Come With Me

Regulus has learned the best way to get through life is to submit to the dog with the biggest teeth and let the beast have its way with him so that it grows bored and moves along.

Regulus has learned to lay still and shut his eyes while rough hands spread his legs.

Regulus has learned to allow men to dress him up in corsets and dresses and pass him around a dinner table like he's part of their meal.

It's been only five months since he ran from his castle in France, but it's been eight years of learning to submit to men he does not trust to dominate him. His father had marred bruises onto his skin, opened him roughly and called it mercy. Lied and called it love.

But Regulus knows what love feels like. Knows it feels like soft, nimble fingers in his hair, knows it tastes like peppermint and peaches on a warm summer night. It's that love that has taught him what it feels to want someone. It's that love that helps him to know that he does not want Lucious Malfoy, the prince of the Death Eater pirates.

"It's a shame we'll have to give you back to your father." The tall blonde man circles the foremast, where Regulus faces the sea with his head held high, ropes squeezing at his wrists tightly. Green and gold drips off of him in waves as the wind ruffles his skirts and sends inky black hair flying gently. "You're so feminine, I want to have you kneeling at my feet like a good bitch. You'd make a lovely wife."

"I would rather drown in the depths of Calypso's seas than ever kneel to the likes of you." Regulus takes great pride in the anger that flashes the captains face, in the flare of the tall man's nostrils as he steps closer and grabs Regulus by the jaw harshly.

"If you weren't going to earn me a great deal of coin, I'd throw you overboard." Lucious's breath smells like stale fish and rum. Regulus laughs loudly, he can't help it really, but this man thinking that Orion Acrux Black the Second, the King of France, is going to pay a band of low-life pirates any amount of money to get back a son who ran away is so stupid it's hilarious.

Regulus does not often do stupid things, so when he opens his mouth next, he isn't sure why he says what he does. Maybe, it's that he's sleep deprived and starving enough to be delirious, or that he fancies himself some kind of escape artist and thinks he'll find a way out, by boat perhaps. He allows himself to entertain these options, but he knows the truth. Knows that the night Regulus decided to ruin the purest love by taking what didn't belong to him out of some possessive need to have, the same night that Regulus lost his love, is the reason he greedily opens his arms to the prospect of death.

Orion had called himself mercy, but he'd been wrong. Death would be mercy in this world of unanswered prayers.

"You think my father is going to give you any coin? For a son who looks more like a daughter? For a son who is more impure than the devil himself?" Regulus laughs again even as the hand at his jaw tightens. "You are more stupid than you look, which should have been a difficult task. My father holds no love nor sentiment in his heart for any of his children. You kill me and he will simply make another to take my place."

This makes Lucious seethe, as the truth often does to men who believe themselves to be a god.

"We've got a telegram from dear old Dad; I believe I'm a couple million richer." Lucious pulls a folded paper out of his coat pocket and Regulus's grin grows. "Let's see who's right, shall we?"

Lucious's shit eating grin falls when he opens the paper and reads only two words. Regulus can't see them, but he can guess what his father has written, and he laughs, laughs because he was right, and because he has this overwhelming glee rising in his stomach.

Regulus is going to die tonight. 

"I told you." Regulus leans his head back until it thuds against the wooden pillar he's tied against. The grin that splits his face aches, but he can't force it down, too excited by what comes next. Mercy. 

"You brat." Lucious spits the words and grabs a handful of Regulus's hair, yanking his head forward again and to the side. His nails scratch against sensitive scalp and pull dark strands hard enough to hurt. "You'll pay for what your father won't."

"I'd rather die, Lucious." Regulus lets their eyes meet, relishes in the anger blue grey eyes shine with, knowing his own shine with gleeful anticipation. "The moment you release me from these bonds I will jump overboard. I will-"

Shouting comes from behind Regulus, it sounds across the ship, and the clang of swords follows. Lucious curses under his breath before shoving Regulus's head against the mast hard enough to make his head spin and to feel something sticky drip down his neck. The captain drops Regulus and lets him hang lifeless, murmuring that he'll be back before storming off towards the noises with a drawn sword.

He can't hold in his giggles as the boots thump away; how ironic it is that Regulus can come so close to death so many times, that he can come so close to breathing out one last agonizing breath before another is forced into his lungs and he's stuck once again in this life of lonely pain and misery. Regulus thinks if a god does exist that he is not kind or benevolent, that God is cruel and gives the most fragile hearts to people who allow others to break it with no concern over how it shall be picked up.

Regulus has begged God, has begged the Devil, the stars, the sea, has gotten on his knees and prayed for death to welcome him into her cold yet loving arms. All of his prayers have gone unanswered, unfulfilled.

Those who wish to live are often killed swiftly in this world, it's the ones who would beg for death that get to live another day. The thought has him laughing all over again, it's so dramatically ironic.

Thumping footsteps march back towards Regulus and he grins, maybe he can anger Lucious enough to slam his skull into the wood harder and break his skull open.

"Have you come back so soon?" Regulus calls out, and the footsteps stumble. Regulus lifts his head enough to feel more blood slide down his back and stain the dress he was forced into. It didn't sound like Lucious's footsteps now that he thinks about it, and that the ugly man hasn't forced himself into Regulus's personal space yet tells he isn't the one behind the foremast.

"Who's there? What are you doing?" Regulus tugs on his binds, the sounds of fighting swim in and out of focus, the rope stays tight against his wrists and pulling only serves to twist and burn the skin there.

He hears slow footsteps and cranes his neck to see as far as he can, he'd always been curious to a fault. When he was younger, he'd often get hurt trying to climb trees and see what went on outside of castle boarders, his brother would kiss his scrapes and bruises better before anyone else could see.

It's that curiosity that damns him once again as black boots step into his line of vision, Regulus drags his eyes up black pirate's trousers, past the red cloth tied across the man's belt that holds twin curved blades and up a pale chest covered in black ink half exposed from the white shirt and captains coat that hangs open, right up to the man's face.

A face that mirrors his own, staring with steel grey eyes and a set jaw. Regulus feels those eyes meet his like a brand being pressed to his skin, feels the glee drain from his body to be replaced with dread that grips his heart and a dormant want that roars to life in his stomach.

