High school AU open post

[standsonhigh]

Because we can. And we will. So there.

[Will insert awesome and relevant tensimm gif when I find one. Honest.]

Comments

[liquidsky]

Ah. Wonderful. Barty kicked the boy curled up in front of him lightly in the ribs.

"You're blocking my door." He didn't sound annoyed, at least, since it was fairly obvious that the other wasn't here by choice. His hair was wet, his face was bruised and his hands had been tied to the door handle using his own tie. Someone had written 'For Tom' on his forehead with rather crude handwriting, but maybe he'd still been struggling at the time. Definitely out of it now, though.

"Do yourself a favour and wake up." Preferably before Tom actually got back.

[standsonhigh]

Everything was exceptionally blurry. The last thing he remembered was being in the boys bathroom when someone had thrown him into the nearest stall and he was fairly sure he'd been beaten and probably got a face full of toilet. Always a charming thought, it at least explained why his shirt felt wet. Another shirt ruined then, not just by blood but by ... well, he didn't want to think on it. The rest was one very swift mess of him resisting a gang of boys who were determined to humiliate him.

Mission accomplished. Koschei could say, for certain, this was the most embarrassed he'd been for a very long time.

He mumbled something inarticulate, a mix between a moan of pain and a curse of anger. Then struggled anew, trying to free his hands from the handle he'd been tied to. He refused to be some gift for Tom, he wouldn't stoop to that level. The more he tried for freedom, the less he actually got free, and the angrier he got. "Untie me, you moron! This isn't funny!"

[liquidsky]

There was really nothing Koschei could have done to avoid this. As soon as they saw him come out of the school building, they pretty much literally hounded him. Ten boys, all quite a bit bigger and clearly much happier with the situation, surrounding him and grabbing at him to pull him along.

"You're just who we needed, Koschei," Rodolphus told him while placing a heavy arm on his shoulder. "You can help raise our team's morale. Aren't you happy?"

He ruffled his hair, since when one was being a git, one might as well go all out, and then let go of him as they arrived on the soccer field, near one of the goals. "Take off your jacket."

"Trousers, too," someone else added from the side.

[standsonhigh]

No, not again, he couldn't do that again. Koschei knew he wasn't just outnumbered but out matched, it made his stomach drop just to think about it. Last time this had happened, he'd been younger and weaker, he thought it would honestly never happen to him again. Despite the horrible feeling inside, he refused to let this happen again.

He wasn't just going to stand here and let them make an idiot out of him.

"No," he said defiantly, keeping his face as neutral as he could, glaring at Rodolphus. Such a sadistic little bastard, he was going to get him first. "I'm not taking anything off. Just go away and bother someone else."

Christ sake, it was freezing out! He wasn't going to be stripped on the football field again.

[liquidsky]

"Leave him alone, Rodolphus."

"What is he, Crouch? Your pet?"

"No." Barty shrugged. "If anything, you'd be my pet. He's not nearly obedient enough. You, on the other hand..."

He trailed off and let the other boy glare at him, just watching him with an empty look on his face and knowing that there was something about him Rodolphus found unsettling. Everyone did. Plus, he was Tom's roommate and ultimately Rodolphus wasn't sure where he really stood if it came down to it, above or below him. So he shrugged as if he'd just lost interest and turned away, mouthing 'Later.' to Koschei before turning around the corner.

"I'd really love to see him in jail. I imagine he might make a decent bitch." He turned to Koschei and inspected him for a moment. "Look at you, all dressed and without writing on your face. Changing your style?"

[standsonhigh]

Koschei sighed as he adjusted his jacket, pulling away from the corner he'd been shoved in. They'd gone easy on him since the field, not physically hitting him while all the bruises faded. Now they were distant marks, the game was back on and he knew it was going to get much worse. Especially since he'd provoked Rodolphus worse than ever. It was a relief to remain unbruised for a day.

"I was going for a new look, something I'm better suited to. You know, together and well dressed. The beaten down miserable worm look never did work for me," Koschei said with an edge of self loathing, knowing full well how bad things were for him these days. Didn't mean he'd always be on the bottom, not if he had any say. He didn't need followers or helpers, he would ruin Tom by his own cunning.

