Barty Crouch Jr. searched around the house for any sign of Regulus Black, running up the stairs, then back down when he couldn't find him. The feeling of dread was swallowing him whole, he felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest. He ran up to Dorcas, who'd been flirting with Pandora the entirety of the party, and tapped her shoulder.
"Cas, have you seen Reg anywhere?! I've been looking for him forever, and I can't fucking find him!" He asked, practically yelled due to the loud music blasting from the sound system.
She paused to think for a moment until she remembered something Regulus had told her earlier. "He's on the roof! He told me he was gonna get some fresh air up there!"
"Thanks!" Said Barty as he ran back upstairs and into his bedroom, peeking out of the window that led to the roof. There Regulus was, laying against the ridges of the roof, staring at the night sky with an alcohol bottle in his hand. Barty hopped out of the bedroom and joined him on the rooftop, sitting next to Regulus.
Regulus didn't even acknowledge his existence, he silently took a sip out of the beer bottle and cleared his throat. "Are you.. alright, Reg?" Barty asked in a hushed voice, noticing the dried tear tracks on Regulus' cheeks. Black slowly turned towards him and gave him a reassuring nod. "I'm fine, Barty." He lied through his teeth, voice quiet and cracking.
Barty laid next to him, taking a deep breath, stars neatly spread above them like the freckles on Regulus' face. He was quickly taken out of his thoughts and back to reality when Regulus broke the unnerving silence between them. "Barty, can I ask you a question?"
Barty glanced at him for a moment. "Sure."
"Do you believe that.. there's truly someone who's meant to be yours till death?"
The question hit him like a brick, Barty felt his heart skip a beat. He shifted uncomfortably in his spot, facing Regulus, though Regulus’ gaze remained on the stars. “Why do you ask?”
Regulus sighed, placing the bottle on top of his stomach, fingertips lightly tracing around the label. “I just find comfort in knowing that maybe there’s a person out there who I’ll cherish and love forever, I guess. I wanted to know if you do too.” He murmured, finally facing Barty, maintaining eye contact.
Barty let out a low hum, thinking about his answer for a couple seconds. “Sometimes, yeah. It’d be nice if it was a definite fact that I’ll receive the same amount of love that I give to someone. I didn’t think you’d think so too.”
“Yeah, well, there are a lot of things I don’t tell you guys.” Regulus exhaled, averting his focus back on the sky. Barty raised a brow, a small curious smile growing on his lips. “Really? Like what?” His question brought out a chuckle from Reg. The smooth and silky way Regulus laughed – Barty could just bathe in the warm tone of his voice. “No way, I’m not telling you anything. You’d probably just tell everyone else.”
Barty let out an exaggerated gasp, lightly smacking him on the chest. “Hey! I am not that untrustworthy.” Regulus scoffed at his statement, shaking his head in disagreement. “Remember when you found out Dorcas had a crush on Pandora and you told me and Evan?”
Crouch bit his lip, he had no rebuttal against Regulus. It was true. “That was one time!” Regulus laughed, his lips curving into a little smile. Barty had that effect on people, he was like an antidepressant. Always bringing joy and laughter to those around him. Regulus’ smile was contagious, Barty couldn’t help but grin at the fact he cheered him up.
“C’mon, just one secret. I won’t tell anyone; cross my heart and hope to die.” Crouch begged, scooting closer to Regulus. “You can whisper it to me, even though nobody’s here.” Regulus contemplated for a second, before letting out a sigh of defeat, the smile on his face not faltering. “Okay, fine. But I swear, if you tell anyone, I’ll castrate you.” He shot a glare at Barty, who in return snickered at his threat. “I promise! Just tell me your secret.”
“Alright, here it goes,” Regulus cleared his throat for a second time.
“I may or may not fancy James.”
Regulus’ words had Barty frozen, and it felt like the world stopped spinning. James? James Potter? Barty was so sure his stomach dropped to the ground. Trying to play it cool, he let out a chuckle, looking at Reg in disbelief. “You fancy Potter?” Regulus nodded, hiding the obvious smile on his face. His smile. Barty thought that only he could make him smile that way, but he supposed he was wrong. “Since when?”
“5th year. I was in denial the years before, but I finally accepted the fact I had a crush on him.” Regulus brought the bottle to his lips, taking a long sip, then placing it back down. He looked at Barty, who looked stunned. “What? Say something, Barty. You’re scaring me over here.”
Barty snapped out of his head, forcing the lump in his throat to disappear. “Nothing! I just didn’t expect you to fancy him.”
“What do you mean?” Regulus laughed quietly.
“Y’know, he just doesn’t seem like your type of guy. I mean, he’s an idiot!”
Regulus snickered and sat up, eyebrows furrowed, and yet he still had that pretty smile on his face. “James isn’t dumb!” Barty raised a brow at him, sitting up as well, crossing his arms. “Really? Didn’t he take candy from a stranger in a dark alleyway? C’mon Reg, he has the logic of a 5-year-old.”
“I don’t know! He’s charming and funny,” I’m charming and funny. “He’s smart when it comes to academics,” I’m smart when it comes to academics. “Something about him just makes me weak in the knees, I don’t know.” Barty tried not to list James’ flaws, knowing that he’d ruin what he had here with Regulus. “I guess I just don’t get the appeal.” Barty shrugged, shaking his head. Regulus finished his bottle, placing it aside, sighing.
“What’s wrong?” The taller asked.
“Nothing.” And we’re back to point zero.
“Oh come on, Reggie. You were smiling and laughing just a few moments ago, tell me.”
Regulus rested his head against Crouch’s shoulder, which sent a shiver up Barty’s spine and turned his cheeks into a light pink colour. “I doubt he fancies me too. All I do is degrade him, like crazy, and expect him to like me back.”
“Don’t say that, Regulus. Who wouldn’t like you, I mean, you’re beautiful. You’re gorgeous, smart, and kind-hearted. The pretty way you smile and laugh lights up the room, the way your freckles dance on your cheeks when you grin. Believe me when I say I’m not being biased, I genuinely think you’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Any man who’d dare reject you would be a fool, they’d have no idea what kind of person they’re passing up.”
Barty muttered under his breath, fingers gently playing with Regulus’ curly black hair. Regulus lifted his head up to look into Barty’s eyes, which were flickered of admiration and compassion.
“Do you really mean any of that?”
“Of course I do. Why would I lie to someone as perfect as you?”
Regulus’ eyes slowly shifted to the taller’s lips, and so did Barty’s. The space between them became smaller, and smaller – till it wasn’t. Regulus pulled back, immediately getting up, brushing the lint off his shirt. “I’m– I’m going to freshen up inside. I’ll talk to you later, Barty. Thanks for the.. uh.. talk, by the way.” He said, before disappearing back into the house.
Barty lowered his head, lips trembling and burning from need. He wanted Regulus, no, he needed him. He wanted to feel him melt in his arms, to feel his lips crashing against his, to feel his love being reciprocated back. With what happened between them, he knew that his fantasies were further than they were before. He rose to his feet and ran his hand through his hair, letting out an irritated sigh. “Fuck.”
Why do you do this to me, Regulus Black?