Elliot
“He’s hot.” James mumbled to Sirius, impressed. It was James’s Monday off and he was, of course, at the café with Sirius helping. That was actually what was supposed to be happening, not the talking and gossiping and giggling. Especially now that Remus came to get his coffee, and today he asked for a muffin too, and he stayed! Sirius said that it was happening more often these last days, but he didn’t want to jinx it by saying it out loud to anyone, because according to him, the universe is never in his favor.
“I know, right?” Pads said, almost drooling at the sight of Remus. James was also starring, shamelessly. What? The man is gorgeous. Like movie kind of gorgeous, he could be straight from Hollywood. Austin Butler would be jealous of his brown blondish hair, messy and wavy like the soft water of a ocean. His eyes were just like moony’s, exactly like Sirius said. Amber eyes. And the motherfucker was tall as hell. Taller than James, even. His slim body was covered in silly tattoos, making he seem a little more soft than scary. And the moon tattoo. It was visible because it is a summer day and it is sunny and hot, so he was wearing a pair of short shorts. The tattoo was huge, and amazingly beautiful. This one looked like it had a meaning to it. James is curious. Who is this man?
Sirius is absolutely right in crushing on this man. Prongs is proud. This is the first time Sirius crushes on a real man for a long time. I mean, fictional characters and famous dudes don’t count. Since James came out to his friends on that Christmas party, Sirius always seemed a little uncomfortable around the matter. Sexuality was something he could be okay talking unless it was about him. Over the passing of time, James learned that his friend was just trying to deal with the fact that he liked men, too. It was a scary thing for Pads, but he got through it. James, Effie, Monty and Peter made it easy and comfortable for him. Yet, he never had a boyfriend or even a girlfriend after Mary when they were 15/16. Only casual hook ups here and there, but never something more. A crush like this, like the way he's talking about Moony, is a big step for him.
“Go talk to him. Now.” James said, more ordered, smirking at his friend. Sirius looked like he’s seen a ghost. For someone who’s already as white as a piece of paper, he became almost transparent.
“Are you crazy?” He hissed at James. “No!” He whispered, looking at James like he was absurdly betrayed by him.
James rolled his eyes. But then… “You know what?” He deviated his gaze from Sirius to stare at moony. “I am crazy.”
James got his ass up from the seat and started to walk towards Moony, looking back to see if Sirius was going after him.
Ha.
He was.
Bug he was also with a ‘I’ll kill you later’ look in his eyes. James can suffer the consequences later, now he’ll make his best friend talk with that giant. James was wearing an apron and a badge with the name ‘Jamie’ on it just because sirius knows he despises the nickname. Prongs is so much better!
“Hi!” James greeted, speaking fast, trying to make a move for Six before he stopped him. “Is everything alright with your order? Would you like anything else?” James asked, all smiles.
Remus smiled slightly, then looked around to see if anyone in particular was listening. Apparently, the coast was clear to him, so he tilted his head and smiled brightly at James, “Maybe?” he suggested, “If you could get your boss to talk to me?” HA. There you go.
So he is interested, and James didn’t even need to do something.
“Sorry, is he bothering you?” Sirius interrupted their conversation, narrowing his eyes at James then looking away at Remus and smiling.
“No, no. Not at all” Remus said, chuckling.
“Yeah. I was about to invite him to the café’s brunch tomorrow, boss.” James said the last word mockingly, smiling at his friend. Sirius hates being called ‘boss’, especially from James, who isn’t even an employee here.
Sirius softened a little at the thought of his friend not embarrassing him.
“Right. Of course. Um, tomorrow we will do a special edition of our Tuesday brunch, Remus. The food is different and the candy is sweeter, and there’s more chocolate!” Pads said, starting the phrase professionally, but ending it enthusiastically. God, even James is surprised with the effects of Remus Moony.
“It’ll be awesome, mate. You should come.” James said, loud and clear, then whispering to Remus “He’ll be pleased if you come,” as if Sirius wasn’t right there and next to him.