It hurt his pride just to have Barty defending him, even if he did appreciate the break from torment for a little while.

"Well, there you go, you got to play hero again. How fun. Now go away, would you? I'm a little busy," Koschei lied, holding himself with an air of dignity, despite the fact that his jaw was still a little purplely, he looked very exhausted and he really didn't have the height to make this whole thing work well. How did Tom do it? He needed to start walking like he did.

Ridiculous Plot Device

[liquidsky]

Barty saw how two boys closed in on Koschei and pulled him along, through the dancing crowd. With a frown he made his way there, not even surprised to find them stopping in front of Tom, who was holding a full glass.

"Evening, Koschei." So polite, but Tom usually was. He looked at Barty for a moment, but said nothing, just focusing on Koschei again. "Do you have something to tell me?"

He held the still full glass out to Barty, who took it from him after some hesitation, clearly confused. "What's the matter, Tom?" He kept his voice down, not actually fancying a scene.

[standsonhigh]

Usually Koschei would be more afraid in these moments, perhaps a little more panicked and worried. But he stood there, dumb grin on his face and pupils diluted beyond reason. After a rather nasty beating he suffered in the changing rooms after gym today, he decided he needed a little pick me up to go to this dance and keep Theta company.

And hey, why not share the wealth? Give Tom a little taste of bliss as well.

"Anything to tell you?" Koschei pretended to ponder this question before clicking his fingers as if he got the answer. "Oh, yes, of course. Your suit look really cheap. I get you're an orphan but couldn't one of your lapdogs get you something better? Westwood had a sale last week."

He knew he wouldn't get away with that one and he was pretty such Barty was about to get himself into some trouble but hey, it's a party. They always needed drama.

[liquidsky]

Just as he'd been promised, that little interlude in the bathroom was only the first part. The next day, after classes, there was a considerable number of boys all too eager to walk with Koschei around the lake.

"So. Stripping or being stripped?" What beautiful choices.

[standsonhigh]

"Has Tom run out of ideas or do you guys just get super turned on by stripping me? I get it, I have a pretty nice body. But it's starting to get a little old," Koschei teased, defiantly making a move to button up his jacket just to make a point. He'd spent as long as he could trying to avoid this lot and they still found him. Hours hiding in the library for no reason.

He didn't want to lose his clothes, not again, but he couldn't let it show that this was starting to get to him. "I'm not stripping for any of you."

[liquidsky]

At dinner the next day everything was deceptively normal. Eating at the various tables, people sitting next to each other as they tended to, Theta informing Koschei that tonight it wasn't raining and didn't he want to go stargazing with him, he was sure Rose didn't mind, because romance was mostly still a shiny but foreign concept to him.

Meanwhile Barty felt like in primary school, when secret friendships had been more of a norm. But this was different. Exhilarating and wonderful and, well, he had a crush and it felt pretty great. Even though he logically knew just how fucked up everything about them was, he couldn't quite bring himself to fret today.

That was until Tom suddenly reached for his hand and held it and he felt like a deer in the headlight. Tom didn't touch people, as a general rule. Not ever casually. Barty would know, he had been waiting for his touches for a long time. So he froze now, eyes a bit too wide. There was still the fact that this was Tom, brilliant, charismatic, beautiful, aloof Tom. But then there were the things he'd done and then, of course there was the fact that right at this moment Tom wasn't looking at him. He was looking at Koschei. Provoking him.

[standsonhigh]

"No, for the last time, I don't want to go. We keep having this discussion and I don't know how many more times I can say no," Koschei protested, prodding his food. He'd made a pretty good recovery, considering everything, but he still looked rather pale and ill after everything. His home-room teacher had dragged him aside today to ask if he wanted to say anything, clearly having heard some 'rumours' off the other students. Koschei suspect Rose had told but she was damn lucky that he could lie well. Or try to lie well anyway.

