We Are World Class

PART 2

Barty was in the Mercedes garage again, but this time he was looking for Evan. He didn’t know how or when, but Evan became his friend. He supposed it started whit that night of playing billiard back in april before the Sanghai Grand Prix. Ever since then he wasn’t so angry at Evan and he really got comportable whit his new team. He figured it was just his mind fighting against change and it made out Evan to be the causer of said change, which in reality was obviously not true. He also became really good friends whit his teammate, Dorcas. Infact, he just had a chat whit her next to their fridge stocked whit Redbull energy drinks and they tried to figure out who ont he grid would be which coloured Redbull. There were many to chose from and theyspent around thirty minutes laughing about energy drinks sitting next tot he fridge in the Redbull kitchen.
Barty was holding a dark pink energy drink in his hand, this is why he came to the Mercedes garage in the first place, to give it to Evan. Because Dorcas tought , to Barty’s delight, that Evan was this dark pink Redbull. So here he was, looking for Evan. He spotted a head of blonde hair swiftly moving behind one of the cars so he decided to investigate there. He didn’t find Evan, instead he was faced whit Pandora, Evans’ sister, who was a really good friend of Barty’s, they worked really close together during Barty’s time at Mercedes. „Hey Pandora! Long time no see!” he greeted her and was imediately met whit a hug from Pandora. That was one of the things he liked about her, amongst many others, Pandora was always the one to indicate physical touch, which Barty loved. But his best friend was Regulus, who was the last person who would hug anyone, so he always had to get it elsewhere, for example Pandora.
„Barty, what a surprise” she said, sounding amused and anything but surprised „I assume you are looking for Reggie?” she asked and looked around for the black haired driver. Barty cleared his troath „Actually, i’m here for Evan” he said, feeling his ears trun red. God, why did that always happen when he talked about Evan? Sure it was uncofortable that they used to hate eachother, but he was already over that so why did it still happen? „Evan? Well i haven’t seen him since like thirty minutes” Pandora responded, ignoring the obvious inner crisis Barty was haveing.
Suddenly someone pushed Barty from behind and he almost fell over. „Geez Rosier! You scared the fuck out of me!” Barty exhaled turning around to Evan, who was grinning like a maniac. „Heard you were looking for me” he said, looking Barty up and down „missed me that much, haven’t you Crouch?” he laughed and showed Barty’s shoulder slightly whit his own. „You wish!” Barty responded and showed him back „I actually came to give you this” he said and held up the pink energy drink. „A pink redbull?” Evan asked, raseing his eyebrow „Barty why on earth would i need a pink redbull?” Barty shrugged and showed the redbull into Evans face „Because this is you, dumbass.” Evan raised the eyebrow even fruther up and Barty started to wonder how that was even humanly possible. „Care to elaborate? Or should i just refer to myself as the pink redbull from now on?” he asked, eyeing the drink suspiciosly. Barty laughed „However amuseing that might be, no maybe your team wouldn’t be so happy about that. So me and Dorcas my amazing, wonderful, two times world champion teammate who is so much better than you at everything” he started and earned himself a strong show from Evan’s shoulder „and myself, who is also pretty amazing, so we have decided that everyone from the grid is a different coloured redbull. And Dorcas said this was you, and i couldn’t agree more, Rosie” he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows while saying the nickname. Evan hummed and took the redbull. He carefully inspected it then opened it. He took a long drink and noded. Then seddenly he turned to Barty and poured falf of the drink right over his head whit a smile.
The sight of Barty drenched in redbull must have been a pretty funny one, because both Evan and Pandora were doubleing over laughing. „Now this was a grand mistake!” Barty spoke „You are so dead, Rosier!” he said and lauched himself at Evan, who was to busy laughing and didn’t step out of the way in time. The next second they were laughing while wresteling eachother on the floor, showing eachother around. They would have stayed there for ages, if not for Regulus. „Barty, Evan, what the actual fuck are you doing?” he yelled „Stop being gay right in the middle of the garage, there are people around! And Barty what are you even doing here? Get back to your own garage!” Regulus shouted at them. They got up in defeat and just as Barty began to speak, he was interrupted by Regulus’ continued rant. „Do you have any idea how this looks? Clean this up right now and then Barty get out!” When he was finished screaming, he turned around and dissapeared right to where he came from.
