Lips Like Knives
Meanwhile…
After Barty ran back into the warehouse, back into his arms,
where he belonged
Marvolo had quickly gathered Barty up into his protective hold before checking on his throat. He grabbed Barty’s jaw and pushed it upwards. Cursing as he saw a slight puncture that was lsuggishly gushing blood, soaking the whirt below it.
“You are never coming out with me again.” He said fiercley, pulling out his phone to call a car.
“What? Marvolo, you can’t do that!” Barty yelled, outraged.
The groans of the men slowly coming to conciousness punctuated the glare Marvolo sent to Barty, “We will discuss this later.” He hissed before turning to the waking men, “I must confess, I am very disappointed in all of you.” He saw the winces they tried to hide as they got up.
When the LeStrange twins saw Bellatrix’s crumpled form they let out shouts of outrage, “It was Black,” Their Lord confirmed, looking solem as if he was not the one to shoot her.
“I am calling a full meeting in three days time, alert your subordinates that they are to be there.” He swept out of the room, Barty trailing after him as his second in command- first now that Bellatrix was dead. He stepped into the car and told the chauffeur to drive.
Him and Barty spent the drive in silence, only breaking once they were alone in the elevator.
“Marvolo, you can’t seriously just stop me from going out with you, I am your right hand. You need me.”
“Darling, I do need you, I need you safe. And if that requires me to lock you up in a tower then I will gladly throw away the key.” He stepped closer to Barty, forcing the shorter man to look up at him as he grabbed his chin, roughly pressuring Barty to meet his eyes, “Never doubt the means I will go through to keep you safe.”
The elevator let out a bright ding as they reached the top floor. Barty glared before yanking his chin away and storming into the penthouse. No doubt going into the training room to take out his anger.
“Don’t walk away from me just yet dear.” Marvolo smirked and gestured to his throat, “I take care of what’s mine after all.” He turned and walked towards the kitchen where the first aid kit was.
Barty reluctantly followed.
Marvolo pulled out a bandage and sat down on a chair and patted his lap, Barty sullenly climbed onto his lap, straddling the mans thighs.
Marvolo chuckled and tilted Barty’s chin up to place the bandage over the wound. He turned Barty’s neck to the other side and started lightly kissing it, before he started sucking on it. Fully intending to form a hickey. Barty groaned and tilted his neck even further to allow Marvolo more access.
Marvolo’s fingers lightly brushed over his stomach before gripping onto his hips, keeping him in place and lightly grinding Barty down onto himself. Barty pulled his neck away, causing Marvolo to look at him again, he ran one hand through his hair and tugged on the nape before claiming the plush lips lightly between his teeth.
Marvolo quickly pushed against Barty’s lips and the quickly fell into a passionate kiss.
Suddenly Barty jumped up and walked off, swaying his hips slightly as he went off to the training room, “I’m still mad at you.” He called over his shoulder.
Marvolo goraned and ran a hand through his messed up hair, Barty was a brat.
][][][][
Marvolo was sitting at his desk doing paperwork when Barty came in. With no shirt on his toned body.
“Barty,” he growled, “Where is your shirt?”
“Hmm?” Barty looked up in faux innocence, “Oh, is it bothering you? I just thought that I wouldn’t want to irritate my wound while its’s still healing. Hence no shirt.” He looked at Marvolo through his eyelashed,daring him to call out his lie because his wound was quite high up on his neck, “Would you like me to put a shirt on?”
Marvolo knew the game he was playing, and he wasn’t about to give in. He smirked, “Of course not dear, I live for your comfort.” He said with false sweetness, “Now was there something you wanted to talk about?” He said turning back to his paperwork, knowing it would grate on Barty’s nerves to not be the center of his attention.
True to his thought Barty ground his teeth, “Nothing, I just wanted to see you.” He got more comfortable on the chair, twisting and lifting his legs to rest on the armrests, “I also would like to inquire about the plan of action you are taking against Black and Potter.”
“Hmm, well there will be a meeting discussing the plans that I have concerning them, I will announce the plans then. Of course you will not be going to this meeting darling. It is too dangerous.”
At that Barty stood up and hissed at Marvolo, “I have stayed alive well before you came into the picture and if you will not let me fight, if you intend to keep me locked up in this fucking penthouse any longer I will leave you.” He seethed, his eyes blazing in anger.
“You will not leave. And you will be safe.” Marvolo hadn’t even loook up at Barty’s outburst.
Barty seethed at his nonchalance and wiped the papers off of his desk, “Look at me goddamn it!” He screeched.
Marvolo leaned back in his chair and stared at Barty, “Well?” He asked, spreading his hands out, “This is what you wanted, is it not?” When Barty just continued staring at him he leaned forward with a smirk, “Don’t know what to do with my attention on you? Pity.” Before stalking out of the room.
He called behind him as he walked towards the elevator, “Don’t leave, I’m going to meet some partners, I will be back shortly.” And he walked into the elevator without looking at Barty.
