#until james drunkenly admits that they're not in love with remus anymore

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October 9 - Jealous (Moonchaser & Jegulus) | @stag-microfic | wc: 796 Implied NSFW

James hates this. They hate feeling this way about their best friend. They hate the traces of resentment that pull at their chest when they look at them together, and they hate the way they can feel their heart break at the same time. 

It’s not their fault, and James would never blame them. It’s not like Sirius knew about their feelings, and Remus didn’t know that what they were doing was actually affecting them. And some part of James wants to be happy for them, they knew that Remus’ heart was taken by Sirius while they were… ‘together’ for lack of better words, and they were genuinely excited when Sirius went to them, confiding in James that he was in love with Remus.

But despite the part that wants to be happy for them, they can’t help the jealousy that rears its ugly head watching them dance together, laughing and smiling and chests pressed together. If only they had the courage to tell Remus during one of their nights together that they were actually in love with him. 

But would that have changed anything? Their relationship, from the start, was because Remus needed a distraction from Sirius and James was experimenting with his sexuality at first, then was using the same excuse as Remus -- that they needed a ‘distraction’ from the object of their affection, though how much of a distraction can it be when they’re sleeping with the object of their affection. This was always destined to happen, James knew that, but they didn’t realise how soon it would happen so they hadn’t prepared their heart when they should’ve.

“They’re disgusting.” A voice hums from beside them. James turns to look at the origin of the voice, only to find Regulus. He’s dressed prim and proper, despite being at a party, and is cradling a cup of some alcohol, his gaze fixed on where his brother is dancing with Remus. 

James hums and swallows down some of the jealousy that feels like bile in their throat, “It’s nice to see Sirius happy.”

Regulus hums back, “I suppose, though I imagine that our summers are going to get more unbearable with him moaning about how he misses Remus.” James is going to make a comment, until Regulus turns to look at them, “Though I doubt that you’re much better.”

And that sends James sputtering and choking on their drink, “What?”

“It’s obvious to everyone but my brother and Remus himself that you’re infatuated with him.” The younger shakes his head, turning to look back at the couple, “You wear your heart on your sleeve, Potter. Even if you’re not jumping on tables to declare your love, it was obvious with the way that you looked at him.” 

“Are you fucking stalking me?”

Regulus shrugs, “What would you say to messing with them?”

And James, for a moment, considers pushing on the previous topic, but decides that its not worth the battle, “What do you mean?”

“I’m in the same boat as you with Barty and Evan,” Regulus admits, gesturing to where his friends are standing in a corner and being a bit more suggestive than James was prepared to see, “And I figure that, since you’re in the same situation, you’d like to mess with them. Find a bit of a distraction in each other.”

“I don’t know if I can do that again.” They shake their head.

“Again?” Regulus prods, “You were doing things with Remus?”

“Not important, I don’t want to look for a distraction again.”

The younger shrugs, “It would be easier if you weren’t doing it with the person that you were interested in. And you can admit that it would be entertaining to see my brother’s reaction to the idea of a relationship between us.”

“That’s if we would make it known to him,” James hums, “And he would kill me either way.” 

“I wouldn’t mind making it known, perhaps my mother would lose her shit and I’d have an excuse to leave.” Regulus breathes then takes a sip, “What do you say?”

James thinks it over for a moment, wondering if their heart would be able to handle it, “Fine, but if one of us gets feelings for the other at any point, we make it known.” Regulus agrees to the terms, downs the rest of his drink, and pulls James to a stand, bringing them to the dance-floor area. 

The two of them have a great night, dancing, drinking, and laughing together, shooting looks towards their respective infatuations throughout the night. And if the two of them end up slipping away to a more private area, then that’s information for them and only them -- and maybe their roommates when they forget to cover the hickies in the morning.