𝑹𝑬𝑮𝑼𝑳𝑼𝑺.

I miss you too.

"Hardly. But thanks, it's just for the time being," he shuts the door, a frown on his face.

"You need to take better care of yourself, Rosie..."

After a few moments, he opens the door. Blinking in surprise. She truly does look awful, the poor thing...

"Rosie- come in," he steps aside.

At least he's home for this surprise visit. Don't mind the mess, the hunt never stops.

Regulus simply leaves the estate. He will not be returning any time soon.

The entire family can go to hell.

No fights. Promise.

He'll just glare at the annoying customers.

"Yeah? Maybe death would have suited me better after all!" He shouts after him.

Asshole.

But...

Fine.

Minding the pub - definitely.

"Fine. Yeah. Just walk away, it's all you're bloody good for!"

He shouldn't have come back. Merlin.

He'll be waiting his entire life, if it meant he'll see her.

"Ouch. So, you were good with me being dead, eh?"

He gets to his feet.

Then he'll wait.

"The latter. You could have known that, dad," pause.

"I'm worried about you."

She can tell him to leave, and he will.

Can they talk, after the pub closes?

Regulus snorts.

"Sounds dull."

"Anything interesting in that paper of yours?"

... Yeah. He's aware he's an idiot.

Sure.

Stretches, kicking at his desk. Oops.

Right.

He clears his throat, fingers drumming on the bar.

Ah, yes, his favourite son comes back from the dead and he ignores him.

It's like nothing changed.

... Hi.

Nope.

Ahem. Right.

He rolls his eyes at the man. Stubborn bastard.

"I left a locket, at Grimmauld Place, before I left. What did you do with it?"

"I couldn't tell you. He was after me already, I could not risk... You dying. But I see, now, this is worse," he takes a step forwards now.

Ooooofff- but he does return the embrace. Of course he does. "Hey."

"Oh, you know, just checking in. See if you still wish to lock me in that cellar of yours," he sits down opposite him, arms folding across his chest.

"How... Are you?"

A slight flinch when she slams the forms down.

"I know," is all he manages to say. Merlin, perhaps this is a mistake after all. "And I don't expect you to forgive me."