Chapter 2
The car ride home from Pandora's house was tense. Remus had just gotten off his shift at work before going to pick up Regulus, just like as he said.
"So," Remus started awkwardly, "How's school?" From the corner of his eye, he could see Regulus side eye him before the younger boy turned to look out the window with a scoff.
"You're not my fucking father, Remus. Don't make this weird."
Regulus's tone was bitter as he watched blankly at the houses they passed by; a reminder that each second they got closer back to the Potters.
Remus let out a sigh. "Reg."
Regulus scowled, turning to face Remus. "It's Regulus!"
Remus didn't reply, and instead letting the car ride go back in silence. He held back another sigh as he glanced at Regulus; despite Regulus being difficult, Remus genuinely cared about him and wanted him to open up to Remus. But he wasn't sure how. The boy always seemed so distant regardless of him being physically there. He didn't talk to Sirius, James, or really any of their social circle.
'We're all going out to eat Friday," Remus said, feigning causality as if the younger boy didn't just brush him off a few seconds ago. "You should come."
Regulus turned to face Remus with a deadpan expression. "What makes you think I wanna tag along somewhere I clearly wouldn't be wanted?"
"That's not true!" Remus protested, a frown taking place on his face. "We all love you."
Regulus didn't reply.
The statement wasn't a lie. The whole group would be willing to welcome Regulus with open arms; the invite was in the open, it was just Regulus who needed to decide if he wanted to take it. Mary, Peter, and Marlene claimed they needed another person to shit talk Sirius with, and Regulus Black was the number one person that had shit to say about Sirius. Lily admired Regulus greatly as she saw him often at the school library with books that she had read or want to read. The redhead loved Remus to death, but she thought their study sessions could use room for someone else.
However, no one was on the Reg join the group! agenda like Sirius and James were. Sirius, being Regulus's big brother in their abusive household, had always been more like a parent to Regulus. He loved Regulus as if he were his own, and in some ways Regulus was. It was Sirius who helped Regulus get ready for school in the mornings when they were young, Sirius who made sure Regulus always ate and slept enough, and Sirius who held Regulus when he cried. When the time come where living in that household was too suffocating, Sirius had taken it as his responsibility to take Regulus with him regardless whether his brother agreed or not. So now Sirius always tried to include Regulus in their hangouts because he wanted to share and giving everything to his baby brother since he always had. Old habits die hard.
James was a different story. Maybe it was the savior complex, but there was something about James's behavior with Regulus that made Remus question whether what was the reason behind James's insistence of being in Regulus's life. The answer was screaming at him, but deathly silent at the same time. He just couldn't put his finger on it.
The sun was setting as Remus pulled up in the Potter's driveway; the day coming to an end and everyone would retire back in their home houses. It was a large house that was set on the wealthier side of the neighborhood with elegant large windows, and two expensive cars parked in the large driveway already. Remus noted one car was missing indicating Effie and Monty were not home
Remus expected Regulus to be completely relived the car ride was over, and in some ways he did look relieved, but he mostly looked dreadful. And then it hit him: James and Sirius were much more overbearing than he was. The two were way more insistent, and them paired together would be intolerable for Regulus.
Remus shot Regulus a pitiful look. "Text me if they are too much, and I'll smack them upside their head for you tomorrow."
A faint smile could be seen on Regulus's face before he fell back into his blank expression. "Okay."
Regulus tightened his grip on his backpack strap before exiting the car. He paused before shutting the door. "Thank you."
Remus in return gave a warm smile back, and expected the interaction to be over, but Regulus still lingered with a hesitant expression on his face as if there was something else he wanted to say. Remus raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else you need to say."
Regulus shuffled awkwardly for a few seconds. "I just," he paused and Remus watched patiently as Regulus scratched the back of his neck, "I'll think about Friday."
Remus's eyebrows raised in surprise; he was not expecting that, but a pang of happiness went through him and he flashed a grin at the younger boy, who in return gave a small small smile in return. "That's all I ask."
Regulus nodded briefly before scurrying into the house leaving behind a chuckling Remus as he pulled out of the driveway. This time when he watched the sun set, instead of it being a reminder the day was ending, it was a reminder there would be a new day tomorrow filled with new hopes.
Maybe all Regulus needed was a new day.
The house was loud when Regulus stepped inside. He could hear the faint shouts of Potter and his brother from the living room. Regulus could also faintly pick up sounds of the video game the chaotic duo were always playing. He never found interest in such activities, and found them rather meaningless. There was two ways he could go on: Walk directly to his room and shut himself for the rest of the night before his brother and Potter could even realize he was home, or go to the kitchen to eat despite having to walk to through the living room to do so.
In the end his hunger won and he grumbled as he walked into the living room quietly, wanting to go by noticed, but failed to do so. As soon as he stepped in there, Sirius's big brother senses went off and he turned towards Regulus. "Reggie!" he cheered. "You're back."
