Ezra

Sirius led Regulus to kill himself. Not by being cruel or hurting him, but by loving him. He loved Regulus so fiercely, that when he ripped it away, Regulus didn't know what to do. Sirius running away, leaving Regulus, created a wound so deep, nothing could heal it. And after that? Regulus had no protection from his parents. Sirius never forgave Regulus for getting branded by the mark, not knowing he never chose it. Regulus tied his worth so much to his brother's love, that when he thought he lost it, he saw no more worth in himself. His last words in that cave weren't pleading, or sobbing. His last words were a question. If he had earned his brother's love again. If his death made him worth something again. He received no answer, even in death.

Sirius Orion Black needed Regulus Arcturus Black to become Padfoot. Regulus needed to be protected, he needed to be in danger, and Sirius needed to protect him. Regulus' need to be protected let to Sirius being forced to be brave and loyal to his baby brother, instead of the ideals forced by their family. That bravery and loyalty from such a young age led Sirius to be a Gryffindor, and make friends with the other Marauders, and be the protective and loyal person he became. Sirius needed Regulus to become Padfoot, but Regulus? He needed his brother to live. He learned to rely on Sirius' love so much, that when it was so violently ripped away from him when Sirius ran away, there was nothing he could do to fix that wound. And when he closed his eyes for the last time, he didn't hear Sirius' soft lullaby. He heard his own choked screams, then the silence from his lungs being filled with water, no longer able to do anything but sob as the Inferi dragged him down.

HC that trans Regulus' Animagus form was a male cat. Like, despite him being born female and having such parts, his cat form is male and has such parts. Like, I think that would make him so happy. And he would rush to tell his brother. If he could, of course. But they haven't spoken in years, and he thinks his brother hates him, and he's probably right, and he plans to die soon anyway, so what's the point?

Venice Beach by Henry Morris but it's Barty talking about Evan. Sitting on the beach where Moody killed him, as if waiting for him to come back. Missing him. And when it says "When she calls for me, I'll go" it's Barty saying that when Evan, whom he's been hallucinating as he slowly descends into madness, calls for him to come into the water. To join him so they can be together again. Usually, Regulus is there to stop him. But now, Regulus has been missing for two days, ever since he went to that stupid cave, and here the love of his life comes, beckoning Barty into the water once more.

Okay so like what if when Sirius got out of Azkaban, he had to cut his hair bc it got so absolutely ruined over his twelve years locked up, and when he looked in the mirror, he didn't see his reflection. He saw a broken boy, looking far too stressed, and exhausted, and completely, utterly broken to be only seventeen. Because he wasn't anymore. That was his brother. His brother whom he thought was evil. His Death Eater brother, the one that stayed with his parents. His brother, Regulus Arcturus Black, forever seventeen, never an adult, but never getting to be a kid either.