Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[LiOnS!]

potty: all in favor of pick-up basketball games to prepare for preseason, say i.

tremzy: I!!

HARZY: i

captain padfoot: um, what?

potty: say i, cap.

captain padfoot: i?

dumo: are you all unaware of what off-season rest means? it means off-season rest.

bliz: is this you saying you don’t want to play pick-up basketball?

tremzy: he couldn’t keep up. grandpa dumo.

dumo: damn both of you. im in.

knutty: i

knutty: finn stole my phone to type that, but i would like to make it known that i am still in.

talkie: i!

potty: kase?

bliz: yes. IIIIIII

potty: that’s 8. we need two more.

captain padfoot: KUNY

kuny: i do not play basketball in my free time.

nado: i

potty:…

potty: oh no. are we… are we really going to go out like this? nine of us?

dumo: four on four, one sub. also space for others to join. i’ll reserve us a gym.

tremzy: thanks grandpa.

dumo: keep that shit up and my wife is never making you stew again.

tremzy: i seem to have forgotten the last ten minutes.

HARZY: wise decision.

Sirius Black, captain of the Gryffindor Lions, one time NHL Stanley Cup Champion, looking into his fourth season and (knock on wood) second Stanley Cup run, was lacing up his basketball shoes.

James had been demonic when convincing them to join him on the court.

“What do they expect us to do for two months?” James was complaining at dinner with most of the team. “Sit on our asses? We’re athletes, gents. Let’s, I dunno, do something.”

“Post-season and off-season rest,” Pascal Dumias had stressed.

Dumo, of course, had caved. All the guys had to do what bat their eyes at him, and the eldest member of their team would do anything they wished.

So, he’d booked them a private basketball gym, unlimited access Thursdays and 8am through Mondays at 5pm. They registered nine users.

“There’s another reservation at the same time,” Dumo was telling them as they all walked in. “Apparently, he’s registered eight but told the desk that it would usually just be one.”

“Well, that’s perfect!” James cheered. “We need one more man!”

“Do we really want to… I don’t know, ask some random person to play with us?” Sirius asked, that familiar oh shit I don’t know how to deal with fans feeling settling in his stomach.

As an NHL player and captain, he was in the media continuously. He was tagged in Twitter posts every twenty minutes, he swears. Fans approached him in public all over Gryffindor. They were like the city’s golden boys.

In Gryffindor, they were famous. Outside of the smaller city in Minnesota, they were just NHL players. On trips, they could generally avoid being recognized. But in Gryffindor… they booked reserved gyms. They called ahead to restaurants. They booked tables at bars.

Anything to avoid their nights out or alone time being bombarded with press and questions.

“Who could say no to this face?” Leo asked, squishing Logan’s cheeks together.

“I certainly can’t,” Finn mused, kissing the top of Logan’s head.

Logan swatted them both away. “I can’t stand either of you.”

“He loves us,” Finn translated.

The rest of the guys laughed. Sirius grinned at them. Finn, Leo, and Logan were together. The three of them against the world. And they worked. Sirius wasn’t sure he could do it- he wasn’t into sharing. But Knut, O’Hara, and Tremblay… he’d never seen three people more in love.

Except maybe Pascal Dumias and his wife, Celeste. Kasey Winter and his girlfriend, Natalie. Honestly, he was surrounded by happy couples these days. It was strange, sometimes- to look at giddily in-love people and not be shocked.

Sirius’ parents had not been in love. Not in the kind of love that translated to care. They hadn’t loved their children, either. Sometimes, Sirius thinks he’s caught whatever his parents had- the inability to form that kind of attachment. He’d never been in love. He’d dated, sure. But he’d never been able to give them everything. And the only people Sirius had been able to love with no conditions was his team. The Lions.

And one other person.

In their family’s twisted way of loving, Sirius hadn’t even been able to hold onto his little brother. Reggie had practically pushed Sirius out the door. It had been a hard night in the Black house, back in Quebec, that night. Sirius had been bruised and bloodied and holding a one-way ticket to Minnesota. Regulus had handed it to him, then a pre-packed bag, and pushed him out the back door.

“Come with me,” Sirius had pleaded. They had been doing good. Regulus was finally talking to him again. Four years of silence, four years of pleading… they were doing better.

“Are you stupid?” Regulus had asked in that backhanded way he always had. “We can’t both disappear. You’re eighteen. Go.”

Sirius had gone. He hadn’t looked back. He had gotten a new phone and a new number and a new life. He’d walked onto the University of Minnesota’s men’s hockey team and a year later was drafted to the NHL. He met his team. His family. It had been four years now.

Sirius was twenty-three, and he hadn’t heard from or spoken with any member of his family in five years.

He knew, of course, of Regulus Black’s own rise to fame. One couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing his voice. Sirius hadn’t even known Regulus was interested in singing. He’d been on the same track as Sirius when he’d left- hockey. There wasn’t a bone in Sirius’ body that thought Walburga and Orion Black would be fine with their baby boy leaving that dream. But they must have been, because there Regulus was, on every radio station.

Sirius had been blocked from all of Regulus’ socials. He’d only checked once. He’d only listened to Regulus’ first album- something he’d released at age nineteen, full of angst and family and heartbreak. Sirius hadn’t been able to listen to anything else. Not if he could hear all of his own failures echoing back to him in his brother’s breathy voice.

He avoided music in general, really. It had become something that made him remember. Sirius hated remembering.

But even five years later, Sirius Black still wishes he’d turned around. Still wishes he’d looked back for his little brother.

“Oi, Potty!” Kasey passed James a basketball. James popped off a three easily.

“Well, fuck,” Dumo muttered next to Sirius. Sirius laughed.

“Gonna be able to keep up, Dumo?”

“Don’t you start with that, too.” Pascal wagged a finger at him. “I’m not that old.”

“Oldest in the league,” Sirius teased.

Dumo held a finger to his lips and stood up to join the other guys already on the court, shooting around.

A figure walked in through the side door, stopped for a moment, and then continued onto the other bench, where the guys hadn’t spread out. He had his head down, a long sleeve shirt on, basketball shorts, and tattoos decorating his thighs. He had a basketball tucked under one arm and a gym back over his shoulder, headphones in as he dropped the bag, kicked off his Birkenstocks, and unzipped his bag.

“Hey!” James called, waving. The guy didn’t even look up.

“Headphones, Pots,” Sirius explained.

“Ah.” James didn’t seem deterred. He bounded over and tapped the guy’s shoulders. He looked up.

Oh.

Oh.

Well, fuck. The man was stunning. He had amber eyes and a long scar running across his nose. He had tawny waves tumbling over his eyes, trimmed neat. For a moment, all Sirius could think was freckles, eyes, lips, freckles, eyes, lips.

He quirked one eyebrow at James, unamused, and pulled out his headphones. “Can I help you?”

“Hey! We need one more for a pickup game. Wanna join?” James grinned at him.

The man eyed him. His eyes wandered James’ face for a moment before he suddenly looked slightly amused, his lips quirking up in a fashion that strangely reminded Sirius of Regulus looking at him from across the dinner table. He regarded the rest of the guys.

“Wait- me guess,” the guy started. He held up a hand, gesturing to all of them. “Off-season team.”

James blinked. “Um, yeah?”

“What sport?” The guy asked, turning and continuing to lace up his shoes.

For a moment, James looked dumbfounded. It was strange for someone in Gryffindor to not recognize them on sight. To not even know what sport they played…well, that was strange.

They weren’t so high in their instep to expect recognition. It was just uncommon for the community to question who they were.

“Hockey,” Leo called from the three-point line. “Gryffindor Lions.”

“Ah. That’s the NHL team, right? You’re all on the team?”

The rest of the guys were listening now. “Um, yeah,” Finn told him. “All of us.”

He dragged his eyes across each of them. When he got to Sirius, he stilled for one moment. Sirius hoped that meant he thought Sirius was as beautiful as Sirius found him. But there was something more… assessing in his eyes.

The guy tied the long strands of his hair up in a half-up bun, nodding. “Alright. You said pick-up?”

“Yeah!” James cheered.

The guy joined them in the middle of the court, where everyone had gathered to pick teams. Dumo and Sirius as captains, as it always went for their pick-up games on the ice.

“Dumo’s first pick,” Jackson Nadeau decided.

“Says who?” Sirius complained.

“Says me,” Nado said cheekily.

“What’s your name?” Dumo asked the new man.

He raised his eyebrows at them. “Um, call me Moony.”

“Moony,” Logan deadpanned. “That a nickname?”

The man, Moony, grinned slyly at him. “You could call it that.”

“Oi.” Finn tossed an arm around Logan’s shoulders. “This one’s taken. So is that one.” He pointed across the circle at Leo, who rolled his eyes at his boyfriends’ antics.

Moony laughed. “Good to know. But I don’t date hockey players.”

“Why not?” James asked, looking more confused than put out. “What’s wrong with us?”

Moony snorted. “Nothing. But I’ve got solidarity for my best mate. And, be honest, most hockey players are bastards.”

“That’s an exaggerated stereotype,” Kasey complained.

Moony raised his brows. Dumo snapped his fingers. “I want him.”

“Dumo, you are a married man,” Leo deadpanned. The guys laughed. Moony moved to stand next to Dumo.

Sirius picked James. Dumo picked Finn. Sirius picked Logan. Dumo picked Nado. Sirius picked Leo. Dumo picked Kasey. Sirius picked Thomas Walker.

