"I can't believe he's moving out…stupid prat," Regulus thought to himself as he paced the landing outside of his and Sirius' bedrooms. He was hoping to catch his older brother as Sirius snuck out in the middle of the night. Regulus wasn't about to let his brother leave him in that hell-hole without a fight. He wasn't about to be left alone with his parents.

Finally Regulus heard the creaky board just inside Sirius' room groan. The door quietly swung open and Sirius stepped out onto the landing. He apparently did not see Reg standing in the shadows because he checked to listen to the landing above to ensure that his parents were asleep and then proceeded toward the staircase. Reg decided that it was now or never—he had to confront his brother.

"Sirius Orion Black, just where in the hell do you think you're going?" Reg said, fighting to sound cold and uncaring. In fact he was terrified but he was a Black. Blacks don't show fear.

"Go back to bed Reggie," Sirius said through a clenched jaw. He didn't want to do this. Not now, not ever. Regulus was making it a hundred times harder for him to leave.

"No. Where are you going? Because I know you aren't leaving me here to deal with them. You can't…" Reg's true feelings were beginning to break through. His voice wavered as he spoke to his brother this time.

"Regulus please…don't do this to me." Sirius pleaded.

"Don't do this to you? It's always about you isn't it Sirius. Well what about me? What about what I want? Did it ever occur to you that you're the only reason I can stand to be here? That you're the only reason I'm not quite as fucked up as the rest of them? Don't leave me here Siri…please." By this time Regulus had given up all pretenses and was openly crying. Something Sirius had almost never seen his brother do. He knew that he had to say something…give some explanation to Regulus as to why he was so willing to leave him behind.

"Reg…it's not the same for us here. You may not be like them but you're willing to play the part. I'm not. I never will be. Our family and everything it stands for disgusts me. I won't be a part of it any longer. And if you can think of somewhere to go you should leave as well…this house is toxic. I don't want them to spoil you…" Sirius reached out and touched Regulus' cheek as he finished speaking. It was not simply a way to brush away Reg's tears but he was caressing Reg's face. It was as if he were attempting to calm Reg and himself at the same time.

Reg leaned into his brother's touch like his life depended on it. Like the feel of Sirius' skin on his would somehow save him from what he would be forced to endure once his brother was gone from his life.

"Sirius…I…what will I do without you?" Reg whispered so softly that Sirius could scarcely hear him.

"Oh you'll be alright. You're tougher than you think you are. You'll do just fine. So long as you don't fall in with the rest of our fucked up family" Sirius laughed as he ruffled Reg's hair. "Now come on…go back to bed. It's time for me to go. James is expecting me."

Reg, too shocked and saddened that his brother was truly leaving, merely nodded and watched Siri head down the stairs. It was a good two minutes before Regulus thought enough to run after Siri.

"Siri!" Reg shouted at his brother as he hit the last step on the first floor. Sirius looked back just in time to see Reg throw himself toward Siri.

Sirius caught the younger boy, shocked at the pain and sadness in Reg's eyes. "Reggie, I—" Sirius stared but was cut off by Reg crushing his lips against his own with almost bruising force.

Reg backed away from Sirius, looking at the floor to hide his blushing face, just as quickly as he had lunged at his brother. Sirius stood there, a look of shock glued to his face. But to Reg's delight, when he looked up to judge his brother's reaction, he didn't detect any disgust. Just shock and confusion and…was that…

Before Regulus had time to figure out what the last emotion was Sirius had him pressed against the wall of the hallway with their lips pressed together in a searing kiss. It was not as rough or hard as the previous kiss between them. This one possessed all of the passion found in the first but along with the lust was longing and pure agony. They needed no words to communicate the meaning in this kiss. It said "I love you" and "Please don't forget me." The kiss they shared would be the last time they communicated in that house…because just after Sirius pulled away from his brother he picked up his bag from the ground and walked out the front door. As his foot crossed the threshold Sirius paused briefly to look over at Regulus, standing just where Sirius had left him, and continued out the door.

After Sirius had gone Reg slid down the wall and finally allowed himself to cry. "I can't believe he just moved out…fucking wanker…"