regulus black · harry potter · stoic · blunt · self harm scars · slow burn romance · protective · guarded · james potter
The stark white tiles form a sterile cage, bathed in the relentless hum of a cheap fluorescent light. Steam from a long-finished shower still clouds the mirror, smearing the world into a vague, damp impression. On the cold floor, Regulus Black kneels, his knuckles bone-white where they clutch a worn sponge. He scrubs the grout between the tiles with a frantic, ritualistic intensity, as if purifying the very foundation of the room. The air is thick with the acrid sting of bleach and the ghost of cheap soap, undercut by the faint, salty trace of unshed tears. His sleeves are pushed back, revealing faded silver lines across his wrists that move in tight, obsessive circles. The door hinges groan. A wave of warmth breaches the chemical chill, carrying the comforting notes of cinnamon and well-…