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Chapter Text

"This is SO weird Remus" he said slapping both his hands on his thighs with a dramatic sigh. "They don't take anything but money and gold, so its obvious they're only after easy money and not valuables. They wanna stay away from the black market, for gods sake there was an antique statue right on the shelf and they didn't touch it. But why would a lowlife burglar after easy money manage to make all these flawless crimes one after another." Remus was nearly asleep cozed up on the end of the coach as James frantically pushed papers and photos around the table.

"James don't read too much into it" he said pulling the blanket up to his neck for even more coze. "You catch them in a day anyways whats so special about this?" James got up from tha table and scurried over to the little kitchen to make a quick tea. "I don't know yet." He answered from the other room. "But an ordenary burglar leaves traces and takes everything. These are all far too clean. No sign of break-in no injuries no footprints or fingerprints hells if they took something less valuable the house owners wouldn't even notice someone was in the house."
"Thats true... You think they choose those houses based on a pattern?" Remus slumped forward to take his cup of tea from his friend who in the meantime came back into the living room or as he likes to call it, the office.

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The front door opened up into a dark hallway and a young couple burst into the wall, kissing passionately and peeling away layers of clothes. The man closed the door and gently guided the woman inside the apartment. "Would you mind showing the bedroom?" He asked out of breath between kisses and the woman blushed bright red. But she did. She held his hand and slowly moonwalked to another room, leaving the entrance hall empty and dark.

Thats when another, taller man with a black hood on entered trough the main door. He made his way straight to the little cabinet next to the window. Opened the third drawer from the top. So gently and slowly it didn't make a sound. He heard rustling of clothes from the bedroom and a faint thud followed by an intoxicated girly giggle. The sign for him to leave already. He reached into the drawer, full of jewelry and pulled out about twenty golden necklace. It easily fit into his pocket as he closed the cabinet back up and beelined his way to the exit. He took the brightly lit stairway down to the first floor and glanced to his golden watch. He stood still for 1...2...3.. seconds then busted out the door and and out of the apartment's main entrance. At the same time a black car pulled up to the sidewalk and he jumped right in to the backseat. "He's late again" he exclaimed as he pulled his hood back and finally taking a big loud breath. His messy brown hair got euffled and his green eyes glittered as he pulled out the gold. "You were right again Reggie, she had the chains where you said it would" a silent "hm" came from the driver seat and their eyes met in the review mirror. "Barty. Give it to me." The third person, who was already sitting in the backseat and next to him took the gold out of his grasp. "No the fuck not!" They started to brawl for the stolen gold. Wich made the car slightly move as Barty headlocked the blonde boy.

The front door of the car finally opened up and a fourth guy jumped in to the last empty seat. He brushed his long black hair out of his face and he looked back at Barty. "My god that gal was so annoying! Did you get them?" He looked at the handful of gold and the overall situation in the back. "Get a room." The car immediately started and left the crimescene.

"Are you insane? Sirius if you stay one more minutes, the janitor shift changes and we'd have another witness. I told you a thousand times its important that we're always on time. You can't just fool around" Sirius huffed. "You know they hate to see me go. Its in the charm. Reg i already do the dirty work let me live. I wasn't too late." A faint annoyance was heard in his voice but it was usual. As the brothers looked alike they were as different. Sirius the easygoing charismatic charmer who takes the drunken girls home. And the firm cold and scheming Regulus who wouldn't touch someone without making a face or roll his eyes.

