Chapter Text
Leo, who had always been the most easygoing and affectionate cat, suddenly turned into a different creature altogether. He meowed constantly, pacing restlessly around the apartment, as if searching for something—or someone. Regulus tried everything to calm him down, from extra treats to their usual playtime, but nothing seemed to work. Every time Regulus sat down, Leo would hop onto his lap, only to immediately jump off and head toward the door, scratching at it with insistent claws.
“James isn’t coming back,” Regulus muttered one night, sitting on the couch with a glass of wine. He stared at Leo, who had taken to sitting by the door like a sentinel, as if any moment James might return.
“And when did you start liking him, anyway. I'll remind you, Mr. Fluffy, that all you did was pounce on him, scratch him, and wouldn't even let him pet you. So stop with the acting.”
“Meow”
Leo let out another low, insistent meow, still staring at the door.. Regulus sighed, rubbing his temple. “This is ridiculous. You don’t even like him.”
“You know,” he began, his voice tinged with frustration, “it’s not like he was that great, anyway. He always forgot to clean your litter box, and he never bought the good treats.”
Regulus stared into the dark red liquid in his glass, swirling it slowly, the faint clink of the wine against the edges the only sound in the otherwise quiet apartment. His eyes followed Leo, pacing again in front of the door, his claws scraping against the wood like a metronome ticking away time. Each scratch pulled at something inside Regulus, unraveling the calm exterior he had worked so hard to maintain since James left.
The truth was, Regulus didn’t know if he could blame Leo. It wasn’t just the cat who couldn’t seem to let go.
He leaned back into the couch, closing his eyes. The memories of those final days with James came rushing back, unbidden and unwelcome, like a tide he couldn’t hold back. The fights had started slowly, almost insignificantly—petty arguments over small things like leaving dishes in the sink or forgetting to pick up groceries. But soon, they’d become more frequent, more vicious.
The fights grew more intense, and the silences in between became unbearable. When James finally left, there hadn’t even been a proper goodbye. Just a few bags packed and the echo of his footsteps fading down the hall.
“I can't do this anymore, Reg”
Regulus opened his eyes, blinking away the sting that threatened to build behind them. He hadn’t cried then. He wouldn’t cry now. Not for James. Not again.
But Regulus couldn't contain himself and one lone tear still rolled down his cheek.
He knew that his fault in all of this was as big as the emptiness that was eating away at his soul right now.
He’d always been so careful, so guarded, terrified of letting anyone see the cracks beneath the surface. Regulus thought he was protecting himself, but in reality, he had only been building a prison, brick by brick, until there was no way out.
He couldn’t blame James for leaving. How could he? When Regulus was the one who, with his cold, destroyed the warmth that breathed life into his lungs.
Like a dog biting the hand that feeds him.
Regulus pressed his palms to his eyes, trying to banish the images that flashed before his eyes — James, laughing, his eyes bright and carefree. James, angry, his voice rising with frustration. James, packing his things with trembling hands.
Regulus watched him go, Regulus watched his love leave and did nothing. As always. He'd always been like that - quiet and still, letting the most important things slip through his fingers. It was easier that way, wasn't it?
Leo let out another soft meow, his blue eyes wide and questioning as he looked up at Regulus. The cat had always been a source of comfort, a quiet presence that made the loneliness more bearable. But now, even Leo seemed unsettled.
Regulus reached out, running his hand through Leo’s soft fur, feeling the cat lean into his touch.
“I’m sorry, Leo,” Regulus whispered, his voice barely audible. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it work.”
The cat purred softly, as if in response, and for a brief moment, Regulus allowed himself to feel the weight of his own regret.
Days passed, and Leo's behavior didn’t improve. The cat’s frantic pacing and incessant meowing turned Regulus’s once-peaceful home into a prison of noise. He tried to stick to a routine, hoping that consistency would help them both adjust, but nothing seemed to work.
“Can you not?” he pleaded, as Leo knocked over yet another lamp. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the apartment, and Regulus felt the urge to scream. Instead, he took a deep breath, reminding himself that Leo was just a cat, very mean cat.
“Why can’t you just be normal?” Regulus sighed, exasperated. “You used to be very cute cat. Now, it’s like I’m living with a wild animal.”
Leo flicked his tail, undeterred by Regulus's words, then stared up at him, those piercing blue eyes full of expectation.
