He's so so relieved when Bellatrix takes the bait. That relief turns into horror when he realizes what she's going to do but it's better than what she was going to do and he can't stop her anyway, has to let her or else she'll just get angry again and probably kill them both.
He winces visibly with each crack, breath coming in quiet and shaky gasps but Bellatrix is too preoccupied with what she's doing, with Sirius' screams. Thankfully he's able to get some semblance of normalcy to his expression before Bellatrix looks to him - he'd winced when the burning started but keeps as impassive as possible. He nods, but when he speaks it's a lazy drawl and there's no tremor to it. He's coming into his own, with this. "Of course, Trixie." The nickname flows like honey from his mouth, affectionate and dear - "he's called both of us but it won't take me but a moment to Obliviate Sirius - you know everyone comes in over the course of a few minutes, so I'll be able to. We all know you always go to his side first, but I won't take long at all. If you'd like, you can put in a good word for me and tell him I'm putting the final nail in the coffin to set up my in as a spy and that I'll be there promptly after. It should please him well enough. This won't be a struggle."
She seems to be considering it but the pull for her to go is too strong and she finally nods, looking him over. "You'll be such a good spy, darling. I'll let him know of your progress. Don't take too long."
(And then she's flouncing out to leave, nudging Sirius with a boot like he's so much trash before she does. There's a crack of Disapparation and she's gone.)
Regulus lets out a choked sob as soon as they're alone, the noise of it caught in his throat. He moves to Sirius' side quickly but doesn't touch him, just drops to his knees there on the floor. "I'm sorry," he whispers, "I'm so sorry I couldn't get her to stop. I know I'm a coward, but I--she would have killed you. I'm not going to Obliviate you, I just--" A shaking breath and he wipes his eyes with his fingers. "I know you probably hate me now but I tried to warn you, I swear, I told the owl to find Lupin if it couldn't find you. I don't have long, I have to go, but--" Another breath and he pulls out his wand, leaning close but still not touching him, murmuring softly under his breath. Inaudibly. It won't be a familiar spell but it will help, a coil of warmth around him and a numbing of the pain and gentle comfort. He can't fix his bones but he can make him hurt less in the meantime, at least. It's a strong spell but it's still going to hurt. Quite a lot. It will just be easier to breathe now, easier to relax and not disappear into it.
It's all Regulus can do.
He still doesn't touch Sirius for a long moment before one hand smooths over his hair, barely-there and gentle as he kisses his forehead. "I'm sorry," he murmurs again, "I love you, even if you hate me more after this. I have to go."
He gets up to leave but seems to realize something at the last second - he casts Obliviate at a potted plant (which breaks, but obviously can't forget anything) just in case he gets asked or checked. The man he's going to is paranoid, after all. Then he clears his mind and puts all the locks on it at once, breathing slow and even before he runs out the door to Disapparate.
--
When he arrives his expression is schooled into a lazy sort of smirk and Bellatrix is just reaching the end of her tale of how even she was convinced of Regulus' fear and determination to help Sirius, and just how good of a spy her little cousin will be. Regulus knows that won't be good enough.
"Is this true, Black?"
Regulus nods, bowing his head with proper respect. "I've Obliviated him, my Lord. Immediately after that, I cried and told him how sorry I was and that I had to go but that I'd wanted to help him. He believes me. My path is paved well."
(There are crawling fingers in his mind, digging, prying, but they find nothing.)
He nods, satisfied. "You've done well since coming up with the idea. I will require one more thing from you to prove your loyalty before I let you go to do this bidding, though. I require an Elf for something I am testing, I trust you will not mind if I take your household's?"
Regulus goes cold and he feels guilt picking at his psyche but he nods, eyebrows raising as he smiles. "Of course, my Lord. I would be honored."
"Good boy."
--
As soon as he gets home, Regulus goes to the bathroom and vomits. Then he sits there, breathing slow, and is glad his parents aren't home. Finally, finally, he goes to Kreacher and explains that he'll be helping the Dark Lord, but that no matter what, he is to come home afterward so that Regulus can take care of him.
He apologizes over and over but Kreacher doesn't understand why because he's just meant to follow orders.
Regulus doesn't know what the job is, but he thinks it must have something to do with what's been on his mind for months now.
It's almost morning by the time Kreacher finally returns, and he's different. Broken, somehow. Regulus does the best by him as he can, and eventually, when the sun is fully up, Kreacher can tell him what's gone on.