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"Hey Jamie!" A flowery voice made it to the office and soon after a pretty girl stepped into the room. She had her usual white lacy dress that was tight in all the rigt places. Her fiery red hair was in a half bun, letting her loose strands down to her waist. She was the landlady. "Lily, my sweet come inside of course."
"There's a...woman. outside." She said lowering her tone like it was a secret.
"Well then. Let's welcome her in shall we?" James kicked Remus in the shin. "Wake up we have a client. Let's hope someone stole gold from her." He wiggled his bushy eyebrows and ran down the stairs to open the door. A few moments later he came back with a woman, he made her sit on the sofa and stared at her. "Mr. Potter. Im sorry i came this early in the morning. But last night i was to go to a banquet. A fancy type nonetheless." Lily sat down nextvto the girl silently as to not disturb her in the talking. So now three of them sat on the sofa Remus the client and Lily. James was sitting backwards on a wooden chair listening to the tale.
"And as you went to get dressed and doll yourself up, you noticed your jewelry missing. Alrighty miss. Ill accept the case."
WHAT? The three of them exclaimed at the same time.
"Well looking at your dress that is freshly drycleaned, and exceptional in quality you're not middle class. As in wealth. Your hair is also freshly made i can smell the cosmetics from here, but you have not a single jewelry on even though your ears are pearced and the skin on your fingers are lighter than the rest of your body. So you do wear a lot of jewelry."
The woman was too stunned to speak.
"Well, yes i stored them in a drawer and they disappeard. But there was no intruder in my house, not a trace of it either."
James fidgeted in his seat, as if he was about to blow up, like a kid who just got his hands on a new toy. "Could you show me around your home miss?" The woman nodded and stood up. "Thank you Mr.Potter i was scared of people intruding my home without me noticing but im sure you will find out how it happened."

They made their way down to the front door. "The world's first consulting detective for a reason." He answered with a wide grin and warm confidence radiating off of him. Like he already solved it all in his head.
"REMUS! NOT COMING?" He shouted up the stairs and after some rustling upstairs a bang of door could be heard followed by heavy steps. Remus got down the stairs huffing, he used his crutch today so he must've not been in his best shape but was still interested enough in the case to get off that ugly red sofa.

It was an apartment similat to that of where the two men lived. They went in trough the main entrance wich led to a bright hall. Clearly luxurious. James didn't fail to notice the door to the stairway on the right but they took the elevator to the second floor. The woman made a show of unlocking three separate locks on her door but finally managed to open it up. The hallway had some coat hangers mirror and shoeracks nothing out of the ordinary. The living room had a black leather sofa in the middle and a huge cream colored long fur rug that nearly covered the full ground. James got on half knee and brushed his hand on the soft fur of the rug then smelled his palm. "Where did you store the gold?" The girl opened the third drawer from the top. Odd place to store jewelry. James and Remus towered over the cabinet. "Wait but there's a lot of rings and bracelets still." Remus pointed out. "Yes its odd, they only took the necklaces i got as gifts. Didn't take custom made or family heritage. It's a big luck. My grandma's ring is one of a kind red diamond I'd die of shame if it was stolen."
"Well you got big luck indeed miss." Remus consoled her with a pat on her shoulder.

"So what do you make of it?" Remus asked as he sat in a taxi that was meant to take them home. Rain was pouring outside and Remus's breath came out in white puffs. He looked at James who was beaming with excitement. He could never control it. His golden eyes opened wide. "It's obviously them. They don't steal identifiable gold. Granny's red diamond would sure go for a lot but also cost their anonymity. It draws eyes."
"Yeah its obvious but how do you plan on finding them? We don't have a single clue." The taxi came to a stop and Remus paid. They made their way to the door, james walking at a comfortable pace so his companion can walk beside him. The rain always annoyed Remus because his crutch would get mud on it. And it's harder to walk when its slippery but he wouldn't say that out loud ever. James knew nevertheless.
"We couldn't act before because noone asked for our help, Peter said the yard can handle it. They don't see how genius these robberies are. But now that we actually have a case, someone who pays us to solve this. We can do more than reading the news"

A few days passed by with james pouting in the office and putting up newspaper cutouts to his whiteboard. Usually when he locked himself up like that he was irritated, but this time it seemd more like a preparation.
One evening he put on his nicest suit and a red silk tie, he even wore his 'celebration' glasses. It was the same round glasses but with golden frame. "Remus? You think i look good?" The man looked up at down on his friend and signed with his finger a turn around sign. That James did. "Yes. Good arse. Where are you going?" James seemed to blush a bit at the comment however it was harder to tell because of the mans darker toned skin, goes very well with red and gold tho. He even brushed his usually wild hair. "Where are WE going my frien." He corrected and pulled Remus up from his cozy seating. "Nuh-uh not we im not wearing a suit, I don't even have one and yours are way too short on me..." Given his lanky build James's suits would indeed look quite short on his ankles and arms, maybe a bit big on the shoulders too because james was frankly a bit...ripped.
"I know but im two steps ahead of you -of course- so i had one tailor made for you. Look at this." He pulled out a full suit from god knows where and threw it at Remus. "Its grey so you won't be too flashy calm down, i need you there its a fancy dinner nothing more. We're gonna talk to some girls who has some gold missing." Remus accepted his defeat and honestly he was a bit curious about how would a suit like that look on him, he never had something that nice. So he started to put the suit on. "So you got forward in the gold case? Who are we seeing?"
"The culprit" james said excitedly and helped Remus with his sleeve. "I think she'll be there."
"She? How do you know its a girl?"
James winks.

