Out of the Woods
“Uh, hi,” Sirius said as Regulus stared at him on the doorstep. “It’s so good to see you, I can’t—”
Reg cut him off by pulling him into a hug, much to his surprise. Reg had never been a hugger. Sirius bit back a sob and relaxed into his little brother’s arms.
“What happened? Where were you?” Reg pulled away, frowning. “How could you just leave?”
“I didn’t— I never meant to—” Sirius stammered. “Can I come in?”
Reg suddenly seemed to realise they were still standing on the doorstep and nodded. Sirius followed him through to the living room, keeping an eye out for the snarky boyfriend as if he might appear from behind the sofa to give Sirius another piece of his mind.
As Sirius explained the situation to Regulus, sat in his tiny living room, it felt harder than telling James somehow. He didn’t want Reg to blame himself for Sirius’ choice to leave, so he went into more detail about Walburga’s threats, making it clear that it was on her, not him. Regulus understood. He wanted to hate his brother but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything but love him even more for doing his best to protect him. As Sirius told him the way he’d lived for the last ten years, any resentment about being abandoned melted away.
Regulus in turn told him about how their parents had treated him once Sirius had gone, and Sirius was livid. He told him about his stay in inpatient care, and how he’d left at eighteen and never looked back.
“So, what are your plans now?” Reg asked.
“I have enough for a few months in a hotel. Hoping I can find a job somehow, and then get my own place.” Sirius shrugged.
“Absolutely not. We have a spare room. You’ll come and stay with us.”
Sirius weighed this for a moment, “Maybe. You’ll need to tell your boyfriend to stand down though. He made it very clear what he thought of me the other day.”
“My what?” Reg spluttered.
“The other guy who lives here? Tall guy, all… grumpy and… and… he’s not your boyfriend?”
“No Sirius, that’s my best friend, Remus. We’ve lived together since we left school. We met in hospital, so he’s…” Regulus paused, then smirked at him knowingly, “Wait! Even when you thought he was my boyfriend, you were hot for him, weren't you?”
It was Sirius’ turn to make thoroughly unintelligible noises. “Well, no— I mean— He’s just very— No! Oh my god, shut up.”
Reg laughed. “Let me talk to him, I’m sure he’ll say yes once I explain. Maybe you can move in at the weekend if so?”
Sirius nodded, “As long as you’re both ok with it.”
“Of course.” Reg paused. “But Sirius, you absolutely cannot, under any circumstances, fuck him.”
“I wasn’t planning to!” Sirius yelped.
“Hmmm.” Reg eyed him with a small smile, “I wish I believed you. I normally wouldn’t try and dictate where you put your dick, especially not right after we’ve reunited like this, but I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s as much of a mess as we are. It won’t end well.”
“I hear you.” Sirius nodded.
🌙✨🌙✨🌙
After Reg had explained the truth to Remus, he’d agreed that Sirius could move in. He was definitely avoiding Sirius though. Maybe he didn’t like having people in his home, Sirius considered, or maybe he felt bad about the way he’d spoken to Sirius before he knew what had actually happened, but Sirius would never hold that against him. He was honestly just glad that Reg had someone in his corner.
After a week of living there and seeing Remus exactly twice in passing. Reg announced that he wanted to get drunk for his birthday later that month. He told Sirius to invite James and Lily round, and along with a few others they’d all teach Sirius the ridiculous drinking games he’d missed out on in his early twenties. Sounded like a plan to Sirius.
Two weeks after he moved in, he came home from a job interview to find Remus curled up on the sofa, thoroughly engrossed in a book. They looked at each other, stunned. Remus scrambled to get up.
“Remus, wait,” Sirius said, and Remus froze. “Um, I got the job, so I’ll be out of your hair soon, I promise.” Remus just looked at him. “Reg didn’t tell me that you’d have an issue with me being here, or I wouldn’t have moved in, I swear.”
“Congratulations!” Remus smiled, but then it dropped as quickly as it had appeared, and Sirius missed the warmth instantly. “I don’t have an issue with you being here, Sirius.”
“You don’t?” He was confused, “But you never leave your room now. Reg is grumpy because apparently, I watch Masterchef the wrong way. I wasn’t even aware there was a right way to watch Masterchef but apparently—”
“I was such a dick to you,” Remus said quickly. “When you first came here. I was so rude. And then when Reg told me what had actually happened to you… fuck, I’m so sorry.”
“You thought I’d deliberately abandoned my brother to be abused in my stead. I’d have said a lot worse in your shoes.” Sirius shrugged.
“Yes, but I’m still sorry.” Remus sat down again. “I’m sure Reg has told you what it was like for him before he left.” Sirius nodded, “I’m protective of him. To a fault, really. We met at an inpatient programme a few months after you vanished. He was such a state. He's...”
“Remus, I said it’s fine. I’m glad that he has you, that he’s had you in his corner.” Sirius smiled as the pained expression on Remus’ face eased slightly. “Has he… has he been that for you, too?”
“Yeah.” Remus said quietly, “He was there when I had nobody. It’s incredible how he turned out, well, how both of you turned out really, after growing up in that house.”
Sirius nodded, “Thanks… I’ll see you later, Remus.” He headed for his room. Ok, so maybe they wouldn’t be besties, but he hoped some of the tension would be eased now for Reg’s sake.