A/N: Uh...I really don't have anything to say about this. It's been sitting around my English notebook for nearly a month, inspired– oddly enough – by our class discussion on Henry V, which somehow got me wondering how Peter avoided suspicions during the pre-Azkaban, First War period...which produced this. Also, Peter's not homophobic; the Marauders just have vaguely insulting nicknames for each other, in addition to the standard ones.
"Oi, Pete. Tell me what's up."
Peter whipped around and stared at the incredulous look on Sirius' face: his gray eyes were narrowed and his brow furrowed. Without losing this newfound control, Peter wrinkled his back and blinked, faking confusion. He couldn't keep himself tugging at the sleeve of his robes – right arm, keep it secret, keep it safe – but Sirius' gaze was locked, dog-like and single-minded, on Peter's.
"I… I don't know what you mean, Padfoot."
"Don't lie to me, mate; you're pants at it."
"Really, nothing's wrong."
"Your hair's longer than I remember…" Sirius idly twirled some of Peter's hair on his finger to illustrate his point.
Peter slapped the hand away. "Haven't had time to get it cut, ya bleedin' poof! And I don't think Moony'd be too happy with you touchin' it."
"Leave Moony out of this. Anyway… you haven't had time? Pete, you live with your mum."
"So?"
Sirius poked him in the stomach, getting to it through an over-sized sweater, then moved up and lightly smacked his cheek. Peter winced and wrinkled his nose, giving Sirius a perplexed glare.
"You've gotten thin, Wormtail."
"Yeah… so?"
"You've never, in as long as I've known you, been thin."
"I started taking care of myself… with the war and all-"
"No, you haven't." Sirius poked him beneath his eyes to another wince. "'cos you haven't slept either."
"I don't have someone living with me like Moony or Lily-"
"But your mum-"
"Is old and worried sick that I'm not going to come home someday for throwing my wand in with Dumbledore and them!"
"…I see."
"What's it to you anyway?"
"Well, you know," he sighed sarcastically. "Being James' best mate and godfather to his and Lily's son… I think it's worth a nod when I hear someone's got it in for them and that there might be a spy-"
"And you think it's me? S-S-Sirius! I'd never-"
"Didn't say you did, mate. Just can't leave any stone unturned… have to keep my eyes open for anything weird."
Their gaze went unbroken for several long seconds, and, finally, Sirius sighed heatedly and gave an assenting nod. With a dog-like shake of his head, he stood up straight and turned away. As much as he didn't want to, Peter couldn't keep himself from speaking.
"If it was me in your place, Pads, I'd look closer than just friends. Wolves come in all colors, y'know."
"…Eat something, mate," Sirius huffed. "And cut your hair soon. Long hair's my style and it doesn't look good on you."