liquidsky | Knife's Edge

The weeks and months after he had admitted his doubts to Barty had been nothing short of nerve-wrecking to Regulus. For the first week, he had half expected at any moment for a group of Death Eaters to apparate around him and drag him away to be brought to the Dark Lord's justice. It hadn't happened, of course, Barty had been true to his word.

It had been on their first raid together that Regulus had learned Barty would go farther yet to... protect him? Was that what he was doing? He hadn't even connected the dots, the first time he had hesitated to cast the Killing Curse on a hapless Muggle woman until Barty suddenly stepped behind him and cast it for him. He had understood the second time it happened, gruesome curses this time which Regulus had never had the stomach for.

No one else was the wiser and Regulus had risen in the respect of his fellow Death Eaters. The break-up with Barty had brought out his vicious side, Bellatrix had crooned, and even Malfoy had remarked that he was finally doing his duty properly.

Regulus might have been grateful, under different circumstances. What he did was live in constant fear of the unavoidable confrontation with Barty. He had painstakingly avoided being alone with him ever since the written exchange that had been the end of all his dreams.

It had worked well, until tonight.

A reconnaissance mission. With Barty Crouch.

Regulus apparated to the meeting spot, shivering as a gust of cold wind welcomed him. The street was dimly lit by a few streetlamps, the houses as Muggle as Muggle could be. The Dark Lord believed otherwise. He inhaled the icy wind and wished he could calm his racing heart. Or just keep his hands from sweating.

Barty apparated just a few minutes after Regulus, obviously not wearing the Death Eater robes but instead actually dressed in muggle clothing, unassuming as would be needed for the mission. If he was cold, and chances were that he was, he refused to let it show. Right now he was refusing to let a lot of things show as he looked at Regulus and battled various urges.

Damn, would he never stop wanting him? Although currently the urge to just draw him close and hold him, share what warmth they had was actually stronger than the urge to shove him against the nearest wall. He licked his lips and shook his head to his own thoughts.

"Relax."

Regulus seized Barty up in his new unassuming clothing. He might not have looked the part of the Death Eater anymore, but it was impossible for Regulus to forget for even a moment just how dangerous he was. Unlike himself, who felt dressed-up like a clown in his Muggle clothes. For this cause, he had actually deigned to raid his brother's closet for a faded blue t-shirt and pair of torn blue trousers which Sirius had left behind when he betrayed them years ago. They hugged his body a bit too tightly for his comfort, unlike the voluminous robes he preferred, but he hadn't dared enlarge them, uncertain if they were supposed to be like this.

He dared meet Barty's eyes for just a moment before he went back to studying the pavement. "How could I relax?"

"That's for you to figure out. But if you don't, you won't survive for long." Barty didn't know enough about Muggle clothing to know whether Regulus' clothes were appropriate or not. He knew they were definitely too tight in his personal opinion, that much was for sure. It could hardly be helped that he wondered what it might be like to grab him through those jeans and rub against him... Damn.

"You're one sorry excuse of a traitor if you can't keep up a better facade." He stepped closer to Regulus, trying to catch his eyes. He felt more like avoiding him, but he felt that wasn't an option. "Tell me why, Regulus. And tell me if it's worth it."

Too close. Regulus gulped. Just a while ago, he would have crossed the two steps still separating them and pressed himself against Barty, would have buried his hands in his hair and greeted him with a kiss or more... Now his stomach knotted with dread. He refused to look up, though his face darkened at the implications.

"I'll have you know I'm no traitor... and my facade is good with everyone but you," he protested. He raised his head. "That you even need to ask why..." He stepped closer to Barty before he went on in an urgent hiss, "If Prewett truly lives here you know what's going to happen to him, don't you? We're killing purebloods."

Barty took yet another step closer, edged on by how Regulus wouldn't even look at him. He wondered briefly if it was just him still longing for their closeness. If Regulus found him horrifying, perhaps even repulsive. He didn't want to think about it, but it was hard not to.

And then Regulus was closer and suddenly there was barely an inch between them and it became a task just to focus on Regulus' words rather than his lips. But the words were important, they were telling. He raised an eyebrow and gave a slight shake of his head. "Blood traitors, Regulus. Is this about your brother?"