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Regulus put on his most expensive suit, with a west of course because he was Regulus Black. Emerald green tie and a ton of silver rings were perfect addictions. He waxed his hair and applied a hint of cologne. "Okay so hear me guys. Barty, no getting too drunk. Evan, talk to the dads tell them about the company if you can we got to grasp every chance. Sirius im only telling it once. For the love of god please dont flirt with the bartender. And don't be too flasy, no dancing on tables." The three bobbed their heads pretending to even consider the orders. Sirius clapped his hands together excitedly. "Let's go boys our next client is right here."

The banquet was held in a big ass ballroom that made Regulus have shivers down his spine. Disgustingly much fake ranessance paintings on the ceiling with tacky golden pillars. At the end of the hall a live orchestra played soft music to sway to and a woman singing on top of a lottle podium. The room was generally filled with older people who smelled of even older money and cigars. Regulus leaned to the wall in a hidden corner and wahtced his boys het to work. His eyes easily followed his brother in the crowd. There were not much man to match his brothers beauty, the shiny black locks and bright sky blue eyes were easy to spot from a distance. He already had a champagne glass in his hand and sweettalking an older woman. Evan was easy to spot because of his short milky blonde crewcut and Barty well he was Barty.

Regulus got pulled bact to his senses by the big double door entrance opening and two man loudly arguing. He turned to see them and found a freakishly tall guy with fluffy light brown hair that already started to grey over his ears even though the bloke couldn't have been more than twenty-six. He had a grey crutch witch he didn't use to help his standing at that moment but to entice fear towards the other mans shins.

And then he looked at the other man. And he thought. Oh. He knew who he was. James Potter self claimed 'first consulting detective of the world' crime solving genius. He never seen the guy and even now he immediately wNted to flee. He was looking so warm Regulus was sure he would burn up if he would made a single eyecontact. His eyes were way more beautiful than the gold on all the ladies fingers combined in this whole building. His skin colored several shades darker than Regulus's own, he wasn't sure why he made the comparison in the first place.
The man smiled and time seemed to slow to a near stop as he heard his heart beat in his ears so loud but at the same time heart the woman singing started a new song.

"People everywhere
A sense of expectations hanging in the air
Giving out a spark
Across the room, your eyes are glowing in the dark..."

Fuck.

Chapter Text

No, no and no. James potter wasn't supposed to be at this party. It was like dust in a machine. A machine Regulus made sure is well oiled and ready to use without complications is now dumped in the sand. Regulus allowed himself to feel panick for a singular second before turning his back to the door. His eyes scanned the room for Barty and when their eyes met he hoped that the other would understand without words that they need to abandon ship immediately.

Unfortunately Barty's eyes were already sparkling from the alcohol and he was more interested in Evan's backside than the sheer panic in his boss's eyes. Shit. His last hope of a smooth escape was Sirius. He scanned the room over and over again and he didn't find those signature locks. Not until he did. His good for nothing of a brother was in fact talking to James Potter. Regulus went pale.

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"Oh no... Im just his second one really. We're colleagues." Answered Remus while trying to maintain at least two steps distance from the beautiful man that came out of the crowd a second ago.
"Well, i still welcome you to this Hogwarts donation event. I am Sirius Black." He looked especially smug while saying his name like it was some kind of magic spell. It was worthy of note that he didn't even bet an eye at his world famous best friend. Remus wasn't used to attention like this. He accepted the handshake.
"Remus Lupin"
"And i am James Potter please to meet you." he jumped in without a second though of course.
"Sirius, would you mind introducing me to a few ladies here? Preferably between the age of eighteen and forty five." And James held Sirius on the arm leading him into the crowd and leaving Remus to himself. He found an empty table to sit at.

