Only the Brave

Chapter 4: Crush

Notes:

Hello!

This chapter a lil' bit shorter, but that's because next one is nice and long (the party!). There's some Wolfstar here, too!

TWs

Homophobia
Fire and burns (there's an accident, and something catches on fire)
Insomnia and Reg's dependency on the draught
Lots of swearing
Reference to abusive household and childhood (Walburga is a bad mother)

I hope you enjoy!

James is in trouble.

Normally, he would go to Sirius with his woes, except his woes are currently lean, green eyed and spiteful. He cannot go to Sirius about the fact that he's pretty sure he's developing a crush on his little brother. Sirius would lose his shit, understandably.

But how is he supposed to not?

Regulus is so... he's just... he's so... Regulus. Mean. Arrogant. Unbothered. He didn't even flinch when Sirius shoved him against a wall! Who does that? Who keeps their composure when they're about to be pummelled by their older brother? It's just not... it's intriguing, is what it is.

Just how calm and collected and lovely Regulus is. He wears rings, which like, fine, he guesses, until Regulus decides to play with them. This, James thinks, should be forbidden. It's just. James' brain is broken. Like he can't process all the ways Regulus is beautiful at once, because there are too many.

James is in trouble and he can't go to Sirius about it. This has never happened before. It's disconcerting, disorienting. He feels lost. Adrift in the middle of the ocean with no flotation device.

But he cannot bother Sirius with this. Not yet, anyway. He will if it gets critical, but James is hopeful that he can still save himself.

So, instead of going to Sirius, James does the next best thing which is finding Moony. Remus is doing well, because the full moon was right before the start of school so he's on the way up now and doesn't have to worry about it for another three or so weeks. James has also stolen a bar of chocolate from Peter's trunk, which he fully intends to replace, to help smooth things over with Remus if needed. By this, James means bribe. He's not above bribing his friend for help.

Remus is in the library with Lily Evans. James doesn't mind this, because girls are much wiser than boys and she might take pity on him and share some advice. He just has to be careful so that they don't figure out who the object of his... eh... problems is (because he cannot and will not think of the word desire anywhere near the idea of Regulus lest he passes out).

"Remus," he says cheerfully. "Evans."

They both shush him immediately, which only makes him grin as he drops himself into a chair across from them. "I need your help."

Remus and Lily look up. Remus narrows his eyes and asks, "our help?"

James nods, trying for his most angelic face. "I need advice. About... well. I have a crush."

Lily's eyes - very pretty, very green - almost fall out of their sockets. "I beg your pardon?"

"No need to beg, Evans," James jokes, smiling. "I have a crush and I don't know how to get rid of it. I was hoping you could help."

"Lily," she says. The silence that follows is heavy, like something momentous just happened. She shrugs. "I mean, we've been in school together for seven years. You can call me Lily."

James blinks, surprised. Remus also glances at Lily, but she seems unfazed.

"Are you sure?" James asks.