Breaking the silence
The night after the concert felt like a blur. Regulus sat alone in his room, shadows cast by the dim lamp stretching long across the walls, memories of the evening’s chaos pressing heavy on his mind. It wasn’t just the music or the rush of performing—it was the moment his parents appeared, standing stiffly in the back with faces etched in disapproval. Their presence lingered, a dark cloud casting doubt over what had been an otherwise incredible night.
As he replayed snippets of the concert, he couldn’t ignore the way James had stood by him, fiercely loyal, even after the music stopped. The way Sirius had defended him, each word cutting through the tension, left Regulus with an ache of gratitude he couldn’t quite put into words.
A notification pinged on his phone, drawing him from his thoughts. It was a message from James: “Want to grab a drink and talk about it?”
Regulus didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. Meet you at the usual place?”
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James was already waiting at their favorite quiet pub when Regulus arrived, his familiar, easygoing smile a balm to Regulus’s frayed nerves. The moment he spotted Regulus, he slid a drink across the table, a silent offer of comfort.
“You did amazing last night,” James said, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”
Regulus offered a half-smile, grateful to not have to explain himself. “I thought I was ready to ignore them,” he admitted, the words spilling out before he could stop them. “But when they looked at me like that… I don’t know, it just got to me.”
James reached across the table, his hand covering Regulus’s for a brief moment. “You’re not alone, you know? Sirius and I—we’ve got your back. And honestly? I think you were incredible up there.”
They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the night lifting slightly as they talked. James’s presence was steady and grounding, and as they continued to chat, Regulus felt a spark of warmth flicker through the lingering shadows of doubt.
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Back at their shared flat, Sirius was pacing, his frustration from the evening lingering despite Remus’s best efforts to soothe him. Defending Regulus in front of their parents had struck a nerve, stirring up old resentment and reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal.
Remus watched him, understanding and patient, knowing that Sirius needed to release his emotions in his own time. When Sirius finally stopped pacing and slumped down beside him, Remus pulled him close, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple.
“They’ll never change, you know,” Remus murmured softly. “But you did right by Regulus tonight.”
Sirius sighed, his fingers threading through Remus’s. “I just wish it didn’t have to be like this,” he admitted, voice barely a whisper.
Without a word, Remus leaned in, his touch a reminder of the stability they’d built together. Their comforting gestures soon grew more intense, a way to lose themselves in each other and forget the harshness of the outside world, if only for a little while.
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As the evening wound down, Regulus and James lingered at the door of the pub, neither of them ready to leave just yet. The night air was crisp, carrying with it a sense of quiet calm that settled around them.
Regulus hesitated before speaking, his heart racing as he gathered his courage. “You know… my band’s playing again soon. You should come.”
James’s grin was infectious, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
In that moment, the weight of the night felt lighter, replaced by a sense of possibility, of hope. For the first time, Regulus felt like he might just be able to stand up to the expectations and judgments of his family—with James, Sirius, and Remus by his side.