[ for all they'd become estranged, and grown apart as they aged, sirius had all but forgotten how desperately cute his brother could be. they're only a year apart, but somehow regulus has always felt.. younger somehow. smaller. softer. like something to be protected.
maybe it was nothing more than sirius' own arrogance making him feel that way, but he'd never lost that opinion, and he's feeling it again now, with his brother's skinny arm closing around him, that need to defend. to make him feel like everything will be all right. it's such a peaceful, quiet moment, regulus warm and smelling familiar beside him, the embers popping in the fireplace, that he's nearly dozing off again when regulus' voice whispers through the dimness. sirius chuckles, the sound like a soft, rolling growl. ]
Yeah.
[ his eyelids flicker open, and sirius' mouth pulls into a slow, sleepy smile, but it disappears in an instant the moment his gaze falls to the inside of regulus' arm. the image is sharp, clear, and unmistakable, and with a jolt of recognition sirius is snapped entirely awake, aware, a sick feeling twisting in the pit of his stomach. quick as a whip, he snags his brother's wrist and holds it. ]
no subject
maybe it was nothing more than sirius' own arrogance making him feel that way, but he'd never lost that opinion, and he's feeling it again now, with his brother's skinny arm closing around him, that need to defend. to make him feel like everything will be all right. it's such a peaceful, quiet moment, regulus warm and smelling familiar beside him, the embers popping in the fireplace, that he's nearly dozing off again when regulus' voice whispers through the dimness. sirius chuckles, the sound like a soft, rolling growl. ]
Yeah.
[ his eyelids flicker open, and sirius' mouth pulls into a slow, sleepy smile, but it disappears in an instant the moment his gaze falls to the inside of regulus' arm. the image is sharp, clear, and unmistakable, and with a jolt of recognition sirius is snapped entirely awake, aware, a sick feeling twisting in the pit of his stomach. quick as a whip, he snags his brother's wrist and holds it. ]
No - oh, Reg, no -