For the Hogwarts Forum
Honeycomb ("Elastic Heart" by Sia)
Writing Club, Showtime ("You'll be Back", a breakup)
502 words
Oh why can I not conquer love?
His hands tremble as he steps out of the flat. Their flat. The flat that he and Barty have shared for so long.
Regulus tries to tell himself that it's for the best. This love is toxic, and it's breaking him down.
And yet it hurts so bad. He had wanted it to work out, and for a moment, it was perfect.
But now the future they could have had crumbles and slips between his fingers.
But there were so many red flags
He should have known, should have seen the signs. His love for Barty blinded him.
Barty was his addiction. When he spent every moment craving his lover's touch, it became far too easy to pretend not to see the monster Barty slowly became.
But now, as he walks away, the fresh air clearing his head, it's all too clear. Barty is broken. What Regulus once believed was passion in the other man's eyes is nothing bad madness.
He should have known better. Maybe he did; maybe he didn't just give a damn.
You did not break me.
He's lucky he's getting out now. As he walks away, relief washes over him.
Barty had almost broken him. He could have ended up just as demented, just as twisted. But he's escaped just in time.
Regulus pulls a cigarette from his pocket, tucking the filter between his lips and lighting up. The nicotine doesn't clear his thoughts, but it helps to settle his nerves, if only a little.
And I know I can survive
It amazes him how easy it is to walk away. One foot in front of the other. He doesn't have any real destination, but it doesn't matter. Each step puts more distance between him and the man loves, the man he will always love.
The pain is still there. His heart feels like it might explode. But he knows he is stronger than this. He can carry on somehow.
It's hard to lose a chosen one.
His nail grazes over the filter, sending ashes flying in the wind.
It should have worked. He was so sure he and Barty were meant to last forever, that their future was written in the stars, shining bright for the world to see.
It hurts. Regulus supposes it always will. It isn't easy to lose someone you loved so much.
But it's for the best. He tells himself over and over that it's worth it, that everything will work out in the end.
Maybe one day he'll believe it.
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
Regulus blinks tears from his eyes as he lights another cigarette, letting the smoke fill his lungs. It's for the best. He cannot break down now.
As the distance between them grows, it gets a little easier. Maybe it'll hurt for a while, but he knows he will bounce back. Somehow, some day, Regulus has to believe that he will be okay.