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Regulus hates being pureblood. Well, no, he can't say that. He acknowledges that he is far above many people with his opportunities and wealth that was earned just by being born. But he hates the responsibility given to him to uphold his place as the youngest "daughter" of the Black family.
And right now, he curses his inability to correctly control his limbs. Sirius was always much better at dancing than him. Regulus, however, stopped dancing the moment his classes were no longer mandatory.
Which did him a shit ton of good now, that he's meant to be hosting a ball, to pick his new suitor.
The catch is that only a handful of approved men will be there. Most, if not all, are stuck-up snobs looking for their perfect little wife. Not a grown man stuck in the body of a woman. The best he supposes he can get is some repressed old bachelor with a kink for men's clothes and no urge to explore what that really means to him.
Better than staying with his parents to nurse them into old age.
At least this party gives him a semblance of a choice.
Though if he can't get the hang of this dance…
Well, he just needs to learn.
Regulus hears a laugh from the door. "Do you need a hand?"
Barty, the troublemaker. He has his usual mischievous smile on; he probably watched Regulus stumble over this god awful dress. Maybe he can convince his mother he lent it to Pandora. She would love it.
"Are you actually helping, or do you just want to laugh at my struggling?" He turns away to hide the small smile that crept on his face every time he saw his best friend.
There was nothing going on between them. Nothing they could put a name to, at least. Barty accepted Regulus as a man, treated him as such. Even when Regulus couldn't see how, in a dress and makeup, completely hating himself in the mirror, Barty would look at him and say, "What a pretty boy you are."
He supposed they were just… them. Best friends since childhood.
Yes, they kissed sometimes. Fooled around. Only meaningless words to hide the fact that Regulus' heart crawled out of his chest and took a spot next to Barty's own.
But they were each destined to be married off to the highest bidders, so nothing was ever really said. Just a quiet sadness as the day of this ball pulled closer.
"I had something to tell you, but it can wait. Of course I can help; do you think I'm just here to sit and look pretty?"
Well, he does look really pretty.
"Well, yeah—wait—no—"
Shit. Regulus wouldn't hear the end of this.
"Ah, no, too late for that." That mischievous grin back ten times over. "So you do think I'm pretty?"
Well, fuck it.
"Yes, you're pretty. Obviously. Do you need a bigger ego than you have already?"
He rolls his eyes with a small smile.
"No one can inflate my ego like you, baby."
They really hadn't done much dancing. Just stood there swaying to the music in the empty ballroom. Regulus' family had left for the day. Sirius hadn't lived there for a few months, opting to stay with his boyfriend and his mother.
They sway together closely. Dangerous things happened when they were this close.
Kissing and touching and fighting urges to leave marks, like a ghost screaming, here, I was here, I was once all that mattered, for a few short moments.
Regulus has to resist the urge to pull him in closer.
Barty has no such self control. He can be so soft when he wants to. He grips the hair at the nape of Regulus' neck, firmly but gently, to tilt his head back. Barty isn't much taller, but enough that Regulus has to tip toe to kiss him properly.
This time, Barty leans down, lissing Regulus deeply, taking charge in that comforting way he does. Regulus doesn't have to think, just lets Barty guide him walking backwards until his back hits the wall.
A huff of surprise leaves him, but Barty just kisses it away.
Regulus' hands are tangled in Barty's dyed dark brown hair. Barty grips Regulus' waist with one hand; the other falls down his side, asking for permission.
Barty pulls back, causing Regulus to whine. But Barty is good, too good in Regulus' opinion. Regulus doesn't mind being manhandled or told what to do. However, Barty always asks for permission first. In words, too. No, a nod is not sufficient. Regulus pulling off his own trousers is not enough either.
"Yes. Yes please. Just hurry up," Regulus sighs before Barty can even take a breath to ask.
"Bossy." he reprimands, "Alright then, Prince. Your wish is my command."
He swiftly drops to his knees, leaving Regulus flushed and breathing heavily. Barty pulls up the hem of Regulus' outfit, disappearing underneath.
"See, trousers are so much easier. No suffocating in fabric, just take them all off," Barty quips.
"Yet you beg me to suffocate you with my thighs" Regulus rolls his eyes, but quickly regrets (he regrets nothing) that when he feels a nip on his thigh, rougher than he expected. A whine leaves his lips.
"Mhm, yes. Well, can you blame me?"
Regulus would answer if he wasn't so preocupied by Barty teasing over his underwear with cold fingers.
Too gently. Regulus squirms, trying to convince Barty to hurry up and quit teasing him.
"Are you sure, baby?" No teasing lilt. Just that reassuring voice saved just for him.
"Yes. Yes." He said breathily like a chant that turned into a whine as Barty pushes into him.
Barty knew him better than anyone. His body too. Barty was the first and only person he ever felt close enough with. He had tried with another boy at school, but found himself almost in tears when that boy pulled down Regulus' trousers.
It really didn't take Barty long to bring him to the edge. His hands were enough, but his mouth was beyond anything Regulus had ever known. Who else would give him head this good while calling him a pretty boy?
Barty could tell when Regulus was on the edge, pressing firmer and caressing his thighs as Regulus climaxed.
Barty always left him seeing stars.
Regulus tries to catch his breath. He leans against the wall as Barty pulls back with a grin, wiping his mouth on the fabric of Regulus' dress.
"You whore! I can't gift this to Pandora if you're wiping come on it!"
Barty laughs. "I think I'm the least of your issues right now if youre worried about getting come on it." Regulus went impossibly more pink. Barty was good in bed, okay?
"We have accomplished nothing. And it's been almost 45 minutes." Regulus sighs.
"Shit! I have to go." Barty starts fixing his hair. "I'm sorry, prince, my father needs me."
"Leaving me like just a one night stand." Regulus sighs dramatically.
But Barty was caught up in trying to rush out.
However, he pulls Regulus in for one last kiss before he goes.
"I'll be at that ball, by the way. Convinced your parents myself. See, I'm not always such a fuckboy or whatever you want to call me. So? Lock me down, prince?"
Oh.
That's what Barty needed to tell him.
Well… maybe this ball would be okay.
"I will, then."
Barty turns to walk away, but Regulus could see his grin before he left.
They'd be alright.