just lovers like we were supposed to be

ACT ONE: Part two

Authors Note:

warnings for this chapter: a near-miss of the drunk kissing variety, some references to greek mythology (yes, tragic deaths, sorry not sorry), all of james' friends being Tired™️, some idiot-tendencies due to Jealousy™️, and james being a little cranky.

enjoy :)

***
"I mean, he's mental. Absolutely mental," James declares loudly, following Sirius, Peter, and
Remus out of Potions. "I've literally never known anyone as mental as him."

"James, mate," Sirius says, strained, "I adore you—I truly do, and you know this, and everyone knows this—but would you please shut up about my brother?"

James blinks. "What?"

"Prongs, you've been banging on about Regulus nonstop for the last two days," Peter mutters wearily. "It's constant, mate."

"That's because he's frustrating," James insists, as he has apparently insisted multiple times by now. "Is he being difficult on purpose? I think he's being difficult on purpose."

"Knowing Reggie, yeah," Sirius confirms. "I told you. Didn't I tell you? I wasn't joking."

Remus snorts. "He sounds remarkably similar to our very own Sirius Black. James, won't you just leave it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius asks, obviously offended. "Leave it? Are you insinuating he give up? What, because Regulus is like me? What are you implying, Moony?"

"I'm not implying anything. It was just a question."

"No. No, that sounded cryptic, like there was some underlying meaning in it involving me."

"Not everything involves you, Padfoot," Remus mutters, rolling his eyes.

Sirius frowns. "Well, what does that mean? Now you're being cryptic on purpose. Can't you just say what you mean?"

"I do say what I mean. You just wish to hear something different. Sorry I won't appease you like everyone else."

"Appease me? Remus—"

"Oh, shut up," James snaps, making them both jolt and spring apart from where they'd orbited closer together in the midst of their bickering, as if that's the only time they can get close, which is likely why they do it at every available opportunity. It's a bit sad, because they used to be much, much closer when they were younger, but then hormones kicked in, and now because they want to be too close, they never let themselves be as close as they want. "What are you two even fussing about now? Do you even know?"

Sirius and Remus glance at each other. They apparently don't actually know, because they fall silent and look away.

"Oh, you're all so grumpy," Peter complains. "Come on, it's our last year! We're meant to be having fun, yeah?"

James blows out a deep breath and wills away the tension in his shoulders. "Pete's right. Let's do something. Throw a party, or plan a prank?"

"If I get another detention before Christmas hols, Minnie will have my head," Sirius says, grimacing. "I've already had twelve and it's not even December."

"One every week," Remus says, amused. "That's a new record for you, isn't it?"

Sirius grins at him. "It is, yeah. Do you reckon they'll put me in some sort of history book?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Oh, I'd love it. So would you, don't deny it. Don't you want to go down in history with me, Moony?"

"It's my one and only dream out of life," Remus says sagely, lips twitching, and Sirius barks a laugh of delight.

"So, a party, then?" Peter suggests.