“There was a time that Regulus would have liked nothing more than to break James' heart, just so he could know what it felt like, but that time has long since passed. Regulus wouldn't, if he didn't have to.  ”

“If you were drenched in blood now—their blood—I would find you breathtaking," Remus murmurs. ”

“ "Look, this isn't easy for me either. Do you think I didn't notice how hard he was avoiding telling everyone he hates me? He couldn't even bring himself to say we were friends." “

“I said he remembered himself," Regulus declares, an edge to his tone sharp enough to rival the blades in front of him. He lifts his gaze to James'. "I didn't say he remembered me." ”

Regulus swallows. "You look nice."

"You look like home," James whispers

"He also-well, that's when I made himn laugh. When I tell youI panicked, I mean I panicked," Sirius insists. "I was scared he'd think I coerced you, and so I started rambling to explain that I hadn't, then freaked out because I kept accidentally cursing in his house. I confessed that l'm in love you before I ever got to tell you, and he just ended up laughing, but he seemed happy overall to know that you're" Sirius stops.

His hand freezes in Remus' hair.

RemUS is staring at him. lips parted.

this feels necessary:

tributes remaining: 0

victors: 2

"Keep eating meals with your parents. Take care of Sirius, and let him take care of you. You've had my hat this long, so you may as well keep holding onto it for me," Regulus says, coming to a halt on the bank of the river. James seems to be holding his breath, like one move will be the push that sends Regulus over the edge. "If I'm lucky, James, maybe l'|l have a slice of paradise waiting for me. If I do, then you know where I'm going. However long it takes, I'll be there when it's time for you to come; we'll dance, and we'll laugh, and none of this will even matter. The other life where we're not a great, big tragedy-that's where l'll be waiting for you, baby."

James is dying, and Regulus hates and loves him, him, because they were always one in the same. This whole time-not for five years, not for ten, but for fifteen-it's been the same. I hate you, he says. I love you, he means. I love you, he feels. I hate you, he knows. Ouroboros. Around and hate you, around, but the cycle is made of the same from beginning to end.

Maybe James is in shock. Maybe James actually does have a knife kink. Maybe James is just in love, and he wants anything he can get from Regulus, even if it's literal death. he get

on a high note, regulus called james baby!