I thought it would be easier. [He can't stop his words sometimes, sometimes he thinks the Mark on his arm goes deeper than anyone realizes, into his blood to chase the hurts and dig at them, to flay them open, because suddenly the next words are on his tongue and escaping:] You were rid of me.
[Maybe it isn't the Mark. Maybe it's just the black poisons he's been chasing down. They've tainted him, ever since that first potion, and he's still moving and breathing but is he really still alive?
His ribs still ache from how tightly Sirius had held him. He must be alive, to be able to feel that. And if he's alive, then he should explain. He wants to explain. Now that Sirius is here, he wants to explain what had happened, tell him everything, the discovery of the cave, drinking the potion, saved by Kreacher when the house-elf had already been weakened by casual cruelty.
But Sirius had never liked Kreacher. Never once understood him. Wouldn't understand why that, of all things, had snapped Regulus' head around and made him realize his brother had been right all along. And he'd needed to get the necklace. He needs to get the others, he needs to find them and kill them, whatever they are, wherever the Dark Lord has scattered himself, Regulus needs to find him.] I'm. I couldn't.
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[Maybe it isn't the Mark. Maybe it's just the black poisons he's been chasing down. They've tainted him, ever since that first potion, and he's still moving and breathing but is he really still alive?
His ribs still ache from how tightly Sirius had held him. He must be alive, to be able to feel that. And if he's alive, then he should explain. He wants to explain. Now that Sirius is here, he wants to explain what had happened, tell him everything, the discovery of the cave, drinking the potion, saved by Kreacher when the house-elf had already been weakened by casual cruelty.
But Sirius had never liked Kreacher. Never once understood him. Wouldn't understand why that, of all things, had snapped Regulus' head around and made him realize his brother had been right all along. And he'd needed to get the necklace. He needs to get the others, he needs to find them and kill them, whatever they are, wherever the Dark Lord has scattered himself, Regulus needs to find him.] I'm. I couldn't.