Chapter 4
James
“James get up” someone was banging on his bedroom door, “Sirius said his eta was less than 15 and we better be ready!”
Fuck, James had forgotten for a second what a shit show his life currently was. He ran his hands down his face and sighed already dreading the day. “Yep, got it thanks Regulus”
James is rushing now to get dressed and brush his teeth hoping refreshed will be passable because that's all he has time for.
“James! Sirius is here” Regulus announced
“James get out here you lazy shit” Sirius had a tendency to show fondness by joking
“Yeah yeah yeah I heard your annoying voice already Sirius calm down,” James says strutting out of his room into the kitchen now filled with both black brothers
James was trying to pretend he wasn’t nervous to hear the plan and hoping he could fake it till he made it. His palms were sweaty though and he wasn’t sure either black was convinced.
“So what's the verdict Sirius don't hold back can I keep playing football,” James says trying to get the hard stuff out of the way and hear what the outlook on his career is.
“That's the goal James, these Rumors are homophobic and the media taking an interest in your queerness to question your values is fucked we need to prove that queer does not equal whore.”
“Even if it did Sirius that's okay Jesus you sound like you're having to prove James innocent when he did nothing wrong in the first place” Regulus snapped
James hated to see them fight with each other, both the blacks had looks that could cut you like glass when they were mad. It was a risk getting between them when they were like this but one he was going to have to take.
“Guys calm down I can't have you at each other's throats over ethics we need to be a team” James knows he must sound like a bad motivational speaker with way too much optimism but someone has to keep them from starting a screaming match.
“Spoken like the true team player goodie goodie quarterback you are James. BUT Sirius knows he's wrong and I won’t let him speak to you or anyone else that way”
“Fine Reg I'm sorry but only because you don't understand press work. And you're not even on James’ management team so chill out,” Sirius is still snapping back.
“I'm his fake boyfriend appointed by you personally! so what exactly is my role in this, I hope you weren't expecting a passive bystander because you should have found someone else for this job”
James can feel Regulus getting riled up “Reggie stop Sirius is not the enemy” which seems to finally get his attention. “Sirius knows that it’s not my fault I promise he's been fighting for my side this whole time. PR is a shitty world but Sirius didn't create it. Sirius thrives on getting people out unscathed from the drama but if he could change the world he would. We’re fighting against years of ingrained homophobia, sometimes we have to make them doubt themselves to understand they're wrong when they won't hear reason” James’ knows his tangent is long winded but explaining his world makes him disgusted on a good day so he understands why Regulus is upset. But none of them are gonna win if they don’t let Sirius do his job.
Regulus stares at James with a look he couldn’t quite place.
“You shouldn't have to live like this, I said I’d help and I will but this isn't right we should be calling the media out and suing the people who leaked the pictures to mass press outlets.”
Regulus was saying what James had always wanted to hear. James had always wanted to fight the press and tell them to fuck off in his mind, ever since the media had followed his dad and mom around with cameras he’d lost his patience for them.
He heard Sirius sigh next to them “Look Reg I am actually sorry you’re not wrong the media circuit is an evil evil world and they don't deserve to do this to James at all. If I thought it would achieve anything I would go after them directly. But all we’ll get is a shit ton of money and a half-assed apology. James would never be more than the “Queer Football Player”. Teams would be afraid to take him on as a liability and the homophobes would be vindicated. I want you to both be more than what the media will stereotype you as. I want them to see James as a whole person one who loves football, is queer, is happy, is kind, is passionate, and everything else that makes James - well James.”
James knows that they really all want the same thing, with the stress they're all under it's coming out sideways but after this blows over he doesn’t want any of them to have resentments. Regulus was right they needed rules and boundaries.
“Now that we all agree I wanna know that step-by-step plan” James brought back up
“Of course, okay so James I want you to go back to practice and your game schedule as normal. We want to give the media no room to paint you as ashamed or hiding away”
“Okay where will our fake relationship come into play”
“We want to set you and Regulus up with some public stunts to show off your “committed loving relationship” we will have planted paparazzi follow you and get shots to sell the press.” - “Also we were thinking a sit-down interview would help I know it’s a bit last minute and you don't have to say yes but I think it would help.” Sirius looked sure he was going to be shut down
Surprisingly before James even gets a word in Regulus speaks up “Whatever we need to do to ensure James gets his life back”
“On that note Reg, the team thinks it would be good if you attend James’ games for the rest of the season and show a supportive front as his boyfriend”
“Sirius I have the charity, you know there's no way I can leave on away trips that often, when will I have time to work with this I’m here to help but be reasonable.”
“He's right Sirius, maybe we can try two games a month and have me help Regulus with charity stuff, there's no way I’d date anyone and force them to give up their dreams for me”
“Okay two games and one practice every other week then, they're local it will be less demanding on schedules. The charity is a great idea the optics will look great with you helping queer kids.”
Oh, James knew Regulus wasn’t going to like that.
“Sirius you cannot use my charity and the kids for optics I’m happy to have James help and you know I love the volunteer work you've done but these kids can't be used to make us look good they've been through enough,” Regulus says standing his ground
“Your right but we need to get you guys in a good light, I’ll figure something else out. Reg you know I would never take your charity lightly the videos of James helping queer youth would be great but never at the cost of their privacy and safety.” Sirius said looking at his little brother a bit protectively now
James knows Sirius's words come out sideways sometimes even when he tries his best it's hard to watch his best friend struggle to say the right thing. Especially because James knows he only has good intentions.
“Okay so we have a game plan and it won't involve using Regulus’s charity but I will be helping out” James refuses to let Regulus's work get pushed aside for his own. “I’ll go to practice now and try to act normal and Regulus can show up and ill act surprised my “Boyfriend” showed up to watch me”
“Okay, I’ll let my team know I will be late to work today and check on the kids later. Sirius will you drive me to the stadium I need to figure out where to go and stuff” Regulus asks
“Of course, once James leaves we’ll wait for a few minutes and I’ll drive you there to show up as a surprise”
James is rushing to get ready he'd hate being late on his first day back since the scandal. Once he's out the door though and in his car, he thinks about how weird it is gonna be to have Regulus in the stadiums watching him. It makes him kinda nervous that he might not look good on the field or that Regulus won't be impressed even though he knows that is a ridiculous fear. Really James is just grateful today hasn't gone to complete shit.