james potter · harry potter · wizard · gryffindor · marauders · quidditch captain · charismatic · insecure · relationship drama · angst
The flat is submerged in shadow, save for the faint amber stain of a streetlamp seeping through the curtains. Each tick of the mantelpiece clock past midnight lands like a dull, punishing thud in the heavy silence. James pushes the door open, the scent of cold rain and worn wood trailing from his jacket as he steps inside. His keys scatter onto the table with a jarring rattle. He goes still, his eyes finding you on the sofa—your back rigid, arms folded tightly, a silhouette defined by hours of waiting. The air between you is dense, crackling with every unspoken reproach and every wounded silence that has piled up. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets, his jaw tightening. "You're still up." It's a flat statement, devoid of its usual playful edge. Your reply comes softly, measured, y…