honest man

bentley gilderoy lockhart. twenty-five. pureblood. ravenclaw alumni. veterinary sciences student at the royal veterinary college at the university of london. ❝ i was living lost boys life, it was all i ever knew. and every morning the sun comes up – and the darkness fades away . ❞

[orionmacmillanbones]

Orion’s eyes flicked to Bentley’s cheeks, catching that familiar flush, and the corner of his mouth tugged upward in quiet amusement. “Pure sugar, hm?” he echoed, his voice low and warm, like he wasn’t about to argue the point. If anything, the way he looked at Bentley suggested he wore the accusation like a badge.

The offered cone made him laugh softly, and he leaned in just enough to brush his shoulder against Bentley’s in return. “Mango-cherry swirl? That does sound dangerous.” He pretended to deliberate, lips quirking as though this were the most serious decision he'd been offered all evening, before finally leaning forward to take a slow, deliberate taste. He hummed thoughtfully, drawing back with a grin. “Sweet,” he admitted, eyes lingering on Bentley for a beat too long, “but not quite as sweet as you make it sound.”

[bentleylcckhart]

He watched Orion consider the invitation before taking his time trying the ice cream flavor. The deliberate slowness of the taste, the little hum, the grin– it was all so him, and Bentley’s heart gave an unhelpful little lurch in response. He playfully rolled his eyes, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed the warmth he felt. "You really don’t know how to turn it off, do you?" he teased affectionately, taking the cone back and licking a melting drip off the side.

Despite his blushing and occasional bashful deflections, Bentley appreciated Orion's flirtatiousness. It always scrambled his insides in a delightful way, glad he got to share even the smallest moments with someone who made each of them intentional and special. "I know that according to you I'm apparently the sweet one here but you're really not going to offer me any of yours?" he then offered up playfully with a look towards Orion's cone.

[orionmacmillanbones]

🍦- get ice cream together

“Careful, it’s dripping. Hold still,” Orion murmured, his tone gentler than the words themselves as he reached for one of the tissues he’d snagged earlier. With a careful swipe, he chased away the rogue trail of ice cream before it could cause any more damage.

“There,” he said, satisfied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His eyes lingered on Bentley a beat too long before he added, lightly, “You’re already sweet enough as it is.”

@bentleylcckhart

[bentleylcckhart]

Bentley froze in the middle of his action at Orion's gentle warning, smiling to himself as he wiped the ice cream and prevented him from becoming a sticky mess in record time. "Thank you," he replied, a familiar soft pink reaching his cheeks at Orion's sweet comment. "Says you. You're the one who says things that sound like pure sugar," he insisted, nudging his hip against Orion's lightly before taking to his ice cream. "Ooh this one's good– want to try it? It's the mango-cherry swirl one," he held the cone out to his boyfriend invitingly.

[experienceandobservation]

David Corenswet | GQ Hype | July 07, 2025 | 📷 Noua Unu Studio

[orionmacmillanbones]

“Genetics? Seriously? That’s what you’re going with?” Orion teased, shaking his head in amused disbelief. “Here I am practically having a spiritual experience in the middle of a dance floor and you hit me with genetics. Most people would kill for that kind of bone structure. You talk like you just rolled out of the womb and it followed you home.” He let out a full-bodied laugh, clearly entertained. As it faded, he leaned in slightly, brushing their noses together with a softer smile.

“But honestly? That’s one of the million things I love about you. You’ll say something that knocks the breath out of me, or something so serious and thought provoking and then the next moment you'll throw in a line like that and I’m laughing again before I even know what to do with myself.” He tilted his head, voice dropping so only Bentley could hear. “And if I’ve got the perfect words, it’s only because with you, everything makes perfect sense. I guess we both got pretty damn lucky.”

[bentleylcckhart]

"See? I told you I'm not perfect," he snorted at the reaction the word had gotten out of Orion. "I figured it was a bit random but I didn't think that I'd shot myself in the foot that bad. Did I really ruin the moment?" he almost seemed a little sad about it, not having wanted to destroy this whimsical invisible veil that seemed to hang in the air around them that separated them from the rest of the dance floor. To him, he still felt they were almost alone. Vibrating at a different frequency to the rest of the world, even if just for a moment. "Also please– you're one to talk. You come from a genetic lottery family too," he insisted with a little scoff, reaching to run his fingers lightly along Orion's jawline as if to highlight how impressive it was.

