Against all odds, and despite the unfortunate events of November 29th, Regulus and James found themselves back at Sirius and Remus’s to watch yet another match. To James’s surprise, the suggestion this time came from his “Sports are an utter disgrace” boyfriend. And despite James’s confusion at the request coming from Regulus and his fear that this would once again affect his friendship with Remus, there is absolutely no way he could ever demy Regulus anything.
“Are we not invoking any rules this time? No ‘Be on your best behavior, James’ or anything?” James asked from his position on the couch, head on Regulus’s shoulder.
His boyfriend’s voice came in a soft whisper. “Sweetheart, we’re on opposite sides tonight. I do not care what behavior you’re on, but you should. Don’t want to end up on the wrong side of the bed tonight. Or even worse, the couch.”
James looked up at his boyfriend who was sipping the tea in his hand with a smirk on his face, promptly avoiding eye contact with James. “Oh, so you’re what? Acknowledging the ancient house of Black’s divine French heritage today?” Regulus simply shrugged. “You care about football today? Sirius, have you seen this? Where even is Sirius?”
On that note, and in true Sirius fashion, he emerged from the bedroom dressed in a jersey, a football jersey, James was certain he was tripping, he must be. Sirius didn’t just have a France Football Jersey, he had the flag painted on his cheek, and some sort of nail art, and somehow he didn’t look like he was doing this ironically? James was so confused. He looked to Remus for any sort of consolation, for the comfort of knowing his friend was equally as confused, but Remus was just staring at Sirius in awe, a soft smile on his lips. James was so confused.
“Hey, Prongs,” Sirius said as he took a seat on Remus’s lap in the chair. “Not in uniform today?” James looked down at his clothes, he’d ditched the jersey today, didn’t so much as bring a scarf, he wanted this to be civil, didn’t want to make a scene, he wanted to avoid yet another nine-day period of the silent treatment card. James looked at Sirius with a raised eyebrow to which Sirius pointed at his own jersey as if explaining to James. James was so confused.
“Yes, babe, you’re lacking the proper attire, I fear,” Regulus said as he put on a scarf with the French flag. Where did that come from? James was so confused. “I have an extra one, you can borrow it if you want.” Regulus held out another scarf with the French flag in James’s direction. James just looked at it. Then at his boyfriend. Then Sirius. Then Remus. Then the scarf. James was so fucking confused.
“I’m-“ James started but was shushed by Regulus who announced the match is starting. Regulus Black, James’s beautiful, brilliant boyfriend who gives zero fucks about sports just announced that the match is starting. He just shushed James because a match is starting. He is wearing a scarf in support of a team. Regulus Black is wearing a scarf, watching a match, and shushing James. James was equally as turned on as he was confused.
If you stopped at any minute throughout the match and asked James what he thought of the game, he’d give you a different answer every time. Beautiful, absolutely stunning, ethereal, so very gorgeous, breathtaking mate, I really don’t know what to tell you, I didn’t know it could do that, so very beautiful. And with every answer, you’d get a rare smile from Regulus, who knows with certainty that his boyfriend is not watching the game, who knows he’s being watched instead, and who is reveling in all of it.
By the time the first half was over, Remus turned to James. “I’m sorry, mate, it’ll hopefully pick up in the second half.” James had no idea what Remus meant, and by the way Remus was smirking at him, he knew the other man was absolutely lost. It took James a minute to register that his team was behind, and that Remus was definitely not wishing the English team well, he was just trying to get a rise out of James. He did not care. He couldn’t even tell you what he said in response.
He turned back to look at Regulus. Sometime during the game, they switched positions, James doesn’t remember. But Regulus’s head was in his lap as the other looked up at him. “Alright, mon amour?”
“I’m so confused,” James said out loud for the first time. Regulus just laughed and turned back to the TV.
“The game is about to start, Cherie, you can be confused after our team beats your team’s ass.”
James is still confused. He glances at Remus and Sirius who are cuddled up on the chair, whispering to each other, until Sirius shushes Remus announcing the game is starting. Sirius Black is shushing Remus Lupin for a match. James keeps getting more confused. Remus doesn’t seem to share the same confusion, he just stares at his boyfriend in awe.
The second half goes by similarly, James is momentarily brought back to reality when England scores a goal. He tries to pay attention then, tries to root for his team that now actually has a chance to win. But he simply can’t. He watches Regulus get excited whenever France heads towards the English goal, he watches worry lines on his forehead whenever the opposite happens, he watches his leg bounce, he can feel how happy Regulus is, how much he’s enjoying this. James might be confused, he might have no clue what the fuck is going on, but he will not be the one to steal Regulus’s joy. And if that means James’s beloved team loses, then so fucking be it.
With the final whistle, Sirius and Regulus cheered, with Sirius throwing himself at Remus and Regulus looking at James with so much joy, James couldn’t help but kiss him. Over and over again. He didn’t want to stop. He was afraid he couldn’t stop.
Normally, after a loss like this, James would be inconsolable. He would be either too sad or angry and probably wallow for a few days. Today, however, with Regulus beaming, Sirius whooping, and Remus outright gloating, James couldn’t help but be happy. He couldn’t help but bask in the joy of the people he loves most in the world. He couldn’t help but be elated. James was still so very confused.
James kisses Regulus again and again until Sirius makes disgusted noises in the background and physically pulls them apart. James pretends to miss the high-five Sirius gives Regulus. He also pretends not to notice Remus doing the same thing. They both share a knowing look. They’ve been Blacked. They both simultaneously shrug, smile, and go back to looking at their respective boyfriends, who are talking animatedly. Even though Remus probably caught on way before James did, he still appreciates not being alone in this.
The thought of Regulus doing something like this, however, pretending to be interested in James’s favorite sport just to get a reaction, conspiring with Sirius through it, was too much for James. Too much joy. Too much warmth. Too much pure, unadulterated Regulus Black love. James looks at his boyfriend, the absolute love of his life, and they lock eyes. Regulus gives him a warm smile, a smile he usually gives James when they’re alone, or on particularly good mornings, or in rare moments when everything is just right. James mouthes an ‘I love you’, fully expecting nothing in return and being content with that.
Regulus excuses himself and heads towards James. He looks at him for a second, then leans in and gives him a soft kiss. “I love you too.”
"No tantrums today, I see," Sirius says as he takes a seat next to James hours later. "Your team lost, to the French no less, and you're out here with a disgustingly annoying smile on your face, it is jarring."
"How off-putting would it be if I said something utterly cliche and very James Potter brand cheesy about the smile on Regulus's face and my best friend and my boyfriend being happy and the smile on Regulus's face?" James asks.
"Extremely off-putting really," Sirius says, but can't help the smile that makes its way to his face. "Disgusting, honestly. Never say things like this to me ever again."
James laughs. "Guess I better start on that tantrum then."
By the end of the night, no silent treatment cards have been evoked, the Black brothers think they got away with their little scheme -which, yes, they kinda did-, James is no longer confused, and everyone is getting laid tonight.