Fight For Me

To say Regulus was overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century.

He was used to having eyes on him. He had been Regina Black, after all. He was pretty, important, noticeable. Walburga's goal for his life was to be just that; a show pony gathering attention wherever he happened to be. He was used to people wanting him, wanting to be him, watching him to learn. But what he wasn't used to was everyone looking at him like he was something other. Not human, but monster, alien. He wasn't used to noses being turned up in disgust every time he stepped into a room.

He didn't understand. Why? What had he done wrong? Regulus was simply being himself, why did everyone have a problem with that?

The sad part is that, even if he didn't one hundred percent get it, he did know why. Regulus Black was not stupid. He knew what coming out would entail, he knew that transphobia was inevitable. He knew that people didn't understand, didn't know how someone could simply not be whatever sex they were assigned at birth. He knew people lashed out because they didn't know what else to do. He knew, he knew, he knew, but it didn't change the fact that he didn't understand why there wouldn't be more acceptance, especially in this day and age. He knew, he knew, he knew, but that didn't change the fact that it wasn't okay. He knew, he knew, he knew, but he didn't.

The whispers were the worst part. It had taken Regulus a long time to get over his internal transphobia - not that he knew what it was at the time - and even then, sometimes the corners of his mind murmured things, wisps of mumbles tangling around his ankles and threatening to drag down, down, down to a point where it would take everything in Regulus to pull himself out of. But the whispers, oh the stupid fucking whispers, they were his demons come to life. Their songs trailed him around the corridors, their siren call slowing his steps while they simultaneously grow louder, drowning out everything else until nothing but utter self loathing remained.

Regulus knew what was in the next pages of his book when he came out, but what he didn't anticipate was that subtle hint of regret swirling in his gut, only growing bigger with each hushed conversation he overheard.

"Is that Regina Black?" muttered some tenth grader.

"I think so...what's wrong with her?" answered another.

The first fucker shrugged. "Must be spending too much time online."

"Does she think she's a guy?" asked a third.

"He doesn't think," Barty snapped, glaring over at the small huddle of teens. "He is and if you don't shut the fuck up and mind your own goddamn business, I will cut out your fucking tongues so you'd finally learn what it's like to be silent."

Their eyes widened to the size of suckers as they nodded rapidly before making a hasty retreat.

Pandora laid a hand on his elbow. "You alright, Reg?"

"Fine." he muttered stiffly.

Barty clenched his fists. "I want to fucking kill them all."

"As fun as that sounds, B, no." Evan sighed, grabbing a fist and and soothing it loose.

"Don't go to prison over something stupid." Regulus chimed in.

Dorcas smacked him on the back of the head. “That is not why. Killing transphobes would be a wonderful way to commit genocide.”

“I’d rather we not commit genocide, no matter the reason,” Pandora said. “But Regulus, this is not stupid.”

Regulus grumbled, non-convinced.

"You wouldn't be saying that if people tried to pull this shit with Sirius." Evan reminded.

Oh, Sirius. Don't even get Regulus started on them. What the fuck was that nod supposed to mean?! Was it a 'good on you for being you Reggie' kind of nod? Or was it a 'thanks for terrorizing Crouch' kind of nod? You can't just ignore someone for nine months only to nod at them in some sort of approving manor. A human being could be conceived in that time for gods sake!

If you couldn't tell, Regulus was not only overwhelmed by the sudden rise in transphobia but he was also internally panicking over whatever the fuck had happened between Sirius and him.

Sirius had- he had almost looked proud. But that was a dangerous, dangerous thought that would never become reality. Sirius? Be proud of him? No, never. Maybe when Regulus was taking his first steps, or said his first word, or did his first show. But that was quite some time ago. Before Regulus had fully understood the poison weaved around their family tree. That was before Regulus understood why Sirius was always limping. That was before he realized why Sirius screamed at random points during the week- night or day. That was before he realized Sirius was getting hurt so Regulus didn't have too. That was before Regulus had developed his own survival tactic of flying under the radar, of being everything Mother and Father ever dreamed of having so Sirius wouldn't keep suffering in his name.

Unfortunately, even if it meant no hits Sirius could stand in front of, that didn't mean she didn't get herself in trouble. Sirius was loud, defiant, rebellious. She knew what was wrong, knew that what their parents were doing was wrong, so she made it her life goal to never have her spark snuffed by their boots. Sirius had always hoped that Regulus would follow in her footsteps, the two of them teaming up and causing so much havoc within the House of Black, just to see them huff and squirm and hope that one day, one day, they'd give up and let them just be.

Regulus never did. He sided with their parents at every turn, to protect himself, to protect Sirius from more damage. In Sirius' eyes, it was no doubt themselves against the House of Black, them against Mother and Father, them against Regulus. So, Sirius had stopped being proud of Regulus a long time ago. There was no way Sirius was proud of him now, after everything.

That being said, that didn't mean Regulus wasn't proud of him. Nine months earlier, Sirius had came out as genderfluid and gay(though that was very obvious, from the way he practically drooled over Lupin). Nine months earlier, Sirius had faced some of this backlash, surely. Nine months earlier, if Regulus had seen it, he would be behind bars for the exact crime they were discussing.

"You're right, I wouldn't. I'd say fuck the cops and get my hands dirty." Regulus snapped.

"Do you not see the hypocrisy in this?" Dorcas said, raising a brow.

He did. Regulus Black wasn't stupid. "Sirius and I are different."

"How?" Barty demanded.

That was a long, long list. They'd be here for literal hours if Regulus got into that. And even then, some wouldn't understand. It was just factual in a way he couldn't 100% explain. "We just are."

