just lovers like we were supposed to be

ACT ONE: Part Four

Chapter Notes
mild warnings for arguing, but it's resolved. some comfortable queer talk, because of course. flirting, breakdowns, and adorable moments. oh, and regulus causes a scene
enjoy :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes

"I'm sorry, you did what?!"

James blinks. "I said I snogged—"

"I heard what you said!" Sirius bursts out, staring at him in disbelief. "James, what the fuck?"

"Er, what?" James asks cautiously, because he can suddenly sense that he has made a mistake somewhere. He glances over at Peter and Remus for help, but Peter looks stunned, and Remus is covering his face with both hands. Slowly, James glances at Sirius again. "Sorry, mate, you're going to have to help me with this one. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? He is a child," Sirius hisses.

"He's literally not?" James squints at him. "He turns seventeen in three days. What are you on about?"

"I said you could be his fake boyfriend to be a good influence on him; I didn't say you could— could—" Sirius makes a low sound and presses his hand to his chest like perhaps he has a sudden onset of heartburn. "Oh, bloody buggering fuck, my best mate has tainted my little brother."

James rears back in offense and squawks, "Tainted?"

"Yes, tainted," Sirius declares. "He was innocent before you."

"Innocent? Regulus?" James counters skeptically.

Sirius pauses, then huffs. "Alright, so he wasn't, but that's besides the point. Is this who you are, James? You just go about snogging your best mate's baby brother? This is—this is traitorous behavior. You love him more than me, is that it?"

"What? I don't even—"

"Quick, if Regulus and I were hanging off the side of a cliff, who would you save first? Don't think, just answer."

"Merlin," James says wearily, scrubbing his fingers over his forehead.

"That's not an answer!" Sirius bellows.

James heaves a sigh. "At the moment, neither of you, because you're both the same level of fucking irritating."

"You don't mean that," Sirius murmurs, frowning.

"No, obviously not," James admits. "It's just my back still bloody twinges from where I hit the ground after he put me in a body-bind and left me in the rose bushes."

Sirius clicks his tongue. "Well, I'm not sure what you were expecting, Prongs. I told you—"

"He has a spine made of iron, I remember," James grumbles, drawing his legs up and resting his chin on his knee. "If you must know, I only snogged him to prove a point."

"What point could you have possibly been trying to prove where snogging was the solution?" Remus asks, dropping his hands to stare at him incredulously.

James shrugs one shoulder. "He didn't think I was gay enough, I suppose. Changed his mind, though."

"Gay enough," Sirius repeats, like it's a foreign concept.

"Yeah," James says slowly, holding Sirius' gaze, because he's very sure that this is something Sirius needs to hear. He's not sure anyone's ever told him yet. "Because you can still be queer even if you fancy girls, or were with girls in the past."

Sirius leans forward, intrigued. "You can do that?"

"Mary says so," James confirms.

"Wait, so you're…" Remus stares at him, his lips parted, and James stares back. Slowly, Remus releases a sharp breath, his throat bobbing. "You're queer?"