[ for all of regulus' hopes, there's simply no way he could have hidden it forever. or even for a long amount of time. those wraps were simply too suspicious, and sirius would have ferreted it out on his own eventually. secrets like this.. they have a way of outing themselves, no matter how hard you might try to keep them hidden.
and besides, for what it's worth, sirius would much rather know the truth and feel the pain now, than be hidden from it, and allow his brother to suffer on his own.
this ache, it runs through them both, back and forth like a snake swallowing its own tail, an endless loop. at last sirius releases his iron grip on regulus' wrist, and he uses that arm to scoop his huddled brother in close, squeezing him, all but crushing him as if somehow sirius could protect him from all of this with his own body, shield him as if it were something physical assailing them both. ]
No. [ he says, sharply, and surely, despite the rough quality of his voice. ] Don't keep anything from me. Not anymore. You swear to me, Reg - no more secrets.
[ sirius squeezes his eyes shut, presses his face against the crown of regulus' head, into his messy, overgrown hair. ]
no subject
and besides, for what it's worth, sirius would much rather know the truth and feel the pain now, than be hidden from it, and allow his brother to suffer on his own.
this ache, it runs through them both, back and forth like a snake swallowing its own tail, an endless loop. at last sirius releases his iron grip on regulus' wrist, and he uses that arm to scoop his huddled brother in close, squeezing him, all but crushing him as if somehow sirius could protect him from all of this with his own body, shield him as if it were something physical assailing them both. ]
No. [ he says, sharply, and surely, despite the rough quality of his voice. ] Don't keep anything from me. Not anymore. You swear to me, Reg - no more secrets.
[ sirius squeezes his eyes shut, presses his face against the crown of regulus' head, into his messy, overgrown hair. ]
It's not your fault.