In a fit of rage Barty ran to their bedroom, he pulled on cargo shorts and a shortsleeve shirt, grabbing a gun and sticking it in his waistband before grabbing a backpack and shoving as many clothes he could find in it. He then ran to the weapons cubboard and pulled out a his favourite knives that were in sheaths and some extra bullets.
He ran back to the room and struck a match. He tossed it down on their bed and watched as flames slowly started to grow. With the smirk on his face illuminated by the light the flames, he left the penthouse. Who the fuck has a meeting at three in the morning anyways? He thought as he walked out of the penthouse, The bastard’s asking for it at this point.
][][][][][
When Marvolo had come home to a seemingly empty apartment he had thought Barty was hiding somewhere.
Until he went into the bedroom to see the bed. On fire.
After a quick sprint to the fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink, when he finally put most of the fire out he saw the open drawers with clothes strewn around the room. He saw the weapons cabinet open and missing several knives. Barty’s favourite knives that Marvolo wasn’t even allowed to touch.
Barty had left.
Marvolo raged and continued making a mess of their room. After the last shelf had been pulled out and dumped on the floor, he sunk down on the floor. Back against the wall, he pushed his hand through his sweaty locks. His gaze fell to his hoodie - though at this point it was more Barty’s. It was a sappy thing, one of the only things that connected him to his past life.
A black hoodie with the words ‘M. Riddle’ in red on the back over a big bolded number thirteen. A memento from when he was in highschool and played football.
From the moment Barty had found the damned thing hidden in the back of his closet, he claimed it. As much as Marvolo had hated the thing before, he very much enjoyed having Barty, in nothing but that hoodie, walking around their home, doing domestic things Marvolo had never in a million years, he would have.
Barty humming, swaying his hips to a tune only he could hear as he stood at the stove making pancakes in the morning. Barty, in Marvolo’s boxers and hoodie, laying in bed, taking a mid-day nap, content to take up half the bed while he rested, and looking so goddamn beautiful while he did it.
With those thoughts in mind, he reached out and grabbed the hoodie, saving it from the stray flame that had been inching towards it, oh so slowly.
He held it up to his nose and took a deep breath of it, underneath the lingering scent of smoke and flames, was something inherently barty. Something Marvolo couldn’t explain. Something he didn’t think he would ever be able to explain.
It made him walk into the guest room, pull the offending item of clothing over his head and just curl up under the covers. Something he hadn’t taken comfort in since before he was eleven.
Since before he found Barty. Not needing the comfort of being childish, curling up under covers to hide from the outside world, because he had Barty. His sweet Barty who had been his rock to reel in his more insane side. The perfect balance to his crazy.
Barty who had almost died that previous evening.
Barty who had left.
Barty had left.
Barty left.
And Marvolo didn’t know what to do. The gripping fear he had felt last night when Barty’s life had been threatened, rising to the surface, wrapping it’s cold, dark hands around his heart and squeezing. Making his mind envision Barty over and over.
Barty, lying in an alleyway, a single gunshot to the head.
Barty, tied up, bloodied and bruised in a warehouse somewhere.
Barty, dead, dying, hurt, in pain, crying.
Marvolo started to hyperventilate, his breath quickening with the thought of Barty, being out of his sight. How every moment that Barty was missing he was in danger, in danger of the random violence of the street and in danger from targeted attacks on him.
His body wracked with sobs, not being able to get up, not able to move as his mind kept these images on a reel in his head. His fingers coming up to scratch at his legs, his arms, whatever he could find to pull him away from the terrifying images.
He soon succumbed to the fog that rolled over his head as the result of not sleeping the last night and staying up into the early hours of that day.
][][][][][
Regulus groaned as a low noise slowly woke him up, progressively getting louder the more Regulus stayed under the warm covers.
He tried to slither off of the bed but James’s arm held him steady, only getting tighter the more Regulus tried to escape the hold.
“James,” He murmured softly, the only reaction he got was a soft groan, “James,” he said louder and more insistent, “I have to get the door,” At that James loosened his grip, and slowly started to wake up, squinting his eyes as they got used to the influx of light. But Regulus couldn’t stay and watch James slowly wake up, no matter how much he wanted to. He rose out of bed, ignoring the protests of his aching muscles as he walked to the door. Gun in hand, he slowly opened the door.
He let out a sigh as he saw Barty standing there, “What are you doing here?” He sighed and ran a hand through the hair that was no doubt extremely messy from bedhead.
Barty let out a shrug, “Meh, Mav is being a dick currently so I’m gonna hide with you.” He said, eyes roving over Regulus’s half naked form. It was then when Regulus realized he was not wearing a shirt. He walked back into the bedroom and heard Barty shut the door behind them.
James was up and pulling his own shirt above his head when he walked back in, at the opportune moment when his back muscles were displaying themselves most deliciously as his arms rose above his head. He quickly turned around as he heard Regulus enter the room, “Hiya love,” He said dropping a kiss onto Regulus’s head as he walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Regulus followed suit, quickly running a hand through his hair in an attempt to tame it after spitting out the minty toothpaste. He grabbed a shirt that had probably been Sirirus’s at some point and pulled it on. He walked back into the kitchen to see Barty rummaging through the pantry, “You are out of any good cereal and only have expired Cheerio’s and Lucky Charms,” Barty said without prompting, pulling out the Lucky Charm’s and pouring himself a bowl.
