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@maddening-mulciber Casty AU // Stay - Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko
The night had been much better than he’d thought. He had been to countless balls and social gatherings for his father, had never been allowed to bring someone with him before but now that he had added Cassius to the equation things were suddenly much more bearable. Fun, even. They’d met with Sir near immediately on arrival, and Barty had closed up as he always did in the presence of the man, unable to lift his eyes from the floor at his feet, but Cassius steered them away. And he seemed to be keeping them as far apart from Sir as possible the rest of the night, while they made their way through snacks and drinks and occasional sneaks of things more illicit during bathroom breaks between songs.
He couldn’t help thinking about all of that now that the night was nearly over. The ballroom was darker now, the lights having been dimmed some time ago as they neared the end of the festivities, and the music was slower now but not yet enough to be boring, and he had his hands on Cassius Mulciber’s waist. It felt strange to look down at their beautiful, familiar face and have something tugging at his heart where before there had been nothing. But the more time he spent with the other the more fun they had together, and the more Barty realized that Cassius was trying to keep him safe as well.
It wasn’t what he usually allowed to happen. The things that belonged to him never had to do anything in return, he wasn’t the one to be kept safe, he wasn’t the one to be doted on and worried for, but he softened for it coming from Cass. Coming from Cass, he was fine with a lot of things he otherwise wouldn’t be.
“Hey,” he murmured softly, nudging his head softly to the side of Cassius’s own, laughing softly under his breath at the face Cass made as they responded, “what?”
“We should get out of here.” His hands firmed at the small of Cass’s back and he pulled them flush against him, feeling warmth at the touch. He felt even more warmth at the suggestion as he voiced it aloud, lips brushing against their forehead, “there’s something I want to tell you.”