Headed for the hills
Regulus wanted to scream. He wanted to jump up and down in joy. He wanted to cry.
It was far too many emotions at once and he simply didn't know what to do with them as he stares down at the phone.
The call from an unrecognisable number still edged in his mind. He would be able to recite the entire phone call, he could sing it.
It was a call from the fbi.
More specifically from the bau.
b. a. u.
Behavioural Analysis Unit.
His dream job.
Regulus has been observant ever since he was a child, anything he's ever read or seen etched into his memory.
As soon as his parents realised this they made sure to take advantage of it.
His parents were private detectives, and they sure were known for it.
Known for their brutal ways of getting information, known for being cold and constantly detached.
Having a profiler on their side made them climb even high in the status game.
Regulus couldn't stand it so when he got the email asking for confirmation on the job offer he felt a pang of hope in his chest.
He shot that pang down very quickly. Hope is a weapon that will only get you hurt. You can't let it deter you.
He takes the job. He packs up his things. He sells his sad little apartment and he books a train to london.
He can taste the freedom on the tip of his tongue, the thought of being away from his parents.
That taste soon turns bitter at the thought of his parents. Dread filling his systems.
He'd have to tell them ofcourse, he couldn't simply just vanish.
Or perhaps he could, sirius manag-
No, he'll tell them. He will sit them down and inform them of his leaving. If they disagree so be it, he's already accepted the offer.
Dinner is daunting as they sit in silence. His father at the head, mother at his side and regulus sat opposite his mother.
Walburga and Orion Black are not nice people. At all.
His knife scraped across the plate which earns him a blood curdling glare from walburga.
He takes this as an opening, having a sip of wine, or more known as liquid courage,, and clearing his throat. He places his knife and fork down beside his plate in perfect manner, manner that was beaten into him from an infant.
"Mother, father. I have news" he starts, voice unwavering though the anxiety bubbling in his chest.
"Well, on with it boy." Orion scolds, his brows slightly furrowed and a glass of blood red wine clasped in his hand.
Regulus swallows, eyes boring into the table.
"I have been offered a job elsewhere"
His mother looks at him, piercing gaze solely focused on the boy infront of her.
It makes his skin itch but he doesn't falter.
"In London, a job with the fbi."
Walburgas eyes flair as she sits a little straighter. Lips pursed and hands clasped infront of her on the table.
Regulus could never get a read on his mother, it's awfully unsettling. His father was like an open book but walburga..
"You will decline it, i hope?" She speaks, voice hard and leaving no room for argument.
That's a pity. Regulus isn't in that room anymore.
He stays quiet, allowing the silence to speak for him, levelling her stare with his own.
She tilts her head, a snake ready to pounce,
"Regulus" she warns.
"I accepted it"
Regulus isn't sure what happened next.
It was all so quick. The glass smashes beside his head, wine staining the perfectly painted walls.
He stares at his so called mother with wide eyes, hers only filled with disdain and disappointment.
Not because she will miss him, because she will miss being able to use him.
Regulus stands quickly, calmly placing his napkin on the table. He takes a steadying breath, looking back up at his mother who also stood. arms braced on the table, chest heaving as she stares at him with only fury in her eyes.
"Goodbye, mother" Regulus says quietly, so quiet you could've missed it.
He flees as his mother yells in outrage, hearing his fathers voice is well but it all blurs.
When he eventually makes it to his car, he allows himself to break down.
When regulus was a child he had a place in his mind where he'd go when things got harsh.
It was his place. His and no one else's.
A library, stacked to the top with old books he'd read. Though Regulus could only ever read the books he has previously read.
That was alright, a book is a gift you can open multiple times
He'd go to this place and he'd rest, a place where he can escape from the world. A place where he can just be.
He went there when he heard his brother screams from downstairs, inflicted by his mother of course.
He went there when he got his turn of the violence.
He went there when sirius left.
He was there a lot when sirius left.
His parents couldn't stand it, sent him to therapy. Put him on medication.
When to no avail they resorted back to violence.
That snapped him out of it very very quickly.
He blinks himself out of it, realising he made it back to his apartment.
His sad. Empty. Distant apartment.
It never felt like his from the moment he bought it, and it will never be his again anyways.
A week later Regulus is on a train to london, suitcase beside him in his carriage and the rest of his belongings being sent to his new apartment.
He decided to sell all his furniture. A fresh start.
Regulus even got in touch with sirius again.
They spoke. Rarely. More sirius then Regulus, occasional check ins and happy birthdays.
But Regulus spoke out to sirius now, and sirius was thrilled. Ecstatic. It was infuriating.
The phone call lasted hours, simply speaking , and regulus couldn't find it in him to want to end it.
Regulus gets off the train, dragging the suitcase behind him.
It's not exactly hard to miss sirius.
Sirius black. A force of nature.
Hair pinned up with a pen in a messy bun, a band tee on with leather bottoms and chunky doc martins. Leaning on a dark red range rover and sucking on a lollipop witch he takes out his mouth as soon as he sees Regulus.
If it wasn't for their similar bone structure and piercing eyes, you would never tell they were siblings.
Regulus in a black button down and black dress pants, his long (black. obviously) coat thrown over his arm. Not a single crease or out of place curl to be seen. The thing mainly standing out is his dark green converse.
Sirius grins, so brightly Regulus fears he might have to look away, and walks over towards him.
A strange glisten to his eyes that makes Regulus want to turn around and get right back on that train.
Before he can ponder on that he gets enveloped in a crushing hug. Stiffening and sort of lagging as sirius pulls away to bring his hands up and cup Regulus' face, his eyes scanning it as if committing it to memory.
"Oh reggie, look at you. All grown up" He coos, only getting a scowl in response.
Regulus brushes past him towards the car, waiting for Sirius to unlock it so he can get in.
It's a bit of an awkward silence before Sirius starts rambling about anything and everything even though Regulus zoned out.
He blinks back in when they're at his apartment building.
Sirius leans on the doorframe as regulus stands in the middle of the living room in his empty apartment.
His apartment. His.
New job. New city. New apartment.
Yet he can't help but let the awful pit in his stomach convince him something will go wrong.