first and flipped to the cover page inside. “Ooh, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio,” he read aloud. He gingerly set the book on Regulus’ nightstand. He moved his hands to Regulus’ cheeks and patted them while saying, “I admire you, babycakes, I wouldn’t have the patience to put up with a single—“

He got cut off by James Potter entering the room. All heads turned in sync to look at James questioningly. Meanwhile, James blushed a deep shade of red, some form alarm and chagrin flashing in his eyes. Regulus couldn’t possibly figure out what reason James would have to be chagrined in this moment though.

“Woah, who’s the Adonis that just walked through the door?” Barty exclaimed from where he was still in Regulus’ lap and clutching at Regulus’ face.

next part

July 5: burnt | @jegulus-microfic | word count: 1,284

*LAST PART in surgeon x patient au*

previous part, part one

James was embarrassed. So embarrassed. He had walked into Regulus' room without knocking. Again. He wore his cockiest grin and his confidence oozed off of him in waves. He planned to make a move today. Yet, when he sauntered into Regulus' room, the first thing he saw was another man sitting in his lap, cradling his face. Then, the 4 faces of 4 people in the room turned to look at him all at once. James' eyes were drawn to Regulus though. 

James felt his face pale. His eyes snapped to where he saw Regulus' hands resting on the other man's arms. The other man was still holding his face. James could have screamed just then. But, thankfully, he didn't.

James couldn't believe it. Because of course Regulus already had a partner. James hadn't even asked before he started flirting with him. He was a little taken aback from how much seeing this other man affected him. I mean, nothing had happened between him and Regulus yet. They'd just flirted a little. That, however, did not stop James' heart from plummeting straight to his feet. He probably should have expected it though. Regulus was attractive. But, James always went into things with little to no plans, and that almost alwaysended with him getting burnt.

"Woah," the other man on Regulus' lap exclaimed, turning around fully to face James, "who's the Adonis that just walked through the door?" The other man smirked and bit his lip playfully. James looked at him, and instantly hated him a little bit for being decently handsome. James then instantly hated himself for hating the other man.

"Alright, that's enough out of you," said another man, with a mess of blonde hair and dark, slightly sun kissed skin. "Get up off your arse, dollface," he purred to the other man, who was now scrambling off of Regulus.

The other man shoved Regulus' face back his hand and barked out a laugh when Regulus promptly shoved him off. "Ugh, Barty, seriously?" Regulus groaned.

Barty. That was the other man's name. Barty. Huh.

James came to quickly when he realized that he ought to introduced himself to Regulus' visitors. He flashed a polite smile to the other visitor, who hadn't spoken. She was quietly standing by Regulus, and she was holding one of his hands gently, clutching her purse in her free hand. James cleared his throat and spoke, "Hello, I'm Regulus' doctor. Dr Potter, but you can just call me James." He smiled at them all.

The woman holding Regulus' hand was the first to respond. "Hi, James," she replied kindly, smiling back at him. She had the same dark skin and blonde curls as the other blonde man, except she had her hair woven in braids. She extended a hand toward James, which he met halfway. "I'm Pandora."

"Oh, and I'm Barty!" Barty also put his hand out for James to shake, reaching over the bed. As soon as James clasped his hand around Barty's to shake it, Barty blurted, "I'm the best friend." Barty grinned. "He's mine." Barty's eyes glinted madly, and for a second, though James would never admit to it, he felt scared. He let go of Barty's hand.

"Barty." James looked at Regulus when he heard his sharp voice. Regulus wasn't even paying attention to James. He was caught up in swatting Barty with the back of his hand. "Mate, you've got to stop acting like my crazy, possessive ex."

"Reggie! We've been over this! That is exactly-"

"Love." The blonde man spoke up, glancing down at Barty, who was shorter than him by a few inches.

"Alright, alright, I can take a hint," Barty scoffed and rolled his eyes. His face visibly softened, though, when the blonde man put an arm around him.

The blonde man nodded to James politely. "And I'm Evan."

James grinned at them all. Despite the fact that Barty was absolutely bonkers and the fact that Regulus liked that and was dating him, James thought that the 4 of them looked like a little family. 

He cleared his throat. "Um, actually, the reason I've swung by is that I've got to start getting Regulus prepped for surgery. You all can say a quick goodbye, but then, our nurse, Dorcas, can show you to the lobby. The surgery is only about 2 hours, but the anesthesia will take a while to wear off. I recommend coming back tomorrow morning as most patients are pretty out of it after being on pain meds and anesthesia and all that stuff," James explained simply. 

As soon as James was finished, Barty swooped forward and hugged Regulus. He was sure there was no way Regulus was breathing in an embrace that tight but the look of annoyance of his face was priceless. "Don't die!" Barty stood up again. "I'll have no one to torment! But seriously, Reggie, you are not allowed to die." Barty's eyes started tearing up and he sucked in a harsh breath. 

"Good Lord," Evan mumbled under his breath, enveloping Barty in his arms. "See ya, Reg," he said in a normal tone, leaving the room, bag in hand, holding up a now sobbing Barty.

"Bye, Baguette," Pandora cooed in her airy voice, kissing Regulus' forehead, then leaving.

James quirked up an eyebrow at Regulus when the door shut. "Baguette?" 

Regulus groaned. James felt a tingle in his stomach at the sound. He internally chided himself. No, bad, James, bad. 

"She calls me Baguette and calls my brother Croissant because we're French," Regulus explained, rolling his eyes. He wore a smile on his lips though. Regulus shifted his ocean grey eyes to James and scooted over in his bed to make room for him to sit.

James gulped and shook his head hastily. Cleared his throat. "Ah, no, thank you," he mumbled. "Reg, I wanted to apologize for flirting with you. It was unprofessional of me and I didn't realize you were already involved-"

"I'm sorry, what?" Regulus snapped. "What do you mean 'already involved'?"

"I-uh-Barty isn't your..?" James trailed off, then chided himself again. This time it was for not finishing his own sentences.

"No," Regulus said, lips pursed. "He's my ex, but he's also my best friend. And he's very touchy and lovey dovey. Evan is his boyfriend."  After a moment of horrifying silence, Regulus blurted, "I think they're going to get married soon."

James couldn't bring himself to respond. He felt a million times more embarrassed now for some unknown reason. 

Before he could string together another apology, Regulus' hand darted out and dragged James down to sit on the bed next to him. Regulus stared right into James eyes, a million emotions swimming through their murky depths. Then, with no warning whatsoever, Regulus cupped James' cheek and pecked him on the lips. 

James' eyes closed and he brought a hand to Regulus' back. His lips were so, so soft. His hand was warm and held James' face with so much care he could melt on the spot. He leaned in, expecting more, and when he was met with nothing, he opened his eyes. Regulus stared back at him, a centimeter away. Regulus had pulled back from him faster than he had rushed forward to him.

Regulus' face flushed madly and he turned away from James. 

"Get me ready for my surgery, James."

"Okay, love."

Regulus turned back to face James. This time, James was the one bringing his hand up to cup the other man's face. 

James anticipated what Regulus was going to say and before the words left his mouth, James murmured softly, "Don't worry, everything's going to be just fine, love. I'll make sure of it."