You never know what you’re walking into with Barty. One minute, he’s all charm, all crooked grin and laughter that makes your chest ache; the next, he’s sharp, cutting, leaving a chill that seeps into your bones. It’s maddening - and somehow, you can’t stay away.

You find him leaning against the wall in an empty corridor, arms crossed, the dim torchlight flickering over his pale, calculating face. He looks up as you approach, and that smirk appears - the one that makes your stomach knot and your heart skip at the same time.

“Well, if it isn’t you,” he says, voice smooth, almost casual. “Come to see me, or just wandering into trouble again?”

You shift uncomfortably, biting your lip. “Maybe a little of both.”

He laughs, and it’s that maddening sound, warm and cruel all at once. “I like that,” he says. “You keep me guessing.”

But then, without warning, the mood shifts. His smirk fades, replaced with something sharp, cold. “Though,” he murmurs, stepping closer, “don’t think I won’t notice if you’re playing games with me.” His eyes pierce yours, and you feel suddenly small, exposed.

You swallow. “I’m not-”

“Don’t lie,” he snaps, the word cutting like glass. And just like that, the warmth is gone, replaced with tension so thick you can almost taste it.

Yet somehow, despite the sting of his words, you’re drawn back in. You reach out, brushing your hand against his arm. He freezes, and for a brief, dangerous moment, you think he might pull away entirely. Instead, he tilts his head, studying you, and the tension twists into something else. Something electric.

“You shouldn’t do that,” he mutters, voice low. “You know I don’t play fair.”

“I like… unfair,” you admit, your own voice trembling slightly. “Even if it hurts.”

His laugh is a dark rumble. “Smart girl,” he says, and then, before you can think, he’s closer, lips brushing yours in a kiss that’s more claim than affection. It’s fiery, impatient, almost cruel - yet you can’t pull away. You want it, even though you know it’s a trap.

When he pulls back, just slightly, he whispers, “You know this can’t last.”