Work Text:
Regulus had always been a family man.
He loved to spend the weekends walking around the city with his child and beautiful husband, mixing their separate hobbies into spending time together, having family dinners with all their friends and James’ parents every week. But most of all, Regulus enjoyed spending time with them at work, where he felt endlessly bored and lonely, drowned in piles of documents to revise and sign, meetings to lead and calls to handle.
This is why he loved when James had free days from his part-time job and took Harry with him to have lunch together.
-So, as you can see, the general response from public opinion is positive every time we include...- Evan kept carrying the conversation about product design, as he always did, denying Narcissa’s petition for a change of colour. All eyes were on the blonde man, until a familiar noise interrupted them.
At first, it had been light and fast steps across the hall. It was summer, so they had left one of the glass panel doors of the meeting room open and could clearly hear a voice call out.
-Harry!- It sounded strangled in surprise, almost desperate not to be too loud, but still in the distance.
Suddenly, a small body peaked through the entrance, all eyes on him. The child seemed intimidated after only a second, sweeping his eyes through the room to finally land on Regulus at the head of the table. The same little smiled flourished in both faces in sync, and the boy ran to him despite the intrigued, sweet and annoyed looks he was receiving.
-Pappa!- The small arms clung onto him as he kneeled to welcome his kid into his embrace.
-Hello, kiddo.- Regulus stood holding Harry, kissing his cheek and nuzzling his temple. He took a deep breath in, his son always smelled of baby oil and coconut lotion, one of his favourite smells in the world nowadays. -Who brought you here, baby?
Before the kid could answer him, another figure appeared through the door. James had an apologetic smile on his face nodding to the rest of the people there. Then, he looked at his husband with a grimace, a quiet way of his to say ‘sorry’.
-Okay, take 5 everybody, we’ll finish this after.
As Regulus started walking to the entrance, Narcissa spoke.
-But we’re about to finish.
He stopped and looked at her with heavy eyes. He put some coldness in his voice before talking again.
-Then continue and I’ll rejoin in a minute.
He didn’t care about the results of this meeting, but he couldn’t say that. He was their very meticulous boss, who wanted to be informed of every and any changes of their products, marketing and business in general. Control freak for many, rightfully responsible in his own opinion.
-I’m sorry,- James Potter was, without a doubt, the most beautiful human being in planet Earth. Even with his messy hair and casual clothes, bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and a frown on his face. His beauty was incomparable. -he escaped me in the reception and I don’t even know how, but he managed to get into the elevator and I didn’t know in which floor he’d pop out, and then I heard him running and asking where you were and I just...-
He sighted, looking exhausted.
-James.
-Yeah?
He kept his sight on those pretty eyes, chocolate pools filled with nothing but sweetness and love. His free hand lifted to frame the side of his face, pale fingers contrasting with the darker nature of his lover’s skin. James leaned into it, always so eager to feel touched. They smiled at each other, leaning it for a soft peck of lips before joining their foreheads and just breath.
-Hello.
-Hi...- The older finally relaxed.
-It’s okay. I’m the boss, no one will dare say anything.- Regulus knew it was the seriousness in his tone that made James laugh. After all, some things never change.
-You’re abusing your powers, Black. It’s not very professional, I’ll have you know.
He chuckled as Harry buried himself deeper into the crook of his neck, under the end of his black curls. Both father and son were especially sensitive to smells, hence why the kid was probably stuffing his nose into his cologne and shampoo scent right now. At the thought, a bubbly feeling settled in the bottom of his stomach, filling him with a giddy euphoria that only his family could give him.
-Yes, well, neither is to snog my husband in the middle of a meeting and that is exactly what I’m about to do.
He didn’t lose any time, launching forward to capture those soft lips again. It was a lose kiss, for the mere sake of contact, slow. A hand caught his waist, another locked in his nape. And it was moments like this that truly gave Regulus’ life a meaning. This, right here; his son in one arm seeking for his protection and comfort, and his lover in the other.
Sometimes, he felt pity for those who didn’t get to have this. Such happiness it leaves you dizzy and out of focus. Even after separating, their small love bubble was intact.
-Harry, love- James tried to sneak his arms around the small body, but he squirmed and protested with whines, holding onto Regulus.- Baby we’ve got to let Pappa finish his work, okay?
-No. With dadda.
His voice cracked, and so did his parent’s hearts for a beat. They hated to do this, because the kid hadn’t seen his father for two days until yesterday afternoon after his work-trip to London.
-Uh, Black, we’re about to finish.- Evan peaked through the door at the worst possible time, and Regulus wanted to tell him to fuck off and finish the damn meeting without him. Evan must have taken the hint in his expression. -We’ll wait for you, of course.
And the man slipped back in, just as an idea appeared in his mind.
-C’mon, we can wait-
-What if...- he paused to arrange the sentence in a way that wouldn’t make James feel left alone or like a burden accidentally. It wouldn’t be the first time. – What if he stays with me and you can go to my office, open the sofa and have a small kip? You seem tired, and I know it’s got something to do with me not being around since Thursday.- with his hand still cupping James’ face, he traced circles with his thumb. -there’s pillows and blankets on the basket behind the plant.
-Yes daddy...
Their eyes shifted to the child again, chuckling lightly for the immediate response. Then, James sighted.
-You’re not supposed to have him at work.
The grip on his waist retreated a bit, the older’s voice strained in defeat.
-And you’re supposed to get 8 hours of sleep every day, my love.- A frustrated groan escaped his husband. -Hey, we’ll be alright. You go,- Regulus leaned into his ear before whispering. -and we can leave Harry with my brother tonight. What do you think? Fancy takeout, make love to you in every single corner of the house?
