Tybalt Savage: Agony Aunt Characters: Regulus, Tybalt Summary: Regulus needs advice, but what Tybalt tells him is not what he expected to hear.
Ever since having dinner at Vesuvius with Gaius, Regulus had been unsettled. He had a vague suspicion forming in his mind, one he didn't want to think about, but this time, not even the distraction offered by Etienne and Serafino was enough to keep him from turning the problem over and over in his mind and poking uselessly at it.
In the end, he gave up trying to make sense of it himself and decided to talk to Tybalt, hoping he would be able to offer some insight that Regulus hadn't thought about. Determined, he set off in search of Tybalt and found him in the exercise room, working out. Regulus waited until Tybalt had finished his repetitions with a free weight so he wouldn't startle Tybalt and make him drop it, possibly on his foot.
When Tybalt had returned the weight to its rack, Regulus knocked on the door frame. "Might I interrupt?" he asked.
Turning at the sound of Regulus' voice, Tybalt smiled in welcome. "Sure, you're not really interrupting anything," he said, beckoning for Regulus to enter. He leaned down to pick up a towel from the foot of the weight bench, wiping down his sweaty face and neck. "Hopefully you can stand the smell in here; it's not a place where I usually receive much company, unless it's Serenus ogling me."
It occurred to Regulus then that Tybalt was sweating and wearing a tank top that showed off his sculpted arms and was wet enough to cling to his rock-hard abdomen, and yet Regulus hadn't even noticed. Now that he had, he was dismayed to realize he had been far more affected by the sight of Gaius in that faux loincloth, rising out of the pool like some water deity.
"It isn't so bad," he said as he moved into the room and took a seat on a bench that had not recently been sweated on. "It's just..." He broke off and raking his fingers through his hair, releasing a frustrated sigh. "I have a problem," he admitted.
Surprised by Regulus' apparent agitation, Tybalt moved to straddle the bench he had just used, facing Regulus and looking at him with concern. "What is it, and how can I help?" he asked. "Is it your nightmares? Or are the twins bothering you too much?"
"No, the nightmares have diminished considerably in frequency, and they have not been bothering me nearly as much," Regulus said. "The twins are not bothering me either. I wish it were so simple, really!" He shook his head and grimaced. "No, it is Gaius that is the problem."
Tybalt's expression went blank, but inside, he gave a groan. He and Serenus both had warned Gaius against pushing too hard, too fast, lest he drive Regulus away. Apparently the situation wasn't as bad as the way he'd blotted his copy book with Serenus - Regulus hadn't gone running off to the ends of the earth, after all - but Regulus must have noticed something. And from the looks of him, he wasn't too happy about it, either.
"Really? How so? Are you looking for a way to shut him up, too? Because if you want advice on that, believe me, I've tried everything I can think of," Tybalt replied lightly, hoping to soothe the situation if he could. "He chatters worse than the twins sometimes!"
"No, it isn't that," Regulus said. "His chattering does not bother me." He drew himself up, steeling himself to speak aloud about all the tumultuous things he had felt since their dinner together. "The problem is that I found myself... looking at him while we were having dinner at Vesuvius. We were in a Roman bath with a waterfall, and he was wet and wearing a loincloth, and..." He shook his head again. "I believe I might have felt a spark."
Tybalt's eyes widened at that, and he gave Gaius a mental point. Waterfalls and loincloths seemed a bit extreme, but apparently, they had had an effect. "Really? Well, that's good, isn't it?" He knew it would be in Gaius' opinion, but Regulus was admitting it as though it was a deep, dark sin.
"No, it is not good," Regulus growled. "Not when Gaius spent the whole damned evening talking about some man he is in love with and wants to woo. I even agreed to help him, although I have serious doubts about whether That Man is good enough for Gaius," he added with a haughty sniff.
Dumbfounded, Tybalt could only blink in surprise for a moment. So Gaius had told Regulus he was interested in someone, but obviously not who... and if his highly trained Auror senses weren't failing him, Regulus was actually jealous!
"Well, this is a new development," Tybalt said, slinging his towel around his neck and leaning forward on the bench with his hands clasped on his knees. It wasn't his place to meddle in Gaius' plans, but obviously Regulus was annoyed. Jealousy might work in Gaius' favor, if properly handled, and though he did feel a temptation to blurt out the identity of Gaius' "man", it wasn't his place to do so. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Regulus, but Gaius hasn't actually been with this guy, whoever he is, right?"
"No, he has not," Regulus replied caustically. "Because That Man is obviously an idiot and blind to boot. I have no idea why Gaius is interested in him when he sounds like a dour, oblivious, stick-in-the-mud, but I suppose there is no accounting for taste."
Someday, Tybalt vowed, he was going to repeat this conversation to Regulus verbatim, and they would both have a good laugh. He hoped. As it was, he donned a grave expression to cover up his desire to snicker as Regulus rained insults down on his own head. "Perhaps it isn't love, exactly," he said slowly, pretending to give the matter a great deal of thought. "I had heard Gaius was interested in someone. Family does talk, you know - but... well, it could be pity, I think. From what I understand, the guy has had some problems in the not too distant past. Perhaps Gaius has mistaken a desire to help with something deeper."
