standsonhigh | High school AU open post

"Oh." Oh. Well, that did sound like a bit much, but Barty experienced spontaneous envy anyway. He very happily changed the topic, even though what Koschei said just made him laugh and shake his head. "You're sweet."

Was that something one said? Well, whatever, he'd just roll with it. "Thanks, but no thanks. I want to make my own way, y'know. Can't really now, I don't have a penny to my name and my father wouldn't let me earn any money, but I will once I'm done with school. And I'll get top marks and become rich and make sure you rule the world. Sound good?"

"If you say so," Koschei offered with a slight shrug, feeling pretty good right now. He was warmer, his body stopped trembling and he was pretty much ready for sleep. The sooner he got some sleep, the better he'd probably be. But this was the most time he'd spent with Barty in a long time, he didn't want to give up and sleep.

"Fine, you get some dull job and earn money, I'll just help you invest it and triple it. Soon, you'll have more than enough," Koschei insisted, yawning slightly. "We'll get a flat together when we leave here, go to Oxford, build up our power and use it to crush those we don't like."

This was pretty much the longest amount of time they had ever spent together alone, since classes and the like hardly counted. Definitely the longest time that didn't include untying or redressing Koschei. Barty was becoming more and more aware of just how little Koschei was actually wearing. Bad thoughts, Barty. Very bad thoughts.

"Are we getting cartoon figures on our curtains? Just, y'know. Since you already seem to be picking them out." Barty grinned, not really actually bothered. "You promised me cotton candy, too."

"We should. Teletubby curtains and clangers wallpaper," Koschei agreed with a slight nod. Hey, Barty could eye him all he liked, he pulled of pale, skinny and muddy pretty well actually. Hell, he could of looked worse. Months of bullying had left him near permanently bruised and scarred, he was lucky to be as well kept as he was.

"You're obsessed with cotton candy," Koschei laughed as he very carefully rolled off Barty, landing on the less comfortable mattress. "I should probably shower."

"I'm not obsessed with cotton candy! I've never even had cotton candy. I just want to try some time." Barty smiled and sat up once Koschei was off him, looking down at him and not aware of how his eyes softened. He ran his fingers through Koschei's hair in a gesture he hoped wouldn't be seen as condescending and nodded.

"You should. Not that the muddy look isn't great on you. But I should get going, anyway."

"See, I look great in mud. I'm making it a cool look," Koschei teased as he slowly clambered off the bed, standing awkwardly, not quite in the best state. His legs still hurt and he felt rough but he definitely needed to have a wash. The mud was starting to flake off everywhere. Before he could let Barty leave him, he reached out and snagged the boy's wrist, pulling him close so he could steal a kiss.

He'd earned that much, anyway. "Had to do that before you left but, erm, yeah. Thanks. You didn't have to come and help me but you did. And I appreciate that."

"You could make any look work for you," Barty assured him, because he was feeling butterflies and a bunch of other stuff he'd never truly believed could ever happen to him. And then there was the kiss and it happened to fast for him to really kiss back, but it happened and it was great, even if it was over too soon.

"Thanks. I mean. For the kiss." He was a dork. Maybe he could hide under the blanket. "I really like you."

"Barty, stop being a wonderful dork. You don't thank people for kissing, you just accept it. Or tell them to piss off. One or the other, really," Koschei offered, ruffling his hair slightly. Urgh, it was so dirty, how was Barty even getting doe-y eyed over him in this state.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he offered, awkwardly moving towards the bathroom, not really wanting to say goodbye. "Don't let Tom know you were here, yeah? He'll get us both back for it."

"It felt good, might as well thank you for it. Seems more appropriate than thanking people for useless things like asking me how I am." Barty got up, ruffling his own hair to find something less awkward to do with his hair. Funny, he'd always pictured himself as more suave. Maybe with time.

"Are you kidding? I'm going to sneak back and squeeze my hand through that cuff again so he'll never know I left." He headed for the door, standing there similarly at a loss. He didn't want to go, this little moment right here felt like all they might have for a long time to come. "See you tomorrow."

"Be safe, don't get hurt," Koschei ordered more than asked. Then, finally, he forced himself to retreat into the bathroom and let Barty go. He'd see him tomorrow, that was better than nothing.

High school AU open post

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