#the ship has sailed on ravenrock

[lackadaisicallizard]

Love

Heavily inspired by/ dedicated to @sebbianas

The marauders are all there for Peter’s engagement, because of course they are. Why wouldn’t they be? They’re his closest friends. His family.

Even now, even ten years after they’ve left school and scattered around the country, they’re here. They wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“Have you stopped crying yet?” James asks Peter, walking over to where he’s ordering a drink at the bar.

The surprise engagement party following the proposal is at a local pub, one that they’ve all frequented over the years, and James has made sure that everyone who loves Peter was invited to share in this important moment in his oldest friend’s life.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Peter smiles as he hands James his drink and orders another.

James laughs. “I don’t blame you one bit, mate. I was the same at my engagement, and I was the one proposing.”

Peter chuckles, shaking his head. “I wish I could’ve seen that.”

“Oh, I was an absolute mess.”

“You still were an hour later when you told us.”

“That was me composed!”

Peter laughs again. “You really weren’t.”

James rolls his eyes and shifts his gaze to his husband, who is currently talking to Remus and Evan at one of the tables across the room. He laughs at something Remus says, expression as warm as it gets in public, and James can’t help the smile that appears on his face at the sight.

He’s so in love.

“I sometimes wonder why Reg said yes, honestly.”

Peter scoffs.

James frowns at him. “What?”

“You’re very easy to love, James. I know that first hand.”

“I mean yeah, but I mean more romantically.”

“So do I.”

James’ expression shifts to one of confusion now. “I’m lost.”

“Wait.” Peter looks at him. “You didn’t know I was in love with you?” He rolls his eyes, fondness evident in them. “Of course you didn’t, you’re so oblivious.”

James is silent for a good ten seconds, his brain racing to catch up to whatever the fuck is happening right now.

“Hold on, hold on, wait.” James meets Peter’s now amused expression. “You were what?”

Peter nods. “Oh yeah, I was big time in love with you for years. I don’t know exactly when it started, but it was some time when we were growing up. Remus dealt with a lot of it when we started school. He figured it out pretty much immediately.”

The coherent part of James’ brain is working overtime. “Hold up, Moony knew?”

“Pretty much everyone knew, Prongs. It was glaringly obvious. Well, I don’t think Sirius did actually, but he’s just as bad as you are.”

James pauses as he considers his friend’s words, “Wait, you’re not still…?”

“Oh, no! God no. I’m very much in love with my fiancé now.” He smiles as he says the word fiancé, his eyes flicking to where Benjy is chatting with Sirius before landing back on James.

“Oh good.” James takes a breath.

“I’d fear for my life if I did, honestly,” Peter smirks as James raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but Regulus is a little bit protective of you.”

James laughs at this. He supposes he is, not that James is complaining in the slightest.

“You two were meant for each other, you know,” Peter says, and James nods. He does know. He knows it more than he knows anything else in the world. He was made to love Regulus Black, and he’s so lucky that he gets to every day of his life.

“It’s that, right there,” Peter says with a smile, “the look you get when you even think about him. It’s that look that made me sober up and realise I couldn’t love you any more,” his smile turns into a grin, “well that and the very loud pining. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so happy to be constantly insulted.”

James laughs. “They were affectionate insults!”

“Either way, they worked. You found the love of your life, and I realised you weren’t the love of mine. Two birds, I guess.”

A second of silence passes between them. Peter speaks again.

“He reminded me of you at first, you know?”

James raises his eyebrows at that. He loves Benjy, but they are very different people. “Really?”

“Yeah, he knew I wasn’t interested and pursued me anyway.” He laughs and James hits his arm.

“I’ll have you know, Regulus was very interested.”

“And Lily?”

“In my defence, I had no idea she was a lesbian.”

“Oblivious.”

James pouts before speaking, his voice quieter than it was a moment ago, “I’m sorry.”

Peter’s returning smile is soft. “Don’t be. I’m so glad you didn’t love me because I’m so happy now. More than I ever thought possible.” His eyes move to Benjy again and there’s just so much love in them that James almost has to look away for a second to avoid intruding on his friend’s inner thoughts.

“You two are meant for each other, you know,” James repeats Peter’s previous sentiment and his smile widens.

“I know.”

The silence between them is broken by the cheerful sounds of the pub, the sounds of their friends all coming together to witness and celebrate the love that Peter’s found, the love that he deserves.

“You were wrong before though,” James says and Peter turns to look at him, waiting for him to finish his thought, “I do love you. I always will.”

Peter smiles. “I love you too, James.”

Something warm settles in James’ chest and he takes a sip of his drink. His tone turns teasing, “I’m just confirming that it’s platonic love.”

“Oh, fuck off.” Peter pushes off the bar and starts walking towards their friends.

“Love you!” James calls after him.

“Stop hitting on me, I’m engaged!” Peter calls back.

James laughs as he watches him walk away, joining his fiancé and settling into the arm that wraps around his waist, Benjy pressing a kiss to his head before continuing his conversation.

James is so happy for them. He’s so happy for all of them. In fact, he loves and appreciates every single person in this room.

Platonically, for the most part.