Clearing the Air Characters: Gaius, Regulus, Severus, Serenus Summary: Regulus only stops in Alchemy & Ecstasy because he has some news to share, but he ends up having a couple of unexpected Deep Conversations instead.
Diagon Alley was a-bustle as usual with shoppers and gawkers, most of them seeming to be in no particular hurry. Regulus wasn't either. He'd come to Diagon Alley to see what kind of shop space was available; his business was doing well enough that he'd decided he needed to establish a permanent location for meeting with clients and storing his stock, rather than working out of his own home. He was going to need some help soon, too, because meeting with buyers and sellers was taking up more and more of his time, leaving him less time to keep up with bookwork and take trips to search for more inventory. His business had grown beyond a one-man operation, thus it was time to make some changes.
He'd found a vacancy next door to Obscurus Books; it was a small space, but serviceable, with an enhanced stock room that the agent had assured him he could store a life-sized statue of an elephant in, if needed. That was how Regulus had found himself the brand new occupant of 18B Diagon Alley. He supposed that meant he would have to think up a name for his business and advertise for assistants. Not to mention decorate the drab little place.
With his business concluded, he wasn't eager to return home, and so he wandered and window-shopped until he'd found himself in front of Alchemy & Ecstasy; he decided he might as well stop in and see if either Severus or Serenus was working that day so he could share the news that they would be neighbors, of a sorts, and he would pick up a bottle of Ginger Gloss shampoo and perhaps some of their lotion for men as well. Even if he hadn't been a friend of both the Snape brothers, he would have bought their products; for someone he had long thought as an ascetic, Severus made the most lush, hedonistic products Regulus had found anywhere in the world.
The bell over the door jangled as he walked in, and he immediately noticed the space was different; it appeared they had expanded, and he peered around, curious about the changes they had made.
Gaius hummed to himself as he went about arranging the artful display of cosmetics on the mahogany vanity, selecting the most luxurious of the bottles and jars from the Alchemy & Ecstasy collection to set off the rich wood and elegant upholstery of the piece. He'd polished the mirror to an almost unearthly clarity, and he was quite satisfied with the entire effect.
The vanity was only the centerpiece of his collection, however; he and the twins had magically altered the shop, enlarging one side so it was larger on the inside, and making that his showroom. He had set up a section of shelves with some of his magically customized china and flatware, and another, in keeping with the theme of the shop, with luxurious bed linens and decadently thick towels. It was a small start, but a good one, and he hoped to add things every week until he'd determined what would sell and what held less appeal.
He looked up as the bell over the door rang, his eyes widening as Regulus walked into the shop. He'd not seen his friend since the day he'd brought Sekhmet to him, and he felt a small shiver of trepidation at the thought of meeting him again. Hopefully it would go well, but Regulus' silence over the days since their last meeting had left him feeling as though their friendship might possibly have come to an end, despite his efforts.
Still, he was a businessman now, and so he stepped forward with a rather pensive smile. "Hullo, Regulus," he said, inclining his head in a greeting. "Were you looking for my brothers?"
Regulus was taken aback to see Gaius in the shop; he hadn't expected to encounter Gaius, and he wasn't prepared. Caught off guard, he tried to rally rather than flounder, especially since Gaius looked uncertain too. He hoped Gaius wouldn't think about how he had carried Anubis almost everywhere he went and wonder if the fact that Sekhmet wasn't with him was some sort of rejection. He wasn't ready for that kind of closeness yet, not to mention she was quite a bit heavier than Anubis, who could practically fit in his pocket.
"I was, yes," he replied, mustering a smile. "I had some news to share, and I wanted to pick up a few things while I'm here." He glanced over at the new additions with a curious eye. "What are you doing here?"
Gaius couldn't remember having ever felt this awkward with Regulus before, not even during the time after Regulus had pretended to be his brother. Of course at that point, Gaius hadn't been the one at fault, as he was now, and he found that it some ways, it was easier to be the injured party than the one who had wronged a friend.