“Nice tattoos,” Sirius heard Kasey telling Moony as they took their places for the tip off.

“Thanks,” Moony thanked him. “Nice face.”

“That one’s taken too!” Finn yelped from the other side of the court.

Moony flashed him a Cheshire cat grin.

“James,” Sirius whispered as he passed his best mate. “I’m… fuck. He’s beautiful.”

“Moony?”

“No. Thomas. Yes, Moony.”

“He doesn’t date hockey players.”

“I don’t date.”

“Ah.” James nodded. “You’re going to sleep with him.”

“I’m going to sleep with him,” Sirius agreed.

Leo and Kasey stepped up for the tip off, tossed by Logan, who would join the game as soon as he released the ball. The ball went up. Leo won it. He tipped it to Sirius, who was inches from catching the pass when a blur of tawny hair intercepted it and broke fast for a layup. It went in.

Sirius blinked.

“Fuck yes!” Dumo cheered.

“What did we get ourselves into?” Thomas muttered. “You’re like, good. Are you in the NBA? Should we know that?”

Moony chuckled and nodded for his team to head to the other side of the court for defense. “Nah. No NBA.”

[skittles]

romulus: reggie, darling?

baby black: what did you do.

barted: he sucked my dick.

strange: he’s in minnesota???

barted: distance never stopped us.

romulus: i met the infamous sirius black today.

baby black: lord help us all.

strange: you’re an atheist????

tulip: is black senior as pretty as baby black?

evan(s): have you seen his twitter profile? yes, yes he is.

romulus: is it a surprise that he’s prettier in person? he’s a broader, taller reggie. longer hair.

dork: oh lord help us all indeed.

mclovin: you’re a lesbian??

mclovin: we’re married??

mclovin: remember that??

dork: id divorce you for a broader reg.

baby black: im blocking all of you.

evan(s): no, you’re not.

tulip: we all have keys to your house, bitch.

barted: you can run but you can’t hide.

Remus Lupin, one time winner of the American Music Awards Artist of the Year award, two time winner of Song of the Year, and rock artist, needed a break from Los Angeles. He had, in the grand scheme of things, a love and hate relationship with LA.

The love: his friends. The city. The lights. The accessibility to his life.

The hate: Remus missed the easy, coffeeshop, acoustic version of his life he was before fame. He missed fall leaves and slow cars.

Remus had grown up in Wales. A tiny harbor town, Tenby, that he had run from as soon as he turned eighteen. His father wasn’t in the picture, his mother was dead (fuck cancer, right?), and Remus didn’t owe that town anything.

But every now and then, he missed the seaside chatter. He missed the slow life of an ocean town.

And sure, Gryffindor, Minnesota wasn’t an ocean town. It didn’t even have a beach. But it was smaller than LA (most places were), quiet, and remote. There were hardly any people spending their summers in Gryffindor.

It was also, according to his manager, a place where he wouldn’t be readily recognized. According to a census, Gryffindor and surrounding communities were the four lowest cities on his listener’s charts. No one here cared about a twenty-three-year-old rock musician.

So, Remus rented a home twenty minutes out of Gryffindor. July through September. His friends promised to visit. Remus promised to keep in touch. And Remus Lupin, one time winner of the American Music Awards Artist of the Year award, two-time winner of Song of the Year, and rock artist, caught a flight.

Remus would work on his fifth album. He would take time for himself. He would sit in coffeeshops and not be tagged in a Tweet by a fan, covert photo of him taken over a mug, within five minutes. He would walk down the street and not be hounded by paparazzi. Just for three months.

Remus Lupin would also, as life would see it, make a reservation for a private basketball court. He would also, as life would see it, end up on the same reserved court as the Gryffindor Lions of the National Hockey League.

Remus Lupin, being best mates with Regulus Black for the last five years, obviously knew about Sirius Black, captain of the Gryffindor Lions. He knew about Sirius’ leaving Regulus in their family home when Regulus was seventeen. He knew about Regulus having packed Sirius a bag and gotten him a ticket weeks before he’d actually forced his brother to leave. He knew about Regulus blocking Sirius on all accounts but following Sirius and all of his teammates on a burner. He knew about Regulus quitting hockey as soon as he left the Black family himself, pursuing his career in music… but still watching every single Lions game that he could. He knew about Regulus keeping a photo album of childhood pictures of the brothers, having stolen the photos from a Black family storage unit before he left.

He also knew about Orion Black falling ill last year. He knew about his death. He knew about Walburga Black’s insistence that Regulus return home to nurse her at her own bedside.

He knew about Regulus’ refusal.

So, when Remus Lupin walked into that gym and found himself face to face with Sirius Black, the brother that left first, at first all he had been able to do was stare.

And then Pascal Dumias had asked Remus who he was. And Remus, being who he was… had adored not being recognized.

Moony had been his mother’s nickname for him. It had been years since Remus had uttered that name. But it had fallen from his lips easily, as if he’d been compelled.

Now, Remus didn’t consider himself an athlete. He was athletic, of course, but he was also a chain-smoker. So yes, he could keep up with NHL players on the basketball court. But not for long.

He was breathing hard at the end of the pickup game, thirty minutes of straight running and watching James Potter try to dunk, even though hockey players apparently did not have hops. Or at least, none of the ones he was playing with.

Remus took a swig of his water and untied his hair, letting the sweaty (ew) strands fall into his face. He shook his head out and looked down at his long-sleeve t-shirt, wishing he’d had the mind to wear a tank top. He was used to love sleeves when he was trying to be unrecognizable- his tattoos were memorable to fans. The matching snake curling up his left arm, a tattoo he’d gotten with Reg, Barty, and Evan three years ago, was deemed the “Skittles Tattoo”, based on the group chat name that was leaked when Barty once posted a screenshot of their conversation on Twitter.

He’d been trying to expose Evan and Regulus as bastards, but all he’d accomplished was earning the eight of them- Regulus Black, Barty Crouch, Evan Rosier, Lily Evans, Pandora Lestrange, Dorcas Meadowes, Marlene McKinnon, and Remus Lupin- a fan name.

The eight of them had met in college. They had never imagined what they would become:

Remus, the pop rock singer/songwriter star, famed for his spattering of tattoos, prose, and stage personality. He was signed to a label by nineteen.

Regulus, the R&B singer/songwriter star, famed for his own spattering of tattoos, good looks (though he would argue this was part of Remus’ charm as well), prose, and story. Regulus had been signed to Remus’ same label almost exactly one year later, following the self-release of his first album.

Lily, the red-haired, stunning actress that played villains in recent movies. She’d been studying film in school, and acted in a low-level movie when she was eighteen. She took off. Last year, she’d taken home Supporting Role of the Year.

Pandora, the bestselling author and poet that sometimes wrote screen writes. She’d written the movie Lily had been cast in and won Supporting Role of the Year in. But she also had four published YA books by twenty, and now that she was twenty-two, she had three poetry books out, as well as a duology about life, love, and everything in between.

Barty, the man that took home Year’s Best Actor last year. He, like Remus and Regulus, was known for his tattoos and good looks. He was known for his ability to adapt to any role handed to him like a chameleon.

Dorcas, the artist that sold her first multi-thousand painting at age nineteen. She painted landscapes and portraits, sometimes scenes that her friends reminded her of. She was a potter and a sculptor as well. She sold to the highest bidder and made a name for herself in the artist community.

Marlene, the pop and R&B singer/songwriter that had taken Artist of the Year the year before Remus had. She was known for her prose, her inability to deal with paparazzi, and her unmatchable bridges.

Evan, the model and photographer that was the genius behind Regulus, Marlene, and Remus’ music videos. He modeled for Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Versace. He’d been on the cover of Vouge so many times, they had lost count.

But, away from all of that, they were just them:

Remus, the one that had once snorted a fireball shot out his nose and needed to go to the ER. Remus, the one that modeled for Dorcas when she was losing her mind. Remus, the one that played hockey with Regulus when Reg was losing his mind. Remus, the one that moved from Wales and did everything he could do eliminate his accent.

Regulus, the one that once set his guitar on fire because Barty dared him to. Regulus, the one with a pet snake names Salazar. Regulus, the one that left his family behind- just like his brother had- but had yet to have the nerve to reach out to Sirius. Regulus, the one that moved from Quebec but owned his French Canadian heritage with pride.

Lily, the badass that kept them in line. Lily, the one that helped Pandora plan their joint trips and kept them all on schedule. Lily, the one that all of them could call for a slap in the face when they needed it. Lily, the one that once walked off a set and movie because a costar called her easy.

Pandora, the one that helped Lily plan their trips because she was the only one with a calm voice when she was put on hold for hours. Pandora, the one that they went to for sound advice and a soft voice. Pandora, the one that wrote each of them into her stories. Pandora, the one that had once gotten stuck in a dress and needed Remus to come over to help her out of it. Pandora, the one that thought up their joint Twitter handles back when they were young and stupid.

Barty, the one that flipped off a reporter when they asked about his family. Barty, the one that was a menace on Twitter, but also would do anything for his friends. Barty, the one that once told Regulus to contact Sirius before Barty did it himself, and Barty, the one that kissed Evan when Evan seemed to hold himself back from doing so himself (also the one that Tweeted about being the only person allowed to suck Evan Rosier’s cock).