Regulus reared back, bristling with all the fierce indignation of a wet cat, and oh, was he looking at Barty all of a sudden. Glaring daggers at him, even. "It's not about Sirius!" he spat, the name like a curse on his lips. That had been a low blow, to mention Sirius in these days when he couldn't help wondering what would have been if he'd listened to his brother before it was too late. "The traitor means nothing to me anymore - and don't you dare accuse me of anything different! I'm nothing like him! I'm having doubts out of loyalty to true pureblood values and to our society as it should be, I'm not running from my responsibilities like a petulant child!"

But if he had never joined, he would have never known Barty as anything but yet another younger housemate. Would have never felt this burning desire to grab Barty and kiss him until he stopped being like this, to pretend for just a moment that everything was alright between them. He balled his hands into fists at his sides to keep from giving in to the urge of grabbing him.

"If you don't want to be accused of that, Regulus, perhaps you'd do well to differentiate yourself more." Barty was aware that it was a low blow, a surefire way to get Regulus incensed. But it was also what seemed to be more true than anything. He shook his head and this time it was him looking off to the side, because if he looked at Regulus for even one more moment, he wasn't sure what would happen. Between wanting to curse him and wanting to kiss him, anything would be possible.

"So tell me how you plan on protecting pureblood values. Tell me how our society should be. I'm all ears."

"I..." Regulus opened his mouth and closed it again with nary a word coming out. He blustered, making a few indignant noises at the back of his throat.

"That's not fair!" he snapped. He turned his head to the side, refusing to look at Barty any longer, even if it was only to glare. It hurt too much. "Why don't you tell me your idea of what our society should be like! How we are going to sustain ourselves as a separate society if we slaughter half the purebloods left! We can barely find someone to marry who isn't so closely related that we risk birth defects and that's while there are still Light families around to intermarry with. Nearly every respectable marriage prospect I have is my cousin of some degree - including you!"

"Is that a marriage proposal?" Barty asked, the dryness of his tone masking any potential for true emotion shining through. He shook his head and touched the tip of his tongue to the corner of his mouth. He reached out, finally, and put a hand on Regulus' shoulder.

"I know your family is concerned about blood purity in the literal sense more than anything, but you know that our vision goes far beyond that. It's a way of life we need to protect and expand, in some cases perhaps regardless of genetics. You're right on that front."

"A way of life," Regulus snorted bitterly. He had stiffened when Barty put a hand on his shoulder, and now he turned his head to peer at it. A heavy sigh escaped him. He just wanted to lean into Barty's touch, he wanted that so badly...

"You sound just like I did," he replied instead. "I believed the Death Eaters could preserve our society and traditions, that they could give us the place in the natural order of things which we are entitled to. Why should we be hiding from Muggles as if we were cowering animals when we are their betters?" He shook his head. "But what kind of purebloods are the Death Eaters creating? All we learn is how to enjoy torture and killing. We learn to act like animals rather than people. That makes us less than the Muggles, not more than them. That's not the pureblood society I want."

"And I suppose that makes you better than all of us, for having reached this conclusion." Barty let go of Regulus suddenly, as if he had burned himself. "You must be feeling quite dreadful, having let such an animal defile you."

He spit on the ground and rubbed his hand on his trousers, because it was tingling from having touched Regulus, so eager for more. His body definitely wasn't listening to him. His mind wasn't entirely, either, so many visions of kissing Regulus, of holding him close, of finally touching his body again, even though it had really only been a few days. It felt like longer.

"So what would you want done about these animals, Black? Put them down?"

"That's not... No!" he yelled. This was all going horribly wrong and his stomach felt as if it had turned itself into knots. Merlin, he was nauseous. He was angry. So terribly angry. There was Barty, putting up a dozen walls between them and every attempt of his to tear them down only created more. It wasn't fair. If he wouldn't listen... Fine. "I was talking about myself, you idiot!"

Regulus launched himself at Barty, he couldn't even bring himself to care anymore if he would interpret it as an attack. He gripped Barty's shoulders and mashed their mouths together, more biting than kissing. The frustrated fury kept burning through him, but that just made him more aware of Barty and it hurt, that he would have him never again.

Barty's eyes widened, his hand instinctively going for his wand, which was a shock in and on itself. So it had come to it already, that he expected Regulus to attack him. That was actually a chilling enough thought that at first he didn't kiss back, instead just letting it happen, eyes closing and... He knew he should be angry and part of him was, but mostly he was bitter. No, he was sad.

So surprisingly just when he was about to give in and start kissing, if it could be called a kiss, back, he turned away instead, staring off at nothing in particular. This wasn't fair. This shouldn't be happening. Loving Regulus had become the one good thing in his life of which he could be certain. "Why are you doing this?"

