Shelf Indulgence
The fluorescent lights of IKEA buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the labyrinth of showrooms. Regulus Black stood in the middle of the living room section, arms crossed, staring at a bookshelf with the intensity of a man trying to solve a particularly vexing riddle. James Potter, on the other hand, was sprawled on a nearby couch, legs dangling over the armrest, scrolling through his phone with the kind of ease that only someone who had long since given up on pretending to care about home decor could muster.
“James,” Regulus said, his voice sharp enough to cut through the hum of the store. “This is not the bookshelf we agreed on.”
James looked up, blinking as if he’d just been woken from a nap. “What’s wrong with it? It’s got shelves. It holds books. Seems functional to me.”
Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. “It’s particleboard, James. It’s basically cardboard with delusions of grandeur. We’re not filling our library with something that’s going to collapse under the weight of War and Peace.”
James sat up, swinging his legs around to plant his feet on the ground. “Okay, first of all, War and Peace is a doorstop, not a book. Second, I don’t see why we need to spend a fortune on a bookshelf when we could just, I don’t know, stack the books on the floor. Very bohemian. Very avant-garde.”
Regulus shot him a look that could have withered a cactus. “We’re not turning our library into a literary Jenga tower. Now, get up. We’re finding something sturdier.”
James groaned but obediently pushed himself to his feet, shoving his phone into his pocket. “You’re lucky I love you,” he muttered, trailing after Regulus as he stalked off toward the next showroom.
The next half hour was a blur of Regulus scrutinizing every bookshelf in the store while James made increasingly absurd suggestions. (“What if we just glued the books to the wall? Very modern art. Very us.”) By the time they reached the bedroom section, Regulus was beginning to regret ever suggesting they build a library together. James, on the other hand, seemed to be having the time of his life.
“Ooh, look at this one!” James exclaimed, pointing to a sleek, black bookshelf with glass doors. “It’s got mystery. It’s got drama. It’s got—wait, is that a fingerprint smudge? Never mind. Trash.”
Regulus rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are,” James said, grinning as he slung an arm around Regulus’ shoulders. “Stuck with me forever.”
“Unfortunately,” Regulus deadpanned, though the way he leaned into James’ side betrayed his true feelings.
Their peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of loud, thumping bass coming from the nearby entertainment section. James perked up immediately. “Oh, hell yeah. Dance break.”
Before Regulus could protest, James grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the source of the music. They arrived to find a small crowd gathered around a display TV, where a cheesy workout video was playing. A group of teenagers was attempting to follow along, their movements awkward and uncoordinated.
James, never one to shy away from an audience, immediately joined in, throwing himself into the routine with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for puppies and free food. Regulus stood at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, trying to look disapproving but failing miserably as he watched James flail around like a drunk octopus.
“Come on, Reg!” James called, waving him over. “Live a little!”
Regulus shook his head, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” James said, spinning around and accidentally bumping into a woman who looked like she’d just stepped out of a Victorian-era etiquette manual. She gasped, clutching her handbag to her chest as if James had just attempted to steal it.
“Young man!” she scolded, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “This is a store, not a nightclub!”
James held up his hands in surrender. “My bad, ma’am. Just trying to bring a little joy to the world.”
The woman sniffed disdainfully and marched off, leaving James to turn back to Regulus with a sheepish grin. “I think I just got told off by my grandma.”
Regulus snorted. “You deserved it.”
By the time they finally made it to the checkout line, Regulus had settled on a sturdy, mahogany bookshelf that James grudgingly admitted was “kind of sexy, in a nerdy way.” As they loaded their cart onto the conveyor belt, James leaned against the counter, watching Regulus with a soft smile.
“What?” Regulus asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” James said, shrugging. “Just thinking about how hot you are when you’re being all decisive and responsible.”
Regulus rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the blush creeping up his neck. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet, you love me.”
“Unfortunately,” Regulus repeated, though the way he said it made it sound like anything but a complaint.
Later that night, as they sat on the floor of their half-finished library, surrounded by boxes and instruction manuals, James leaned his head against Regulus’ shoulder. “This is nice,” he said, his voice quiet.
Regulus hummed in agreement, resting his cheek against the top of James’ head. “It is.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the rustle of paper and the occasional clink of tools. Eventually, James tilted his head up to look at Regulus, a mischievous glint in his eye. “You know what would make this even better?”
“If you stopped talking and actually helped me build this bookshelf?” Regulus suggested dryly.
James grinned. “Well, that too. But I was thinking more along the lines of…” He trailed off, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Regulus’ lips.
Regulus responded immediately, his hand coming up to cup James’ cheek as he deepened the kiss. When they finally pulled apart, both of them were slightly breathless.
“Distracting me isn’t going to get you out of helping,” Regulus said, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the way his voice wavered.
James laughed, resting his forehead against Regulus’. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
By the time the bookshelf was finally assembled, it was well past midnight. They stood back to admire their handiwork, James’s arm slung around Regulus’ waist.
“Not bad,” James said, nodding approvingly. “Think it’ll hold up under the weight of War and Peace?”
Regulus elbowed him lightly. “Don’t push your luck.”
James laughed, pulling Regulus closer. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” Regulus murmured, leaning into the embrace.
And if the bookshelf ended up being a little crooked, well, neither of them mentioned it.