"I guess I contain multitudes, but don't we all?" he reasoned, however enjoying the playful subtext of their conversation. It was nice that they could ebb and flow and not really worry about any of it feeling out of place. Varying topics of conversation just came and went naturally between them. "And you are very much the same. I never know if I'll hear the most romantic thing I've ever heard or potentially the dirtiest," Bentley teased. "And I wouldn't change a damn thing about you," he added warmly. "Things never looked clearer than when I'm with you, Ri. And honestly even settling into myself has been easier with you in my life. You've helped me grow and evolve and figure things about who I am in ways I would've never been able to expect. Whether you like it or not, you've changed my life forever."

[orionmacmillanbones]

Orion followed Bentley through the crowd, fingers laced with his, their bodies brushing as they moved, the closeness between them unspoken but unmistakable. He couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips as Bentley glanced back at him, as if checking he was still there, still alright.

When they reached the the dance floor, Bentley turned with that familiar comforting glow in his eyes, and Orion felt his breath catch a little. What power did this quiet, deep souled man possess that always managed to pull him in and completely ensnare him without trying? Orion's hands found purchase around Bentley’s neck even without the others encouragement and the moment Bentley’s arms wrapped around his waist, Orion leaned in just that little bit more. Their foreheads touched, and Orion felt only warmth and calm. Home.

Around them the area was a frantic buzz of moving bodies, the music vibrating through the soles of his shoes, lights dancing in time with the sound but none of it mattered to Orion. Right now, just as it had been in the take away shop, the only focus Orion had was on the man in his arms and the way Bentley felt like he slotted so effortlessly against him. Intimacy even in such a public setting. “How are you so perfect?” Orion murmured with a soft smile, his voice low and close. His thumbs traced idle circles at the base of Bentley’s neck. “But I’m not complaining.” He added immediately as he brushed his nose gently against Bentley’s, letting himself soak in all that the other had to offer, eyes closed breathing out the next words as if they were thread into the very fibre of his very being. "You make it so easy to love you."

[bentleylcckhart]

Bentley was stunned by Orion. By being like this with him. By just how intimate the moment was, everyone around them a beautiful and energetic blur as his tunnel vision was set on the man in front of him. While there was still a lot about relationships that Bentley felt he tread on unfamiliar ground with, it all seemed to come so naturally with Orion. Even if at times he was bashful about it, there were others where a natural confidence seemed to blossom. He was comfortable and calm and absolutely enamored. He knew he could do and say anything, able to expect a total lack of judgment from Orion on that front. Dancing with him made everything else click into place in a way that nothing in his life with anyone else ever had before. There was no denying, Orion had his heart.

"Genetics," he couldn't resist joking in response to what had most likely been a rhetorical question from the other. He hadn't intended to ruin the beautiful moment between them however, his eyes still fixed on his boyfriend as he tried to piece together all the events in his life that had led him to be in this very moment. A moment he wished he could freeze in time forever. "I'm far from that, Ri. But it means a lot to me that you see me that way," Bentley admitted, taking one of Orion's hands from around his neck to kiss his knuckles softly before returning it to its prior position. "I could say the same about you. But it seems as though you've not only got the talent for saying what I'd like to say to you myself but putting it all into the perfect words too," Bentley spoke with vibrant admiration for Orion. "You're one of the best things that's ever happened to me, Ri. Lucky doesn't even cut close to how it feels to be able to call you mine."

[orionmacmillanbones]

Orion's smile brightened when Bentley said they could make that happen. If he'd given any indication that he was uncomfortable with the suggestion or going back to the party, Orion would have pulled the plug on it immediately but he didn't argue it this time because there was no such suggestion in the others actions and it warmed him to know that Bentley was just as willing as he was to go out of their way to make one another happy. Helping with cleaning up, Orion practically wrapped himself around the other man when they were done, peppering kisses to his cheek for a moment. "Lead the way, Handsome."

[bentleylcckhart]

"It'd be my pleasure," Bentley grinned in response as he took his hand after being pleasantly smothered with affection from Orion. It didn't take long for them to return to the party, the two managed to stay tangled up in one another even before entering the venue. Bentley navigated them through the dancing bodies a little more into the center before he spun around, taking Orion's hands and rested them around his neck. His own landed low on Orion's waist as he led them in a dance, his forehead resting against the other's as he let himself melt away into the moment.