"Regulus?" His brother asks tentatively, stepping forward confidently as Regulus wars with himself over what to say. Sirius looks so different from the handsome boy he knew in his youth, that boy was soft fingers and a gentle voice, that boy was the calm water of a pond. This man that stands before him has all the same features, and the same eyes but he is rough around the edges, his voice is deep and hard muscle fills the plains of his chest. Regulus wants to lean forward and lick the sheen of sweat off his bare chest.

"Sirius." Regulus mumbles, he's starting to feel a little high and wonders if his head injury is worse than he previously thought. "I think I might die after all. How exciting is that?"

"What?" Sirius takes the last steps forward frantically and traces his eyes over Regulus, who likes those eyes on him, likes those eyes seeing how good his curves look in the corset, how different he knows he looks. "Are you hurt? Who hurt you?"

It's growled out and Regulus can't help his shiver, that voice is beautiful really. Everything about Sirius is beautiful, his pierced ears with star jewelry that sways every time the boat rocks, the hair that reaches his shoulders with many braids, beads and charms dangling around his face.

Regulus's mind is floating, and he realizes his earlier assessment must be true. Regulus is dying and God has sent him this beautiful vision to lure him towards the light as if he wouldn't jump for it in a second.

"Oh, thank you, God." Regulus giggles, allowing himself to go slack so he can stare at Sirius in adoration. "Thank you so much."

Sirius looks at him with concern and hovers a hand next to Regulus's cheek, not touching but Regulus knows what that touch would feel like anyways. Calloused fingers but a gentle rub, it would feel like coming home.

Footsteps thud quickly against the floorboards of the boat and Sirius pulls away. Regulus wants to scream, this better not be someone coming to save his life, he wants to just die already, especially if Sirius is the one who guides him to Hell.

"Sirius? Hey man we really gotta- oh. Wow. That is one really pretty lady." Regulus glares to the man who objectively, is also very beautiful. He's dark, and he's got a red dot in the middle of his forehead, so he must be from the Indian seas. His hair looks like it's never seen a brush though, and the curls there have not been taken care of properly, so they fall around a red stripe of fabric in dark waves. He wears the same thing as Sirius minus the coat and he only carries one sword, but a gun is holstered to his hip. Regulus wonders why Sirius doesn't have a gun.

"James." Sirius's voice is sharp, a warning. Softer, then. "Help me get him down."

James shoots forward quickly and starts to untie one side of the ropes as Sirius side steps and works on the other.

"Him?" James mutters, tugging roughly.

"Yes, I am a man. What a wild concept." Regulus deadpans back and drops his head in frustration. He's not going to die until he's sixty at this rate. 

"Well, you're wearing a dress." James points out, tugging roughly enough for the ropes to twist and burn worse than they ever have before.

"Well, it's more appetizing for men to shove their cocks up my ass if they can pretend it's a woman. Wouldn't you relate?" Regulus grits out and the side Sirius was working on goes taught, before there's a swishing sound and a thunk and his arm is free. 

He doesn't have time to be happy about it because rough hands are grabbing his face and he's meeting cold grey eyes ablaze with rage.

"Which men?" Sirius growls it out and the other side of the rope slips off his wrist gently, allowing him to sway closer.

"All of them." Regulus doesn't see a point in lying, doesn't know if he even could with those beautiful eyes on him, those lips so close to his.

"Shit! Pads, he's bleeding. We really gotta go. Now, please?" James keeps interrupting Regulus's perfect moments and it's really pissing him off.

Sirius groans and trails his thumb over Regulus's bottom lip so lightly he thinks he dreams it before he shoves Regulus's shoulders. He trips over his dress and lands harshly against James's chest, strong dark arms under his own holding him there.

"Get him off this ship, take my boat on the east side. It's not anchored, but it should still be over there." Sirius orders, eyes flicking from James to the betrayed look Regulus is definitely wearing. "You treat him like the fucking Queen of England got it? Go."

"Aye!" James juggles Regulus over to one arm and hoists his flailing body onto his shoulder.

"What in the world do you think you're doing? Put me down!" Regulus kicks his legs and props himself up on James's back. Black hair pours over his shoulder and almost brushes the ground with how far over the pirate's back he's bent. "Posez-moi! Espèce d’homme dégoûtant! Espèce de vilain cochon- (Put me down! You disgusting man! You ugly pig-)"

"Hey, look I don't know what you're saying when you talk like that." James adjusts Regulus with a hand on his corseted back. Burning hot annoyance rises in Regulus, and he knees James in the stomach, making the man stumble but he doesn't stop his trek away from Sirius, who's just watching him be dragged away with an amused smile.

"C’est drôle pour vous? Je vais le tuer! (This is funny to you? I'll kill him!)" Regulus yells to his brother with a scowl, Sirius just throws his head back and laughs before he fades from view behind the foremast.

"You do speak English, right?" James asks and Regulus heaves the biggest sigh he can muster with his ribs being squeezed and goes limp over the taller boy's shoulder.

"Of course I can speak English, you idiot. I spoke it earlier." Regulus shoots back, not at all happy with this man who is carrying Regulus across the ship like a sack of flour.

"You don't know me well enough to call me an idiot." James retorts, but there's a smile on his stupid face, Regulus just knows it.

"Oh yes I do. You're an idiot. If you slipped overboard, you'd simply float for lack of brains in your skull." Regulus seethes as James laughs loudly, ignores the clanging of swords as the sound grows.

"You're so mean!" James tightens his hold around Regulus and steps up onto the edge of the boat. "I think I want to take you ashore and marry you."

"See? Complete idiot. La taille de votre bite compense-t-elle le manque de cerveau? (Does the size of your dick make up for the lack of brains?)" Regulus has no shame when he knows James doesn't understand him.

"Hey- what'd you say about my dick? Bite- that means dick, right?" James grabs ahold of a stray rope in the shrouds and leans out to look over the vast expanse of rolling sea before pulling them back in as Regulus knees him in the ribs again.

"Of course that's the word you know, disgusting pirate." Regulus says, wrinkling his nose. He can feel blood trickling from the wound on his scalp and his vision is becoming blurry.

James laughs and tightens his hold again as he lets the rope sway back. He must have found what he was looking for.

"Alright love, you ready?" Regulus looks to the rope and to where they stand haphazardly over the ship as dread sinks like rocks in his stomach.

