Work Text:
“Of all the people to do makeup on, why me?”
Barry's hand around the makeup brush froze slightly, before he softened back into that same gentle expression he always wore.
Reggie looked at him, eyes slightly narrowed, resisting the urge to say something witty as he awaited his answer.
Barry clicked his tongue slightly, tilting his head and then dipping his brush into something as he thought of an answer.
“Well, everyone around here is just a bit wary of you. But I suppose I always…saw something admirable. Specifically about the way you dress.” He said simply. “I mean simply, you're gorgeous.”
Reggie didn't reply at first, eyes still narrowed. Perhaps he was gouging out whether or not Barry was telling the truth, or just trying to flatter him. It wasn't the first time Barry felt like he was being analyzed, but the truth was he really wasn't lying. And even Reggie must have known that, because his skepticism slowly died down and he twirled some hair over his finger.
“Mm, I know.” Reggie stated. Barry didn't look annoyed, he just laughed.
There was another dull silence, one where Reggie let himself realize that he could be doing anything better right now. He could be annoying Dorian, or Skylar. Or he could be watching Dirk and Harper fight, one of his favorite pastimes.
But no, he was here, in this chair as Barry put more makeup on him than he usually wears. Reggie wasn't a stranger to beauty, of course. He wore makeup, much more than some of the other males in the house. But when Barry had approached him and asked, Reggie was ready to tell him to fuck off.
Except he didn't. Obviously, because now he was stuck in this chair. Nothing was stopping him from getting up of course. He knew how fragile Barry was, how all he needed was one perfectly placed insult and he could totally stride right out of this room. It wouldn't be a new idea, so why the hell hadn't Reggie done so yet?
Barry moved over to eyeshadow, picking up the applicator and shifting his already soft gaze to Reggie. “Could you…close your eyes for me dear?”
His tongue was already moving, already ready to tell the man hell no. Why should he listen? Why should he even care about the feelings of some goddamn walking Sephora? Did Barry just expect him to bend over backwards and listen to what he asks? Cute.
Reggie closes his eyes.
He grits his teeth silently, letting Barry run the eyeshadow over his eyelids as he deals with his own inner turmoil. Why the hell hasn't he snapped yet? Gotten up and ditched this sorry excuse of some bonding time. He can practically feel Amir somewhere around here, probably marveling at how civil Reggie is acting. God, if Scandalabra hears about this he'll smash every object in this damn house.
Eventually, Reggie opens his eyes again, and looks briefly in the mirror. The truth is, he does look good. Barry isn't using light, more saturated colors on him, but more dimmed shades. It's just like how Reggie usually does his makeup, and it looks good on him, he'll have to give him that.
Reggie tries to regain control. “So I guess I'm not that gorgeous, if makeup seemed like a must.” He says, knowing it'll immediately get to Barry’s head. And he's right, because the man moves his brush away from Reggie’s face like he just got burned.
“Oh- no, no darling that's not what I meant! I…” He stammers for words, and Reggie revels in the panic for a second.
Just then he swears he can see a glint from the mirror. The sink creaks slightly. Reggie sighs as he looks up at Barry, pursing his lips together. He really shouldn't care, this is really funny after all. But…
“I'm just joking, dummy.” Reggie says, betraying his standards just for a second. “I'm already breathtaking, we all know it. Makeup’s just a bonus.”
Barry blinked, stared at him a moment longer than he should, and then relaxed. “Oh…yes. Yes you are.” He laughed softly, still a bit nervous.
He went over to reach for another product, and his hand froze for a second. Barry stared at the counter for a second, before closing his eyes.
Reggie tried to bite back his curiosity, but alas, for some reason he was acting like a decent being today. “Uh, Barry?”
Barry didn't reply for a second, before he sighed softly. He turned to Reggie, tucking the brush in his hand back in his collar. “I'm…I'm sorry Reggie. I'm in over my head today, all jumbled up.” He frowns. “I can't even remember which shade I wanted you to wear originally.”
Barry turns to Reggie, closing his makeup bag. “You can go now.” He says softly.
There it was. His escape. Reggie could go now, and not feel guilty about it at all. Not that he'd feel guilty in the first place.
But Reggie just sighs, and places his chin on his hand. “Barry, I really don't care how long you take.” Lie? Maybe. “In all honesty, you're way more tolerable than anybody here. If anyone else had asked me to do something with them, I’d flat out refuse.”
That part wasn't a lie. Reggie hated everyone for everything, and Barry wasn't an exception. But regardless, he's one of the few in the household that didn't make it a point to hate Reggie back. Or annoy him.
Barry looks hesitant, looking away slightly. “Your makeup is already amazing, I really shouldn't have insisted.” He murmurs, eliciting a small groan out of Reggie.
“Honey, just do my makeup already. I don't mind, alright?” Reggie urged. “I'm way too bored to care anyways.”
That seems to relax Barry slightly, and he reaches for his makeup once more. The bathroom seems to fall silent again, and maybe Reggie can feel the eyes of the others off of him. Maybe they were never there to begin with, and he's just paranoid.
“I think I get it." Barry murmurs, as he finishes Reggie's look. “Hating others. I’ve gotten my heart stomped on so many times in the past by trusting people, and then annoying them. It would have just been easier to…never have spoken to them.”
Barry closes the compact he's holding finally and spins Reggie around, solemn smile on his face. “I think the main reason I wanted to do this with you was because I knew you hated me anyway.” He admitted.
Reggie looked at his face, at the soft touch ups at some parts of his face and jagged edges at others. It looked…good. Really good. Even Reggie couldn't find much to hate.
He looks up at Barry.
“I think I hate you the least.” He mumbled, almost like he didn't want Barry to hear it. Reggie was dumbfounded, shocked he was hearing himself be so nice. Up until now, he would have crushed Barry out in the open any chance he got. But right now…something felt different. He didn't exactly know what.
But Barry fell into a warm smile. Still slightly worried, but more relaxed. “I'm glad.” He replied quietly.
Reggie looked back in the mirror, and for some reason his heart didn't curl up at the sight of himself.
“Next time I come over, you better be free.” He said simply, as if he wasn't openly admitting to wanting to spend more time with Barry.
The makeup artist smiled brighter this time, worries slowly fading away. “I'll try.” He whispers.