October 1980
Interlude: Remus' POV
"I swear to Merlin that if you don't calm down right this moment, I will box your ears in," Remus snaps, forcefully putting his hands on James' shoulders and pushing him into the sofa so he sits the fuck down and stays still.
"Moony—"
"Shh!" Remus says, flashing Sirius a warning sign. "You're not allowed to contribute. Every time you speak, you make it worse. Sit down right now."
Sirius absolutely does not heed Remus' warning. Instead, he bounces around the suite of the hotel like he's got springs for feet. It's ridiculous. One would be forgiven for thinking he's the one getting married. Remus can only be fucking grateful that if (when?) the time comes, he won't be allowed to witness this part.
Especially, because Sirius looks ridiculously hot in his brand new suit and Remus hasn't been allowed to touch him all day. It's been driving him up the walls, but he received stern instructions that it was their duty to support James through this and therefore sneaking away for a quick fuck wasn't allowed.
"I'm going to be sick!" James announces for the millionth time that day.
"No, you're not," Remus tells him, rolling his eyes. "Have a smoke."
"I don't like smoking," James protests.
"And I don't like you panicking," Remus retorts. "So you either calm the fuck down on your own, or you smoke a fag."
Sheepishly, James nods. "Fag."
All three of them light one. It's T minus ten minutes. They've agreed that Regulus will go in first and wait for James at the 'altar'. Remus wasn't privy to the decision making, but he suspects it's because Sirius needs to walk Regulus down the aisle and then take his place on James' side to be the best man. Given James' mother is an actually nice person and therefore hasn't been murdered by his lunatic of a fiance, Effie will be walking James down the aisle.
Originally, Sirius had volunteered to officiate the wedding. However, to everyone's surprise, Moody had informed the wedding planning party that he'd been a sea Captain for some time in his early career—Remus didn't bother asking the ins and outs of the naval branch of the intelligence office within the Ministry—and therefore he knew how to officiate a wedding. Regulus had found it funny. James had thought it cool. So, Moody will be marrying them.
"Why are you so nervous anyway?" Remus asks when James has managed to be quiet for more than a single minute.
"I don't know," he says earnestly. "I'm not like bad nervous. More like excited? It's a bit intense."
"You're literally the definition of intense," Sirius points out. "But I get it. I'm the same."
Shaking his head, Remus pulls James into a hug. "It's going to be perfect."
From there, things are a bit of a blur. Even though the wedding isn't official, everyone in attendance—not that many people, because they kept it to close friends and family only—is behaving like it is. Because it doesn't matter.
When Sirius, Evan and Fleamont get the bill signed to legalise same-sex marriage, Reg and James will skip over to the Ministry and sign a paper. That part isn't the one that's important. This, here with everyone they love, is.
Remus takes his place as a groomsman on James' side. Across from him, Regulus is waiting for his fiancé looking for all the world like it's another Saturday and not his wedding day. If it weren't for the fact that his hands are in his pockets—which Remus knows means they're shaking—he wouldn't know Regulus is freaking the fuck out. He is still the most composed person Remus has ever met.
YOU ARE READING
Only the Brave
SonstigesALL CREDIT TO Solmussa. Regulus Black is angry. He wants revenge. He wants to watch the world burn for all it's done to him. He also wants to make out with James Potter, but that's a secret he'll take to the grave. Vengeance is more important...
