Escape
Regulus Black was so very tired.
He was in his room, laying in bed, listening to the muffled sound of his parents' screams. Sirius had upset them again, and so they were punishing him.
At least he isn’t being crucio’d this time,
Regulus thought to himself.
“Crucio!” Walburga shouted, her wand aimed at Sirius.
Nevermind.
Regulus dragged himself out of bed while the sound of his brother screaming in agony shot vibrations through the floor. He could feel it under his bare feet. Regulus quietly grabbed a pain potion that he had brewed at school and snuck home, for when he or Sirius received an over-the-top punishment.
—
Sirius Black was so very angry.
After his mother crucio’d him again and again, he was told to go back to his room. He pushed himself off the floor and stormed upstairs. Regulus was waiting by the stop of the staircase, holding a potion for Sirius. The elder brother’s eyes softened somewhat.
“Thanks, Reggie.” Sirius grumbled, throat raw from screaming and face wet with blood. When Orion hit him, he’d fallen into the banister which had caused him to get a bloody nose. His lip was also busted from the fall, a blackeye forming from his father’s backhand.
“I’m sorry.” Regulus said quietly. He wished that he wasn’t as much of a coward as he felt he was, he wished he would have done something to help his brother.
Sirius said nothing, downing the pain potion and handing the bottle back to Regulus before going into his room. He grabbed his muggle phone that Remus got for him last Christmas and texted James.
Padfoot: Be here in 30.
Prongs: ??
Padfoot: I’m leaving.
Prongs: OH SHIT oaky be there in 20
Prongs: *okay
Sirius gave an amused huff before pocketing his phone and starting to pack. Regulus listened, able to hear movement through the wall that separated their bedrooms.
In 15 minutes, Sirius packed up everything he had wanted. His clothes, his shoes, some books, and the box of letters he had hidden under his bed. It shocked him how little possessions he had and wanted to take with him. 5 minutes until James would arrive to take him to Potter Manor, meaning he had 5 minutes to convince Regulus to come with him.
"You have to leave with me, Regulus." Sirius declared, barging into Regulus’s room.
"What?" Regulus looked up from his book, because he hadn’t heard what Sirius said.
"We can't stay, please come with me." Sirius said, assuming Regulus would say no.
"Fine." Regulus said, putting his bookmark in before putting the book itself into one of his already packed bags.
"Ple- wait, seriously?" Sirius was shocked. “You already packed?”
“Yeah. Come on.” Regulus stood up and grabbed his bags, casually heading downstairs after checking with Kreacher that their parents were busy in the drawing room.
Sirius, still bewildered, followed his little brother downstairs. They snuck outside and Sirius took the lead, Regulus following him until they got to a dark red truck.
–
James Potter was so very confused.
20 minutes ago, his best mate texted him to say he was running away. So, he and his dad got in the truck and drove to the already agreed upon meeting spot. Sirius had mentioned running away before summer holiday started, and James thought it wise to agree on a meeting spot so there was less of a risk of Walburga or Orion catching Sirius. Fleamont drove while James sat in the passenger seat, freaking out.
“Is that them?” Fleamont asked, looking out the window.
“What do you mean ‘them’?” James asked, looking out the window. His eyes widened when he saw Sirius walking with a boy that could be his carbon copy. “Who-?”
James Potter did not know that Regulus Black was a boy now, nor did he know that Regulus was running away with Sirius, so he became more confused when he saw the boy. Sirius herded Regulus into the backseat before joining him, greeting Fleamont with a casual “hi, dad!”
Regulus raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing. Instead, he nicked Sirius’s headphones and phone. He stared silently at Sirius before Sirius got the message and opened a music streaming app. He put on a playlist and Regulus listened to it while Sirius socialized.
“Who’s this?” James asked, looking at Regulus.
“My brother,” Sirius gave a mock offended look, “how could you forget about my dear precious baby brother?”
“Choke.” Regulus grumbled, earning a hit on the shoulder from Sirius.
“Since when do you have a brother?” James asked, racking his memory.
“Since always?” Sirius said, even though he only learned that his precious baby sister was actually his little brother about 3 weeks prior.
“I thought you had a sister,” Fleamont murmured as he started driving, “what’s his name?”
“Regulus.” Regulus spoke for the first time, just to name himself.
“Regulus,” James echoed, “Reg-u-lus.”
“Nice to meet you, Regulus.” Fleamont said, focused on the road.
“Nice to meet you too, sir.” Regulus said politely, handing the phone to Sirius so Sirius could show him how to change the song.
“Call me Monty, kiddo.” Fleamont said, already taking a liking to Regulus.
“Do you have a nickname?” James asked the younger boy.
“Non” Regulus murmured, glancing at James.
“I’m gonna call you Reg.” James declared without hesitation, pronouncing it like r-egg as in Regulus.
“No,” Sirius spoke up, “it’s Reg.” He was saying it like reh-g, as in Reginald.
Regulus rolled his eyes as his brother and his brother’s best friend argued about the proper way to pronounce his nickname, turning up the volume of the music and looking out the window as Fleamont drove them to Potter Manor.