"You're not going to jump, are you? Please tell me you aren't that stupid." Regulus scrambles to grab onto the back of James's shirt harshly as the man laughs. Regulus is going to punch him so hard in the stomach that he'll never laugh again.

"Aye, love. I won't tell you then." James bends his knees as Regulus yells protests in French and then they're flying through the air and Regulus is screaming. Yes, he wants to die but from this height the only death that greets him is to drown, and despite what he told Lucious, he would rather not know what that feels like. Regulus never learned to swim, and when they crash into the water, he doesn't know what to do other than sink, the heaviness of his dress not all helpful in his attempt to stay above the surface.

His hands reach for James's boots as he sinks quickly, his long hair wraps around his face and neck. James's boot kicks his hand before that dark face swims in his vision, warm brown eyes look over him before James is pulling green strings apart and ripping the dress off harshly, grabbing Regulus's narrow shoulders and sliding the fabric down, leaving him in a soaked through white under dress and bright pink corset.

James's chest is warm and broad, as steady as his arms when they drag Regulus up and shove his head above the surface. He gasps and pushes the hair out of his own face, clinging to James tightly when the man's head floats above the surface. His neck is thick, and the same black ink Sirius had trails from the side of his neck down his back and over his collar bone. He can't see it very well in the moonlight, with the Death Eaters ship blocking where most of the light would have come from, but he thinks he likes the way it swirls around on dark skin. Can imagine tracing it with his fingers and trailing kisses along the lines in warm light and a soft bed.

"You can't swim?" James asks incredulously, kicking his legs and swinging his arms front and back. Regulus wraps his arms tightly around James's neck and shakes his head, to push the disgusting thoughts out and to signal that no, he cannot swim.

"No!" Regulus coughs into a white shirt and holds on tighter. "Idiot! Fucking idiot man! You couldn't ask that before-"

"Okay, alright, bad judgment on my part. You know how to float though right?" Regulus pulls his head from James's shoulder to glare into those brown eyes until they glance away. "I know, I know, I'm an idiot. Hold on to me, yeah?"

"What the hell else would I do?" Regulus growls at him and clings hard to the dark skin of his neck as James maneuvers him to hang on the man's back and he starts to tread the water towards a smaller rowboat floating steadily a couple feet away.

As soon as they come up to the boat Regulus throws himself at it and hauls himself in with a grunt and more coughing, landing in a pained heap at the bottom curve of dark wood. James swings inside without any problems and Regulus glares at him. A lantern hangs from a piece of twisted metal on the side of the boat and lights the space with a gentle glow.

"How the hell did you end up all the way out here and you don't know how to swim?" James asks with a crooked grin as he grabs the oars and starts to row, the muscles he flexes make Regulus's mouth water, the ink goes all the way down apparently, and peeks out at Regulus when James rows backwards and his sleeve falls to expose his forearm.

He chides himself for appreciating the view, the vision of Sirius might not have been real, but Regulus's heart still belongs to him. James may be very, very beautiful, and if he wanted to bed Regulus over the side of a boat and fuck him silly, he'd definitely fight a lot less hard than when Lucious did it, but he can't allow himself to have feelings like that for anyone else. Especially not a pirate, that's just begging to get hurt.

"Je te hais. (I hate you.)" Regulus replies and crosses his arms with a shiver, his hair feels heavy on his head and tugs at the wound on his scalp.

"I don't know what you said." James tilts his head, like Regulus just forgot that the man can't understand and will translate.

"Oui, c’est le but. Tu es très stupide. (Yes, that's the point. You're very stupid.)"

"Did you call me stupid again?"

"Oui. (Yes.)"

"You're doing this on purpose aren't you?"

"Oui."

"Does that mean yes?"

"Oui." 

James falls quiet for a few blissful seconds as the black and green ship fades from view at Regulus's back, a black and gold one with bright red sails taking its place. Regulus gasps lightly and leans forward to get a better look, a golden lion roars on the main sail.

"Le Cœur de Lion. The Lion's Heart. This is your ship?" Regulus looks back to James with a newfound respect, the Lion's Heart is the fiercest pirate ship to ever sail the seas. Most refer to them as Freedom Fighters because they only target ships that participate in trafficking or the slave trade to New England and transport the unfortunate souls to places they can be free. He's always loved that the ship shares his namesake and is known for being unsinkable, like as long as the ship floats, so does he. 

The irony of wanting to sink but sharing his name with an unsinkable ship does not escape him.

"Not mine, Sirius's." Regulus blinks and pulls his hair around his shoulder, letting it pool in his lap so he can work through the tangles with his fingers.

So, Sirius wasn't a vision. He should have guessed, really, that God wouldn't be kind enough to send a vision of Sirius as the last thing he sees before death. He also should have had more faith in his medical knowledge, Lucious had barely hit his head against the mast and it's likely the blood only started flowing because of a loose nail or small piece of metal that cut into his skin and not blunt force. Regulus had been dizzied from the pain and the swaying of the ship, not from blood loss or because of a concussion. He's not going to die; he wasn't even close to being on his death bed.

"You know him well?" Regulus questions, feigning disinterest.

"Oh yeah, we're like brothers. My dad took him in when he was a teenager, we were raised together from then on." James responds happily, unaware of the sword he's just driven through Regulus's heart. Brothers. It reminds him of what he did, that Sirius won't see him as a brother anymore and probably would rather never see Regulus again. That Regulus is replaceable to Sirius, yet Sirius will always be Regulus's everything.

He hums noncommittally and tugs his fingers through the end of his hair roughly. He'd spent years growing the thick black strands, and he loves the way his loose curls bounce when they're properly washed, loves that they brush against the floor when he bends down to pick up something. Sirius had always loved it when Regulus's hair got longer, couldn't keep his hands out of it when he'd come back from school over summers, so Regulus had let his hair grow long enough to brush the backs of his thighs when curly, and fall down to his knees when all wet like this.

Regulus was a sickly child, so he'd been homeschooled while Sirius went away to fancy boarding schools, only to return over summer and give Regulus the world on a golden platter. Regulus felt like the only way to give back to Sirius was to dress and appear the way Sirius liked, so that Sirius would like him. 

