Without Malfoy, they couldn't apparate directly through the Manor wards, so they had a long trek in from the apparition point. Plenty of time for Regulus to say thank you - he'd saved him from capture, after all - but apparently that was too much to ask.
Severus glanced over at him, but Regulus was stomping along, swinging his arms with too much force and kicking at the grass.
"What's your problem?"
"What's my problem?" Regulus cast him a dirty look, as if he was the one who'd been an idiot. "You've got to be kidding me."
Severus knitted his brows together. What did Regulus have to be upset about? Regulus was the one who'd nearly gotten them killed, by not taking care of his brother when he had the chance.
"I don't know what you think just happened. But you're wrong." If he hadn't been there, Regulus would probably be on his way to Azkaban by now. His precious brother wouldn't have spared him a backwards glance.
"You're the one who-"
Senara apparated in near them, and Regulus clamped his mouth shut. She was excited, crackling with adrenaline, but it didn't take her long to pick up on the tension that vibrated between them. When Severus snapped at her for the second time, she gave up and caught up with Rabastan instead.
By the time they reached the main building, Severus was fuming. He'd used Lily to save him, and the ungrateful wretch was acting like he'd done something wrong.
When he pushed open the front doors and saw Malfoy, it was all he could do not to groan aloud. Malfoy was frowning and concerned, tattling to the Dark Lord. When he turned to Severus, his smugness was plain.
"I see our noble leader has returned."
"What do you want, Malfoy?" he snapped.
Malfoy looked affronted, and Severus gritted his teeth. He didn't have the patience for Malfoy right now.
"Our lord was awaiting a report, and I was the first to arrive."
"Of course you were."
Dolohov shot him a warning look, and Severus forced himself to reign in his temper. He couldn't afford to let Malfoy use his irritation to turn the tables. Whatever was going on with Regulus would have to wait. Severus focused on his master. His opinion was the one that mattered.
Whatever Malfoy had told the Dark Lord, Severus had no doubt it made Malfoy look good, and damned him in the process. His master's expression held a distinct look of dissatisfaction.
"My Lord." Severus swept by Malfoy, falling to his knees at the Dark Lord's feet. He didn't like the yielding of the gesture any more than Malfoy, but he was smart enough to know when it was the best move. Their master would always prefer submission to Malfoy's facade.
"Severus." The Dark Lord touched his head, fingers cording through the strands absently. Severus kept his expression carefully neutral, looking up into his master's brown eyes. "I would have your report."
"The mission went according to plan, my lord." Malfoy cleared his throat, looking annoyed. Severus went on before he could interrupt. "We eliminated two Order members, and did so while avoiding the capture or loss of any of our people."
One finely sculpted eyebrow went up, considering him.
"Lucius tells a somewhat different version of events."
Severus didn't look away from his master's eyes. He'd been told to keep their attack from turning into a bloodbath, and he'd done precisely that. Malfoy couldn't twist that.
"I don't doubt that, my Lord. Malfoy's view is always somewhat... influenced by his own position."
"You did nothing," Malfoy said. His face was made ugly by the emotions that crossed it. "I'm the one who cast the killing curse."
"You and Dolohov, yes." He nodded to Dolohov, and the elder Death Eater returned the gesture. Severus could feel Dolohov focus on his every move, always watching. "The Dark Lord ordered me to control the risks and create a strategy that would ensure we didn't all die in the attack. Not to take the glory for myself."
"But you had your chance for glory, Snape." Malfoy's eyes were slitted, calculating. "How is it you return empty-handed?"
Severus stared back, face blank as he replayed the mission in his head, searching for the trap. He couldn't mean Pettigrew, such a useless wizard meant nothing to their plans.
"Lucius tells me you had the blood traitor, Black, within your grasp."
Regulus drew a startled breath and all eyes turned to him. He'd gone pale, his eyes shifting sideways to Severus. Their eyes met and Severus cursed inwardly. It was as obvious as if Regulus had announced his guilt.
Severus showed nothing, keeping his expression cold. Whatever Malfoy knew, Regulus would injure their case far more with his lack of control.
"Forgive me, my Lord." Regulus swallowed nervously, his adam's apple bobbing up and down with the movement. He set his shoulders and stepped past Malfoy to face the Dark Lord. "It shames me to hear one of my own family called by such a name, but I can't deny it."
The Dark Lord reached out to touch Regulus' face, tilting his head up to study him. Severus didn't budge. If their master saw his weakness, Regulus would suffer.
But whatever the Dark Lord read in his face, the touch of his hand did not turn violent. "Your family has proven itself loyal, Regulus. Do not be afraid."
His master's fingers traced down Regulus' face, touching the side of his neck, then the hollow of his throat. "My lord?"
The Dark Lord opened his hand, until his strong fingers were wrapped around Regulus' neck. He kept his grip loose, but the gesture made Severus' breath catch in his throat. "We will wipe out the stain against your honor. Your brother's treason will not be allowed to stand."
Severus could see the effort it cost Regulus to remain motionless. His throat moved under the Dark Lord's hand, struggling to swallow. Regulus' hands convulsed at his sides.
Had she been afraid of him? Severus tried to remember and felt the flutter of her pulse beneath his hands. She'd been so soft and vulnerable.
"Severus."
The sound of his name startled him, but the Dark Lord let go of Regulus, turning to face him instead.
"I await your explanation."
What did Malfoy know? He couldn't be caught in a lie, but he would not reveal Regulus to them. Severus tried to marshall his thoughts, but Regulus broke in as he opened his mouth to answer.
