Chapter 2
Regulus couldn't say he was exactly surprised when he could still see Barty's hand on the mirror of his car.
He sighed, putting on his sunglasses and checking how the beige turtleneck looked terrible with his blue jacket.
[11:10] I am killing you, Barty.
[11:10] Romantic.
[11:10] You just left, yk that right
[11:10] If you look up you can see my bedroom window
[11:10] I can't see James like this.
[11:10] Then don't?
[11:11] I have to!
[11:11] Goddddd
[11:11] I think I know what I'll do. Text u later. Kisses.
[11:11] Missing u already, sweetheart <3
He couldn't drive straight to James, at least not with his face like this. Instead, he turned around at the roundabout, following Pandora's house direction.
Yes, this was supposed to be a secret, but Regulus needed help, and that help needed to come from someone with any sort of makeup.
He heard his phone, and turned it on once he stopped at the red light.
[11:25] Where are you?
[11:25] Something happened :/
[11:25] I'll be a little bit late, but I will come!
[11:25] Wait for me somewhere. Don't wanna keep u waiting.
[11:25] Ok, love 🥰
He got out of his car once he found himself on the familiar street. He fixed his sunglasses and walked inside the building, going into the elevator and pressing the 5th floor, hoping Pandora was home.
When he got there, and saw someone getting out of their house, Regulus turned his gaze to his feet, trying to go as unnoticed as he could.
Getting at the door, he knocked one, two, three, four times until he heard someone complaining on the inside.
“Lord! It's the morning, what do you wan— Regulus?”
“Let me come in,” he asked, and she stepped back. He took off his sunglasses, and stared at her, “I need help.”
“Shit. What happened?”
He wrapped his fingers around the top of the turtleneck, and pulled down, revealing the fresh marks.
“As I said, I need help.”
“Wow,” she barked in a laugh, “James is wild.”
He gulped, closing his eyes in a sigh, “It was Barty.”
He opened his eyes to watch her mouth drop. She hurried to close the door and Regulus let go of the turtleneck, sighing in embarrassment.
“Excuse me?”
“It's hard to explain—”
“You cheated on James?! With Barty?!”
“I know!” he argued back, “Can you shut up and help me?!”
“I need you to break this down for me. Since when are you fucking Barty?”
“Pandora!” he stopped her, “I'm late and I need to see James. I can't show up like this, so can you please be fast and do your magic?”
“Regulus,” she called.
He blinked at her, and grunted, dropping his body on the sofa she had a few steps away from the door. This was a bad idea. Everything about this was a bad idea.
“Me and him,” he started, looking for the right words, “Had… phone sex yesterday,” he watched as she sat next to him, hand flying to her mouth, “And this morning, I went to his house to talk about it. Come to the agreement of never talking about it— when I got there I just kissed him and thought that I just needed to fuck him out of my system and…” he pointed to his face, “This happened.”
“Does Barty eat shit?”
“Pandora,” he closed his eyes.
“Okay, okay. Uhm— so you're like, going to break up with James?”
“I have no idea,” he confessed, “I know I can't keep seeing Barty, but goddamn…”
“I don't want details, what I'm seeing is enough.”
“Will you help me?”
She nodded, and hurried herself to her bedroom, leaving Regulus alone with his thoughts.
Fuck Barty Crouch Jr.
He touched his cheek, feeling how warm it still was, and his heart started racing at the thought of James noticing it— No. This was wrong.
He waited until she came back with a makeup bag, and he hurried himself to take the turtleneck blouse off.
“Jesus,” she breathed out.
“It was my fault. I said it was the only time and he went for it.”
“And you didn't stop him,” she pointed out, and he rolled his eyes.
“I'm a terrible human being.”
“Regulus, I won't say this is right; but, I won't say you have to be in a relationship you don't want to be in.”
“James is the only person I knew until now.”
“Well,” she took out her foundation, “But now Barty is in the picture.”
“That motherfucker,” he hissed once the cold substance hit his cheek, “I swear to God that if he wasn't so… him, I would've kicked his ass for making me do this.”
“You're half guilty.”
“Can you stop?!”
“I won't feed into your delusions, Regulus!”
He rolled his eyes, “Fuck.”
“So… is it just sex?”
“It can't be more than that. What's next? I'll have two boyfriends?!”
“I'm not saying that,” her voice was soft as she started to spread the foundation all over his face, “close your eyes,” she asked, and he did it, “I'm just saying that… alright, forget it.”
“Now you're gonna say it.”
