Regulus is looking resolute again and is standing next to Bellatrix like he belongs there, and it hurts. It hurts more than Sirius ever thought it could, to know that this is the cost of running, of being too weak to stay. He doesn't know if anything in the world could possibly hurt more than this.
But then Bella moves her wand and it does and Merlin, this is worse. This is worse than every single cut and bruise ever inflicted upon him in his parents' house, than every single full moon or injury acquired thus far in the war. This is worse than seeing Regulus turn into a Death Eater and it is unending. He thinks he's screaming, but he can't hear it because he feels like he's dying, he wants to be dead if it will make it stop--
--And then it's over, or at least it's not so all-encompassing. The ache is still there but he can think a little more clearly and he can see Regulus still there and Bellatrix looking gleeful and they want him to choose this?
"Fucking-- bitch," he gasps out, still trembling from the ache but with considerably more clarity in his eyes than just mere moments ago, "I am something, and it's better than you will ever be."
The sudden ability to speak makes Bellatrix's eyes narrow, and she lifts the spell only to hit him with another Crucio. The suddenness of it makes Sirius cry out again, but not nearly as much as he had been when the spell had been in full force.
Curious, curious, curious. Bellatrix snarls a little bit at the words her former cousin spits out to her but doesn't deign him with a response, instead turning to her far more beloved cousin.
"Regulus," she croons, "Clearly this piece of filth needs to be put in his place, but it appears that even all the hate I hold for him isn't nearly enough to accomplish the lesson. I'm sure you'd be much more effective at teaching him his place. Would you like to try?"
no subject
But then Bella moves her wand and it does and Merlin, this is worse. This is worse than every single cut and bruise ever inflicted upon him in his parents' house, than every single full moon or injury acquired thus far in the war. This is worse than seeing Regulus turn into a Death Eater and it is unending. He thinks he's screaming, but he can't hear it because he feels like he's dying, he wants to be dead if it will make it stop--
--And then it's over, or at least it's not so all-encompassing. The ache is still there but he can think a little more clearly and he can see Regulus still there and Bellatrix looking gleeful and they want him to choose this?
"Fucking-- bitch," he gasps out, still trembling from the ache but with considerably more clarity in his eyes than just mere moments ago, "I am something, and it's better than you will ever be."
The sudden ability to speak makes Bellatrix's eyes narrow, and she lifts the spell only to hit him with another Crucio. The suddenness of it makes Sirius cry out again, but not nearly as much as he had been when the spell had been in full force.
Curious, curious, curious. Bellatrix snarls a little bit at the words her former cousin spits out to her but doesn't deign him with a response, instead turning to her far more beloved cousin.
"Regulus," she croons, "Clearly this piece of filth needs to be put in his place, but it appears that even all the hate I hold for him isn't nearly enough to accomplish the lesson. I'm sure you'd be much more effective at teaching him his place. Would you like to try?"
It really isn't much of a question at all.