regulus was a smart boy, and so it was no surprise that regulus knew he wasn’t meant to survive destroying the horcrux. regulus knew from the moment his breath caught in the dark cave, nothing but the feeling piercing icicles prodding at his lungs. he knew the moment the first cold hand wrapped around his ankles, regulus knew that is what death felt like. but regulus knows this isn’t a loss. knows his mother will die with him, his father gone at the loss of regulus’ life. regulus knows they will not win this war, knows that no one will. but most importantly, he knows this will end them. no heir, no name, nothing. knows walburga and orion black are arrogant, and that will cause their deaths. and regulus could not give a fuck.
if anything, with hands grabbing at his arms and throat and eyes, if anything, regulus laughs. laughter only to be silenced in the body of water surrounding him. but it wasn’t for anyone to hear. regulus laughs for himself, because he fucking deserves it. because he won. they lost. and they will lose. no one will win but dammit, they will lose more. and that is exactly what they deserve.