All Of Us Are Ghosts Here (Jegulus / Wolfstar Fic)

Eight ~ The Bridges Burned

James~

No T.W i think, as always let me know if ya see something

James stood just outside the kitchen for nearly an hour. He knew Reg was in there, he saw it on the map.

He knew Regulus wanted to be alone. He knew Regulus didn't want him anymore. He had made that clear.

But James wasn't as stupid as he looked. He knew his star. He knew that he often said one thing but meant another, he knew that there were some things Regulus couldn't admit he needed, even to himself.

And what Reg needed more than anything was support.

So, with a deep breath, James pushed open the heavy wooden door to the kitchen and stepped inside.

His eyes went to Regulus immediately, sitting on the same stool he was always at, scarfing down food like a starved man.

As their eyes met, James remembered that he likely was a starved man.

In an instant, Reg had dropped his fork and stood, his spine ramrod straight as he looked at James.

"You shouldn't be here," he said after a moment.

"Neither should you," replied James.

Regulus just kept watching him, tense and angry.

"You don't have to talk to me, alright? Just let me be here for you. That's all I want."

"Oh, now you want to be here for me?" Regulus exploded. "I'll remind you that this whole shitshow is because of you. I went to Sirius for you. I ruined my whole life, for you."

"What, do you want me to say I'm sorry? They were killing you in that house, love-"

"Don't call me that," the boy snapped, and a little bit of James' heart died.

"Fine. They were killing you in that house, Regulus. I'm not sorry for getting you out." James was angry now, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I was perfectly fine before you came along!" Regulus yelled, startling a few of the house-elves around them.

"You know what? If that's what you want to believe, then fine. Make me the bad guy, I'm fine with that." James took a breath, trying to calm himself. Yelling wouldn't solve anything. "I'm not sorry for getting you out of there, Reg. And I'm not sorry for knowing you. I'm not sorry for loving you." He saw Regulus tense at the words, but he needed to say them. "The only thing I'm sorry for is losing you. And I know you hate me. I don't blame you for that.

"But I'm still here for you. I am always here for you, and I know you don't care but I am so proud of you. So like I said, you don't have to talk. Just let me be here. Please."

Regulus was crying. It broke James' heart to see his star cry, and it was infinitely worse because he was the reason.

They sat in silence that night, until Regulus went off to bed. It reminded James of those first two weeks in the kitchens, close to a year ago now.

He thought of Connect Four, and Regulus' smile when he kept beating James.

That's when he had an idea.

((Ah, the angst. 

Well, there's the second chapter done! I love how the story is coming along already. I'm going to try to upload the next chapter over the course of the week, but it's possible it'll be released all at once like it was today.

Anywayssss, just wanted to say happy pride and also fuck J.K <3 ))