Chapter Text
“We are doing all we can to contain this virus. But until then…” The newscaster nervously looks at his notes, “It’s advised to lock your doors and stay inside until further notice.”
A small ping makes Sirius look down at his mobile. Only one word from an unknown number. But he recognizes it immediately. He made himself memorize it for moments like this. “M'aider.”
Pure panic races through Sirius as he bolts towards the door. “Sirius?” James follows after him with a worried frown, “Where are you going?”
Sirius reaches for his bag and slips it on his shoulder. “Regulus.”
“Phone him. They just told us not to leave our flat.”
Sirius runs a hand through his hair irritably, “I can’t. My evil mother would hear us. Then he’d lose his burner and never be able to talk to me ever again.”
Maybe not ever again. But the point still stands that Regulus wouldn’t be able to talk to him and that scares Sirius more than anything else. Because Sirius already knows how daft and prideful Regulus gets about leaving. Like it’s admitting defeat. So these small moments of vulnerability, when Regulus asks for his help, feel like the most important thing in the world.
James sighs resolutely then starts to reach for his jumper. “Do you need my help?”
Sirius shakes his head, “I’ll manage. Hopefully I’ll be able to convince him to leave. I couldn’t live with myself if he had to be stuck with her during this lockdown.”
James nods, understanding the weight of being stuck with Walburga Black. “Just don’t forget to answer your mobile.“
“I won’t-“ James pulls him into a tight hug before he can even finish his sentence.
“Please, be careful.” James says in a soft but threatening tone that makes Sirius huff out a laugh and hug him back even tighter.
“Stop acting like I’m about to die. It’s not too far from here.” Sirius pulls away but squeezes his shoulder, “I’ll be back soon. Hopefully with an irritating git right behind me.”
James laughs but the concerns still wafting off of him in waves. As much as Sirius loves James, he can’t waste any more time.
Sirius opens the door quickly and starts to sprint. Thought it’s hard to ignore the chaos around him.
Various sirens sounding all around him, the roads completely full, and people pushing past with their luggage.
The only thing that keeps him moving in this sea of people is Regulus. Trying, and failing, to push the thoughts away of everything that could be wrong. What if the house is on fire? That would honestly be a mercy with how many wretched things have happened there. But that’s not important. What if Walburga has beaten him bad enough to need to need medical attention? What if he hasn’t eaten in a week? What if-
Sirius runs straight into someone’s chest, interrupting his existential thoughts. The man’s hands come up to steady him on his waist. Preventing Sirius from embarrassing himself even more by falling on his face.
Sirius hurriedly stands up straight, “Sorry, I-“
Sirius falls silent as he meets the man’s gaze. His hazel eyes are captivating. Everything about him is. The feel of his hands on Sirius’s waist. How he’s towering over him and standing so close.
“I…” Sirius starts again aimlessly. He has no idea what to say. He must seem like he’s daft or mental. Running straight into him and not even being able to finish a sentence. Sirius flushes in embarrassment and attempts to move the hair out of his face.
“Having trouble there?” The man asks with an amused grin.
Sirius huffs out a laugh and nods, “Always has a mind of its own.” The man hums in agreement and effortlessly brushes the stray hair behind his ear. Sirius’s heart races at the feel of his rough hand.
“Care for a smoke?” He asks, as if they’re the only people in the world. Before Sirius can reply, a car drives into the shop across the street. There’s barely enough time to get down before the explosion goes off.
The ringing in his ears brings his mind back to Regulus. As much as he desperately wants to smoke with this attractive stranger, he can’t waste time like this. Not when Regulus needs him. Sirius glances at the man one last time then hands him his cigarette that had fallen to the ground. “Maybe later.” Sirius runs off before he could respond.
Even more people are filling up the streets now as they leave their cars. Sirius is pushing past them when a blood curdling scream sounds across the street. He doesn’t want to look at whatever's going on. He just needs to get to Regulus immediately.
The man in front of Sirius gets tackled to the ground causing him to stumble. He instinctually turns back to help the man but freezes in horror. The person bites the skin clean off the man’s throat. Blood spurts out onto both of them as the man stops fighting. Revulsion hit Sirius at full force as the people around him scream and push him forward.
—————
His fist raps against the door to his childhood home. Sweat beading down his forehead and heart thrumming in anxiety. He can’t stop seeing the blood pouring out of that man’s throat.
Walburga opens the door with a sour expression. “Of all the days-“ Sirius shamelessly pushes her out of the way and runs as fast as he can to Regulus’s room.
He throws Regulus’s door open without knocking. Causing Regulus to immediately stand up with wide scared eyes. He hates that look. Hates that he’s had to wear it so many times before. Regulus still wears it like a second skin and the thought sickens him.
But the relief of seeing him alive overrides it. For some reason he can never fully convince himself that Regulus is safe and sound until he can see for himself. Sirius let out a wet laugh and pulls him into a tight hug. Regulus hugs him back just as tight. Which is strange for him. Usually he pushes Sirius away or pretends to hate the embrace.
“Sirius Orion Black! What’s the meaning of this?” Walburga yells angrily as she starts to walk up the stairs. Thankfully she can’t move as fast as she used to due to her bad hip.
