unspeakable | jegulus

your kind of love

chapter title: idiot wind by bob dylan

Regulus insisted they eat dinner at the Gryffindor table.

"He was thoughtless, and rude. This is what he gets." James glanced over his shoulder and saw Barty gazing at Regulus like a kicked puppy.

"You have to talk to him, Reg."

"I don't have to do anything." Regulus stabbed a baked potato violently with his fork.

"He wasn't trying to be mean." He shot him a withering look. "I know he wasn't nice, but it's not like he was being cruel. He just explained his thoughts badly. I know Barty didn't mean what you think he meant."

"I think he did. He's always been implying things like that to me. Like I'm not worth being with romantically because my family is a bit evil. He would always 'joke' about how hellish it would be for whoever I end up marrying. Now, when I have a boyfriend that's absolutely perfect, and so loving—he thinks you adore me—he tries to get you to change your mind? What kind of friend is that?" Regulus speared a piece of broccoli and raised his fork to his mouth then lowered it, too angry to even eat his dinner. "What's his problem anyways? He called you soft. Soft. My boyfriend! As if I could ever date anyone soft." He shoved his food around on his plate moodily.

"I think he had good intentions. I don't think he did anything or said anything that warrants this level of anger, Regulus."

"He said you're 'throwing away' your life because you're with me. That's fucked up, James."

"Regulus, I literally did throw away my entire life to be with you. It's not a baseless observation. He's not a crazy person." Regulus sighed.

"I'm not angry about that. He's saying it isn't worth it for you, James. He's saying it's a bad deal. He's my best friend, and even he thinks I'm not worth..." He had a horrible flashback to his dorm, and Regulus crying into his chest after he'd seen the memory of Sirius saying he wasn't worth saving.

"It's worth it to me. Anyway, why do you care what he thinks about our relationship? That's got nothing to do with who you are or what you're actually worth. He's just suspicious of me, he thinks I'm going to try to bail or something."

"So he doesn't trust my judgement? He doesn't think I'd choose a strong partner?" Regulus was so angry he was talking and eating at the same time, which, in James' opinion, should be considered the fifth horseman of the apocalypse. "Whatever. I need space. I'm not talking to him tonight, I'm going right into my bed and I'm charming my curtains shut. I'll put up a silencing spell too so he can't fucking talk to me."

"We can try to do some spell work together tonight if you want, for the patronus." Regulus nodded noncommittally, then smiled.

"I should put a snake in his bed."

"No." Regulus was smiling like he was discussing getting him a lovely gift, not attempting to murder him. "Killing him is not-"

"One with non-lethal venom, obviously. I'm not a monster."

"Non-lethal still means venomous. It'll still bite?" He nodded, and James shook his head with horror. "No! Don't do that."

"Why not? We have a hospital wing, he'll be fine. He'll learn his lesson." James put his head in his hands.

"Regulus, you can't just punish your friends when they displease you."