The stars
Regulus was dying. He was supposed to be dead, so why is he still breathing? Why is he sitting on Barty’s couch while Barty and Sirius argued. He only caught a few words here and there, “If you didn’t leave-“ “if he didn’t stay in that hell hole.” He was starting to panic, he could feel his chest tightening, his breathing becoming more sallow.
Barty catches on quickly, he’s dealt with this plenty of times, whenever his mother has had a bad day and takes it out on him, Barty and Evan are the first people he goes to. Pandora had left for a tarot convention a few weeks ago so Barty and Evan were the only ones who were there for him. He quits arguing and sits down with him, making him relax a little bit. “You ok Reg?” Barty asks in a more gentle tone than normal.
What type of question was that? Barty found him on the bathroom floor with a blade in his hands, obviously he wasn’t ok. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
There was a lot of talking and pacing and small break downs. The conversation was about what Sirius had missed with Regulus, how their parents had been, and where Regulus was going to be staying. The conclusion was that he would stay with Barty and Evan since they recently got their own apartment. Sirius would visit and they would become brothers again.
It’s been a few weeks since that conversation, Pandora came back almost immediately and that was a whole conversation. Sirius was making Regulus hang out with him and his friends. Remus greeted him and walked him to the others. Sirius was practically cuddling Remus, it was obvious they liked each other. James was talking about rugby, you could tell he played. He was in shape and he was objectively attractive, Regulus kept catching himself staring at him.
“Reggie” It was James and his annoyingly happy voice. “Don’t call me that.” “Okay baby black it is, what are you doing now that you’re out of high school?”
Regulus rolled his eyes at the nickname “I’m writing, I want to become an author.” “Oh! Have you written anything yet?” The enthusiasm surprised regulus, it also reminded him of the reason he fell for James when they were younger. It didn’t matter anymore, James wasn’t his, he never was. “I started to but I haven’t written much.”
“Hey Prongs I know you went home a few weeks ago how’s mum doing?”
Sirius asks and just like that Regulus remembers that he’s still not Sirius’ brother, that’s James and always will be. He might be his blood but he won’t ever be as close as him and James. James was the one Sirius ran away to and regulus won’t ever be able to replace that. “I have to go, it’s getting late” regulus says quickly. “Are you sure? You can stay over here.” “Yes I’m sure Sirius, Barty is already expecting me to come home, I should go” Regulus replies using Barty as an excuse.
He left the house saying his goodbyes and catching a cab. On the ride home he forced himself to not cry, knowing if he did he wouldn’t stop. Once he was home he didn’t go inside, instead he went to the rooftop, he sat down looking at the stars. Whenever he missed Sirius he could always find him in the stars so that’s what he did. He talked to Sirius, told him how much he misses being brothers.
“You know, I think I would’ve left with you if you asked me again…” It’s true, the first time Sirius asked him to leave Sirius was sixteen and Regulus fifteen, he was scared and didn’t know anything but his home. He was always to scared, to scared to stand up to his parents, to scared to be on his own and to scared to lose his brother.
“Thought I’d find you here” Barty said sitting down. Barty’s voice brought Regulus back. “I’m not going to-“ “I know, I know. I realized why you came out here after the first couple times” That makes sense, Barty had always paid attention to Regulus, he cared about him even if he had a shit way of showing it. “What did he do this time” He asks looking at Regulus “referred to Effie as his mom…it’s stupid.”
“No it isn’t Reg, you feel like you’re losing him.”
After that they stopped talking and just sat there. Regulus curled up next to Barty and they both stared at the stars. They were incredibly bright tonight, especially Regulus’ star. The two brothers could not be more far apart when they are right next to each other but it will be ok because Regulus had Barty, Evan, and Pandora as always.