He wasn't scared of storms. He loved it when it rained — but the thunder, that's what scared him. Regulus Black was hiding under his covers trying not to shake when the thunder roared outside. He wasn't scared. He was a Black. Blacks aren't scared. The thunder roared outside as he hid under the covers. Noting scared him. Not his parents, not spiders. so why was he getting scared over a little bit of thunder? Why was he hiding under his covers like a coward? Regulus didn't know. More thunder roared making the ten-year-old whimper. He wanted to hit himself for doing that. He hated this. 'Where's Sirius?' He found himself thinking. Why was he thinking about Sirius? He was a traitor to their family. "Sirius," he whispered when another crack of thunder lit up his room.

Sirius was reading a letter from Remus with a smile on his face. He was sitting in his room at his very messy desk in the middle of summer. There was a terrible storm outside. He didn't mind it though. He loved storms. The letter from Remus seemed off like he was in a hurry to write it. They will find out what Remus is hiding. Both he and his new other best friends: James and Peter will find out. Sirius sighed as he looked over to the door to his messy room. It was locked of course. He was worried though. He was not supposed to have it locked. If his mother found out. Sirius shook his head. That won't happen. Will it? Sirius shook his head, no, no, that won't…Sirius thoughts were cut off when a crack of thunder went off. After it ended, Sirius looked sharply to his door when he heard footsteps walking by his room. His hands clenched on the paper making it crinkle under his hands. He didn't care what happened to him if his mother found out about his door, but he couldn't help but be tense. He shook his head and picked up the letter from James, but after another crack of thunder, Sirius put the paper down and looked over to the door when he heard a small knock.

He closed his eyes and squeezed them, however, they opened slowly when he heard a small voice say,

"Siri?" Sirius sighed.

His little brother's voice made him roll his eyes. However, there was a little bit of worry in the back of his mind. His brother was still scared of thunder. He thought he was over this. Sirius got out of his chair and walked over to the door. He unlocked it and opened the door.

What Sirius saw was his little brother looking annoyed but there was fear in his eyes. His black hair was a mess and tears were in his eyes. Regulus was annoyed. That was weird, maybe it was with himself? Sirius shook his head and allowed Regulus to walk in. "Hey Reg," Sirius said closing the door and locking it again.

"Siri," Regulus's voice was small. He looked out of the window when lighting and thunder lit up the room. Regulus let out a squeak and ran to Sirius's bed and hid under Sirius's covers. Sirius sighed.

"Really Regulus?" Sirius said, trying to sound annoyed but there was worry in his voice. He was worried about his brother, but he won't tell him that of course. "Reg, it's just thunder," Sirius said sitting down at his desk.

"I know, I hate myself for it. I'm a Black! I shouldn't be scared of anything!" Regulus yelled over the thunder that made him whimper. Sirius sighed with his head shaking.

"It's ok to be scared of something Reg," Sirius said sitting backward in his chair. Regulus shook his head.

"No, it's not!" Regulus yelled. "Mother said…." Regulus trailed off when he saw Sirius flinch at the mention of their mother. Sirius sighed and shook his head. "You're scared of Mother," It was not a question, but Sirius nodded.

"I think you are as well, little brother," Regulus scoffed and removed the sheets off of him.

"I not!" Regulus squeaked when thunder went off again. Sirius looked at his brother and then they went to his window. He wasn't scared of the thunder, was he? Sirius sighed as his warm grey eyes went big. "I'm scared of…" Regulus cut off. When his eyes went big as well. Soon the brothers went quiet.

"I'm not scared of thunder," Regulus said after a while. Sirius was looking over the letter from James when Regulus said this. He didn't look over to his brother when he added, "I'm scared when mother hurts us, the sound of…of well you know, sounds like thunder," Regulus said slowly. Sirius nodded but he didn't say anything. Regulus was right. They should leave. Get out of the house, maybe James's parents would look after them? Sirius shook his head. No, that won't happen. Another crack of thunder went off making Regulus look over to Sirius who was watching him now.

"I'm here, little brother, don't worry," Sirius said with a small smile. Regulus shook his head.

"You won't be here forever, Mother…Mother said that you are not part of the family anymore," Sirius laughed a little.

"Thank Merlin," Sirius said but there was a nervous laugh in his voice. Regulus sighed. "I don't think…" Sirius cut off when he heard someone walking in the hall.

"Oh, Merlin," Regulus said pulling the sheets over him again. Sirius let out a shaky breath as he felt his hands shake. "The…the door is locked," Regulus stuttered as the thunder went off a lot quieter this time. The storm was ending.

"We…we should go," Sirius said. "We…we can leave this house," Sirius whispered. Soon the footsteps stopped. No one spoke for a few seconds before the footsteps started again.

Both brothers let out a breath. 'That was close,' Sirius thought looking at his brother who was pale with fear. Tears were in his eyes.

"What did you mean?" Regulus asked pulling the sheets off of him. "We should leave the house?" Regulus added. Sirius looked at his brother. He didn't say anything for a while. What would he say? They grew up in his house. Everything they knew was here. However, they were safe.

"We are not safe here Reg," Sirius said slowly before he got off his chair and pulled out his school trunk.

"We are leaving?" Regulus asked but Sirius didn't answer. He was too busy packing. "Alright," Regulus added before he walked over to the door and unlocked it. "I'll go pack," Regulus said leaving the room. Sirius smiled to himself. They will both be safe. He knew it.

Summary: during a storm, Regulus seeks comfort from Sirius and learns why he has a fear of thunder.

FFn/AO3: Captain Voxland/3CaptainVox5!

House: Hufflepuff

Class: DADA

Standard

Prompts: [Emotion] Fear and [Weather] Thundering

Warnings: Mentions of child abuse

Word count: 1116