"I would like to think so," Regulus said, stroking his chin as he considered the idea. "But Gaius is convinced That Man is the one for him. He thinks they are well-matched."
Which was the truth, at least from Tybalt's point of view, not that he would say that out loud. "Gaius is very soft hearted, according to Serenus, although Severus' words had more to do with softness of the head," he said, smiling slightly. "Severus and Serenus have a few reservations about this, as well. But there's nothing we can do about it. Severus knows he can't dissuade Gaius from anything, and I don't think Serenus would have the heart to try." He paused, again pretending to think. "But perhaps there is something you could do about it."
Regulus frowned at him, puzzled. "Me? What in Merlin's name could I possibly do?"
Tybalt fought the urge to grin. "Well, you said you felt a spark, right? And if the capitals I'm hearing in your voice are any indication, I would almost think you were jealous."
"I did feel a spark, but jealous?" Regulus thought back to that night in the pool, and he felt heat rise in his cheeks. "Well, perhaps a little," he admitted grudgingly. "But that does not signify anything, except perhaps that I have an unhealthy attraction to Snapes, especially unavailable, unattainable ones."
"A little?" Tybalt sat back again, raising a brow. "Well, Gaius is an attractive man, I must admit, and I am something of a admirer of the Snape men myself. But I'm not talking about in general, I mean very specifically. Think about it. Another man, one you think unworthy, touching what you looked at that night. Running his hands over Gaius' skin, making him arch and purr. Gaius' cheeks flushing with desire, his eyes going dark and half-lidded for... someone else. Someone not you."
Regulus wanted to deny that the idea of someone else touching Gaius bothered him, but the truth was, Tybalt's words created vivid images in his mind that made him want to track down That Man and hex him to oblivion. He could feel that tight constriction around his chest again, and this time, molten heat was added to the mix, surging up within him and making his cheeks flush darker.
"No matter what I may think," he said at last, gritting his teeth, "Gaius fancies himself in love. There is nothing I can do about that."
Game, set, match, Tybalt thought with inner amusement. "Fancying being in love and truly being in love aren't the same thing. Don't lie to the Big, Scary Auror, Mr. Black: you want him. It doesn't take much to tell that just from the way you look ready to strangle someone. But if Gaius isn't with this man yet, then why are you giving up? Perhaps all he needs is to see that he's wrong and that he's not in love with whoever that is. That there is a much better choice staring him in the face." This time, Tybalt did allow himself a smile. "You."
Regulus reared back, stunned by the suggestion, and he felt his jaw drop. "But is that fair to Gaius?" he asked at last when he had recovered from the shock enough to speak. "Perhaps I desire him. That is not the same thing as being in love either, and it seems unfair to lure him away from a chance for happiness and love with someone, however boring and unsuitable, for something less."
Tybalt frowned and looked around the room before facing Regulus once more. "Excuse me? What Gryffindor are you and what have you done with Regulus Black?"
Drawing himself up, Regulus fixed him with a frosty stare. "There is no need to be insulting."
Tybalt shook his head and sighed. "I'm just trying to say that I think you should go for it. If you actually meant what you said... well, if you're not possessed, I would have to draw the conclusion that you just might be a little bit in love yourself. Putting his happiness above your own? Gryffindors might do that out of a sense of misguided nobility, but in a Slytherin, it speaks of something deeper."
Regulus found himself speechless with shock for the second time in as many minutes, and he shook his head vehemently. "I am not in love!" he exclaimed. "That is impossible. Utterly impossible." He buried his fingers in his hair and resisted the urge to tear it out by the handful. "I find him attractive, yes, but..." He broke off, thinking about the things Gaius had said and how they had made him feel that night. "I cannot believe it could be possible. I merely wish..." He broke off again, his thoughts turbulent. "He spoke of how he wanted to make That Man happy, to make him smile. He said he wanted to make That Man's eyes light up because of him. For a moment, I wished someone felt that way about me, that is all."
Tybalt wished that he could say someone does, you idiot!, but he held his tongue. He was going to have to tell Serenus all about this and be rewarded for being such a good, thoughtful brother-in-law. "I see," he said quietly. "And why is it so impossible for it to be him doing it? Does Gaius make you smile? Do you really want to see some other man looking at him that way? Or do you want it to be you?"
"I..." Regulus shook his head, confused and uncertain how to answer. His mind was telling him it was impossible, but his heart was piping up all of a sudden, and it had an entirely different message. "I think I might want it to be me, but I have already spent twenty years yearning for a Snape who was destined for someone else. I have had enough of bearing an unrequited love for a Snape, and I am not keen on repeating the experience."
Shaking his head, Tybalt sighed. "So you think that Gaius would rather have a 'dour, oblivious, stick-in-the-mud'," he mimicked Regulus' voice with surprising accuracy, "rather than you? You don't think much of your own charms, if you believe that anyone who was 'obviously an idiot and blind to boot' could beat you out for the man you want. If that's the way you feel, maybe Gaius is better off with That Man."
