The Antithesis
Regulus Black was many things; a monster, a fiend, a friend. However, there was something he would say he was not - A villain.
Yes, he did bad things and yes he may be morally wrong, but come on - a villain? Regulus thought this as a push, if anything he thought of himself as an antihero. Someone who doesn't conform to society's needs and values - a carver of his own path.
Alas, his family is a notorious criminal organisation so he didn't really win in those books.
Regulus closed his book and placed it beside him and allowed himself to shut his eyes for a moment - allowing the peace to enter his troubled mind. It was quiet in the house apart from some light mumbling which drifted up the stairs no doubt from the meeting of the world's most notorious villains, two of which were his parents.
Despite being his parents, they were cold towards him - treated him as if he were an enemy rather than family - experimented on him, beat him, tortured him .
He'd become accustomed to it - with him not yet being allowed to go on any major heists until he was of age and ready, it was no surprise of the hatred which his parents held towards him. After all he was the spare, and spares were dispensable.
Regulus sat up and looked around his room. A rather large space, filled with piles of books, a small wardrobe as well as some other essential items; he didn't have many items remaining after his brother left - his mother set most of them alight in a fit of rage. He sighed and swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood up - allowing the black dots to dissipate from his vision before walking towards his door. He clasped it, allowing the cold metal handle to contrast the warmth of his hands. Regulus quickly turned around and checked the clock on his wall - 9:30 am - it was finally time for the meeting to be over which meant that he could finally go and get something to eat before his friends arrived.
The hardwood floor was cold and the soft patter of his feet was a disturbance to the entire house.
Huh - Regulus thought - I could've sworn that i could hear them in here
He poked his head into the kitchen diner, which is where most of the meetings were held, and found it strangely empty and eerily quiet. The only presence there was Kreacher - the old, haggard servant who had been loyal to his family for decades.
It seemed the old bastard was immortal, and yet Regulus couldn't help but find some comfort in him, confiding in him - a friend.
“Master Regulus, I see that you are awake” His voice was scratchy and constantly sounded as if he was sneering at him - knowing him, he probably was.
Regulus simply nodded in response and slunk over towards the kitchen where the man stood cleaning the dishes, and began to rummage through the cupboards for something that could ease his hunger. He heard a loud sigh from behind him which was briefly accompanied by loud grumbling about having more dishes to clean up - as if the man didn't sign up for this himself. He grabbed a bowl and poured himself some cereal, leaning against the side absentmindedly. The cereal wasnt good, not in the slightest, but it was something. Regulus picked up the cereal box and began reading the side.
“What is this even made of?” Regulus muttered “it tastes like bark coated in sugar” Kreacher snatched the box off of him and ushered him aside so he could place it back in its spot. Regulus smiled down at the man as the other tried hard to fight back his own grin. “You, Master Regulus, are going to be the death of me” Kreacher grumbled.
“que se passe-t-il?” a shrill voice rang out from the hall “Regulus, c'est toi ?” Regulus let out a quiet sigh as he recognised his mother's french
“Oui mama, je suis dans la cuisine” he placed down his bowl inside the sink which earned him a scowl from Kreacher. Regulus shot him an apologetic look before walking towards the hall where his mother stood expectantly.
“Regulus” his mother nodded in his direction, before staring disapprovingly at his clothing. Regulus looked down - realising that he was still in his pyjamas and brushed his hand down his clothes to try and remove the crumbs which lay apon them from his cereal. “Regulus do you not think that you should be changed by now?” his mother's tone was disapproving, her french accent pushing through as she spoke.
“Apologies mother, I shall go and change immediately” Walburga simply waved him off “don't bother, it is only your guests who have arrived anyways” her voice was laced with disappointment and her eyes were too filled with it. She pushed past him and moved towards the room which he had once been in and crossed it, moving towards her office area - a room which Regulus daren't enter without her permission.
