"So, where is Black now?" the hooded wizard asks, his wand raised at James' bound body. Now wandless and at the Death Eaters' mercy, he starts to regret diving into what was so obviously a trap without even warning the rest of the Order. He had just been so sure that Regulus would be there, and after months without hearing from him, months worrying and battling nightmares of deep waters and Regulus' lifeless body, he had jumped on the first intel to find him.
Regulus wasn't there, of course. James sensed the trap the moment he set foot in the abandoned house, but it was already too late. Four hooded Death Eaters jumped him, disarmed him and bound him to a chair, right next to a blond, unconscious man who James only hoped was still alive, and who most likely had found himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
"I haven't the faintest idea," James smirks, the Veritaserum compelling him to answer before he can think.
At least, he tells himself, Voldemort doesn't know where Regulus is either. And if Voldemort doesn't know, that means that there's a chance that Regulus is still alive. That whatever he's doing, whatever the hell he chose to disappear for, didn't go bad enough for Voldemort to get him.
But just bad enough to look for him.
To chase him.
To use James to bait him.
Fuck. What did Regulus do?
The Death Eater frowns, and James' smile widens.
"Is that credible?"
"It's true," he says.
"You're the man he loves." He spits the last word as if the simple notion of love repels him.
"No, I'm not," he says calmly, hiding the slight tremble of his voice as best as he can. It's one thing to think it, but it's another to hear himself say it and know he truly believes it.
He feels the man next to him shift a little and glances at him, watching him open his eyes from the corner of his own.
"You're lying!" the Death Eater jerks, digging his wand against James' throat.
"Regulus does not, and has never, loved me," he says more firmly. "I'm not lying."
"This can't be," the Death Eater fumbles, his confidence wavering. James welcomes the distraction to check on the man bound next to him, and who's now completely awake, slowly taking in his surroundings. He shoots him a smile that he hopes is reassuring.
"Our information is correct! You're in love with Regulus Black."
"Yes, I am," he says, and his smile turns sad. "I've never denied it. But who ever said he loved me back? He's Regulus Black. He doesn't go around falling in love with people. And if you think he's anything that small, or that ordinary, then you haven't the first idea of what you're dealing with."
The Death Eater opens his mouth, his eyes full of barely repressed anger, but the words never form. The air around them grows cold, unnaturally cold, and James shivers as he watches the Death Eaters retract with fear. And then, he freezes.
Voldemort is near.
The blond becomes agitated.
"My Lord," the Death Eater quivers, talking seemingly to no one. "I assure you, he is the perfect bait. When this man is in danger, Black will always come."
"Oh, you are a moron!" James can't help himself. "No he won't."
"He's probably already here!" the Death Eater ignores him.
"No, he isn't, of course he isn't!"
"Possibly in this house!"
"Well go on, scan it then! He's got the Mark, you could find him. Go on, why don't you?!"
"Potter," the blond at his side whispers, but James doesn't hear him. Doesn't register he's talking to him. Doesn't wonder how he knows his name.
"Black hair! Stupid clothes! You can't miss him!"
"Potter!"
"Go on! Scan the whole place! He's not here!" He's shouting now, Veritaserum and anger and desperate yearning dangerously mixing together into tears prickling at the corner of his eyes. "Merlin knows where he is right now, but I promise you, he's doing whatever the hell he wants, and not giving a damn about me. And I'm just fine with that!"
"Potter." His voice is more insistant, somehow more desperate, but James is too far gone to hear him, the truth potion breaking the last of his barriers with a rush of emotions he tried so hard to refrain.
"When you love Regulus Black, it's like loving the stars themselves. You don't expect a sunset to admire you back. And if I happen to find myself in danger, let me tell you, Regulus is not stupid enough or sentimental enough, and he is certainly not in love enough to find himself standing in it with me!"
And then, a hand squeezes his. He glances back at the blond, then down at his hands, freed from their bounds, and then back at his face. He looks at him, and the blond looks back and offers a small smile... and James falls into a stunned silence as he finally realizes who he truly is. He stares, bewildered, as Regulus' polyjuice begins to fade and his hair turns black.
"Hello, sweetheart," the Slytherin whispers, and James' heart swells.