Regulus grunted in response and continued his journey to the kitchen, but was now accompanied by two older boys who abandoned their video game completely. The duo followed Regulus like lost puppies as the younger boy went to open the fridge.
"My parents are out for the night, so they told us to order take out," James said he learned against the wall next to the fridge with arms crossed. Regulus tried to ignore the fact James's arms looked ungodly good leaning like that.
"We wanted to wait for you to come back to order," Sirius added, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "So what do you wanna eat?"
Regulus closed the fridge and thought for a few moments. Back at home, they never ordered food as the cooks would always make food for them every single day without fail. It always consisted of plain healthy foods that held much nutrition, but little flavor. Here, Euphemia would cook as she found passion in showing her love to people with the food she made.
"I don't know," Regulus admitted, "Mother doesn't let us eat outside food."
Both Sirius's and James's eyes hardened at the mention of the word mother, but didn't comment on it.
Sirius slung an arm around his younger brother. "That old hag isn't here though," Sirius pecked the younger boy's hair (who scowled at the affection) before continuing, "I'll introduce you to all my favorite foods!"
Regulus knocked Sirius's arm off. "Yeah yeah," he grumbled, already walking away. "Order what you want and call me when the food is ready."
Regulus didn't understand how he could have gone sixteen years of his life without Chinese takeout.
James grinned smugly. "Good, right?"
Deciding to ignore him, Regulus continued to scoff down his food, absentmindedly forgetting how his mother would scold him if she saw him like this.
"Hey slow down," scolded Sirius, "You're going to choke yourself."
"Oh shut up Sirius," replied Regulus, but the words were almost incomprehensible with the amount of food in his mouth.
"Little shit," mumbled Sirius, who focused his attention on James instead as the two fell quick into conversation about their next prank.
Regulus observed the two interact. The two were so natural with their conversation as if the words just come flowing out, and both of their eyes creased with happiness. It was like they were one of the same soul, and maybe they were. James and Sirius was like an unbreakable force. That thought seemed to hit him, and realized how much of an outsider he was. He would never fit in at this table. In this house. In their world. The sooner he accepted that, the better.
He stood up. "I have homework to do. Thanks for the food." He didn't bother to hear their goodbyes and started to walk away, ignoring his brother's protest about coming to sit back down because he didn't eat enough.
Regulus continued to walk.
James Potter had been standing in front of Regulus's door for five minutes now, his hand coming up to knock though quickly dropping before he could actually knock on the door. A frustrated sigh left his mouth as he ran a hand through his messy hair. James was a confident boy; everyone that came across him knew that. So why was he having so much trouble even knocking on Regulus's door?
He knew the answer, but he would just ignore it. At least for now.
"Come on James," he whispered to himself, "Just knock."
He let out a shaky breath before bringing his hand up again, but before he could fail and drop it back down, it abruptly opened, revealing an impatient Regulus Black.
"You know I can see your shadow from inside, right?"
His eyes widened and he felt the tips of his ear heat up as his hand dropped. He let out a laugh, trying to feign confidence, but failed miserably as he could just hear the embarrassment in it.
Regulus seemed to be able to hear it too as he raised an eyebrow. "So what do you want?"
James mind blanked for a moment and he could basically hear his heart beating.
Thump thump thump
"I--I--Uh."
Regulus smirked slightly at this and learned his fame against the doorway. "The great James Potter stuttering?"
James's stuttering ceased as he stared at Regulus. "You think I'm great?" he blurted out.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "You're a moron." He went to slam the door before James put his hands up frantically.
"Wait!" Regulus paused. "I just wanted to ask if you're okay."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
James shrugged, starting to feel a bit stupid for coming here. "You left kinda abruptly at dinner."
Regulus scowled. "I told you I had work to do."
James frowned. "I know, but I just wanted to check in."
"Why?"
The question caught James off guard; it sounded so genuine as if the idea of someone wanting to check up on him was so not understandable. It brought a silver of hurt in his chest.
"Because I care."
The words so raw, so genuine that Regulus froze for a second. The younger boy just blinked, his hard demeanor on pause for a second.
James cherished that second, and hoped that one day Regulus's harsh exterior would drop entirely, and he would be one of the view that was accepted in Regulus Black's heart. He knew it was unlikely, but a boy could dream. He could feel a fondness growing in him as he continued to watch Regulus, but as if it was never there, the hard demeanor was back.
"You don't care," Regulus replied coldly. "You care about Sirius, and view me as his extension."
James's eyes winded at the claim as he shook his head immediately. "What? No!" He looked at Regulus bewildered at the thought. Despite caring about both of them intensely, the two meant very very different to him.
Regulus was about to retort and probably continue to argue, but he seemed to think better of it, and let out a tired sigh instead. "Whatever. I'm tired, so leave."
James scowled. He didn't want to just brush this topic away; he wanted Regulus to talk to him. "Reg-"
Though he didn't get to finish as the door closed before he could even get his words out.