Evan skratched his head. „He is just really stressed because of the race, after all he hasn’t been on the podium since Sanghai” Evan spoke, trying to defend his teammate. Barty sighed and ran a hand over his face „Yeah i know, and all the stuff whit James too. He can be quiet the beast regardles.” Evan noded while he headed towards where he belived they would find supplies to clean up the mess. He motioned Barty to follow him and he did. They cleaned up their mess, then Barty really had to get out, it was race week after all. Not just any race week, it was time for Montreal.

The next time Barty found himself in big trouble because of Evan Rosier was in Italy, right before his home race. They were right after quali, which of course ment interviews. This time they were interviewing the 6 drivers who were gonna be in the first 6 positions for the race on Sunday together.
All six of them entered the press conference room after one another. Marlene , James and Regulus sat down in the first row, Regulus and James obviously next to eachother, then followed Dorcas and finally Barty and Evan. They all settled down, checking the microphons and whispering to eachother. After they were all set, the interviewer arrived too. Barty heared Evan snort into his hand next to him and he turned his head to raise a questioning eyebrow at the other driver. „Have you ever been interviewd by him?” Evan asked Barty, subtly noding towards the interviewer. „No, why? Why are you saying it like that?” Barty asked confused by his friends amusement. „Just you wait, it will be the best interview you’ll ever have” Evan whispered and leaned back on his chair.
The interview started whit a couple questions first for Barty and Marlene, of cource, it was their home race after all. Then they asked Regulus and Evan how they were feeling about the track, given that Mercedes hadn’t really performed well last year in the Italian Grand Prix, much to Barty’s dissapointment. Evan had to gently remind the old man that this was his first year at Mercedes, and after he had answered the question regardless, he mouthed a quiet „sorry” to Barty. Baty just shoke his head but he could feel his face heating up, he just couldn’t place why. „So this next question is to the the popstar of formula 1” the interviewer began whit his gaze fixed on Marlene „ No doubt you have had more good races than bad ones, buti f we stick to the less good races whit bad luck and mishaps such as Sanghai where the Ferrari hit Sirius Black…”
Barty tuned out the rest of the question after that, to be honest he has lost it halfway trough. Suddenly he felt Evan nudge his leg „So, see what i was talking about?” he whispered whit a subtle grin across his face. Evan had to lean in really close to Barty’s ear to be able to whisper so the others wouldn’t hear them. „Now i’m just waiting for you to get a long question like this” Evan quetly laughed and Barty could feel Evan’s breath in his ear. The Mercedes driver pulled back a little and a shiver ran down Barty’s spine. As he turned his head a little to look at Evan, who was now looking at the interviewer again, still asking the same question, Barty observed Evans face. They were now sitting way closer than they were before, allthough he he was unsure how that had happened.
Evan turned to look at him and when their eyes met, it was like a bomb had been dropped on Barty right in that moment. He could hear the sirenes going off in his head as he repeated „no,no,no” over and over again. He had feelings for Evan Rosier. Not just any feelings, close to love feelings. He has propably had them for a while, but now it had hit him like a big car. Like Evan Rosier’s Mercedes car whit the number 6 on it. He turned his head away a choughed awkwardly into his fist, but he was so focused on not makeing anything obivious, that he chocked on his breath. He started choughing violently and everyone turned around to look at the scene, even Marlene stopped answering her one hour long question and looked up at Barty whit a concerned look. Evan, who was the only one next to him visibly panicked and didn’t know what to do, so he decided to hit Barty’s back really hard. This of course didn’t help. „Evan you idiot what are you doing?” Regulus exclaimed as he got up from his seat. „What? This usually fixes it!” Evan shouted back even more concerned than Regulus. Regulus swiftly got next to Barty and handed him his water bottle.
When Barty’s breathing was back to normal he exhaled and turned to Evan „You weren’t trying to kill me, were you Rosier?” he asked jokingly. He wasn’t met whit an answer from Evan, but insted whit a slap from Regulus at the back of his head. „Idiot be careful next time. And stop causing a scene in interviews.” he stared down at Barty, but Barty could see the relief in his best friend’s eyes. „Now this is gonna make some good memes!” Barty grinned and leaned back on his chair. „I’m sorry about the scene” he looked at Regulus „but we can totally continue now!” he said a bit louder, so everyone could hear him. Everyone made their way back to their seats and the interviewer tried to pick up where they had left off. Barty didn’t really pay attention to the rest of the interview, he was more concerned whit Evans eyes fixed on him, interrupted from time to time when he went to answer a question. Barty tried to seem normal, but who was he kidding. He had the biggest crush on Evan Rosier, his friend, his ex-rival, his best friends teammate, how could he be normal about that.
