Day 3 self-destruction Barty Crouch Jr. x Regulus Black
Regulus woke up and immediately noticed two things. One he had a pounding headache and two Barty wasn’t laying next to him anymore. Regulus sat up and rubbed his eyes looking around. Barty was nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t unusual for Regulus to wake up alone; he was used to it by now. Barty never slept for long, always waking up and wandering their shared flat. Regulus didn’t mind, he understood it had nothing to do with Regulus and everything to do with his shit mental health but it still hurt waking up alone. Regulus would like one day where he didn’t wake up alone. One day where he was able to wake up next to his boyfriend.
Just one day.
Regulus got out of bed and slowly made his way to the kitchen. Their flat was small and wasn’t much but it was home. Regulus liked living with Barty. He was crazy and self destructive sometimes but he was the only person who truly understood Regulus. He was the only one who loved Regulus. So Regulus cherished his relationship with Barty even if it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Barty wasn’t in the kitchen or living room which was odd. Usually when Regulus woke up and came out of their room Barty would be in the living room cleaning or in the kitchen cooking.
Barty was always moving, always doing something to help keep his mind quiet. Today he wasn't doing either. This annoyed Regulus he didn’t like when his routine was changed. His routine was always the same: wake up alone, go out to see Barty cleaning or cooking, get breakfast, talk (or argue) with Barty and then go to work. He did the same thing everyday and hated it when it changed. Where the hell was Barty?
Regulus looked around their flat for Barty only to find it empty.
No signs of Barty.
Not even a note.
Regulus was fuming now as he walked back into the kitchen. He grabbed his things and purposefully left his phone on the kitchen counter before leaving the flat. If Barty was going to change his schedule on him then he wasn’t going to sit in their stupid flat and worry about where he was and if he was ok.
No Regulus wouldn’t do that; he would just go to work and wait for Barty to come to him. Barty always came back to him so he wasn't worried.
Fuck Barty for changing things.
Regulus didn’t think about Barty while at work he didn’t worry or even feel scared for his well being. Regulus knew Barty was fine and once he got home Regulus would tear him a new one for changing his schedule on him.
After a long day at work Regulus made his way home. Once he entered the flat he noticed two things. One it was silent and two there were still no signs of Barty. Anxiety started to creep up on Regulus. This was different and Regulus hated different. Regulus stormed into the kitchen and grabbed his phone. The moment he opened it he was assaulted by notifications.
All from Barty.
26 missed calls and voicemails and 84 texts.
What the fuck.
Regulus immediately felt the panic set in.
He checked the texts first. They started out normally at first with Barty letting Regulus know he went for a run and would be back later. Then he asked if everything was ok and asked why Regulus hadn't answered. This is where the messages started getting frantic. Barty asking what he did and if Regulus was ok. Asking Regulus where he was and telling him he was on the way home. Regulus quickly scanned through the rest of the messages, panic and fear gripping at his heart. He should have never left his phone on the counter. Regulus could feel the air leave his lungs as he read the last message.
I’m sorry.
Regulus didn’t go to read what was written before that, instead he started listening to the voice messages. The first few were again normal Barty calling trying to figure out why Regulus wasn’t picking up at all. During one of the messages Regulus could hear a door open and close and Barty letting out a shocked breath. There was silence before Barty spoke again.
“You left your phone you never leave your phone” Another pause and the sound of the door opening and closing again.
“No no no Regulus pick up PICK UP DAMN IT” The message ended and Regulus couldn't move. There were still more and he was scared to continue listening to them.
Regulus took a deep breath and listened to the next one, hands shaking as he pressed his phone to his ear.
“Reg baby I’m so sorry please where are you I know you won’t be able to hear this you don’t have your phone but please don’t leave me don’t ignore me I need you I love you”
Regulus could feel his heart break as he listened to the message left by his boyfriend. He had been so mad he didn’t stop to think how this could affect Barty. Regulus hoped the rest of the voice mails would be normal or of Barty at least telling Regulus where he was.
They didn’t.
The voice mails just got worse.
They got so much worse.
Regulus listened as Barty rambled on about how sorry he was and how he would do anything for Regulus. Then Barty bumped into someone. Regulus heard as Barty yelled at this person to piss off. The person on the other side didn’t seem to appreciate this and started yelling at Barty. Regulus couldn't make out what the person was saying. Regulus could hear Barty let out an annoyed huff before stopping. There was silence for a moment before Barty whispered something that truly made Regulus' heart stop.
“I’m going to earn you back”
The voicemail ended and Regulus immediately played the next one.
It started with the sounds of Barty’s heavy breathing. Regulus gripped his phone tightly. Barty didn’t speak, being too focused on trying to breathe. When he finally did speak his voice was shaking and sounded broken.
“I’m sorry Regulus I tried but the jerk had his friends help” Barty laughed coughing roughly.
“I love you I’m sorry I couldn't be better you deserve better”
Regulus could hear Barty struggle to breath and felt himself break. He couldn’t lose Barty not now not ever. Barty was the only one who understood him. Barty was the only one who loved him. Regulus would forever wake up to an empty bed. Regulus ran out the door not sure he was going only knowing where he wanted to end up.
“I shouldn’t have tried to fight that guy huh?” The voicemail continued as Regulus ran down the street searching for his boyfriend.
“I don’t know why I left without telling you I think deep down I just wanted you to be mad at me I wanted you to hurt me” There was another pause and Regulus cursed himself for not taking his phone he should have taken his phone.
“Reg I don’t think I’m making it home tonight I’m so sorry” Barty spoke in a small voice.
The voicemail ended and Regulus wanted to scream. He needed to find Barty.
He eventually did find Barty and a small part of himself wished he hadn’t. Barty was laying against an alley wall bleeding his phone in his hand. Regulus ran over to him grabbing his shoulders and crying.
“Barty are you ok what the fuck is wrong with you” Regulus yelled tears running down his face.
Barty looked up, his face was bloody and bruised and gave Regulus a small smile. Regulus wanted to cry in relife he was still alive.
“Barty it’s ok I’m going to call an ambulance ok j-just hang in there ok” Regulus begged grabbing Barty’s phone from his hand to call 911.
When Regulus looked down at Barty’s phone he had to take a moment to compose himself. Barty’s phone had his blood on it. On the screen were the words I love you. He had tried texting it to Regulus. He never sent it. Regulus looked up at Barty who was no longer smiling at him. His head was hanging and he wasn’t moving or breathing.
“Barty wake up,” Regulus cried, shaking Barty.
Barty didn’t get up.
“Barty this isn’t funny get up” Regulus yelled trying again to wake Barty up.
Barty didn’t move. He wasn’t breathing.
Barty was gone.
Regulus quickly called the ambulance sobbing into the phone. The ambulance came fast.
Not fast enough.
Barty was gone.
Barty was dead.
Regulus felt numb as he walked home.
Could he even call it a home? It was only a home because Barty made it a home. Now it was just a flat. Regulus made his way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He grabbed the nearest thing of alcohol and sat on the floor. He drank bottle after bottle trying to drown out all of his feelings. It didn’t help that all he could think about was Barty. It was all his fault.
Regulus killed Barty.
Barty was dead.
Regulus wished it was him who had died.
Regulus wished the alcohol would kill him.
Regulus wished Barty would come home.
Barty couldn’t come home.
Barty was never coming home again.