Showstopper

Barty and Evan were sat in their flat just having woke up not long before, Barty is making tea for Evan and coffee for himself when suddenly Evan says "Have you heard for Reg, darling? Because he never reached out last night like he said he might."

Barty looks up from his task and over at Evan as he says "We all had off last night, it's likely he curled up with one of his millions of books instead of reaching out. Assuming we were busy, which I mean he wouldn't be wrong seeing as we were busy last night love." A smirk raises across Barty's face as he says this, his mind wandering back to last night and how Evan had fit perfectly in his hands, the feel of his skin on his. He doesn't get to think back much longer seeing as Evan smack him lightly to get back his attention.

"I know, it still just, something feels wrong Barty. I think we should go over to his flat, even if it ends up being nothing. Please." Evan says as he looks up at Barty with a look in his eyes that is so similar to Pandora's that it causes Barty to pause for just a moment before agreeing.

"Feeling, like the ones Pandora has sometimes and tend to always be right?" Barty asks as he looks down at Evan, it's moments like this that Barty is reminded that Evan and Pandora are twins and do tend to share a decent amount of the same habits and inklings. Which almost always tend to be right, a bit annoying actually. Barty continues to look down at Evan waiting for a response and the respond he is granted is a small nod of the head which has Barty moving out of the kitchen, his coffee forgotten internally as he walks to their room and throws on the first bits of clothing he finds, which happen to be a pair of Evan's joggers and one of his own old band t-shirts, he quickly throws them on before his socks and shoes and heads to the kitchen to grab his keys and coffee just as Evan comes back into the kitchen. Evan's now also dressed in a pair of his own joggers and one of Barty's old tees as well which causes Barty to smile as he wraps his arm around Evan and gives him a small peck on the cheek before he says, "Let's go darling."

The two of them leave the flat and head down to Barty's green mustang and head immediately over to Regulus' flat, Barty drives as usual especially ever since the two of them got together. Evan was clearly a passenger princess, and it was just something to add the list of things Barty loves about Evan. As Barty drives, he reaches over and places his hand on top of Evan's thigh as he keeps his eyes on the road in front of him, the drive isn't long to Regulus', and he slows as he parks at the curb right outside of Regulus' flat.

Barty gets out of the car and rushes around to open the door for Evan who rolls his eyes affectionately at him, all while Barty smiles down at him. The two of them walk up the stairs to Regulus' flat before knocking. They wait a few moments before Barty knocks again, the sounds of music float softly through the door but that is the only sound from within the flat. Barty looks to Evan as Evan silently reaches into his pocket and grabs the extra flat key that Regulus had given him for emergencies or in case Reg lost his. Evan hands the key to Barty who then places the key into the lock and unlocks the door before pushing the door open slightly. The music floats through the house and gets louder as they walk further into the house, Barty's eyes flicker around the flat as he searches for Reg and the sound of the music, it's definitely new Barty hadn't hear the song before but the closer he listens he recognizes the vocals as James' however he isn't focused enough to make out the words.

He moves through the flat and passes the kitchen, he sees Reg's phone on the counter and knows that's where the music is coming from, but he doesn't see Reg. So, he walks further into the flat and towards Regulus' bedroom but when he peaks in, he doesn't see Reg. So, he moves further down the hall and peaks into Regulus' library where he sees a small form on Reg's favorite chair. He stops for a moment just standing in the doorframe before he realizes that small sobs seem to be coming from the chair, instantly he walks into the room and over to the chair where he then bends down and tentatively reaches his hand out and places it atop Reg's curls as he says softly "Reggie, what is it?"

Regulus startles slightly under his touch and Barty almost pulls away before he realizes that he might have just scared him a bit, seeing as he hadn't known they were there. He slowly brushes his fingers through Regulus' curls as Evan walks over and squats down next to him leaning forward and placing his hand onto Regulus' knee and drawing small circles there. The two of them softly pet Regulus as they wait for him to calm, both of them whispering sweet nothings and reassurances down to him. It takes almost an hour before Regulus' breathing evens out.

Once it seems that Regulus has calmed down enough Barty speaks softly as he continued to rake his fingers through Reg's curls. "Reg, what happened? Who do I have to kill, because honestly I've never even seen you like this." Barty doesn't take his eyes off of Regulus as he waits for an answer, but he does feel Evan shift slightly at his side, lightly giving him a glare for his question but he can't bring himself to care about being scolded by his lover at the moment. His words may seem insensitive or even harsh, but Barty would do anything for the people he loves.

Regulus finally raises his head slightly to look up at Barty and Evan, the look in his eyes were so intense that Barty wanted to look away at anything or anyone else because the pure agony in Regulus' eyes had Barty's heart pounding against his chest as if it would jump out at any given moment, and he vowed to himself right there that whoever had hurt Reg would pay. Minutes passed; how many was unclear as Barty waited for him to speak. No matter how long it took Barty would wait, and no matter what Barty would be on Regulus' side.