Sirius was everything to him in all of the wrong ways. Brothers are meant to play together, to love platonically and limit their physical contact to a pat on the back or a steady arm around the shoulders, but Regulus is greedy and he wants Sirius to play with him in a very different way, loves him romantically and wishes to be filled with Sirius's love until he can't feel his legs.

And Sirius was never meant to give him that, would never have given him that if Regulus didn't beg him to.

"Are you alright?" James soft words snap Regulus out of his thoughts, and he glances to almond shaped brown eyes that glitter like a cup of espresso.

"It was a surface wound." Regulus replies with a wave of his hand, assuming it's about the injury. They're close enough to the boat for Regulus to make out the rope ladder they're supposed to climb up. "Not hardly enough to bring me even close to death."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." James smiles gently. "But that's not what I meant, you seem upset, and I'm a good person to talk to."

Regulus snorts, can't help the venom that claws its way up his throat and makes itself known to the world.

"You? You're stupid, and not only that but you are the exact kind of man I fear most in this world. You couldn't understand what ails me any more than you can understand French." Regulus sneers and is deeply confused when James only softens and lets the oars fall to the sides as he leans over the side of the boat and tugs gently on the ladder, pulling them closer to the Lions Heart.

"Hurt people hurt people, love. You don't have to talk to me, just know the option is there, okay?" James smiles and stands, holding out his hand to Regulus and gently walking him to the roped ladder.

"I- You should go first." Regulus says, he's not wearing anything under the white fabric. Easy access and all that.

"I want to make sure I can catch you if you fall since you can't swim." James shakes his head and puts Regulus's hand on the rope.

"I can't." Regulus can feel his cheeks heating and he gestures absently to his wet clothes. James tilts his head and trails his eyes down the slim figure before his eyes go wide and his lips form an 'o' shape.

"Okay- um." James coughs into his fist and shakes his head. "Yeah just, uh, don't fall aye?"

"It's not one of my goals." Regulus deadpans back with a raised eyebrow and a gesture to the rope. James nods and starts his climb up the ladder, Regulus watches his boots catch against the horizontal lines and looks down to his feet which are strapped up in three-inch high boot heels. 

He decides that isn't going to work so he strips them off his feet and leaves them in the boat before climbing after James. The ladder is shaky and burns his hands and feet when he slips and slides on it but he makes it to the top easily and grips the wood of the boat tightly.

"James?" He's loathe to ask for help from the man but there's no way in hell he's pulling himself over the edge and the tall man quickly comes to his aide, lifting him up high and helping him down.

"Thank you." Regulus mutters politely.

James gasps theatrically and puts a hand to his throat like a dainty woman clutching her pearls. Regulus rolls his eyes hard enough for the pain in his head to spike.

"You can be nice!" James laughs and shake his head before motioning Regulus to walk next to him across the eerily empty ship. "You're halfway to a proper gentleman!"

"I'll have you know that I was the Prince of France. I am a perfect gentleman when the occasion calls for it." Regulus huffs and straightens his clothes.

James stops and whips around to stare at Regulus in horror.

"What? James? What?" Regulus feels panic rise and he glances around before glancing over himself. Everything seems to be in order but James grips his biceps tightly and forces Regulus's eyes to his.

"Don't say that. Do not tell anyone else on this ship who you are do you understand me?" James has made such a 180 from the joking boy he was two seconds ago that Regulus finds himself nodding rapidly. "Good. Good, you could get seriously hurt over shit like that."

"Over being a prince?" Regulus asks, unsure because he doesn't know if he's allowed to ask questions right now.

"Yes. Most of the people on this ship are good men, but enough of them would be... tempted. By you. It's already going to be hard; I don't need other men and women sniffing around you for the money." The warning starts out serious, but gets softer at the end, almost teasing. James tucks a strand of hair behind his ear and Regulus shivers, it feels exciting in a way Regulus has only felt for one person before.

"What's going to be hard?" Regulus asks quietly, bolder with a glance to James's lips.

"Getting you to fall in love with me." James mutters, slipping his hand into Regulus's hair and wetting his bottom lip absently. Regulus is quite entranced, for a moment he forgets about Sirius, and all of the awful men he's had between his legs before because for the first time in his life, Regulus wants a man who is not his brother to crawl between them and fill him up.

Wants someone he's allowed to have.

Regulus swallows harshly and licks his own lips before the thud of boots startles him and James pulls away quickly, stepping back and turning to the sound. Sirius stands there, and Regulus takes his time to look over the man again more carefully. His jewelry is silver, and mostly star themed, with a few clay beads dripping from his hair, his nose is sharp and straight, and his lips are so very tempting even when they pull down in a frown. 

His silver eyes are wide as they flick over James before landing on Regulus with precision, studying every piece of Regulus from his head to his toes. Red is spattered across his white shirt and his boots thump loudly against the wood as he steps forward, resembling a lion rolling his shoulders in the tall grass, staring over his prey and waiting for the chance to attack.

"Where'd your dress go baby? And your shoes?" Sirius asks tightly, but his eyes shift to James, who's just as soaked to the bone as Regulus, yet has all of his clothes and shoes on. Admittedly, it doesn't look good.

James just shrugs lightly and smiles at Sirius.

"The dress would have drowned him; it was either take it off or let Calypso claim the pretty thing." Sirius eyes flash when James calls him pretty and Regulus thinks he's about to be stuck in the middle of something very much not fun while he drips onto the dark wood of this foreign ship and shivers from the cold.

"As much as I love this conversation you've put me at the center of, I am cold and would like some new clothes please." Regulus turns his nose up as best he can, his heart jackhammers in his chest when grey eyes look over him with concern and something that Regulus could fool himself into believing is adoration.

"Of course, Reggie. Come here." Sirius lifts his arm and Regulus hesitates, unsure if it's really okay before ducking his head close to that warm throat and letting Sirius's arm fall over his shoulders and pull him closer. Regulus had missed this so much, this smell of peppermint and the feeling of Sirius's pulse on the bridge of his nose. That Sirius would welcome Regulus back into his arms so easily after everything makes his heart flutter and his mind feel lighter.

"Vous êtes au chaud. (You're warm.)" Regulus whispers happily against Sirius's throat and revels in the lips that he feels against his forehead.

"Come to my cabin, my love. I'll warm you up properly." A light kiss is pressed to his hair line as Sirius's hand slides up his shoulder and tangles in his hair gently. "Why don't you say good night to James?"

