I Treated Up

i treated up

stay - Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - word count: 389

Sirius couldn’t stop shaking as he stood in the crowd around Regulus’s bed. He knew Quidditch was dangerous, he knew that Regulus’s injury was mild, but the image of his baby brother falling through the air, plummeting toward the ground, just wouldn’t leave his brain. He had a feeling he’d have nightmares about it for years.

But as he took deep breaths, looked at Regulus’s awake and alive face, and clung to Remus’s hand like a lifeline, he started to look around to the other people around his brother’s bedside. 

Dorcas, Pandora, Evan, and Barty; all looking shaken but trying to cheer Reg up with sarcastic jokes. Peter and Remus; clearly concerned about Regulus but also concerned about Sirius and how much of a mess he’d been an hour ago, the remnants of hysterical tears still etched into his porcelain skin. And James.

James looked even worse than Sirius.

He looked like he’d aged fifteen years. Like he’d seen death. Like a murderer had shown up at his door, and he’d had to face him with no weapons or help. He looked changed.

It was the confirmation that Sirius needed, really. And in that moment, he knew he had a choice. Because part of him wanted to throw a bit of a fit. To whine about his best friend falling for his brother, and his brother feeling the same.

But when he saw the gentle, caring way James looked to Regulus, and the almost trusting way Regulus looked back? Regulus didn’t look at people like that…

“Alright, you lot,” Pomfrey said in a businesslike voice, cutting through Sirius’s thoughts, “end of visiting hours. “Mister Black can have one person keep him company for a bit longer, but the rest need to go.”

It seemed like a group consensus that Sirius would be the ‘one,’ so everyone started saying their goodbyes and filing out. James, it seemed, was the only one who lingered, squeezing Regulus’s hand and sending him a small smile before turning.

“Stay.”

But it wasn’t Regulus who said it. It was Sirius. 

“Stay, James. He wants you here, and you want to be here. Just….take care of him, alright?” Sirius asked, trying not to choke up at the weight of the words.

“Of course,” James nodded, clearly understanding.

From his bed, Regulus sent Sirius a thankful expression.