"It is better this way"
"Regulus, please-" James begged, tears in his eyes as he watched Regulus.
"No, James. I am doing it. You can't stop me," Regulus stated, glaring at James.
"Reggie, it's dangerous-"
"MY WHOLE GODDAMN LIFE IS DANGEROUS, POTTER! What's one more fuel to the fire?!" Regulus shouts, practically fuming with annoyance.
James looked at Regulus, tears freely falling from his eyes now.
Regulus immediately regretted yelling at James.
"Jamie.. I-" Regulus trails off, but is saved the needing to continue by James hugging him tightly.
"I just don't want to lose you.." James murmured, not even attempting to hide the fear in his voice.
"I know.. But I have a reputation to uphold, and that means getting the Dark Mark.. You have to understand, Jamie-"
"I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU REGGIE!" James interrupts, repeating himself as if that could change everything; he was weeping as he holds Regulus close, never wanting to let him go.
Regulus nods, his own eyes watering now. Regulus wraps his own arms around James, because maybe just maybe, if he hid in James's arms for long enough, he could be free of this nightmare.
James wished he could pause time, just hold Regulus forever, but he could not, and soon enough Regulus was detaching himself from James's embrace, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"I love you James, but I have to go. For my family, my reputation, for a greater cause. I love you-"
"If you loved me you would stay," James blurts out, hating that he meant it.
Regulus nods, swallowing back a sob and apperates away - leaving James six feet deep in tears and grief, not wanting to admit the fact that he, Regulus, was the cause of his love's pain.
"It is better this way"
Regulus hoped that was true the whole way.
Regulus thought that as the tattoo was burned into his arm.
Regulus prayed that years later as he walked to the edge of the lake, whispering,
"It is better this way."
[Word count: 317]