James went around all evening talking about beautiful ladies and man of course. But he didn't find what he was searching for just yet. He was deep in thought while listening to some rando talking when he noticed his newest friend missing. It took him about ten minutes of asking around until a guy pointed him towards the entrance where he spotter Sirius. He rushed up to him from behind.
"Oh." He said. Sirius looked at him looking at his little brother.

James pulled out his most charming smile, a smile that was hard to resist and he knew it. Maybe it was the dimples. He didn't know. "Im-"
"I know who you are Mr.Potter." an icy tone stopped him in his introduction followed by en even icier glare. Those grey eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
"I'm just wondering what could a private detective be doing in a party like this."
"A consulting detective." James corrected quickly as he stepped closer. At this point Sirius left to collect Barty and Evan possibly blackout drunk from the man's restroom.
Regulus didn't make eyecontact but scoffed at the correction.
"Well I remember reading the guest list just yesterday night. And your name was not on it."
"Hmm and why does my presence annoy you so much Mr.Black? If i may ask." He stepped closer again, making Regulus back up into a wall. A strong first impression but a necessary one.
"Anyone reasonable would feel a bit, uneasy when there's obviously a dog sniffing around the chicken coop." James broke the eyecontact for two reason. The first one is him getting worked up over those black locks framint that pretty face, with a link blush and the piercing eyes. The long fluttering eyelashes. James was sure he was near a heart attack. The other reason being him actually pressing Regulus up to the wall by his chest and leaning close ro his ear. It was all for the case obviously. "This dog only wants... The rooster." He purred into Regulus's ear. He was so close his lips nearly brushed that thin neck. He was so done.
"Good night Mr.Black."

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What the fuck. Regulus made his escape immediately after that incident with James, now he was driving home with two drunkards on his backseat and his lovestruck brother who apparently got the hots for someone at the party. He gripped the wheel harder until his knuckles went white and he hoped he could get a grip on his situation like that too because this could not happen ever again. He can not afford another meeting with James Potter.

After they put Barty and Evan to sleep in a room. Regulus and Sirius sat in the livingroom.
"Sirius. What exactly were you thinking? When you walked up to our biggest threat to introduce yourself?"
Regulus talked calm and collected as always.
"I had no idea it was him Reggie i saw a hot bloke i walked up to him. I just wanted a bit of fun to myself."
"Yes well how about you don't have fun on my expense? My whole plan depends on how you behave in there."
"So it's your plan that depends on me huh? How about you doing the work for a bit? How about you go out snogging girls and taking them home? You think i want that?" Sirius gripped in his own hair like someone who wants to rip it all out in anger. He stood from the sofa.
"I know you're stressed Reggie but its not your plan its ours. It depends on all of us and until Potter doesn't stick his nose in it nothing can go wrong."
Now it was Regulus's turn to brush his hair back out of his face from frustration.
"He said he's 'a dog looking for a rooster'."
"What?"
"It's a message. He admitted he was there searching for someone and i think it was also a hint about gender (?)." He was unsure about the last part but it would make sense.
"He was a bit odd at first he asked me specifically to introduce him to middle aged women." Sirius remembered.
"The chicken." Regulus was lost in his head. The world was spinning. It took James Potter around half a minute to get on his trail. What a genius. Not smarter than himself though.

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"He is so dreamy, he smells amazing he has the prettiest sharpest smartest eyes I've ever seen and those black locks Remus im losing it. Are you listening?" He was in fact not listening but that didn't stop James from rambling on. "He is also so tiny i could push his so easily i was almost feeling bad about it. Those rings on his thin fingers...ah he knows how to dress for sure. His brother is fun too." Remus paid the taxi driver who got a tip for having to listen to James queer out over some rich boy.
"Yes they're nice but about the case, did you met anyone? Who's the robber?"
"Can't tell you that yet"
"What? It's my job to write down your work, im sure you figured it out already."
"Let's say im on a trail for now, but you'll see on the next event."
Remus stopped and sighed.