Dorcas, the one that braided their hair back when she was bored. Dorcas, the one that asked them if she could sketch them. Dorcas, the one that locked herself out of her college apartment for three weeks and camped on the floor of Remus and Regulus’ living room. Dorcas, the one that kept them sane with her steady support. Dorcas, the one that proposed to Marlene after four years of dating.

Marlene, the one that wrote a song about each of them in her second album. Marlene, the one that once cut all of her hair off when she got a text from her mother. Marlene, the one that visited Nashville once and got them each a pair of boots. Marlene, the one that they could count on when they needed to do something stupid. Marlene, the one that said yes when Dorcas proposed.

Evan, the one that texted each of them separately every Monday for wellness checks. Evan, the one that pined after Barty for two years before finally kissing him back. Evan, the one that once offered to make out with Remus to get rid of the marriage proposals happening at every show. Evan, the one that booked them all a surprise trip to Greece.

So, yeah, of course Remus knew all about Sirius Black. Who was, surprisingly, coming over.

“You play good,” he said, then looked a little put-out at his own words.

Remus laughed. “My friends and I play in our downtime.”

“Can you dunk?” James Potter careened over, knocking into Sirius, who shot his friend an annoyed look.

Remus shook his head, smiling. “No.”

“You should come to the ice with us sometime,” Sirius offered. James snorted.

“I’m sure I couldn’t keep up with you all on the ice,” Remus dodged. He only played with Reg, Barty, and Evan. Of course, Reg was good. Better than good. But Remus had his limits to embarrassment, and trying to keep up with an NHL team was one of them.

“You’ll be in and out on the court though, right? We’ve booked it Thursdays through Mondays. You?”

Remus quirked an eyebrow. “Same.” He shoved up his sleeves, trying to let in some cool air.

Sirius’ eyes snagged on his arms- tattooed, freckled, scarred. Sirius took a moment to find his voice. “Um, yeah. Cool. So, um, we should add you to our groupchat…”

“Your team groupchat?” Remus asked, amused. James snorted at Sirius again shoved his friend’s head away.

“He means our smaller groupchat- just the guys that come to play pickup. We should add you. So, you know, we always know when everyone’s coming to play, or just when people are going to be around the gym.”

Remus nodded. “Hmm. Okay.”

“Yes?” Sirius asked, grinning. He held out his phone for Remus to take. Remus took it, nodding.

He added the contact- Moony. Because that was easier than his name, which would eventually lead to them figuring out who he was.

“Do you always come around here?” Sirius was asking.

“I’m not from Gryffindor,” Remus explained, handing the phone back. “I’m from LA. I’m just visiting for the summer.”

Both men blinked at him. “Oh,” James said eventually. “Well, that explains-“

“What? Me not knowing who Gryffindor’s golden boys were?” Remus’ lips quirked up.

“I, well, yeah.” James shrugged. “Not to sound conceited, but…”

“No, I get it.” Remus laughed. He got it a lot better than they knew. “Well, I’m heading out. Add me to the chat. I’ll see you around.”

“Bye!” Sirius and James chorused from behind him as he left.

Twenty minutes later, Remus received a notification from unknown numbers.

[lions ballers]

cap has added “moony” to the chat.

potty has changed the group name to [moony’s bitches]

unknown number: fuck yeah.

unknown number: love it

moony: i have no idea who any of you are.

unknown number: hold on.

Everyone named themselves. Remus took the moment to sit in his car outside of his rented home, adding each contact and looking back through the chat. He didn’t take the liberty of using the nicknames the team seemed intent on maintaining. He settled for names.

Thomas Walker: i’d be one of moony’s bitches anyday.

Kasey Winter: we have a team now!! nat said she would bring us cupcakes if we play tomorrow.

James Potter: fucking love me a nat cupcake. we’re playing tomorrow.

Pascal Dumias: we are?

Finn O’Hara: if nat brings cupcakes can knutty bring those cocktails for after-game funsies?

Leo Knut: absofuckinglutely.

Logan Tremblay: that’s my baby.

Sirius Black: stop fucking in the group chat.

Moony: no, i enjoy the show.

Thomas Walker: eeeeyyyyy!

Finn O’Hara: TAKEN. THEY ARE TAKEN MEN. MOONY. HOW MANY TIMES.

Moony: taken never stopped me.

Jackson Nadaeu: why do i feel like he’s telling the truth?

Kasey Winter: eeeeyyyy!

Thomas Walker: eeeeeyyyyyy!

James Potter: harzy’s fighting for his life in the groupchat rn.

Finn O’Hara: moony.

Moony: don’t worry, O’Hara. i’d fuck you, too.

Logan Tremblay: ahem.

Leo Knut: no. he’s a sucker for tattoos, moony. don’t flirt with him.

Jackson Nadeau: flirt with him, moony.

Pascal Dumias: I can’t leave you lot alone for more than two minutes, can i?

Moony: don’t worry Pascal, i never minded a little bit of an audience.

Thomas Walker: this is going to be so much fun.

James Potter: this is gold. cap is just staring at his phone and blushing. i think you broke him, moony.

Sirius Black: don’t TELL HIM THAT.

Kasey Winter: eeyyy CAP!

Moony: he was blushing the entire game, James. don’t think i didn’t notice.

Leo Knut:…..

Jackson Nadeau: …..

Thomas Walker: ….

Finn O’Hara: im suddenly liking this group chat a whole lot more.

Sirius Black: shut the fuck up, harz.

Pascal Dumias: link: www.howtoavoidbeingobviousaboutcrushes.com

James Potter: is that a legit site?

Moony: yes. i wrote it.

Logan Tremblay: your real name is Veronica Frost?

James Potter: shit, it is a real site. CAP. click on it.

Moony: im going to have to put this chat on silent, aren’t i?

James Potter: don’t you dare.

Remus chuckled and silenced his phone, heading inside to shower and change up for early rest.

***

[skittles]

barted: hoe many times do you guys think Evan can tell me he loves me before i believe him

barted: how**

tulip: don’t indulge him.

evan(s): at this point, im pretty sure barty’s autocorrect just knows he’s trying to say hoe.

strange: barty has trust issues. i’d say about every five minutes, he’d still question it.

barted: i did not need a psyche dive right now pandora. and fuck you, lily.

strange: i’m not sorry.

baby black: shouldn’t you all be working right now?

tulip: no.

barted: my baby is a moDEL, reg. don’t tell him when he should be working. he works with his FACE. he’s built different.

dork: i cannot keep waking up to these conversations.

mc lovin: she’s smiling at her phone. don’t believe her.

dork: MARLS.

mc lovin: if you don’t want them to know the truth, don’t text when you’re laying in bed next to me. it’s that simple.

barted: oop.

tulip: oop.

le strange: oop.

baby black: i despise all of you.

evan(s): i think you should say i love you one more time, ev.

barted: thank you, evans.

tulip: you’ve used up your daily quota.

romulus: it’s 10 am???

evan(s): REMUS! YOU LIVE!

strange: long time no see, Re.

romulus: you saw me a week ago???? we facetimed last night???

baby black: get back to your vacation, lupin.

mc lovin: yeah, remus. get back to sucking the gryff lions’ dicks. reg would hate for his brother to be disregarded.

baby black: oh, is sirius on that team? i had no idea.

strange: ah. sarcasm. classic.

tulip: i think reg would rather re broke sirius’ ankles than sucked his dick.

baby black: fuck all of you.

barted: i’m about to take this to twitter.

tulip: ??

strange: ??

evan(s): ??

romulus: ??

baby black: oh, christ.

Remus looked up from his morning coffee on his porch and rolled his eyes as the notification of a tagged Tweet came in.

Barty Crouch @fuckroses

I’d let Remus Lupin (@fuckthemoon) sit on my face.

Replies:              .

Jonas Howard @skittleslover

Wouldn’t we all???

Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching

What does this have to do with our conversation at all?

Pandora Lestrange @fucklilyevanswithlove

I am confusion.

Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin

Barty what

Kim Schroder @aslutforbartycrouch

Oh? What happened to @fuckcrouching?

____ Reply:

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: yeah, what happened to me?

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: you refuse to say you love me after 10 am.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: that is not at all how that conversation went?

Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon

Come over any time, bb.

_____ Reply:

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: fuck YES. Lupin and I are going to the AMAs together this year. Suck my dick, @fuckcrouching.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: im all yours, baby.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: I sucked your dick an hour ago???

         Lily Evans @fuckflowers: I was on facetime with Barty an hour ago…

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: yeah, don’t think too hard about that.

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers

I cannot stand any of you.

Remus chuckled and got up, going back inside his little home. He’d been in Gryffindor two weeks now, played pickup basketball with the Lions seven times now, and was now being chatted up by the entire team for a night out with them.

As in, tonight.

Remus was leaning toward going- he enjoyed the guys. They were hilarious, different from his best friends, but in a cleaner, more reserved way. At least, until he saw them drunk. Maybe then, they’d change.

Sirius had owned up to thinking Remus was beautiful. The guys had given him shit for it, but Remus had winked and told Sirius: you’re a looker yourself, Black.

It was also, coincidentally, the day he, Marlene, and Reg would announce a pre-recorded single they’d collaborated on together before Remus had left. The idea was to keep people from wondering where he’d disappeared to. They would announce it today, wait about two more weeks, and then release it. The corresponding music video would come out another two weeks later, already recorded and edited by Evan.