Still, Regulus hadn't turned around and marched out, so perhaps that was a good sign. "I've gone into the family business, in a manner of speaking," he said, feeling a tiny surge of pride at being able to say that. "After... everything in the last few months, I've decided I no longer wish to teach. I'm making several changes in my life, and the twins invited me to use my budding talents in design to partner with them. I've moved into the flat over the shop as well; with a little help, I'm going to see if I can make a new life for myself. I need to find out who I am now, since I'm not the man I used to be."
"I see." Regulus raised both eyebrows, surprised by that revelation. "Congratulations are in order, then. I hope your new career works out." He looked at the new inventory again, paying closer attention to the details of the linens, vanity, and other items. "These are yours? It does seem like you've chosen something that will play to your abilities."
"Thank you," Gaius replied, hazarding a small smile. He was glad that Regulus was still talking to him, and he found he was relaxing just a tiny bit. "I don't yet know if it will succeed, but it is at least a start. I hope it works, because I wouldn't want to be the first Snape brother to botch it, especially now that I'm claiming the name. It'll be official in a few days, when the Ministry processes the paperwork."
"You're changing your name too?" Regulus turned his attention back to Gaius, surprised anew. "You seem to making quite a few major changes in a short time. Isn't it all a bit sudden?"
Gaius shrugged, his face flushing, and he dropped his gaze. "Perhaps a bit, but... necessary, too. I've never disliked myself before, never felt when I looked in the mirror that I didn't know the man looking back at me. I couldn't live that way, and so... I did what I had to do. And hopefully I will never, ever make the same mistakes I made before." He lifted his gaze to Regulus, his expression sad; it still hurt to think of all the pain he'd caused his friend by all his selfishness, and he wasn't certain that any change would be large enough to make him feel differently about that.
"It would be rather difficult to make certain mistakes again, considering the unique circumstances, so I should hope you wouldn't make them again." That came out more tartly than Regulus intended, and he grimaced, but he didn't apologize. For once, he was in a bad situation that wasn't of his own making, and he didn't feel he had anything to apologize for.
Gaius didn't flinch at Regulus' words; he deserved them, and far worse, and he couldn't blame Regulus for anything he might say or do. "A selfish act on my part is a selfish act, unique circumstances not excusing it any more than regular ones," he replied softly. "In fact, the circumstances make it even less excusable than a mere unthinking act in many different ways. You were suffering the same loss as I was, and if I'd had any sensitivity at all I'd never have put myself in the situation to not be thinking clearly."
Regulus clenched his jaw and looked away. It wasn't often he spoke without thinking; it had been ingrained in him as a Black and as a Slytherin that a carelessly spoken word was often regretted later. But the wounds were still raw, and there was anger seeping in as well.
"I have no intention of disagreeing," he replied. Having committed more than his fair share of selfish acts in the past - sometimes deliberately, sometimes not - he was acutely aware of how just a little thought could prevent a great deal of hurt. Perhaps his own past was what made him feel all the more righteous now, having overcome his own thoughtless tendencies; he knew Gaius was nothing like his old self, but he was starting to become aware of how used he felt. "You took advantage of me," he said, realizing it even as he spoke the words. "You could have changed back at any time and spared me the humiliation of baring my soul to you, but you didn't. You just let me keep on doing it, and you cost me my privacy, my dignity, and my companion."
Every word Regulus said was the pure, unvarnished truth, but that didn't mean that they didn't slice like daggers through Gaius' heart. Gaius had thought the same things, of course, and had already beaten himself up over them, but now hearing Regulus list his failings cut to the quick. His face went white, but he didn't turn away from Regulus' anger, knowing that nothing, nothing at all Regulus could do or say to him would be as bad as what he had done to Regulus. Nothing excused his behavior, and it seemed that nothing could take away Regulus' pain.
"You're right," he agreed, facing Regulus and nodding. "I did. I didn't mean to, but I did it. I wronged you, hurt you, and did something I never, ever should have done."
