Chapter 16
Remus
Now, Remus was not a stalker.
He considered himself more of a detective.
So maybe he didn’t get Sirius’ number after the party…
But, Sirius also had said that he wasn’t opposed to spending more time with him…
So, logically, Remus didn’t think it was too creepy that when James handed him his phone to queue music for their erg, he took a tiny detour into his contacts, found Sirius’ number, sent it to himself, and then—like a true criminal mastermind—deleted the message so James wouldn’t see it.
…Okay, maybe it was a little creepy.
But detective work required dedication.
And speaking of things that required some serious detective work—
Practice had been weird as hell.
James was acting almost… sad.
He was quiet, barely talking, barely singing along to the music like he always did. And, to make matters weirder, the lightweights were paying him more attention than usual.
Barty and Evan—who usually ignored him unless they needed to steal a snack or make fun of his ecccentrically designed unis—called him over to do core with them, making sly jokes that James forced himself not to react to.
And Regulus?
Regulus was looking at Remus like he wanted to eat him alive.
Which—objectively—was hot. How could it not be, he looked just like Sirius afterall, but was also incredibly confusing.
Because last week, Regulus barely knew he existed.
And now?
Now, he was practically dripping flirtation, lingering around him, leaning in a little too close, fingers brushing his arm casually when he spoke.
Which—again—was hot.
But something about it felt… unnatural.
Regulus was performing something.
And Remus Lupin was perceptive.
Something was definitely up.
In the weight room James sat heavily on a mat, still weirdly quiet, running a towel through his damp hair.
Remus plopped down next to him, nudging him lightly with his shoulder.
“So,” he said, keeping his voice casual, “are you gonna tell me why you’re acting like someone just ran over your childhood dog? Or do I have to guess?”
James huffed a laugh, but it wasn’t real.
“No reason to bring Mellie into this.”
Remus gave him a ‘no more bullshit’ look, which leveled James.
“Just tired,” he muttered.
Remus narrowed his eyes.
James Potter was a lot of things.
Tired was never one of them.
Before he could push, a shadow loomed over them.
“Remus.”
Remus glanced up.
Regulus.
Standing there, arms crossed, expression smooth and unreadable.
Except—
Except when he looked at James, there was something sharper in his gaze.
Something pointed.
“Hope you don’t mind if I steal him, James” Regulus said smoothly, looking at Remus.
Remus raised an eyebrow.
James exhaled sharply, like he was bracing himself.
Then, without looking at Remus, he muttered, “Go ahead.”
Regulus smirked.
“Come help me stretch?” he asked, voice dripping with suggestion.
Remus glanced at James, whose jaw twitched.
…Oh.
So this was what was happening.
Regulus was trying to make James jealous.
Well.
Who was Remus to deny him? Maybe it would knock some sense into the kid.
“Sure,” he said easily, standing up.
Regulus grinned.
Then, very deliberately, he placed a hand on Remus’ shoulder and let it trail lightly down his arm, his fingers just barely brushing over the sensitive skin of his wrist before he turned away.
Remus followed.
And James?
James was watching them go with a look that could burn a hole through the mat.
They walked across the room to where there were more mats laid out, but they were still undoubtably in James’ direct line of sight.
Regulus sat down on one of the mats and gestured for Remus to sit in front of him.
Remus complied, fighting a smirk.
“So,” he murmured, “you want to tell me what we’re doing here, Black?”
Regulus tilted his head. “Stretching.”
Remus hummed, deliberately leaning forward a little, lowering his voice.
“Oh?” he said, low and teasing. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re trying to drive someone insane.”
Regulus’ lips curved slightly, but he didn’t take the bait.
Instead, he gestured to his leg. “Hold this.”
Remus quirked an eyebrow but complied, holding Regulus’ ankle steady as Regulus leaned forward, hands pressed against the mat behind him, stretching out his hip flexor.
His already loose zip-up slid slightly, revealing the sharp cut of his collarbone.
And Remus did not miss the way James was staring from across the room.
Yeah.
This was absolutely a show.
Regulus switched legs, voice smooth as silk.
“You know, Remus,” he drawled, “you’re much stronger than you look.”
Remus chuckled, playing along.
“Good to know,” he murmured.
Regulus let out a soft hmm, eyeing him like he was considering something.
Then—
“So,” he said, just loud enough for James to hear, “tell me… what exactly do you do for fun?”
James tensed visibly from where he sat.
Remus bit back a grin.
Regulus was good at this.
The thing was—
So was Remus.
So he grinned slowly, tilting his head.
“Well,” he said, “I could show you. If you’re interested.”
Regulus’ eyes gleamed.
“Maybe I am,” he mused.
And James?
James shot to his feet, muttered a sharp “fuck this,” and stormed off to the locker room.
Regulus watched him go, looking satisfied for exactly two seconds.
Then, as soon as James was out of sight—
Regulus’ entire body slumped slightly, his shoulders dropping, his smirk disappearing.
Remus observed him carefully.
Then—
“That was exhausting, wasn’t it?” he asked.
Regulus let out a breath, running a hand through his hair.
“You have no idea.”
Remus exhaled a soft laugh.
Then, after a moment—
“You know, if you really wanted to make him jealous,” he said, “you could’ve just asked me out for real.”
Regulus snorted.
“I’m not ready for anything like that yet.”
Remus grinned.
“Damn what did he do to you?” he asked
Regulus’ smirk turned just the slightest bit sad, but he shook it off, subsequently ignoring his question.
Instead-
“…You think it worked?”
Remus glanced toward the locker room door where James had disappeared.
Then back at Regulus.
“Oh, absolutely.”
Regulus hummed, but there was something unreadable in his expression.
And Remus had a feeling that—despite his best efforts—Regulus didn’t feel all that victorious.
Later that day when he was back at home. He stared at is phone typing text after horrible text deciding what he should send to Sirius.
He only felt a little weird about texting the object of desire after essentially feeling up his little brother only a few hours prior, but that was just acting, wasn’t it?
New Message to Sirius Black
— Hey, you wanna get coffee sometime?
(delete)
— Hey, you wanna get coffee? Just as friends, obviously. No big deal.
(delete)
— Yo, Black. Coffee?
(DELETE)
— I promise I’m not trying to seduce you. Coffee?
(delete)
— What’s up, you wanna hang? I’ll buy.
(send)
Sirius Black: Hang?
Remus: Yeah. Coffee?
Sirius Black: Ehhh.
Remus: …Ehhh?
Sirius Black: Too many people would see.
Remus: Okay?
Sirius Black: Maybe something more private. Like a walk in the woods or something.
Remus: So just to be clear—
Remus: Getting coffee: too gay.
Remus: Going on a secret, intimate walk in the woods together: not gay at all.
Sirius Black: Exactly.
Remus: You’re so fucking transparent.
Sirius Black: What does that mean??
Remus: It means I’ll meet you at the trail by the lake in 20.
Sirius Black: Cool. But just so we’re clear, this isn’t, like, a thing.
Remus: Oh, of course not. Just two totally platonic dudes taking a totally platonic secret walk in the woods together because one of them is afraid of being perceived in public.
Sirius Black: You’re annoying.
Remus: And yet, here you are, agreeing to meet me.
Sirius Black: Fuck off.
Remus: See you soon, sweetheart.
Sirius Black: I hate you.
Remus: No, you don't.
Remus stared at his phone, biting his lip.
Because this was a terrible idea.
He knew that.
And yet—
He was already grabbing his jacket.
Already lacing up his boots.
Already heading out the door.
And if his stomach flipped slightly at the thought of seeing Sirius again—
Well.
He wasn’t a liar, and that was exactly what happened.