[moony’s bitches]

James Potter: petition to get moony out for drinks with us tonight. everyone in favor, say i.

Sirius Black: i

Logan Tremblay: i

Pascal Dumias: i

James Potter: dumo, you’re not even coming??

Pascal Dumias: doesn’t mean i don’t want our moony to miss out on drunk cap.

Sirius Black: honestly, fuck you.

Moony: i definitely want to see drunk sirius black.

Finn O’Hara: iiiiiii!!!!!!!!

James Potter: cap is grinning at his phone. you broke him again, moons.

Moony: good.

Leo Knut: are we still voting? IIIIIIII

Kasey Winter: i

Kasey Winter: also, can we all just acknowledge that cap would rather moony broke his back?

Sirius Black: bliz i am subscribing you to a porn newsletter.

Pascal Dumias: do it.

Thomas Walker: do it.

Thomas Walker: also, I!

James Potter: um, moony?

Moony: yes, James?

James Potter: please put him out of his misery.

Sirius Black: i am locking you out of the house.

Thomas Walker: yeah, because moony’s gonna be in your bed.

Finn O’Hara: lo is actually cackling. like, le is just sitting here staring at him and i’m trying to figure out if he needs cpr.

Moony: choking fetish alert.

Sirius Black: didn’t know you had that hang up, harz.

Finn O’Hara: i have a logan tremblay hang up.

Leo Knut: oh, i know.

Thomas Walker: is this flirting? i think it’s flirting.

Jackson Nadeau: it’s definitely flirting. also, i.

James Potter: the team has spoken, moony. you are coming out with us tonight whether you like it or not.

Moony: pick me up at 9. It’s a date, Potter.

Sirius Black: excuse me.

Moony: don’t worry, Black. you’re invited.

Pascal Dumias: is THIS flirting? i can’t tell.

Moony:….

Moony: it’s flirting.

James Potter: he just threw his phone.

Sirius Black: JAMES.

Logan Tremblay: this is actual gold.

Kasey Winter: he actUALLY SUBSCRIBED ME. I’VE BEEN SPAMMED WITH PORN SITES. HELP.

Sirius Black: don’t fuck with me, kase.

Moony: noted.

Sirius Black: not you.

Moony: also noted.

Finn O’Hara: definitely flirting.

James Potter: i thought you didn’t date hockey players?

Moony: i don’t.

Jackson Nadeau: also, cap doesn’t date.

Moony: good.

Kasey Winter: HELP????

Pascal Dumias: you dug that grave yourself.

James Potter: ill come over, bliz. i’ve had to unhack cap’s porn spam before.

Leo Knut: noted.

Thomas Walker: logan, your sister says hi.

Logan Tremblay: ?????

Finn O’Hara: what.

Leo Knut: which one?

Thomas Walker: noelle.

Finn O’Hara: why the fuck are you talking to noelle?

Kasey Winter: oh, harz, alex says hi.

Finn O’Hara: WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ALEX???

Thomas Walker: ask me no questions and i will tell you no lies.

Kasey Winter: ^^^

Pascal Dumias: this is like one of those sitcoms.

Moony: tell me about it.

Remus shot off his address to Sirius’ mobile. They’d shared a few back and forth solo chats.

[lily’s angels]

loopy: im going to fuck your brother.

crouching: i don’t have a brother??

rosy: pretty sure he’s talking to reg.

white: excuse me.

loopy: it’s inevitable.

white: do not.

loopy: ill prob do it tonight.

rosy: fuck yeah. get some, re!

crouching: i support.

white: i do NOT.

loopy: he’s very pretty, reg.

loopy: also, he called me beautiful. it’s inevitable.

white: keep it in your pants, lupin.

loopy: absolutely not.

white: what the fuck happened to solidarity?

loopy: you didn’t tell me he was PRETTY.

white: i underestimated your sex drive.

crouching: damn right you did.

loopy: you don’t even hate him???

white: fine. but i do NOT want to hear about what he does with his tongue.

white: also, tell me if he ever says anything about me.

rosy: awh, he does care.

Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks

Feels like that time of year. Can you smell it? Smells a bit like it’s time to do a duet with my baby Remus Lupin (@fuckthemoon).

34k replies - 15k retweets

Replies:              .

Barty Crouch @fuckroses

What? It smells like shit today. Is that a sign?

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers

Wait. I thought I was the one doing a duet with Re. @fuckthemoon, got anything to say for yourself?

____reply:

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: wait. wait. wait. I think the winds are changing. Do you smell that, Reg? Marls?

         Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks: wait. yes. I smell it.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: smells like… is that? Is that… the scent of a threesome?

         Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin: fucking love me a threesome.

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers:

Are you ready? Marlene, Remus, & Regulus. Coming soon.

35k replies – 16k retweets

Replies:              .

Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon

That’s it. We’re getting married.

Lily Evans @fuckflowers

That’s it. Barty, Pandora. Get over here. We’re doing a movie. Evan is shooting.

____reply:

         Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin: One: I will be standing as Reg’s best man. Two: what the fuck am I, chopped liver?

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: all the love, Dorky <3.

         Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks: my lovely, lovely wife. Fuck off. Said with love.

Remus opened his own account, heading to post a new tweet.

Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon

Regulus, darling? @fuckhockeyplayers

Replies:              .

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers

What the fuck did you do.

____reply:

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: he sucked my dick

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: say what.

         Lily Evans @fuckflowers: fucking finally. We’ve all been waiting for this moment.

         Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin: is this a good time to say i told you so?

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: no???

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: is this all holdover because I don’t tell Barty I love him after 10 am?

         Pandora Lestrange @fucklilyevanswithlove: no, this is holdover from when Barty’s phone kept correcting “how” to “hoe”

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: that was one time.

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: also, if I had just sucked Evan Rosier’s dick, I would tweet Regulus about it too.

         Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks: oh god. no. I know we all know what’s coming next.

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: REGULUS, DARLING, GUESS WHAT I JUST DID?

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: I’m so proud of you, son.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: I’m fucking proud of him, too. We’re in a restaurant.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: …. I just wanted Reg to do a duet with me????

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: Does Barty sucking Evan off in a restaurant beat that time he sucked him off while he was on facetime with lily?

         Lily Evans @fuckflowers: we agreed never to speak of that again.

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: really? ev and i talk about it all the time.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: that was a pinnacle of success.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: I’m blocking all of you.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: we all have keys to your house???

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: then bring ME a coffee, asshole.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: :) no :)

         Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin: im in your kitchen, Reg.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: ?? when did you get here??

         Pandora Lestrange @fucklilyevanswithlove: Correction: WE are in your kitchen. [photo]

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: surprise, bitch.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: …. i still want a duet.

         Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks: on board for a threesome?

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: you are my favorite fucking soul. yes.

Barty Crouch @fuckroses

degrade me.

Replies:              .

Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching

baby, what the fuck?

Pandora Lestrange @fucklilyevanswithlove

barty, honey, i think it’s time we have a conversation.

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers

you’re a piece of shit, baby girl.

____reply:

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: reg understood the assignment.

Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon

i have so many questions.

Lily Evans @fuckflowers

your boyfriend is better in bed.

____reply:

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: damn right he is.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching:

Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin

you’re not a real man.

Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks

this was really fun.

____reply:

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: oh that’s the worst one.

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: i don’t understand.

         Marlene McKinnon @fuckdorks: of course you don’t.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: oh fuck just slit his throat next time it’ll be less painful.

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: i felt that one to my core.

         Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin: heard that one before?

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: used it before. you never forget the look in their eyes.

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: pure heartbreak.

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: baby????

         Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching: come to bed, love.

         Pandora Lestrange @fucklilyevanswithlove: its 3pm on a tuesday.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: i cannot with this app.

         Lily Evans @fuckflowers: you would have killed yourself years ago without us.

         Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers: damn straight.

Evan Rosier @fuckcrouching

remus (@fuckthemoon) thinks he can go out tonight without us. anarchy.

Replies:              .

Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon

that is not at all how that conversation went.

Regulus Black @fuckhockeyplayers

getting a little too close to home, re.

Dorcas Meadowes @fuckmclovin

EXCUSE ME WHAT

____reply:

         Barty Crouch @fuckroses: CHECK THE GROUP CHAT.

Lily Evans @fuckflowers

taking reg’s username a bit too literally, re.

____reply:

         Jonas Howard @skittleslover: oh??? tea??

         Diana Franklin @diana101: REMUS LUPIN IS SLEEPING WITH A HOCKEY PLAYER??

         Remus Lupin @fuckthemoon: lils, i despise you.

         Lily Evans @fuckflowers: all in a days Twitter work, love.

Sirius Black and James Potter showed up to pick Remus up at 9:20.

“You’re late,” Remus said as he slid into the backseat.

Sirius met his eyes in the rearview mirror as he drove away. “Sorry, love. We got caught up.”

Ever since Remus called him pretty, he’d been much bolder in his flirtation. Of course, Sirius would still turn red when Remus flirted with the others on the team. But when Remus zeroed in on Sirius… he gave as good as he got.

Remus winked at him. “As long as you show me a good time, Black, I don’t really care.”

“We reserved some back tables at the Three Broomsticks,” James explained. “The team does this all the time. The owner, Rosemerta, is really good about keeping people away from us. There’s a little area where we can dance and shit, too.”

Remus nodded. He hadn’t been worried, exactly, about being recognized. But he’d thought about it.

