Work Text:
Preface
It had been two months since Evan and Barty had broken up for the second time. Evan was determined to make it stick. He could not keep going back to Barty. It was embarrassing and Evan believed it inflated Barty’s ego to no end. The breakup allowed for excellent writing material. While he was writing, he stopped thinking about how it felt having Barty’s hands on him, but rather thought about how he pretended to like the wine Barty liked when they would hang out with Barty’s band: The Emeralds.
Don’t get Evan wrong, the Emeralds were amazing, but they were Barty’s friends. Breaking up meant that Pandora, Dorcas, and Marlene would not pay as much attention to Evan as they would when they were still dating. It’s not as though Evan minded. He had his own friends.
It was hard dating Barty. Everybody knew he was a bit of slut. The other thing was Evan's reputation. People loved Evan Rosier. He's been a pop-star since he was 17. He's 25 now and mother's still love him. The media mostly likes him. Most of all, teenage girls can not get enough of him. Evan was England's sweetheart since the moment he released deja vu eight years ago. His music had gotten a bit more mature as the years went on. Other men in the industry chided him for being so feminine. He was made fun of and harassed by older men for being gay. Some people on the internet called him a twink who cant sing, but the overall consensus was he was a sweetheart.
Then, Barty entered the picture. He was rash, impulsive, reckless, and the complete opposite of Evan and Evan's music. Barty was the bassist of a rock band called the Emeralds. They were explicit and wild on stage. They were everything.
It was clear that they were dating. Barty serenaded Evan at one of the Emeralds concert.
When news got out of their relationship, stan twitter went crazy. People were generally shocked that Barty decided to exclusively date. He just 'slept around' according to the Daily Prophet. Both fandoms confused at the thought of them. Evan was like an angel, Barty was not. It was a sight to see their pictures.
The end of their relationship was what prompted Evan to release Feather.
+*+*+
Oh, it's like that. I'm your dream come true when it's on a platter for you. Then you pull back, when I try to make plans more than two hours in advance, hmm~
Being with Barty was a constant push and pull experience for Evan. He felt loved and then he felt ignored. Evan knew he was hot, so he wasn't surprised when he heard how his name come out of Barty's mouth for the first time.
Barty was impulsive and spontaneous. He was never the guy to settle down and go to a dinner and a movie. Evan learned that quick. Evan liked that about Barty. Or so he thought. It was all fun and games when on a Thursday night Barty would ride over in his motorcycle to Evan's apartment and take Evan to a Metallica concert and fuck Evan against the bathroom stall. It was all fun and games when Evan would book a Paint and Sip just for Barty to text him 20 minutes before he was busy. It was so frustrating painting a bird drunk in a room full of couples, because your boyfriend decided getting a tattoo would be more important than their plans.
The problem was that Evan could not keep mad for too long. Evan tried ignoring Barty's texts after coming home with his shitty bird painting to see Barty at his doorstep a Dior scarf and a wrapped tattoo of a minimalist rose that Evan drew as a joke on a receipt of the wine he got that Barty likes. Evan could forgo the Paint and Sip for a Dior Scarf and a tattoo.
Would Barty even be interested in things that Evan likes? Why should Evan bring Barty to something he probably would like?
Regulus told Evan that's a toxic way of thinking. If Barty liked Evan he wouldn't make these plans and cancel and 'make it up'. If Barty liked Evan he would suck it up for an hour and paint a bluejay.
Evan ignored Regulus. He shouldn’t have. Regulus was one of those people who were always right, and it was so infuriating every time. Writing this song was like getting everything out that he kept in for the last year (on and off).
The name of the deluxe album name was decided: midnight: till dawn. He wishes he could see the look of shock that would be on Barty’s face when it would drop.
