Barty could not describe the rage he felt ignite inside of him when he saw Regulus’ bruised face. The small smile that had formed on the edge of his lips as he crossed the foyer as he went to answer the door from a ring bell he knew was his best friend, dropped once he opened said door and saw him.
His usually endlessly smooth and perfect porcelain skin was interrupted by a dark purple bruise around his eye. Although when Barty normally saw Regulus all beat up he got this fluttering feeling in his stomach, this time he didn’t because he knew who had done it to him.
Regulus glides right past him and swiftly crosses the entrance, heading straight for the stairs that lead to Barty’s room. Barty struggled to keep up but arrives to his room right behind Regulus, who waits for him to get inside and shuts the door.
“Sorry. I just didn’t want your parents to see me.” Regulus whispered. Looking warily around Barty’s room.
“Don’t worry, they’re not here right now.” Barty whispers back, mocking the shorter boy.
They both stare at each other for a second before Barty speaks again, breaking the silence.
“Do you want me to kill them?” He asks. There is not a hit in his tone that might suggest the threat should be taken as anything but completely serious.
Regulus simply snorts and falls on his back onto Barty’s bed, staring at the off-white ceiling. During the summer after third year, Regulus and him had sneaked in paint and painted the ceiling acid green, just to spite his father. He had it painted a boring off-white the second Barty left for school. Nevertheless, the memory made Barty smile, until he looked back at Regulus and saw the bruise again.
“What happened this time?” Barty asked. Sitting next to where Regulus was laying on his bed.
“Told them about the recruiters that were interested in me when they went to watch the last football game of the year. Tried to introduce the idea of me not going to college but instead becoming a professional football player. Didn’t go well, as you can see.” Regulus remained laying down staring at the ceiling, as if he looked hard enough he could drill a hole through and see the stars. Barty layed down so he could see Regulus’ face better.
Ever since Barty’s known him, he’s had an incredible amount of self control. Clearly drilled into him by his parents, everything he did he did it with an imense amount of self restraint. Except when he was with Barty. There he could see a flame form behind his eyes of his impulsivity giving out, but through the years he has seen that flame grow smaller and smaller as his parents add more pressure on him and try to prepare him to become the heir to Black Industries. Barty hated those bastards for trying to extinguish his Regulus: especially since Barty had seen how bright he could glow. So there was where a plan started to form in the taller boy’s head. Regulus clearly didn’t want to talk about the topic further, and Barty didn’t want to try to confort him with lies. So instead of spewing empty words to try and comfort him, Barty gently grabbed Regulus and pulled him up with him towards the headboard, where the brown haired boy sat up against and put the smaller boy’s head in his lap and ran his fingers through his raven curly hair. Regulus finally closed his eyes and leaned into the touch of his friend. Barty’s protectiveness only grew, and further confirmed his need to take action.
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“You want to do what?” Evan yelled at him over the phone.
“You heard me.” Barty replied. He wasn’t in the mood for long drawn out conversations. He had a plan and he needed to stick to it.
“You’re fucking crazy man. You know the Blacks, they’re insanely powerful. Like buy you and sell you into slavery if they ever find out what you did powerful.
“Yeah whatever. Are you in or not?”
“Sure. Why not?” Evan said exasperated.
“Great, thanks man, knew I could count on you.”
”What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to go talk to Sirius and his hot boyfriend and convince them to let Reg stay in their flat for the rest of the summer.” Barty said.
“Again, you’re fucking crazy. What makes you think that they’re going to listen to me?” Evan was growing more exasperated, but Barty knew it was all for show, he’d also do everything for Regulus.
“Well, they’ve always liked you better than me.” Barty stated.
“Maybe because I haven’t dedicated my entire life into tormenting them. Like that time last year when you tried to set Sirius’ hair on fire…”
“He had said some horrible things to Reg…”
“Or that time you tried to convince the entire school Lupin was a werewolf…”
“Come on, that one was kinda funny…”
“Or when you found out Reggie’s first kiss had been with Potter in the summer after our second year, and you messed with his cleats so he would fall during his football game and lose the championship.”
“Whatever man. Are you gonna do it?”
“Of course I’m going to do it. I just love showing you what an idiot you are from time to time.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I still believe everything I did was completely justified.” Barty could hear Evan roll his eyes through the phone. “Okay see you later. I love you Evan.” Barty said in a mocking singsonging voice.
“Fuck you Barty.” Evan replied and hung up.
“So rude.” Barty said to himself as he put the phone down and started idealizing his next step.
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Sneaking into Black manor wasn’t anything new, or particularly dificilut for Barty. He’s had years to perfect his technique. In the back of the property behind one of the topiary bushes parts of the stone wall that encircled the enormous grounds had begun chipping away. Two years ago, a desperate Barty who had just had a huge argument with his father and urgently wanted to speak to his best friend, stole a shovel from his own house, and went from late night to early morning breaking it further in order to create a whole large enough where he could climb into. Barty had never felt so grateful at his past self than in this night. He crawled through the tight hole and when he got to the other side got caught up in the branches of the trimmed bush.