James seemed to be wearing an old band t-shirt (ABBA), black jeans, and has his hair pushed back with a pair of sunglasses. Easily put together. James Potter had that style, Remus was coming to realize. His hair was easily the messiest thing Remus had ever seen, though.

Sirius looked a bit less casual. He was in a button up white shirt, most of the top buttons undone. Remus would be lying if he said he didn’t stare for a moment (hey, if Sirius was going to unbutton, Remus was going to appreciate). He had on black pants as well, but where James’ were jeans, Sirius’ were more like slacks. Messy white kicks on his feet to casualize the outfit.

Remus hadn’t been sure what the dress code was, so he’d gone for causal as well. In LA, they went to the nines. Remus would get Dorcas to do his eyeliner, he’d style his hair, they’d wear sequins and boas and patterned prints. But Remus knew that wasn’t how Gryffindor rolled. So he’d gone with a band t-shirt as well- a 70s style version of Marlene’s second album that Dorcas had made for them- and red boyfriend jeans cuffed at the bottom, white kicks. He had his hair back in a half-up and a light dusting of mascara on his eyes. All in all, it was the least effort he’d put into a night-out outfit in years.

Remus looked around Sirius’ car. He kept it surprisingly clean- Remus wasn’t sure if it was always like this, or if he’d tidied it to pick him up. There was a flannel tossed over the back of the passenger seat. There was a necklace hanging off the rearview mirror. Remus squinted at it- a constellation pendant.

Remus had seen that constellation before. He’d… he knew the man named after those stars.

“What is that?” Remus breathed, unable to take his eyes off the Leo constellation hanging from Sirius Black’s rearview mirror.

Sirius glanced back at him for a moment, and then at the necklace, confused. “Oh. Um, the Leo constellation is my favorite.”

“But your name is Sirius,” was all Remus thought to say.

Sirius chuckled, but it was a little stilted, like they were steering into a territory he didn’t like. Remus sat back in his seat.

“Yeah, my name is Sirius. But my little brother is named for the Leo constellation.”

“Stars,” James muttered, shaking his head. “The Black family is crazy.” He was also eyeing Sirius with worried glances. Remus figured Sirius didn’t readily talk about Regulus often.

“You have a brother?” Remus asked, despite having known Regulus far longer than he knew Sirius.

Sirius looked out the driver’s window for a moment, then turned back to the road. “Yeah. He’s twenty-two.”

“Hm.” Remus nodded, deciding to lighten the mood a bit. “Lucky. I’m an only child.”

“Me too!” James groaned. “Yo, Moony, be my brother. We can be twins.”

Remus laughed. “Sure, James. When’s your birthday?”

“March 27.”

“No fucking way.”

James whipped around in his seat, staring at him. “Tell me yours is March 27. I would… wow. That would be-“

Remus laughed. “March 10. But still…”

“That counts!” James cheered. “Sirius, this is my twin brother, Moony.”

Sirius laughed, looking at Remus with surprisingly thankful eyes. “That’s not really your name.” Not a question, a statement.

“Nope,” Remus agreed. He pulled out his phone and shot a quick text to Regulus.

[star & moon]

moon: he has a necklace with the leo constellation on his rearview mirror.

moon: asked him ab it. said his little brother was named for the leo.

moon: do with that what you will.

star:…

star: i need a drink.

“Are we ever gonna get your real name?” James asked, looking back at Remus again.

“Probably not,” Remus deadpanned.

“Oh come on!” James complained. “Now this is my mission. I will find out.”

Remus quirked a brow at James. “You know what I think is funny?”

“What?”

“You guys never told me your names.” Remus laughed when James blinked at it. “I already knew them.”

“But you said…” Sirius trailed off, shaking his head. “You already knew who we were.”

“What can I say?” Remus propped a foot up on the middle compartment. “My best mate is a Lions fan. Watches every game. I didn’t know who you were at first, but when you said you were the Lions, I used deductive reasoning for who each of you was by your nicknames.”

“Wait, I thought your best mate was the one that hates hockey players,” James pointed out.

“Oh, he is,” Remus agreed, grinning.

“This just makes me more convinced I need to figure out your name,” James told him.

Remus shrugged. “It really shouldn’t be too hard.”

“All we’ve got is a nickname, good looks, and a phone number,” Sirius argued. “Give us something else!”

“He lives in LA,” James pointed out.

“There’s your something else,” Remus said.

“Wait, no. We already knew that. Something something else.”

Remus thought long and hard. Then, he held out his hand. James blinked at it for a moment. Then, he seemed to realize what Remus was asking for and place his unlocked phone in Remus’ palm.

Remus pulled up his burner Twitter account.

Loops? @romulusloops

He hit request follow and handed the phone back to James, who stared at the Twitter page. He showed it to Sirius. Remus pulled out his own phone, hit his second account, and accepted the request. He watched the reload on James’ phone in real time from the backseat.

Then, he texted his friends.

[skittles]

romulus: james potter and sirius black now follow my twitter burner. do with that what you will.

barted: but that’s like our secret twitter groupchat! our burner accounts are sacred.

baby black: none of our real names are on there…

romulus: exactly. do with that what you will, reg.

baby black: i follow sirius on my burner. i follow the whole damn team.

strange: oh! he’s giving you a way to talk to sirius without him knowing it’s you! clever, re.

romulus: thank you, dora.

tulip: wait, this is going to be so much fun.

James started reading Remus’ burner posts aloud for Sirius. As a precaution, they really only followed each other’s burner accounts. Reg followed the Lions, and Remus followed the city account for his old hometown in Wales. Remus knew that Barty followed his cousin as well, and Evan his little sister that he never spoke to anymore. They all had small skeletons in the closet on their burners. But not enough for Sirius or James to put pieces together. Just enough to give them something.

“Romulus?” Sirius asked when James read his username. “Like, the Roman myth?”

Remus nodded. “Founders of Rome.”

“That’s your name? Romulus? Or Roman?”

Remus smiled. So close yet so far. “No.”

Sirius threw his free hand up in defeat.

“Loops. Last name?”

Yet again, so close yet so far. “No.”

“This is a gag account, isn’t it?” James said defeatedly.

“My best mates and I are all on it,” Remus explained. “Do with that what you will.”

They were getting close to the bar now. James was reading some of Remus’ posts aloud.

“TULIP I NEED COFFEE,” he read. “Who’s Tulip?”

“There aren’t really any real names on there… they’re all kind of gag accounts,” Remus explained.

“Oh, fuck this,” Sirius grumbled.

James was undeterred. “Wales is a piece of shit,” he read this time.

Remus snorted.

“Did you visit?” Sirius asked.

“I’m Welsh. Like, from Wales,” Remus deadpanned. “I moved to LA when I was eighteen.”

James looked back at him. He squinted. “Not to be rude, but you don’t sound Welsh.”

“Ydw i'n swnio'n gymraeg nawr?” Remus mused, smirking at them.

Sirius swallowed. “That was hot.”

“Sirius, stop simping in the car,” James complained.

“Sorry.”

“No, he’s not,” Remus muttered. Sirius winked at him.

“You don’t even almost have an accent, though,” James pointed out.

“Yeah, well, maybe I worked hard to get rid of it,” Remus said. Then, “no more questions about Wales.”

James nodded. “Um, yeah. Alright.” He read the next tweet. “Every time I facetime tulip or barted, i am so scared.”

Remus laughed. “Read the replies.”

James did. “Um, Barted said sucks to suck. Strange said literally. Mclovin said no but actually, they are menaces. Evan(s) said YOU’RE scared? I’M scared. And Artie said I was on facetime with tulip twenty minutes ago and he got all breathy. Another one bites the dust.”

“I don’t even want to know,” Sirius said, waving his hand. Remus laughed louder.

They pulled in and parked, meeting Finn, Leo, and Logan at the front. People were starting to point, but the guys ignored them and walked inside.

“Looking spiffy, Moony,” Logan said, grinning at him.

Finn reached out and pulled both Logan and Leo into his chest without even blinking. “Nope. No.”

Leo laughed. “Baby-“

“No.”

James poked Finn’s cheeks. “You’re a little protective, Harz.”

“Shut the fuck up, Potty.”

Logan rolled his eyes and grinned at Remus again. Remus smiled back.

“We got Moony’s Twitter account!” James announced when they got to the back table, already occupied by Jackson, Thomas, Kasey, and another guy Remus didn’t know.

“Ah. The infamous Moony.” The guy nodded to him. “I’m Olli.”

Remus shook his head. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. The team groupchat has been bursting about you. Apparently Cap makes a fool of himself every time-“

“That’s enough, Halla,” Sirius muttered.

Remus smiled cheekily at Sirius. “Nah. Actually, I think-“

Sirius covered Remus’ mouth with his hand. And… well, oh. That definitely didn’t turn Remus on at all.

Sirius held a finger to his lips, shooting Remus a glare. “No. That’s enough.”

Olli laughed. Thomas knocked their shoulders together. Remus shoved Sirius’ hand away.

[star & moon]

moon: reggie, your brother is actually so hot.

star: i actually cannot be friends with you anymore.

moon: no, reggie. i don’t think you understand. his PERSONALITY is attractive. what the fuck am i supposed to do with that?

star: fuck it.

moon: im TRYING.

star: no, i mean

star: im gonna get back in contact. fuck it. if he passes your ridiculous tests, it’ll be alright, right???

moon: …

moon: you’re making me want to cry in this bar.

moon: YES reg, it would be FINE. i think… i think he misses you, too.

star: i don’t miss him.

moon: sure baby.

star: don’t cry in the club. also, don’t break my brother’s heart. also, im calling pandora. i need a soft, gentle soul to tell me how to do this.