A sigh was heard, “You always put Barty over everyone else.”
“He's my best friend— well, until now.”
“What is he now?”
He thought about it for a while, “Someone that is going to fuck my reputation up. What if someone sees it?”
“I'm helping you hide that a little bit, ain't I? I'm not magical, but it'll help for a few hours.”
He grunted, realising where he was right now. Sitting on his friend's couch as she helps him get rid of hickeys and slap marks from his best friend — while he is late to see his boyfriend. Amazing.
“I told him that we could keep this a secret,” he confessed, remembering how Barty's words sent him over the edge, “I don't know what happens when I'm with him. All my morals disappear.”
“Just be careful,” he felt her pulling away, and tried opening his eyes, “Not yet,” then, something else was touching his face and he couldn't tell what it was, so Regulus decided to trust his friend, “You and James are a mess lately; not excusing your terrible behaviour, but… you guys need to follow different paths.”
“No shit,” he wished he could roll his eyes.
“How does Barty feel about this? Clearly doesn't care much about your relationship, seen all of… this.”
“I don't know, that's the thing. Sometimes he says things that make me believe he has been craving for it for a long time— he actually says it; but then all he talks about is James. I have no idea if he just loves the thrill of having someone cheat for him.”
“That does sound like Barty,” he felt it as a punch right to his guts, “But, he does eye-fuck you a lot.”
“Shut up,” he muttered.
“I'm serious! His hate for James never made sense, especially because he hated him way before meeting him.”
“That's because he hates everyone—”
“Who flirts with you,” she added.
“Whatever,” he shrugged, and she pulled away, he blinked, adapting himself to the light.
“Lean back,” she pressed his chest until his back was hitting the couch. Uncomfortable, he moved his hips, feeling his legs still sore from all the strength Barty put on them. A smile slowly ripped through his lips, but he was quick to brush it off.
“He is crazy… I mean— fuck me like this when I told him I had to see James?!”
Pandora shook her head in a laugh, “If you guys weren't my best friends I would actually wish the worst to you.”
He let his head turn to the ceiling as Pandora tried to cover the hickeys.
“You don't need to cover the torso,” he said, “I don't plan on stripping for James any time soon.”
“Got it…”
He wouldn't lie, feeling the tissue against his neck covered in foundation and blushed made him doubt the strength of the makeup — however, if Pandora said it would resist, then he believed it.
He only got to the pizzaria where James was waiting when it was around 12:00, which is an hour later than they scheduled.
His heart rippled through his chest as he saw James’ friends sitting with him.
Oh, fuck. What if one of them notices?
James smiled once his eyes landed on Regulus, and he forced himself to smile, too.
“Are you okay?” he asked after kissing him softly. Regulus nodded, letting himself be guided onto the table's direction.
“Reggie!” Sirius greeted with his arm around Remus’ neck.
“Hello,” he said it, directioning his eyes to everyone, “Sorry I'm late,” he sat in the empty spot on James’ side, “Had some..” he hissed with the sudden move, reminding himself to go slow with his legs, “Issues.”
“Yeah, dude,” Marlene put a potato in her mouth, “You look terrible.”
He smiled, and looked over his shoulder, hearing some girls gossiping while trying to sneak out their phones to record them. Regulus looked forward again, and closed his eyes, reminding himself no one knew about Barty.
“How was the podcast?” he asked, fixing his sunglasses on the tip of his head.
“Fine,” the boy shrugged, “Although I didn't really like the questions about my parents' death.”
“Oh,” Regulus said, “I'm sorry, baby.”
“It's fine,” he shook his head, “They're doing their job,” he looked at Regulus again, smiling softly. Regulus felt like he could read his thoughts, like he was aware of everything, “Do you want me to order something, or do you want to eat from my pizza?”
“A slice is fine,” he reached for James’ plate, bringing a slice of pizza to his mouth as he tried to smell himself. Was the perfume not enough to cover the sex scent? He looked over to James, who was too busy saying something to Peter to even notice Regulus’ movements.
“What happened, Reg?” Mary asked.
“What?”
“You said something came up. Is everything okay?” Regulus knew she was just worried, but all he wanted was to punch her face right there.
“Yeah,” he tried brushing it off, “Just got a weird call.”
“It wasn't mom, was it?” Sirius asked, alarmed.
“No! No, it wasn't. It was— well, it was just… a friend who was sick.”
Stupid.
“Oh.”
“Yeah! It was Evan. He is like…” he pushed the air out of his mouth after filling his cheeks, “Terrible. He was throwing up everywhere.”
