Book Club, Reginald Smee: love at first sight, obsession, Regulus Black

Showtime, Helpless: love at first sight

Amber's Attic: RegulusBarty

Lyric Alley: Then you walked in, and my heart went 'Boom!'

Lowdown, Marius: love at first sight

Hamilton Mania, being blackmailed: Barty Jr., "That boy is mine."

Easy piñata

652 words

For Bex

V.

Regulus' hands are trembling as he takes a drag from his cigarette, his grey eyes fixed upon the sky. Barty hates how troubled he looks. Regulus is meant to be handsome and relaxed, and this mask is so foreign to him.

"I'm scared, Barty," he says, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the darkness. "I don't have a choice."

Barty doesn't have to ask. Their conversations so often turn to the war, and they've discussed every possibility. Only one thing could ever make Regulus feel so helpless.

"I'll join you," Barty assures him, resting his hand on Regulus' forearm, where the Dark Mark will go.

"I could never ask you to do that."

Barty presses his lips to Regulus', kissing him softly and holding him close. "You don't have to ask. I would happily walk through hell with you, Reg."

The other boy looks up, his eyes meeting Barty's curiously. "Why?"

"Because I loved you the moment I saw you," he answers. "The second you ended up in my compartment, I thought to myself, 'that boy is mine', and, well... I was lucky."

Regulus' arms wrap around Barty. His lips trail little kisses along Barty's jaw. "What would I do without you?"

IV.

"I don't want to join them," Regulus admits. "But since Sirius ran off, they're looking at me like it's my bloody job to restore the family's honor."

Barty listens without really hearing. His eyes are focused on Regulus' lips. All he wants to do is kiss him. Even if he isn't paying attention, he's well aware of his boyfriend's tone and the notes of distress lacing each syllable.

He leans in, cutting Regulus off with a kiss. "It will be okay."

Regulus' fingers rake through Barty's dirty blond hair as he pulls away. "How?" he asks, digging in his pocket and retrieving a cigarette which he tucks between his lips.

At first, Barty can't speak. He wants nothing more than to replace that cigarette, to have Regulus' lips hunger only for him.

But it's impossible. Regulus' addiction is nicotine, not Barty.

Barty rests his hand on Regulus'. "I'll help you."

Regulus lights the cigarette, his lips twisting into a smile around the filter. "You know you're amazing, right?"

Barty shivers. The comment is probably offhand, but, to him, it's as good as a marriage proposal. On day, Regulus will truly love him. One day, Barty will be all he needs.

All his has to do is wait.

III.

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Regulus asks.

Barty stares at him, at a loss for words. "As friends?"

"Or more," Regulus answers, and the blush that creeps into his cheeks is absolutely gorgeous.

Barty can barely believe it. His hard work has finally paid off.

II.

Regulus Black.

Regulus Crouch.

Barty Black.

It's such a silly, immature thing, but Barty scribbles away. It's fun to daydream, to imagine that Regulus sees him as something more, that they can have their happily ever after together.

He will. Somehow.

Regulus will learn to love him; Barty just knows it!

No one else loves Regulus the way he does. No one else would follow Regulus and learn his every love, his every hatred. No one would ever want him the way Barty does.

It's only a matter of time.

I.

Barty recognizes Regulus Black the moment he appears in the compartment. His father had pointed him out and stressed the fact that Regulus is dangerous, that the whole family is wicked.

"Can I sit here?"

Perhaps Barty should be a good boy and tell the other boy to piss off, but he can't. His eyes are fixed upon the dark haired Adonis, and everything seems to change.

"Be my guest," he says brightly. "I'm Barty."

"Regulus."

And as the train pulls out of the station, the two fall deeper and deeper into conversation, and Barty falls deeper in love.