Like Real People Do // Jegulus

CW- vomiting, bile, mentions of suicide letter and death, torture

The Black-Lupin household was still and silent as Remus and Sirius stepped back through the floo, leaving behind the people-filled manor belonging to the Potters. There was a finality of Peter's death that didn't seem to sweep over Sirius until he was back in his own home, and he could feel his eyes begin to water.

"Pads-"

"I hate that I always do this."

"Do what?" Remus asked him.

Sirius's head dipped to stare at the floor. "My family has done a lot of bad things in the world, Moony. But I think the one thing I'll never forgive them for is turning me into this."

Remus stayed silent, listening. 

"I thought he turned," Sirius swallowed back his anguish. "And what I've done to Reg-"

"Hey," Remus shook his head. "You can't blame yourself for what happened to Regulus. You had to leave."

"I could have made him come, too. I could've forced him to come to the Potters with me, and maybe this whole thing would've gone differently."

"It would have," Remus agreed. "But would you have wanted it to? Imagine if we lost the war. Imagine if we died. You can't base your life now on what could have happened, Sirius."

Sirius dropped onto the couch next to Remus, sighing deeply and pretending as if his eyes weren't filled with tears. "I'm tired of this sodding war, Moonbeam."

"Me too, Pads," Remus agreed, leaning his head over to lay on the top of Sirius's. "Me too."

"You're sure that you won't stay under Order protection, Cissa? We can keep you safe."

"That's quite alright, Regulus. I have a feeling that this won't be the last we see of one another," Narcissa smiled ever so slightly as the two stood on the edge of the Potter wards. "Stay safe, cousin."

"You as well, Cissa. If you find yourself in need of assistance, you can always call on us."

Her smile widened slightly as she took a step back, holding her wand in the air as she apparated away. Regulus stood at the end of the Potter drive, the hair on the back of his neck standing. 

You will lose, Regulus Black. For I have seen your heart, and it is mine.

Bile bubbled in the back of Regulus's throat, and he began to wretch violently. The force of it dropped him onto his hands and knees, the stone of the drive cutting into his palms. He felt as the liquid made its way up the back of his throat, violently spewing across the ground in front of him. It was a thick, black substance, tinged in what Regulus could only guess was his own blood. A voice in his mind began to scream then, causing Regulus to roll onto his back and press his hands tightly against his ears. 

"NO!"

Flashes of images that Regulus knew was not his own began to play out in front of him, so quickly that he could barely recognize what was going on.

The Gaunt Shack. A slaughtered room full of goblins. His cousin, Bella, writhing naked on the floor. 

The face of Lord Voldemort, eyes red and flaming, screaming and lighting a cottage on fire.