“I’ll be here, Jamie.” Remus said, nodding once to James and then nodding to Pads, “Sirius.”
Sirius looked bewildered, “Jamie? What the fuck? Since when are you guys so close?”
James exploded in laughter, while Remus just smirked, cocking an eyebrow, “It’s the name on the badge,” he said, laughing a little, too. But not too much, James noticed. Hummmmm. He is trying not to make Sirius uncomfortable or embarrassed. Cute, but won’t work. Truly, Sirius doesn’t give a fuck, but James noticed that with Remus, he does. He was blushing so hard that his face wasn’t even pink anymore, just pure red.
“Ah.” Sirius mouthed. “Of course. Sorry.” He said, embarrassment all over his face, turning to leave the table, gesturing for James to come along.
“Wait.” Remus said, reaching for Sirius' forearm to stop him from going. Damn. James was just watching, but he could feel the sparkle that happened in that touch. He could see it in their eyes. Electricity.
Electric touches happen to be the most exhilarating feeling in this world. James knows, he only felt it once, but oh, he knows. And he also knows how to recognize it.
This is so beautiful.
Sirius deserves this feeling so much, and Prongs is so happy he finally gets to see Padfoot enter this phase of life. The most beautiful and pernicious thing about living is passion. The rose and the dagger, all at once, mortal, but never regrettable. Hopefully, the harmful part won’t get to Sirius, but if gets, he’ll be here for him. Because after seeing this, he knows he’ll fall. He just knows.
“What time, tomorrow?” Remus asks, smiling and not letting Sirius go.
“Ten.” Sirius answers, voice a little shaky, but nothing too noticeable.
“Awesome! I’ll be here.” Remus grinned. “You’ll be here, right?” He asked, making an effort for Sirius to notice that he’ll be here because of him. Remus wants to see Sirius!
“Yes,” he replied, a little smile dancing on his lips.
Suddenly, the bell by the door rings, signaling someone just came in. Remus let Sirius’ arm go, so he could go back to his job, while James occupied himself by taking the dirty cup from Remus’ table to the kitchen, when he saw him.
Elliot. Damn. The shock made him almost drop the mug, taking Sirius’ attention from Remus.
“What the hell, Pron- Oh.”
Elliot was walking straight towards them. Ah.
“Sirius! James! I missed you so much.” Ellie said, once he got close enough.
James 's heart sank.
Elliot was Regulus’ first boyfriend. Years ago, James wanted to hate him. He wanted to despise this boy’s guts forever. And he did, for a month, before Elliot conquered every single one of their hearts. How could someone not love Ellie? He was the most gentle boy in this universe. Elliot was about Sirius’ height. His skin was porcelain pretty and white, His hair was straight and wavy, super blond. His body was slim, toned, but with no muscles appearing. James’ true opposite.
At the time, it broke him. Elliot’s existence shattered James's heart in pieces. But the hardest part was admitting that it wasn’t the blond’s fault, it wasn’t James’, it wasn’t Regulus’. It was just life. If life kicks James in the face in order to make other two people happy, and if one of them is Regulus, James is thrilled to be played with.
But that was then.
Today? Who knows.
Everyone loves Elliot. Always loved. He's a bit younger, months younger than Regulus, two years younger than the rest of their group. He was welcomed like a little baby. The child everyone looked after, that everyone loved.
The worst was Sirius.
At first, they both hated Elliot together. Like it was a brother bond thing that they agreed wordlessly to do. It didn’t last long. Soon, Elliot was closer and closer to their family. Effie and Monty grew a love for him. So it was easy for Sirius to love his new brother in law. At the time, and still to this day, Sirius hasn't ever found love. He didn’t get what James was going through. He didn’t know it wasn’t easy to get over something like that.
So James lied.
He said Regulus was past.
Sirius Believed it.
For the first time, James lied and Sirius didn’t notice.
This broke his heart, too. It was like a knife in his stomach, twisted every time Sirius interacted with Elliot with so much love.
Months went by, it was too late.
