Arcane [Sirius Black]

Chapter 16 - Pots, Pans, and...Pups?

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SIRIUS had his jaw clenched while Regulus was staring at him with a brazen glare.

    "I can't believe you," Sirius finally let out, shaking his head as he exhaled strongly.

    "You don't get to dictate my life, brother. You abandoned that luxury," Regulus retorted with child-like anger.

    "Abandoned it? You've got to be joking." Sirius took a slight step back, looking to the side before moving forward again, "All I've ever done has been in your favour. Do I need to remind you of what happened over summer?"

    "That is not protecting me, Sirius. We've already discussed this. You wouldn't have to shield me from anything if you'd just for once have even a sliver of complacency."

    Sirius scoffed, "No. I'm not going to do that. And stop changing the subject!"

    "I just find your recklessness to be a more important one," Regulus said coolly.

    Sirius clenched his jaw again, looking away to stop himself from snapping back. After a moment of quiet, he sighed deeply before letting his eyes soften just slightly.

    "I'm worried about you. Is that what you want to hear? That I actually care about you and want you to make the right choices? Or would the idea of me caring about someone be too absurd?"

    "That's what I mean!" Regulus exclaimed and Sirius shot him a pointed look to be quieter. "You always go on about the 'right choices' as if it's all black and white. Why can't you just trust that I'm doing what's best for me?"

    "Because! It's just...ugh!" Sirius groaned, not being able to craft a response as good as he'd like.

    "Exactly," Regulus said, "You're being a hypocrite."

    "I am not a hypocrite."

    "Aren't you? You make choices that get you hurt too. Do you see me going off on you every time you earn yourself a slap?" Regulus narrowed his eyes.

    Sirius was glowering now. "Yes, actually, you do get angry over it. But the difference is the choices you make are contributing to the people who cause that pain. My choices aren't sprung from hatred and injustice."

    Regulus was scoffing now. "Look at you. All high and mighty as usual. The greatest, most noble Gryffindor of all — Sirius Black."

    "I'm not going to defend myself to you. All I want is for you to stop hanging around fools like the Carrows. They're seventh years anyway, what would they want with you besides trouble?"

"I'm telling you that I won't."

"You're impossible," Sirius shook his head.

"And you're out of line."

They scowled at each other for a moment longer, their very auras weeping with deep acrimony that was more akin to sadness. Dark and sullen, their stiff souls seemed tied to the spot in a nostalgic cry for sunshine.

There would be no golden flood to the corridor, however, as careless footsteps nearby caused the bleak bubble they'd created to shatter instantly.

The two sent each other a pointed look before parting ways quickly, Sirius disappearing into a random alcove and Regulus descending the nearby steps to the dungeons.

Diana was still hunched in the shadows, animagus form activated, as she watched the two split. She hadn't meant to stick around that long, but she was much too afraid of being spotted (also known as code for being much too interested to walk away).