He kept waiting for Barty to respond, so certain that he would respond and then simply desperate for it because he couldn't imagine Barty ever not wanting him. Ultimately refusing him, yes, but he would want him, for Barty had always desired him. It was one of the things about their relationship that never failed to thrill him, that he could always trust Barty to want him physically even when they were fighting. But Barty just kept being limp and lifeless under his touch and then suddenly...

...he wasn't even passively enduring it anymore.

Regulus stared at Barty's back and felt terribly cold. He reached out for him, but lost his courage before his fingers could brush Barty's back. Regulus let his hand drop. "I'm not," he whispered, "I'm not doing anything. I love you." But Barty wouldn't listen to his words, he had proven so much before. If he couldn't soften him with passion, what else had he left then?

"Why do you have to betray him? Us?" His voice did become more heated now, although he stayed quiet. They were on a silent, dark street, they couldn't risk drawing attention. They were here for a reason, after all. Reason, right. There was that. Something to focus on that wasn't the feeling of Regulus' lips on his. Something other than how he heard the hurt in the man's voice and wanted to take it away. Something to keep him from confessing his love in turn, never mind how true it still was.

"We have a task here. I know you could care less, but I'd rather not disappoint my Lord." With that, Barty turned his back on Regulus completely and took a few steps closer to the house. The air was cooler here and it made him feel a little less as if he was about to burst.

"I love you too." There it was. Almost too quiet to be heard.

Regulus' breath hitched. He had heard it. Or so he hoped, maybe the whisper had been nothing but wishful thinking. Who could say, at this point, but he wanted to believe that it had been real. Needed to believe that Barty still loved him, though love alone wasn't enough. He smiled bitterly at Barty's back as he slowly followed him. He should have known better than to fall in love, really.

When he caught up to Barty he watched him from the corner of his eyes, quietly debating whether he should bring it up. No, he decided regretfully, it'd just make him defensive again. "Yes, let's do our duty. Although I'm not quite certain how to figure out if this house holds a magical inhabitant without using magic ourselves and thus alerting him if it is. Under normal circumstances I would suggest observation but..."

"Observation it is," Barty declared, leaning against the wall and, after taking a quiet breath, looking at Regulus again. He was silent as he stared at him, suddenly feeling too open, raw, to deal with any of that. "That you can walk around looking like that shouldn't even be considered possible," he muttered, sounding a lot like a sullen child and not caring one bit whether he did. This was so not helping him with putting up any defenses.

He shook his head and closed his eyes, running his fingers through his hair while he bit down on his bottom lip. What was he even thinking? What was he feeling?

"I'd protect you from anything. Anyone."

Regulus' eyes widened. His heart beat faster, he felt his cheeks turn pink completely without his permission. How could he possibly keep his mind solely focused on the job when Barty was saying such things? He couldn't keep his distance, so much was for certain. Regulus stepped closer, not quite close enough for their bodies to touch, though he wanted to. With Barty leaning against the wall like this, such an invitation to pin him to it, really, it would be so easy to take just another tiny step for them to be pressed together chest to chest...

He shook his head to clear it of such thoughts. "I know you would," he admitted. "I never mentioned it but I know what you've been doing for me..." He couldn't help it. He reached out again, intending to run his fingers through Barty's hair. "You're protecting me, even now. I don't deserve your love but I'm selfishly happy that you love me, too."

Barty tensed, but he stayed still when Regulus reached out to touch him. He had become accustomed to the casual touches between them, he missed the ease of them already. It was foolish to want them back, despite everything, but here he was. He looked at Regulus and sighed, wetting his lips as he met his eyes.

"You're the only one I could ever love, so you might as well deserve it." A shrug and a pause and he wasn't even sure what he was going to say when he opened his mouth. "I can't oppose you." It was true, he realized. Simple and true. He couldn't bear the thought of Regulus being dead or tortured. Much less imagining the order to do so given to him, which would be just like the Dark Lord. So much like him.

He would have never thought it could be bliss to simply run his fingers through Barty's hair, but here they were and it was. All the strength he had left melted away with Barty's confession, he leaned into him, not to seduce now but simply because he needed to be steadied. His forehead pressed to Barty's shoulder, breath coming in soft little gasps. Merlin, but he needed him. He didn't have the strength to keep going without Barty; he was the only reason Regulus hadn't run long ago, never mind the consequences. "Thank you," he whispered. Too little.