He just claimed he had a bit of an upset stomach. And he'd tied his tie to tight thus cutting into his neck, leaving it bruised. And he walked into a wall. A barrage of useless excuses that no one brought but hell, his teacher didn't question him. She just looked disapproving and walked away.

Head in his hands as Theta continued, he looked over at Barty, chancing a look. Koschei didn't want to see them, he really didn't, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't think it'd be so bad but instead of catching Barty's eyes, he caught Tom's. The little bastard, he was holding Barty's hand. Gritting his teeth, Koschei didn't look away, he kept eye contact in a challenging manner. He wasn't going to just look away like a beaten down dog.

[liquidsky]

Killing Tom, ultimately, had been easier than expected. He'd made it look like an accident and no one but Koschei ever found out that it had really been him. Koschei's reaction had been the final nail in the coffin of their relationship, never really started. Weird enough for someone who'd been wanting Tom for so long, he suddenly realized that he didn't want to be with someone this unhinged. This unpredictable. It scared him and he had never taken well to being scared.

Breaking up with him still hadn't been easy, because despite everything, he wanted to be with him. He wanted all the sappy stuff and everything else and the thought of Koschei with anyone else made him sick. It really didn't help that Koschei, after the initial anger, started ignoring him completely. Made the thought that perhaps it had always just been a way to get to Tom. Which had worked like a charm.

Now there was nothing. He might as well not exist. Life sucked.

[standsonhigh]

Koschei had thought Tom dying would of changed everything, that with him out of the way he could be king of this sad little school. Well, you know, he was very sadly mistaken. No matter how much he tried, there was still an army of boys that hated him and others naturally drifted into Tom's old role to fill in, none really willing to listen to the runty kid Tom had hated. Fortunately, Koschei found that without Tom, they concentrated their hate on other people and he slipped under the cracks more.

It was shocking how much spare time he had now without being beaten, tormented and jumped.

And, sadly, that spare time couldn't be used for what he wanted. It couldn't be used to spend time with Barty or be with him like he'd wanted to. Bastard had just tossed him aside after stealing Koschei moment of glory. And now look at him, alone and miserable, stuck spending his nights with Theta and his girlfriend and his days in the library.

Every time he walked through the hall and saw Barty, he'd try to get passed him without a work, dead cold silence as his response. Like today, when he slipped passed the boy, defiantly pretending he wasn't there.

DIFFERENT AU

[liquidsky]

School ended early today, which was good news over all. Barty figured he could hang out with some people or find something else to do, given he could make it out of school before running into Koschei, who might mess those plans up.

Sometimes he was undecided over what he hated most about Koschei, but overall he was pretty sure that it was the fact that he still found him attractive. He couldn't help it and his body could even less. Granted, it'd not keep him from messing the boy up if he ever got a chance, but it definitely made him hate everything about this even more.

[standsonhigh]

"Hello Barty," Koschei declared as he appeared beside Barty as if by magic, grinning at his latest 'friend'. Well, he didn't ever like to make friends the conventional means, he liked something a little different and out there. Dependency, conquest or blackmail. They were always so much more fun than potential bonding and mutual interest. That hadn't worked for him before anyway.

"Want to do something? Let's go to the park. Or something. I don't know, I'm bored," he lamented loudly, grinning at the other boy. It was his job to amuse him. As long as he doesn't want anyone to know his secret, he'd play along. That was the beauty of these kind of friends, they had no freewill.

[liquidsky]

"Hey, I brought you coffee the way you like it." Barty kicked the door shut behind himself, taking a sip from his coffee as he took of his shoes and then made his way further into their flat, looking for his boyfriend, who might be hiding out anywhere and not up to responding.

"Though I've no idea how you can like something like that, it's more sugar than anything. Koschei? Where're you, love?"

[standsonhigh]

Koschei was in the bedroom, sitting on the floor and watching the TV with great disinterest. The cartoons on weren't the ones he liked and he was drowning in the boredom he was suffering this morning. He missed having a job or an excuse to go out, the longer he was inside, the more they plotted against him. They were probably sitting in their office, plotting his professional downfall. Bastards.