“Thank you for the unnessecary comments Barty, keep in mind this is a safehouse, not my normal flat.” Regulus said, grabbing the box and pouring two bowls, setting them both opposite Barty. He smiled as James stumbled into the room and blindly sat down where his bowl was. He took a bite before looking up. He visibly started at Barty’s presence.
He swallowed before blurting, “Didn’t Regulus try and kill you last night?”
Barty looked up from where he had been hunched over how own bowl, “Yeah, it happens weekly, keep up Potter.”
“Barty, please don’t confuse my boyfriend at six in the fucking morning.” Regulus said, already tired again, feeling like he could colapse into bed with James for another twelve hours.
“Regulus, this man kidnapped us last night, and now we’re eating Lucky Charms with him like we should all just be friends?”
“Because that’s the way it works Potter, deal with it,” Barry snapped at him.
“Don’t snap at my boyfriend,”
Regulus looked contemplative for a minute, “Yes, because he is Barty, and Barty does not abide by any rules whatsoever.”
Barty stuck his tongue out at James when Regulus went to put his dish away.
“Childish,” James muttered.
“Okay,” Regulus turned serious as he sat back down, “We have to think of a way to destroy the Death Eaters, James if you want to stay out of this I undertstand, and I think I would prefer it if you did.”
James apparently would not prefer that and he said as much, “You are an idiot, I am going to go to Sirius and I bet he will let me be a part of these discussions.” He said, standing up as if he was about to leave.
“Bye James,” Barty said in a sing-song voice, looking happy that he was leaving.
Regulus caught his sleve as he walked by, “No, just-” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Just be safe and don’t needlessly put yourself in danger.”
“Deal,” James said, sitting back down with a smirk tossed in Barty’s direction.
“Stop being childish Barty.” Regulus said, not even looking up from where he was typing on his phone, “Okay, he should be here in about thirty minutes, I am going to go take a shower. Play nice boys.”
As Regulus walked off he heard Barty taunt, “What, not going to join him loverboy?”
He shut the bathroom door before he could hear James’s response.
He hoped the apartment was standing by the time he got out of the shower.
][][][][][
James heard a knock at the door and went to open it, effectively cutting off the intense staring match between him and the menace.
He walked to the front door, narrowly missing tripping over a duffel bag he assumed was Barty’s. He ignored the snicker as he righted himself.
He slowly opened the door, looking at who was on the other side. He threw it open when he saw dark curls and grey eyes, “My Love!” He said, rushing out to hug Sirius, “What are you doing here?”
Sirius had a strained smile on his face, the bags below his eyes deep, showing a lack of sleep, “Regulus texted. Said you needed help.”
“Regulus is an overdramatic worrier, I’m fine.” James assured his friend.
“James, do you know how worried I was when you didn’t show up lats night? And this morning? I couldn’t text, all of your calls went immediately to voicemail. I thought you had died!” Sirius said, his voice breaking as he revealed how upset he truly was.
James ushered Sirius into the building, closing the door as he said, “Hey, hey look I am fine. I’m fine, I just got kidnapped, no biggie.”
“Kidnapped?!” Sirius screeched.
Barty snorted from where he was leaning on the wall of the entranceway, “Don’t mind me, just wishing for popcorn.” He said with a smirk.
They both glared at him before Sirius turned back to James, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, and why was Regulus with you?”
Barty laughed.
“I didn’t tell you yet because they smashed my phone and last night I was so focused on patching Regulus up and just falling asleep that I completely forgot about telling you, honestly it didn’t even cross my mind that you might be worried. Fuck, I’m so sorry Sirius.”
“It’s fine, I’m glad you’re both safe, honestly I’m still confused on why the kidnapped you, and why Regulus was there. Also, I know this safe house only has one bed, which poor sucker had to sleep on the couch?”
Barty was doubled over laughing at this point.
James turned red and started stuttering over himself.
Luckily at that moment Regulus decided to come in, he took in the image of James obviously in distress, Barty barely being able to breathe and a confused Sirius and sighed.
“Reggie!” Sirius shouted running over to hug his brother, conveniently forgetting the question he asked James, “You’re okay right? James said he had to patch you up and- how hurt did you get, you’re okay?” Sirius said, running his hands over Regulus’s arms, as if convincing himself his brother was there and safe.
Regulus slightly softened when Sirius got concerned. He drew his brother into a hug, “I’m okay Sirius, I promise.”
“Who did it? Tell me”
“Riddle and his Death Eaters,” Regulus said, still grasping onto his brother like a lifeline.
“Fuck,” Sirius sighed, slowly extracting himself from the hug, “Okay, how are we going to get back at them?”
Regulus turned and looked at Barty with a glint in his eye, “I think I know exactly how.”