Red and green do not mix
The following week is pure havoc for Sirius. With the holidays ruined, it’s no surprise when the team calls James and Sirius back immediately; there’s no room for debate. After all, it’s not as if they can carry on as if nothing happened.
At least, that’s how it feels for Sirius, who spends most of his time replaying every interaction he’s had with his younger brother over the past eight years—though there are hardly any. He recalls every race they’ve competed in together (very few) and every piece of information he has about Regulus’s training (some, but mostly useless). Sirius spends the week spiraling down memory lane, wondering what happened in the Black household after he left and what kind of driver Regulus has become. It’s been a long time since Sirius has truly worried about his brother. It’s not as if they were especially close; they started to drift apart once Sirius began openly rebelling against the conditions his family insisted upon for racing.
Part of the Black family’s training involved driving under brutal conditions: powerless engines, worn-out tires, nearly un-drivable vehicles that forced him and Regulus to adapt to whatever situation arose. They'd be expected not only to win races with a significant lead but to suggest precise solutions to the mechanics for improving their cars. Sirius’s breaking point came after one particularly harrowing race in the rain, during which he was forced to drive with dry tires. He barely finished, coming in last. That night, his mother berated him, accusing him of disgracing the Black name. She made him drive again and again on the manor’s track until, not one, but two tires exploded.
After that, Sirius had dragged himself to his room, where Regulus was waiting. The brothers used to silently comfort each other after nights like that, huddling together without a word. But that night, Regulus confronted him instead. Sirius can’t remember what was said; his mind was already checked out from exhaustion. But whatever it was, it had been enough to sever their bond. From that night on, they never shared the same closeness.
Despite his strained relationship with Regulus, Sirius still feels an almost instinctual need to protect him. He doesn’t know what his brother has endured over the past eight years, but if Regulus is reappearing now, only to drive for one of the most competitive teams in F1—and knowing the Black family—it must have been grueling. Yet Walburga was always softer on Regulus than on him. She had a soft spot for her youngest.
Sirius likes to deceive himself in thinking Regulus would have escaped if life had been unbearable, or if he truly didn’t want to be a driver. Racing has always been his dream, and despite his competitive edge, Regulus never expressed the same desire to drive. When they dared to voice their deepest aspirations, Regulus was all about pursuing knowledge and art. Music? Sirius muses. The memory feels distant, but there was definitely something about a quiet life filled with creativity. Somehow, F1 had never seemed part of Regulus’s dreams.
Anyhow, while Sirius was haunted by thoughts of the past, it didn’t stop James from being his usual sunshine self. Their last night in Puerto Rico was spent – to no one’s surprise – on the beach, dancing bachata. Well, James danced, Sirius just got drunk. Very drunk. He might have posted a twitter sometime that night.
ImSirius @seriousSirius
I’m not drunk enough to watch James dance bachata with the Jamies
(please send more alcohol) #sos #help
The tweet probably isn’t a great idea, but who cares. After that, Sirius had turned off his phone and ignored it until they landed in Monaco.
So yeah, James went on all night long dancing with a bunch of different girls, until he settled for the Colombian girl in her late ‘30s and some tourist redhead, left the beach with one on each arm, and was there also a guy following? Sirius mind was all fuzzy by then.
The flight home had been awful.
Sirius nursed a vicious hangover, while James wouldn't stop reliving every amazing detail of his night with the redhead. Apparently, the Colombian one was with the guy that followed them – so Sirius’s mind wasn’t playing tricks the previous night! – but the details on if they had an altogether naked party in James’s room was lost on Sirius. He could take only as much of the blathering when he was feeling sick from alcohol and memories. The only upside was flying private.
Near the end of the flight, James had asked Sirius how he felt about the rumor of them being together. While they both agreed it was quite hilarious and would have gladly fed it, they decided it was best not to officially address it. Surely, they didn’t need Moody and McGonagall complaining about needing to do damage controls.
Those two where, respectively, James and Sirius’ engineers, however they had taken on the role of everything caretaker, from trainings to PRs, sometimes counselors or psychologists.
Not addressing the rumor lasted until they arrived to their flat. As soon as James got to his phone, he saw Sirius’s twitter from the previous night, which had blown up. Essentially, people just thought that Sirius was jealous of his boyfriend not inviting him to dance. Some argued Sirius couldn’t move his hips for his dear life – which is very untrue and rude thank you very much, he is an awesome dancer – but whatever, James decided it was hysterical to post a declaration on twitter.
JamesItsPotter @JPotter_
My biggest turn-on is jealousy and possessiveness #facts
People went feral.
In one week, Sirius had gone from relaxed and confident about the upcoming season to cutting his vacation short and joking about a fake boyfriend. Neither he nor James made any direct declaration about their relationship, but the two kept tweeting things open to interpretation. Rita Skeeter even published a video montage of James and Sirius’s most intense interactions - which are a lot considering they are best friends with no regard to personal space - sparking a whole fandom dedicated to shipping them.