+*+*+
I slam the door, I hit ignore. I'm saying, no, no, no, no more. I got you blocked. After this, an afterthought. I finally cut you off~
The album was out. Now all Evan had to do was wait for a reaction, or text, or call, or something. He didn't even know if Barty still kept up with Evan. He wondered if he was being instagram stalked or if Barty looked up Evan's name on twitter. Evan could never block him. Regulus once took his phone and blocked Barty on his private Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and went as far to delete Barty's number from his phone. It didn't work though. Evan had memorized Barty's number. It was a problem.
Barty loved Evan too. No one could dispute that. He was head over heels in love with Evan. He was just so terrible at being a boyfriend. It made Evan sad to think of Barty this much. He really loved him. Evan wished that he didn't find himself thinking about how he wished that Barty was on his couch watching a Hallmark movie with him in July commenting on how this could never happen. He wished he didn't think about that time he and Barty went Spain randomly and got yelled at by a nun for kissing. He wished he didn't think about smoking on the rooftop of the Ritz-Carlton.
Evan was staying there for a couple of nights for some event. Barty had snuck into the hotel and took whisked Evan to the rooftop to smoke. They had just started talking to each other and Barty had appeared out of thin air. They were talking about cats and then all of a sudden Barty was forcing his was into Evan's hotel room. He had 2 packs of cigarettes. He had a pack of Evan's favorite cigarettes and his own. They went up to the rooftop which isn't even allowed and stood there smoking. They had their first kiss there, until a security guard saw them and forced them back down. He kicked Barty out of the hotel. It didn't matter though. Barty had this goofy smile on his face. He was with Evan and everything stopped to matter.
That was enough reminiscing for Evan. He had to stay strong. He had just wrote a whole song about how he was over Barty after all. He forced himself to stop thinking about it by calling Regulus.
"Why are you calling right now. Its 12:30. Have you no sense of time?" Regulus screeches with a pink face mask on his face, making him devoid of any intimidation.
"Never a 'hi'. Never a 'How are you doing Evan?' Stop being so pissy. I know you're on tiktok watching clips of James Potter. You don't even like football." Evan says acting exasperated.
"Oh fuck off. So, why are you calling?" Regulus says sitting up and turning the light on in his room.
"I'm trying to get my mind off of him." Evan knew he was about to be lectured.
"Oh my God Evan. I don't understand how you are still in love with him. He was a dick. I don't care if he was so utterly in love with you that he couldn't breathe. he treated you terribly. He cancelled so many plans with no explanation. He left you crying more times than I imagine you told me. I know he was in love with you, but he was a terrible boyfriend." Regulus says with a crease forming in between his eyebrows.
"I know, I know. I just miss him."
"Well stop."
"Im trying. I wrote a whole fucking song about it."
"Maybe you should listen to yourself for once."
"Yeah I know. Ugh! I miss him. He was a dick but lord, his dick."
"Ew, Evan I DO NOT want to hear that." Regulus pretends to throw up. Evan is laughing.
"You don't want to hear about how he would bite my ear-" Evan says purposefully provoking Regulus
"LALALALALALALA I will end the call if you continue." Regulus says while wincing.
"Fine be boring."
"Fuck off."
They talk about their lives and how Regulus is stressing about his designs for Paris Fashion Week. His assistants are all incompetent. They were talking about Bake Off when Evan's phone buzzes with a contact that hasn't been sending messages for a while.
"Regulus HE just texted."
"No way. Evan if you're lying to me I will never design anything for you to wear."
"I'm serious. Should I open it?" Evan is biting his bottom lip out of anxiety.
"Do you have your read receipts on?"
"Fuck no."
"Okay open it and read it out loud." Regulus instructs with that dark glint in his eye.
Evan opens the conversation
bee 🐝
hey
are we good
"He asked, 'hey are we good.' Like what am i supposed to even say to that?" Evan feels frustrated.
"Fucking idiot. Okay wait. Send him '???" I know it's dry but he'll have to say something," Regulus says concentrated.
"But, I don't text like that." Evan says with a slight frown.
