Chapter 2
As breakfast drags on, James forces himself to join in the usual banter, but his heart isn’t in it. His laughter is half-hearted, his replies clipped. Sirius catches on quickly.
"Oi, Prongs, you alright?" he asks, nudging James with his elbow.
James flinches, as though he’s been caught off guard. "Yeah, just didn’t sleep well," he lies, avoiding Sirius’s eyes.
"You sure? You've been quiet today," Peter adds, his voice tinged with concern.
James musters another forced smile. "I’m fine, Wormtail. Just tired, that’s all."
From across the hall, Regulus watches the exchange intently. His sharp eyes catch every tell—James’s slouched posture, the slight tremor in his voice, the way his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Something is wrong.
As breakfast concludes, Regulus doesn’t waste a second. Ignoring the curious glances of his Slytherin housemates, he strides purposefully toward the Gryffindor table.
James is halfway out of the Great Hall when he feels a gentle hand on his arm. Startled, he turns to find Regulus looking at him with quiet concern.
"Can we talk?" Regulus asks softly, his voice low enough that no one else can hear.
James hesitates but nods, leading them into a quiet corridor just outside the Hall. The noise of breakfast fades, leaving them in tense silence.
"What’s up?" James asks, trying for nonchalance, but his tone betrays him.
Regulus doesn’t buy the act for a second. "I should be asking you that," he says, stepping closer. "What’s going on, James? You’re not yourself today."
James sighs heavily and leans against the wall, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "It’s nothing, really. Just didn’t sleep well," he repeats, the lie sounding weaker now.
Regulus closes the distance between them, his hand brushing James’s cheek in a tender gesture. His voice softens. "James, please don’t lie to me. I can see something’s bothering you."
The vulnerability in Regulus’s gaze is almost too much. James tenses, his defenses rising. "Reg, nothing’s going on. Just drop it," he snaps, brushing Regulus’s hand away with more force than he intends.
Regulus blinks, startled by the outburst. For a moment, hurt flickers across his face, but he quickly schools his features, crossing his arms as his expression hardens. "Well, sorry for caring," he says coolly, turning on his heel and walking away.
James watches him go, anger and regret warring inside him. The moment Regulus disappears around the corner, he slams a fist against the wall. "God, you’re so fucking stupid!" he mutters harshly. "What the hell were you thinking?"
The corridor feels suffocating, the silence amplifying the storm of thoughts in his head. "You’re not good enough. He deserves better. They all do." The voices in his mind grow louder, taunting him with every insecurity. "You’re a burden. They’d be better off without you."
James kicks the wall in frustration before storming off, the weight of his thoughts following him like a shadow.