Looking up at Barty when he came in, Koschei silently held his hand out, not in the mood to talk much lately. He hadn't really done anything for the past two days. He'd hadn't shaved nor even bothered to make conversation or get up from his spot by the bed. Not on it, like normal, on the floor. He'd just been watching. Watching and listening.

Taking a sip of his coffee, he finally decided to speak. "I think we should install new locks."

[liquidsky]

"Koschei?" Barty tried to say the name loud enough Koschei would be able to hear him over the music and whatever sound was going on in his head. He'd never much cared for loud music and he was starting to hate it. His whole body resounded with the beat and the fact that he had some bruising and the like didn't really help matters. It was actually starting to hurt.

"Hey, Koschei. I need the keys." Stating it as casually as he could make himself, he hoped it would be alright. He could pretend that it wasn't crazy that he couldn't leave the flat without asking. And who knew, maybe Koschei would just hand them over.

[standsonhigh]

The noise was getting complaints from next door, the landlord kept issuing them with warnings, but the noise went over the drums and helped him to cope a little better. Not well, just a little better. Koschei sat on the floor in a scraggy old hoodie he hadn't worn since he was nineteen, eyes closed, simply listening to the mixed array of sounds that made his head hurt so horribly. Like self torture of the oddest kind.

He heard his name being called and he didn't stir at first but the mention of the keys made his eyes fly open, turning around and giving Barty a look that showed how much he didn't trust him. Tentatively, he held up the remote he was using to control the radio and turned it down so they could talk properly. "Go where? Why? Why are you leaving the house again? You went out yesterday."

Or was it yesterday last week? Or something. He couldn't even remember. All days blurred into one since he lost his job.

[liquidsky]

To be honest, he hadn't planned on not going back. He didn't really plan ahead, either. He had no idea where to go from here, even after he'd paid for the cheap hotel, even after he'd finished his sandwich and was staring at the television. He had no idea where to go and what to do and he kept thinking about Koschei. Worrying about Koschei.

Not that different from being home, really. It was almost a relief when the phone rang and Barty picked up at the second ring.

"Yeah?"

[standsonhigh]

He said an hour. He lied. It had been over five hours when Koschei started to worry, then it reached eight and he damn well panicked. As it started to go dark, Koschei finally stopped lashing out at Barty's stuff and opted for phoning him. He'd almost forgotten about phones! His had been locked away, uncharged and unused. He ignoring all the messages left by his parents, endless concerned texts and miscalls. Koschei just needed to find Barty.

Once he had him back, it'd be okay. He'd lock them in forever and he'd never be left again.

When the phone picked up, Koschei didn't even hesitate. "Where are you?!"

[liquidsky]

It was coming up on midnight by the time Barty got out of the Black's place. His parents were still in there, but he had gotten an 'early' leave and jumped on the opportunity, even if it meant time with Koschei. He pulled out his phone and called Koschei, figuring he'd better check he even still wanted him to come over. He could also bring the booze tomorrow or some other time, after all.

[standsonhigh]

Koschei had gotten bored around 8pm tonight, researched for three hours on the Black household and where it was based on a swift hacking of the schools records and some google earth action, then eventually decided to check it out. Never give a technological genius a reason to stalk. Koschei did't really have any better plans tonight, he just wanted to see what his competition looked like. Yes, Black was now an enemy, a rival, someone who was ruining his plans.

So when Barty rang his phone, the theme started playing about a few feet from him. And there, just down the road, inspecting their mailbox with a frown, was Koschei.

Some point after living together.

[liquidsky]

There had been a time when he'd practically lived for Tom, not entirely by choice but close enough, and in dreams, where time was more fluent, he sometimes remembered it all too clearly. Looking for approval, waiting for praise.

Barty was dreaming now and his dreams had always been the time he was a lot less controlled than when awake. So he was whimpering, curled up and terrified, definitely not things he'd allow himself to do when awake, and under his breath he was muttering, too.

"Tom..."