Regulus scowled, his pride stinging. "It didn't work with Severus," he muttered, folding his arms across his chest, but Tybalt's words burrowed deeper, and his pride would not let him sit back and take it. "Then again, I am older and more experienced now, and surely I could find a way to overshadow That Man. Gaius did say he liked spending time with me," he said, his tone turning thoughtful. "And if faced with a choice between someone who doesn't notice him and someone who does..."
"And Gaius isn't Severus; he's not quite that stubborn or proud," Tybalt added quietly, pleased that Regulus seemed on the verge of talking himself into it. "If I recall correctly, Gaius has only ever said that he thinks this guy could be the one, not that he was absolutely certain of it. Which implies to me that he might doubt it himself." That was pretty much an outright lie, but fighting Slytherin with Slytherin seemed appropriate at this point. "Frankly, I think you're the right one for him, Regulus. And I've thought that for longer than you might believe."
Regulus was oddly pleased by the vote of confidence, and he nodded. "Thank you. I hope Gaius comes to share your opinion," he said. He lifted his chin, his expression growing determined. "I will try," he said firmly. "At this point, I have nothing to lose anyway, and if I can save Gaius from That Man, so much the better."
Tybalt inclined his head graciously in acceptance of the thanks, his lips twitching at the thought of just how swiftly Gaius would 'come to share his opinion'. "That's the spirit," he said encouragingly. "Faint heart never won fair feline, or something like that. A win-win situation all the way around. I suspect you'll find the elder Snape twins on your side, as well. Severus, in particular. I have it on excellent authority that he always thought you were more suitable for his brother than 'that god-damned stupid mutt'. If you'll pardon the expression."
Regulus grew somber then, his expression troubled. "That 'god-damned stupid mutt' was my brother, if you'll recall," he said softly but firmly. "For all his faults, I cared for him, and he cared for me in his own way." He paused, then added pointedly, "He cared for Gaius too. I'm aware of Severus' opinion of Sirius, but I don't want to be the 'acceptable Black' or a substitute for him."
A flush of embarrassment crept into Tybalt's cheeks, and he immediately regretted his words. His own dislike of Sirius was intense, but he should have been more sensitive about Regulus' feelings. "I'm sorry, you're right, and I shouldn't have said that," he apologized with genuine remorse. "But you could never be just the acceptable one or a substitute, because, honestly, the two of you were so different. He did care for Gaius, in his own way, but I don't think he was ever what Gaius really wanted or needed. You're more than he was in a lot of ways, and I can't help it if I have always liked you more than I did him because of it. But Gaius did say that Sirius said he wanted him to be happy. I think you're the man who can do that. And I've an odd feeling he might be just what you need as well."
Regulus cocked his head and gave Tybalt a quizzical look. "Why is that?" he asked.
Tybalt blinked at the question, then chuckled. "You know, I'm not quite certain. I just do, if that makes any sense. Mum calls it Gypsy intuition." He smiled and shrugged. "If you've any doubts at all, we could have Celestra read your cards. She's never wrong, which is sometimes comforting and at other times can rather take the fun out of things."
"I may take you up on that, depending on how things go," Regulus said nodding, and then he held out his hand. "At any rate, apology accepted. I would appreciate it if you did not say such things about Sirius in front of me, however."
Holding out his hand, Tybalt clasped Regulus' and gave a mental sigh of relief. "I promise. And you don't have to worry that I'll forget that promise, right?"
"Right." Regulus shook Tybalt's hand firmly and released it, rising to his feet at last. "Well, I suppose I had best be off and let you return to your exercise." He smiled wryly. "I have plans to make and a Snape to woo. I can only hope it goes better than it did the last time."
"This Gypsy thinks you don't have anything to worry about," Tybalt replied, rising as well and offering a rueful smile of his own. "And if you need any more help, you know where to find me, right? Once I take my foot out of my mouth, I might actually be of some use to you."
"You were quite helpful today," Regulus said. "Albeit not exactly in the way I expected. But if it seems I need reinforcements, I will let you and the rest of the clan know."
"We'll be here." Tybalt nodded. "I'm always glad to help you, you know. Any time. You're my friend, Regulus, and I want to see you happy. You deserve it."
Regulus still wasn't certain why everyone kept saying that, but he had accepted it as part of the dynamics of the clan. "Thank you. With any luck, I will be able to make Gaius happy too. More than That Man ever could."
"No doubt you will. None at all," Tybalt replied, then watched as Regulus turned to go. He waited a few moments, then tossed his towel over the weight bench and left as well, whistling as he made his way up the stairs. He had a lot to tell Serenus, after all, and then he needed to give Severus a call. Gaius was going to owe someone a dress and shoes, and if he knew Severus, he was going to want time to find the most lavish and expensive one possible to remind Gaius of his drunken promise. He wouldn't tell Serenus about the flub he'd made about Sirius, though... he wanted to be rewarded for being so good and not laughing his head off at the entire situation, and there was no sense in giving Serenus good cause not to spank him.