After the interview was over Barty hurried out of the room. He didn’t want to be met whit questions from other drivers asking if he was okay, and most importantly, he didn’t want to face Evan just the two of them. He knew he couldn’t act as if nothing was going on, not yet. He knew Evan would notice it right away, so he hurried out of the building as fast as he could. He got out before anyone could catch up whit him and he imediately headed back towards his hotel. He was sure, that there in his room alone he would have time to think.
He was wrong. Just a couple minutes after he got back and sprawled out on his bed, his phone rang. It was Evan, of course it was him, who else woud it be. Barty wanted to pick it up, to assure Evan that everything was fine but he just couldn’t. So he watched it ring. After a while he got really annoyed by the sound, so he switched off his phone. He lay there on his bed looking up at the cealing, trying to sort trough his thoughts. When did this even happen? How could this happen? At the start of the season he was Evans biggest hater and he even self proclaimed them enemies. And now they were friends and Barty had a crush on Evan. This couldn’t be right. His phone rang again but this time it was Regulus’ name vibrateing on his screen. He didn’t pick up, instead he turned off his phone completly, after looking at the time. It was only five, but Barty decided he deserved some early sleep so he crawled under his blanket and fell asleep shortly after.

Barty woke up to someone banging on his door like a maniac. He groaned and tried to shut it out, but after a while it got so annoying that he got up furiously and slammed the door open. „What?” he exclaimed whit frustration at the person banging his door. Regulus stood there in shock, hand still in the air to knock again. „Barty, what the fuck?” he yelled when he was relievd from his momentary shock. „I have been calling you for the past hour! I tought something happened to you. Why did you run off after the interview anyways? Evan and i were looking for you everywhere!” he he ranted furiously. When Barty didn’t answer, Regulus furrowed his brows and took a closer look at his friend. „Barty” he said in a much calmer tone „What happened?” Barty looked away, not wanting Regulus to see anything out of the ordinary but he still stepped aside to let his best friend in.
Regulus sat down on the bed and Barty followed closely behind. He sighed, not looking at Regulus. „Barty, i swear just tell me already! I know somwthing is up” Regulus said, trying to give his friend a reasureing look. „I don’t… i don’t really know if i want to talk about it” Barty responded finally meeting Regulus’s eyes. The other man looked at him, worry in his expression. Barty got up and started to walk around in front of the bed, to the bathroom door and back, to the bathroom door again and back. „Is it Evan? Did he… do something?” Regulus questioned after a short while. Well fuck, Barty tought. If Regulus could read him so easily, why was he even trying to hide it? Well he knew why. First of all, he didn’t want to admit that he actually liked Evan romatically after spending so much time hateing him. Second of all, he never came out to Regulus. Sure, his best friend knew he wasn’t staright but the thing was, Barty himself didn’t even know what exactly he was. And the subject made him feel very weird, he didn’t like talking about this kind of stuff in general. Of course he knew Regulus would support him, Regulus was gay himself after all but still, something wasn’t right.
Barty took a deep breath and opened his mouth to say something but then suddenly somebody knocked ont he door. Barty groaned and went to open it. „Now who the fuck-„ the end of his sentence got stuck in his troath, because it was Evan who stood there at his door. Barty almost slammed the door in his face, but somehow he managed to contain himself. „Evannn, long time no see what?” he laughed awkwardly, dragging out the end of Evan’s name. „Barty” the blonde said whit a furrowed brow „why are you being weird? Weirder than usual i mean” he asked, looking Barty up and down. Barty was desperately trying to think of something to say, when Regulus came to his rescue. „Hey evan, we were kind of in the middle of something important here, i’m sorry. But barty will call you later and then you can talk” he said to Evan. „Right?” he whispered between his theet to Barty and kicked his leg for good measuers. „Right, of course, i will call you later Evan, for sure!” Barty rambled while trying to kick Regulus back. He avoided Barty’s kick smoothly and started closeing the door. „Bye Evan” he said and shut the door, ignoreing his teammates confused face and sounds of protest.