[standsonhigh]

Koschei wasn't asleep himself, he didn't really feel like it tonight as his mind was far too active to sink into a good nights rest. Instead he was reading, lamp dimmed as to not bother Barty, casually flipping his way through a rather dull book he had little interest in really. Theta had said it was a good read, last time he took suggestions from him on books.

He noticed something was amiss after the first whimper, noting the way Barty curled into himself like an injured animal. Putting his book aside, he watched silently. Until he heard the name he never wanted to hear again.

Hastily, he shook Barty's shoulder, trying to snap him out of whatever madness he was dreaming of. "Barty! Wake up!"

[standsonhigh]

The meds had been working so well, progress had been rather good. Koschei had attended work again, started going out more and actually went to clubs and bars a few times. As the meds worked their magic, Koschei became him again, happy to just be with Barty more often than not, no pressures or worries.

Well, that was until one day when he felt it was okay to skip taking them because he was in a rush to work. And then that day became a week. And that week started to grow. Eventually, he didn't want to take them again.

He didn't know how it'd ended up like this again but here he was, lying under the bed, glaring at the door and refusing to go out to work. He saw his bosses, they were laugh at him yesterday. Plotting his downfall. He wouldn't let them win.

The drums were telling him to resist, to fight back and stay away.

[liquidsky]

Calling in sick for Koschei wasn't exactly anything new. It was almost routine, really, only that it hurt, because it was a stark reminder of the brief period of relief being over once more. He called in sick for himself, too, because Koschei needed him and because he realized that he actually wanted the reprieve and that just wouldn't do. What they could have was worth more than that.

"Do you want me to get you your meds?" It was always a difficult line to skirt, not sounding condescending, not sounding concerned. Barty tried his best. "We can both stay in today."

[liquidsky]

It wasn't entirely new, dreading coming home. Sometimes it was a dull thing on the back of his mind, sometimes he was honestly terrified. Today he just felt a little sick of it all and wondered if there would ever be a way to get Koschei to take his meds again. If he could ever actually talk to the man he loved again. He missed him, every moment and especially when interacting with Koschei these days. Sometimes he actually found himself rereading old text conversations between them and imagined he could still text that Koschei. Who knew, maybe one day.

Barty unlocked the door and habitually locked it behind himself again. He knew better than to forget about that. Walking into the flat he was silent at first, lost in thoughts, before calling out. "It's me. I'm home."

[standsonhigh]

The first sign that things were wrong were the blood prints smeared on the bedroom door, a bit like finger prints. And then there was a mess in the kitchen, almost everything was on the floor. The most obvious yet odd clue was that there was little drops of blood leading to the closet they had for storage, it was usually where they crammed christmas decorations and old appliance. Not one for storing anything bloody. And yet it seemed to be seeping out from under the door upon closer inspection.

The bedroom door slowly pushed open but Koschei only opened it enough to peer out, trying not to show too much. He was concerned what Barty might do to him if he found out. He had to break this gently.

"Barty," he whispered through the door, unsure what to do. "Something bad happened."

[liquidsky]

Barty was terrified. He'd never had a panic attack, but he was fairly sure he almost had one while talking himself into coming here. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea for him to visit Koschei, whether it wouldn't mess the man up more. He was even less sure whether it was a good idea for him to face him, because he wasn't sure he could actually handle it.

There wasn't really anyone he could talk to. Koschei had been his best friend since way back and anyone else he knew... He'd not tell them about any of this. He was alone, but he was used to that. It didn't make it easier, though. He kept a hand in his pocket as he waited for Koschei, fingers playing with the ring Koschei had given him once as a joke. Seemed like years ago, another lifetime, and it felt childish to hold on to it now as if it was some good luck charm, but it was better than nothing. Much better than nothing.

[standsonhigh]

"I don't want to see him," Koschei had said when the idea had been proposed to him yesterday. And he'd said it again every hour on the hour since then. Of course that didn't stop his well being 'assistant' from trying to force him to do it. Apparently it'd be good for him to talk to someone. Especially since he denied seeing his parents every time they tried to come.