[lils & lupin]

re: reg is about to call pandora and invite her over to his place. YOU NEED TO GO AS WELL.

lil: why, hello, remus. thank you so much for saying hi! how are you? im doing well. how can i help you?

re: hi, lily, my absolute love. i need you to go to reg’s with pandora.

lil: does he want a soft hand to guide him?

re: yes.

lil: fuckin love messing up his plans. omw.

[star & moon]

star: i hate you.

moon: did she bring ice cream

star: i hate you a little less.

moon: xxxxxxxxx

“Moony!” Logan and James threw their arms around Remus, grinning like maniacs. Everyone was at least six shots into the night, but Logan and James seemed to be taking their intake a bit harder than the others.

Remus, being a rockstar and having lived in LA for five years, knew how to pace himself and handle his alcohol. He held his tequila glass gingerly and looked to his left, nose to nose with James Potter.

“Come dance with us!” James cheered.

Remus chuckled. The song playing was If Mona Lisa Was Real by Peter Pettigrew, someone he knew personally and had once gone cliff jumping in Greece with.

Really, he couldn’t go anywhere without bumping into his real life.

“Alright, alright!” Remus said when they started pulling on him. He extricated himself from their grips and held his drink up, following them through Kasey and Olli talking by the table. Leo and Sirius were jumping up and down and screaming, but they clearly didn’t know the words. Finn was recording them with a huge grin on his face. Thomas was leaning on him.

“Moony!” Leo yelled, yanking Remus into the circle. “Sing and dance with us!”

“You don’t even know the words,” Remus mused, falling back out of the middle of the circle and sipping his drink idly as Sirius beamed at him.

“Do you?” Logan asked, looking amazed.

“Of course I know the words,” Remus scoffed. “I’m from LA.”

“What does this have to do with LA?” Sirius asked, scratching his head.

Remus grinned. “Dance!” He told them all, shooing them away.

James grabbed Finn, making Thomas stumble into the wall, and pulled him into the circle with them. Remus started singing along to the words.

“Cause baby if the Mona Lisa was real,

I don’t think she’d be a fun girl.

Ain’t nobody that loves a still life,

And has a fun life.

Baby, I’m so glad you ain’t the Mona Lisa.

Baby, you’re real life.”

Sirius continued beaming at Remus. Remus flushed and kept screaming along, letting James and Finn tug him around and spill his drink.

Later, Remus was leaning against the wall alone as the rest of the guys kept dancing. He was nursing another tequila and lime.

Sirius stumbled over. “You’re alone,” he pointed out.

“I know.” Remus grinned at him. “That was purposeful.”

Sirius leaned against the wall next to him. “You’re a good singer.”

Remus laughed. Oh, the irony. “Thank you, Sirius.”

“My brother…” Sirius trailed off, scrunching his eyebrows up like he wasn’t sure what he was saying. Remus held his breath. “My brother sings. Regulus Black. He’s, um, he does like Soul and R&B, singer/songwriter stuff. He did a tour in the UK last year, I believe.”

Remus nodded. “Yeah. Regulus Black. I know the name.”

“I think he lives in LA,” Sirius muttered.

“Yeah, he does,” Remus admitted. “I see him at my usual coffeeshop sometimes.”

Which, really, wasn’t a lie.

Sirius’ eyes snapped up. “He’s, um… do you know him?”

Remus wasn’t going to tell Sirius the truth, but he also wasn’t going to lie. He wasn’t sure lying would get them anywhere. He was just silent.

“No, of course not,” Sirius continued. “Sorry. I, um, haven’t spoken to him in a while.”

“You listen to his music?” Remus asked.

Sirius shook his head. “I tried listening to the first album. It, um, was about our home. You know, our family. I couldn’t do it. I think he blocked me on socials, too. I just kind of go off what I see on the news. And I listen when he comes on the radio. But I can’t make myself, like, I dunno… search for him.”

Sirius shook his head again and laughed pitifully. Remus wanted to hug him. “Sorry. You didn’t ask for that trauma dump. What do you do in LA?”

“I’m a musician,” Remus said eventually, letting Regulus drop into the background.

Sirius raised his brows. “Oh. Well, no wonder you sing well.”

Remus laughed. “I suppose I’d have to.”

“Is that why you left Wales? For music? LA is a good place to get your foot in the door, right?”

“I left Wales because my mother died,” Remus said truthfully. Sirius had told him a bit about Reg. Remus was all for an eye-for-an-eye. “Cancer. My dad up and left back when I was, what… three? I needed a change.”

“Oh.” Sirius nodded. “That makes sense.”

He didn’t say sorry like most people did. Oh, that’s awful. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.

He just said makes sense and moved on. Remus could have kissed him for that.

“So, you’re a musician. What do you play?”

Remus laughed. “Guitar.” Sirius raised a brow. “Drums,” Remus went on. “Piano, violin. I can manage on the trumpet. Ukulele. I tried the flute once. Didn’t go well.”

Sirius laughed. “I would have guessed drummer. But, hey. Piano, violin, ukulele. Much… softer than I imagined.”

“I play rock,” Remus offered.

Sirius smiled. “That’s more like it. Do you sing, too? Or just play?”

Remus shrugged. Sirius rolled his eyes. “Ah. That’s one of those things we’re not allowed to know, right?”

Remus grinned and knocked their hips together.

“We can’t know your names, we can’t know your job, we can’t know your history…” Sirius sighed good-naturedly. “What are you? A serial killer?”

Remus laughed. “Maybe.”

“Good to know. I only take dangerous men home.”

Remus looked at Sirius in time to see his broad smirk.

“Hm. Well, I only take baseball players home,” Remus joked. “You’re out of luck.”

“Don’t make me try out for the baseball team, Moony. I’ll do it.”

Remus snorted. “I’d pay to see that.”

“I’m sure you would.”

Remus leaned closer to Sirius on the wall, smirking as he did so. “Alright. I only take men home after they buy me dinner.”

“Rosemerta makes a mean PB&J.”

“You’ll do anything, won’t you?”

Sirius grinned a dopey, drunk smile. “You’re beautiful.”

“You’re drunk.”

He raised an eyebrow at Remus. “Are you not?”

Remus smiled. “Not drunk enough.”

Sirius frowned. He looped a finger through Remus’ belt loop and tugged him slightly closer.

“Not drunk enough for what, Moons?”

Remus let his smirk melt into a dopey smile of his own. He tilted his head to the side.

A familiar beat filled the bar. Logan and Thomas whooped. It was one of Remus’ own songs, and he stilled for a moment, dragging his eyes away from Sirius to watch Logan yell at Finn that he loved this song.

It was Runaway. Not one of his more popular tunes, but something that Remus would allow Marlene to turn on for road trips. One of the few that wasn’t drastically overplayed by the media or his tour sets.

He looked back at Sirius, whose eyes seemed to have never left his. Sirius was still smiling.

“I don’t even know anymore,” Remus said, really unsure of what they’d been talking about.

Sirius chuckled. Remus pushed off the wall slightly and let Sirius’ other hand find his belt loop. He let Sirius tug him close, until they were flush together. Remus held his glass away from their bodies slightly, letting his other hand find Sirius’ back.

Sirius leaned down. Their noses brushed together. They were both grinning. Remus really wasn’t sure when the last time he’d kissed someone and smiled about it was.

Remus’ eyes slipped closed as their lips connected. It was a firm kiss. Lips pressed hard together and smiles still ghosting their faces. Sirius’ thumbs pressed into Remus’ hips.

“Eeeyy!” Remus wasn’t sure which of their friends had seen them first, but suddenly every single Gryffindor Lion in the vicinity was cheering and screaming. Remus pulled back, not far enough for Sirius’ hands to fall away from his waist, but far enough to look over at the guys. Sirius chuckled and let his face fall into Remus’ shoulder.

Remus shot the guys a deadpan look. “You’re all children.”

James whooped and then yelped when Olli smacked him. Then, to Sirius and Remus, Thomas called, “Get a room!”

“’m not opposed,” Sirius grumbled.

Remus shoved him back, struggling to hide his grin. “What’s a guy gotta do for some dinner first, Black?”

Sirius grinned and leaned back against the wall. “Not much. Just call me pretty again, Moons.”

Remus turned and walked back to the table, shooting, “You already know that you’re pretty,” over his shoulder.

He heard Sirius’ laugh over the music.

A few hours later, Sirius deemed himself sober enough to drive James and Moony back to his and James’ house. He hadn’t had a drink since Moony had kissed him. He hadn’t needed a drink to feel breezy after that. Still, Moony made him do a field sobriety test. He’d passed, obviously. And then kissed Moony’s cheek as he walked past. Moony had flipped him off.

James was drunk and giggling in the back seat. He was laid out, unbuckled, and waving his hands in the air. He was humming and half-singing the words to a song that had come on as they were leaving, but Sirius hadn’t recognized it.

Moony was in the passenger seat, legs propped up on the dash like he owned the place. He was singing along with James, but he seemed to know all the words.

“What song is that?” Sirius asked quietly.

