amateur dramatics
Sirius Black groans as his dog-shaped counter lands on Remus's Mayfair. Remus has a few properties and a hotel on the square, so Sirius has to dole out a huge amount of Monopoly money.
"I'm going to kick the table over in a minute," he seethes. "I hate this stupid Muggle game."
Remus laughs and takes the paper money out of Sirius's hands. "Only because you're terrible at it."
Sirius grumbles and climbs up from the floor. "Well, I'm finished. There's no way I'm going to get anywhere. Everytime I get enough money to buy a hotel, one of you rinses me." He stretches out his limbs. "Does anyone want any more wine?"
"Oh, I will," Regulus holds out his empty glass. He's sitting comfortably on the sofa next to James, his feet tucked up underneath him. Sirius rolls his eyes and takes the glass.
"Just because you live here with me and James now doesn't mean I'm going to let you drink like a fish every night."
Regulus deadpans his brother. "I'm eighteen years old."
Sirius shrugs. "I still have to protect you." He marches into the kitchen, and James laughs and prods Regulus in the side.
"I still have to protect you," James mocks, and Regulus sniggers and buries his face into James's jumper.
"Shut up," he mumbles. James laughs again and lifts a hand to cup the back of Regulus's head, combing his hand through Regulus's hair softly. Regulus sighs and melts into the touch.
"You two make me sick," Remus says, though he's grinning, "I have to say, I'm pretty surprised Sirius is taking your relationship so well. I know you've only been seeing each other for a week, but I fully expected one of you to be six feet under by now."
"Thanks," Regulus says weakly, his face still nestled comfortably in James's jumper. They hadn't explicitly told Sirius that they were going steady, but Regulus assumed it had been obvious. They sat next to each other at any chance they got, would hold hands under the table, and Sirius had to have noticed Regulus sneaking into James's room in the night. He wasn't that clueless…was he?
At that moment, Euphemia Potter comes into the room, wearing a bathrobe with her long, dark grey hair hanging loose and damp around her shoulders. "The shower's free if anyone wants—oh, James, Reggie—you two just melt my heart."
"Mum," grumbles James. "Do you have to come down here in front of my friends in your dressing gown?"
Remus snorts and James shoots him a glare.
Euphemia laughs and sits on the arm of James and Regulus's couch. She reaches out and ruffles James's hair. "I can come and admire my son and his boyfriend when you're under my roof, thank you very much—"
"His what?" a sudden voice interrupts. Everyone looks over at the doorway, where Sirius is standing, holding two glasses of wine, his face a picture of surprise. Regulus immediately sits up straight, as Sirius's eyes flitter between him and James.
"I think that's my cue to leave," Euphemia says quietly. She slips across the living room to the door and spreads her fingers in a wave. "Have a good night, boys." She grins and closes the door behind her.
"Night, Effie," Sirius says, before marching over to stand in front of James and Regulus. He sets the glasses down on the table and glares at the pair of them. "What the hell? Was that some kind of joke?"
"Er…" James mutters. "I don't know what to say, mate. I thought you knew?"
"You thought I knew?" Sirius repeats, aghast. "Do you think I would allow something like this to go on under my nose?!" He puts a hand over his eyes and flops down on the couch next to Remus dramatically. "No wonder you kept it such a big secret! You knew I'd be livid! The deception!"
"Is there any need for amateur dramatics," Regulus hisses. "You don't need to make a situation out of this, Sirius. We're dating, get over it."
"It wasn't exactly a secret," Remus interjects. Sirius flounces away from him on the couch, staring at his boyfriend in horror.
"You mean—you knew? And you didn't say anything? Effie knew too?"
"Everyone knows, you moron!" snaps Regulus. "We haven't been hiding it!"
"The lies—the treachery—the debauchery—"
"Debauchery," James snorts. His grin is wiped when Sirius aims a deadly glare in his direction.
Regulus claps his hands and stands up. "Right, I've had enough of your theatrics for one evening," he says. "James and I have been seeing each other for a week. Not long after I moved in with you guys, actually. If you haven't noticed it, you're either blind as a bat or you've had your eyes too focused on Remus's arse that you haven't seen anything else."
"Excuse me—" Sirius starts, but Regulus marches off in the direction of the door. Once he's slammed the door behind him, he hovers for a minute to eavesdrop.
"Maybe I should—" James starts.
"I'm going to kill you in a moment," Sirius mutters. "My brother, Prongs? You couldn't pick anyone else to shag?"
Regulus rolls his eyes and hurries upstairs. He normally sleeps in one of the guest rooms, but he slips into James's bedroom instead, and lies out on his bed, waiting.
It's not long after that he hears James padding up the stairs. When he enters the bedroom, he slides the lock shut behind him. "I know I don't normally have to lock this door, but I feel like I might have to from now on," he says sheepishly.
Regulus rolls onto his back and puts his arms behind his head. "Has he lost his mind, then?"
James shrugs. "I'm lucky I left there alive," he replies with a grin. "It's okay. I told him he's going to have to get used to the idea, and he's sulking. Don't worry, though. It'll get better soon. You know what he's like."
"Unfortunately."
James jumps on the bed next to him. "Are you okay?"
Regulus sighs. "Do you think it'll be easier if I move out? For Sirius? He's your family now, and I don't want to make things awkward."
James reaches out to trace Regulus's jaw with a finger. "No. You're not leaving. You're part of this family now, too."
Regulus grabs hold of James's hand. "Really?"
James smiles softly. "Really, babe."
Written For:
- 365 Words: 1. (word) Livid
- Insane House Challenge: 336. (item) Board Game
- Yearly Musical: 165. Has he lost his mind?
- Character Collection: 170. Euphemia Potter
- Writing Club/Character Appreciation: 22. (dialogue) "I'm going to kill you in a moment."
- Writing Club/Showtime: 5. (genre) Friendship
- Writing Club/Trope of the Month: 2. (emotion) Surprise
- Writing Club/TV Spree: 5. (word) Protect
- Writing Club/Sophie's Shelf: 23. "I'm lucky that I left there alive."
- Writing Club/Amber's Anime: 2. (theme) Found Family
- Writing Club/Elizabeth's Empire: 9. (theme) found family
- Writing Club/Ari's AU Armoury: 10. (word) Deception
- Writing Club/Snail Mail: 10. (word) Secret
- Writing Club/Snake Nest: Dinosaurs 6. (theme) Found Family
- Winter Seasonal/National Bird Day: 7. (character) Regulus Black
- Winter Seasonal/Appreciate a Dragon Day: 13. (genre) Friendship
- Winter Seasonal/Hot Tea Month: 2. James Potter
- Winter Seasonal/Celebrate Your Name Week: 18. Potter
- Winter Seasonal/Flowers: 3. "I don't know what to say."
- Winter Seasonal/Crystals & Gemstones: 8. (action) Stroking someone's hair
- Winter Seasonal/Alphabetti: S - 1. Sirius Black
- NeonFae's Nibbles - Cherry Bakewell Tart: 1. (word) Situation / 2. (dialogue) "Don't worry, it'll get better soon." / 5. (trope) Found Family
- After the Midnight Kiss: 28. (item) jumper/shawl
- Puzzle Club: Puzzle 4/7. (drink) wine
- Pucker Up/Molly Weasley: 2. (object) jumper
Word Count: 1,070