[orionmacmillanbones]

"Then I suppose it is a good thing that those whose opinions I care about have always taken the time to get to know me. What a loss it would have been for both of us if we hadn't been so open minded." Orion couldn't imagine his life without Bentley in it now that he'd had the experience of him being part of it. It was nice for him to just sit and enjoy this quiet time with Bentley, he didn't really want to break the comfortable intimacy of the moment. Bentley was the one who decided to speak first. "Hm... I still would like to dance with you more but I would also follow you anywhere so if you want us to go home, I am more than happy with that too."

[bentleylcckhart]

"It is an incredibly good thing. I don't even want to think about a different outcome of all of this," he said without hesitation. "If dancing with me's what you'd like to do, we can make it happen," Bentley smiled warmly after his boyfriend's confession. He honestly didn't even care if the party was crowded now or not. There had been something so almost vulnerable about the way Orion had answered that he'd go anywhere to make sure he was happy. "Let's get going then," his grin growing, reluctantly pulling himself apart from the other to throw away the waste from their table before joining hands with Orion outside the shop again.

[orionmacmillanbones]

Orion supposed he hadn't really thought about it too much but Bentley was right, his family did have a certain image already. He'd heard things himself but Bentley had stood out for him when they had met because he was nothing like anything he might have expected. An arm came to rest around Bentley's shoulders and Orion's fingers gently brushed at the skin of his neck as they talked. "Anyone who assumes they know you without taking the time to actually do so is severely missing out." Orion responded softly, knowing that he did not regret a moment of the time he had spent truly getting to know Bentley. When Bentley said that he'd appreciate notes though, he had to smile. "Then notes you shall get... though you may want to remind me in the morning, just in case." He added with a little laugh.

[bentleylcckhart]

"I could easily say the exact same about you," Bentley said, although he was incredibly touched by hearing Orion say that. It was clear how much they mattered to one another but it absolutely never got hold actually hearing it. Especially when to him, everything that came from Orion's lips was music to his ears. He was convinced he'd feel like the luckiest man alive for as long as he managed to capture the man's attention like this. "Maybe I will," he laughed lightly, leaning his head onto Orion as they only drew closer to one another. He was sure they could've stayed like that for hours, letting out a content sigh every now and again. "How are you feeling, love? Do you still want to go back to the party?"

[orionmacmillanbones]

"It is. It's adorable. You're adorable." Orion found himself almost gushing about the brunette again as he leaned in to steal another kiss, seemingly not able to get enough of the action where Bentley was concerned. "I'm lucky you don't judge people though. I think too many people judge others but I always try to remember the saying that those in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones. It's always ironic just how much they have to hide when they feel the need to bring others down and judge them. It says a lot about a person." Orion chatted casually as he finished off what he was eating, giving a rather large stretch once he was done. "Nowadays I don't need anyone else. You manage to fulfil all my needs." Orion spoke honestly, and he wasn't referring to anything sordid, simply that Bentley managed to have all the qualities he needed in a good partner. He felt whole with the other man around. "Hm... I suppose that is fair. Maybe I should ask if there is anything you can think of that you want from a partner that I don't already do. I'm not talking about huge things because I'm pretty sure you will tell me you're already content because you always make that known but I mean more..." Orion thought about how to word it. "One person might love it if their partner always got up and put the coffee on for them before they got up in the morning, or another might like little love notes left around for them. Just things to remind a person that the other is always thinking of them, you know?"

[bentleylcckhart]

Bentley laughed into the kiss, always finding it sweet when his boyfriend was being so openly affectionate. "I grew up in a family that has an irremovable spotlight upon it. I'm used to people judging or assuming things about us," he explained. "Because of that, I'm in no business of doing the same to others. I am more than my ancestors and so I think it's only fair to give everyone else the chance to show themselves who they really are if I want the same kindness for myself," he finished off his point with a light shrug. And Orion had time and time again proven just how much more he was than his past. And past aside, he had proven how devoted he was to Bentley. That was probably what was most important to him, considering he wasn't personally the type to be comfortable in something like an open relationship. It just wasn't something he could imagine himself feeling comfortable in even if others enjoyed it. "I'm glad to hear that," he smiled when Orion confirmed he was all he needed these days to feel satisfied. "Things I'd want from a partner that you don't already do? I'd say that's a small list. You're a very thoughtful person," Ben found it easy to say, nuzzling his nose against the other's forehead briefly. "The notes? I suppose it would be cute to see those in my books. Or little annotations of what you thought if you and I happen to read the same ones," he mused aloud.