How can you tell your best friend you lied to them? That you didn’t get over their brother and every time you see them with the new boyfriend a dagger in your guts makes deeper injuries that are probably never goin to heal? How do you tell them this after you gave them time to love each other? It wasn’t fair. It isn’t fair.
Elliot hugged Sirius hard, like he was his brother too. Still hurts.
Elliot, so little and adorable, hugged James too. Also with so much strength and love that makes James feel guilty for ever thinking bad about this boy. They were just kids, but still. Regret never fails to get him.
“Hey, I missed you.” Ellie whispered in the crook of his neck, making James hug him harder.
“Me too, Ellie.” James whispered back.
“C’mon, let’s get you a table!” Sirius said, taking both of their hands, directing them to a booth in a corner. Once they sat, making themselves comfortable, Sirius gestured to Aisha, one of the waiters, to bring them water.
“Thank you” all of them thanked her once she came with the waters.
“You’re a waiter, too, James?” Ellie asked, taking a sip of his.
“Part-time. Only when I’m on days off from the hospital.”
“Actually,” Sirius said, raising his index finger. “He isn’t an official employee, he just hangs out and flirt with customers instead of helping.”
“Hey! We gossip, too. How can you forget my most important hobby?” He said aghast, hand in his chest.
Elliot laughed, bringing smiles to Sirius and James’s faces.
“So. What brings you to rainy old London, Ellie?” Sirius asks, casually.
He came for him. It's obvious.
“Uh. I came to get Reggie back.” Elliot, muttered, shrugging and drinking more water.
What?
“Get him back? You broke up?” James questioned, curious. He didn’t know that for sure.
“Yeah. A few months ago.” Ellie sighed. “I just can’t stand being without him, when I heard he was coming here I knew I had to come, too. I need to try, James. He’s the love of my life.” Ouch. That hurts. hurts like a bitch.
Elliot doesn’t know, or at least James thinks he doesn’t know about his past with Reg. It makes things easier. but worse at the same time.
Moons jumped into his lap, climbing to get at Sirius who was next to him. Lennon, James’ favorite, came right after the first kitten, staying in his lap instead. His little paws in James's tights, his white fur contrasting with James’s dark skin. His blue eyes staring at his soul like they’ve known each other for years. James tried to steal Lennon probably about ten times now, but Sirius never lets him, claiming Lennon needs company and James lives at the hospital. One day, one day he’ll manage it.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Ellie.” James answered, scowling.
Am I?
I AM!
Yes, I am.
“He told me he would probably be staying with your parents.” Elliot affirmed, looking at the window possibly lost in thoughts and prayers. “Is he?” He asked, hopefully. Hope? Hope for what? To be in a place where he could forget him easily or…
hope not to be in that place?
Ugh.
James really wished he could read minds now.
“He is.” Sirius replied, smiling. “Impossible not to stay at mum and dad’s if you’re in London, right?” He grinned, proud of his family.
“Right.” Elliot returned the smile warmly.
In a blink of the eye, James’s phone started ringing. Dr. Barry.
“Shit. I have to take this, just a minute guys.” He said, picking up the call.
J: Hello, Sir. Everything alright?
B: Where the hell are you, Potter? I need you for a surgery in three hours and there’s no sign of you in this damn hospital!
J: That’s because today is my day off, sir. What’s the surgery?
B: Get your ass down here in an hour. Brain tumor, Alicia Turner, 23. You in? I can always call Hastings.
J: No, no need to call him. I’ll be there in forty.
B: Great… Thanks, Potter.
J: Whenever you need, sir.
B: Yeah, yeah. Bye.
“Bye!” The line was already dead. But nothing could make James sad right now. His first time assisting a brain tumor surgery! Fuck, this is awesome.
“Don’t tell me you’re working on your day off.” Sirius scowled, ready to scold James.
“I am. And I am happy to do it.” James said, beaming and getting up. “I’m undergoing my first major brain surgery ever!”
Sirius' face exploded in a huge grin. “Oh my God, I’m so happy for you, Prongs!”
“I gotta go now, but I'll tell you everything later! bye, love you! bye Ellie!”