Regulus immediately tenses up with anxiety and pulls out of their hug. “There’s something wrong with father.”
Sirius furrows his brow, “He’s always ill these days.”
Regulus shakes his head fervently, “No, this time it’s different. He’s different.” Regulus swallows thickly. “He…attacked me.“
Regulus’s scared expression is enough of a reason to drag him out of the house, willing or not. Sirius quickly locks the door before Walburga can burst in. “Then, I need you to make a bag right now. You’re leaving with me.”
Regulus face flickers through a million different emotions, “What?”
“This virus is bad. Sirens have been sounding all day and people have been acting mental. Which means way longer lockdown and I refuse to let you be stuck here. Especially if both mother and father are acting like this now.”
Regulus bites his lip nervously, “I can’t. You know she won’t allow that.”
Sirius throws his hands up angrily, “I don’t care what she will or won’t allow.”
Regulus raises a brow and crosses his arms. “Easy to say when you wouldn’t be the one getting punished.”
“Then move in with me and James. I’ve wanted you to ever since I did.” And he has. He originally planned for the three of them to move in together but Regulus didn’t want to. He didn’t even try. Which hurt more than Sirius thought it would. Didn’t he see how miserable this house was making him? How miserable mother was making him?
Regulus looks away as if he already knows what Sirius is thinking, “You know I can’t.”
Sirius grits his teeth. He’s not going to waste his words, not when they need to leave as soon as possible. “Fine, I’ll pack for you then.”
Sirius runs to his closet and picks up a bundle of clothes. Regulus pushes him away, “Stop!”
Sirius throws the clothes on Regulus’s bed. “If you didn’t want to leave with me then why’d you message me?”
“Because…father…he-“ The fight leaves Regulus’s body, showing just how exhausted he is. And the sight makes Sirius both want to hug him close and strangle their parents.
Regulus pulls the sleeve of his shirt down and Sirius's eyes narrow, “Show me.” Regulus freezes anxiously but then Walburga suddenly starts to pound on the door. Sirius uses that distraction to move Regulus’s sleeve up.
His wrist is nearly back and blue with how badly it’s bruised. The sight guts Sirius. It somehow feels like his fault. He should’ve done more to convince Regulus to leave. If he had, he wouldn’t have this horrible bruise. “Sirius!” Regulus yells angrily, “Don’t just do that!”
“And that was from father?” Sirius hisses, ignoring Regulus’s complaint.
Regulus moves his sleeve down again but nods irritably. “He also…bit mother. Hard enough to draw blood.”
Flashes of the people in the street come back to Sirius. No, it must’ve not been that bad if she’s banging on the door like this. “You need to leave with me. Please, Regulus. I can barely sleep as it is knowing where you are during the holidays. Now with father acting mental too…”
Regulus sighs and resolutely moves to start to pack. Walburga punches the door hard enough to make dust fall off the shelves. Regulus’s worried gaze meets his and Sirius nods once. “I’ll handle it. Just focus on packing.”
Sirius ignores the nerves bubbling up inside him as he opens the door and shut it as fast as he can. Walburga immediately slaps him in the face and Sirius eyes instinctively waters. After so many years of being hit you’d think your body would get used to it.
She swings up her hand to hit him again but Sirius grabs her wrist. Anger igniting inside of him. How dare she think that she can still do this to him. That he’s the same defenseless child being beaten for his ‘own good’.
“Stop.” He hisses into her face. His heart thudding anxiously. Despite being blatantly stronger than her, its hard to fight back. Some instinctive part of him still wants to cower. But he isn’t going to let himself fall into that right now. Not when Regulus needs him to be strong.
It always came down to that when they were children. Sirius was always the one to act out and get punished. He got used to it at a certain point. Which is why when Regulus would make a mistake, he had to either take credit or do something worse. Anything to prevent Regulus from getting hurt. It didn’t always work. But at least she took more of her anger out on Sirius than him.
Walburga glowers in anger and weakly pushes him away, “You have no right to be here. That’s my son in there.”
Sirius laughs bitterly, “What? And I’m not?”
“You’re nothing but a dirty stranger who’s trying to corrupt-” Walburga let out a raspy wet cough. The sudden sight of blood on her teeth sickened him. “I was glad the day you decided to run off. One less mouth to feed.”
Sirius clenches his fist angrily, “Like you even fed me.”
“I fed and gave you more than enough. I spoiled you rotten.” This close to Walburga, he can see the sweat running down her forehead and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Suddenly being so close to her doesn’t seem safe.
Regulus leaves the room but freezes when he sees them. He glances between them and opens his mouth. “Don’t.” Sirius hisses, while still glaring at his mother. He motions his head to the stairs.
“Don’t you dare go with him, boy. If you do-“ Walburga coughs uncontrollably in her hand. Regulus quickly moves down the stairs and the moment he’s fully down Sirius lets out a sigh.
He makes his way to the stairs watching Walburga closely. The moment she stops coughing she turns to give him an angry glare. Obviously not caring about the amount of blood now in her palm. Sirius barely has any time to prepare before she tackles him, making them both tumble down the stairs.