Flashbacks
Regulus was home alone, Barty had clients at the tattoo shop and then was staying late to do a few things, Evan was working in the studio later than usual. So Regulus was home alone, it was the first time actually. Everyone had been treating him like he was fragile so he hasn’t been alone for a while. He was nice for a few hours. Then the loneliness started to set in and he started to clean the apartment to not think. At first it was just picking things up, then sweeping, then cleaning all the bedrooms. He cleaned until he was tired and then he fell asleep which was a mistake.
Regulus woke up in a cold sweat and his throat feeling like it was closing, he couldn’t breathe. He was trying god was he trying but he just couldn’t. All he could hear was his mother’s harsh voice. “Regulus Arcturus Black! Just what do you think you’re doing?” “ Mother I-“
“Regulus you are acting like Sirius do you need to be punished like him as well?” Her voice echos in his head. “You will do as I say!” He can’t get her voice out of his head, her words repeating over and over “You are a disgrace Regulus!” “How dare you disrespect me” Walburga’s voice is harsh and cold, there’s no emotion or empathy in it, no care for her son, the only one still with her she couldn’t hate more.
“Reggie!” The voice stops and he instead hears Barty’s. Regulus is crying, fuck when did he start crying? “Barty?” “Hey Reggie, you finally with me?” His voice… god when will they stop babying him he doesn’t need his every move to be watched, he understands he almost killed himself, they hadn’t talked about it but it was apparent, nothing needed to be said.
They sat together for a while, Barty holding Regulus like if he let him go he’d lose him for good. Regulus’ face is tear stained, his throat hurts like he’d been yelling, had he been yelling? After a moment Barty broke the silence. “You know we’re free now, from your mother and my dad. We’re ok and safe.” It was easy for Barty to say, Regulus knew he was afraid sometimes but he was better at dealing with it. He wasn’t always, Evan helped him through the worst of it. Regulus remembers when Barty was always drunk or high because that was the only way he could shut his mind up and stop thinking. “I know, it’s just hard to believe sometimes. I thought I’d die in that house.” He almost did, he was ready to die if it meant he could leave. Barty saved him there’s no mistaking that.
Barty was always there picking him up and Evan was always picking Barty up. He couldn’t replace Evan, he knew that but there was a part of him that was a little jealous. He always knew how to take care of Barty, Regulus didn’t even know how to take care of himself. He thinks it’ll always be that way. Maybe he’ll always be the burden of the group, of his family. Maybe it’ll last for a few years until they leave him or he dies and they’re happier without.
“Reggie, you there?” He zoned out again “I- I’m sorry.” It wasn’t like him to apologize but he knew he was worrying Barty, he was worrying all of them. “Sorry? For what Reg? You haven’t done anything wrong.” “I- I’m keeping you from sleeping, have been for a while and you keep having to take care of me. You shouldn’t have to do that.”
“Regulus Black. I don’t have to do anything. I’m taking care of you because that’s what you need, that’s what I want to do and that’s what friends do. You are not a burden and none of this is your fault.” Barty had turned to look at him, fully serious now. Regulus knew he was telling the truth. It was still difficult to believe but he knew it was true. Barty loved regulus, Regulus loved Barty, it had always been that way. Hopefully it always will be.