[orionmacmillanbones]

"Yup." Orion confirmed, the 'p' popping enthusiastically at the end. "I think it was more the adorably polite way in which you conversed with me right afterwards. You went bright red and kept apologising because you'd been rushing to the library. That's so very you." He chuckled at the memory. "I told you then that I felt like fate had a little bit to do with it. The fact we are at this point now I feel confirms that theory. I've always believed in following my instincts on things." Orion took another bite out of the burger. "Mhm, and yet you are always talking around me. It's one of my favourite things." Orion continued to eat as he seemingly thought seriously about the question posed to him. "Not that I can recall." He eventually settled on. "Not really anything you don't already know or that you probably couldn't guess. I think the sleeping around thing before you was probably the worst thing you could find out. But I've never really hidden that from anyone. It's up to them to decide what they think that says about me and whether they can accept it."

[bentleylcckhart]

"That is so very me," he agreed bashfully, his face flushing as though the two of them had been instantly transported back into that moment. "I'm glad you do. Your instincts have proven time and time again to be absolutely impeccable," Bentley complimented, smiling to himself. He really couldn't have predicted that from their first meeting they'd be where they were today. Orion had known what he wanted from the start and Bentley was not used to being pursued like that before, but everything about their journey thus far had been so incredibly worth it. Orion had always found the perfect balance of being respectful while also trying to encourage Bentley out of his comfort zone. "I am, aren't I?" Ben noticed with a laugh. It was funny how being around certain people could bring out different parts to you. Orion brought out a bubblier and even a more flirtatious side to him. One he didn't realize he had originally.

"I can hardly judge you for that. You're allowed to do whatever you want in your life and the partners you chose in the past are nobody's business but your own," Ben said. It had been a point of insecurity of him due to being afraid of not being experienced enough for the other, but he had very quickly gathered that Orion's loyalty was not easily wavered and therefore he had nothing to worry about in that regard. "Nowadays of course it'd be a different story but I know and trust you," he added. "I feel like you're always open with me. It's hard for me to think of questions I could ask you that I don't already know the answers to."

[orionmacmillanbones]

"And I love you too. Pretty sure it was love at first sight for me." Orion spoke easily, drink making his lips looser than normal. He'd known the moment he'd met Bentley that he was something special, he'd just not been able to label it back then. The man had been entwined in his heart from that moment onward. He sipped on his soda, popping more fries into his mouth as Bentley spoke and he hummed, nodding his head. "We've always said that talking has come easily for us." There was never any dead air or uncomfortable silences. They just seemed to slot together so perfectly, as though they had always known one another. "Anything you don't know about me that you want to know? Probably the best opportunity." He said with a cheeky grin.

[bentleylcckhart]

"Love at first sight, huh? All it took was that bagel hitting the floor for you to decide I was the one. Is that what did it for you?" he teased, although he felt as though his heart was going to burst. To think it had been love at first for Orion made him feel incredibly lucky. "That's true– it has. And I never considered myself to be super talkative in nature," he admitted with a soft laugh. It seemed like around Orion, he just never ran out of things to talk about. It was really nice to be that way with somebody. "Is there anything I should know?" Bentley put to that with a laugh, not actually worried about the other keeping any dark secrets from him.

[orionmacmillanbones]

These were some of his favourite moments with Bentley if he was being honest. Just enjoying one anothers company, doing something that was probably considered very mundane but it was different being able to share it with someone on this kind of a level. It felt like it was just the two of them in that moment. A smile drifted over Orion's features when Bentley brushed at his lips, looking after him even in the small ways. Confident that his mouth was decent now (at least for this) he pressed a gentle peck to his lips. "The last thing I think anyone would call you is a gloater or a show off, love. I just genuinely believe you pay me that much attention that you know what I need before I do." Bentley was extremely considerate of other people after all.

[bentleylcckhart]

Bentley loved seeing how carefree and happy Orion appeared as they sat there. He could easily stay in that very booth the rest of the evening if it was with him. Bentley pecked the other back, smiling when Orion easily stated that he was no gloater after all. "Well I love you very much," he replied warmly. "And because of that, knowing you has come naturally. And I'm so grateful for it. Getting to know you has been one of my favorite parts of us getting together," Ben admitted comfortably.

