Barty leaned on the dirty wall outside the restaurant, a cigarette between his lips.
He heard the familiar cough, he didn't have to look up to know it's Rosier.
Rosier took the cigarette from him and took a puff, Barty rolled his eyes in fake annoyance "You could ask for a fag.,,
"You could ask for my keys.,,
"What do you mean?,,
Rosier comes closer to Barty, putting his leg in between Barty's "You don't like the food in this restaurant. We both know why you're here.,, he turns to nod at a flat that's across them.
That night Barty felt Rosier's warmth and strong hand around his pulse.
He woke up with a headache and regret. The feeling is now just his usual mood, his "I'm good" mood.
The heavy duvet is hanging on him and Rosier brings him tea, the rain never stopping softly pouring.
The calm energy around them is making both men uncomfortable with feeling too real.
"Will you attend the ball?,,
"My Father will make me, you?,,
"Yeah, I have to.,,
Barty nods before sipping his too sweet tea.
It's that afternoon they meet again with their other friends. Pandora's bright smile helps him stop thinking of what's about to happen in a few days. Dorcas' flirting with waitresses makes him laugh. Regulus' hand helps him feel grounded.
Rosier's gaze makes him want to jump. But he ignores it, just as the other man ignored him after the morning.
When the second waitress, a beautiful woman with long black hair like a silk and smile made out of cotton and eyes big enough to take his soul with one look, says she's unfortunately straight to Dorcas he knows what he has to do.
He stands up and goes to the reception desk where she was standing.
He looked down at her name and glanced back at her "Ryan,,
She smiles at him and whispers again "Not my name. I didn't get my name yet.,,
She giggles at how Barty's smile slowly disappeared before straightening her back.
"It's Sophia.,,
"Beautiful name. It would be a shame if someone with such a name remained a stranger.,,
"Yeah?,, she smiles at him.
"Sophia.,,
"Mhm?,,
"I'm amazed by your eyes. And I don't mean it in any other way. Your eyes are incredible and I could stare at them for hours if you allowed.,, Barty says, staring at her eyes and her cheeks that turn slightly pink.
That day he took Sophia home.
Rosier and Barty were sitting in front of each other with pints on the table.
Regulus couldn't come but Pandora and Dorcas did, Sophia too. Still he could see only Rosier who was glaring at him.
"Mate, what's your problem?,,
"You're my problem.,,
"Yeah? Let's talk outside.,,
"You wanna talk outside? Now you're a man?,,
"Man you can't even dream of being.,,
"I don't dream of man, I'm not faggot. Are you?,,
Barty grits his teeth "You wish.,,
"I'm not your father figure, stop wanting me to beat you.,, Rosier laughs.
"You want me to call you daddy? Is that your fucking desire?,,
"Don't disgust me.,,
Barty waited for Rosier to turn to him before his fist flew to his right eye, Rosier pushing Barty on the floor and him coming right after him. Barty kicked him into crotch and Rosier punched him into a jaw.
Pandora gasps while Dorcas cheers on them.
Sophia yells at them and tries to stop the fight "Please stop! Violence isn't the answer!,,
She puts her hand on Rosier's arm and stops him from punching Barty again while he spits out blood.
"Please! I don't- I don't know what's happening but please stop! We're adults!,,
He swings his arm out more to punch him back, Rosier accidentally knocking Sophie with the back of his head.
They ended up in a hospital to get stitches and police had to be called at them.
Barty rolled his eyes at Evan's point of view and Rosier laughed at Barty's, he shook his head when the police asked if they wanted to get charges on each other.
Rosier on the other hand was hesitating before saying no.
After they were alone Barty groaned in annoyance "The fuck you meant by it?!,,
"You're aggressive.,,
"Am I? Is it now a fucking problem to you?!,, Barty turned to Rosier and he shouldn't, he really shouldn't.
The blood has coloured Rosier's cheekbones and lips, his piercing green eyes stare at him, a smirk on his lips.
His gaze flies from his eyes to the lips, Rosier raises eyebrow at Barty and waits for whatever will come after.
A punch, slap, insult or-
Barty licks his thumb and brushes it over the blood that didn't dry yet. Smearing it.
