Chapter 1
It all felt like a dream. A very beautiful and perfect dream.
Regulus’ hand was taken into Barty’s. Twirling him around in a way that made him feel like he wasn’t even real, just sealed away in his own imagination where his deepest desires laid, making themselves present to remind him why he does the things he did. The answer staring right back at him. Barty’s other hand moving to gently caress his face, smiling when he smears his favorite color over his cheek.
Regulus happily follows Barty’s lead as he leans in for a kiss. The two continue dancing to the sound of screams from their awaiting victim while covered in the blood of their previous one.
The scene itself was violent, messy, and ethereal. But at most, it was addicting. And Regulus couldn’t get enough.
Months Earlier
Regulus sat in the seat across from his new patient. “Welcome to St. Mungo’s Asylum. We’re going to do a quick psychiatric evaluation for today.” His patient just stared at him with a straight face for a moment before giving a wide smile. There was something very off about him, but Regulus supposed that made sense considering he is a patient here. “So, how has your day been so far?”
His patient leaned forward. Well, as far as he could with the restraint of both a straight jacket and chains. “Better now that you’re here, Doctor,” he said with a charming smile and crazed eyes.
From Regulus’ eyes the man looked just as all of his past patients, but something about him felt different, and Regulus would be lying if he said he wasn’t a bit curious.
Regulus looked toward the sheet in his hands, “Well, I’m glad to make your day, Bartemius.” Regulus saw him cringe at the name, “Or would you rather I call you, Joker? I heard you go by that too.”
His patient let out a breathily laugh, “You can just call me Barty. I would like us to be friends, Doctor. And friends know each other’s names, so why don’t you tell me yours.”
He looked at Barty for a second before responding, “Regulus.”
Barty tilted his head, “Regulus,” his smile widening as he tasted the name on his lips. “How lovely, your name is very beautiful. Don’t you agree?”
”I suppose. It’s the name of a star.”
”A star?” His eyes fully scanning Regulus, “It suits you. You definitely shine like one, I can vision many others admiring you like a star in the sky. I certainly would.”
Regulus didn’t know what to say to that and it seemed to show on his face since Barty continues, “I can tell that you are someone who’s meant to be seen. Your beauty, exposed to the entire world, and nobody would be able to look away.”
Regulus swallowed down the words that were said to him, one by one. And after each one was said, all he wanted was to hear more. But he stopped himself from indulging. “That’s very nice of you to say but we are heading off topic.” He looks back towards the sheet, writing down something before reading the next question, “What would you say you are feeling in your current situation?”
Barty leans back in his chair, his eyes burning into Regulus, “Lust.”
Regulus’ eyes snap back onto Barty as he feels his face heat up a little. He then clears his throat, writes down, ‘excited’ and moves onto the third question, “Do you believe you will improve yourself after attending these sessions?”
“Is that your way of asking if I’ll be a good boy?”
“You can view the question however you like.”
Barty lets out a low chuckle, his eyes still having not moved from Regulus since the moment he walked in. His face now turning serious, “Doctor…Regulus, I’ll be so good for you.”
Regulus holds back the embarrassing sound that tried to escape him, because what the fuck. And it really didn’t help that this man was fit. He masks his face with indifference before carrying on, “Do you have any questions?”
A smile is carved back onto Barty’s face, “Are you single?”
”Any other questions you would like to ask that don’t regard my personal life?”
”Nothing else is interesting.”
Regulus writes down, ‘no questions.’ “That was all the questions for today, Barty,” Regulus stands from his chair, “I’ll be back tomorrow.” He says before walking out of the room as Barty stares at him silently, the end of his lips still curled up.