Regulus peeks out of Sirius's chest to look at James, who's shoulders and jaw are tense, but he eyes Regulus with that gentle teasing look he's had all night, so Regulus wrinkles his nose playfully and turns his chin up at the man.

"No, I think I'd rather him to sleepwalk overboard and be eaten by a sea creature." James laughs loudly and shakes his head.

"Aye, love, I'm sure you do." Regulus bites his lip, James's smile shines brightly in the lantern light and his eyes glitter like the stars.

"Alright. Let's go." Sirius tugs Regulus's hair gently and sways toward the end of the ship where the captain's cabin is. Regulus offers James a small wave before tucking himself closer to Sirius and falling into step with his brother, leaving James behind as boisterous voices call up from the sides of the ship and more boots thump against wood as the crew rows back in with the many slaves and trafficked women underneath the ship.

Sirius guides him into the cabin where warm air envelopes Regulus gently and rough fingers trial from his hips to his waist after the door slams behind Sirius. A gentle tug on his hair sends a shiver down Regulus's spine and soft lips touch the lobe of his ear.

"I've always loved your hair long." Sirius whispers, the hand at his waist spreading out wider and gripping the corset tighter.

"I know." Regulus whispers back, leaning back into Sirius's chest as those gentle fingers roam his side. "Why do you think I let it grow so much?"

Sirius groans quietly and let's his face fall into dark, damp curls.

"You make it so hard to control myself." Sirius whispers and Regulus's breath catches in his throat. It's an exact mirror of what Sirius had said that night. Regulus turns in his arms and looks up at steel grey eyes, searching for any hesitation and allowing that white hot want to pool in his stomach when he finds none.

"Sirius." Regulus whispers, giving in to that want just a little bit and running his fingers over a hard chest. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Sirius rubs his thumb along the bottom edge of the corset. "I dream about you when I sleep, but my imagination cannot compare to the real thing."

Regulus feels the heat rush to his face, and he bites his bottom lip harshly to keep from saying something he shouldn't. He wants to tell Sirius that he's dreamed of the older boy every night, that the only thing that got him through their father and the other men was the memory of Sirius, that he would close his eyes and let his legs fall open and pretend it was his brother filling him up and holding him down.

Regulus glances to Sirius's own pink lips and wants to show his brother how thankful he is for that memory.

"You're killing me." Sirius groans, tugging on his hair, gentle still but meant to pull him away so Regulus steps back. "Killing me."

Sirius shakes his head and moves around the cabin. It's not small by any means, and there's an empty bathtub that Sirius wipes down quickly before picking up loose pieces of paper that litter the maroon-colored wood. A desk is pushed to the side and is wildly disorganized, maps spilling over the sides and loose half-written papers litter the floor. Beautiful white and red feathered quills are strung about the room and two are on the floor. Art hangs on the walls and Regulus recognizes some of them, one is a Monet, and one is in Sirius's own wild style, an abstract construction of blue and grey in a wide and strange circle with black bundled in the middle and shooting out in different directions. It's beautiful, and so familiar though he's never seen it before. There are at least ten paintings hung about the room and all of them are crooked or only hung by one nail.

Regulus sighs and rubs his exposed arms lightly. Sirius was always a very messy person, with his clothes in disarray and his shoes thrown haphazardly against the castle walls. Regulus used to take it upon himself to clean up after his brother, lining his shoes up along the wall politely and sneaking in his room after lessons to tidy everything and put the clothes back in the closet. It's comforting now, to be surrounded by such mess when all he's known for the past many years is organized structure.

There's only one bed, which makes sense, but it's big enough to fit at least four men comfortably. Regulus glances over it's messed up state and wonders what the hell Sirius does in a bed so big.

"You can have it." Sirius says, gesturing to the bed. "I'll sleep with the crew below deck."

"Excuse me?" Regulus isn't sure he heard properly. If Sirius is the captain of this ship, then he shouldn't relinquish his bed to anyone. It's a show of respect, to have his own space, and Regulus has slept in far worse conditions the last five months, he's sure he can handle the crew.

"You need a place to sleep amour (love). Take my bed." Sirius glances over Regulus's still dripping form and turns to open a small ornate cabinet, presumably to get him some dry clothes.

"I won't kick you out of your bed, Sirius." Regulus scoffs and rubs his arms more firmly, the warmth that had enveloped him when he'd walked in slowly draining from his body. "I can sleep with the crew if you'd rather not share a bed with me that badly. I understand."

And he really does, Sirius should not trust Regulus to keep his hands to himself. Having Sirius in front of him is like setting a bottle of rum in front of a pirate and telling him not to drink then turning your back. Just as sure as the pirate is to drink the rum, Regulus will touch if he gets the chance. 

He just wants to be wrapped in those strong arms again.

"You think you are the problem?" Sirius chuckles darkly and shakes his head. "You'll be more comfortable alone."

"I'd be more comfortable with you." Regulus protests boldly. Sirius lets eyes fall shut and he grips the cabinet tight enough for his knuckles to go white before slamming it closed and holding out a handful of clothes.

"You've got to stop saying things like that, Reggie." Sirius is soft despite the display of anger and Regulus feels it like a stab to the gut. He knew Sirius would be uncomfortable with him if they'd ever met again, knew that a part of Sirius would hate Regulus for what he did, for what he took. It hurts fresh all the same though.

"I'm sorry." Regulus whispers and gently takes the clothes from his brothers' hands.

Sirius's eyes soften and he steps forward to cup Regulus's cheek gently.

"Don't apologize baby. Get dressed, you're shivering." Sirius pinches his cheek lightly and it makes Regulus smile. Sirius is so forgiving and gentle with Regulus despite the darkness that rests just under his skin, that writhing, ugly greed that wants to snatch Sirius close and never let him go again.

"Will you help me?" Regulus asks selfishly. He could get the corset untied on his own, and he could get the under dress unlaced by himself but having Sirius's nimble fingers will help. Feeling those warm fingers along his skin will satiate the want that curls underneath the surface enough to sleep.

Sirius looks him over and Regulus is sure he knows Regulus can do it himself, but his eyes darken, and he licks his lips before agreeing anyways. Regulus steps to the bed and lays the clothes down gently before straightening up and pulling his hair to the front slowly, squeezing out some of the wetness onto the floor with a wince.

