Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 1001


In Death, He's Okay


He was eight the first time he learned about soulmates. His mother sat him down and lectured him for what seemed like forever. The only thing that Regulus really took from the lecture was that he was to remain pure until he met his soulmate, and if he didn't he'd be shunned by society.

His mother certainly had a way with words. She'd scared the life out of him, enough that he was terrified of physical contact even with his own family in case it sullied him.

He was twelve when one of his year mates brushed their hand along his arm and he freaked out.

It took the Matron over an hour to calm him, to ensure he understood that basic contact with another human would not make him impure. That as long as he didn't kiss another person, he would be ready for his soulmate.

She was the first person to tell Regulus that not everyone was with their soulmates; and that that was okay too.

He was fifteen when he wondered if Barty would be his soulmate. The two of them got on brilliantly, Barty knew Regulus better than anyone else and he still liked him.

He brought Regulus ice cream to the library for long study sessions, and helped him with Charms because Regulus never could get the fiddly wand movements right, and he didn't shy away from him just because Regulus was a Black.

He wondered and he hoped.

He was sixteen when Sirius left. When his mother lost her mind and inflicted the worst beating Regulus had ever known, because for a moment, she couldn't see a difference between her sons.

He healed himself as best he could and hid away in the attic, cramming himself into the smallest nook he could find.

"You made me a promise," he whispered, eyes on the skylight, speaking to a brother who couldn't hear him.

A brother who'd promised to never let their mother hurt Regulus.

He was sixteen when he realised that promises could be broken.

He was eighteen when he got his soulmark. It settled on his wrist, just below where his Dark Mark lay. His parents were happy with the match, and that was important, Regulus knew. He was scared of what his mother could have done had she not approved.

Regulus' birthday was spent preparing himself for the first meeting with his soulmate. He's spent the day as a bundle of nerves.

When the moment came, he didn't know why he'd been so nervous.

He finally understood the concept of true loves kiss when their lips met for the first time.

Rabastan would take care of him.

Rabastan is loyal. And kind. And sweet. And patient.

Regulus learned all of these things in the first few weeks, because he didn't push Regulus to take his clothes off. It wasn't that Regulus didn't want him, he did. He really did.

But his mother's anger hadn't left Regulus untainted.

When he eventually told Rabastan, Rabastan had held his chin gently and told him, "Your scars are a part of you, you don't need to hide them. Not from me."

The words had left tears on Regulus' face and warmth in his heart.

...

"I don't want you to go," Regulus whined, making grabby hands for Rabastan to join him on the sofa.

Rabastan's lips tilted, and he bent down to pick Regulus up, settling on the sofa with Regulus in his lap.

"I'll be back before you know it," Rabastan promised, but Regulus knew about promises and how little they meant.

"What if you're not though?"

"Then I'll send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love. How's that?"

Regulus blinked and then laughed, snuggling his face against Rabastan's chest. "You're mad!"

"About you? Absolutely."

The changes were small, so small that Regulus didn't notice them until it was too late. Rabastan noticed, and didn't say anything. He thought it was just a phase that Regulus was going through.

It wasn't.

Regulus began to mistrust the Dark Lord.

The missions were getting more pointless, and the rewards they'd been promised didn't materialise.

Rabastan advised caution, but left Regulus to his feelings, unwilling to force him to behave.

Sometimes, Rabastan was too kind.

"It's still dark outside."

Regulus melted back into the arms that wrapped around him from behind. "I know."

"Then why are you out of bed and staring out into the darkness. There can't be anything interesting to see out there."

"Just thinking," Regulus hedged, turning his head to press a kiss to Rabastan's jaw.

"About?"

Regulus shrugged and turned. "Make me forget. Just for tonight."

No more words were spoken, but the aches and pains left over the morning after had Regulus biting his lip whenever he moved.

He'd never loved Rabastan more.

Rabastan presented Regulus with a silver cuff. It was simple but beautiful. Regulus wore it with pride, stroking the metal whenever he felt nervous or scared. That was getting more and more often.

Something bad was coming and Regulus was fearful that it would separate him from Rabastan.

If he clung to Rabastan longer and tighter, Rabastan didn't complain. He simply held Regulus for as long as he needed it.

And then the Dark Lord told Regulus he needed an elf.

Cold, slimy hand pulled at his limbs. He fought weakly against them, but he was no match for the sheer volume of them. He was pulled into the water, pulled beneath the water.

Regulus had done what he came to do, he'd handed the horcrux off to Kreacher to dispose of. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to die, but he couldn't breathe, couldn't breathe at all, and the darkness was beckoning him.

As his conscious mind left him, Regulus felt the hands change from cold and slimy to warm and welcoming. Rabastan's arms wrapped around him, and Regulus felt safe.

If that was death, Regulus was okay with it.


Written for;

Character Appreciation - 4. Horcrux
Disney - C3. Write about true loves kiss.
Book Club - Tink: loyal, nook, biting
Showtime - 44. (dialogue) "It's still dark outside."
Sophie's Shelf - V8. Write a fic spanning 10 years.
Emy's Emporium - Italy 1 - Ice Cream
Angel's Arcade - Riku - silver, darkness, change, mistrust, "You made me a promise."
Bex Biscuit Barrel - Jaffa Cake - Regulus / Anger / Soulmate!AU / "Your scars are a part of you, you don't need to hide them."
Hamilton Mania Main - Act 2,17. (object) Dark Mark
Hamilton Mania Extra - 16. "I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love."