He watched as the people around him made disgusted faces, and Regulus sucked his lip, wishing he would just stay quiet, because he was a bad liar.
“Is he okay now?” James asked, pressing his eyebrows together.
“Yes,” he nodded, “I bought him medicine.”
“Okay, good. I'll text him later to make sure he's fine.”
This is only getting worse, and Regulus wishes he could turn back time and never says anything in the first place.
“No!” James frowned, “No, it's okay. He's fine now, let him rest.”
“Alright…”
Regulus smiled, and buried himself on his slice of pizza, feeling how Sirius looked at him.
Oh, please.
The last thing he needed right now was Sirius to read his mind, too.
The lunch passed slowly. Sometimes James would kiss Regulus and tell him about things he wouldn't remember, other times, he would put his arm over his shoulders when someone asked for a picture, and Regulus would want to scream at him to get away from his neck the fastest he could.
At some point, Regulus heard his phone buzzing a few times, and he took it out, moving away from James once he saw Barty's name.
[14:00] I miss you
[14:00] Call me weird but I'm horny again just remembering this morning.
[14:00] Are u still w James?
[14:00] Barty pls stfu
[14:01] Yes, I'm with James, and my brother, and Remus and EVERYONE
[14:01] How's ur face love?
[14:01] I'm really sorry about that btw
[14:01] Pandora helped me cover it, ty.
[14:01] You're so lucky it's November. I swear to God if this makeup melted in the summer…
[14:01] Funny
[14:01] Relax, by the time you get home you'll just look like you've blushed really hard
[14:01] Wait
[14:01] ?????
[14:01] You told Pandora,??,?,,?,;,?
[14:02] I had to!!!!!!
[14:02] She won't tell anyone
[14:02] Idc if she tells someone
[14:02] I care if she looks at you differently
[14:02] She won't. It's okay.
Regulus waited for a reply until James poked his arm and Regulus let his phone drop shut before looking at him.
“Sorry.”
“It's okay, I was just wondering if you wanted to come to my house.”
Regulus knew what that meant, and he didn't like it. He looked to Marlene, and then to Lily.
“Why don't we stay a little bit, they're still eating,” he pointed to the redhead finishing her dessert.
James nodded, and looked away.
“Do you want some?” the girl asked, stretching her spoon, and Regulus shook his head.
“Me and Remus are going,” Sirius announced, getting up, being followed by his boyfriend, “See you later.
“Bye,” Regulus said, hearing the rest of their friends wave at the couple as they walked away, holding hands.
Regulus gulped, remembering Barty once again. He sighed, taking a hand to his face, rubbing it.
As the time went by, only him, James and Peter were left at the table. The boy hearing their conversations like it was the most entertaining thing he had to do at the moment. Regulus squeezed James’ hand away, grabbing his phone to check his notification. He hoped it was Barty, but it wasn't.
He sighed at Pandora's contact.
[15:58] So…
[15:58] Is it lasting or are you crying over a breakup?
[15:59] Fuck you
[15:59] Yes it is, at least James didn't say anything
[15:59] I feel so bad, Dora :(
[16:00] Do you regret it?
[16:00] Sort of
[16:00] Parts of it
[16:00] When I'm with James, yes
As soon as he hit send, a notification popped up on the top of his screen, and Regulus wished he had never clicked on it.
As soon as Barty's conversation was opened, his eyes widened at the image attached. It was Barty, naked from the hips to his knees. He had his dick out, and his hand wrapped around it; Regulus could see the pre-cum wetting the head of it, and his hand resting on the base.
He coughed, dropping his phone in a jump.
James and Peter's eyes snapped on him, and Regulus stood up, putting his phone in his pocket.
“What happened?” his boyfriend asked.
“Bathroom,” he replied, and hurried himself inside the pizzeria, searching for the bathroom like a lost kid.
He could feel his low belly pulsating in anxiety. Barty was fucking insane. As soon as he entered the bathroom, he hid himself in a stall and texted him back.
[16:05] Wtf???????
[16:05] Did you want James to see that??? Prick.
[16:05] Can't stop thinking about you :(
[16:05] We fucked hours ago, AND YESTERDAY!
[16:05] Oh, cmon!!!
[16:05] You're literally hiding my marks IN MY SHIRT!
[16:06] You really like this don't u?
[16:06] Why don't you tell James yourself, huh?
[16:06] I'd love doing that
[16:06] However, I know you'd be mad
[16:06] I am mad, Barty.
