There's something cold in Regulus then. Something cold and hollow and he hates that he can't tell if Sirius is being cruel to him to hurt him or to save him - he can't even look at him, can't meet his gaze, and even if he had seen the apology in Sirius' eyes he wouldn't be able to accept it because he believes the things he's saying. Regulus knows he's spineless, knows he's useless and should have left, should have been stronger, shouldn't have done things he hated just to be safe.
His breath is shaking as he inhales, exhales, and he has to do his best to not cry. He can't, not now. That really will be a death sentence.
He wishes Sirius would stop pushing it. He wishes Sirius would just let him die so he can at least do it protecting his brother, doing something good with his life for once. But he keeps going and when Bellatrix grabs Sirius to press her wand to his throat his own breath stops, he's reaching out to stop her despite what she's saying--then he's Imperioused, he's standing and taking a step toward Regulus and he takes a step back instinctively, hands shaking and eyes filled with terror - he's never been afraid of Sirius but he is afraid of this.
He still looks terrified when Sirius breaks out of it. It takes him a second to process and he's breathing out sharp and harsh, but he doesn't have time to even himself out because then she has Sirius in the air and he's panicking - even if Sirius hates him, he can't do nothing. "Bellatrix" he says, and it's sharper and firmer for it - he moves forward and pushes her arm down before she can protest, effectively lowering Sirius to the ground. "Bellatrix, we can't, please--you may not think he's family any more but you know I do. You can't hurt him that much."
There's another of those deadly pauses but Regulus has turned his face toward her, wearing a sickle-sharp grin that Sirius will be able to catch if he's looking at them. "Cousin, I know you're angry. But he has to still be useful whether he returns to us or not." He's hoping (that small thing like prayer again) that she remembers some conversations he's been having with the Dark Lord.
Finally, finally, it seems to break through. "Oh!" She's right back to before, syrupy sweet, and she's actually pinching his cheeks. "Look at my little Occlumens! You've been practicing. Yes, he'll be quite happy with you for that."
Regulus exhales but that smile is still there, then he's nodding. "I've got to always do my best, Bellatrix. You know that. Still, I can't hurt him. I can't let you hurt him too much either." Sirius will know this tone: it's precisely the tone he'd used to lie to their parents when they were children. To protect Sirius. He hopes it's enough.
"You're going to be a lovely little spy, aren't you? Properly penitent and all. Well, we'll still have to give him something lasting so he can't quite place what happened here. Too preoccupied with the pain, after all. It'd be a shame if he remembered this part!"
When she moves toward Sirius this time, she doesn't have her wand drawn.
no subject
His breath is shaking as he inhales, exhales, and he has to do his best to not cry. He can't, not now. That really will be a death sentence.
He wishes Sirius would stop pushing it. He wishes Sirius would just let him die so he can at least do it protecting his brother, doing something good with his life for once. But he keeps going and when Bellatrix grabs Sirius to press her wand to his throat his own breath stops, he's reaching out to stop her despite what she's saying--then he's Imperioused, he's standing and taking a step toward Regulus and he takes a step back instinctively, hands shaking and eyes filled with terror - he's never been afraid of Sirius but he is afraid of this.
He still looks terrified when Sirius breaks out of it. It takes him a second to process and he's breathing out sharp and harsh, but he doesn't have time to even himself out because then she has Sirius in the air and he's panicking - even if Sirius hates him, he can't do nothing. "Bellatrix" he says, and it's sharper and firmer for it - he moves forward and pushes her arm down before she can protest, effectively lowering Sirius to the ground. "Bellatrix, we can't, please--you may not think he's family any more but you know I do. You can't hurt him that much."
There's another of those deadly pauses but Regulus has turned his face toward her, wearing a sickle-sharp grin that Sirius will be able to catch if he's looking at them. "Cousin, I know you're angry. But he has to still be useful whether he returns to us or not." He's hoping (that small thing like prayer again) that she remembers some conversations he's been having with the Dark Lord.
Finally, finally, it seems to break through. "Oh!" She's right back to before, syrupy sweet, and she's actually pinching his cheeks. "Look at my little Occlumens! You've been practicing. Yes, he'll be quite happy with you for that."
Regulus exhales but that smile is still there, then he's nodding. "I've got to always do my best, Bellatrix. You know that. Still, I can't hurt him. I can't let you hurt him too much either." Sirius will know this tone: it's precisely the tone he'd used to lie to their parents when they were children. To protect Sirius. He hopes it's enough.
"You're going to be a lovely little spy, aren't you? Properly penitent and all. Well, we'll still have to give him something lasting so he can't quite place what happened here. Too preoccupied with the pain, after all. It'd be a shame if he remembered this part!"
When she moves toward Sirius this time, she doesn't have her wand drawn.