But he’ll never escape what he’s made up of
Tws: panic attacks, nightmares, really shitty self value, ptsd symptoms, flashbacks, self harm sorta, ed if you squint, Walburga Black has ruined Regulus’s idea of a Normal family unit
Regulus felt safe. He was still worried about his brother to the point where he would get hit with waves of panic that made him forget he was away from the house. James had been nice almost too nice. During every nightmare, every panic attack, and every flashback James was there. He didn’t call Regulus stupid, he didn’t insult him, and he didn’t hurt him. Not that Regulus had worried about the last part, he trusted his brother, but it was nice.
James had mentioned his parents were coming back marking the last week before they went back to Hogwarts. Frankly Regulus was planning on avoiding them. His injuries has finally began to heal and the after shaking from the cruciatus crush had finally begin to subside. He really didn’t want it to come back. James could tell Regulus didn’t want to see his parents and he wasn’t going to force him to hangout though he did reassure him that his parents were harmless. Regulus avoided leaving his room for the first few days but three nights before they were set to leave for Hogwarts accepted an invariant to dinner.
To be completely honest he was doing this to not be rude. It’s rude to stay at someone’s house and continuously refuse to meet them. He just had to make it through dinner without panicking.
Euphemia Potter had a kind face and looked like a mother there was no better way to put. Her eyes looked at Regulus with sympathy which wasn’t great but it was better than pity. Fleamont Potter was less welcome looking than Euphemia almost solemn.
Regulus talked in almost exclusively one word answers. He had managed to keep his shaking and panic to a minimum. Though James kept making concerned eye contact with him which wasn’t helping the situation. He made it through dinner this way moving food around on his plate and trying not to jump whenever James parents said something too loud.
He offered to help with dishes because he knew he should. He had been assigned to dry while Euphemia washed and James and Fleamont cleared the table. He felt a hand on his shoulder and immediately he was back there.
His mother was grabbing him back shoving him into the wall. He grabbed her and threw her off him before backing up into a wall. And than he was back.
The drab corridor of the Black house became the Potters cozy kitchen. And his mother turned into Euphamia Potter. And he ran.
James found him grating at his arms with his nails and crying on the couch.
“Hey Regulus I need to touch you okay.” He didn’t wait for Regulus yes before gently pulling his hands off of his arms.
They sat like this for about ten minutes before Regulus’s sobbing subsided.
“I can pack my stuff.” Regulus manages to get out in his shaky voice.
“Why would you be packing?” James asks with a tone of confusion.
“To leave”, Regulus explains, “I hurt your mom I have to leave. I’ll find somewhere.”
Awareness dawns on James face. “No Reg my mom shouldn’t have touched you. You responded accordingly.”
It was Regs turn to look confused. “But I’m not supposed to fight back I wasn’t supposed to do that.”
“Reg you know my mom wasn’t trying to hurt you she just wanted to tap you before handing you another dish. Why would she hurt you?”
“ I was quiet during dinner, I ate too much, I’m staying at her house, I was” James cut Regulus off.
“ You were polite, you barely touched your food but none of those aren’t reasons for her to hurt you.” Reg’s tears came back and after another few minutes of crying.
He whispered, “why?”
“Your parents are bad people it isn’t your fault they are who they are.”
“Your mom truly isn’t mad at me?”
“No she wanted to apologize immediately but I didn’t want her to overwhelm you.”
“Thanks.” James knew Regulus was talking about more than just keeping Euphemia away.”
Author’s Note:
Me updating twice in a month truly unbelievable shit. Honestly my life’s been a fucking wreck I quite dance, my friend group has almost split apart like six times, and I’m trying to deal with being single again which sucks. But it’s almost summer and I’ve been sick a lot less which is good anyway hope y’all are doing well. :)