Breath after shuddering breath and Remus still feels like he can't get enough oxygen. He feels faint again and he's still crying and Regulus is going to die and the last thing he ever did was accuse him of the most horrible things and it's not fair.

He can't do this. He can't. He doesn't know how to let go even though he would be the first to admit that Regulus has every right to ask whatever he pleases of him. Regulus ought to hate him, ought never have even come to find him. But he did.

And now he expects Remus to let him go, just like that.

"I won't let you walk out that door." He means it, even as he clings to the heavy fabric fisted in his hands, his clammy forehead pressed to Regulus' and Regulus' breath tickling his lips every time he speaks. "There has to be another way. I won't let you die hating yourself when I'm the one who... who..."

But he can't find the words, because there are too many of them, instead squeezing his eyes tighter as fresh tears wet his cheeks.