despair-posting

[despair-posting]

Sirius: Who do we know who has handcuffs?

Regulus: Well, James and I—

James: [elbows him]

Regulus: —wouldn't know.

[despair-posting]

bug - @rosekillermicrofic - word count: 207

“Barty…” Evan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and middle finger, looking around the half-destroyed sitting room, “...what happened?”

The other man, who was sitting innocently on the sofa, looked up, eyes wide. “What?” he asked, like everything was normal.

It was not normal. Glass was broken on the floor from a shattered lamp. Feathers from destroyed pillows were scattered around everywhere. Furniture was overturned and there was a hole in the wall. And in the very middle of the room…a bowl was taped to the ground with a paper on top labelled ‘Dead Bug! Do Not Eat!’

Afraid he would lose his patience if he spoke, Evan gestured vaguely to the destruction.

“Oh, this? Well you told me to stop leaving the bugs for you. So I took care of this one,” Barty said simply, face blank, as if he’d done exactly the right thing.

For a moment, Evan imagined getting upset. He imagined yelling or screaming. But then, he looked at his perfect, hot, idiotic boyfriend, and imagined dragging him into the bedroom instead. And that seemed like a much more constructive option.

“Thanks, Bee,” he sighed, then grabbed his hand and started tugging him in the direction of the door.

[despair-posting]

rosekiller shenanigans <3

[despair-posting]

broken - jegulus - @into-the-jeggyverse - NSFW - implied trans!regulus - word count: 251

James didn’t even realize what had happened until after he rolled over, wiping at his face, a dazed smile stretching his lips wide. Triumph and satisfaction were the only emotions he knew as his breathing normalized, his head resting crookedly on Regulus’s bare thigh. “Y’alright, love?” he asked, voice slightly slurred. 

“Hmm…” Regulus hummed in reply, muscles twitching underneath James’s neck. 

Pulling himself together, James rolled over again and slithered up his boyfriend’s body, tracing his fingers over pale cheeks and beaming as those beautiful, thick eyelashes fluttered. “Reg?” he asked again softly, not wanting to pull Regulus too far from whatever haze he was in.

Ice-gray eyes opened and met James’s. Very slowly, they focused, then humor quickly made them sparkle, a laugh bubbling from Regulus’s perfect lips.

“What?” James demanded, eyebrows furrowing. In his opinion, he’d done a very good job. Certainly, his efforts were nothing to joke about.

But Regulus, still grinning dazedly, reached up and poked at James’s glasses. “They’re broken,” he said simply, chuckling a bit more.

He felt his cheeks grow hot as he pulled off the glasses. Sure enough, they were bent, one of the hinges wonky. “Shit,” he mumbled sheepishly, wiping wet smudges off of the lenses and shoving them back on his face. “I…I didn’t want to take them off. Wanted to see you.”

Regulus laughed again. “I’m not going to complain about the enthusiasm,” he muttered, resting his head back on the pillow. “It was…well-recieved.”

Triumphant again, James grinned. 

Worth it. 

[despair-posting]

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James: Crouch, you’re insane.

Barty: Thanks!

[despair-posting]

[despair-posting]

forgive - jegulus - @into-the-jeggyverse - word count: 315

James was tired. He was overworked and stressed. He was also only leaving for two minutes, just to go to the bathroom, so he didn’t really think about it much. “Be right back,” he mumbled, standing from his spot in the Slytherin Common Room next to Regulus, moving hesitantly so as not to disturb his boyfriend and the rest of his quietly-studying, slightly scary-looking friends.

However, as soon as he took half a step toward the staircase which led down to Regulus’s dorm and adjoining bathroom, Regulus looked up with a frightening glare. “Potter!” he hissed, making James freeze. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Eyes widening, he looked back at the younger boy. “Erm…bathroom?” he questioned while scratching at his head, suddenly wondering if Slytherins felt the need to pee while they studied, or if that was for lesser beings. 

It didn’t help him when Regulus scowled further. “Just like that?”

James felt like he was being thrown a difficult exam question he hadn’t prepared for. Frowning, he looked over to Dorcas, who was the person in the group most likely to help him. All she did, though, was giggle behind her hand as she continued to read.

He looked back to Regulus, whose lips were now curling up in the corners. His sparkling gray eyes made James’s knees feel a bit weak. Slowly, wordlessly, Regulus tapped his cheek, an expectant look on his face.

“Oh!” James gasped, relief flooding through him. He stepped back, placed a kiss to the spot Regulus had pointed to, and kissed the opposite cheek just for good measure. “Forgiven?” he asked with a small smile, raising both eyebrows.

“For now,” the shorter boy smirked, turning back to his own work.

As James quickly walked over to the stairs, he heard Crouch hiss, “Disgusting, Reg.”