„So, Barty” Regulus began again after returning to the bed. But he couldn’t finish his sentence, because Barty turned around, a horrified look on his face. „I’m in love whit Evan!” he blurted out, then imediately proceeded to bang his head against the nearest wall. „Aghh, that hurt!” he yelled and tumbled down onto the bed next to Regulus. Regulus gave him an amused look. „I figured something was up, but not something this big” he mused. Barty looked up at him whit a pained expression.”I don’t even understand! How could this happen?” he exclaimed whit frustration. „Because at the start of the season i hated him, he took my seat and everything, you know. And then we were kinda friendly or something and then he said my name and suddenly we are friends? I don’t know what happened there. And then today, oh God todays interview, that’s when i realised it and then i fucking started chokeing? Like a fucking idiot? Hello what am i even doing?” he rambled whit a histeryc laugh. „Barty, calm down, it’s not that big of a deal really” Regulus said, puting a hand on Barty’s arm. Barty looked at him scepticaly. „Look, let me put itt to you this way, you used to hate him and now you don’t there is no shame in that!” Regulus said, trying to cheer up his friend. Barty shoke his head and fell back onto the bed. Regulus sighed and got up. He walked over to the tv and started to switch between chanels. „Look, you don’t have to figure it out now, take it slow.” he said looking over his shoulder. „Now what do you want to watch?”
Barty sighed and turned towards the screen. They chose a Star Wars movie while Barty explained to Regulus for the millionth time why the last three movies are absolute bullshit. They settled down and started watching the film. Barty had calmed a bit but in the back of his mind, Evan was still there. But as Regulus said, he could take things slowly, he had time after all.

For a while, he really did take things slowly. He called Evan the next day and told him a half lie which he has made up whit Regulus. Then he tried to avoid him the best he could for the rest of the week, which was actually easier than he tought, whit them being in different teams and all. Evan didn’t seem to notice that anything was off. That was until about two weeks later. There was a bigger gap between races this time, so they had a bit more free time, which normaly they would be spending together, the two of them and Regulus.
But this time Barty made up some fake excuse almost all of the time when they wanted to meet. Sometimes he would hang out whit Regulus, just the two of them and one time he even made plans whit his teammate, Dorcas, to go and try out a fancy new bar that ahd just opened near them. But after a while he couldn’t avoid Evan anymore. They met again a couple weeks later at Regulus’ house for dinner. Barty tried to come up whit something, but he had run out of excuses. He stood on Regulus’ doorstep swaying around nervously. Just act like nothing is wrong, just act like nothing is wrong, just act like nothing is wrong, he chanted to himslef. Then then the door opened and there stood Evan Rosier. He looked even better then last time Barty saw him. „Evan!” he greeted whit a smile and went to hug his friend. Evan smiled and hugged him back. Then they went inside and Evan starte to speak about something whie Barty took off his shes. So far so good, Barty tought.
„Do i smell burning?” Barty asked, entering the living room. „Regulus is cooking” Evan grinned and they started laughing. „Hey! I can hear you, you know!” came Regulus’ voice from the kitchen. „Careful, he might burn you dow too” Barty whispered loudly to Evan and they burst out laughing again. They sat down on the couch and started catching up, sometimes slipping in a loud comment about Regulus’s awfull cooking, which was always met whit angry Regulus noices and sometimes even angry french swearing from the kitchen.
Everything seemed fairly normal, but sometimes Barty’s eyes lingered on Evans mouth for just a little too long, or he stared at him whit a bit too litle care of what his expression might say. Sometimes Barty noticed Evan’s gaze fixed on him from the corner of his eyes, or Evan reaching over him extremly slowly to grab something. Well these little things didn’t help his case. As the night went on, every minute Barty’s urge to simply just kiss Evan got stronger. On time he almost went for it, but luckily he chaught himself just in time. Regulus gave him a knowing look and smiled.
After one to many of these incidents, Baty couldn’t handle it anymore and got up „I’m going to the toilette” he announced and made his way towards the bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror for a good five minutes and stared at himself. Then he started to look at things in the bathroom. Then he splashed cold water on his face. Then he sniffed all of Regulus’ fancy shampoos and soaps. After a while, he decided he had been in the bathroom for too long. He started to head back towards the living room when he heared his name from Evans mouth. He stopped dead in his track. They were talking about him! He had to listen, he knew he shouldn’t but he had to. He crept closer, trying not to make a sound. Then he could hear Evan clearly. „… and it is just really weird, you know. Because i know something is up, i can see it but i don’t know what. God, what if he has figured out i like him and finds it super fucking weird? Oh my God did i just ruin the friendship? Regulus help me what do i do?” Barty couldn’t belive it. Had Evan fucking Rosier just confessed to likeing him? Was this really true? But it was, he had just heard it! Well now this changes everything, he tought. „You should talk to him about this you know” he heared Regulus respond. Oh yes, and how they were going to talk about it, Barty stated in his head. The last tought in his head before he stepped into the livingroom again was, that fuck takeing things slow, he might aswell kiss Evan Rosier tonight.