"Yes, you did." It offered Regulus some grim satisfaction to hear Gaius acknowledge what he had done; at least he knew it was wrong and hurtful, and that was a small bit of salve on the wounds. "I trusted you, but you abused that trust. You betrayed me, Gaius, and you were the last person I ever thought would do such a thing to anyone, much less someone you called a friend."
"I never thought I could ever do something like that, not to anyone, but especially not to you." Gaius wanted to run, but he held himself in place, taking whatever Regulus had to say. Regulus obviously needed to say these things, despite having told Gaius he was forgiven. "There is no excuse I can make for it. You deserve much better than I gave you. I'm sorry... although I know that isn't enough to make up for it by any stretch."
"No, not really." Regulus folded his arms and glanced away, shaking his head. "I know you regret it. I know you mean every apology you have offered. I know you didn't deliberately set out to wrong me. If you had, it would be easier, but I am aware you were only acting out of your own pain. But it doesn't change the fact that my trust has been broken. I've no idea how you can make up for that. You've given me a cat, yes, and I admit she is intelligent, but she isn't Anubis. She isn't the companion I trusted and talked to and looked to for closeness and comfort. That was you, although I didn't know it. Only I can't trust you anymore now either."
"If I could do it over again, I wouldn't ever have hurt you, but I know that wishing so doesn't make it better for you," Gaius said, forcing his voice to come out as more than an agonized whisper. "When I was with you, I didn't think of myself as anything but Anubis, as your cat, and if Severus and Serenus hadn't recognized me, I might have remained so forever. I considered that, too, when Serenus offered me a choice; I thought about giving up humanity completely, just remaining with you. But it wouldn't have been right, not for either of us. I knew I'd done wrong then, even though I hadn't meant to. I would do anything to make it up to you, if only I knew how, or what to do." He looked at Regulus, misery in his dark eyes. "I still have the pensieve. I'd give up the memories if you asked. If I thought leaving here forever would make it better, I'd even do that. You have suffered more than anyone should, especially at the hands of a friend. I can't change that, but I'd give up all my magic if I had the opportunity to try."
Regulus looked at Gaius for a long moment in silence, pensive and lost in thought. He had been the object of mistrust and distancing enough himself not to want to inflict the same on anyone else, and Gaius had been one of his friends and supporters despite the cruel ruse Regulus had tried to pull, making Gaius think he was related to the Blacks rather than the Snapes in order to sabotage his relationship with Sirius. Gaius had forgiven him for that, which had been done deliberately, and while Regulus was a different man now, it didn't erase what he had done back then.
He lifted one hand and rubbed his forehead, releasing a long, slow sigh. "I know you would," he said at last. He took in the sight of Gaius' earnest misery; he'd voiced the painful thoughts that had been festering ever since the day he had learned the truth about Anubis, and Gaius had acknowledged them, and he felt his anger fading somewhat. "I don't want you to leave or to give up your memories. I don't want to suffer anymore, and I don't want to dwell on the suffering. I want to put it aside and move on as best I can."
Gaius saw the anger in Regulus' face ease a bit, and he swallowed hard and nodded. "I don't want you to suffer, either. I want to help you any way I can. Anything you ever want or need, I will do, without question or hesitation. I owe you that. I owe you more than that." He meant every word; no matter what it took, he wanted to make things right for Regulus.
"You forgave me for trying to deceive you, and you gave me a cat," Regulus said. "We'll call it even. Besides..." He shrugged and shook his head again. "There isn't really anything you can do. I'll have to sort this out myself." He had to figure out a way to put his fear aside and risk letting down his guard again, and that was something no one could help him with; he had to do it himself or it wouldn't happen.
"I understand," Gaius said softly. He did, too; there were things that people sometimes did have to work out for themselves. "Just... know that I'm here for you. I may be the last person you'd want to talk to or come to for help, but I mean it anyway. Anytime, day or night. Call it even, if you wish, and accept my offer as that of someone who cares very much about you."
"I appreciate it," Regulus replied, a flush rising in his cheeks as he remembered some of the things he had already confided unwittingly, and he glanced away. "But I feel as if I have divulged enough to you as it is. You know more about me than anyone else. You know my weaknesses and insecurities." The flush deepened as his embarrassment grew. "I can only imagine what you must think of me after everything I revealed."