He felt the shiver that ran down James’ spine as the breath touched his temple, a sound getting trapped in his throat before it could get out, the sudden change of the air around them.
-Boss-
-Yeah, I’m going.- He didn’t address the man further, instead kissing his lover in the forehead and whispering. -Go and rest.- before standing straight and watching him leave.
After a couple of seconds he raised his hand to tap Harry’s back so he would get out of his hiding spot and look into the grey eyes that mirrored his own.
-Baby, you missed me?- The child simply nodded. -That’s okay, you’re with Pappa now. But Pappa has to attend a reunion, okay? So you need to be quiet, love.
He stroke the full cheeks of cinnamon skin, only slightly lighter than his dad’s.
-Okay.
And just as fast he slid back into his favourite spot.
Sitting back on his chair, Regulus was no fool to the looks he was getting from the rest of his workers. Even Evan and Barty, who had always been good uncles to his child, remained still and showed shock on their expression. Fair enough, it was the first time he included his son directly into his work with others present.
-Very well, go on.
As Narcissa started to enumerate the main points and reasons behind the proposed changes for the packaging colour, as well as the general design, Harry descended from his father’s neck and sunk into his lap instead. He must have been bored after only those 2 minutes, because his small fingers started to pick at the collection of silver rings that Regulus had carefully crafted over the years and was now wearing. The kid started by removing them one by one, 0cassionally struggling and being helped by a very indulging thumb. Then, he dedicated all his energy into fitting the giant pieces of jewellery into his own fingers, which led to most of them to fall right back into his crossed legs. After giving up, he tried to place them again in Regulus’ hands, who was secretly paying more attention to this than whatever nonsense his cousin was saying.
“That is why she doesn’t like you, Reggie.” Sirius had once said. “She prefers the ones who will listen. That is why she prefers me.”
Well, Sirius was going to wish Narcissa liked him enough to take care of Harry for one noon as soon as he called in about 10 minutes.
I n his distraction, Evan had started speaking. Or, more accurately, bringing down every single one of Narcissa’s points. He simply nodded along and focused on his little sunshine again, who had gotten all the damn ring placements wrong. The sight of his hand; rings too loose on some fingers, others so tight that didn’t arrive to the bottom, one of his fingers had three of them chucked together; almost made him laugh. He disguised the chuckle as a light cough, but still got some weird looks from the two people closest to him.
In the conversation entered a fairly new addition to the elite team. Dorcas Meadowes had been ascended the prior month and was doing wonderfully. She was just speaking of the new launching project, directed by herself, when he felt the weight on his lap shift back to his chest and shoulder. Little hands fisted his shirt again, Harry had come back to the crook of his neck and his arms automatically surrounded the child to support most of his weight, out of instinct.
Oh, he adored this moment. The child kept his head in a certain position that required for him to keep it slightly up. However, with every inhale of his father’s faint scent and the constant caresses up and down his back, his eyes drifted closed several times, head failing to maintain in position, grip faltering until, finally, he let himself fall. Regulus couldn’t specify what it was that gave him that sensation on the pit of his stomach. A weird but beautiful mixture of pride, protectiveness and pure joy. Maybe his body was used to assume that drifting his kid into sleep meant temporary liberation, maybe it was the ability to make him fall asleep, maybe the fact that he made the perfect bed for Harry to rest in. Maybe, it was the meaning hidden behind it, how his child felt safe enough in his arms to sleep, how he looked for it to feel protected, at home. Maybe Regulus was a bit obsessed with the feeling, maybe it made him believe he was a good father. Maybe, after years of abuse and dreading of any type of parental figure, years of walking on eggshells and giving up on himself to please who should have simply accepted him, he was reassured that there was, at least, something he had done right. Maybe it marked a difference, because Regulus monsters had never hidden inside dark closets or under beds, his had always existed in flesh and bone right beside him. And Regulus couldn’t be happier knowing that his son, his little boy, would never have to feel that way about him.
-So, boss, what do you think?- It was Evan who asked.
-Well,...- He took a couple of seconds to recall some of Evan’s arguments and Narcissa’s petitions.- Given the current success of the newest design I think there’s no need to change it just yet, but we could apply some of Narcissa’s ideas to the new project. See where we can go from there.- Once he looked to both parties and saw their pleased faces, he continued. -Well, if that is all for today, this session is finished. Keep up your good work and bring me options for the new project’s design and marketing strategy next Friday. You’re dismissed.
He didn’t wait to give anyone a chance to retain him any longer before practically running out of the room. Harry asleep on his shoulder wasn’t a problem to swiftly walk up the stairs to their highest floor, where his office was. He liked the views of the city after the sun came down. Right now, though, his favourite view of all time lied on the black leather sofa by the entrance, a fluffy pink blanket over him and a white pillow under his head.
He had promised to wake James up, have lunch, let them go after his 30-minute break. He had lied mercilessly, because there was no way in heaven or hell that he’d ever wake up the love of his life from a much-needed nap after sleepless nights. So, he set a 15-minute timer on his phone, left it on the floor and put the sleeping toddler into his daddy’s arms. He slipped as graciously as possible behind his husband, under the blanket, and pressing himself close. His arm thrown over his waist, body pressing comfortable against him and his face buried on his navel. James hummed in content, probably still half asleep, and hugged his child closer.
Regulus Black had never in his life been so sure of what gave him happiness. Never before so content, because Regulus was a family man, and there was no one he could meet, nothing that could happen to ever change that about him.