“Fucking shit.” He muttered to himself shuffling around trying to get unstuck. Finally, he fell in the cold dirt on his face. He scrambled to his feet and began to cross the lawn to get to the side of the large stone building, it was clearly modeled after some kind of french chateau with elegant carvings decorating it’s outside and vines of ivy crawling all the way to the top. Barty went around the building to the side where he knew Regulus’ window was and began climbing the ivy. There were cameras in the property, but long ago Barty had discovered that they were for show, as they had no security guard looking at the 24/7 and therefore it didn’t matter if there was hours of footage of Barty climbing up to Regulus’ room. With a great deal of effort he made it to his best friend's window ledge, where he took a breath and prayed, like he always did, that Regulus hadn;t decided to begin locking his windows. He closed his eyes and grabbed the bottom of the window frame to try and slide upwards. It did, which made Barty grateful, (and a little bit concerned) that Regulus didn’t try to protect himself from home invaders.
The shorter boy was fast asleep. His long dark eyelashes contrasting against his perfect milk white skin, he was only made seem even paler with the moonlight entering his room and reflecting against his face. His curls, usually perfectly combed and fixed, were unruly and sprawled out over his silk pillow. Barty’s breath was taken away as he stared at his sleeping friend. He looked angelic, his sharp angles and strong gaze replaced with a sweet, innocent expression. Barty’s sure he’s breathless simply because of the effort it took to climb up here. When his eyes finally drifted to the circle of purple around the raven haired boy’s eye socket, he was kickstarted again into motion.
Barty opened Regulus' large closet and pulled one of his suitcases from the top shelf. He began stuffing sweaters, shirts, and pants that he knew Regulus wore a lot. He went over to his friends' drawers, cautiously trying not to make any noise as he took out socks and boxers. Going through Regulus’ underwear drawer really made him rethink his life choices. Barty finally moved on to his friends’ safe, which password was simply his older brother’s birthday (he should really lecture Regulus about property safety). Inside the safe there is jewelry Barty knows is priceless and money Regulus’ had apparently been saving up, his family members were clearly generous with their Christmas presents because Regulus’ money were stacks with currency straps, Barty stuffed anything that seemed to have value and the money into the suitcase. He looked around the room one final time, trying to make sure that he wasn't leaving anything of value to ulus behind, and the moment he was getting ready to leave his cellphone began ringing.
“Shit!” Barty whispered to himself as he tried to take his phone out of his pocket quickly, which incidentally caused him to drop the suitcase on the floor with a loud thud. He cursed at himself for the hundredth time when he finally managed to answer the incoming call.
“What!?” He whisper-yelled at his phone.
“Sirius is asking what you are planning.” Evan answered.
“Tell him its none of his business!”
“Well, I told him that, but he said he wansn’t going to help with anything until he knew whats going on.” Evan replied. Barty face-palmed, his mind running a mile a minute trying to come up with a lie convincing enough to trick Sirius, and Lupin.
“Where are you?” Barty asked.
“I’m in their living room. They went to the bedroom to argue, but I’m sure they’ll be back any minute waiting for an explanation. Barty held his breath, unsure of what to do. He hadn’t thought of what he would do if Sirius didn't agree to take Regulus in. He couldn’t stay with him. His father would never allow it. Evan’s parents were just as bad. God, sometimes he really hated having only two friends.
“Just… tell them the truth.” Barty said defeated. His only hope was that Sirius’ hatred towards his parents was stronger than his morals.
“What!? Barty you can’t be serious…” Evan began.
“You heard me. Talk to you later.” Barty interrupted.
“Barty-” Before Evna could finish, Barty hung up his phone. Letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and picking up the suitcase again.
“Are you seriously stealing my stuff right now?” A voice said to his right, which made Bary jump out of his skin.
“Dammit. I’m sorry I woke you up Reg.” Barty said turning to face his friend. His eyes were groggy as he sat up in his bed, his curls were sticking up which gave him a very soft look. Cute Barty thought, but his thoughts were interrupted by Regulus’ voice.
“What the hell are you doing in my room at three in the morning Bartemius!?” Regulus demanded, trying to keep his voice low to avoid waking up his parents.
“Stealing your stuff!” Barty teasingly replied.
“Brute.” Regulus mumbled to himself, his voice scratchy from sleep. Barty, suddenly, felt a violent impulse to tackle his friend but abstained from acting on it.
“Do you trust me?” Barty asked him simply.
“What?” Regulus questioned, exacerbated.
“Do you trust me Reg?” Barty repeated.
“Of course.” Regulus instantly replied. A small smile began on Barty’s lips from the speed at which his friend answered.
