Chapter Text
It’s a hot summer night, mid-july when Sirius appears at the door of their condo in France. He’s got tears streaming down his face, and one hand pressed hard against a deep cut on his cheek.
“Oh thank god,” He mumbles, stumbling forwards, collapsing against James who opens the door. James isn’t prepared for the extra weight (although what was he expecting when he realised Sirius was at the door) and the both go crumbling to the floor. Sirius doesn’t seem to be bothered, he simply curls into James’ body, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck, like he would disappear if he let go.
Regulus’ own bewilderment is clearly mirrored on James’ face, but before he can kneel down to Sirius’ height. He catches Remus’ hobbling up the pathway to their house and he immediately spins to go help him instead. Remus’ gratefulness is clear on his face, as he allows Regulus to support some of his weight. It takes a few minutes to get back to the entrance of the house and in that time, it seems that the only thing James has managed to do is make Sirius cry harder.
Remus sinks to the ground the moment he reaches Sirius and tugs on Regulus’ hand so that he joins the tangle of limbs on the floor.
No one says anything as Sirius presses his ear against James’ chest or as Remus pushes his his fingers so hard against Regulus’ pulse point that it might bruise.
They sit there for an hour, the only sounds coming from Sirius, who’s tears are progressively soaking James’ shirt. Regulus rubs his hands gently up and down Remus’ back once he realises that the coldness spreading across his shirt wasn’t the wind, but in fact, tears.
It’s only once the hear Harry’s cries from upstairs that anyone moves. Sirius’ face drops for a moment before he’s launching himself upstairs towards his godson. Remus stays firmly tucked against Regulus’ side, but he does shift slightly, letting out a soft groan as his back audibly pops.
Regulus looks down at him, taking in the deep-purple bruises underneath his eyes. Remus’ mouth is turned down at the edges, and he has a deep cut on his forehead that seems to have clotted itself up. He gently traces the skin around the wounded, noting that it looks slightly infected.
“What happened?” Regulus whispers softly, his eyes scanning Remus for any other injures. It’s only when Regulus wraps his arms around Remus’s torso, to help him into a better sitting position, that he notices the blood.