But he wasn’t mad, because Regulus murmured back, “It’s okay to be jealous, Junior.”

[despair-posting]

office siren sirius black ✮⋆˙

[despair-posting]

James, playing videogames for six hours straight:

Regulus: Jamie, you need to stop and eat something. I don't care what it is, but eat something, okay?

James, instantly pausing the game and smirking: You don't care what it is?

Regulus, scowling: Not my p-

James, pouting: Aw, c'mon!

[despair-posting]

[despair-posting]

blouse - @rosekillermicrofic - wc: 713

Barty had always known who he was.

He didn't spend sleepless nights questioning his gender. Didn't second-guess the way he walked or talked or what box people shoved him into. If someone asked, he'd say he was a man—because he was—but the rules that came with that label? He’d shredded those a long time ago.

He liked pretty things. Lacy things. Sheer, soft things. And he wore them better than most.

So when he dragged Evan into a boutique he’d spotted from across the street—ignoring Evan’s groaned “Can’t we get food first?”—he had one goal in mind. Something new, something cute, something that would make heads turn in the worst and best ways.

The place smelled like lavender and wood polish. Vintage racks, glass displays, mirrors everywhere. Evan stuck out like a sore thumb in his dark hoodie and combat boots, arms crossed like a bored boyfriend meme.

Barty, meanwhile, lit up.

He moved through the racks like a storm, sifting through hangers, flipping sleeves, tugging on textures. “This,” he said after a few minutes, holding up a delicate, cream-colored blouse with pearl buttons and a slight puff to the sleeves. The fabric was gauzy but structured, and the collar was this ridiculous, romantic ruffle. “I need to try this on.”

Evan looked up from the chair he had flopped into. “Looks like something my grandmother wore to church.”

“And she probably looked better than you ever will.” Barty winked and disappeared into the changing rooms before Evan could retaliate.

The sales associate gave Evan a once-over and then smiled politely. “Your boyfriend has good taste.”

Evan nodded without thinking. “Yeah. He really does.”

-

Inside the dressing room, Barty slipped out of his black tank and cargo pants, careful not to smudge the light liner he’d brushed under his eyes that morning. He slid into the blouse slowly, buttoning each pearl as if it mattered. And when he turned to look in the mirror, he grinned.

It was a little too perfect. It clung where it needed to, flared where it flattered. The collar grazed his throat like a secret. He could wear this to dinner or to bed or to court, if he ever got summoned. He could wear it to Evan’s funeral, if he ever got tired of Evan’s mouth.

Speaking of.

He stepped out barefoot, blouse on, pants unbuttoned because he hadn’t bothered.

Evan looked up. And blinked.

“Oh.”

Barty leaned against the frame of the dressing room, arms crossed loosely, letting the light catch on the sheer fabric. “Well?”

Evan tilted his head. His mouth did that thing it always did when he was trying not to look too impressed.

“You look like a painting,” he finally said, voice soft. “Like you belong in a museum I can’t afford tickets to.”

Barty’s grin widened. “Say more.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Evan added, but he was already standing, walking closer, reaching out to touch the edge of the collar. His fingers brushed against Barty’s throat, lingered. “You’re going to get me into a lot of trouble wearing this.”

“Wearing this? Darling, I plan to get you into trouble out of it.”

Evan laughed, short and low. “Buy it.”

“You buying it for me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t not say it.”

Barty turned back toward the mirror, admiring the blouse one more time. But then his reflection shifted, and so did his mood. His fingers played at the hem, quieter now.

“I like wearing this kind of stuff,” he said after a pause, voice casual, but not really. “Not because it makes me feel like a woman. Just makes me feel like me.”

Evan stood behind him, met his gaze in the mirror. “I know.”

“Some people don’t.”

“Well, I’m not some people.” Evan leaned in, lips brushing behind Barty’s ear. “You’ve never needed to explain yourself to me.”

Barty closed his eyes for a second.

Then turned, kissed Evan like he was anchoring himself.

When they pulled apart, Evan smoothed the ruffle down and said, “We’re getting this. And if it comes in black, we’re getting two.”

“You really know how to spoil a girl,” Barty deadpanned.

“You’re not a girl.”

Barty raised a brow.

“You’re you. That’s better.”

For once, Barty didn’t have a comeback.

[despair-posting]

Barty and Evan questioning James after he gets with Regulus…

Barty: Your lactose intolerance is a deal breaker. I mean how are you gonna protect him if you can’t stand up to milk

James:…

Evan: And you can barely see without your glasses how can we be sure you’ll see a future with him

[despair-posting]

[despair-posting]

👅

[despair-posting]

secure - jegulus - @into-the-jeggyverse - word count: 377

“Saw you with Crouch today.”