He raised his head, dared to lean closer. Hoping, waiting. "I could never fight you," he vowed as he crossed the distance separating them. Simply praying he wouldn't be refused again, he wasn't sure he could stand it a second time.

No one ever played with his hair the way Regulus did. Perhaps his mother had, at some point, he couldn't remember, but any other encounters he had had, well, they hadn't really been about affectionate touches. No, that had only happened with Regulus and now it seemed as if the men knew exactly how to tear through any defenses Barty was trying to keep up.

He swallowed and leaned his head against the wall as he looked at Regulus. So close, so very close. His chest was actually hurting. "Then don't make us enemies." It was close to a plea, but with the hopelessness already in the words. He'd already given in and he wasn't even sure what that would mean for him. All he knew was that they were kissing again, finally, and he needed it more than air.

Regulus' eyes fluttered shut. Yes, yes, this was exactly what had been missing from his life. This kiss was different than his previous one-sided attempt, though no less desperate. Softer, gentler, a way to share all his affection and desperate love with Barty. To show him just how much he needed him. He had to try. He cradled Barty's jaw in his hand, gently rubbing his thumb over his cheek.

He exhaled slowly, a blissful smile still on his lips. "I love you," he whispered against Barty's mouth. If he just kept repeating it, maybe it would be enough sooner or later. He opened his eyes and met Barty's gaze. "I never told you that you have beautiful eyes, did I?" he mused. "There are many things I never told you." He chuckled bitterly. "I wish I had." All this time, he had pushed Barty away whenever he could simply to prove that he could, that he was still detached from what existed between them or simply because he didn't know any other way to show he cared. So much wasted time, wasted opportunities... His stomach clenched at the realization that he would never get to make up for it. "We're going to end up enemies, aren't?"

"No, you never told me that." There was a hint of a frown on Barty's face, confusion shining through. He tried not to linger on it and was successful in pushing it back, but the truth to it was that he wasn't really used to being told anything like that and he wasn't sure what to make of it. How to react.

The question hurt, although he should have expected it, and he found himself shaking his head before he could stop himself. He didn't want to fight Regulus. More specifically, he didn't want to defeat him and he didn't doubt that he would, so sure of himself.

"But how...? It's going to happen," he admitted in an urgent whisper, "you were right, someone is going to see through me sooner or later. You're buying me time but you can't protect me forever." Why was he even trying to convince Barty of this when he had worked so hard to convince him of the opposite? Maybe because he had this foolish hope that he could get all the heartache over with now, that he would stop caring if Barty did. But he knew it was foolish, it would always hurt. "One day they're going to... I won't run. Not to the Ministry, not to the Order, not to Sirius. I won't beg anyone for protection."

Yet here he was trembling when he merely thought of the price to be paid for his traitorous thoughts, found himself clinging to Barty for strength. "I'm going to suffer the consequences of my choice. I just don't want you to watch. I want you to remember me as better than what the torture is going to reduce me to."

"You won't have to beg for my protection, Regulus." There it was, and while the words left room for interpretation, they no longer did in Barty's head. He knew what he meant and despite how much it hurt, he was lifting a hand and used it to stroke Regulus' hair, comb his fingers through the dark, silken threads. He looked at him now and he imagined what torture would do to him. What death would do to him.

He knew he'd not let it happen. That was why he was going to protect him, because Regulus meant too much for him not to.

Was that...?

Regulus' heart felt light and fluttery in his chest already, even as his mind kept insisting that he was misunderstanding. But would Barty be caressing him so gently while outright refusing him? He wasn't that cruel, not to him anyway.

His fingers clenched into a fist around a handful of Barty's Muggle clothes. "What are you talking about?" he urged. He needed to hear it spoken in plain words, there could be no more doubts. Regulus' breath came in quick, shallow gasps as all that sudden hope, excitement, giddiness left him near breathless. He was still doomed. He was dragging Barty into it. But how could he be anything but hopeful? "Will you..." No. He cut himself off, tried again. "You and me, Barty? Really? Truly?"

Somehow seeing Regulus' excitement almost made him want to laugh, almost made him happy, but the reality of what this meant was too stark still, was too drastic for any relief to really sink in. Barty wasn't scared of dying. He actually really wasn't scared of much of anything, but he hated feeling aimless and this was pulling out the footing from under him and he just wasn't sure, although he'd been sure for so long.

But he needed Regulus to live. He needed Regulus to smile. He needed Regulus to love him and want him and be with him. Be with him through everything. And if Regulus would follow him anymore, then, well. There was really only one choice.