“I dunno,” James mused from the backseat. Sirius hadn’t been asking him.

“the heir of nothing in particular,” Moony answered. He looked over at Sirius, eyes a bit guarded. He held his liquor a lot better than any of them. He hadn’t lost his head once that night. But he looked tired. “It’s by Regulus Black.”

“-and now I’m the heir of nothing in particular, nothing in particular,” James sang from the backseat. “hmmm mmmh hmmm you only leave it if you love it, hmmm something like that.”

Moony laughed and turned to James, shaking his head. “Potter, the words are leaving only counts if there was ever love at all, but now I’m the heir of nothing in particular.”

Sirius considered those words. He didn’t think it had been part of Reggie’s first album.

“You know the song well,” Sirius said, turning to Moony for a moment before focusing back on the road. They were pulling up to the house now.

“Well, yeah.” Moony looked out his own window, away from Sirius. “It’s all about losing your parents. I can relate.”

“Losing your…” Sirius trailed off.

Remus turned sad eyes on him. “You said you haven’t spoken to your brother in five years?”

“Yeah,” Sirius said, studying the steering wheel. He hadn’t considered his parents in five years, either. But if Regulus was singing songs about the loss of one’s parents…

Were Walburga and Orion Black… dead? Surely, Sirius would have heard. He would have been alerted, or something.

Wouldn’t he?

Moony just nodded. Sirius could tell he wanted to say something else. Sirius also knew that if Moony tried to tell him to reach out to Regulus Black, top of the charts singer/songwriter, Sirius would probably shut him out completely. Sirius tended to do that when people told him to do things.

They arrived at the house. Sirius pulled into the driveway and turned off the truck.

Moony blinked at him. “You’re not taking me home?”

Sirius flushed. “I, um- no. I’m not, I mean… I just figured you didn’t-“

Moony waved him off. “Dibs on the bed.”

“Right.”

They both turned and looked at James, who was still humming and waving his hands through the air.

“Also, dibs on not putting him in bed,” Moony said, and then he hopped out of the car.

Sirius scrambled to pull James out of the backseat, prop him up under his arm, and meet Moony at the front door. Moony fished in Sirius’ pocket for the keys without saying anything, unlocked the door, and pushed inside.

He looked around for a moment before turning to Sirius and James. James was grinning at him.

“Sleeping in Sirius’ bed tonight, are ya, Moons?” James blurted.

Sirius pinched him. James yelped.

“Oh, I definitely am,” Moony agreed, and then he waltzed up the stairs.

“How are you going to-“ Sirius began, watching him go.

“Oh, I’m just climbing into whoever’s bed I find first,” Moony cut him off, disappearing behind the wall. “I do that a lot,” came his teasing voice.

Sirius grumbled and looked over at James, who was grinning lovingly after Moony. “He’s so nice,” James told Sirius.

“Alright, Pots,” Sirius groaned and pulled James up the stairs after Moony. “Let’s get you to bed.”

Sirius and James fell into James’ room, the door open like Moony had checked it and then decided against that room (so, not sleeping in the first bed he found, apparently). Sirius threw pajamas at James, made sure he brushed his teeth, and then tucked him in like a child. James was still humming Regulus’ song.

“That’s your brother's song, yeah?” James asked sleepily.

“Yeah,” Sirius sighed.

“I know you don’t like talking about your brother,” James breathed, “but he’s damn talented. He’s also pretty.”

“Yeah, he is.” Sirius blinked at his best mate, ignoring the pretty part. When had James made that assessment?

Sirius turned out the lights and crossed the hall to his own room, where the lights were already on. He opened the door to find Moony’s clothes shucked off on the floor, the man himself curled up on one side of Sirius’ bed, wearing a Bowie t-shirt that Sirius had from that one packed bag that Regulus had shoved into his arms. One of the few things Sirius kept around from the House of Black; a reminder of his brother.

Moony was also wearing what looked like a pair of Sirius’ boxer shorts. They revealed more of his tattoos than Sirius had seen before. Sirius flushed slightly before gathering some pajamas of his own- another band t-shirt (Led Zeppelin, but not from his brother’s bag) and sweatpants. He disappeared into his connected bathroom to change and brush his teeth. His toothpaste was out, like Moony had rooted through his top drawer and brushed his teeth with his finger and some toothpaste. Sirius felt oddly warm about that.

He flipped off the lights and was about to head out to sleep on the couch when Moony hummed. “Where ya going?”

His voice had slipped into a honeyed, thick accent. Sirius blinked for a moment. It seemed that his Welsh history returned to the present when he was tired. Interesting. Also, cute.

“The couch,” Sirius whispered back. “Get some sleep, Moons.”

“Hmmm no. C’mere.”

Sirius crossed the room and tucked Moony’s untied hair behind his ear. “Moony, I’m not going to-“

Moony scooted to the other side of the bed and finally burrowed under the covers, then lifted them for Sirius to climb under. His eyes were still closed like he was too tired to open them.

“’m not asking you to, Black. We can have a-“ yawn- “sleepover.”

“You’re sure?”

“It’s your bed, Sirius. ‘m not kicking you out of it.”

Sirius slipped under the covers and settled against the pillow. It wasn’t the side he usually slept on, so he rooted around for a moment to get comfortable.

Moony sighed and tugged Sirius close, their bodies pressed together. Sirius stilled and Moony set his head tiredly on Sirius’ shoulder. He tossed an arm over Sirius’ chest, the other burrowed under Sirius’ body, holding him close.

When Sirius didn’t move, Moony sighed. “’m not gonna bite, Sirius.”

Sirius chuckled and lifted his arm, tossing it over Moony and pulling him closer. He let his other hand set onto Moony’s hip atop the covers. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Hm?”

Sirius nuzzled his hair with his nose and kissed his forehead. “You’re amazing.”

“Mhm. Too tired. Tell me in the morning.”

Sirius chucked again and Moony nestled closer, his nose pressed into Sirius’ neck.

Sirius fell asleep to Moony’s breathing, his heart beating impossibly fast.

Sirius woke the next morning alone. He should have expected it, really- for Moony to slip away before he woke up to avoid a conversation. Sirius was used to this by now.

But for some reason, it sent a pang of hurt through Sirius this time. Probably the fact that he was starving. Probably unrelated to the bedsheets tossed up, proving that there had been another person there last night.

Sirius felt the mattress. Cold. Moony had been gone for some time, then.

He got up and showered quickly. Then, as he wandered downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat, he heard it.

Soft piano, a lively tune accompanied by a soft, accented voice. Honeyed words dipping into syllables. A deep rift.

Sirius rerouted, stepping silently into the small library that he and James had stocked with their childhood favorites, hockey plays, and old classics. James kept his newer additions in his bedroom until they were eventually relocated to the library. Sirius just kept everything here. It was meant to be an office, they supposed. But two NHL players didn’t need an office. They didn’t even need a house this big. So, the library was outfitted with cascading shelves and a small sofa by the window.

And, after Sirius had admitted being proficient at pianoforte (years of lessons back inside the House of Black), Dumo had bought him a classical piano. It sat by the window as well, all dark wood and beautiful notes. Sirius only played when he was thinking about Regulus.

So, Sirius played at least four times a week.

But as Sirius stepped into the library and leaned on the doorway, Moony was sitting at the piano, carefully treading his fingers across the keys. His face was alight with the morning sun, filtering in through the light green linen curtains Kasey Winter’s girlfriend Natalie had bought them as a housewarming gift. He looked golden. Sirius stared, studying the way his freckles and scars seemed to come alive before focusing on the words he was singing.

There ain't no gold in this river
That I've been washin' my hands in forever
I know there is hope in these waters
But I can't bring myself to swim
When I am drowning in this silence
Baby, let me in

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
Didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
I had no time to choose
What I chose to do
So go easy on me

There ain't no room for things to change
When we are both so deeply stuck in our ways
You can't deny how hard I've tried
I changed who I was to put you both first
But now I give up

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
Didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
Had no time to choose
What I chose to do

So go easy on me

I had good intentions
And the highest hopes
But I know right now
It probably doesn't even show

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
I didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
I had no time to choose
What I chose to do
So go easy on me

Sirius felt weightless. He was watching Moony curl his fingers around the keys effortlessly. His voice was clearly still sleep-rasped, the song low effort. He had his eyes closed, just humming now.

“’m not gonna bite, you know,” Moony said suddenly, smiling slightly, eyes still closed. He was still fingering the keys, letting the melody continue.

Sirius smiled. “I know.”

He crossed the room and sat next to Moony on the bench. He finally opened his eyes, the amber irises catching the morning sun, turning to liquid gold.

“I thought you only sang rock,” Sirius mused.

Moony hummed. He turned his eyes back to the keys, letting his fingers find a quick riff before he answered. “I think I spent a long time trying to be exactly what people told me I wasn’t.”

Sirius considered that. “People wanted you to be…”

“Soft,” Moony muttered. He hummed some more, repeating the chords to the song he’d just sung now. “Back in Tenby, my mother grew flowers. She sold them in the markets. She arranged for weddings. I worked in the one coffee shop in town. People… everyone thought of me as this soft, kind boy. I didn’t want to be that. I didn’t want to be whatever Wales thought I was.”

Sirius leaned into his shoulder. “So, you turned into someone different.”

