You're A Slippery Slope

Regulus is mad because silence is not quiet, it screams. When the teachers tell the students to stop talking - there's still noise. And it yells at him. And it keeps yelling at him until he distracts himself with more noise. At the end of the day he can't and will never be able to live devoid of sounds. 

Only one pointless mundanity makes the world quiet, but even that eventually subsides. When Regulus flies through the stadium, eyes trained on the golden snitch, the world is quiet. There's no yelling, cheering, voices, noise; it's simply him and the snitch. And Evan of course, keeping one eye fixed on Reg and one on the chasers. Evan who took up the job Sirius kicked aside. That's what made the silence so loud. Family. 

Quidditch didn’t allow Regulus to think about sappy misfortunes. It kept his arm outstretched and his adrenaline racing almost faster than he flew. The adrenaline wasn't because there was a perpetuating threat standing over him with a wooden ruler, it was because for the first time he found something that made him feel alive - truly and undoubtedly human. 

And winning - winning felt good. Regulus normally didn't like eyes glued to his every move, judging. When he won, golden snitch in hand, he laughed. He laughed and Evan laughed too. And the world was quiet. 

The noise came back shortly when Barty started talking. 

“Ay good job Redge, you really stuck it up those Gryfindors asses.” He slapped Regulus’s shoulder and like clockwork the silence dissipated. Reg walked away leaving Barty standing in the archway between the stadium and locker rooms. 

When Evan got there he strutted over to Regulus and ruffled the latters hair.

“Well done then,” he said and changed out of his gear. Regulus gave himself a mental pat on the back. ‘Well done then’ he repeated and wished it was the boy who endured the same ridicule he did. ‘Well done’. 

When James forced Sirius to say something to his brother after the game, all he had said was “well, you beat us again,” with a clenched smile. 

“If it's a recurring thing then you cant blame it on me,” Regulus said plainly. Sirius stood there thinking of a comeback. 

“How much have you been practicing Sirius? I haven't seen you out in the field much, have I? Oh that's right. Must have gotten detention again haven't you. Such a shame. Maybe next time you won't be banned.” He said with a smile. 

“At least I’m not turning out exactly like mom you twat” he spat. 

“I’m not the family disappointment Sirius. That title is reserved for you.”

“You b-”

“Alright I think that's enough Sirius,” James dragged him away by his shoulders, “have a good night Redge.”

Regulus glared at him. The audacity James had to not only take up all of Sirius’s time effectively ruining the relationship he had with his brother, but to also be sickeningly nice. Regulus wanted to wish him well and smash his face in all at the same time. 

“Night.” 

James was nice to a fault, and Reg was determined to know what he was trying to hide. No one can be that kind without secrets. James was the golden snitch, and if history proved anything - Regulus would catch him without fault.