It took Regulus a few seconds to piece together James’s tone. It was so unfamiliar, so light and airy, but with a sharp twist to the ends of the words, like each hid a knife. He turned from his perch on the bench in the AstronomyTower to gaze at the older boy, a bit confused. “What?”

James fidgeted, knocking his knee against the stone of the wall, tapping his fingers on the denim of his leg, gnawing at his lip, his gaze narrowed and faraway. “Just…saw you two together. You looked…close.” Again, his words were clipped. Dipped in steel. So very not James-like.

“Yes,” Regulus replied hesitantly, still trying to discern the other boy’s true meaning. It was so very rare that he had to read between lines with James, that was what he liked about him. “He’s my best friend. We spend time together.”

“He had his arm around you.”

It was like an accusation, and Regulus had to resist the urge to laugh at the absurdity, because suddenly, it all made sense. “Are you–are you jealous, Potter?” he asked, realizing after his words burst out that he should’ve probably been a bit more sensitive about the situation. It was just insane to imagine. James Potter–confident, secure, loving, kind, obnoxious James Potter–was jealous.

The taller boy scoffed and sent him a smile that didn’t meet his eyes. “No. I just…wanted to know. I…you let me do that. The other night. Thought it was spec–that only I–that–” he pursed his lips and stood, arms crossed, back to Regulus. “It’s just good to know, is all.” His voice dripped hurt.

“Potter, I don’t want to snog Barty,” Regulus said flatly, deciding that he was not going to indulge the older boy with this any longer. 

Instantly, hazel eyes locked on Regulus, and it seemed that James forgot how to breathe. “But you want to–?”

“Yes,” he whispered, glad it was dark enough to hide his blush. “Once you get your head out of your arse, at least.”

Instantly, James relaxed, arms uncrossing as he sat back down. “Sorry,” he whispered, having the decency to look a bit mortified. “I just…fuck, I like you, Reg.”

Regulus smirked, a shiver shooting through his body. “Good.”

[despair-posting]

goodbye - @rosekillermicrofic - word count: 503

Barty lingered.

As Regulus, Pandora, and Dorcas all filed out of the compartment, dolling out hugs and well-wishes for the summer they were all dreading, Barty tried to think of every excuse possible to stay where he was. He tied and retied his shoes, rebuttoned the top button of his shirt, ran his fingers through his hair, relatched his trunk.

He just didn’t want to leave.

He wasn’t stupid or self-centered enough to think he’d been given the worst end of the deal. He knew Regulus was going back to hell on Earth. Evan and Pandora were returning to parents who ignored them. Dorcas, even, had to look after all her siblings while her grandparents worked two jobs.

But still…Barty couldn’t help but wish he was going with one of them. Any of them. He didn’t want to leave.

His throat felt blocked, his eyes pinched, his heart hammered erratically, and fuck, he couldn’t cry now. No when he was about to see his Father. Not when he had to be strong.

He sighed and took a breath, then turned to Evan, who was waiting for him.

For some reason, Evan always waited.

“Bye, Rosie,” he mumbled through a watery smile, fighting valiantly to make his voice normal. “Have a good summer, yeah?”

But Evan was looking around nervously, like a rabbit searching for prey. His eyes darted this way and that, his teeth chewing at his lips, his fingers twitching and twisting and then–

He stepped forward.

Pinning Barty to the (thankfully-covered) window of the compartment, he cupped his cheek and kissed him roughly, licking into his mouth, clashing their teeth together and ripping a moan from Barty before he could even realize what was happening.

But as soon as he did realize?

He snapped. 

Arms wrapping around the other boy, he returned the energy a hundredfold, arching his back up into him, losing himself in the moment, pouring all of his desperation and nerves and pent-up need into his movements. 

They kissed until their lungs were screaming for air.

Gasping, Evan pulled back, eyes wide and shocked, like he couldn’t believe they’d actually done that.

“What the fuck, Evan,” Barty breathed, but he spoke with wonder, not anger. His whole body was tingling pleasantly, and he’d completely forgotten about summer.

“I’ll see you,” the taller boy whispered, and it sounded like a promise. “Soon. I’ll see you soon, Bee. Don’t let that fucker get to you, alright?”

Head hazy, Barty nodded dumbly. “Alright.”

A giddy smile broke onto Evan’s face. “Alright,” he repeated, like he didn’t know what to say.

Barty chuckled a bit, smiling back. “Alright, Rosie. Melin, you look like you’ve just been confounded,” he teased, though he felt the same. 

“Might’ve been,” Evan murmured, smirking. “Fuck, Barty. Didn’t know you’d kiss back like that.”

And now, Barty couldn’t stop smiling. “Just wait to see what I do to you when we see each other in a few months,” he murmured, stepping out of the compartment with a chuckle.