Eventually, when it was ten minutes passed the time he was meant to meet Barty and they were debating telling him to come back another day, Koschei felt a weird surge of panic and finally agreed to go see him.

They had to sit in a boring white room with nothing that could be used as a weapon and Koschei was stuck in these boring white pyjamas that sort of blended in. They'd taken his slippers away since he'd developed a habit of attacking his doctor with them so he was stuck in just dull white socks. Everything was so white here. He took a seat like he was supposed to and crossed his arms, not willing to make eye contact with anyone. He didn't want to talk Barty or to look at him... he just wanted to be near him for a little while.

[liquidsky]

He was still nervous, but at least less scared, although the thought of being alone with Koschei brought on a certain unease.

Barty waited, one hand in his pocket, the other likely messing up his hair and felt like he was some nervous schoolgirl, which he didn't much care for. He hoped things would feel more natural as the day progressed.

[standsonhigh]

Koschei had to be walked to Barty with his social worker, a slightly overly peppy young women who kept rubbing his arm and calling him 'Kosch' like they were friends. She made sure that he got to Barty safely, grinning at both of them like an absolute moron. "Be safe and make sure to be back at the time you were given."

Koschei simply nodded and waited for her to retreat before he finally looked at Barty, smiling tentatively. He felt sick and nervous, knowing he had to do this to prove that he could, to show Barty how well he was doing. He hadn't been out much, a few trips to the shops with some staff members but that was about it. Now was his time to shine.

But of all the brilliant things he wanted to say, only one thing came out. "Hey."

Some point during uni

[standsonhigh]

Are you class right now? Or work? Either way, quit and come home. You're urgently needed. This whipped cream can is going to expire today and I have a few things I want to test out.

[liquidsky]

Are those sexy tests or disgusting tests?

SURPRISE

[liquidsky]

There was a certain kind of normalcy to it by now. Visiting Koschei once a week, talking about work and other things, steering clear of a lot of topics that could trigger either of them or that were just plain sad to talk about. Luckily therapy was working relatively well, so they had movies and other stuff to discuss and very often it felt just like it used to, with a lot less of being all over each other.

But of course things had to change at some point, although Barty really wouldn't have foreseen just what a change it might be.

He liked Regulus. They had been friends of sorts outside of school, meeting at obligatory and boring society events. Regulus had always been a lot better than him with these things, but he wasn't above appreciating his snark and that was probably the basis for their friendship. They had been to different schools and then Barty had cut ties with his family, so they hadn't seen each other much in years until recently, when suddenly he had run into him repeatedly.

It took him a while to realize, wrapped up in Koschei as his thoughts were, that those meetings weren't entirely coincidental. It took that and a lot of alcohol for things to move any further and now that they had, he had no idea where they stood and even less idea where he wanted to stand. Most of all, he had no idea how Koschei would react if he found out and how to hide anything from someone who knew him so well. Nevertheless he was there on time to pick him up, just like every week, waiting.

[standsonhigh]

Koschei was having a good week. Or a good month, even. Hell, he was starting to feel so much better. For all his hatred of the idea of being on medication, it had really helped and months of perfect behaviour were starting to pay off. He learned rather fast that the nicer he was and the more he followed the rules, the better things were. He didn't have to mean it, he could act the perfect patient rather easily. The perks did help with that. More books, access to the internet, longer time out. Yesterday he was even in formal talks over his upcoming release.

He'd have to have a place lined up but with his bank account, that wasn't an issue. Ever since he got his internet privileges back, he'd started playing with stocks again. Rather than dull his brain, the medication helped him to hone it. He heard the drums less, he no longer felt paranoid and the best part was that he was finally feeling himself.

So when he saw Barty this week, he was in a good mood. Better than some moods he'd been in. He didn't really talk about the hospital much, if at all, but today he felt like showing his hand a little. For once.

"I have a release date," Koschei boasted before they even said hello, holding up the letter he'd been given for his eventually release. Wasn't long now, half a month if that. "I have to sign some forms, get some visits but mostly, I'm free. Isn't that brilliant?"