He'd only been in there a few times - mainly for punishment. The room is filled with the screams of his brother as he took the blame for him, but since his death, the room has been filled with his own choked cries as drowns.
His mother's gift was dark - well, it's hardly a gift. It's more of a curse in Regulus’ eyes. His mother had control over nightmares and vision. Real pain and emotion-filled nightmares. After a while, reality and the nightmares start to blur and distinguishing the two becomes harder and harder. No matter how many times Regulus is put under, he still fails to realise when the pain is over - it's never really over.
A knock on the door startled him from his own thoughts, and thankful for it, he opens the front door to his house and is met with the familiar faces of his two friends - Barty Crouch Jr, the son of a notorious civil agent working with the “good guys”, it’s a load of bullshit if you ask him - and Evan Rosier, son of one of the villains in the league, a quieter one but still well known nonetheless.
A small smile appeared on Regulus’ face as they entered the house.
Barty looked him up and down and smirked as he walked past him “Nice clothes mate” Regulus rolled his eyes and scoffed “trust you to make a fashion remark” - Barty ignored him and walked straight into the living room and sprawled out on the sofa and was soon followed by Evan, who leaned against him and looked lovingly at him. Regulus fake gagged and sat in the armchair beside them.
“No Cas?”. Evan shook his head “She got caught up with some stuff, ‘parently she got this new job working in a cafe” Evan smiled to himself “Maybe I could pay her a lil’ visit, y’know, really heat things up a bit” as he said this, he wiggled his fingers - allowing tiny sparks to fly off his fingertips. Regulus smiled at the thought but shook his head. “Good for her, honestly, that kind of stability is more than Barty will ever have”
Apon hearing his name, he shot a glance in Regulus’ direction - “careful what you say Black” he hissed “never know where I could get ya” - He then disappeared.
Regulus sat awaiting for whatever Barty planned to do to get back at him before he felt something sliding up his leg. A green python was climbing its way up his chair. Regulus raised his hand and suddenly dark ropes of darkness enveloped the snake and with a flick of his hand, the snake was thrown across the room a little harder than he had intended. He quickly cushioned the fall, but a loud THUD was heard as the snake hit the floor.
Evan laughed hysterically as Barty turned back to his human form and Regulus himself was struggling to hold back his own laughter as he approached the now-human again Barty; who was too busy groaning around on the floor to see his approach. Regulus leaned over him and Barty looked up to see his friend and shot him a glare.
“Jesus man, what the hell was that” Barty groaned, sitting up and clutching his back.
Regulus lend him a hand which Barty swatted away. “Apologies, that was a little harder than i intended” He smirked to himself as Barty struggled to stand up “do you need me to call for Kreacher?”
Hearing his name, the old man appeared in the living room ushering in Pandora who appeared to be talking out of her ears about something that Regulus could not understand.
Nargles? What the hell are Nargles?
Regulus cleared his throat and pointed to Barty - who had now given up trying to stand and was lying on the floor. His boyfriend had also collapsed on the floor with laughter - clutching his chest and tears streaming down his face - he was not helping the situation in the slightest.
Kreacher walked over with Pandora. Regulus nodded in her direction - “Alright Pands?”
She smiled at him before replying “Always”
Regulus smiled back at her. He seemed to be seeing her more and more nowadays - with her being one of the lead scientists and researchers for the organisation, he couldn't help but feel suspicious, that and the increase in meetings. Something big was coming - and he could feel the darkness within it.
“What happened here”
A man stood in the doorway, and his voice immediately put Regulus on edge - It was his father. He stood and bowed before him, the formality was thick between them and you could sense the unfamiliarity.
His father nodded “Well met. Regulus, care to tell me what happened here? I doubt you'd want your mother to find out now would you?”
He knew, he always did know about his fear of punishment. It's hard not to fear it when you're forced to relive the same memory over and over. The feel of drowning but this time, there is no Sirius to dive in and save him - Just him and the sun falling further away from each other. A falling angel.
