Written for Quidditch League

Round 8 - Holyhead Harpies - Seeker

Prompt SEEKER: "My reputation's never been worse, so." - Delicate (lyric, use however you want)

Just think of the fun things we could do

Sirius' reputation is at an all time low, but maybe it's time to stop caring? Rockstar!AU

Sirius laughs as he tosses the newspaper onto the table. "Made the headlines again," he says with a grin.

"It's not funny," Remus responds crossly as he picks it up, his eyes skimming the front for only a couple of seconds before he discards it with a huff. "Can't you behave for five fucking minutes?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Sirius asks, folding his arms behind his head and leaning back on the chair. "People like that I'm a bad boy, Moony, and I need to give the people what they love."

James rolls his eyes. "It can't be that bad, can it?" He takes the poor, abused newspaper from the table and fixes the pages together before he looks at the front. "Threesome?"

"Didn't even happen," Sirius scoffs. "The papers just like to catch me with some pretty birds and think the worst." He shrugs. He's had to learn not to care about these things a long time ago. Four years ago, he'd have panicked, but he's been taught better now.

It doesn't matter what they say about him—all that matters is his friends' reactions, and they look pretty disappointed, though Peter is reading over James' shoulder and giving him a thumbs up.

Right.

"Look, all I'm saying is that I don't care if they lie about me," Sirius explains, hoping to smooth it over with his friends at the very least. "Because if not this, they'll lie about something else. There will always be something. I can't live my life not interacting with anyone just in case something happens that the papers can spin into a scandal."

Remus sighs. "I know," he says quietly. "I just think that you're better than this. It's not your fault, it's theirs, but I hate to hear anyone say a bad word about you."

"When you took time off to look after Hope after her fall some time ago, they tried to make it out that you were in rehab," Sirius points out. "I know you get it, Moony."

"It's still ridiculous. Our Moony has never touched any drugs in his life," James scoffs. "He can drink us all under the table if he wanted, though, not that we can get him to touch a drop often."

"Maybe they were referring to rehab for a sex addiction," Sirius teases. "Though, after this article, that's where I'll probably land next time I need a few days off." He laughs, but the others don't join in. He gets a weak smile from Peter, but nothing from the others.

"I'm sorry," Sirius says, leaning forward and pushing himself up from the chair. "I'm fucking sorry—"

"We don't want your apology," James insists. "It's not you, we just—"

"I know, but I need to be more careful. It's not just my name at stake, it's all of us. It's the band. I don't want you guys to… for our reputations to suffer just because I fucked up and let myself look like I was in a compromising situation with two smoking hot birds."

Remus' frown deepens at this, and he looks away. Sirius can tell he's more annoyed than he's letting on, though he's not quite certain what brought it on.

"I promise I'll do better," Sirius insists. He shoves his hands into the pockets of his hooded jacket. "That's all I can say."

James gives a nod. There's not much any of them can really say when it comes to a shitty situation like this.

Sirius turns to walk out, but before he can storm out of the room in a wonderfully dramatic style, Remus strides out first, stealing his thunder.

Now his storming off won't be as dramatic and Sirius is forced to hang back, left feeling salty at Remus. Who does Remus even think he is?

"You're jealous, aren't you?" Sirius asks. He's been watching Remus for a couple of weeks now—closer than usual, and he's got it all worked out. He can't help the smug tone of his voice.

"Would there be a point in denying it?" Remus retorts, stunning Sirius just a little. Remus isn't the sort to admit to such an emotion. That'd be admitting that there's a reason to be jealous. Remus must be riled up more than Sirius thought, so he dials down the smugness as best he can.

"Talk to me, Moony."

"Sirius, it's stupid," Remus says, sighing heavily. "You flirt with me constantly. I feel like we have sparks, and then you're out there having your picture taken with everyone else, and… it kinda feels a bit shit, to be honest. I've been doing some thinking, and maybe you need to stop flirting with me too. Lines are getting blurred for me, and I don't think it's fair."

Sirius bites his lower lip, playing around with the piercing that sits at the side of it. He doesn't want that. Not in the slightest.

"I would much rather flirt with you," Sirius admits. There's a reason the papers only see him with women.

"Then you have to decide what you want," Remus insists. "It's fine if the answer isn't me. I just need to know."

Sirius already knows. He's known since he was a teenager and Remus had sat up with him all night during the thunderstorms, regardless of how mild or violent they had been. He's known with each band practice and each time their hands have brushed as they've passed the instruments to each other.

"If they find out…" Sirius hesitates. He's talking about the media. He's scared, and he hates to admit that. He doesn't like being scared of anything, but he knows that Remus will understand.

"I'm not asking you to flaunt us in front of the cameras," Remus assures him, his voice softening. He reaches up, pushing his tawny curls back. "I'd never ask that. I just want to know that if you did choose me and if they did get a picture, that… that I'd matter enough for you to…"

"To not deny everything?" Sirius asks. He takes a moment to think about it, but even with his fear and the panic of the world finding out the truth, he realises that he only needs a moment. Because he would never deny Remus. He wouldn't deny a relationship with his best friend.

"The media won't like it," Sirius says with a shrug, letting out the grin he's been holding in. "But you know what? My reputation has never been worse… and fuck anyone who doesn't like this. I don't care about what they think anymore."

He wants to make some big romantic gesture, but Remus is the one to close the distance between them, his lips crashing against Sirius' before Sirius can even register what's happening. His fingers come up, burying themselves in the front of Remus' jumper.

"Fuck anyone who doesn't like this," Remus repeats softly, and that smile tells Sirius that he's made the right choice.