what just happened?
Regulus stayed for a little while. He sat on the other side of the room, avoiding eye contact with James. He would be lying if he said it didn't hurt at least a little, because it really stung. First, Sirius didn't even think to tell James about his little brother, and now that said little brother has shown up at his door soaking wet from the rain (which made him look stunning by the way), he wants absolutely /nothing/ to do with him. How was that fair?
Remus never showed up. James and Sirius didn't bother to ask why. After at least another hour of sitting in silence, Regulus stood up, grabbing Sirius' wrist and pulling him out of the room. The door slammed behind the pair. James sighed, laying back in his chair. This was a disaster. Footsteps stomped up the stairs, as an exasperated Sirius plodded back into the room, dropping himself on James' chair, curling up next to him.
"What am I meant to do with him James? He's such a dick sometimes..."
He pats Sirius' shoulder sympathetically, paired with a hum of agreement. "Well sometimes there's nothing you can do about certain people. Horrible people stay horrible people, " James shrugs. He really hopes that isn't true.
He quickly stands up, gently pushing Sirius off him, as not to disrupt his thinking time. It's a rare thing, they need to appreciate it whilst it's there. Without turning back, James carefully pads up the stairs, stopping abruptly at Sirius' bedroom door. If Regulus is going to be anywhere, surely it would be here. He knocks gingerly, cautious not to alarm the boy he's hoping is inside.
Before he can change his mind and turn away, the door swings open to reveal his best friend's little brother, looking positively angelic. The setting sun behind him forms a halo around his head, and its shine lights up his whole form. He is an angel.
"Oh, James. What do you want now?" Regulus snaps, glaring at James with those grey eyes of his. Okay, maybe a little bit less angelic now.
"Well- Uhm... I just wanted to check you were okay! I got a bit worried about you when you disappeared like that." James murmurs, turning a light shade of pink and mentally reprimanding himself for his stupidity. He may as well just have told him he fucking missed him!
Before another word can be said, the door is slammed in James' face. No goodbye, no sorry, nothing. He should have expected it really. For fuck's sake, its Regulus Black. He's literally mini Sirius, and Sirius is the biggest drama queen he's ever met. Well, second biggest now, next to his little brother who still seems to have the same teenage moodiness that Sirius has only just overcome. Only just.
James stalks back to his room, slowly shutting the door behind him and letting his head hit the wall with a dull thud. What a stupid idea it was to talk to Regulus. Admittedly, he has had some pretty terrible ideas in the past, but this passes all of them by a mile. In that moment, James vowed to himself never to speak to Regulus Black again. Even if it meant he locked himself away in his room, stopped talking to his best friend, never left the house, he would never ever talk to that infuriating boy again.
The next morning, James slips out of his bedroom, quietly creeping down the stairs to avoid bumping into anyone else. As he turns around the corner to go into the kitchen, he breathes a sigh of relief as he realises theres no one else there. He's alone. Finally. He grabs a large glass, filling it to the very top with ice cold water, before tipping the cup to his lips and letting the chill of the liquid run down his throat. It was crisp, refreshing, exactly what he needed. In fact, he was too enveloped in this delightful drink to notice a pair of almost-silent footsteps creeping up behind him.
"Hey Jamie," A voice coos.
Instantly James goes still. Statue-still. He recognised that voice. A chill shivered down his spine. Regulus. He spins around, just in time to lock eyes with his best friend's little brother, looking innocently up at him. Before he could stop himself, James blurted out, "What? Do you need something?"
Regulus nods slowly, before dropping his eyes down to James' chest. Oh, no. Oh fuck no. This was not happening. He was not being seduced by the boy he had promised himself to hate for the rest of his life.
He slams his glass down in the sink, before grabbing Regulus' shoulders to move him away. He ignores the widened eyes and lips parted in shock, simply deciding to retreat upstairs back to his room. This was not happening. Not today, not tomorrow, never. He quickly leaves the kitchen, leaving all thoughts of Regulus in there with the astounded boy himself.