Another cold night, with Regulus. Barty finds himself staring at the cold silver eyes that are shining due to the interesting talk. It has been 5 years, Barty has known regulus, but this year he saw Regulus not just like a friend, he saw him and wanted to kiss the chapped lips, he wanted to trace his fingertips along with his jawline, he wanted to caress his body. He wanted and wanted more.
He and Regulus started to stand at the astronomy tower, it was their thing, they started when one day Regulus just randomly asked him if Barty knew anything about stars, and of course, Barty said no. From then, Regulus dragged him out into the cold night to teach him.
At first, he hated this, standing in the cold, shivering but now all day he looks forward to the night to spend it with Regulus while he rants about his knowledge of astronomy. Barty would be here, even if Regulus was silent, he would be here just to be in the presence of Regulus.
So just like that it was another night, when Regulus mentioned, that Regulus himself is a star and Barty couldn't deny it because truly Regulus is a star. Then he was told that the Regulus star is found in the leo constellation, because of which Barty has been sure that he and Regulus are meant to be because Barty's zodiac sign is leo, after all, they are written in the stars. so he knew, he just knew that they would end up with each other one day, if not now, but one day.
when Barty was lost in his thoughts, he did a happy sigh with all relief that maybe Regulus felt the same. Barty was never the relationship kind of guy, he was the "fuck and move on" but he could clearly see himself with Regulus.
"Are you even listening Crouch?" regulus said, narrowing his eyes.
no, he was not listening at all. How could he, with his amazing fantasies? "Yes I was, you were telling me about stars," Barty smirked
Regulus rolled his eyes then, "No shit Sherlock like it is a mere possibility of me telling you about potion up here at the tower,"
Barty opened his mouth for a comeback but regulus cut him "Anyways, I was saying Regulus the star, you know is in the leo constellation," he said
a tiny smile on his lips.
Barty felt his stomach do something funny, maybe he was about to tell his feelings? or ask about Barty's feelings. or-
"I feel so lucky you know, knowing, regulus star that will be me, in leo constellation, that will be you, it is connected, it is like stars have written about us,"
and oh, wow? Barty didn't expect Regulus to feel like that at all, he thought it would take time but, nature maybe does love Barty after all.
"Yeah it is, isn't it? very beautiful," Barty said, his voice came out a bit thick but he looked up at the stars, silently praying to them to put some sense in him like angels would come down and help him with what to do. He usually is a lot better in flirting but he found himself dumb-minded as Regulus was speaking.
"I feel luckier knowing you my best friend is connected with me on the one hand and my love is connected with me on another hand," regulus sighed, he looked contented.
and yeah, regulus should feel lucky, Barty as his best friend and his love-
oh
oh?
no, what?
regulus must have seen the confusion in Barty's eyes when his eyes had that hint of a smile when he is excited about anything. he spoke again, "You know, Regulus is the heart of the lion."
and oh.
his love.
his true love.
James, the lion.
Regulus always liked James, like it is an understatement, he was- or he is well now in love with James potter. no matter how often, regulus refused, his eyes always betrayed him the second he looked at James, whereas James never returned the favour, which made Barty mad at first. but now?
Now he was thankful James had said nothing to regulus, to which Barty had hoped that he would have regulus all by himself. perhaps he was wrong. Maybe he was blind, how could he even dream about Regulus when all that boy saw was, James Potter?
Barty knew more than anyone, how much Regulus fancied him. He, out of all people shouldn't have made these assumptions of Regulus, liking someone like him.
"is it?" Barty asked trying his best not to sound bitter about it.
Regulus grinned. he grinned. which mind you, regulus never does. Barty always tries to make Regulus by telling him jokes and stuff, but Regulus rarely does.
Did James say something? Have they done something while Barty was not with Regulus? Regulus was missing today the whole evening, but he always goes missing it's not a big deal, is it? but the thing is it is a big deal now. His train of thought was getting longer and longer.
Regulus black here is grinning at him, breaking and shattering all the hopes Barty had for him, but of course, Barty is a good friend, he will be happy with you, and sad with you.
with that, Barty grinned back.
"Today um, in the evening?" regulus asked
Barty nodded, telling regulus to go on and tell him about his love and regulus did.
Regulus told Barty everything, how James admitted his feelings, how feelings were always mutual but 'they are two idiots in love' that's what James said to Regulus, which Regulus found sappy, but he is more endeared by it. Regulus tells Barty about the kiss, how James has reached for Regulus, how James is so gentlemanly, and how James is the brightest.
Barty listened to all of that, because yes James is a bloke you can not move on from, Barty wished James should be dead, but only the thought of it made Barty sick, James is so charming that Barty himself didn't want him to lose. He wished he was James, he wished he was the one making Regulus vent and smile like the way James does. He could only wish.
It is stupid, isn't it? how Barty should hate James but here he is, listening to recognition about him. it should feel bad but it doesn't. yes, he feels his heartbreak, hell he is listening to his heartbreak with every other detail regulus is feeding him about James, but he has never seen Regulus this happy.
Barty hates that he is Regulus' best friend, he hates the way Barty was feeling happy as long as Regulus was happy. He hated his stomach which was turning every time Regulus smiled.
Regulus truly deserves happiness in this world, and if that means, Barty just as his best friend and not his lover then be it. deep down Barty knows he is lucky than James will be, yes Barty cannot touch Regulus or feel Regulus's lips on his, but James didn't know him the way Barty knew him in the last 5 years, he will never know Regulus the way barty did and will.
so he decided, he would rather be secretly in love with Regulus and spend the lifetime by his side as his best mate, than be the ex Regulus hates, or be the person Regulus could cry about because a relationship does not always work out, but deep down Barty know if there's only one person who will treat regulus perfect, except himself, its James.
Maybe he will find his love too and laugh thinking about his regulus crush, but maybe he won't? but right now he is happy, here beside regulus, talking about stars. Maybe in this universe, Regulus was his best friend, maybe in other, Regulus loved him like Barty does.
(spoiler alert: yes Barty did find his love, and yes he did laugh about regulus crush because the love he had for Evan, was nothing compared to his love for Regulus. he is grateful he kept that a secret because some people are your soulmates, but not romantically. )