[ it's painful to listen to. it makes him angry, angry with so many people. angry with regulus, for having gotten himself into that situation to begin with. angry with their parents for leading their impressionable young son down such a dangerous, destructive path. angry with himself. angry with voldemort, the snake, the monster responsible for all of it.
he doesn't know what to say. sirius has never claimed to be an eloquent speaker, never considered himself someone who was capable of giving good advice. he's too rash, makes poor choices rooted in emotion instead of logic. he doesn't know how to comfort his brother.
a thick lump rides in sirius' throat, and he swallows hard around it. when words fail him, all sirius has is his hands, and he's spent all night holding regulus, but right now it's all he can think to do. with both arms he gathers his brother close again, and there's a desperate protectiveness in it now, his hands fisting tight in regulus' shirt, white knuckled. he'd known he'd nearly lost him, but hearing the story of it makes it seem more real somehow, tangible, like if he doesn't hold on tightly enough death will swoop down again to finish what it had started in that cave. ]
It's all right. You're all right.
[ sirius finally says, his voice rough with emotion, chin rested firmly atop regulus' head. ]
You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. To either of you.
no you!!
he doesn't know what to say. sirius has never claimed to be an eloquent speaker, never considered himself someone who was capable of giving good advice. he's too rash, makes poor choices rooted in emotion instead of logic. he doesn't know how to comfort his brother.
a thick lump rides in sirius' throat, and he swallows hard around it. when words fail him, all sirius has is his hands, and he's spent all night holding regulus, but right now it's all he can think to do. with both arms he gathers his brother close again, and there's a desperate protectiveness in it now, his hands fisting tight in regulus' shirt, white knuckled. he'd known he'd nearly lost him, but hearing the story of it makes it seem more real somehow, tangible, like if he doesn't hold on tightly enough death will swoop down again to finish what it had started in that cave. ]
It's all right. You're all right.
[ sirius finally says, his voice rough with emotion, chin rested firmly atop regulus' head. ]
You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. To either of you.