Sirius's hands linger on his hips and trail up to his waist before grabbing hold of the ribbon and starting to gently pull it through the holes, loosening the corset bit by bit and allowing Regulus to take deeper breaths then he has for five months. Sirius is gentle when he pulls the last of the ribbon through and drops it on the floor, and slow when he trails his fingers over Regulus's shoulders to slip it off and throw that to the floor as well.

Warm lips meet the exposed side of Regulus's neck gently, sliding up to place a feather light kiss right behind his ear.

"You've grown up so much." Sirius mumbles distractedly, trailing a hand over the strings on Regulus's back.

"You haven't seen me in eleven years." Regulus mumbles back, cursing himself when Sirius's hands go still and a sharp breath fans over Regulus's neck before the taller boy is pulling away, leaving Regulus cold again.

"I loosened it enough for you. There's a towel over there, and a bell system. If you need anything ring the crew bell and I'll be here. Get some sleep, belle (beautiful)." Sirius lets his hands linger and Regulus is grateful for it when Sirius rushes out of the cabin and slams the door behind him, and Regulus is left to his own thoughts.

Regulus remembers exactly what Sirius had looked like before he'd left. They were both skinny, their mother had been convinced that skinny people were superior to others and had starved them constantly as children so that they would grow up to be very thin. Sirius had been tall, with wiry muscles and ear length hair that fit the dress code for his school, he'd had more of a button nose then, like Regulus, though the younger boy never grew out of his. 

Sirius had been getting into trouble at school and had been coming home with wild stories of justice and the New England colonies, who were revolting against Brittain. Sirius thought France should help the colonists, and Orion was staunchly against the idea. Their fights had been reaching a crescendo, where Sirius would be punished by being hung out in the yard like a servant and Regulus would sneak him food and water.

He thinks it's then that the feelings started to rise, when Sirius would drink from a cup Regulus held, when his tongue would flick Regulus's fingers as he ate. It was horrible, falling in love with Sirius while he was being punished so severely.

Regulus shakes his head harshly and wiggles his arms, thinking about Sirius will only lead him down a rabbit hole of despair.

He quickly slips the under dress off and slides on Sirius's shirt, it's red and falls halfway to Regulus's thighs but it's warm and smells like peppermint and the sea. Regulus lifts the collar to his nose and inhales deeply as he spins around with a dopey smile. He'd meant to fight harder for Sirius to keep his own space, but the older man slipped away before he could protest anymore and if Regulus has the opportunity to look at all of Sirius's things, then he's going to take it.

Regulus looks around at the messy compartment and wrinkles his nose, it looks like no one has cleaned anything in here for years. He sighs and slips Sirius's peasant underwear on; he thinks they're called boxers but isn't sure. He doesn't even have the capacity to freak out over the fact that he's wearing Sirius's underwear because the place is a mess and there's no way Regulus can sleep in this.

He knows how Sirius likes his things to be organized, his clothes go by color rather than by garment type then outfit. He picks up all the clothes and sorts them by color on the bed and hangs them up in correct order, folding everything in rounds of three. He closes the cabinet gently and pads around the room pick up papers as he goes, careful to keep the ones that are already stacked together and in order, then sorting them by date and putting the miscellaneous ones in their own pile. When he opens the drawer to slide them in, he winces and shakes his head.

He doesn't get much sleep, the boat rocks too much and every time he shuts his eyes he's surrounded by strange men and angry, rough hands are gripping his skin. He stops trying to sleep after the third attempt results in tears.

The washroom was the hardest, filled with clothes and used towels and jars filled with product Regulus noticed as hair care and peppermint essential oils. He reorganizes every space and puts all of the trash in a woven basket then shoving it under the bed. The desk was in complete disarray, some papers with only one word written or whole pages of noneligible nonsense. He scanned each paper carefully and uses his home-made system to deduct which ones Sirius needs and which he doesn't.

It's the last thing he finishes, and it's where Sirius finds him in the morning while creaking open the door. There's a man behind him, tall and lanky with enough scars on his body to make Regulus's own ache, his hair is a light brown almost gold when the sun hits it and moss green eyes study where he stands.

Regulus smiles gently and slides the top drawer closed. Sirius looks at him then flicks his eyes over the cabin.

"Did you clean my room?" Sirius asks, tone neutral. The tall boy beside him glances around and tenses up, staring at Regulus with wide, almost fearful eyes.

"Yes, it was difficult to sleep in such a mess." He steps around the corner, choosing to ignore the fact he never put on Sirius's pants, leaving his pale legs exposed in a truly indecent manner. "Plus, you work better when your space is clean."

Regulus leans carefully against the desk as the boat sways, keeping himself upright as the tense man next to Sirius lets the door swing shut. The man looks concerned, almost afraid and for a moment Regulus thinks he's done something wrong.

"Was that alright? I remember all the..." Regulus waves hand around the cabin then around his head to signify the weird ways of organization Sirius needs to function properly. Sirius sweeps his eyes around the cabin again before they land on Regulus and everything about him softens.

"Of course, Reggie. I'm sure it's perfect, mon amour (my love)." The boy next to him turns incredulous eyes to Sirius and goes slack jawed as Regulus grins.

"What the-" The scarred boy starts, and Sirius holds up a hand.

"This is Remus, he's our medic, and our- he does everything, really. You were bleeding yesterday, I brought him to fix you." Sirius steps forward and tilts Regulus's head with soft fingers to feel along his scalp until he winces. "You aren't bleeding now though, which is good."

"I'm alright, I must have hit a piece of metal when Lucious hit my head into the mast." Sirius's eyes flash with something violent so Regulus reaches up and takes his hand gently. "I'm alright though, head wounds bleed a lot, and we washed the worst of it away with the sea. I genuinely believe the thing I need most is a bath."

The joke makes Sirius smile and relax again, his emotions as unpredictable and flowing as the waves of the sea. Remus seems used to this and stands politely by the door holding what must be his medical case. He's dressed nicer than the others Regulus has seen, with a warm brown vest and matching pants, loafers rather than boots and a crisp white button up shirt.

"You're from England." Regulus diagnoses quickly, glancing to Sirius warily. France and England are on the tense, cold side of almost war right now, and France is going to undergo revolution if Orion does not get his shit together. To Regulus, Englishmen are not trustable.