[16:07] So u didn't like the pic?
[16:07] Do you want me to compliment your dick?
[16:07] Well, u could tell me how much you'd like to suck it
[16:07] I haven't felt your pretty mouth yet, that is mean
[16:07] I did all the work
[16:08] Barty ffs
[16:08] You're turned on ;)
[16:08] Alright, sweetheart. How is your day going?
[16:08] Won't tell you while you're jerking off
[16:09] *image attached*
[16:09] I am not.
Regulus sucked breath looking at the blurry picture. Same position, same everything, but he wasn't holding his dick anymore. Regulus sighed, sitting on the toilet lid.
[16:10] My day has been fine ty
[16:10] We're still in the same place
[16:10] Since 12:00
[16:10] Boring
[16:10] Yk I really hate James
[16:10] I'm aware
[16:10] You hate him too
[16:10] If u didn't you wouldn't be here rn
[16:10] He's my boyfriend
[16:10] Soon he won't be anymore
[16:10] I mean, if you keep fucking me
[16:10] If you don't, you will just have to live with the guilt
[16:11] Barty, we need to stop thinking about our sex and actually talk about this madness.
[16:11] Reggie, if you want me to stop, yk I will
[16:11] But I won't be happy about it and I won't lie
[16:11] Also, congratulations, I'm not in the mood anymore
[16:12] I'm just worried, ok?
[16:12] I'm a public figure either we like it or not
[16:12] People will end up noticing it
[16:12] Not if we're careful
[16:12] Cmon, you said we could keep this a secret!
[16:13] I was horny!
[16:13] This is wrong, Barty
[16:13] And you're manipulating me
[16:13] That's funny.
[16:13] You're blaming ME now
[16:13] You're literally the one in a relationship
[16:13] You're the one who kissed me this morning
[16:13] I'm not the only one to blame, Regulus.
[16:14] I'm sorry
[16:14] Idk what is happening
[16:14] I know
[16:14] You can't accept the fact you and James should've broken up ages ago
[16:14] And now you're trying to blame me
[16:14] Because you can't stand knowing you're also guilty here
[16:15] Can we talk?
[16:15] I can't fight with you
[16:19] Ok, Regulus. Go enjoy your boyfriend or whatever
Regulus stayed in the stall for a couple more minutes, ignoring Pandora's message as he got out, breathing the fresh air that cut his inside.
He wasn't sure who he hated more: Himself for doing this, Barty for being something he can't resist or James for being in the middle.
As he got through the door, he watched James looking up at him, and Regulus felt sick.
He got his jacket on one arm, and announced, “I'm leaving.”
“What?”
“Sorry,” he said before leaving Peter and James behind.
He hit the car door with all his strength, and punched the steering wheel.
Fuck yesterday. Fuck him for calling Barty for emotional support, and fuck him for starting the sexual conversation that led him to this.
Two days went by, and Barty was just ignoring all his messages and calls. Regulus would freak out, and tell him everything bad he thought about him, and two hours later send a new text apologising and asking for a reply.
Right now, he was scrolling on the chat, waiting for the “Delivered” change to “Read” at any time while James watched a movie on his side.
He sighed, reading his last messages.
[22:44] I'm sorry.
[22:44] I didn't mean that
[22:44] Just pls say something, Barty
[22:44] Idk if the thought of you hating me is any better than you being dead
[22:50] Hello?
[22:55] Barty cmon
[22:55] Can we actually talk????
[23:00] I love you.
[23:15] I'm breaking up with James.
[23:40] When I'm able to
[00:00] Hey?
[00:04] I'm getting drunk without you
[00:04] Please reply
[00:15] Do you like me?
[00:15] Be honewst.
[01:40] You don't. _& You like rucking me
[01:40] But y said otherwise
[01:40] I hate you
[01:40] 8shoulnt like hou better than my bf
[01:40] But maybe yo7 and yor stupid ass personality gpt me hooked way begoreja James whoed up
[02:34] Fuck you!!!!!!!!!!!!
[02:34] AND FUCK JAMES@
He sighed, looking over to James fixing his glasses, thinking that maybe Barty and him happened as a sign that he should break up with him.
He breathed in, trying to collect all his strength.
“James,” he called, earning a humming from his boyfriend, who kept looking at the screen, “I think we shouldn't…” he breathed out.
“Wait, it's that scene,” he tapped Regulus’ leg, and he sighed, giving up. After a few seconds, he looked at Regulus, “Sorry, what did you say?”
