it'd been a year since everyone had finished hogwarts. two years of barty being a death eater.

deep down, he doesn't like it. you moved in together when you had finished school, and you'd immediately joined the order. he knows that both of you are completely opposing sides of the war, and he's started to see the error of his death eater ways.

so, when he comes back to your apartment with a busted up face, a deep wound in his stomach and a defeated slump to his shoulders, his beliefs are solidified.

fuck the death eaters.

he doesn't want to be a part of this. mainly for selfish reasons, of course, he's barty, but also for you. he sees the look of disdain whenever he's off to a meeting, or the conflict on your face when you see the dark mark on his arm.

it's late when he gets back, and the apartment is dark. it's eerie, looking around with you asleep, filling the space with your smiles.

he staggers into the bathroom, flicking on the light and inspecting his stomach. he hisses as he peels his t-shirt away from the wound, the blood making it stick to him.

“fuck.” he says, pulling out the first aid kit and leaving bloody handprints all over the medicine cupboard.

he pulls out the rubbing alcohol and a cloth, soaking it and pressing it against his wound.

“merlin.” he hisses again, squeezing his eyes shut.

“barty?” he hears a sleepy voice from the doorway if the bedroom. he turns to see you, in one of his oversized sex pistols t-shirts.

“sorry.” he says, feeling guilty. “i didn't mean to wake you.”

he watches your eyes widen as you scan his injuries. “barty.” you sigh. “merlin. how did this happen?”

“trouble's always gonna find me, baby.” he says with a smile, letting you take the cloth soaked with disinfectant, and wipe it along his wound.

you take his hand in yours, kissing his knuckles. “but so will i.”

he smirks at that, shaking his head. then, he hisses when the alcohol touches his open wound, the blood still spilling.

“i'm sorry. i couldn't block the spell.” he says, looking at you, while you focus on his stomach.