“Then don’t question me sweetheart. Just try to put this in your parent’s afternoon tea tomorrow, or well I guess today, they’ll get sick, and in a few days it will seem like they died of a bad flu. They’ll be gone and I’ll be waiting for you outside at 4:15 pm sharp.” Barty pulled out a small flask with a dark, thick liquid inside, and put it in Regulus’ smooth palm, closing his friend's slim long finders with his. The older boy’s cheeks flushed, and Barty thinks he could stare at him for the rest of his life.
“Barty what is this? What are you doing?”
“You know exactly what this is and exactly what I am doing.”
“Barty...” Regulus started. He was always too calculating, never letting himself act on impulse, only Barty could drag that out of the shorter boy.
“In a few hours, you’re going to be free. You’ll stay at your brother’s for a couple of days-” Barty reassured him.
“My brother’s!? Barty! No!” Regulus complained. Barty stopped him by putting finger over his lips and sitting in front of him in his bed.
“I'll use those day’s to get everything in order. I’ve had my trust fund since I turned eighteen, and I’ve been withdrawing small amounts for months now, and with that money we can get you a nice flat worthy of a snob like you.” Barty explained, and Regulus rolled his eyes, but Barty could see the excitement and endearment grow in Regulus’ eyes. “Then it’s just going to be you and me. Doing whatever we want whenever we want. Never worry about expectations or consequences. Just me and you. How does that sound?” Barty didn’t really need an answer, he knew what his friend was thinking just by looking at his beautiful, liquid mercury eyes. For the first time in his life, he saw hope in Regulus’ face. Hope for the future, hope for a life he could live that would make him feel fulfilled, hope he could be happy. Regulus slowly nodded, as if he was scared that if he let himself completely feel the extent of his excitement, he would be disappointed. Barty wanted him to know this was real, to let him know this was already happening.
“Say yes Reg, and it's done.” Barty whispered, grabbing Regulus’ face as delicately as he could and putting their foreheads so all he could look at was at Regulus’ eyes.
“Say yes to me.” Barty said so quietly he wasn't sure Regulus had heard him. But he felt Regulus let out a small whiff of air against his cheek and then bury his face into Barty’s neck.
“Yes. Always yes.” Regulus answered against his skin. Barty wrapped his arms around the older boy’s head, pushing him further into his neck, wishing that he and Regulus could meld into one. That’s how Barty felt their souls anyway, melded together, one the same with the other, might as well make it physical. After a few minutes of them holding each other, Barty took Regulus’ face in his hands again and made them stare at each other again.
“I’ll see you tomorrow baby, okay? Well be gone before you know it.” Barty reassured him once more. Regulus nodded once again. Barty kissed his soft forehead and got up striding across the room where he had abandoned Regulus’ suitcase and headed towards the open window. He let himself look at Regulus once more. The moon’s glow illuminated his facial structure making him seem like he was made of alabaster, and his dark ruffled hair bleeded into the shadows of his room, his red lips, parted as he beamed at Barty, those silver eyes flaming with such deep emotion, Barty didn’t have time to pick through thoroughly. Barty used every drop of impulse control to get himself and the suitcase out the window and into the grass, where he started back to the hole behind the bush. He flew back home high on Regulus’ moonstone eyes.
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Barty anxiously looked down at his watch and back at the gates of Black manor. It was 4:13 and Regulus hadn't come out yet. Barty had begun to think the worst, maybe his parents had caught him, and now his best friend, his favorite person in the world, his soul, was lying dead on one of the expensive carpets from Cappadocia. He pushed the thoughts away tapping his fingers against the leather seat of the motorcycle. Sirius had been so hesitant to lend it to him, that he insisted that he give Barty a two hour crash course on how to properly care for his bike. As much as Barty loved to contradict him, he couldn’t deny the motorcycle was sick. Finally he saw the gates open and a tuft of black hair peek through. Barty’s face immediately broke into a smile.
“First time you’ve ever been early to anything I think.” Regulus said, smiling right back just as brightly. Barty just shrugged smuggly in return. Regulus noticed the brown paper bag on the back of the bike and nodded at it. Before he could ask, Barty pulled out a bottle of Glenfiddich 21 and a pack of Chesterfields. Regulus shook his head awestruck.
“I’m in love with you.” Regulus teased.
“I know.” Barty smirked. He patted the seat behind him. “Get on pretty boy. Or are you scared?”
“The only thing I’m scared of is what you did to my brother to get him to lend you his motorcycle.” Regulus laughed as he took the seat behind him and wrapped his arms around the taller boy's waist.
“Don’t you worry your dishy little head about it.” Barty said as he turned on the motor and adjusted in his seat.
“Now where?” Regulus asked, leaning his head against Barty’s back, he could feel the older boy’s smile against his spine.
“The universe, love. The universe.” Barty adjusted the handlebar mirrors and drove off. His heart holding onto him from behind.