Fuck it.
He leaned in, and took James in a kiss. Surprised, the other boy held his face.
He needed to fix this. He needed to forget Barty and their short affair.
Barty didn't care, and his absence told him that. He kissed James like he was Barty, with all the strength and anguish in his chest.
Soon enough, he was riding James for the first time, and it wasn't like when he did it with Barty just a few days before. He tried closing his eyes, maintaining James’ mouth occupied with his so he wouldn't hear his voice and be reminded of the situation.
It wasn't working, but he didn't care. He kept kissing and bouncing, until his mind went through that morning in Barty's house.
His mouth, his hands, his dick hitting him right, and the warmth of his skin. He let his head drop to the curve of James’ neck while the boy sighed and held his waist carefully — he wasn't rough like Barty.
He pushed away that thought by burying his face deeper, feeling a tear rolling down his cheek.
He thought of Barty again, pushing his legs up and choking him beautifully. He thought of Barty's cum filling him, and then he came.
He didn't shake much, he just whimpered, and pressed his forehead on James’ skin.
“Barty…” he let a soft, low call escape his lips, and his heart raced. He raised his head to check James’ face, but he didn't seem to notice.
His eyes were closed, and Regulus felt how he came hard inside him, whispering a bunch of nonsense. Regulus watched and watched until James opened his eyes in a soft smile, and pulled him.
The kiss disgusted him, but he didn't break it.
“I love you,” James said, and he didn't say it back. He forced a smile, and got up.
“Gonna shower.”
“Want me to come with you?”
He shook his head slightly, “No.”
One more day. One more day without hearing a word from Barty, one more day of feeling dirty whenever James kissed him, or held his hand. Whenever someone stopped them for a picture, or said how a beautiful couple they were.
Regulus laid on the same bed he called Barty a week ago, and forced himself to sleep. He stopped texting him since the day he got drunk in his own living room, drowning in confusion.
Did he mean it? Did he mean it when he said Barty had an effect on him way before James and him started dating? He didn't know.
He had no idea, and he hated it.
He grabbed his phone, seeking comfort, knowing Barty couldn't be the one giving him it.
He clicked on Pandora's contact, and waited until she picked up.
“Hi,” her soft voice said, “Is everything okay?”
“No,” he was honest, “Me and Barty fought last week and he has been ignoring me.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” he sat on his bed.
“What happened?”
Regulus laughed, “The expected. I told him he was manipulating me… y'know, about the whole sex thing.”
“Reg…?”
“I was confused. I still am,” he got up, and walked towards the kitchen, searching for the bottle of wine he had there, “I miss him so much.”
“You have to talk to James.”
He put it on speaker mode as he opened the bottle, letting the liquid fall on the glass he had next to it.
“I know.”
“Why haven't you?” Regulus didn't reply. “I won't break up with James if I won't get Barty either,” he eventually said
“That's selfish and you know it.”
He raised the glass to his lips, sipping on it.
“I don't know what to do, Dora,” he grabbed the phone, placing it in his pocket, walking towards his living room with the glass in one hand and the bottle of wine in the other.
“You've already messed up, Reg. The only thing you have left is to be honest,” her muffled voice sounded as he sat down.
“It's hard,” he placed the bottle on the table to take the phone out of his pants, “I just… Barty is fucking pissed. Very pissed.”
“You did say he was manipulating you…”
“He never stops talking to me when we fight. He always fights back, but he stopped replying,” Pandora was silent, “Fuck me.”
“Regulus,” she said when he placed the glass on the table to fill it again, “Are you drinking?”
“Yes.”
“Stop. Go to sleep, talk with James tomorrow. Barty will eventually say something.”
“I'm afraid I never liked James,” he confessed, “We were so in love at the start, but maybe he's right when he started pointing out that I cared more about Barty.”
“What are you trying to say?” she asked.
“Maybe fucking him just activated this thing inside me. I don't know, man…” he took a big gulp of wine, feeling it freeze his throat, “Maybe it was Barty all along.”
“Are you only saying that because you're sad?”
“No. I think, for the first time, I mean it.”
“You like Barty?”
He nodded, hoping she'd see it. Understanding she wouldn't, he sighed before replying.
“Maybe,” he confessed, “I don't know. Sex with him made me feel alive… I thought that maybe was because James didn't satisfied me, but— I can't… I can't… I don't want to have sex with other people. I never felt the need to cheat on James until me and Barty crossed that barrier of talking about sex.”
“Reggie… just finish this before it gets even more messy.”