weird
"This is so weird."
"Shut up, James. Let's just get on with it."
Regulus reaches for the doorbell as James plasters on his biggest smile. The door swings open and Remus Lupin stands on the other side, holding a wine glass and wearing a bathrobe. "James, Regulus! Come in." He steps back to let them enter the cottage. "Thanks for coming."
Regulus smiles politely at Remus and steps into the house. "We brought champagne," he announces, and nudges James. James hands the bottle to Remus, who inspects the label.
"Excellent choice! I'll go put it on ice. Come out to the back garden whenever you're ready."
"This is so weird," repeats James once Remus is out of earshot, keeping his voice to a whisper. "Why is he acting like we've only just met? I've been friends with him since first year."
"He's trying to make this work for you and Sirius," hisses Regulus in response. "You know how much of an idiot Sirius is being about our relationship. That's why Remus has organised this date. He wants to...I don't know. Show Sirius that it's okay that we're together."
James frowns. "I don't know why we couldn't just go for dinner like normal couples on a date."
"Because Remus doesn't want me to make a scene in front of other people," a voice interrupts from behind them. James and Regulus turn around at once, to see Sirius coming down the stairs, also wearing a bathrobe, with his arms folded across his chest. "He'd rather that we were at home, if I'm going to throw a tantrum."
James grins weakly. "I suppose those were his words?"
Sirius nods and holds out a hand awkwardly to James. "Thanks for coming, mate." He nods at Regulus. "And you too, brother."
James raises an eyebrow, but shakes his hand anyway. "Can we stop acting so weird now?" he asks, dropping Sirius's hand. "Just because I'm going out with Regulus doesn't mean we're not still best mates—"
"—I'm going to wait outside with Remus," Sirius says loudly, and pushes past James to get to the patio doors.
Regulus sniggers and shakes his head. "He's doing his best."
…
When James and Regulus go into the back garden, Sirius and Remus are sitting in what looks like a giant bubbly bath in the middle of the patio, underneath a gazebo that is strung with fairy lights. Their bathrobes are abandoned on the garden table, and there is a firepit roaring with warm flames. Remus waves when he sees James and Regulus, and gestures for them to join.
"This is why you wanted us to wear swimwear?" James asks. "Why is there a bath in your back garden?"
Remus rolls his eyes.
"I asked the same thing," Sirius explains. "I thought it was ridiculous when Remus had it delivered. But it's excellent!"
"It's a jacuzzi," Remus says. "You know, a hot tub."
"I've never heard of it," Regulus adds. "What does it...do?"
"Just give it a chance and get in," snaps Remus. "It's relaxing. You'll see."
Having put their swimming shorts on under their clothes, James and Regulus undress quickly, throwing their clothes alongside Sirius and Remus's robes, and climb into the hot tub.
James immediately thinks again about how weird this is - four grown men sitting close together in an oversized bubbling bathtub. Sirius has his arm thrown around Remus, and they're all staring awkwardly at one another.
"Isn't this a little…" James starts. Remus raises an eyebrow, and Regulus glances at him.
"What?" Sirius asks.
"I don't know," James continues. "A bit...gay?"
"You are gay."
"You're gay."
"Do you know how I know you're gay?"
"I don't know, is it because I'm sleeping with your little brother?"
"James!" hisses Regulus, glaring at him. "I'm sorry, Sirius."
James looks at Sirius too, ready to apologise, and much to his surprise, he finds that Sirius is laughing. Remus is looking between Sirius and James with wide eyes, as though anticipating one of Sirius's tantrums.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Sirius says. "But only because it was an excellent comeback, and if you were talking about anyone else's brother, I'd probably bow to you right now."
Remus seems to deflate with relief, and James splashes a bit of water at Sirius, laughing. "It is a bit weird, though," James continues. "Isn't it weird being in a bath with your brother and your mates?"
"I've been in the bath with Regulus before," Sirius replies. "Mother used to make us get in the bath together all the time when we were kids because she was so obsessive about cleanliness, but couldn't be bothered to bath us separately."
"For god's sake…" Regulus sinks in the hot tub, until the water is up to his chin. "It's not that weird, James. It's not like we're all naked in here."
There's a short silence, until Sirius punctuates it. "Well, actually…"
James glares at Sirius, and Regulus backs up against the side of the hot tub. Remus rubs his face with the palm of his hand. "Sirius, I told you not to say anything!"
"What?"
"Sirius, are you serious?"
"Please tell me you're joking, mate."
"I didn't know about the swimwear rule until right now!" Sirius replies, indignant. "In my defense, neither Remus or I have been wearing anything in this hot tub since we got it, but for some reason tonight is the only night it's become a thing."
"Right, I'm getting out," James says.
"Yeah, I can't be in here while you're naked," Regulus adds with a shudder, but Remus holds up his hand.
"No, don't go yet!" he says. "Sirius, just go put some swimming shorts on."
"No, please don't stand up," James begs. "Let us get out first."
"We'll sit by the fire and have a drink, then when you get out we can...chat," Regulus says, more to Remus than Sirius. "We don't want to leave so soon, do we, James?"
James isn't entirely sure. The knowledge that he's sitting in a bath with a naked Sirius is giving him more than enough desire to leave, but he forces a smile. "Of course not."
He and Regulus climb out of the jacuzzi and grab towels that are by the pool, then sit by the fire.
"This is weird," Regulus whispers, leaning close to James so that Sirius and Remus can't hear him from the hot tub.
"I told you it was weird," James mutters. "But you have to admit, a hot tub is a pretty good idea." He places a hand on Regulus's thigh and grins.
"We might have to take a leaf out of their book, then."
James laughs. "Only if you promise me something?"
"Anything."
James leans closer to Regulus, pressing his mouth to his ear. "Make sure you don't wear any underwear."
Written For:
- Assignment #10/Etiquette Task #1: Write about someone revealing a bit (or a lot) of skin.
- Race to the Top of Mount Potter/Checkpoint 11: (setting) Jacuzzi
- Writing Club/Written in the Stars: 7. (word) obsessive
- Writing Club/Showtime: 11. (drink) champagne
- Writing Club/Elizabeth's Empire: 13. (word) chance
- Writing Club/Angel's Archive: 8. (theme/object) Fire/Flame
- Writing Club/Artist Appreciation: 10. (setting) pool
- Writing Club/TV Spree: 10. (object) Hot Tub
- Potions Making/Ashwinder Egg: 2. (word) chance
- November Monthly (Insert Title): 13. (action) whispering
- TV Tropes: 18. Double Date - Two couples go on a date together.
- Sandwich Time: Cheeses 9. (character) Remus Lupin
- Moony's Neon Cafe/Genres: 1. Friends
Word Count: 1,138