It all started with a racoon || jegulus

Chapter 7

Regulus was avoiding him. James was pretty much sure of it by now.

James hadn't been to the shelter that much the past few days, being busy working on some of the details for the Open Day with Irma, the librarian, as they had partnered up for publicizing the event and James was the one with the connection to her.

Because of this, he hadn't immediately noticed.

Whenever he had tried to talk to the guy, Regulus had just turned in his steps and walked the opposite way.
Whenever he had tried to wave at him to greet him, Regulus had looked somewhere else.

At first, James had thought that it was just his imagination. But now, he just knew.

He suspected that the events of the evening with the storm were the cause of this, and he understood. Being that vulnerable with someone you don't fully know kind of messes you up.
The shame you might feel, the way you suddenly feel more self-conscious.

That's why when James realised, he gave Regulus space. He knew that sooner or later they'd talk again. So, he just minded his business and focused on other things instead. Even if deep down Regulus didn't leave his thoughts not even once.

That was until apparently Regulus was scolded by Newt.

And had decided to talk to James again.

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Regulus had been avoiding James.

At first, he had told himself that he needed some space after what had happened.
He wasn't used to being that much in the centre of somebody's attention. Not like that. He had felt put on a pedestal on which he did not want to stand on. He felt exposed.

And for what, a fucking thunderstorm? Yeah, no, thank you very much.

He had told himself he would take some days for himself, just some.

Really, it wasn't his fault that he had let that much time pass. It's like when you wait some time before you reply to a text but then you forget to do so and now it's been months and you don't know how or if you should reply. He didn't mean to ghost him, but how could he go back to talking to him now?

Hi, remember me? I'm sorry I avoided you, how are things?

Yeah, never in a million years. His life was fine before knowing him, it'll be fine even if he doesn't talk to him ever again.
The only good thing that this whole mess had brought upon was that now Regulus had earned a brand-new pair of earphones, because him being the idiot he was had forgotten to give them back to James.
Not having plans to ever talk to him again, they were his now.

These were the thoughts that had been bothering Regulus for the past two hours. Hours that should have been spent working instead of just pacing around the shelter.

It's a little over 18 pm now and while Regulus is on closing duty and should actually do something, he finds himself going to the cage of a specific animal.

Little Meeko's.

He had found himself doing that a lot, actually. He wouldn't know why or how, but they had bonded pretty fast after the racoon was brought to the shelter.
If anybody would ask, Regulus would say that it was because the racoon was just so polite and adorable. But really, it just reminded him of James.

He wouldn't ever admit that to himself, thought.

He also wouldn't ever admit to himself that watching Pocahontas after meeting him wasn't that much of a coincidence.
He had regretted watching the film in the living room on a random Tuesday night the moment his brother had walked in after his work day. The never-ending teasing he'll have to endure.