because we monsters
have our motivations.
i am the mastermind,
he's my accomplice.
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
Then he left, and Regulus was without the sun once more.
Left alone with his tears, and his heart falling to pieces. Left alone with his soul still reaching after the boy he used to love. Left alone. Left alone. Left alone.
Until he wasn't.
"Reg?"
Barty. He scooped Regulus up, holding him close. "It's okay love. You're going to be okay." He didn't need to ask why Regulus was sobbing, didn't need to ask because he could see the heartbreak in Regulus' eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Regulus repeated, burying his head into Barty's chest. "I apologized. I'm sorry. Forgive me, please." He couldn't think straight, couldn't feel straight.
Barty pulled him closer, "You have nothing to apologize for."
And so they stayed there, the two of them.
Until the moon had risen, and the stars shone once more. Until Regulus finally pulled away, and whispered, "Barty." Barty hadn't replied, he hadn't needed to. The two of them read each other like an open book, just like they had ever since they met each other. Best friends, and now, something more.
Barty crouched down, flexing his fingers slightly as he waited. Patiently. He had waited weeks for this chance, and he wasn't about to let it slip away now. He could imagine Regulus beside him, laughing softly as Barty complained. Regulus wasn't with him now, but Barty would see him later.
He let that thought fuel his silence.
Finally, finally, the door burst open.
James Potter waltzed through, holding the hand of Lily Evans, soon to be Lily Potter. "I'll see you later, darling." He smiled, pressing a kiss to Lily's lips before letting her leave, closing the door behind her.
Now, watching him, Barty could see why Regulus fell. Could see why Regulus called him the sun.
It didn't matter much now, though, because Regulus didn't need the sun when he had Barty. Barty smiled. It wasn't a nice one. He smiled, and waited, as James settled down on the couch, completely oblivious to the danger that awaited him.
Now.
Barty stood up quietly, a soft rustle of movement. Though, James, focused on his phone, didn't even blink.
He strode forward, and it was only when Barty was almost upon him that James finally froze, and turned, ever so slowly. He was too late, nevertheless, and Barty already had him pinned down, knife to his throat.
"Hello, Potter."
Barty watched with fascination as those hazel eyes flickered through panic, confusion, fear, then finally, realization. "Crouch?" He asked, quietly, throat bobbing. Barty only pressed harder, not enough to draw blood, but enough so that it hurt.
"Ding, ding, ding! You got it." Barty laughed softly, casually as if this was nothing more than an exchange between friends. His eyes narrowed, watching carefully as he spoke once more. "Regulus sends his greetings."
James flinched.
Barty waited.
James swallowed, eyes hardening as he gathered up his courage. "Regulus would never be with someone like you."
Barty's smile only grew larger. He pressed down even harder, watching a thin line of red appear on James' skin. "Careful now, Potter. Tread carefully. Besides, wasn't the fact that Regulus was hanging out with 'someone like me' the reason you left him?"
James winced.
Barty waited.
"Regulus would never approve of this." James spoke again, eyes flashing in anger.
Barty laughed. "If you think that, then you really don't know him. This was his idea, after all."
James froze.
Barty waited.
Yet, James didn't speak again.
"You really are no fun." Barty complained, not releasing the pressure one bit. "Though, I suppose I did come with a warning." His smile left his face, and he leaned in close, until James could see the anger in his eyes, could feel the danger that he was in.
"If you even look at him again, I will come for you. Not only you. Maybe your fiancee, your parents, your friends." Barty's smiled returned, "You're only still alive because I made a promise. Don't make me regret it." His smile returned, and with one last quiet laugh, he removed his knife from James' throat, bringing the hilt down upon the other's head in one fluid moment.
James slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Barty carefully moved off of him, opened the front door, and left. "Until next time."
"Love?"
Barty called, as he opened the front door to their house, tossing the knife onto their kitchen counter. Regulus came from behind him, wrapping his arms around him.
They stayed like that for a moment before Barty turned around, smiling softly. A real smile. "It's done." He said, simply. Regulus kissed him, gentle and sweet. Barty decided the waiting had been worth it.
"I love you."
"I love you too, amour."