"What I think is that you are a wonderful man, one who has faced great adversity and come through it." Gaius' voice was firmer now, filled with unquestionable certainty. "I think you have faced your own weaknesses and moved past them, which is a remarkable feat for anyone. You have overcome the narrowmindedness of your upbringing and have sought to make yourself a better person. For all of those reasons, and many more, I am proud to know you, and would proudly stand beside you through any hardship you might face. It is because I know you as well as I do that I am most appalled and ashamed of my own actions; were you a lesser man, one who didn't feel his own regrets for mistakes of the past, it would not tear me up as it does to have been the cause of so much pain and loss."
Regulus nodded slightly, Gaius' words helping to assuage the mortification he felt over having revealed so much of himself, especially his loneliness. He had told Anubis things he'd never wanted any human being to know about himself, and it was difficult to think of Gaius knowing those things, but at least Gaius didn't pity him or think he was weak.
"It's because of my past mistakes that I cannot judge you too harshly," he said quietly. "What you did wasn't deliberate or malicious. I cannot say the same about many things I have done. And..." He paused, then shrugged awkwardly. "A great deal of my anger with you has been tied up with embarrassment."
Gaius flushed at that. "I can appreciate how that must feel," he said, feeling a bit awkward himself. "But please know that I don't think less of you for anything I heard or saw; on the contrary, I admire you more. On many different levels." It hadn't hit him as a cat, of course, but since returning to human form he could now well appreciate just how attractive Regulus was, although he knew his friend had no interest in him thinking about him in such a fashion. Then he chuckled a bit ruefully. "If it helps, I will tell you now that I slept with a stuffed bear until I went to Durmstrang... and after that, I still did every summer and holiday until I was... well. Let's just say well into adulthood."
"Oh?" Regulus raised one eyebrow. Sleeping with a teddy bear wasn't quite on the same level as admitting to the level of neediness Regulus had, but he could appreciate what Gaius was trying to do. "Was it due to habit or lack of another cuddling outlet?"
"A little of both," Gaius admitted, a twinkle in his eye. "And partially hedonism, of a sort. It was an incredibly soft bear! But it did lose a little of its appeal when I found other outlets." It felt good to be talking to Regulus almost as in the old days, even if he was admitting to something he'd not told anyone else before. "I still have that bear packed away, too. Just in case!"
Regulus smiled wistfully. "It's always good to have an outlet, I suppose."
"Indeed." Regulus' smile tore at Gaius' heart. He thought - or maybe just hoped - that what they'd discussed had cleared the air a bit, painful as it had been, but it also brought home the fact that Regulus was still quite alone, and Gaius wished there was something he could do to ease that pain, even though he knew there wasn't. "I suspect my outlet for a good long time will be throwing myself into work. Which, if you don't mind a slight change of subject, is something Serenus thought I should speak to you about." It seemed a good segue off of personal topics, if Regulus wished to take it.
Regulus latched on to the change of topic gratefully, relieved to have a respite from such intensely personal subjects. "What is it?"
"I'm starting out small now, with the shop, but I'm planning on expanding to full scale decorating services," Gaius said, gesturing to the vanity. He wasn't surprised Regulus wanted to change the subject, and he, too, was glad to get things back on more neutral subjects. "One thing that I'd like to do is offer unique items, and perhaps even whole themes based around a single, unusual piece. Would you perhaps be interested in being one of my suppliers for such things? It doesn't necessarily need to be furniture, either; a tapestry, or a sculpture... the main requirement would be something beautiful and interesting that would make a good focus for decorating, or an accent to set something off."
Regulus saw the good business sense in the idea; having unique imports would make Gaius' inventory more valuable and more desirable, and he could see how such an arrangement could be profitable for both of them. "Are you interested in magical items or non-magical or a mix of both? Right now, I deal in magical artifacts, but it would be simple enough to expand into furniture and accessories, both antique and contemporary."