“I got tattoos. I started partying. I… well, I went into pop-rock music. That’s not exactly wrong for me. I enjoy it. But every now and then…” he played another riff. His breath ghosted Sirius’ face. Sirius shivered. Probably unrelated. “I just want to be on a flower farm by the seaside, playing piano in my mother’s greenhouse, sipping a coffee that I made.”

Sirius reached out, taking his hands. Moony stopped playing and let Sirius slip his fingers into his. Sirius placed Moony’s hands on his thigh and sat up straighter, popping his knuckles before pressing a few keys delicately. Then, he began to play one of the first songs he and Reggie had ever duetted together. It sounded incomplete without Reggie playing on the other side of the piano. But it wasn’t something Sirius could ever bring himself to complete- to play the other half of. This wasn’t his. It had been theirs.

Moony let him play for a while, leaning his own head on Sirius’ shoulder now. His hands still rested on Sirius’ thigh. When Sirius finished, he sighed and sat back, cording a hand through his hair.

“I had figured this wasn’t James’,” Moony mused. “What’s a big, strong hockey player doing with a piano?”

Sirius chuckled. He rested his head atop Moony’s. “When I was three,” he began, “my mother forced me into piano lessons. When I was four, my brother joined us. I guess that’s where it started for him- the whole music thing. But I always just wanted out of there. I wanted to be on the ice. I wanted to be with my teammates. Reggie played too, of course. Our father was in the NHL. It was… well, expected of us. But he never took to hockey the way I did.

“Anyway, we grew up playing together. That song… it was one of the first ones we ever learned that could be played as a duet. We would stay up all night- I think I was ten?” Sirius chuckled wetly. “We’d play it. Our mother would come downstairs and yell at us to keep it down, or go to bed, or whatever. And we’d just sneak right back to the piano.

“The night I ran away from home… I was eighteen. It hadn’t been a good night. But… Regulus had packed me a bag. He bought me a one-way ticket out of there. And he sent me on my way. And I… well, I made it big in hockey. I’m the youngest NHL captain ever. The Lions won the Stanley Cup last season. But…

“I guess just like you. Every now and then, I still come and play. It’s always that song. I can’t ever make myself fill in the gaps where Reggie used to play. I think about him all the time. I don’t know if he wants to talk to me. I know I want to talk to him, but we have separate lives now. I’m not sure how we would fit together anymore. But Dumo bought me this piano the year I was drafted to the Lions. And anytime I’m thinking of Reggie…”

Sirius played a short riff, letting the music fill the silence.

Moony pressed closer and kissed his cheek. “’m sure he thinks about you too, Sirius.”

Sirius laughed wetly. “Why is it so easy to talk to you? I can’t even talk to James about my family. Much less my brother.”

Moony smiled ruefully. “I think it’s because we don’t actually know each other, you know? It’s easy to talk to someone who doesn’t have any background knowledge of who you are. No expectations.”

Sirius smiled back at him. “You think he thinks about me?”

Moony’s smile melted, but not worriedly. More like he was considering his words. “I think… well, I’m a fan of his music. I think he thinks about you a lot more than you think he does.”

“Is it strange?” Sirius asked eventually. “To talk to me? If you’re a fan of his. To, I don’t know. Put a face to his albums?”

Moony smiled sadly. “No. Not as strange as it probably should be.”

Sirius laughed. He leaned forward and pressed a quick, chaste kiss to Moony’s lips. “You know what?”

Moony blinked, then tried to hide a small smile blooming on his face. “What?”

“I don’t even care that I don’t know your name.”

Moony laughed. “You have my Twitter handle.”

“I have your fake Twitter handle,” Sirius corrected.

Moony shrugged. “Good enough.”

Sirius smiled and kissed him again. “Yeah,” he muttered and then kissed him again. “Good enough.”

Moony’s hands carded through Sirius’ hair.

For the first time in his life, Sirius was consumed by a kiss.

Oh. His mind added pitifully. This man is going to destroy me.

Sirius made them breakfast. Moony made them coffee. Moony sat on the counter and traded kisses with Sirius between scrambling eggs and brewing coffee. Moony rooted around in the fridge like he lived there, finding some vanilla syrup that James must have bought and some milk he deemed worthy. Then he mixed it all together from his spot atop the cabinets.

Sirius watched him work. He almost burned the eggs. Moony would have never let him hear the end of it.

They ended up with eggs and bacon. They sat together on the counter. Sirus handed Moony an Advil, which he took readily as they both recognized the light pounding in their heads as hangovers.

“Did you write the song you were singing earlier?” Sirius asked.

Moony shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth. “Yeah.”

Sirius snorted. So much for manners. “You’re a menace,” he told the other man.

Moony rolled his eyes. “Alright, Mr. Vodka Shots.”

Sirius laughed. “Hey, that’s a team tradition.”

“Vodka is the devil’s liquor.”

“It does its job well, then,” Sirius quipped.

They settled into silence again. When they were done, Sirius leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Moony’s temple. “It was a beautiful song.”

Moony blushed. It was the first time Sirius had seen him do so. He looked marvelous. “Thank you,” he muttered.

“Oh? Breakfast?” James stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. “What the fuck time is it?”

Moony laughed and handed him the plate they had saved, along with a slightly cool mug of coffee. “Eggs, bacon, and a latte made by yours truly. Also, it’s one in the afternoon.”

“No, it’s not,” Sirius gasped. “Fucking hell.”

“Did you not check?” Moony asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“No,” Sirius countered, “I was too busy admiring you on the piano.”

James snorted. “Moony plays?”

“James, you won’t believe-“ Sirius recounted the instruments Moony had admitted to playing the night before. He told James about the song Moony had been playing that morning. He really could only describe the music as gorgeous. Just like the musician.

Moony flushed. “Okay, that’s enough compliments.”

“No, it’s not,” Sirius argued.

“Hm, yes, it is,” James decided, “I think our Moony is going to combust. “By the way, are those Sirius’ boxers?”

Moony flushed again. “Shut the fuck up and eat your eggs, Potter.”

Sirius beamed and tossed an arm around his shoulders, and Moony complied by settling into his side. James smiled, bemused at them, and ate his eggs.

[operation: captain moony]

James Potter has added Thomas Walker, Finn O’Hara, Leo Knut, Kasey Winter, Logan Tremblay, Pascal Dumias, and Jackson Nadeau to the chat.

Finn: what is this??

James: don’t tell cap.

Pascal: I love how you start with that.

Kasey: all the best things start with “don’t tell cap”.

Jackson: like that pool party in the hotel in tampa.

James: what pool party.

Leo: that one started with “don’t tell cap, or the assistant cap, who are sharing a hotel room”.

James: uncool.

Logan: Potty? You had a reason for gathering us all here today?

Thomas: PLEASE TELL ME WE’RE GOING TO PARENT TRAP CAP AND MOONY

James: WE’RE GOING TO PARENT TRAP CAP AND MOONY!!!

Thomas: fuck yeah.

Finn: cap doesn’t date??? moony doesn’t date hockey players???

James: okay, don’t tell cap i told you all this:

Leo: go on.

Pascal: yes, do go on, Jamie.

James: okay. so. cap and moony had a sleepover last night.

Jackson: we all assumed that.

Logan: called it.

Kasey: they kissed at the 3brooms!

James: yes. anyway. but they did NOT canoodle last night! they just cuddled.

Finn: wait that’s adorable.

James: it gets better.

Pascal: do tell.

James: i wake up this morning to music, right??? you all know that piano dumo got cap like, four years ago?

dumo: i knew i would have a hand in cap’s marriage.

Thomas: little hasty there, dumo.

James: i walk down there, and they’re sitting together on the bench, playing the piano. they’re chatting. cap kisses moony. moony kisses cap. they chat some more. they snuggle up on the bench. they play a bit more music. they kiss some more.

Logan: be still, my heart.

Jackson: i didn’t know cap could be nice.

James: i ran away so they didn’t know I could see them.

Kasey: of course you did.

James: i came back like half an hour later and cap made breakfast (bacon and eggs. i’ve lived with him for four years and didn’t know he could cook at all). moony made us lattes. LATTES. the man is a gift from above. anyway, i walk in and they’re eating breakfast together on the counter. cap’s got his arm around moony and everything. they’re just sitting there chatting. moony made me eat all my eggs before i could have any latte.

Logan: not sure you need coffee, pots.

James: and then cap is telling me about this song moony sang that morning on the piano, and he just keeps saying “gorgeous”. like, over and over again. he said moony looked beautiful playing. i don’t think he really knew he was saying it, but moony’s just sitting there blushing. he made cap do the dishes.

Thomas: awh, they’re fucking adorable.

James: ergo: we need to parent trap them. because i think if we leave them to it, they’ll go on being in love and not doing anything ab it.

Pascal: they’ve known each other two weeks???

Finn: OPERATION CAPTIAN MOONY!

Kasey: OPERATION CAPTIAN MOONY!

James: thank you for your service, gentlemen.

James: first order of business: movie night at moony’s.

Pascal: has moony offered this as an option?

James: no. but cap and i have his address.

Leo: tonight?

Logan: tonight.

Pascal: moony is going to slit all of our throats. i’ll bring those cookies celeste makes.

James: id die a happy man if i got some of celeste dumias’ cookies.

Jackson: ^^^

James: meet at mine and caps at 6 :)

Finn: can i pick the movie?

Kasey: it’s only fair that moony gets to pick.

Finn: i hate fair.