Title: Don't, Please
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Barty/Regulus
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 575
Summary: Barty tries to stop Regulus.
Notes:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Scavenger Hunt
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Muggle Art - Task 2 - Write about a character taking a risk despite being told not to.
Year Long Scavenger Hunt: A18. (emotion) unease
"You're planning to betray him, aren't you?" Barty asked, unease coloring his voice.
Regulus looked up from his arm, his gaze no longer fixated on the dark mark that would forever mark him as the Dark Lord's follower. "I don't know what you're talking about," Regulus lied. Well, he tried to lie. He had never mastered the art of lying convincingly.
Barty swallowed and took a step closer to his lover. "Stop lying to me. You're unhappy. I would had to have been blind to not notice your unhappiness. It has just taken me a while to figure out the why behind your feelings. For a while, I thought it was me that you were unhappy with."
Regulus shook his head. "How could you ever think that? Barty, you're the only reason I haven't totally given up. I'm not sure what I would do without you. I love you."
Barty took a shuttering breath. "If you love me, then whatever you're thinking about doing, just don't."
"I don't know—" Regulus tried again, but Barty interrupted him.
"Stop lying to me. You're regretting your decision to take the mark. I know you are. And I also know that you're thinking about betraying him. Don't do it. No matter what your idea is to betray him, it will be a suicide mission because he will find out, and he will kill you."
Regulus looked away from Barty's chocolate eyes. "I love you. I do, but I'm not sure I can do what you want."
"Reg, I can't lose you."
He faced Barty again. "And I can't keep doing this. I can't keep killing innocent people or watching them be tortured for something as small as the fact that they have non-magical blood. I feel sick. And no how much I might believe in blood purity, I have never believed in it so much that I thought murder was okay."
"Then why did you take the mark in the first place?!" Barty exploded.
Regulus knew his answer would kill something inside his love, but he was asked to no longer lie. "Because you wanted to take the mark. And I thought that if I refused, I'd lose you."
"So it's my fault?" Barty uttered.
Regulus shook his head. "I made the decision. I never even told you I wasn't as okay with taking the dark mark as you were. I don't blame you, but I also can't keep doing this without trying to make up for some of my past deeds. Voldemort did something. He did some thing hideous that gave him immortality. I discovered what I can do to give my brother's side a little more of a chance to win, and I'm going to do it."
"No, please, I'll lose you. You'll die, and that'll be it. You can't want death."
Regulus finally walked completely to Barty so he stood toe-to-toe with the other Slytherin. He placed his hand against Barty's cheek and smoothed his thumb over the slight stubble. "At least if I die, I won't hate myself in death. I do love you, but I need to do this. I'm sorry." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the corner of Barty's mouth. It was barely a brush before Regulus was moving away, and then leaving the small house.
Barty stood by himself, a lone tear rolling down his cheek. Regulus never heard his final words, but still, Barty whispered, "Goodbye, Reg."