"You and me, yes."

Regulus leaned in for a sweet, sweet kiss. As if they were sealing their vow with it, he mused. "I never meant to force such a choice on you," he whispered against his lips, "but there are no words to describe how happy I am."

There really weren't. He still couldn't believe it, kept expecting to wake up from a peculiarly fanciful dream. He would have expected Barty to be the first in line to kill him, but never to... Well, he didn't know what it meant, actually. He had no interest in defecting. They would figure it out later, he could count on Barty to go wherever he did and that was all that mattered.

He smiled, no, beamed at him and stole another kiss. "I love you," he whispered as he tucked Barty's arm up and shoved up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. He brushed his lips to it, whispering another, "I love you." And Barty loved him more than the Mark. More than the Dark Lord he served and worshipped. It was still too much to grasp, if he lingered on it it threatened to leave him dizzy.

When Regulus pulled his sleeve up, Barty froze in spot, staring at the Dark Mark with wide eyes and a peculiar mixture of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. Loyalty. His hand tightened to a fist and he closed his eyes, listening to Regulus confess his feelings.

He wasn't scared, but he felt much colder than the night really was. Silently he wrapped his right arm around Regulus to pull him closer, leaning in to nuzzle his hair while he looked out into the night at nothing in particular. If he had him, then this would be worth it. He could keep fighting, in his own way.

"Couldn't have waited until after I kill my father, could you?"

Regulus leaned into him, he let his eyes fall shut as he simply savored the renewed closeness between them. He had missed this so much, he felt like his life was finally returning to how it was supposed to be. Barty might have felt cold, but Regulus couldn't feel anything but warmth.

When Barty spoke of his father, he opened his eyes again, though, and met Barty's gaze. Of course. This would be an issue for him, wouldn't it? And if Barty stood with him, so should he stand with him, shouldn't he? His lips shaped themselves into a crooked little smile. "Now what would make you think that you couldn't do that anyway?" he asked calmly. "I only feel pity for the innocents."

"Oh, I know that, my darling. But we have to think ahead, do we not? And with these plans and thoughts you have, it won't shed a good light if the man next in line for minister." He shrugged, looking at Regulus and wondering idly just how much, if at all, he had thought about this on a more practical level. Knowing Regulus, he might as well have conceived this as nothing more but a noble suicide mission. But that wasn't the kind of thing Barty was prepared to sacrifice his ideals for.

"But on the other hand, him being my father might come in useful."

A noble suicide mission had indeed been just about what Regulus had had in mind, as far as you could speak of him having had anything in mind at all. He furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought. "Come in useful?" he echoed. "But you want him to die. There's nothing you want more." Not true, he realized as soon as the words were spoken. Unbelievable as it was, Regulus was what Barty wanted more than anything else. He trailed his fingers through Barty's hair. "I don't want you to make even more sacrifices for my sake. We will find a way. Blame it on other Death Eaters or..." He lowered his gaze. "I don't know. I never thought this far. I didn't expect to live long enough for it to matter."

There was a wry smile on Barty's lips, now that he was a bit closer to actually accepting this. He might not be comfortable with it, far from it, but at least he had thought part of it through and he was starting to come to terms and trying to see clear, past everything. He shook his head and grabbed Regulus' chin, tilting it back so he could catch his eyes again.

"I'm not in this world to die without making things happen, Regulus. And I already told you that I'm not going to let you die. We will live, together. And if keeping my father around can help with our goals, I will live with that, too."

He met Barty's gaze when he raised his chin, but still hesitantly, just a tad warily. "You're sacrificing too much for me," Regulus whispered. "I shouldn't make you..." He trailed off, biting down hard on his bottom lip. Barty deserved better. "But I want it," he admitted, "I want you at my side. It's more than I ever dared dream of, but I want it. I know it's selfish and I shouldn't, but I do."

In the end, he had always been selfish. Heroic sacrifice he might have been capable of if things had progressed as he had expected, but selfless sacrifices had never been a skill of his.

He responded to Barty's smile with one of his own, a smile that was equally wry, though certainly affectionate. "You've corrupted me," he murmured, ducking his head slightly so his lips brushed against Barty's fingers, "teaching me to give in to my desires..."

"And now, I suppose, it's your turn to corrupt me." Barty was selfish himself, Regulus' own selfishness didn't seem like a flaw. The opposite. Knowing what one wanted and doing what was necessary to get it, he could respect that. Even if it meant that Regulus was manipulating him, unintentionally. But together, Barty was almost certain, they could still thrive. Still reach their goals and still have their love, because that was what Barty wanted.