Barty stepped back into the livingroom, makeing as much noice as possible so they couldn’t know he was listening in. Evan almost jumped up from the couch when Barty entered again. „What, missed me so much, Rosier?” he grinned as he sat down next to Evan. Regulus raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t comment on it. Barty looked at Evan. Now that he posessed this brand new amazing information that Evan liked him back, he was determined to do something about it. „What?” Evan asked, avoiding Barty’s gaze. He hadn’t realised that he had been starting at Evan for the pats minute. „Nothing, just thinking” Barty responded, leaning back on the couch and putting his hands behind his head. Regulus cleared his troath, clearly sensing the awkwardness radiateing from Evan. „I’ll go and put the dishes away, i’ll be back whenever” he stood up glancing at Evan and giveing him a not so subtle nod, then strolling off towards the kitchen. Barty turned towards the blond „Wanna have a smoke?” he asked, noding towards the balcony. „Ah, you know i don’t smoke but sure whatever, this one time” Evan sighed and got up, Barty right behind him.

They stood there in silence for a good five minutes, then Evan spoke. „You know, i was meaning to talk to you about something” he started „something kind of, well, personal…” he glanced at Barty but he just noded for Evan to continue. The Mercedes driver took a deep breath and began speaking „So i’ve noticed that you have been avoiding me lately, don’t try to interrupt me Crouch, i know what i know. So, i was wondering why that was or if i did something and the thing is i don’t know. So Barty here i am, asking you what did i ever do to you, why are you doing this to me? And don’t even try to come up whit some bullshit excuse, tell me the truth straight away!” Evans voice got louder whit every sentence and when he was finished whit his ramble he looked at Barty, expression mixed whit anger and confusion.
Barty looked back at him, thinking about what to respond. Too many toughts were swirligng around in his brain and he couldn’t sort them out so he blurted ou „Nothing is straight about the truth!” Evan looked at him whit a mix of confusion and surprise, so Barty decided to just simply go for it. He leaned closer to Evan and said „Why don’t you kiss me and i’ll tell you after?” flashing a grin to seem more confident. Evan sucked in his breath sharply „What?” he exclaimed, face in utter shock. „Rosier this is your chance, take it or break it” Barty said, getting nervous that he might have missunderstood the conversation from the livingroom. But luckily he didn’t have to be anxious for to long, given that just seconds later Evan’s mouth was on his. Before they knew it, they were agressively makeing out on the balcony, Evan’s back to the wall. Barty had to admit, he had fantacised about this scene before but in reality it was much better than anything he had ever imagined.
After a while they broke apart and took deep breaths. „So, still confused, Rosier?” Barty asked, his shoulder pressed against Evan’s, both leaning against the wall. „All these weeks you avoided me because you liked me? Really Crouch? What kind of move is that?” Evan laughed. Barty flashed him a grin and shruged „Ah you know, it was kind of confuseing, given that at the start of the season we were enemies.” Evan laughed in surprise „We were? Well you never informed me, i just assumed you hated me but i didn’t feel like we were enemies, not even close.” Barty gasped in offence. „Well excuse me Mr I’m To Good To Have Enemies” and he shook his head for good measuers.
They spent the next fifteen minutes trying to convince the other that they were, or in Evans case were not, enemies at the start of the season. They laughed and told jokes and sometimes went back to makeing out for a bit. After about thirty minutes on the balcony Evan suddenly excalimed „Ahhh! We forgot about Regulus!” they rushed inside, almost tripping over eachother. When they tumbled back into the livingroom, they found regulus sitting calmly ont he couch, a wineglass in hand. He looked up at them and smirked „So have you two finaly gotten int out of your system?”

It was was race week yet again, but this time it was different. Barty was already in his car, ready for the formation lap when he saw Evan’s Mercedes from the corner of his eyes pulling up in p5, one spot behind him. He couldn’t see him, but he knew it was going to be a tough race. He had all intentions of beating Evan and everyone else today, but especially Evan, his boyfriend. How good that sounded, both the beating Evan in the race part and that Evan was his boyfriend part. They had made it official just about a week ago, a little bit after the night at Regulus’. But for now, he had to focuse ont he race. Starting from p4 was not bad, he could easily get a podium from there, he tought. The only problem was the three drivers in front of him. Dorcas Meadows, his teammate and two times world champin in p3. James Potter, the spanish Ferrari driver and Regulus’ little boyfriend in p2, whit all intentions of winning his home race. And Regulus Black, his ex teammate, best friend and one time world champion in p1. Yeah this was going to be a tough one.