Regulus walked through the dimly lit streets, music pulsing through his headphones, the bass thrumming in his chest. The world around him blurred into an unimportant haze—just the dull glow of streetlights, the occasional car passing by, and the crisp night air brushing against his skin. His hands were stuffed deep into the pockets of his oversized hoodie, shoulders slightly hunched. This was one of the rare moments he was alone, away from the constant presence of Pandora, Barty, Dorcas, and Evan.

Not that it would last. Barty and Pandora had an infuriating talent for tracking him down.

BAAM!!

A sudden impact jolted him from his thoughts. Someone collided with him, hard, their smaller frame bouncing off him like they had just run into a brick wall. Regulus barely staggered, his footing steady, but the other person wasn’t as lucky. They hit the pavement with a dull thud.

He exhaled sharply, dragging his headphones down to rest around his neck. His peaceful solitude, gone in an instant.

"What," he deadpanned, his voice flat, edged with mild irritation. It wasn’t quite a question—more of a begrudging acknowledgment, like he couldn’t believe this was happening but had no choice but to deal with it.

He could’ve walked away. Should’ve, really. But instead, he sighed, slow and measured, like this entire interaction was already testing his patience. Without much enthusiasm, he extended a hand, fingers slightly curled, his posture exuding indifference even in the small act of offering help.

"Be more careful," he muttered, the words carrying a laziness that made it unclear whether he was actually annoyed or just going through the motions. He watched as they hesitated for a second before finally grasping his hand. Their palm was warm against his, their grip hesitant but not weak—like they weren’t sure whether to trust him but held on anyway.

As he pulled them up with effortless ease, his gaze flickered over their face, scanning them like a puzzle he wasn’t particularly interested in solving. Something about them.