Written for Jg Rox's 'The Rival Ships Challenge' on the HPFC forum.
Paring: Sirius/Lily
Inspiration: Phoenix Lament, by Ministry of Magic
The moon cast a faint glow on the tangled curls of a broken boy. Sirius Black was clinging desperately to the strength and cool indifference that he was once only to capable of maintaining.
A thousand random images flashed through his mind. His friends, Dumbledore, The Dark Mark, that burning house, those poor muggle children, Bellatrix, Voldemort, Regulus. Regulus.
A wave of memories suddenly swept over Sirius. He saw himself and Regulus as boys, innocent and care free, having a mock wizard duel. Going off to Hogwarts and being sorted into Gryffindor. That summer, his mothers' disappointment and Regulus' confusion as to whose side he should take. Regulus choosing their parents' side, Regulus sorted into Slytherin, Regulus joining the Death Eaters, Regulus terrifying muggles. Regulus shouting Incendio, his wand pointing at a muggle house. The Death Eaters jeering as the house burns down. Regulus ignoring Sirius' pleas and leaving with them, to report back to Voldemort. Regulus evil. Regulus lost. Regulus gone, forever. He ran a frustrated hand threw his hair as he tried to blink away the stars in his eyes.
Although he was not aware of her, a young woman stood behind him, silently waiting for Sirius to compose himself.
"It was only your bloody brother," he muttered to himself, nearly pulling his hair out.
"Only your brother?" murmured Lily. He jumped at her sudden appearance. "Sirius, I'll have you know that when it comes to siblings, no matter how much you might have hated them," her voice cracked a bit here, "the term 'only' is never applicable!"
As she stepped closer, he tried to hide his tears by slouching forward and grunting mannishly.
"Budge up. Come on, be a gentle man and give the lady some room to sit," she plopped down beside Sirius and laced her fingers through his. They watched the stars glitter for a second or two. Sirius enjoyed the silence, relieved to have someone more pleasant to concentrate on... not to mention someone who smelled so good. Lily sighed and leaned into his chest. "I wish I could tell you it gets better, but I'm afraid it's not going to. Not yet, anyway."
He grunted again.
"Yes well," she said as though he had made an intelligent argument, "at least we'll always have each other."
Sirius, agreeing silently, pulled her closer.
'Each other' would be enough for now.
I'm not sure if I failed or succeeded. Either way, this is my first challenge, and I'm sorta happy with the way it turned out. This pairing was hard at first, but by the end of it I found myself starting to enjoy it... well, that is until the little James at the back of my head started to get jealous. Luckily though, I was able to keep him at bay until I finished.