Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for Hogwarts Assignment 7, Transfiguration.
Warning - Character Death/Assisted Suicide.
Free From Pain
The cell is tiny.
He has to keep his legs pressed up to his chest if he lies down on the floor to attempt an hour of rest. When he's alert, he sits in the furthest corner from the bars, hoping to keep himself invisible to the people he once called brothers.
Invisibility never last very long.
Bruises and cuts at various healing stages littered his thin body. His shaky cough rattled his frame and his organs threatened to come up with the strength of his retches.
Regulus was tired. He was in constant pain. He prayed for death, for a release from the nightmare of his captivity. He didn't know how long they'd held him, hated that he couldn't predict when they'd finally get bored of his screams.
The gate clanged when it opened, and his whole body tensed, waiting for whatever would be coming his way.
"Here."
Bread was tossed at his feet, followed by a bottle of water. Regulus chanced a glance, surprised to see Rabastan watching him through hooded eyes. Reg hadn't seen Rabastan in the dungeons once since his incarceration.
Not that he'd expected him to care.
Memories of late night caresses and murmured words of lust and passion flashed through Reg's mind before he could stop them. Rabastan hovering over him, their legs entwined, shared smokes and gentle laughs.
"Eat," Rabastan prompted. "You look like you're about to keel over."
"I think that's the plan," Regulus croaked out, not making any move to accept the food or drink offered. He wanted them - he was quite sure he'd never wanted anything more in his life - but he couldn't have them.
They'd all make him suffer for it later, and he couldn't, wouldn't take the chance that Rabastan was here without orders. He wouldn't allow Rabastan to fall out of favour for his sake.
"Eat, Reg," Rabastan repeated, crouching down so he was at eye level with Reg. "It'll make everything better."
Regulus felt his brows furrow. How could a piece of bread and a bottle of water...
"Really?" he whispered, the revelation dawning.
Rabastan nodded, reaching out a slow hand to caress the matter hair from Reg's face. "Really."
"But... you'll get... he won't... I don't want you to be hurt."
"Don't worry about me," Rabastan whispered. "I'll be fine. Eat."
Leaning forward slightly, Regulus grabbed the water bottle, only to find himself struggling to uncap the bottle. Rabastan twisted the plastic for him, leaving Regulus with an open bottle.
Cautiously, he sipped at it, the wonderful coolness of it soothing his throat.
Picking up the bread, he nibbled at the edge, all the while never losing eye contact with Rabastan. The older man waited patiently for him to finish the bread before prompting him to finish the water.
The world around Regulus was getting pleasantly fuzzy at the edges.
"I told you I was sick," he whispered to Rabastan. "They're punishing me for my sickness."
Rabastan shook his head. "They're punishing you because you tried to betray our Lord, Reg. I just... I can't listen to them crowing about what they're doing to you. I can at least offer you freedom from the pain."
"Thank you," Regulus whispered, his hand falling away from where he was reaching out to touch Rabastan.
Rabastan watched the last of the life leave Regulus' eyes before he stood up, taking the evidence of the plastic bottle with him. He spelled away the few crumbs left from the bread.
He'd grieve later, he knew, as he'd been doing since hearing about Reg's captivity. For the moment, all he felt was an overwhelming relief that the man he loved was finally pain free.