No beta – usually my husband does that and I doubt this level of cheese is up his street unless it's on a pizza. I'll review from time to time to correct mistakes. We're here for the fluff, not the grammar!

A different pranks-tine's date

'You know we don't care, right?' James said, tentatively.

He'd wanted to talk about this for some time, but he knew he had to tread carefully. Sirius was private. While James knew Sirius would be more open to him than anyone else, there was always a risk his best friend would just keep it to himself.

'It's more complicated than that,' Sirius said dismissively.

'Then let's hear it. We need something to talk about.'

Sirius looked down at his arms: 'I don't even know… I don't know what…'

'Do you want to talk about it?'

James had to ask. As hungry as he was to know how Sirius felt, what was going through Sirius' mind, he owed it to him to know whether he could push or not.

'Yes.'

Thank Merlin. Now what? What could James say – or ask – Sirius to make it easier for him to start?

'Then… what do you know?'

'That I love you. That I've always loved you.'

James tried not to stiffen. If he was being honest with himself, he had known, deep down, that this was coming. Surprised, and not surprised at the same time, he tried to look as unaffected by this as he could. Like it didn't matter. When it clearly did.

Sirius didn't like being vulnerable. The fact that he was opening up to James about… James… was big. More than big. Shit, James was petrified that if he made the wrong move or said the wrong thing, Sirius would shut down, and they would never be able to talk about this.

'There's no one else. There never have been. But y'know, I don't... It's not like you and Lily. I never wanted to kiss you or...'

Sirius paused, unsure what to say next.

Would a joke work, James wondered.

'I am not sure I'd want to kiss you either, mate.'

Sirius smiled weakly but continued his conversation with his hands: 'I just don't understand why people need partners in any other way than the way we are. I don't get why you need Lily – I see that you do, and I want to understand. I… I know you're the normal one… and that I am the weirdo.'

'You're not –' James had wanted to say "you're not a weirdo", but Sirius was unusual – wonderfully different – and it was what James loved about him.

'You're Sirius Black. There's only one Sirius Black. And –' here James' voice gave out slightly, 'I love you. Shit, Padfoot, you know that, don't you? I… I love Lily. I do. I am mad about her-'

'Yeah, the whole school knows, mate.'

A laugh escaped James. Merlin, he was so happy Lily was finally going out with him.

'One day, if she'll have me, I want to marry her. But… I can't picture a life without you… without us. You are my better half.'

Here Sirius snorted.

'Okay, worse half then,' James conceded, 'We are brothers, aren't we?'

'Brothers grow apart… sometimes.'

There was so much doubt and worry in Sirius' voice that James felt his chest contract painfully. Of course, Regulus continued to cast a dark shadow over the term.

James wanted to wrap his arms around Sirius, but he worried Sirius would pull away, joking about James "not needing to go all gay" or something stupid, and that would be the end of their talk. James had more things he needed to say, so he couldn't risk it.

'Don't be an idiot, Sirius. We are Padfoot and Prongs, and don't you forget it. Look,' James held out the palm of his hand, where there still was a tiny scar from when the two of them had made the cut to exchange blood when they were younger: 'this reminds me every day that I have a brother… and I am not – we're still going to be us.'

'Well, you know me,' Sirius said, and turning his gaze from James' palms, he finally met James' eyes, 'I never change.'

James grinned: 'And I do – but only, as you know, for the better.'

/

They didn't really broach the subject again, but they didn't need to. They were Padfoot and Prongs, and that was all there was to it.

However, James did have one person he needed to talk to. He found Lily in the common room later that evening.

'So how was your Valentine's date?' she asked, amused, kissing him softly.

'Pranks-tine's date,' James corrected her, before kissing her again. 'A bit less fun when we can't spend the time pranking all the soppy couples, but we made the most of it.'

'It must be so tough, restraining yourself, Mr Head Boy.'

'You have no idea how I suffer!'

'Dumbledore was really unkind, giving you that badge.'

'It has its perks. I hear the Head Girl is pretty hot,' James said, steering Lily to a sofa.

Taking a seat next to her, he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend.

'And clever and determined,' he quickly added, noticing her frown. Apparently, she didn't just want to receive compliments on her looks, as she worried he didn't care about the rest, which was stupid. She was the most talented witch he knew. Smart. Witty. Kind. Perfect.

'She can't have been that smart, dating you,' Lily mused.

'Alright, moderately clever, extremely hot and er… wonderfully ambitious…? Brave, she's very brave!'

Lily laughed: 'alright, that's enough, James.'

It was enough. James had something he needed to speak to her about. He sat up a bit straighter and pulled away slightly.

'Thank you for moving our Valentine's date,' he said, thinking it was a good place to start.

'Oh, I don't mind,' Lily said, smiling. 'You boys have your traditions. It's just a stupid idea anyways: that everyone has to have one collective date once a year.'

Well, yes, that's how Pranks-tine Day had started in the first place.

'You know Sirius is always going to be there, right?' James looked at her seriously, wanting her to understand what he was telling her.

James loved Lily. Adored her. Worshipped her. But in the choice between her and Sirius… well there was no choice at all.

'I know,' she said.

'I mean it,' James said.

Lily cupped his face in her hands: 'James, I know. I have never known one of you without the other. I don't think I ever want to, either.'

He studied her. She seemed to understand.

It was a shame he wasn't allowed to tell her how gorgeous she was, with her emerald green eyes which were always filled with such kindness and empathy, and sometimes – which James especially enjoyed – a bit of mischief.

He loved Lily. He loved Sirius. And as long as he was alive, he swore no harm should come to either.

A/N

I will die on the hill that this doesn't contradict the canon, as Morgan explains in his Wolfstar MovieFlame Youtube video: there's enough in the source material to suggest Sirius could be gay and in love with James (whatever JKR says), but I know it's also primarily head-canon. Therefore, I thought this dialogue worked better as a one-shot than in my canon-compliant Marauder story which I keep progressing on AO3 (also, they are still 11/12 in that story so...). It does mean there's no plot, but who cares!