"What about 'what are u talking about.' he'll have to explain."
"Yeah, I like that. Should I wait, or just send it."
"Send it."
bee 🐝
hey
are we good
what are u talking about?
the song 😭
"Regulus, he's responding way too quickly."
"Just answer his question vaguely?"
"Okay."
bee 🐝
hey
are we good
what are u talking about?
the song 😭
which one?
you know the one
no i dont
can you tell me
like idek what you're talking abt rn
congratulations on the album release
thanks
but why did you text
ev
Barty
you know why i texted
if i did i wouldn't be asking
either respond or fuck off
Seen
"He left me on fucking seen. Was I too harsh?"
"You weren't mean enough."
"Ughhh, he typing."
bee 🐝
if i did i wouldn't be asking
either respond or fuck off
feather
i'm talking about feather
what about it
i'm sorry
i know its about us
and i'm sorry
are u on something
what
are u fucking on something
no?
stop texting me
what
huh
what
yeah
i'm not doing this
we're done barty
did you forget that
get it through your thick head
evan
please don't be like this
i said i'm sorry
i still don't know why you're saying that
for the song?
its not about you
yeah okay
are you done
bc i really want to get back to watching bake off
evan
i don't know what you want from me
i want you
i don't
rose
please
good bye
i'm watching bake off
fuck off
Evan was crying
"Evie, that was great. You finally did it. You cut him off."
"Then, why do I feel like shit."
"Ev, its okay. Don't worry, by next month it won't feel like this. You'll be on tour. It will be fine."
"Yeah it will. I hope Matty wins bake off."
"I was hoping for Tasha. Now stop crying"
"You have to get lunch tomorrow."
"Yeah. Indian?" Regulus suggests
"Always."
+*+*+
Like a feather, like a feather, like a feather, yeah. I'm so sorry for your loss
He was performing in Wembley for seventh and final show of the residency. He booked a 7 night residency at fucking Wembley Stadium. It was insane feeling. Seven nights sold out. Each night he had a different outfit and 3 surprise song. Tonight his outfit was inspired by Ginger Spice. His favorite concert outfit was the sparkly corset top with the heart cut out and the matching shorts. Regulus made all of his outfits, obviously. Tonight he had changed the corset top to have the Union Jack on it like Ginger Spice. It was a seamless switch between the top and the matching shorts. It was perfect. He was so excited. The show was quite long. He had 5 surprise songs tonight.
He wrote the setlist down with scratchy handwriting the night before:
1. brutal
2. all american bitch
3. get him back!
4. bad idea right!
5. rush
6. august
7. traitor
8. deja vu
9. because i liked a boy
10. the 1
11. hits different
12. red
13. the great war
14. lavender haze
15. now that we don't talk
16. is it over now
17. i wish you would
18. karma
** Surprise Songs **
19. cornelia street
20. dancing with our hands tied
21. happier
22. seven (with Regulus)
23. london boy (london only, does not count)
24. supercut
** Closers **
25. new romantics
26. feather
27. nonsense
It was a perfect setlist for a perfect night. He was going to see Regulus after two months and force him to come up and sing london boy with him. Evan hadn't felt this happy in a while. It felt nice. He saw his manager walking over to him with a slight frown.
"What's wrong, Lily?"
"You haven't heard."
"You're scaring me."
"He's here." Lily says in anger.
"What." Evan does not know what to do.
"The Emeralds are here."
"What the actual fuck."
"We moved them to the VIP tent, sorry Evan." Lily seems genuinely remorseful.
"It's fine Lily. I'm just going to be even better."
"Oh Evan, I know you will." She smiles at him
How he felt a burning hate for Barty at this moment. It didn't matter. There were thousands of people in that crowd who were there for him. Just him. He would be damned if he didnt put a good performance for them. So he was going to go out there and put the best performance of his life.