“I should’ve just let you stay with him,” he grumbled to Leo, who had already settled down on a nearby chair, grooming himself with nonchalance.
The thought lingered in Regulus’s mind. Maybe Leo wouldn’t be acting out if he were with James. Instead he decided to call Pandora. She used to work at an animal shelter and had two adorable cats herself, unlike Leo. Regulus looked at his cat again and sighed.
He grabbed his phone and dialed her number. She answered pretty quickly.
"Regulus?” Pandora’s voice came through. “What’s up?”
“Hey, Pandora. I… I need some advice.” He hesitated.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her tone shifting to something more serious.
“It’s Leo. He’s acting out since James left. I thought it would be fine since he liked me more, but now he’s just—” Regulus paused, choosing his words carefully. “He’s a mess."
There was a beat of silence on the other end. “That sounds tough. Animals can definitely sense when things change. Especially cats, they're very sensitive. He probably misses James”
“Have you thought about letting them see each other?”
“You mean, set up visits?”
“Why not? It might help Leo adjust if he can see James regularly.”
“It's so embarrassing, feels like we're talking about our shared child,” Regulus muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Pandora laughed softly. “Well, in a way, you kind of are. Leo is a part of both your lives, and he’s clearly struggling with the change. It’s worth considering.”
“Think of it like co-parenting. You can both take care of him without letting your personal feelings get in the way.”
Regulus felt a knot in his stomach. “Alright, maybe I’ll give it a shot. Just a couple of visits to see how it goes.”
The thought of meeting James again brought up a whirlwind of emotions that he tried to suppress. He knew it was the right choice for Leo, but the thought of meeting James brought back all the memories he'd tried to bury.
Days went by and Leo's behavior didn't improve. Regulus could no longer ignore his cat's suffering. The idea of co-parenting Leo began to seem like the only so much solution to the problem
He finally sent James a text, his heart racing as he typed.
Can we talk? It's about Leo.
*Not Delivered
Regulus frowned.
Can we talk? It's about Leo.
*Not Delivered
Did James blocked him? Regulus stared at his phone, frustration bubbling within him. His heart raced as he stared at the Not Delivered message. “That bastard,” he muttered, his fists clenching.
“Fine,” he muttered to himself, gripping the phone tightly. “If he wants to act like a child, I’ll go to his house.”
The drive to James's place was a blur. Regulus clenched the steering wheel, thoughts spiraling as he navigated the familiar streets. The radio blared a tune he couldn’t focus on, each note echoing his growing frustration.
As he pulled up in front of James’s apartment complex, Regulus hesitated. The sight of the building triggered a mix of anxiety and anger, his heart thumping erratically. What if James didn’t want to see him? What if this confrontation only made things worse? Regulus shook his head, steeling himself. Leo needed this, and if that meant facing James again, then so be it.
“Things I do for you, Leo”, sighed Regulus as he looked at Leo on the back seat. The cat was peacefully sleeping.
He climbed out of the car and approached the entrance, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the silence. Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell and waited, the minutes stretching into an eternity. Just as he was about to turn away, the door swung open, revealing James in a faded t-shirt and messy hair, looking both surprised and guarded.
“Regulus,” James raised his eyebrows in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“If you hadn't blocked me, you'd know why I'm here. Really, Potter? And you had the nerve to call me dramatic.”
A nervous smile appeared on James' face.
“Ah, yes... about that.”
His eyes immediately shifted to the cat in Regulus' hands.
“Did you bring Leo?”
Regulus shifted Leo in his arms, the cat's fluffy body a small comfort against his mounting frustration.
“Yes, I did. He’s not doing well since you left, and I thought it would be best for both of you to see each other.”
James's expression softened.
“My mini lion, I always knew you were just pretending to hate me. Come on, little one, come to me.”
James took the cat from Regulus' arms and it immediately began to purr happily.
He stroked the cat’s fur gently, a smile breaking through the clouds of their recent turmoil.
“See?” James said, his voice low and soothing. “He’s been waiting for this.”
Regulus felt a mix of relief and a touch of jealousy at the sight. “Yeah, well, I guess he likes u more than me after all"
“Do you have a guest, James?” Regulus asked, noticing someone approaching from behind.
The door swung wider, revealing a man with an easy smile and bright eyes. He stood with a relaxed confidence, his tousled dark hair catching the light in playful waves.
“Hey, James! Who's this?” he chimed, glancing at Regulus and then down at Leo.