Chapter Text
Regulus groaned in pain through clenched teeth as he dragged his way up the stairs. His temper was non-existent at the moment and it caused him to lash out at his mother over lunch with a few ‘powerful’ acquaintances she had made in the ministry. Evidently this wasn't how she expected him to act. The similarities between Regulus and his brother was too much for her to overlook and she wanted to get his behaviour back on track as soon as possible to avoid any future complications but her methods have always been on the more painful side of things.
When in the safety of his room, Regulus allowed himself a moment to breathe freely and try to calm down, it was working until a sharp pain shot up his leg making them both collapse out from under him. Thanks to his somewhat quick reaction time, Reg managed to catch himself and instead of dropping straight to the floor his back hit the door behind him and he slowly made himself slide down it until he was sat in a way that caused his leg the least amount of pain.
A while had passed and Regulus was still slumped with his back against the door, not daring to move in case the pain in his legs made itself known again. The silence of the room made his mind wander to places that were normally kept firmly locked away and had left him feeling like absolute shit. One of the things that sat heavy on his mind was the war. He didn't know how much longer he had left in all the chaos before he ended up being killed in action or giving up and finishing the job himself. Shocked by the direction of his thoughts, Regulus shook his head violently as though trying to physically remove them, but just like all the other times he tried, it didn't work.
Knowing his attempts of getting anything done today were all futile, Regulus just decided he would try and get some rest hoping it would help sooth his body somewhat and make tomorrow slightly easier. Grabbing onto the desk near him, Regulus slowly pulled himself up knowing his body was still weak for the curses he had endured early and didn't want to start up and pain that was left over. When finally off the floor, Regulus gazed hopelessly at the desk in front of him, on it lay notebooks and pages upon pages of research he had been doing in the last few months determined to understand what his ‘lord’ was doing.
Getting the dark mark was one of regulus’ biggest regrets. Throughout his life he grew up watching Sirius constantly lashing out and going against what his parents wanted from him and every time it ended with Sirius heavily feeling the punishments of his actions and Regulus was left trying to help him as much as a child could. From this Regulus learned at a very young age that a way to avoid pain was to be as compliant as he could with his parents wishes and expectations but the scars on his body were proof that no amount of compliance could overlook the level of cruelty his parents held for their children.
When the mark was inevitably brought up, Regulus decided to try and go against his parents wishes for the first time since he was a child, he had finally reached a point in his life where he could confidently say he felt loved. A few months after Sirius ran away the brothers had somehow managed to reconnect. It took many arguments and tears for them to understand each other's sides but they could finally proudly call each other brothers. It didn't take long for James to get involved, where there was a Sirius there was always a James 2 steps behind. The two of them were scarily co-dependent.
As much as Regulus tried he couldn't ignore the fact that James had somehow managed to catch his attention time and time again. Shared glances between the two of them quickly evolved into soft smiles and hushed conversations. Without realising he had foolishly allowed whatever the two had to blossom into something more and in very little time the two were together. The warmth James’ love gave Regulus made him feel alive again as though it had melted the numbing ice his family left him stuck in and allowed him to actually breathe. To give it up, he would fully have to succumb to the family madness and lose any sanity that is left.
So he said no. No to the mark. No to becoming part of the bullshit the rest of his deranged family had. Sadly, the word no isn't strong enough to resist the hold that imperio can have on a person and Merlin knows regulus had never been as strong minded as Sirius.
When Kreacher returned back to regulus after his mission with the dark lord, reg made him recount every single thing that happened, hoping that with a slither of luck the lord had let something slip to the house elf. Kreacher spoke of evil potions and horrors of hands lurking under the water waiting ever so patiently for someone to make a fatal mistake, and finally he spoke of a locket. A locket the dark lord so stupidly told Kreacher contained a part of him and was made with such powerful magic that would allow him to win the war without the complication of death.
Admittedly it wasn't much for Regulus to work with but by the gods did he put his all into figuring it out. After countless weeks with his head buried in every book the black library had to offer, he found it. A horcrux wasn't something he had experience with for obvious reasons, but if it got him out of this hell and back with his own personal sun the least he could do was retrieve it and send it to someone who had the level of experience needed.
The only thing that had been delaying this trip was finding the right time to leave. Heavens forbid the dark lord wished for his presence when he had left or worse his mother, just the thought of it made him shudder. He could stand the Dark lord's wrath as he knew he was needed for the ‘cause’ but his mother had made it obvious that she wished him dead for a rather long time now and she was waiting for the final slip up.
He wasn't sure if he was thankful or not that today wasn’t what pushed her to the limits. His disappearance for this mission was meant to go unnoticed by everyone but Regulus no longer cared if he died here or there so he made his choice. He just wanted all this to be over. He wanted to be back with James and his brother. He wanted to finally have somewhere to call home.
‘Kreacher’ His voice came quiet, strained from past hours of screaming and sudden misuse but it still felt as though it echoed through the room causing him to flinch. A few seconds later the snap of apparition was heard swiftly followed by an old croaking voice.
‘Master Regulus has called for Kreacher. What is it sir is needing?’
Regulus took a deep breath opening and closing his mouth, as though he were a fish out of water, struggling to figure out how to form the words needed to officially start this insane task he was going to put himself through. With eyes set on the ceiling he managed to force out ‘I need you to take me to the cave the dark lord took you too around a month ago. I wish to reclaim the locket he stored away.’ The seconds of silence that followed confused Regulus causing him to finally make eye contact with Kreacher and the horrified look on his friends face made him wince with guilt.
‘Master can not go, he is too weak and the scary cave is too much for him. It is not safe Kreacher shouldn't. Kreacher cant.’
Regulus knew the house elf wouldn't be happy with what he was asking of him. Throughout all his childhood, reg was never one to order Kreacher around as he was adamant the elf was his best friend and such behaviour wasn't acceptable with friends. He made many promises to Kreacher that he always saw him as an equal and would never make the poor thing punish himself. It took a while but Kreacher started to become more relaxed around him, acting less like a puppet and more like his own person. With a heavy heart Regulus opened his mouth and gave Kreacher his first command, ensuring he could not say no to him.
‘Kreacher, I am your master and heir to the house of black I order you to take me to the cave’ the betrayed look and sudden stiff posture was too much for Regulus to stomach forcing him to look away. Kreature bowed low enough for his nose to touch the floor and responded ‘of course master, Kreacher lives to serve the noble and most ancient house of black’ Regulus knew this moment would add to the heavy amount of guilt that already crushed what remained of his heart.
After grabbing the replacement locket and tucking it safely in his pocket he gives Kreacher a small nod letting the house elf know that he is ready to leave and with a deafening snap they vanish from sight.