"You may be different but the situation is the same nonetheless," Pandora murmured. "You don't deserve this, Reg. No one does."

"No, they don't." Regulus agreed.

Regulus thought it couldn't get worse. He was very wrong.

If you took the last name 'Black' away from his family, detached it completely and gave it to a completely normal, ordinary family, Regulus would still hate it. Why? Alphabetical fucking order. Regulus was at the top of the list most times(if not always) and he hated it. Presentations? Him first. Attendance? Him first.

"Regulus Black?" called Mr. Slughorn, Regulus' chemistry teacher.

Murmurs instantly bloomed across the classroom, circling him like they were predators and he was prey.

Regulus was this close to stabbing the nearest student with a pencil.

Regulus raised his hand, indicating he was, in fact, present, despite wishing he wasn't.

The guy next to him - an annoying fucker by the name Gilderoy Lockhart, someone with the brains of a brick but thinks he's 'all that' because he has, admittedly, good looks - leaned close. "Isn't your name Regina?"

And oh. That enraged Regulus more than anything. The audacity. Sure, the whispers were a fucking nightmare but no one had had the guts to say anything to his face since then.

Regulus' pencil snapped in his grip as he turned his head slowly. Lockhart swallowed and his eyes bulged at Regulus' gaze. If looks could kill, Lockhart would have died six times over. When he spoke, Lockhart only coward more at the calm, level tone, clearly having expected a hiss or an angry snap. "Did he say Regina?"

Lockhart didn't answer, eyes skipping over all their classmates(who had stopped, along with Mr. Slughorn, and were watching the whole altercation).

"I asked you a question." Regulus said.

"N-no." Lockhart whispered.

Regulus leaned close and Lockhart flinched. "Then my name is Regulus."

Regulus sat back in his seat and crossed his arms, glaring daggers at everyone else and watching them scramble to act natural.

It's going to be a long fucking year.

It got even worse still.

It seems, throughout everything, Regulus forgot about one tiny problem. Or, a problem that came in the form of God's worst mistake.

"Black!" Mulciber called over the bustle of students.

Please be tormenting Sirius.Please be tormenting Sirius. Please be tormenting Sirius-

Mulciber was not, unfortunately, tormenting Sirius. No, he was heckling and chasing after Regulus, even after he sped up, altering his course slightly, heading for Minnie's office as opposed to the cafeteria.

But no. That didn't work either because, apparently, Mulciber was a faster speed walker.

Mulciber grabbed the back of Regulus' neckline, forcing him to a halt and spinning him around. Regulus slapped his hand away loud enough to cause the sound to echo down the hall, attracting the attention of everyone within hearing distance.

"Touch me again and I'll break your fingers." Regulus hissed.

Mulciber rolled his eyes. "Sure, princess."

"Don't call me that. What the fuck do you want?"

Mulciber smirked in a way Regulus did not like. "Oh. I just heard a little rumor that the youngest Black suddenly thought she was a boy and I needed to see for myself."

And, look. Regulus was not having a very good day and the whispers? He could deal with those, he could ignore them. But Nikolai Mulciber?

Regulus would rather drown than take shit from him.

"I am a boy." Regulus snapped.

Mulciber laughed. "That's not how it works, princess."

"How?" Regulus demanded.

"First off, you don't have a dick-"

"Not that that defines which gender you identify as, I could get one through surgery. Next."

Mulciber blinked. "Your tits-"

"Do you see them? No, no the fuck you don't. Next."

"Hormones-"

"Could be easily fixed in many ways. Look it up. Maybe then you'd find a valid argument." Regulus turned on his heel and prepared to leave.

A low chuckle stopped him in his tracks. “Still feisty. Y’know, we could still work off some of that energy. Just give me a time and place.”

Regulus turned his head slightly to call over his shoulder. “I didn’t know you were gay, Mulciber.”

Mulciber chuckled again. “I’m not, the same way you’re not a guy. And, after all, a pussy’s a pussy-“

Regulus whirled on his heels and slapped him across the face. Mulciber’s head snapped to the side with the motion, a red mark already blooming. Regulus could see where his rings would leave a nasty bruise. Mulciber looked at him unbridled rage but before either of them could speak, an authoritative voice interjected.

“Mr. Black,” Minnie said. “Come with me.”

Fuck.

Regulus scowled as Mulciber smirked but turned away, following Minnie to her office.

“I’m not sorry.” Regulus said the moment she shut the door.

“What happened, Reg,” Minnie said - not a question but a demand - as she took her seat. She paused. “Or would you prefer Regulus?”

Regulus’ lips twitched up at the name.

Minnie gave a small nod. “Regulus it is, then. Now, Regulus, if you could explain.”

Regulus slouched in his chair. "Mulciber's a dick."

Minnie didn't even bother to scold him for his language anymore. "How so?"

Regulus mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"He's a transphobic asshole who only cares about getting laid," Regulus said with a sigh. "He couldn't take a hint so I slapped him."

Minnie paused, folding her hands on top of her desk.

"Are you-" Regulus hesitated but continued at her encouraging nod. "Are you going to call my mother?"

Regulus tried not to think about how Walburga would react to that. Her perfect 'daughter' having turned a boy and slapped someone over the course of a week. It wasn't very 'House of Black' like. She'd have his head.

Minnie dipped her hand into a desk and put a familiar tin on the desk. "Have a biscuit, Regulus."

Regulus fought a grin as he grabbed a cookie or two. "So. The musical."

Minnie's lip twitched up and Regulus knew whatever she had done had worked. "I know you're patient. You can wait a week, Regulus."

Regulus groaned dramatically. "Can you at least give me a hint on which one?"

"I had to fight to get them to approve it."