"He saved me."
The simple statement shocked him, and Severus closed his mouth. Whatever Regulus was planning, Severus had no choice but to trust him.
"We had Sirius cornered and disarmed, it's true. But then more Order members showed up, and we found ourselves outnumbered."
"Who?" The Dark Lord was listening, but his eyes were focused on Severus, expectant.
"James Potter and Lily Evans, my lord," Severus said. The most plain of facts, and surely that wouldn't contradict Regulus.
"Severus kept his head, managing to take Evans hostage. But Sirius took my wand in the struggle." Regulus looked over at Severus, and this time his expression was obvious, a showman's performance of gratitude. "Severus kept me alive by trading her for me."
"And why did you disarm her, rather than killing her?" Malfoy's accusation was sharp, and Severus saw the Dark Lord nod slightly. "You could have killed her easily."
"Disarming her was the simplest solution, and there was still Potter to deal with." The explanation sounded lame, even to his own ears. But what else could he say? He hadn't had time to think about it. He'd only reacted.
"If he'd killed her, I would have been dead in an instant." Regulus answered for him.
Severus agreed automatically, but he couldn't shake the specter of what he'd said. Of course Potter would've taken his revenge, why hadn't he thought of that? They had Regulus down and at their mercy, and he wouldn't have been able to do anything.
"The mission was over. We could hear the Aurors arriving and we had only minutes before the apparition wards went up." The conviction in his voice didn't waver as Regulus faced the Dark Lord. "Severus promised you he'd do everything in his power to keep us alive and free, and he kept his word."
But he hadn't thought of that, hadn't realized how precariously Regulus' life had been balanced. He hadn't known the truth of it then, but his instincts had been true. He could never hurt her.
Regulus' explanation satisfied their master, and they were dismissed. Severus trailed after him automatically, numbed by the thought that had just gone through him. If he'd faced Lily as Regulus had faced his brother, he would have been no more able to cast the spell.
*/*
When the door shut behind them, Severus felt giddy with the release of tension. To be beyond prying eyes at last was a relief. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with Regulus.
"At last."
Regulus went over to the dresser, putting his wand down. The mask went next to it, to keep it from rolling, and its hollow eyes stared blankly at Severus like the empty sockets of a skull. Regulus bent down and peered at his reflection, rubbing his hands over his face and scratching his nails down over the stubble at his neck and jaw. Severus waited, but it took a long time for Regulus to meet his eyes in the mirror.
"What?" Regulus said finally, rolling his eyes.
"I'm glad that's over, is all."
Regulus grimaced, not answering.
Still mad, obviously. Was it what he'd said earlier?
"I didn't think, I'm sorry." He was an idiot. He should've known Regulus wouldn't be able to kill his brother. "I should've covered for you as soon as-."
"Covered for me?"
Regulus whirled to face him. His face was so distorted with anger that Severus clamped his mouth shut and took an involuntary step back.
"I'm the one who defended you to the Dark Lord!" Regulus said. "Don't you dare talk to me about covering things up."
"But..." Severus studied him for some clue, trying to understand, but Regulus was closed to him. He had both arms crossed over his chest and his shoulders were hunched defensively. "You said I saved you."
"Don't pretend you did it for my sake," Regulus said, low and dangerous. "I saw the way you touched her."
"I didn't do anything wrong. She was a way to free you, that's all." But he remembered how she'd fit so easily against him, the smell of her hair. His hands had been so rough against her smooth skin.
Regulus shoved him, both hands against his chest. His head banged against the wall, physically jarring him from the memory.
"Stop it," Regulus hissed. "You're imagining her against you right now."
"I'm not."
"Don't lie to me."
Regulus was pressed up against him, all strong lines and muscle. They were face to face, inches apart, and Severus could see the shadow of stubble tracing across his jaw. Regulus pushed into him, demanding, and there was only heat and pressure, Regulus' body hard against his own.
"Even in the pub, she was all you could see. You lost yourself when she was in your arms."
Severus couldn't deny it. Lily would always have power over him, he knew that. But he didn't want her. Not the way he wanted Regulus.
"They had a wand to my heart." Regulus' hands curled into fists on his chest. He started to pull away, but Severus hung onto him, gripping his shoulders to keep him in place. "My own brother took my wand, but all I could see was the way you looked at her."
The bleakness in his eyes was too much, his voice hopeless. Severus covered his mouth with his own, to stop the flow of words. Regulus tried to pull away and Severus grabbed the back of his neck, pulling Regulus hard against him. Severus growled, holding him in place, and kissed along the side of his neck. The world narrowed to the salt taste of sweat on his tongue and the maddening scratch of stubble against his lips. Severus fumbled at his shirt buttons, desperate for the heat of his skin.
Regulus cursed. They broke apart, both of them gasping, and stared at each other. Regulus' face was flushed, eyes dilated. Severus could see the shine of wetness where he'd tasted him, and he began to feel foolish, but then Regulus was kissing him. He was insistent, biting at his lip when he resisted, and Severus groaned, opening his mouth. The taste of him was like strong spice, heady and dangerous.
"Tell me I'm the one you want." Regulus growled the words, an animal sound of possession that made Severus ache. "Tell me you want me."
"I want you." He pressed himself against Regulus, letting him feel the weight of his cock, hard and aching. The friction made them both gasp, but Severus spoke clearly, fighting the dizzying rush of sensation to make sure Regulus understood. "Only you."