"A mix of both," Gaius said, nodding firmly. "I'm only going to accept magical clients, of course, so there shouldn't be any problems there with enchanted pieces. Plus some of them might have entertainment value. I'm happy to trust your taste in such things when you run across something of interest, and other times there might be a specific kind of an item I'd ask you to look for. Most of the rest of the things I will use I will either purchase from more mundane suppliers, or transfigure myself. One of the things I'm rather eager to market is the idea of personalized tableware. Not in sets, but personalized to the individual for families, with more common pieces for visitors."
"I have a better idea," Regulus said. "I can give you first pick when I get a new shipment in. It won't be inconvenient for either of us, because I've just taken the vacant shop next to Obscurus Books. Business has grown enough that I need more storage space and a place to meet clients, and I decided it was time to set up shop. I will talk to my suppliers in Cairo and see what they suggest." He gave Gaius a questioning look. "The personalized place settings is an interesting idea. Would you like me to put in a request for antique plates and such?"
"So we'll be neighbors, so to speak," Gaius said, smiling widely at the thought of Regulus also having a shop close by. "Excellent! I think that's a great plan, and I'll be able to come over to your shop at any time to look at what you have. And if you don't mind putting in a request for plates, that would be very nice. I've done some transfiguration for my own sets for use in the flat, but there might be existing things that would suit people just fine." He flushed a bit. "In fact, I've even a place setting for you, should you decide you'd like to visit some time."
"Have you?" Regulus shifted awkwardly, still a little uncomfortable with the thought of dropping by for a casual visit. Their discussion had helped, but he doubted things would be easy and comfortable again for some time. It would take time and effort, especially on his end since he was the one with the tendency to withdraw out of self-protectiveness. "That's quite nice of you."
Gaius sensed Regulus' discomfort, and he smiled sadly. Things were better, but not as they had been, and he was rushing things as usual. "It's not a problem. I did it for all my family," he said. "Here, let me show you."
Moving to the shelves with the plates, he took one of the plain white ones from the bottom, then drew his wand. With a few softly spoken spells, he placed the pattern he'd come up with for Regulus on it; deep green, like the darkest jade, with black veins running through it in an effect that looked like marble. Around the rim where silver symbols, alternating ankhs and Eyes of Horus. He held out the plate to Regulus almost shyly. "For you."
Accepting the plate, Regulus gazed down at it, his pale eyes growing wide, and he traced the symbols along the rim lightly with his forefinger. "It's lovely," he murmured. The colors and design represented him perfectly, showing a great deal of thought on Gaius' part, and he was surprised Gaius had gone to such trouble for him, when he wasn't family, only a friend, but then, perhaps it was part of Gaius' attempts to make amends. Whatever the reason, it was a beautiful design, and Regulus liked it. "Thank you."
Regulus' pleasure in the design was a relief, and Gaius smiled, resisting the urge to wriggle like a puppy. "You're welcome. I will be happy to make you a whole set for your own use, if you'd like. It wouldn't take me very long." He chuckled. "Unlike Cymbeline's; her plates are plain black, but the tiny silver crowns set with real crystals took quite a while."
Regulus chuckled quietly. "I can imagine they did. But she was pleased with them, I'm sure." He glanced at Gaius, giving a little nod as he put the plate aside. "I would like a set," he said. "Crowns and crystals are not necessary."
"She was pleased, yes - and hopefully you will be, too," Gaius said lightly, quite pleased himself that Regulus would accept a gift from him. "I'll get them ready as soon as I can." It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest that Regulus come to his flat to get them, but he was leery of pushing too hard. Best to give things a little time.
"There isn't any need to rush," Regulus replied. He gestured to the expanded area of the shop where Gaius had been working. "You have a business to launch, and I'm sure you have a great deal of work to do. I have a fair bit to do myself in getting the shop ready." One corner of his mouth quirked up slightly. "Perhaps I should hire you to decorate it for me while I move in my stock and look for assistants."