A fall from grace.
The spluttering and coughing when his mother releases him from the torment, but no water comes out - because it was never there to begin with.
☆
It was unfair, being exposed to evil at such a young age, and before Sirius left, he felt safe knowing that his brother would look out for him, protect him from the evil which lived in their home. But now, at 17, Regulus grew a new form of respect for his brother, for the forms of evil which he was exposed to as the original heir were probably worse than what he experiences now, as his brother would regularly take extra punishment for something which was not his fault to save his brother as well as being exposed to it for longer.
After Sirius’ disappearance, Regulus was forced to learn how to be an heir. He learned how to steal, how to kidnap, how to torture, and how to kill. He was the example of what Sirius should've been. His brother was ridiculed, his name destroyed and his name eradicated from the family's history book. Sirius Black - the coward, the disgrace. By the time he was 16, Regulus was a killing machine. He was a symbol of darkness, loyal to Death Eaters and the House of Black - No, he was the House of Black. He was idolised and highly respected by others. Now, Regulus Black was a demon in the night, earning him the name "Leo" after his constellation and for the way the lion isn't afraid and its loyalty.
They were wrong about one thing though - Regulus Black, like his brother, was only loyal to himself.
As a child, Regulus was curious. Curious as to what his brother could do. But, Regulus and Sirius had to hide their "gifts" from one another, at least until they fulfilled their duty. No matter Regulus' whining, Sirius never told - He never would - Sirius was only ever loyal to his secrets.
Regulus suspected that his secrets caught up with him one day though, as he ran. Left him behind, Sirius did not tell him that he was leaving, so he was hunted by his own family. He did not make it far. His disfigured body was found in the woods, it was broken beyond repair and recognition but it had his necklace. The one containing the house of black - the other half to Regulus’ which he saw as a symbol of their brotherhood and how nobody in this wretched house could tear them apart. Until they did.
Regulus mourned over his brother privately and was forced to put on a facade of disgust whenever his brother mentioned, for now, his brother was a traitor and no longer his brother. Over time, the pain eased away and Regulus was consumed with the darkness that lived inside. His feelings were completely eradicated from his mind, body and soul. The feelings he had once faked towards his brother became true - He hated him - How could he leave him in a place like this?
☆
Regulus stood up straight and looked at his father. “It was me.” he spoke calmly, not allowing any sign of fear to break through his voice “I lost control and threw him harder than intended.” Regulus kneeled before the man. “ Just follow the rules and nobody gets hurt, do you understand me Regulus?” His brother's voice echoed in his mind - How pathetic. “I apologise Father”
His father huffed out a small laugh and signalled for his son to rise, so he did. “Perhaps your mother was wrong about you” Regulus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at the statement - despite being a notorious villain it was unlike him to go against his wife. “Maybe you are ready to fulfil your duty”
Fulfil his duty? Does he know what that entails? Joining the league, put his life at risk. The heir of the House of Black is not due to join for another year yet. Regulus conveyed his thoughts to his father who simply waved him off
“Alas, it would be good to get some live practice with your powers - capture your own prisoners” His father looked questioningly at him “Is that not what you want?”
The air grew thick and dense in the room “Of course, Father” Regulus tilted his head “What more could I want?” The man smiled down at him and nodded.
“Then I shall discuss it with your mother” He looked up and nodded at each person in the room. When his eyes set on Barty, who was now standing with Evan's support, who too got up from the floor, he smirked. “Do fight back next time, Crouch, you do want a place with us right?” Barty nodded “Then fight for it.” with that he turned and left the room, swiftly shutting the door behind him.
“So… we’re in now, right?” Regulus turned around with a smile. “We’re in.”
A loud cheer erupted in the room, this is what they had been waiting for - this is what he had been waiting for. A chance to prove his worth.
Sirius had secrets, yes, but so does everyone - it's what you do with those secrets that matter.
And Regulus was going to make sure that he didn't become another victim.