the cut that always bleeds
Regulus can't breath.
Je n'aurais jamais pensé que tu tomberais si bas.
He can feel his body shaking, a hand is stroking his back and a voice but the words it says are blur. "Hey, h-y... Reg-..."
You know I love you.
There are hands on his cheeks. It's warm.
"It's okay, it's ...-kay, Reg-. Y-... safe now. You're s-...."
You need your family.
"Breath with m-.. in and... -t, in -... out, in and out..."
Regulus chokes and his eyes slowly focus. There are two pairs of brown eyes looking at him.
"There you go darling, in, and out..."
The boy slowly feels his breathing steadying.
Effie is kneeling in front of him and James on his side. Monty walks in with a glass of water. "There, you should drink some."
Regulus nods, not trusting his voice to thanks him. He grabs the glass shakyly and he feels a hand covering his, firmly. He drinks slowly and the water calms him down.
"Euphemia! I-I need some help here..." Someone calls in the house. Regulus is not sure who but Effie gets up.
James' hands are stroking his hair soothingly and Regulus finally notices that he is in fact, in the other boy's arms.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Remus don't know what to do.
He had gently taken his boyfriend hand, "Hey baby... You're back with me?" Sirius looked lost. "Y-yeah," he had mumbled, his voice shaky. "I'm s-sorry, I..." His eyes kept drifting back to the door where Walburga just left through.
Remus had guided him to the bed in their room.
He had hold him.
But Sirius couldn't stop shaking. And he didn't seem to be coming back to himself.
He was keeping his gaze down on his hands.
However the worst part was that he had started to scratch the skin on his arms like an automaton. Like nothing else could ground him.
"Love, please, look at me, y-you're hurting yourself..." Remus grabs his hands but Sirius don't seems to be hearing anything "Euphemia! I-I need some help here..." calls Remus desperately.
The woman hurries over inside, to Remus' relief. She moves to the bed, perching on the edge and placing a gentle hand on Sirius's arm. "Sirius, dear," she says softly, her voice calm yet authoritative. "You need to stop that. Can you look at me?"
Sirius is shaking and mumbling incoherently, unable to focus or understands anything around him. Effie tightens her grip on his arm gently. "Sirius, love, you're going to hurt yourself. Can you hear me? Look at me, please."
Remus can see Sirius slowly starting to register her voice, his eyes finally meeting hers. He's still distressed, his breaths coming out in short, ragged gasps, but at least he's not scratching at his skin anymore. Effie smiles gently. "That's it sweetheart. Just focus on me, okay? I'm here."
Siris nods weakly and Remus remains huddled beside him, his arms still wrapped around him.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Four hours later, we could have thought that nothing had happened.
Regulus is curled up on the couch with a book and blankets, Sirius is fast asleep, his head pillowed on Remus's chest, on a chair and James is preparing dinner with his mother. Monty is outside, placing protective magic shields, to prevent further unwanted visits.
"Boys! Dinner is ready!"
Remus strokes Sirius' cheeks gently "Baby, wake up, it's dinner time." The other boy stirs with a groan and sits up, rubbing his eyes and looking around, disoriented.
"Hi baby," whispers Remus.
Sirius turns to Remus. "Hey, Moony," he replies, his voice raspy from sleep. He rubs his eyes again, trying to shake off the grogginess.
"You feel better?" Remus asks softly, running a soothing hand through Sirius's messy hair.
Sirius sighs and nods, leaning into the touch. "A bit, yeah," he murmurs, "Did I fall asleep for long?"
Remus shakes his head, "Not too long. Like 1 hour or something. You had a rough afternoon anyway, you needed to rest."
Sirius nods again, his expression weary. "Yeah, I guess I did," he murmurs, his eyes drifting over to Regulus who is getting up. He looks back at Remus, a hint of shame in his eyes. "I'm sorry for... losing it earlier-"
"Oh baby, do not apologize for that. It's not your fault, no one blames you..." Remus says softly
"But I shouldn't have let her get to me like that," he mutters, his voice low. "I'm supposed to be strong enough to handle her bullshit."
"No you're not." says Remus firmly, "you're not supposed to be strong, you weren't supposed to be strong all those years with them. You were just a child, she is the one to blame here."
Tears well up in Sirius's eyes as he listens to Remus's words. Deep down, he knows. He knows Remus is right. He nods weakly, his shoulders slumping. "I just... hate that she still has this power over me," he whispers, his voice shaking slightly.
Remus hold him tighter, "Oh love... shh... It's okay now, everything will be alright. You're safe, both of you."
Sirius reaches out to take hold of Remus' hand. "Promise?" he whispers, sounding like a child seeking reassurance.
"I promise baby, I pinky promise," Remus smiles.
Sirius chokes back a laugh. He smiles, feeling a warm ache in his chest. Remus knows that Sirius had missed some part of childhood that all kids should have. And he is willing to give him every time he can, a little bit of it.
He hooks his pinky with Remus's, intertwining their fingers. "Okay fine," he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Then I believe you."
"Pinky promise are unbreakable promise."
He gently squeezes Remus's hand, his thumb tracing over the ridges of his knuckles. "You're the best," he breathes, looking up at Remus.
"Mhm, but you're the best best."
Sirius snorts, shaking his head. "You're such a sap," he teases, gently nudging Remus with his shoulder. "If I'm the best best, you're the bestest best."
Remus chuckles and kiss his forehead
"Hey the loverbirds! Dinner!"
The 'loverbirds' jump when James slides his head between them.
"Damn Prongs, you're gonna give me cardiac arrest someday," grumbles Remus
James laughs, "Come on grandpa, dinner is ready.
Remus hits him with a pillow.