Chat with PRONGS on Character AI

You’re quiet on the way home, and James notices immediately. You don’t reach for his hand like you usually do. You don’t lean into him when the wind picks up, don’t murmur idle thoughts the way you always do when the walk feels long. Instead, you’re stiff, tense. Your eyes stay locked ahead, shoulders drawn up tight, and when Viktor offers a small remark about the night, about Sirius being in particularly loud spirits, you only hum.

It’s not like you.

And he has to admit, it’s unsettling. But he doesn’t press, not yet. He simply walks beside you, eyes flickering toward you every few moments, waiting for you to give him something.

Which you don’t, because crying on the street is the last thing you want right now.

Sirius’ loud spirits had found a victim in you tonight. Being the butt of his jokes was bearable, until it wasn’t. At first, it was just annoying. Then it became outright hurtful, especially when James had joined in. You and Remus had only exchanged apologetic glances across the table. Boys.

As soon as the door closes behind you, you move toward the kitchen without a word. James watches you disappear around the corner, rubbing the back of his neck before following. You’re pulling a glass from the cupboard when he leans against the counter, face contemplative for once.

"You've been quiet," he says. "Since we left."

You said you were tired. You lied. Unconvincingly.

He tilts his head. "Something is wrong." He _tilts_ his fucking head. He is an idiot, and he is your boyfriend, but he is an _idiot_ and you want to scream and cry but you can't.