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Title: The Pain of Being Brothers
Author: Relala
Beta Reader: ShadedRogue
Prompt: Regulus/Sirius "This is going to hurt, big brother."
"This is going to hurt, big brother," Regulus whispers and wraps his hand around Sirius's, their fingers intertwining. "Don't look. Just keep your eyes on me, and try and forget about what's going to happen. It'll be over soon, I promise."
Panic flies through Sirius's grey eyes like broomsticks racing around in the sky, and his fingernails bite into the flesh of Reg's palms as the fire burns into his forearm. It feels like his skin is being eaten away—like a thousand tongues of flame are licking at his insides—but it's over in an instant and Regulus is cradling him in his arms with all the gentleness of a mother tending to her sick child.
"You're one of us now," he says, and Sirius feels the smile bloom along his lips as he looks up into the eyes of his younger brother. It's the first time in a very long time that everything feels right between them, and it's the very first time they can really call each other brothers.
Sirius thinks that the pain is worth it.