"So tell me what else you desire."

The question gave Regulus pause. He pressed his lips together, forehead creasing into faint frown lines as he tried to figure out, what else did he want anyway? He had never permitted himself to give much thought to it. Fanciful dreams were for dreamers, not for Slytherins, and all that.

Tentatively, he said, "I want to restore my family's glory. That's why I became a Death Eater in the first place. My house is only a sad shadow of what it used to be. We are servants now instead of leaders, and these are those who of us who aren't blood traitors."

Regulus averted his eyes.So much was acceptable for a pureblooded heir. The other goals, the more personal ones, he didn't quite dare to speak of. He did want Barty at his side, far more than would be proper to admit.

"Then we have that desire in common." Barty watched Regulus' face, turning his hand so he was cupping his cheek as he tried to read his expression as best he could. "But I think we might have more than that one desire in common. Wouldn't you say so?"

There was just the hint of a smile now, although even more than on the teasing, Barty's mind was beginning to focus on new ambitions. Not quite defined yet, but still. It made it easier to regain his confidence.

"Tell me all your desires, Regulus. We're to share everything."

Regulus gulped. "Everything? That is a lot to ask for." Except that it wasn't, after he had asked Barty to sacrifice his entire future for him. Complete honesty was the least he could give Barty in return. He leaned into the hand cradling his cheek, nuzzling the inside of Barty's palm with his lips. "Even now I'm scared of letting down all my shields. I've never let anyone in." Once upon a time he might have trusted Sirius enough, but that had been years ago when they were children, before he had any noteworthy secrets to share.

He buried both his hands in Barty's hair, forcing him to hold still as Regulus nipped at his lips. It was frightening, yes, but also enticing to strip himself bare. Arousing, even, to surrender himself so wholly to Barty. "I want you," he hissed, "only you. I want to own you and for you to own me. I don't know how I can serve my family like that, but I don't ever want to have anyone but you." He chuckled, embarrassed my his own flights of fancy. "We Blacks are loyal to those we deem worthy, but prone to obsession."

"I always ask for a lot. What's the use of asking for a little?" After all, when Barty wanted something, someone, in any way, he always did what it took to get it. He had gotten Regulus, but given more than he bargained for. As it turned out now, a lot more. But that just meant that he'd keep asking for more than Regulus ever expected to give in turn.

"I don't mind your obsession. You're mine." Barty smiled, knowing that there was a lot of truth to that. It might not be healthy, but he was sure it would work for them, one way or the other. "You're part of me."

Healthy, maybe not, but healthy was overrated. Regulus would make do with relatively sane. That Barty would rather turn on the Dark Lord than see him hurt proved he had achieved that, at least. "Good. You're part of me as well." He sighed, smiling slightly. "I never expected this. When I gave in to you the best I hoped for was not to end up St. Mungo's when you're done with me. Now I don't ever want you to be done with me." He didn't know what he would do if that ever happened, only that in his family they didn't respond very reasonably to being denied. He would rather not entertain the thought at all, really. "I couldn't stand it if you were ever done with me. I thought I'd lost you and it was terrible. To think that you hated me..."

In turn, Barty wasn't so sure how sane turning on everything he dreamed of for love and a vague notion of very ambitious but not terribly likely plans was, but he didn't care. At least not at the moment, not when Regulus was right in front of him, looking at him with such focus, saying such wonderful things.

"I couldn't hate you. I tried," he admitted, searching Regulus' eyes for... he wasn't even sure what he was looking for or what he wanted. "But you don't have to worry. I won't be done with you. I've told you, back before you ever believed me, that you're special, didn't I? Turns out I wasn't lying."

Regulus blinked owlishly at him. "I suppose you're right," he marveled, then laughed. "I wouldn't credit myself with being special, though, merely the circumstances." They certainly lived in odd times, for two convinced pureblood supremacists to turn on the Dark Lord together, though for very different reasons. Regulus met Barty's eyes, smiling. "I'm very fortunate that these unusual circumstances have brought us together at the right time and in the right place."

No, it wasn't healthy, most certainly not. Insane was more like it, but Regulus couldn't bring himself to regret anything.

He rested his head on Barty's shoulder. "However this ends, I'll be happy just as long as you never come to hate me for the choices I've forced you into."

Knife's Edge

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...and then I realize while re-reading that it's my turn to tag...

I love that you re-read.

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