May 23 - bandage - 691 words - @rosestarkiller-microfic - nsfw implied
Barty doesn’t know how it ended up like this.
The night started out perfect. He had convinced Reg to come out clubbing with him since it was Friday night and they both needed it. Regulus had finally finished his last exam earlier in the day and Barty, well, he just needed to forget.
It wasn’t unusual for Evan and him to be fighting. It was actually more common than not, between Barty’s insistent need to piss off his father and Evan’s lack of outward affection, the two often fought.
And usually, that’s where Reggie came in. When both Barty and Evan were pissed off at each other but wanted sex, they just asked Reg. They ended up in bed, all three of them. Barty and Evan compete to please Regulus best while they ignore or spit insults at each other.
But at the end of the night, Reg left and the other two were together again. And this cycle happened over and over again.
“Just go get him.” Said Regulus from beside Barty. “You’ve been staring for the past half hour.”
Barty huffed, taking another sip of his drink. “Have not.” The club was dark and flashy, the sound system cranked up with too much bass. But he had spotted Evan across the room right away. It always happened; it’s like they were drawn to each other.
He turns to Reg, who looks at him like he doesn't believe Barty at all. “Let’s dance.”
Regulus eyes him suspiciously but takes his hand and lets him lead him to the dance floor.
The dance floor is a mess of bodies grinding and dancing, sweaty and muggy but it doesn’t stop Barty. He’s keenly aware of Evan behind him with another guy who looks a little too much like Barty. So he only grabs Reg closer and tries to forget.
One thing leads to another, as it so often does, and Reg ends up on their bed again. Evan sucking marks into his thighs and Barty tugging on his hair while he devours him in a kiss.
It’s wonderful, it’s normal, it’s expected.
Except, Reg is pushing him off, kicking away from Evan. There’s tears in his eyes as he stands up off the bed.
“Fuck, I can’t do this anymore.” He grabs his shirt, tugging it back on. Barty frowns, stepping towards him and hugging him from the back.
“Reggie, come back to bed.” He’s definitely tipsy, voice slipping into a whine. “We always do this, it’s fine.”
Regulus spins and pushes away, angry tears shining as they fall down his cheeks. “Fuck. You.”
Evan stands, getting between the two. “Hey now, stop it, both of you.” He looks to Regulus. “What are you talking about, I thought you were okay with this?”
Reg crosses his arms, looking away. A habit from his childhood, always hating confrontation.
“I’m tired of being a bandage for your guys' relationships. I’m tired of being used to fuck and make up, then dumping me away. I can’t do it.”
Barty makes a soft sound, stepping forward. “Reggie…”
His hands are shaking but his voice is surprisingly steady.
“I’m in love with you. Both of you.”
Barty’s breath catches and next to him, he can tell Evan is in a similar state of shock. They never suspected Reg would want anything but physical. That he would feel the same.
Reg must have taken their silence for judgment or rejection because he’s already stepping away, looking so small and fragile.
Before they can react, Regulus grabbed his bag and slipped out the door into the night.
Barty just stands there, eyes fixed on the spot where Regulus was only a second ago. He flinches as Evan kicks the bed frame with a “Fuck!” and collapses on the bed, head in his hands.
Barty slowly moves and sits next to Evan, quiet.
“What do we do? I mean…we both love him too, don’t we?” Evan nods in agreement.
“We’ll get him back, make sure he knows. Don’t worry, we’ll make this right.”
Barty doesn’t know how it ended up this way, but he’s going to fix it.