The countdown was ticking. Everyones wristband were dark. The stadium had a dark green lights shining over the stage, but it was still dark enough not to reveal yet. The music for brutal started playing. The lights starts to illuminate Every band member. The the dark red lights come onto Evan. The stadium goes crazy before he can even utter the 5 words to start off the concert and then brutal.
"God it's brutal out here!" People are yelling louder and louder for Evan, or the new outfit he can't tell. He gets through brutal and ballad of a homeschool girl before he introduces himself.
"Hello London! You all have been so patient for me, like an aunt you want to leave. I'm joking, I'm joking. Seriously though, I am so grateful to be playing Wembley for seven nights. It feels absolutely insane. In honor of that I've got a new outfit on. I'm not sure if you realized or not. Sorry, sorry. I had to do it." He can barely speak without the crown going crazy
"Let me introduce the lovely band who are here with me for only for these seven nights. I know how sad. We have the incredible Peter Pettigrew on drums tonight. Give it up for him."
"On guitar, none other than the parasite throughout my childhood Sirius Black! I love him, i guess." Sirius flips him off with a smile.
Sirius and Regulus were basically the only family Evan had. He was so proud when Sirius and Regulus left their parents.
"And on Bass, the hottest man I've ever seen in my life. Please don't kill me Sirius. I'm Sorry. Give it up for the Casanova Remus John Lupin!" Evan walks over to Remus, and bats his eyelashes. He wasn't actually into Remus, it was just funny to see Sirius squirm. Remus winks and laughs. Sirius flips Evan off again.
"We have a great show for you tonight, and a few surprises! And as always, Hi, I'm Evan, and welcome to the Excuse me, i love you Tour!" Evan was ecstatic and then he glanced over to the VIP tent where he saw Barty look directly at him. Evan's breath hitched as they made eye contact.
He has fun as he's performing. He definitely singing get him back! in Barty's direction. He sings rush near Remus to piss Sirius off. He sneaks a glance at Barty, and it is clear Barty is pissed. Evan smirks at that. It gets awkward when he starts singing traitor, deja vu, the 1, and because i liked a boy. He feels self conscious because Barty is in the crowd. He sings those 4 with his guitar. He and Regulus decorated it before tour started. It was hard not look at Barty. When Evan looked, he saw guilt splattered all over Barty's face.
He tears up a bit during red and the great war, but stops himself, because the setlist switches to fun songs again. He stares directly at Barty during the part in now that we don't talk where he sings, 'i don't have to pretend I like acid rock.'
Its surprise song time.
"I know you all are excited for this. Surprise Song time!! Woohoo, I know right. I was thinking that if you want, only if you want, I perform five surprise songs tonight. What do you think." There is an overwhelming amount of cheers.
"No?" Evan laughs
"I'm joking, i have a cute pink guitar for this first one."
The opening for Cornelia Street starts playing. He starts singing, and with the cheers, he can barely hear himself. He feels like crying right now. He starts to sing dancing with our hands tied. He cries during happier. He's only human.
"I've played this song every night. It was hard at first, but I've started to associate this song with city rather than a person. i've lived in London my entire life. There's no where else I'd want to be." He played london boy with more happiness than ever. The song had this aftertaste of Barty. He probably shouldn't have called him out life.
"I found my family here. It's no secret how my relationship with my family is, but I've found people. People who get me. People who understand who I am, and love me for it. Love should be unconditional. I know I fuck with Sirius a lot but Sirius is my sibling, not by blood but that's not what family is. There was one person who truly saved my life: Regulus Black. We grew up with each other. We helped each other. So, I'd like you to welcome Regulus Black to the stage for seven."
That was more emotional than he wanted. Him and Reg looked great though. He sang Supercut after with Reg still on stage. He said goodbye to Regulus with a small hug and then performed New Romantics.