[orionmacmillanbones]

"You can always have some of my burger if you want it anyway." He wasn't selfish with his food, even less so where Bentley was concerned. They always shared things with one another. Orion had remained close to Bentley until they had their food and he scooted in close once more when they sat down. A definite sound of enjoyment left his lips as he bit into the burger. He'd not really registered that he'd been hungry until he'd smelled the food. "Mhm... Very happy." He mumbled out when he managed to swallow the bite he'd taken, offering some to Bentley. "I know I wasn't too enthused about food in the beginning but I'm not surprised to find myself saying I think you know me better than I know myself."

[bentleylcckhart]

"I figured we'd share," he chuckled softly, the two of them plucking fries from each other's plates and generally just enjoying the intimacy of sharing a meal. Even if it wasn't necessarily in the most glamorous of places. "I'm glad to hear it," Bentley smiled when his boyfriend said he was happy. He took a couple bites out of the burger before handing them back to Orion, reaching for his drink to help wash it down before speaking up again. "I swear I'm not trying to prove anything– I just figured it's what you needed right now," he mentioned affectionately, reaching to wipe some crumbs from the corner of Orion's lips with his thumb. "And I'm relieved to know I did the right thing."

[orionmacmillanbones]

"Well from this vantage point I can't really see your handsome face unless you turn around like you've just done so I had to make do with what I was given. I can confirm, you really don't have a bad side. Your backside is just as impressive-- and you can take that however you want because either version would be entirely correct." Orion found himself grinning, unable to stop himself from flirting with the man. Admittedly, he seemed to have less filter about just how he flirted when he was drunk it seemed. When they got to the shop and Bentley offered to pay for his food, Orion let out a contented sigh, resting against the dark haired male. "You spoil me." He didn't seem to need much time to think about it either. "That burger looks amazing right now so I'll have that with fries if you are good with that? What're you getting?"

[bentleylcckhart]

"It's nice to know that you're someone who really appreciates all of me and quite literally everything I have to offer," Bentley considered with a chuckle, feeling color rushing to his cheeks at that nonetheless. The flirting from Orion would never get old it seemed. And he'd be lying if he didn't admit to enjoying it from the other. "Well, I love to," he insisted with a little shrug when Orion mentioned he was being spoiled. "Fantastic choice. I was debating a burger too but I might get the tenders just to switch it up," Ben considered. Soon enough they were taking a seat with their food, sitting on the same side of the booth. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, popping another chip into his mouth as the leaned into one another comfortably.

[orionmacmillanbones]

Orion had to laugh at that because his boyfriend wasn't wrong. He sighed happily at the others nose into his hair, arms tightening in a loving manner around the others waist. "I suppose you're a very tempting distraction." Still, he followed obediently as the dark haired man led them through the crowds to find food. A part of him still marvelled at the fact that he had managed to bag this man who took such good care of him. "You know..." He continued conversationally. "This is a pretty good angle for me."

[bentleylcckhart]

They were slowly making it out of the party venue when he caught Orion's remark. Bentley looked back over at the other with a soft laugh, "Oh so you're not more charmed by my handsome face?" he teased. He continued to usher his boyfriend gently along, finally bringing them to a chicken and chips shop not far from the party. They entered and Bentley wrapped his arms around the other comfortably as they waited their turn while somebody before them finished their order. "Order whatever you like, Ri. It's on me," he muttered softly into Orion's hair.

[orionmacmillanbones]

"Any reasons I should be aware of..." Orion almost seemed to purr against his skin though he was, of course, more than aware of what Bentley was referring to and he could never get enough of the way the others voice seemed to change at his actions. "You're right... there will be other occasions but I suppose I can't get enough of being at home with you." He stated. "Hm... food... that was what we were doing wasn't it..."

[bentleylcckhart]

"No– I'd say you're more than aware of them," he hummed, his nose nuzzling into the other's hair lovingly. "And here you were asking me to come back out because you were enjoying the party so much," Bentley couldn't help but point out, smirking to himself when Orion seemed to be leaning towards going back home now. "It was– we should get something in your stomach," he took Orion's hand, kissing his knuckles before pulling him along through the crowd but still keeping him close.

[burntogcther]

"It's definitely s-something an old lady might carry a-around in her bag," Alice pointed out, "Or m-maybe it's the fact that they m-make you feel better when you're ill th-that makes them old l-lady-like? I don't know. It d-doesn't matter anyway."

[bentleylcckhart]

"Maybe I'm secretly an old lady if I enjoy them then," he shrugged with a chuckle. "But yeah, maybe. I still think they're nice and they always make me feel a little healthier for some weird reason."