1. Mind on the Road, Your Dilated Eyes
x — barty crouch jr.
Barty enjoyed cars. He liked to feel the push back, the resistance, but what he liked even more, was to push each cars unique set of boundaries. The engine beneath him, sounding as a deep and sturdy rumble calmed him while everything blended smoothly into the peripheral.
He felt even more serene when he would turn his head and see Evan Rosier in the car beside him, challenging Barty on.
Barty Crouch Jr. did not consider himself a bad person, nor would he ever think Evan one either. He knew that the two of them were alike. They had morals— yes. They had a leader, and were apart of a group. A group that had a bad name and reputation, yes, but Barty figured that as long as they sick to their guns(racing, betting, fighting, and theft), their hands were relatively clean.
So, they took advantage of this lifestyle. Made it fun. Had Barty followed his Fathers footsteps and went to law school, he wouldn’t be where he was, sat in a stolen, blindingly purple Ferrari, going 273 kph with his best friend in the car beside him.
The roads were empty as it was nearly 4:00, so the two arrived at the warehouse quickly. It was outside of town and mostly underground. They pulled up to the garage, the man holding guard, Lucius, recognized them, and manually opened it. Behind the garage it seemed a vacant cement block of a building, but Barty and Evan knew where to go. Lucius navigated them through the building, Evan first to the landing. Everything was cement and disguised strategically. Once Evan parked his own freshly stolen Mercedes, Lucius called out.
”Level four?”
Evan barely bothered nodding his head. There were 5 floors in total, each one used for different reasons. Level one was sort of like a conference space. Riddle’s office and mysterious vault was there. Level two is where they sometimes heard screams echo from, but neither Evan or Barty ever saw the floor for their own. Level three was something of a weaponry mixed a training room. Level four is where they would be going, a garage space for nothing other than to store stolen cars until they were sold. Level five wasn’t used ever, and they heard off it to be an emergency bunker. The only way in or out was secret, only Riddle knew.
Barty drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, waiting impatiently for his turn to use the platform. It was all very slow moving, no matter how complex. When finally, the surface rose, Evan on the fourth floor with his car, it was Barty’s turn.
He was excited. Tonight was a really good night, the pair were more than successful, and Riddle would be proud. When the shaft lowered to the windowless, brightly lit garage, Barty saw Evan and Riddle conversing near the door way, looking over Barty’s Ferrari as he began to park it in a designated slot. Barty turned the engine off and gripped the keys firmly in his hand. He tried not to get out of the car with a smile on his face, but failed miserably.
”What a car,” Riddle marveled with his hands placed out, “Truly, Barty, Evan, you two never fail to amaze me.”
Barty handed over the keys to the Ferrari, “Anytime.”
Evan and Barty made their way over to the exit, which appeared as a plain door towards the back.
”Have a good night!” Riddle called out, followed by a rather frightening sound that Barty could only describe as a rich guy chuckle.
Once they passed the push door, they began to walk up stairs. They were darkly lit, and a mouse scattered past them. Four cases of stairs were a lot for a man like Barty, who wasn’t very physically active, so he was a bit breathless when he reached the third.
”Don’t tell me smokers lung is taking you on so soon?” Evan feigned concern, patting Barty on the back toughly.
Barty rolled his eyes, shoving Evan down a few steps, as they raced the final level. There were two doors. The left would lead them back to the main level, and the right was a back entrance that could only be left and never entered. Riddle kept this building guarded and that was for sure. The question would be if Riddle ever left anything unguarded.
There was a slim, gated path out of the back exit door, each side surrounded them in forest. Barty could hear the crickets and felt the mosquitoes attacking him. He ignored this, however, and watched Evan.
Evan Rosier was walking in front of him, and Barty realized that he was just as perfect from the back. His blonde hair was light, even in the darkness of the early morning. It was so soft looking. His black t-shirt was loose fitting but Barty noticed the way the sleeves hugged his arms. He hated the fact that Evan was so perfect, yet loved that he was here to witness it.
”You’re scaring me.” Evan turned to glance at Barty over his shoulder with pinched eyebrows.
“Yeah?” Barty hummed. He was okay with keeping it that way. Their footsteps against the paved walkway were the only thing heard, the only sign of human life around. It was starting to put Barty on edge, as would anything if it stayed the same for too long, but the end of the trail was near.
Barty could see Evan’s head nod from in front of him.
“Usually after midnight you get… chatty,” Evan explained, tilting his head before turning to face Barty, “Your pupils get all big, and you get these passionate, huge goals for life that you forget of by morning.”
Evan did an odd gesture with his hands as he talked, which Barty took offense to. Barty continued walking while Evan was facing him. The blonde one was now, walking backwards with a slight tint of pink on his cheeks.
”That doesn’t sound like me.” Barty noted, shaking his head while Evan opened the fence to the parking lot and let Barty through first. He didn’t know how to feel about Evan knowing all of these things about him. Embarrassed? Flattered?
Evan snorted, pulling the keys to their car from his pocket, “I think it is very you.”