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James takes a deep breath as he sinks down onto his bed, book in hand and dressed in comfy clothes. Usually on Hogsmeade weekend he goes with Sirius, Pete, and Remus but the couple seemed incredibly excited about it and James and Peter decided that they would sit out on this one so the two could go on their date. So, taking the opportunity, he figured that he would spend some time reading the book that Regulus told him he had to read. He’s not sure where Pete is right now, but quite frankly, James can’t bring himself to care.
And he’s only gotten to the second chapter when the door to the room flies open and Sirius storms in, walking straight up to James’ bed, “What the hell did you do, Prongs?”
James sighs and bookmarks the book, setting it down aside him. When he looks up, Sirius is positively fuming, “What do you mean, Padfoot?”
“I don’t know, James Potter.” Sirius flails his arms behind him, “But I just know that you did something when Remus is getting all upset at me, telling me that he doesn’t want to see me and canceling our date, and now refusing to talk to me. He implied that we did something-” he’s gesturing wildly between the two of them, “And I know that I didn’t do anything, so what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything, Sirius. Even if I did, you would know about it and it wouldn’t be anything that he’d get this upset over.” James shakes his head, “Let me go talk to him. See if there’s something he’s not telling you.”
And Sirius pouts and crosses over to sit on his own bed, “Fine. You fucked this up, you’re going to fix this.”
James nods. He sets the book in his trunk and grabs the map, looking at where Remus stormed off to after talking to Sirius. He waves goodbye to his best friend and stalks out of the room, heading to the library.
And when he gets there he has to look extra hard for his friend--it seems that Remus doesn’t want to be found, shocking--but he eventually is able to find him hiding in the back corner of the library past shelves that nearly no one goes to--except for Regulus, but that’s how James’ boyfriend is.
“Hey, Moony.” James starts, casually, as he stalks towards the table Remus is sitting at, nose deep in a book and eyes sad.
Remus, after a couple seconds, looks up at James and sneers, “I don’t want to see you right now, go away.”
To which the ravenette throws his hands up, “I’m just here to talk, buddy. Sirius told me you think we did something, what’s up with that?” The man slips into the chair opposite of Remus and he looks positively furious at the action.
“What makes you think I’d want to talk to you?”
“Listen,” James starts, leaning forward, “Sirius and I genuinely have no clue what you’re upset about. If you’d just tell me, maybe we could work this out and you’ll still have time to go on the wonderful date that you guys have been planning.”
Remus snarls, “I don’t think this is something that we can just sort out. I knew you were ballsy but I didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to try and fix this.”
“Ooh,” A voice comes from beside them, teasing and low, “Trouble in paradise with the marauders, huh?” James turns around to see Regulus approaching their table, sly smile on his beautiful face. He’s got a couple books stacked in his arms against his body. He moves to sit between the friends, dropping his book on the table and leaning onto it with his chin on his fist.
“Oh butt out of this Baby Black.” Remus spits.
“Seriously, Moony,” James starts, furrowing his eyebrows, “Tell me what’s wrong. I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh don’t play innocent.”
“What’s going on?” Regulus asks, raising an eyebrow and flicking his gaze between the two friends.
Remus glares at the ravenette but mutters, “Turns out that your brother is worse than you.”
The younger puts on an odd smile and cocks his head, “Why do you say that?”
“Because he and this git decided to go behind my back.” Remus says, gesturing angrily in the direction of James. Then, looking directly at James, he hisses, “How could you do this to me? You know I love him. You know that I would die for him and you do this?”
And at that, James only gets more confused, “Of course I know you love him, why would I ever think of doing something to hurt yours and his relationship?”
“I don’t know, James, why would you?”
“I wouldn’t.” James reassures, almost pleading. And now Regulus is looking at him with a look that just reeks of ‘what did you fuck up’.
“Are you sure about that?”
“What did my dumbass brother do?” Regulus asks, clearly trying to dig for more information.
Remus turns to him, hurt clear on his face, “He fuckin’ cheated on me with this bastard.”
“What?” James and Regulus nearly shout at the same time. Regulus whirls on James and James looks absolutely terrified.
“Why would you ever think I’d get in between you two? Why would you think that Sirius would cheat on you? You mean the world to him and I think he’d rather throw himself off the astronomy tower than do anything to hurt you.”
“Then tell me why I caught you and him walking out of a broom closet earlier today? Clearly after snogging?”
At his words, James’ eyes snap to Regulus’, who meets his gaze with the same fear.
They had been caught.
And now they had to explain to Regulus’ brother’s--James’ best friend--boyfriend that no, he didn’t catch Sirius cheating on him. Instead he caught a five month relationship they had kept hidden.
James closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, muttering, “Merlin’s sake. I think we should go back to our dorm and talk to Sirius…” He once again looks at Regulus, who sighs and nods. He tells them to give him a couple seconds to check out his books and to meet him at the entrance of the library then grabs his books and walks away.
Remus, albeit a bit reluctantly, takes the extended hand James offers him after standing up, “Why is Regulus coming with us.”
