Chapter 13
"He isn't on the list." Peter said, preparing for an absolute outrage. And he was right, because the next thing he knew the laptop he had turned to show Sirius was in pieces and Sirius was heaving above it. Peter tsked. "If you would have waited to destroy it, I would have shown you, but not only is he not on the list, but neither Rosier nor Crouch were assigned to underground for intelligence like they told us. In fact, they had not been assigned any undercover missions, as it wasn't their specialty. So the entire situation regarding Regulus was a complete lie. I don't know what the hell was going on, or how they found Regulus, but it is clear that they've been using him, and then hiding him from the FBI to claim all the credit. He isn't listed as a protected witness, he isn't listed even as found...hell, you claimed he was dead, and there's no record of that either." Sirius growled low his throat, akin to a dog readying to attack.
"Didn't we suspect that the FBI had a mole?" Remus piped up curiously, his voice dampening Sirius' anger. "A while ago. I mean the FBI has been chasing this group for years. Long before we even showed up here. There was some suspicion that there were moles in the FBI, but they never got founded, and soon enough the claims were dropped. It would have been around the same time yes?" Sirius was trying extremely hard to not lash out, he had to stay calm about this.
"So, we are going on the theory that Crouch and Rosier are the moles, and stole Regulus out from under their lord's nose, for what?" Sirius was practically steaming as he demanded answers.
"I mean, I hate to be the one to bring this up," James began, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "but look at their relationship? Anyone can tell it is obviously toxic. Crouch has, multiple times now, manhandled Regulus around and commanded him like a feral dog. Given Regulus' background, it wouldn't be too hard to try and ensure a connection, and then use it to further their own advancement, and while we do not know if their relationship ever got sexual, I would not be surprised." Sirius' arm was quickly gripped by Remus, who had foreseen the likelihood of Sirius' reaction into violence.
"Love, he is just stating the obvious, and you know it." Sirius collapsed on the couch, tears dripping down his cheeks.
"This happened because I didn't double check." He murmured softly, sobs causing a tremble in his voice. "I should have gone back to double check and instead I just ran off, and now Reggie has been being used as a sort of sex doll for years now." Remus made eye contact with James and Peter, both of whom moved in to comfort him.
"It isn't your fault, Sirius, and who is to say you would have even made it out if you did go back. You had no reason to believe he was alive. We all thought that he was dead. We agreed that it would take some supernatural power to manage to stay alive like that."
"But..."
"No," Remus ordered sternly. "IT is not your fault. I do not want you thinking like that." Sirius tried to calm himself down at his lover's words, but the guilt kept climbing.
"I just wish I would have known. Reggie doesn't deserve this. He always did his best to avoid punishments, he is terrified of them, or at least he was. He hated pain, causing it and receiving it. He was so scared of torture. Then to find out he got sold off to this leader of this maniac cult, only to be rescued but put in a different cage? To be used for his knowledge and ability to further the advancement of others? And they..." Sirius broke off, unable to stand it.
"We don't know how much of what Crouch said was true," Peter began, once again the voice of reason. "After all, they lied about almost the entire situation, who is to say they lied about that?" Sirius shrugged. He did not think they had. As much as he hated to admit it, the pet names, the seductive voice, the lustful way that person over the phone had said the last part of their conversation? There was no way he had not used Reggie in that manner.
"He wasn't. I could tell, from what the leader on the phone was saying."
"And we are assuming that was the leader, and not some pitiful soul forced to speak on his behalf. Look," James ran a hand through his hair as he tried to get the situation right in his mind, there was just so much going on they were all struggling. "All we know for sure is that Crouch lied about going undercover, and lied about Regulus being in witness protection. It is obvious they took advantage of a supremely vulnerable person to suit their own needs, and we had already suspected that with how Crouch was talking about Regulus, and what he was doing in the first place. Or did we all forget the anger that he allowed Regulus out on the field despite the obvious drawbacks?" Everyone shook their head.
"Regulus is registered as a consultant, but other than that he has no status with the FBI," Sirius perked up.
"We can use that," He whispered lowly, his eyes gleaming. "But we have to keep Regulus away for a bit. Everyone needs to put in their time for at least a month. Goodness knows we deserve a break, and I have a plan but it is going to take time, and we are going to need to keep Regulus away from Crouch and Rosier as much as we possibly can."
"Sirius, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it is likely you are going to have to..." Remus paused, trying to dredge up the words. "Be rude. Regulus is used to strict rules and regulations and routines. Being told what to do is something we all caught onto, but to have such freedom suddenly? Just...prepare yourself okay?" Sirius nodded, now determined. He had a plan, and he was going to raze the ground of everyone who dared to use his brother. In any way.