"Is this a foreplay?,,
"To what?,,
"To you whining under my window.,,
Barty frowns, standing up "You wish. See you at the ball. Rosier.,,
Evan has to hold himself tight to not punch the stupid mirror that's mocking him in the room. He didn't sleep and it's the third shirt he tried on and didn't suit him.
His parents call for him and they have to go, his whole outfit is itching as he stands in the middle of the crowded ball. Everyone stands around them and watches as his father announces the news.
The engagement.
His soon to be wife steps to him from behind them and smiles at him.
They have to dance together and everyone waits a few minutes before dancing as well.
He glances across the dance floor, searching for one couple.
Crouch jr. has his gaze set at them and Evan raises his eyebrows before swooning his partner around. She starts to kiss his neck and he can see on Crouch's face the hatred. So vulnerable emotions.
Evan slowly and gently brushes his partner's hair off her face before kissing her, everyone around them cheers except for Crouch.
Crouch dances closer to the middle where they are and the dance slowly changes as older adults leave the space for younger generations.
His tattooed hand with rings slides over her spine down on her lower back.
Evan copies him, never stopping looking at him. His hand slides around his partner's throat. He can hear her gasp and tighten the grip on his arms as they slowly swoon around.
Crouch grits his teeth and Evan smiles at his triumph.
Evan enters the bathroom, he can hear a door lock after him, he turns to see an angry Crouch leaning next to the door.
Evan steps closer to Crouch, his hand going up his arms.
Barty stiffens at the touch and the breath softly brushes over his face.
"Did you like it?,,
"I don't understand.,,
"Did you like seeing my fiancée almost sucking me off there? She was very close to tearing down my trousers.,,
Barty brushes his lips over Rosier's "I don't support cheating.,,
"Do you not? And yet you're here.,,
"Everyone makes mistakes.,,
"Am I that mistake?,, green search his brown eyes for permission to sink down.
Barty is a weak man, he nods at the permission "That's for future Barty to decide.,,
He hears a thud and his zip on trousers opening, he sighs in relief.
It was a mistake. Barty decided it quickly after the act that had to be ended earlier than they planned because someone almost caught them.
A week later it was Pandora's birthday, her boyfriend had trained the butterflies geography dance.
Rosier's fiancée, Sophia, Regulus, Felix, Xeno and Pandora were all watching the butterflies in awe when Barty went to get more alcohol from the kitchen.
Rosier was outside watching their friends from afar smoking.
He noticed Barty and told him to come closer.
"The git isn't that bad.,,
Barty smirks "Evan Rosier approving Pandora's boyfriend? It's a miracle. One from hundreds.,,
Rosier put the fag into his lips, the thumb for a second too long on his bottom lip. Barty blinked away this warm feeling.
He took the bottles from Barty and put them on the nearest table. He watched as he did so, his hands stretching the fabric of his shirt.
It was in the evening when Barty, Regulus and Rosier went to the lake alone and when it felt safe enough to yell Barty used the moment to say what he had in his heart.
Regulus was sitting in between them with rolled joint, looking at them with exhaustion.
"You're fucking hypocrite!,, Rosier yells at him.
Barty laughs "I didn't start this!,,
"I couldn't refuse, do you not understand?,,
He shakes his head "You could. You could refuse but you didn't.,,
"How?! How was I supposed to refuse?! Show me how!,,
" 'I am still young and would like to finish studying before looking for a wife'! Like that!,, Barty gets up and starts waving his hands.
"But you wanted it, didn't you? You always said she's your type! Ideal girlfriend! Now, ideal wife!-,,
Rosier jumped on him, strangling him and trying to push him into the lake.
"Fuck you! Fuck you! Fu-,, Evan was chanting until Regulus didn't push them both into the water.
Barty widened his eyes just as Rosier looked at him, his mouth open as they fell in.
They drowned below the surface, Barty kissing Rosier just so they don't breathe in water. That's the only reason. Nothing else.
Evan didn't stop chasing Crouch's lips even when they were above the surface. Still standing in the lake he holds Crouch's head by hand on his nape, the kiss deepening he can hear Crouch's soft moans and quickened breath.
Regulus doesn't leave, doesn't talk nor mocks them. He lays on his back and ignores them. He's too used to similar situations he knew from the start this would happen, hence why he took the joint. He needs something to do while his two best friends do whatever they're doing out of his field of vision.
