It was nearing midnight.
An hour before both hands ticks to 12.
Barty watches as Regulus walks to the corner of the rooftop. The man elegantly avoids himself from running to anyone, pouring himself a full glass of wine before walking to a corner. He knows no one is aware that Regulus would be in this damn party right now unless they paid close attention. The star-named boy always preferred hiding in plain sight, anyway. Evan tilts his head at the sight of the youngest Black in slight curiosity. Usually, to his knowledge, The House of Black’s Heir would be wandering through the night right now.
The two looked at each other with confusion before shrugging. They continued chatting, reminiscing the entire year.
Evan kept Regulus in his peripheral as he and his boyfriend conversed, angling his body in a way that would enter the man in his vision properly. After a while, Barty shifted, angling his body as well to keep Regulus in his line of sight.
Time passed until it was 30 minutes until midnight. The two fell in a comfortable silence as their conversation ended temporarily.
Barty reminisced about what Regulus onced wrote in his diary. What Regulus wrote in the diary that the taller loves reading.
Dear reader, burn all the files and desert all your past lives. If you don't recognize yourself
then that means you did it right.
Dear reader, the greatest of luxuries is your secrets.
He watches as Regulus shifts his weight on his other leg, his fourth glass of wine in his hand. He remembers reading the desperate prayers of a cursed man that was spilling out to any reader for free. But he knew that they wouldn't take his word for it if they knew who was talking.
Evan found it weird that Regulus was here but never was he complaining. He just found it odd considering by now, he’d be walking to a house—not a home— and all alone (because nobody was there.)
Barty remembers a page in Regulus’ diary. ‘Sometimes, I wonder if my friends found friends who care. Sometimes, I feel as though Alpha Leonis is judging me as it hangs on the night sky freely. I wonder what it would be like to meet my constellation. Wonder if it’ll bid me a final farewell in the cave in the middle of nowhere. I know I would miss the sun by then; I am, after all, born a bit after sunset. But still, I find myself wondering if the moon could even watch over me as I meet my final demise.’
Barty shook his head and brought himself back to reality as Evan got up, plucking a white rose from a nearby bouquet. He got up as well, following his lover as they approached Regulus.
Evan slowly drags the white rose to Regulus’ peripheral, causing the other to look to his side. The blonde-haired boy ingrains the sight of the other’s eyes sparkling faintly at the sight of him and the feeling of Barty’s lips on the crown of his head. A small smile settled on the shorter boy’s lips as he gently plucked the stem of the rose from the other’s fingers. Unknowingly, he floods the two boys with oxytocin as he does so, the two lovebirds watching their boy and mentally noting how he admires the rose delicately, his fingers forming a familiar sign as his pinky, index and thumb remain standing while his middle and ring finger stayed down and loosely gripping the stem of the rose. I love you in sign language.
Barty watches as Evan plucks the glass of wine from the shorter’s hand and places it in front of the heir, pulling the constellation-named boy to his arms. Barty remembers pulling the two on his own arms, ensuring the two safety.
Barty remembers a conversation between him and Regulus.
“Never take advice from someone who’s falling apart—actually? You know what? You should find another guiding light.” Regulus advised.
“But why should I, when you’re right there, shining so bright?” He rebutted.
Barty remembers another conversation.
“And I was like, ‘Who could ever leave me, darling?’ But like, who could stay, you know?”
“I would. And so would Evan. We would stay. You know we love you too much to leave you.” Barty honestly responds.
Regulus pauses before hiding a smile. “It’ll pass.”
“I assure you, Reggie, it won’t.”
Barty blinks back to reality to the feeling of a thumb swiping his cheek. He looks at his love tearily, the other’s eyes glassy as well. He gently caresses the other’s hand shakily, twirling a white rose between his fingers as Evan sets a full glass of wine in front of them. The clock strikes 12 and fireworks immediately shoot up the sky. Shakily, he leans down, meeting the other’s lips with his own.
“Here’s to another year without our heart of the lion, I guess.” Evan whispered against his lover’s lips, his voice trembling. “Here’s to another year of staring longingly at Alpha Leonis, I guess.” Barty responded softly, drawing out a soft chuckle from Evan. “God, I hope and wish he’s doing better on the other side.” “And I do too.”