Date: June 28th, 1984 Location: The Prewett Estate @regulus-blacked
James didn’t know how to feel about anything anymore. He’d sort of... talked with Moody, which had both helped and put him in a weird enough place to be wrapped up in Remus’ concern the next day. It had been a few days since both of those things had happened and, yet, it still felt as though he’d plateaued. Like he’d taken a step forward and then floundered, not knowing where to go from here.
He hadn’t seen Sirius much since the night before the mission, which was rare for the two of them and almost felt like a loss. He hadn’t told his friend about his conversation with Moody, but he hadn’t told anyone about it. Too much had come out - about both him and Alastor - and it felt like a secret between the two of them. Like an understanding. Between the moments with Alastor and Lily and Remus, James suddenly felt like he wanted to do better. Maybe be better.
And then he ran into Regulus Black.
Regulus was in the kitchen at headquarters and, when James walked in, he stopped short. It had been the first time he’d been alone with him since Sirius’ younger brother had joined the Order. They only time they’d even been in the same room since then was the debrief meeting where Regulus had dropped information like a blasting charm. He wasn’t keen on spending time with the younger wix - and he suspected Regulus felt the same about him.
The moment they locked eyes, James started, taking a step back and shaking his head. “Yeah,” he said, thinking of the progress he’d just started to make. The tiny step forward he’d taken this week. Regulus had the potential to take all of that away with just one word, one fucking Black smirk. James knew that smirk - had seen it on Sirius’ face so many times, just never directed at him unless it was also laced with humor. “Fuck this,” he finished, deciding that leaving immediately would probably do them both good.