“Because he’s part of the story.” James sighs, “I know that you’re hurt right now, but just trust me.” He then guides Remus out of the library and they wait until Regulus shows up, books in hand. James then brings them towards the Gryffindor common room and into their shared dorm.
Sirius, still sulking on his bed where James left him, looks up with hope in his eyes, “Did you figure it out? Fix things?”
James sighs and shrugs, “It’s a start. I’ve located the root of the problem.” Following behind him, Remus steps in and stands in the doorway awkwardly until Regulus pushes in. James and the younger Black move to sit on James’ bed and Remus hesitantly sits down on Sirius’ bed opposite them, as far away from his boyfriend as possible.
“And what is that problem?” Sirius asking, looking between Remus and James.
“He thought you were cheating on him… with me.”
Sirius’ eyes practically pop out of his head and he whirls around to his boyfriend, “What? Why would you ever think that I would cheat on you? And with Prongs of all people, no offense James.”
“None taken.” James shakes his head.
Remus turns to him, face blank and voice cold, “Can you blame me when I see James Potter walking out of a broom closet with someone that looks like you, clearly after a good snogging session?”
“Which is why we’re here.” James adds awkwardly, gesturing to the four of them. He then looks at Regulus with pleading eyes.
To which his ruthless, ruthless boyfriend just shrugs at him with a smirk, “You were the one that got us in this situation, you get to explain it.”
James sighs and looks between the couple sitting across from him, “Remus, you didn’t see me and Sirius together. You saw… me and Regulus.” His tone is hesitant but his shoulders relax when he feels Regulus’ hand slip into his own between them.
There is a moment of silence where Sirius and Remus sit and process James’ statement. The newly revealed couple watch as some of the light returns to Remus’ face and Sirius’ twists into something more akin to anger.
“What?” Sirius asks, his voice eerily calm, “That’s almost worse.”
“Don’t say that.” Remus chides. Then he looks between James and his boyfriend’s little brother, “Was it actually you two or are you covering for him, Regulus?”
To which the younger Black shakes his head, “No, he’s telling the truth. We hadn’t realized that there was anyone that could see us.”
“So you’re telling me that my best friend is dating my little baby brother.” Sirius nearly whispers, “And neither of you thought to tell me? James, you’re dead.” And there is fury and death in Sirius’ eyes and it makes James recoil into his boyfriend.
“It is a little messed up, you only told us when it got you in trouble.” Remus agrees, reaching over to press a hand to Sirius’ arm.
James rubs the back of his neck, “Yeah, sorry. We wanted to tell you earlier but…”
“I didn’t want to risk anyone knowing,” Regulus finishes for him, “You know that I’m staying with mother and father just to reap the benefits after their death. Part of that is keeping up appearances and not dating a boy, or a James Potter.”
“The less people that know the less chances they learn.” Sirius concludes.
Regulus nods, “That was our idea.”
“But you could’ve told us. You know mother and I aren’t necessarily buddy buddy.”
At Sirius’ hurt tone, James falters, “I also… there was the whole thing with Lily and I wasn’t ready to come out to anyone and… it was just hard to find the time or the courage to do that. I know that you’re hurt but please-”
“And this is an actual thing, not just… physical.” Sirius’ face twists up almost comically at the thought of it, but he gestures between the two of them. The newly revealed couple nods and he nods back, “And how long has it been a thing.”
“Five months.” James whispers.
Next to him, Regulus nods, “As of Thursday.”
And although Sirius seems to deflate a bit at the knowledge, he looks between the two of them, “And are you both happy?” Once again, the couple nods and James offers a couple sentiments. Then they sit in silence for a couple seconds before Sirius sighs, “I’m hurt, yes but… I couldn’t think of anyone better for either of you to date, specifically for Regulus, so.”
“Really? You’re not upset?”
“Not really, no.” Sirius shakes his head. James smiles at him then turns to press a kiss to Regulus’ cheek, to which the younger smiles. However, Sirius and the character that he is, fake gags, “Just because I’m good with it, does not mean I want to see my brother affectionate with someone.”
And Regulus, the spiteful person that he is, immediately takes that as a sign to pull James into a proper kiss. It’s awkward with the way that James is smiling into it but it’s incredibly endearing. Sirius once again fake gags and Regulus rolls his eyes at him when they pull away from each other. Remus is just sitting there with a small smile. He still seems upset but it’s likely more residual anger than it is anything active.
And then the scarred man’s face stretches into a wicked grin, “As a punishment for you guys not telling us, keep it up. I want to see if Pete will think Pads is cheating on me. We’ll see how long it takes for him to say something.” And it’s cruel, and it’s perfect.
So James and Regulus do amp up their flirting when they’re around Pete or in an area that Remus and Sirius have set up for him to be in at the same time as them.
It takes about a month and a half before Peter finally approaches Remus, distraught and upset. He’s angry with the two of them and seems absolutely devastated with Remus when he tells him. Then he’s confused when Remus breaks out into a laugh.
Then he’s nearly cackling when Remus finally tells him the events that had unfolded a month and a half prior.