Chapter Text
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
- Changes by David Bowie
He opened his grey eyes, the world around him was painted in shades of blue, green and gray, nothing bright about it, as though all the colour had been sucked out. It had been that way since his brother had left, maybe before, it was hard to tell, al his memories were foggy. Filled with sadness and pain, pain that had only intensified with Sirius’s departure. He left you, the voice inside shouts, full of pain and misery, He left you for him! For Potter. He left you alone in this bloody hellhole, alone with her.
It’s the almost inaudible sound of footsteps that pulls him from his mopping, without a second thought he bolts upright and pulls on last nights clothing from its place in the floor. There is no warning as the door is thrown open. “Your late!” She snaps, he doesn’t apologize, Black’s don’t apologize, he bows his head slightly, “Si, Maman” we hopes his voice doesn’t waver but he knows it does, though he is almost certain that his Spanish accent is almost native sounding at this point. Good.
He tries not to wince as his chin is yanked up, his grey eyes now parallel to hers. He doesn’t blink, only waits, he has long mastered the art of patience. “Do better.” She dismisses him leaving, and once he knows she can’t hear him he lets out a chocked sound, from some deep corner of himself.
Regulus practically bounces down the stairs eager to leave the bloody building he calls home, the soreness in his bones is an afterthought. his happiness is cut short as he reaches the entrance hall. Stupid just stupid, his Maman gives him a look loaded with al sorts of poison, telling him to all he needs to know. Really after just 18 years in this house, 14 of them with his brother and 4 without he should have known. The house has rules. he had just broken one, no expressing emotions in the manor and around others. And breaking the rules means punishment.
⊹☆⊹
BANG! Reg jerks in his seat, “Regulus Arcturus Black, pay attention!” Maman glares with the intensity of a feral tiger. He works to school his expression the man in front of him starts talking again, what was his name? Right Avery what a stupid name really, “do you understand your assignment Mr Black?” Avery’s French accent is think and rich not at all fitting his ugly face, “yes” Reg says the English words coming out cracked, he rarely speaks English, it’s mostly spoken to him. He prefers French and now as his assignment dictates Spanish.
Avery lifts one manicured brow, “your job is too infiltrate the Canadian University, that Sirius Black has recently been enrolled in, you and your 2 companions will be there as international students, with different names and identity’s, I stress you understand that until now Sirius Black’s location of residence was unknown. We must act on his stupidity and observe him and his friends, find out all they know, and report back.” Avery takes a breath, “your Spanish is fluent, Qui?” Reg doesn’t pause before responding “Casi tan bueno como mi francés” transition is (almost as good as my French).