And that’s how Sirius finds himself sitting in a meeting room with Moody, McGonagall, and Peter to talk about the elephant in the room.
And it isn’t Regulus, for once.
“So, you two aren’t together?” McGonagall asks, looking both exasperated and exhausted by the whole charade. She clearly doesn’t appreciate this latest PR headache.
“Nope,” James replies. “Not that I wouldn’t date you, babe,” he says, smirking at Sirius.
“Please, I’d never date someone with hair like yours,” Sirius shoots back.
“Oh, come on, my hair looks way better than yours after races. Girls go head over heels when I take my helmet off.”
“Shut up, sweat and long hair don’t get along, it’s not my fault” whines Sirius.
“Right,” interrupts Peter, raising an eyebrow “anyway, stop fuelling this whole dating rumour, especially when neither of you is gay. This is not the best way to handle sexuality in motorsport, considering how homophobic the industry can be. The topic deserves respect, and you two are not helping, as, I repeat, NEITHER OF YOU HAVE AN HOMOSEXUAL BONE.” Peter’s expression is firm.
Which, if you ask Sirius, is offending. It isn’t untrue, but it’s not either an entire truth. At least to Sirius. He had only girlfriends
To Sirius, the comment is faintly offensive. He isn’t exactly gay, but he’s definitely open-minded. He’s only dated women over the years, but you can never know. Honestly, Sirius has thought about having sex with a guy. Some are rather pretty. But he never thought about any romantic involvement with a boy. It feels weird.
Yet still.
“But Pete you couldn’t know” smirking at Peter, James takes hold of Sirius’s cheeks and dangerously leans closer.
“James, we had our nappies changed together, so I know. And Sirius here screams hetero despite the hair and drama tendencies, HEY that hurts”
Freed from James and with one hand still hovering on Peter’s shoulder, Sirius frowns “I am not dramatic”.
“Yes, you are” everyone in the room responds.
“Whatever” crossing arms on his chest, Sirius pouts on his chair.
Finally, Moody takes charge “Right, tomorrow morning at six sharp, I want you both ready. A car will pick you up and bring you to Le Castellet. It’s going to be three days of intense testing, so get some sleep—and leave your phones behind."
Back at the flat, they pack for the trip, with Peter giving orders like a mother hen, surprising Sirius with his level of bossiness. When they’d met, Peter had been quiet, following James around like a shadow. But his journey to becoming Pegasus’s lead strategist at only 24 has brought out his confidence, and he’s proven his talent for statistics and strategy. James and Sirius are proud of him.
Afterward, they relax in the living room, catching up on Peter’s recent travels and James’s last night in Puerto Rico. Apparently, he’s still hung up on the redhead he met, marveling over her mysterious allure.
Whatever.
James is now in the midst of sharing his encounter with the redhead from his last night in Puerto Rico. Usually, James isn't one to obsess over one girl, forgetting about right away. However, one week has passed and he is still daydreaming about that redhead. Of course, he never learned her name. Weird, but James reassures Sirius and Peter declaring it was an agreement - they wanted that night to be magical and felt like if they shared any information that could give away their identities, the spell would break.
James was ecstatic that, for once, a girl didn’t know who he was and spent the night trying to know James for James and not the driver.
So, again, for the hundredth time, Sirius is listening to James’s narration of a wonderful night.
Sirius doesn’t remember last time he fell in love.
Did he ever?
“You’re telling me you believe destiny will make you meet again? James you cannot be serious, it is so stupid!” Peter interrupts James’s story.
“I am Sirius and I am not stupid”
“Shut up I’m trying to resonate with James”
“Tried for one week, he’s a lost cause” Sirius says sharply to Peter.
“Come on guys, why so skeptical over the joys of romanticism?” cheerfully interjects James.
“I am a-romantic James” Peter says at the same time as Sirius comment “I am not romantic with people, it’s the way around”.
Short after, they call the night off.
The next morning, as they arrive to destination, they head straight to Paul Ricard. Sirius and James do their usual track walk, which takes around one hour. Biking is always faster, but over the years Sirius and James have found solace in walking together, silently, eventually speaking to exchange tips and observations.
However, as they are nearing the pits, Sirius can’t shake an uneasy feeling. The noise from the pits seems out of place, especially since it’s supposed to be only Pegasus today.
"Hold on," James jokes. "Why do I see green cars? Guess red’s out of fashion?"
Sirius doesn’t respond. He has a very bad feeling.
Indeed, the pits are in chaos. There, red and green can be seen.
Red and green do not mix.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite cousin,” comes Bellatrix’s voice from behind.
A voice in Sirius’s head whispers, Welcome back to hell. Hope you enjoyed purgatory while it lasted.