The next night Barty is staying home and Sophia makes tea for them. They laugh as they talk about school days and slowly kiss. The feeling so nice and dreamy Barty almost falls asleep.
Sophia plays with his hair and ears. She smells like vanilla and her laugh is light.
Something heavy is in his stomach, it's the guilt.
That night they sleep beside each other and Barty turns to her.
"Sophia?,,
"Mhm?,, she smiles at him, her skin is smooth under his fingers.
"I'm sorry. I don't think we're a good pair. You're an amazing woman, Sophia, I'm shitty-,,
Sophia stops smiling and starts to shake her head with a frown.
"Please listen to me. I think we should break up. You can hate me, I deserve it. I'm not a good boyfriend-,,
Sophia kisses him, her tears falling flowing down to their mouths.
The Bachelor party contains him, Regular, Dorcas, Pandora, Xeno, Sirius and his group. And the groom.
They are in a club.
The lights are bright and colourful, everyone has a drink in hand and the groom gets congratulated from the stripper that sat on him.
Barty is staring at them and his glass is empty.
He sits beside Rosier and pats him on his head.
"Let's put everything aside, I'm happy,, he can't look at Evan "I'm happy for you. I haven't even congratulated you yet. What best friend am I?,, he laughs "Congratulations.,,
Evan shakes his head but Barty doesn't see it. His sight is blurry and stares at the bar where Regulus and Pandora are arguing about something. Or maybe they're just talking about their interests. He could never say that difference from distance.
Evan takes his hand and squeezes it, Barty lets him, he would let him do anything if he wanted.
One hand goes around him and he hugs Barty, sniffing in the crook of his neck.
"Don't leave me. I-I know it's hard with me. It's hard with you as well. We're both fucked in head. But please don't leave me.,,
"You will live your dream. A wife, three kids, a big house and a big aquarium full of fish. Don't make it complicated.,,
"Barty.,, Evan tries to pull him closer "please look at me.,, he takes his head and turns it to Evan.
Evan kisses him slowly, lips trembling. He pecks his jaw, nose, forehead and cheeks, and starts again.
"Don't leave me. You were always supposed to be the only one. I don't need anything else than you-,,
"I should've taken the keys when you told me to. Maybe it would be different.,, Barty stop even, kissing him back.
"Tomorrow-,,
"Let's not.,,
"You will become someone's husband-,,
"Let's run away.,, Evan smiles at Barty.
Evan nods at him with a smile "Let's run away, don't think about tomorrow. Let's run away. I have saved money.,,
Before Barty can answer Evan stood up and started to run for their jackets. Barty followed him.
He helped to zip up Evan's jacket and they went outside. It was raining and they didn't have an umbrella.
They ran to the bus stop and drove to the city, Barty held Evan's hand like he did months ago. Evan laughed like he did months ago.
They bought a piece of pizza and ate it together, they bet on the lottery and on the toilets started to properly snog for the first time in weeks.
Evan licked a line from Barty's throat to his mouth while Barty was slowly tugging his hair.
"We need a bed, I'm not shagging on the toilets again.,, Evan murmurs.
They laid in the bed beside each other, Evan was caressing Barty's head and Barty muzzle closer to him. He always smelled so nice to Barty.
Evan smells like coffee and his deodorant-
"We could take a train to Scotland.,,
Barty sighs "Evan. We can't run away.,,
"Italy?,,
"Evan.,,
"Don't leave me.,,
"We will still be best friends.,,
Evan looks at him with glare "Why are you like this? You hated it. You hated that and now you're-,,
"Sophia is pregnant, three months.,,
Evan's mouth opens but he doesn't say anything.
The next day they silently dressed and left. When asked about where they were they answered "Bachelor parties are crazy.,,
As a groomsman he stands beside Evan as he says his vows to the woman.
She puts her hands around Evan as they kiss, everyone cheers.
Sophia caught the flowers, she smiled at Barty and Barty felt the dread and his Father's gaze at him. Th
e cold sweat ran over him.
At the night when the newly married couple was supposed to drive away he hugged Evan for the last time.
Sophia made him dance and as they danced she leaned closer to him "I think we should start looking for baby stuff.,, she blushes at him.