"Yes." Remus says his voice firm but open. What he says is the law but he's willing to debate what it means like they're in a courtroom, Regulus finds this familiar to his usual days in the castle. All royals talk as if they own every square inch of the land they stand on, because they do. "Welsh, actually. I'd like to check over the wound and make sure you aren't concussed still, The captain is... deeply concerned for your well-being."

Sirius blushes under Remus's careful words and raised eyebrow. There's definitely something between them and it drives a very bittersweet lump into Regulus's throat. He's glad Sirius has someone to fall in love with, to share in that sexual tension without shame. But it hurts that it can't be Regulus, and it leaves a sour taste on his tongue.

"I'll be fine, but you're welcome to look me over." Regulus waves his hand and tosses his hair over his shoulder.

Sirius lights up and takes Regulus's hand, guiding him to the chair and forcing him gently to sit. Remus watches the gentle exchange with raised eyebrows, like something is strange, Regulus wonders if it's him who's the strange one or if Sirius isn't usually like this.

"I bet your hungry- thirsty definitely, yes?" Remus asks, plunking his case down on the now clean desk and clicking the clasps open.

"Oh, yes. If you have spare food, I'd be very grateful." Regulus nods and smiles politely, keeping his back straight and hands clasped. Sirius cups his cheeks briefly before stepping away.

"I'm going to go get you some food baby. Remus, if you fuck with a single-"

"Hair on his head, you'll toss me to the sharks. Yes, I know. Go get him some food now, thank you." Remus pulls a small white cloth out of his case along with a bottle of clear liquid that must be disinfecting alcohol. Moonshine probably, since they're pirates and don't have access to the finer things in life.

Regulus doesn't expect Sirius to fold so quickly but the older boy glances over Regulus, grey eyes lingering on his slim wrists before he turns on his heel with a grumble and stomps out of the cabin, letting the door swing shut behind him.

"That's quite fun." Remus muses, circling the chair with a comb out of his bag, gently parting Regulus's hair in search for the wound.

"What is?" Regulus questions, crossing his legs and toeing the bar underneath the desk.

"Seeing which wins out, his need to take care of you or his need to be near you. He was right whining last night." Remus twists his hair half up and slides a portion over his shoulder before reaching for the bottle and rag over Regulus's shoulder.

He smells good, like the sea and something earthy, rain maybe.

"Sirius doesn't whine." Regulus responds automatically, it's a practiced response he used against cousins and parents to defend Sirius when the older boy would storm away. "Was he worried I was going to make a mess? He should know that I do not make messes."

Remus laughs, a soft buzz against his ear and Regulus feels offended, that Sirius would think of him as someone to make a mess and that Remus is laughing at him about it.

"You're just as cute as a button, love. He wasn't scared you were going to make a mess, he just wanted to be around you." Remus tilts Regulus's head forward gently and pours a little liquid onto the rag. "This is going to sting."

"Yes, yes." Regulus waves his hand and Remus taps the cloth to his scalp gently, it doesn't sting much since the wounded part is already scabbed over and he ignores the little sting there is. "Sirius ran away from me quite quickly last night, so I think you misunderstand his complaints. He has every right to want distance from me."

Remus is quiet as he finishes wiping Regulus's scalp, he slides the rag over the roots of Regulus's hair around the wound and it must clean some dried blood because it makes his hair feel a little lighter. When he sets the supplies down, he turns Regulus around in the chair and leans on the arm rests, getting close enough to Regulus's face for the smaller boy to go almost cross eyed.

"May I speak freely?" Remus mutters, glancing down to Regulus's lips before looking back up and Regulus nods. "Thank you. If what you're referring to is that night he left- yes I know about that, he told me, no I don't care that you're brothers and you shared that with each other- if it's about the night he left then I think you should know how badly he wants you, and how much he beats himself up over wanting you. He's internalized this belief that he stole something from you that night, something that wasn't his to take or to love as he does. I have a feeling you've done the same. Talk to him, tell him how you felt about that night. You both need it."

Regulus stares, flabbergasted. He had expected something untoward out of Remus when asked to speak freely but he hadn't expected this bright flame of honesty that gives Regulus twisted hope for Sirius wanting him the same way.

"How do I... how do you know he wants me like that?" Regulus whispers, because it's a taboo subject, siblings aren't supposed to want each other like that. Men aren't supposed to want each other like that, but Regulus supposes if there's enough of them for Regulus to have lied with 27 men not including Sirius then that isn't the strangest part. 

"Trust me. I've had his dick down my throat and all he could do was call your name. Regulus, right? It's lovely to meet you finally." Remus looks over him with a hum as Regulus blushes a bright red. "I understand why Sirius is so obsessed with you, love, you're gorgeous."

Remus pulls the pin holding Regulus's hair up out and tosses it on the desk as Sirius opens the door, James steps in while balancing four plates on his hands and arms. Regulus is relieved to see James's bright grin and happy wave, but obviously the other man can never know that he's happy to see him or it would ruin their little game. So, Regulus leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, cheeks still blazing red from Remus's honesty.

"What are you doing here?"

"Awe Reggie baby, I missed you too. I come with food and drinks!" James slides a plate in front of Regulus and hands out the other two before leaning against the desk and handing out utensils as well. 

"One of you can take the chair, I'm happy to stand-" Regulus starts to rise but a warm, large hand falls to his shoulder and pushes him back down. Regulus blinks up at Remus, who just raises his eyebrows plainly and shakes his head.

"You stay right where you are, you might not be bleeding but there is real damage back there." Remus's fingers are long enough to brush far past Regulus's collar bone when he gives a gentle squeeze, and it's a little distracting. "There's bruising, and I'm concerned about dizziness or fainting spells. I want you resting for at least a week."

Regulus focuses al of his attention on the plate of food in front of him. Well, plate of food is a little generous, it's dried meat and fruit, an orange and an apple, there's a boiled egg in its silver holder and a spoon next to it so Regulus starts on cracking that open gently as a golden wine glass gets set in front of him by Sirius.

"Well, that's good; we won't dock on land for another week at least." Sirius says, swirling his own wooden cup, looking like a true pirate.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Regulus was under the impression that since he found Sirius, they'd be staying together now, especially with how kind he was last night.