Eventually Regulus opened his mouth to speak but closed it shortly after, it was clear he was struggling with something and that alone had Barty's heart constricting. But he knew he had to be patient as to not frighten Regulus into a non-responsive place, his patience that he normally lacked proved to be the right move as Regulus slowly and softly begin to speak, his voice shaky and rough do to the lack of use along with the likely hours of sobbing. "I well I uh had been seeing someone the last few months and it we-" his voice cut off as he coughed slightly as if to loosen his throat. "Well, we had kept it secret, there were plenty of reasons that made it seem like the logical option or the best option maybe? I honestly, I'm not fully sure why anymore. The main reason probably being Sirius. It was James. And w-" Regulus stops speaking again as his eyes slowly fill with tears. Regulus takes a deep breath as he continues "I saw pictures of him with Lily, and everyone was shipping them and there was just so much going on revolving the two of them online and I just I stopped talking to him and he didn't really reach out to me, didn't deny it right away didn't try to talk to me. That's why I wrote that song... I sent it to him, and he tried to talk to me then but I just it was too late, you know?"

As Regulus speaks Barty feels hot pure rage seek into his bones as he realizes what Regulus is saying. James was cheating on him, Regulus was devasted, and Barty was going to kill James. It seemed that Regulus and Evan could see the line of thought Barty was having, seeing as Evan had reached his other hand out to grab Barty's shoulder and Regulus began to shake his head.

"I didn't listen to him, you know? And well then James and the other Marauders came out with that song." Regulus stops talking for a moment, letting the music float around them before continuing "He sent it to me, and uh he said that it would explain everything. Yet all I'm getting is that he loves a man, probably meaning me. But it still doesn't explain the uh photos but his voice Bee.. It sounds so pained, heartbroken and I did that. I did all of this, I always knew that I would ruin us, him. And I just I." Regulus grows silent as if his words are unable to form any longer and Barty's rage flares inside him like an animal caged. James may sound heartbroken, but he did this to Regulus, no matter what his bullshit excuse is and Barty refuses to stand by that. This is his family and if you hurt his fucking family, you'll learn to regret it.

Barty slowly untangles his fingers from Regulus' curls and goes to stand, before he can so much as move from his place next to Reg and Ev, Evan tightens the hand on his shoulder as he says "Love, no. I know how protective you are but whatever you are thinking. No, it's not worth it. We will figure this out together." Barty looks from the open door of the library back at Evan and then down at Regulus as he tries to bring the raging flames of anger back down and into the cage within his heart, yet it doesn't work because the murderous rage is so overwhelming.

Barty's hands seem to shake slightly in his rage as he says with a clenched jaw "Oh but it is, do you need a reminder of what he looked like when we got here? Or how about the fact that he is sitting here blaming himself as if he did this. Maybe it is a misunderstanding, maybe it's not. What I know is that prick made him feel small, hurt him. And that doesn't fucking fly with me when it's the people I love. If this was me, what would you do?" The look on Evan's face was enough to prove Barty's point, even if it was a tad bit different it didn't matter not to him. You mess with one of them, you mess with all of them. And that alone is Barty's biggest thing, family, his loved ones. He would protect and defend them no matter the case. "Exactly Ev, I can't let this slide. I will deal with it. My way. I don't care about Potter. He did this. Honestly, he deserves what's coming." With those words he places his hand on Evan's softly, silently asking him to let him go.

Evan looks from Barty to Regulus who had sat there through the whole conversation silently, which isn't surprising but the pain in his eyes was still piercing, and Evan can tell that this is weighing on him heavily and that for some reason Reg believes that this was all his fault, which isn't true. Even if it was a misunderstanding it takes two parties to cause that so he slowly removes his hand from Barty's shoulder before leaning in and kissing his cheek before saying "Nothing that will end up with you in jail, understand darling?" Barty gives a short nod before kissing Evan's cheek in return before bending down and placing a soft yet quick kiss to Regulus' head of curls.

Before Barty can leave, he feels a hand grip his wrist slightly, nothing painful, nothing too harsh and he looks down at Regulus and where his wrist is being held. He cocks his head to the side in silent question. Regulus softly says, "I know you won't listen but please just don't be too harsh, in any sense of the words." Barty gives Regulus a small smile as he nods, not giving a verbal response as he swiftly leaves the room the moment his wrist is free. He walks through the flat and out the front door before heading to his car, unsure of exactly where James Potter is at this current moment, not that it mattered too much to him. Because no matter where he had to go to find him, the amount of time it would take, Barty knew that he needed to do this. No one, and he means no one harms his loved ones and gets away with it.