Now it was feather. The song he refused to admit to Barty it was about him. He moved a bit more seductively to the song than he usually did. He moved his him about more. During the 'i slam the door i hit ignore' part he went down a bit further with more of an arch. He would make Barty repent for his actions.
“Excited to never talk. London, scream it with me. I’m so sorry for your loss!” Evan sings with a smirk.
He continues through feather being a bit sassier as he finishes. He knows he’s going to see tiktoks about this tomorrow.
“This song catchier than chickenpox is. I bet your house is where my other sock is. Woke up this morning, thought I'd write a pop hit. How quickly can you take your clothes off pop quiz?” He’s at the outro of nonsense and feels the need to be a little spiteful.
“I just wanna snog and do some shagging.”
”You can call me a slut if the shoe fits.” He sings the first line and pauses. He’s not sure how he’s going about this. As the crowd cheers, something in him switches.
“These songs are not about Barty Crouch Jr.” His eyes drift over to Barty in the VIP tent with his jaw dropped, and Regulus laughing at him while giving Evan a thumbs up.
Evan leaves it at that
“Thank You and Good Night London. I love you always!”
Evan is scared of what’s going to happen after. He leaves as quick as possible. The band, Regulus, Evan, and James Potter (?) are over at Regulus's apartment. Its a very random group of people. Evan loves it. He wishes Barty and the rest of the Emeralds were there. In a perfect world it would happen. In a perfect world Barty and him would be perfect. In a perfect world they would get drenched in the rain and run back to their shared apartment to watch a Colin Firth movie and order Korean food. In a perfect world Barty would be beside him. In a perfect world Barty would still love Evan. In a perfect world Evan wouldn't have to lie that he didn't still love Barty.
He goes home shortly after. He talks a walk around his neighborhood before entering. It's raining. Through the rain he seems a man is a long brown coat with no umbrella. His messy hair drenched. He has flowers and a small Dior box. Fuck.
Evan walks over. It's two AM.
"You cant be here, Barty." Evan says not being able to meet Barty's eyes. He feels like a petulant child. He curses the 3 inches Barty has on him.
"Evan, please."
"What Barty. What." Evan says with a bit of frustration.
"I'm sorry Evan."
"Barty, move I need to go home."
"Evan. Please believe me. I need you."
"Barty."
"Evan. I need you more than words can describe."
"Barty."
"I can't live without you."
"Barty!" Evan yells
"Evan."
"I can't be with you.."
"Why?"
"We just don't fit together. You can't give me what I want."
"Who said that?" Barty says with a frown.
"No one. I just know."
"So you know everything?"
"No, I don't mean it like that. You know that."
"Evan tell me. Speak to me."
"Barty."
"I'll do anything. I'll change what you don't like about me. I just wanna be yours." Barty is begging on his knees for Evan.
"I want a boyfriend, Barty. I want someone who I can watch shitty movies with, go to a cooking class with, or go to dinner with. I can't do this on-off thing. I need a boyfriend. That's not your thing. I know that." Evan says peering up at Barty who had gotten up
"Now you sound like Rory Gilmore speaking to Logan. If that's what you want I can do it."
"Barty."
"No, don't tell me what I am able to do. Give me another chance please."
"Fine."
"What." Barty blinks and looks at Evan with big brown eyes. Barty cups Evan cheek and leans down and kisses him in the most tender way possible.
"Come in."
"Really?" Barty's still in disbelief
"Yeah, you look like a wet cat."
"Awww. You think I look like a cat."
"Fuck of Bee."
"Oh. Regulus is going to be so pissed I'm back."
"Oh for sure. You're like mold. You keep coming back"
"Wanna watch Legally Blonde."
"Always."
The watch legally blonde on the couch. One of the best movies of all time according to Barty.
"You looked really good tonight, Ev."
"Fuck yeah I did."
Barty laughs and kisses Evan's cheek
"Hey Bee."
"Yeah, Rose."
"Those songs were definitely about you."
Barty smiles
"I love being yours Rosy."