Sirius pauses and looks to James, who shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders, he stabs a meat chunk with his fork and points it at Sirius.

"You're the one who made that decision, and he already hates me." James winks at Regulus. "I very heavily protested this plan, but you wouldn't listen. This is all on you Padsy."

James waves the fork around to gesture to all of Sirius before popping the meat in his mouth and chewing harshly. Sirius runs a hand over his face and sighs before gripping the edge of the desk. Regulus's mind is racing, trying to come up with a million different theories on what they're talking about while violently ignoring the one he can't acknowledge.

"We're-" Sirius starts but James clears his throat loudly and gives him a pointed look, so Sirius tilts his head and grits his teeth with a deep breath. "I am sending you home. You'll be dropped off at the nearest port with enough money to get you France with mother and father."

Regulus is shaking his head as soon as Sirius says he'll be going home. He can't go home, he'd much rather die. They're going to trapeze him around during the day as their perfect son, their perfect heir, but by night they're going to torture him. Orion will not bother to be gentle if he believes it's a punishment.

"No." Regulus says, trying his best to not let tears well up in his eyes.

"Reggie-" Sirius's voice is filled with pity and it's the last straw. Regulus has been strung out like dirty laundry for too long, had too many decisions made for him, been touched by too many men he did not chose for himself and has not slept enough to be able to regulate his emotions or keep his temper in check.

He'd always had an explosive temper, when he was especially young he would kick and scream and punch people until they gave him what he wanted. Sirius used to be the only one to calm him down, and on the rare occasion it was Sirius who pissed him off... most of the caste staff did not like Regulus.

"No!" Regulus slams his hands on the desk as he pushes himself out of the chair, the desk is slim and leaves plenty of room for Regulus to grab Sirius by the collar of his shirt and pull him until their faces are only inches away. Sirius eyes go wide and pink colors his cheeks when Regulus scowls at him. "You will not abandon me again! I have been through unimaginable suffering, and I would rather you kill me and throw me overboard then return me to land. I am here to stay, and you will not toss me to the side like some dried up whore. Do you understand me, roi des cons (king of idiots)? Or shall I repeat myself in smaller words?"

Regulus grips the white collar tighter and jerks it lightly when Sirius doesn't respond right away. The older boy is staring at Regulus with something dark in his eyes and Remus whistles lowly, Sirius's chin tilts to the man behind Regulus so he grabs Sirius jaw with his free hand and forces the older boy to look him in the eyes.

"I asked you a question."

"Yes." Sirius responds, nodding as best he can, keeping his eyes trained on Regulus. "Yes, I understand. You're staying."

Sirius's cheeks are red and his eyes are crossed but he looks so pretty with Regulus's pale fingers around his jaw that he can't help himself when he leans forward and plants a kiss to Sirius's cheek with a happy smile.

"Thank you, Siri." He murmurs before sliding back into his seat and shoving the rage back down and slamming a lid on it. It's gotten easier throughout the years to calm down after an outburst, and to stop outbursts from happening.

"I'm definitely hard right now." James says calmly with a nod, Sirius laughs nervously and turns his back to Regulus to lean on the desk and peel his orange carefully. Regulus has never had to peel his own orange before so he picks it up and stares at it, trying to find an edge to start at.

"Half-way there." Remus pipes up and nudges Regulus's shoulder before plucking the orange out of his hands and starting to peel it.

"I think you both should not only keep that to yourselves but figure out why. Quietly." Regulus shoots a pointed look to James who just grins back.

Something soft and lightly wet touches his lips and he doesn't even think before opening them and Remus slides the orange slice in with a groan, his forefinger gets caught on Regulus's bottom lip and Regulus watches Remus's eyes narrow down on the point of contact before darting out his tongue and licking the left-over juice off the finger. It's sweeter than most oranges, and he didn't even think about how sexual it could come across until he'd already done it.

"I take it back." Remus says quietly. "I'm right there with you and Sirius. Hard as a rock."

"Remus!" Sirius whips around just as Remus feed him another slice of orange and this time Regulus closes his mouth around the taller boys first knuckle, keeping eye contact with Sirius as he lets the finger go and a string of saliva connects him to Remus.

James's jaw has dropped but he grabs his own orange and starts to peel it. The tent in his pants is hard to ignore, and the one in Regulus's is getting to the point that he might suggest they do something about it.

He opens his mouth for Remus to feed him another orange slice when he catches Sirius's eye again, who's staring at him that same way he did before that night, with lust, and longing, and an utter lack of control. 

Regulus clicks his mouth shut and picks the orange out of Remus's hand gently. Remus is Sirius's... something, and it's horrible for him to let the other man hand feed him oranges, to think about that man's lithe fingers in a different hole, stretching him open- for his brother. The image of Remus prepping him so that Sirius can slide in is far too tempting for Regulus and sends a flood of heat through his body.

"I'm sorry." Remus steps back and shakes his head. "I'm not usually that bold."

"No, don't lie Moony." James leans over the desk and holds a piece of his orange in front of Regulus's face. "Remus is terribly bold all the time, don't let him lie to you."

"I'm not eating your orange." Regulus raises an eyebrow and pops a slice of his own in his mouth, James pouts and waves the slice around sadly.

"But I peeled it just for you. Please, Reggie?" James makes puppy eyes at him and looks so sad at the idea of Regulus denying him this that he rolls his eyes and leans forward with an open mouth. Sirius gasps quietly and Remus raises both eyebrows before laying a hand on Sirius's forearm. Sirius doesn't tell him no, and just watches with wide eyes so Regulus lets his lips close around dark fingers with a hum.

James's fingers don't move when Regulus wraps his lips around the orange, so he sucks them free of juices and watches James's legs shift and throat bob. His fingers are satiny soft, where Remus's were calloused, and Regulus adds another person to his imagined dream. He imagines James kissing him hard enough for his head to spin and those fingers pressing down on his tongue while Remus prepares him for Sirius.

Regulus could get drunk off that image alone. He's never pictured himself wanting sex from anyone but his brother, and then James had tossed him over his shoulder effortlessly and Remus had talked so boldly about Sirius and their sexual adventures that Regulus had let that unsatiable want split into three.

He pops off of James's fingers with a smile and winks. He's already going to hell, and as long as Sirius doesn't stop him, he's going to drag all three of these men with him.

"Delicious."