Gaius' breath caught; perhaps things really were taking a turn for the better. "I would consider it a favor and an honor if you would allow me to do that," he said, smiling with pleasure at the thought. "If you're truly considering it, if you would like to jot down any requirements or ideas, perhaps we could discuss them? I'm in the fortunate position of having my brothers to help me with things on this end, and the retail aspect is already well in hand because of that. I was going to move slowly anyway, so I have plenty of time to work on things for you, if that is truly what you would like."
The suggestion had been made half in jest, but the more Regulus thought about it, the better an idea he thought it was. He had enough to do without having to worry about making the shop space itself presentable; it would make sense to leave that to someone who knew what he was doing, and besides, it would give Gaius practice and his first bit of practical experience in his new field.
"Very well," he said, nodding slowly. "I will make some notes tonight. Perhaps tomorrow, you can stop by to look at the space. I intend to be in and out most of the day, moving inventory from storage to the shop and sending out notices of my new business address. I can let you in and show you what you have to work with."
"That's fantastic," Gaius replied, unable to keep the smile of pure happiness from his lips. The situation with Regulus had been the one dark blot on his plan for a new life, and it looked now as though fate were smiling on him in letting it be resolved. Not that things were back to where they had been before, and Gaius was certain it would take some time and a lot of effort for it to become that way again, but he was by nature an optimistic man. If Regulus was willing to let him in, he would do everything he could to make amends for what he had done. "I'll come by tomorrow, then, and we can talk. I'm looking forward to it a great deal. Thank you, Regulus. This means a great deal to me."
"You needn't thank me," Regulus said, waving one hand. "You're saving me the trouble of having to worry about the interior decorating myself. I enjoy finding artifacts, but not necessary trying to find the perfect placement for them. I'd rather focus on setting up the business end of things." A thought occurred to him, and he added 'buy an owl for business correspondence' and 'write an advert for the Daily Prophet' to his mental To Do list. "I have plenty to do," he added with a wry smile.
"I know the feeling," Gaius agreed, giving a wry glance at the expanded shop. Then he flushed. "You came here to see Severus and Serenus, and I've monopolized all your time. Come, I'll take you to them. They're in the back, talking over the designs for the nursery expansion. They want to be able to bring the Snapelets to work and have a place to leave them where they can't get into trouble. Personally I think that nothing short of Azkaban could keep Cymbeline from getting to what she wants, much less the combined forces of all five of them, but we're all going to make an effort." He chuckled then, a light of amusement in his eyes. "Good thing for you your shop isn't right next door. When this place gets blown sky high by the children, at least your shop will be safe!"
"I appreciate the warning," Regulus replied as he followed Gaius to the back of the shop. "I'll be certain to wear appropriate protective gear from now on, just in case. Nor will I be surprised if I ever walk in and find the grown-ups have been ousted, and Cymbeline is running the place."
"She's definitely Severus' daughter," Gaius agreed. They reached the counter in the back, and Gaius nodded to Miriam before ushering Regulus to the curtained off area. "Serenus? Severus? I've brought a visitor. Are the two of you decent?"
"Never," Serenus called back cheerfully. "But we're fully clothed at the moment, if that's what you mean." He looked up from the notes and plans he and Severus had been cobbling together, smiling at the new arrivals. "Look what the cat dragged in, Severus."
Severus glanced up and nodded a greeting. "What brings you by, Regulus?"
"Two things, actually," Regulus replied as he approached their work table. "I wanted to purchase a few things, but more importantly, I wanted to let you know I'll be setting up shop myself. I've taken the vacant shop next to Obscurus Books as a sort of home base for my import business."
"Really? Congratulations!" Serenus reached out to clasp Regulus' hand and shake it. "It sounds like business is doing well, then."
"It is, yes." Regulus smiled then, a smile of pride in his accomplishment. "It's no longer convenient to work out of my home or try to run everything myself. I need space and some assistance, and I thought I might as well start making plans for expansion."
Gaius peered from behind Regulus' shoulder. "I asked Regulus about supplying for my new venture, and he's agreed. Isn't that marvelous? It's going to make things so much better, having his resources to help." He couldn't quite say that they would be working together, since he wasn't quite certain it extended that far, but he rather felt like they were doing so, and it made him very happy.