He decides, then and there, that he's going to go steal it.
no subject
He winces visibly with each crack, breath coming in quiet and shaky gasps but Bellatrix is too preoccupied with what she's doing, with Sirius' screams. Thankfully he's able to get some semblance of normalcy to his expression before Bellatrix looks to him - he'd winced when the burning started but keeps as impassive as possible. He nods, but when he speaks it's a lazy drawl and there's no tremor to it. He's coming into his own, with this. "Of course, Trixie." The nickname flows like honey from his mouth, affectionate and dear - "he's called both of us but it won't take me but a moment to Obliviate Sirius - you know everyone comes in over the course of a few minutes, so I'll be able to. We all know you always go to his side first, but I won't take long at all. If you'd like, you can put in a good word for me and tell him I'm putting the final nail in the coffin to set up my in as a spy and that I'll be there promptly after. It should please him well enough. This won't be a struggle."
She seems to be considering it but the pull for her to go is too strong and she finally nods, looking him over. "You'll be such a good spy, darling. I'll let him know of your progress. Don't take too long."
(And then she's flouncing out to leave, nudging Sirius with a boot like he's so much trash before she does. There's a crack of Disapparation and she's gone.)
Regulus lets out a choked sob as soon as they're alone, the noise of it caught in his throat. He moves to Sirius' side quickly but doesn't touch him, just drops to his knees there on the floor. "I'm sorry," he whispers, "I'm so sorry I couldn't get her to stop. I know I'm a coward, but I--she would have killed you. I'm not going to Obliviate you, I just--" A shaking breath and he wipes his eyes with his fingers. "I know you probably hate me now but I tried to warn you, I swear, I told the owl to find Lupin if it couldn't find you. I don't have long, I have to go, but--" Another breath and he pulls out his wand, leaning close but still not touching him, murmuring softly under his breath. Inaudibly. It won't be a familiar spell but it will help, a coil of warmth around him and a numbing of the pain and gentle comfort. He can't fix his bones but he can make him hurt less in the meantime, at least. It's a strong spell but it's still going to hurt. Quite a lot. It will just be easier to breathe now, easier to relax and not disappear into it.
It's all Regulus can do.
He still doesn't touch Sirius for a long moment before one hand smooths over his hair, barely-there and gentle as he kisses his forehead. "I'm sorry," he murmurs again, "I love you, even if you hate me more after this. I have to go."
He gets up to leave but seems to realize something at the last second - he casts Obliviate at a potted plant (which breaks, but obviously can't forget anything) just in case he gets asked or checked. The man he's going to is paranoid, after all. Then he clears his mind and puts all the locks on it at once, breathing slow and even before he runs out the door to Disapparate.
--
When he arrives his expression is schooled into a lazy sort of smirk and Bellatrix is just reaching the end of her tale of how even she was convinced of Regulus' fear and determination to help Sirius, and just how good of a spy her little cousin will be. Regulus knows that won't be good enough.
"Is this true, Black?"
Regulus nods, bowing his head with proper respect. "I've Obliviated him, my Lord. Immediately after that, I cried and told him how sorry I was and that I had to go but that I'd wanted to help him. He believes me. My path is paved well."
(There are crawling fingers in his mind, digging, prying, but they find nothing.)
He nods, satisfied. "You've done well since coming up with the idea. I will require one more thing from you to prove your loyalty before I let you go to do this bidding, though. I require an Elf for something I am testing, I trust you will not mind if I take your household's?"
Regulus goes cold and he feels guilt picking at his psyche but he nods, eyebrows raising as he smiles. "Of course, my Lord. I would be honored."
"Good boy."
--
As soon as he gets home, Regulus goes to the bathroom and vomits. Then he sits there, breathing slow, and is glad his parents aren't home. Finally, finally, he goes to Kreacher and explains that he'll be helping the Dark Lord, but that no matter what, he is to come home afterward so that Regulus can take care of him.
He apologizes over and over but Kreacher doesn't understand why because he's just meant to follow orders.
Regulus doesn't know what the job is, but he thinks it must have something to do with what's been on his mind for months now.
It's almost morning by the time Kreacher finally returns, and he's different. Broken, somehow. Regulus does the best by him as he can, and eventually, when the sun is fully up, Kreacher can tell him what's gone on.
He decides, then and there, that he's going to go steal it.