Severus arched one eyebrow and looked back and forth between Regulus and Gaius, wondering if all was forgiven and forgotten. Somehow, he doubted it was that easy, but Regulus was here, and he had agreed to help Gaius, so perhaps things were going better than he had expected them to, especially since Gaius looked like nothing so much as an eager puppy at the moment.
"Good, I'm glad to hear it." He nodded his approval to Regulus. "I think your merchandise will give Gaius a competitive edge in the market."
"It will be a beneficial arrangement for all of us, I hope," Regulus replied. "And with my shop just down the street, it will be convenient as well."
"Very much so," Gaius agreed. "I'm looking forward to getting started." Miriam stuck her head in the door, and beckoned to him, and Gaius nodded. "Sorry, it looks as though I'm wanted. Maybe it will be my first sale - wouldn't that be great?" Smiling widely, he headed out the door with a small wave to the others.
Serenus and Severus waited until Gaius was out of the room before they turned their attention on Regulus, fixing him with identical stern and speculative looks.
"So." Severus folded his arms and peered down his nose at Regulus. "I assume this means you and Gaius are on better terms?"
"I suppose so," Regulus replied, folding his arms and peering back at Severus. He had known Severus too long to be intimidated by such tactics. "We had a... discussion out there just now. It was unexpectedly helpful to get some things off my chest."
"Good." Serenus nodded approvingly. "Gaius has been devastated over the thought of having wronged you, and as much as I sympathize for what you've been through lately, he's our brother, and I don't want to see him hurt anymore either. He didn't hurt you on purpose, and he doesn't need to be dragged over the coals again and again. He's been through enough."
"Exactly," Severus agreed firmly.
"It isn't my intention to drag him over the coals," Regulus retorted. "I know he isn't capable of being deliberately malicious or deceitful; he isn't that kind of person. But he did betray my trust and my privacy, and that isn't something I can dismiss with a hand wave." He gave Severus a pointed look. "You, of all people, ought to understand that."
"I do, yes," Severus conceded. "We aren't trying to minimize whatever it is you feel about the situation, but if you cannot let it go and move on, then tell Gaius now. He doesn't deserve to be strung along."
"It won't be easy, but I am trying," Regulus said, relaxing his defensive posture a little, and he shrugged. "I don't want to lose a friend, but it isn't easy either. I'm doing the best I can to put it behind us."
"Today was a good first step, I hope," Serenus said, moving closer and resting his hand on Regulus' arm. "But if there's anything we can do to help, let us know, all right? We'd like to see both of you happy again."
"You mean Gaius," Regulus said, feeling a bitter sting that they were more or less ganging up on him to fix the problem when he - for once! - hadn't been the one to cause it.
"No, I mean both of you," Serenus replied firmly, tightening his hand on Regulus' arm. "Gaius is our brother, so yes, we have more of a tendency to look out for his best interests, but you're our friend too, and we aren't forgetting or dismissing how you feel about all of this."
"We won't hold it against you if you decide you cannot repair your friendship with him adequately," Severus said. "We simply do not want you to offer him false hope that it can be repaired."
"I don't think it is false hope," Regulus said slowly, rubbing his forehead. "I still like him. I just... don't trust him or feel as comfortable with him as I once did. He knows too much, and I haven't yet reconciled myself to that."
"It'll take time." Serenus nodded sympathetically, and he gave Regulus' arm once last comforting squeeze before releasing it. "Perhaps working together will help."
"Perhaps." Regulus smiled slightly and shrugged. "Time will tell."
"Indeed it will." Sensing that a change of topic was in order, Serenus clapped his hands together and adopted a business-like air. "So! What can we sell you today? You said you'd come in for some things, right?"
"I did, yes," Regulus agreed, relieved to put the subject aside for now.
"Come on, then. I'll give you my personal attention to make sure you're a completely satisfied customer," Serenus said playfully, earning a snort from Severus, which he ignored. "Right this way..."