And they could never tear us apart

in the woods somewhere | part 19 @dailyprongsfoot prompt May 2026 | 7: cold | AO3 | start at part 1

The fire in the hearth burns merrily, chasing away the chill of the night. Spring nights outside of the cities are still rather cool, even if James doesn't feel cold at all right now. His skin is still heated, his heart still pounding from what they just did.

Sirius flops down into the sheets next to him, just as breathless. He's a vision in the soft light of the fire, his hair tousled and his eyes bright. James is tempted to devour him again right away, but sadly his body will need a bit of time to recover first.

After their fight with the stinger swinging monster they should probably both rest more in general. James' arms still sting a little from its attacks, even if Sirius gave the injuries some tender care before they got thoroughly distracted.

Maybe they really should have let the herbal salve sink into James' skin a bit more and let it do its magic before tumbling into the sheets. Maybe then James wouldn't have rubbed most of it into the bedding of the creaky inn bed.

It only means they will have to redo the whole process later. But who can really blame James for not caring as much about all that as he probably should when Sirius is there, right next to him after a week of painful separation?

James reaches out for Sirius and pulls him closer and into another heated kiss, drinking down his breathless chuckles like fine wine.

It would be perfect, but there is one thing still pushing at James' mind, demanding his attention.

“Not that I'm not flattered,” James mumbles against plush lips. “But why did you follow me?”

“Because I missed your snoring,” Sirius says with a grin.

James pokes him in the side. “I told you I don't snore.”

“I beg to differ.”

“And I beg of you a real answer.” James looks at him, at his fiercely independent mage who loves his freedom and fears a leash. “Why are you here, Sirius? You know where I'm going.”

Sirius sighs and flops onto his back. He stares up at the plastered ceiling instead of looking at James. “Because I hate the idea of you binding yourself to someone else.”

“Me too,” James says softly, like a shared secret between them. “But you know I'll have to.”

“No, you don't.” Sirius turns his head to finally look at James, his eyes fierce and determined. “I'm right here.”

“And I won't force you into this,” James shoots back. “You made it pretty clear what such a bond would mean to you –”

“Cute how you think you could force me.”

James glares at him. “Says the man who ran away into the middle of the forest to not be forced into anything by the crown, which, if you remember, I'm part of.”

Sirius waves that away like it's nothing. “That was before I knew more about this bond.”

“That doesn't change –”

“Before I knew more about you.”

James' mouth snaps shut at the look Sirius is giving him, still fiercely determined and stubborn, but with a soft spark of tenderness in his eyes that shuts James up completely.

“Which, if you ask me, changes everything.” Sirius shakes his head like he can't believe he's saying that, then presses his forehead against James' shoulder. His breath brushes along James' neck, making him shiver. “I trust you, for some completely mad reason.”

It's the greatest compliment James could receive. It's doing funny things to his heart.

Lifting his hand, James buries his fingers in Sirius' long hair and pulls him into a kiss, heated and full of love, to have an outlet for all the things he's feeling for that infuriatingly stubborn mage. Sirius makes a small sound against his lips and wraps his arms around James, pulling him closer.

Their bodies shift on the bed, striving for more contact. James follows wherever Sirius leads.

A blanket gets kicked off the bed and slides to the floor, but neither of them notices. Sirius' legs wrap around James' hips with ease, bringing them even closer together.

in the woods somewhere | part 18 @dailyprongsfoot prompt February 2026 | 24: crash | AO3 | start at part 1

James ducks and rolls. The stinger of the beast hits the forest floor instead of him. It sends up a cloud of dust and James turns away, trying not to be blinded by it or breathing in too much of the dirt.

He barely manages to catch the second attack of the stinger with his sword. It still grazes down his arm as he pushes the beast back, leaving him with another set of scratches. James can only hope the beast is not venomous.

The creature is a tough one. Its shell is hard and impossible to break. James has tried different angles, but all it does is bouncing his sword back off it.

He nearly lost his grip on it the first time, he's more careful in his approach now.

Still, James knows he can't keep this up forever. His arms start to hurt, not only from the stinger scratches but also from lifting his sword over and over again, blocking the powerful swings of the creature. He's getting tired and he's still not close to finding a way to get rid of the beast.

“Duck!”

The command echoes through the forest. Without thinking about it much, James drops to the floor.

He knows that voice.

The stinger of the monster comes down at him again, but this time it bounces off of an invisible barrier. The beast screeches in outrage and pulls the stinger further back, but that's when James sees it – a little opening in the shell, just underneath the stinger. A soft bit of exposed muscle to give it free movement.

James lifts his sword and swings.

The stinger goes flying, cut off from where it was connected to the tail. The beast screams, dark blood spraying around as it thrashes the tail back and forth.

A blinding burst of light flashes over James' head, hitting the creature just between the eyes. It stumbles back, momentarily blinded by both light and pain. Its big head falls back and that's when James sees the second opening in the shell.

The tip of his sword sinks into the gap like it's cutting through soft butter. After the struggle James had with that beast it's almost infuriating how easy it is to kill if you know how to do it.

The monster gives a hiss, dark blood gushing from the wound at its neck. Then it slumps forward and James has to quickly stumble back to avoid getting crushed by the massive body that goes down with a crash.

He stumbles right into another person.

“A bit more than a week, James, and I find you in deep trouble already. I should not be surprised, but I'm a little impressed, I have to say.”

“Sirius.” James turns with a wide grin, all tiredness forgotten. “How did you find me?”

Sirius lifts James' broken horn pendant in answer. It dangles on its leather cord between his fingers. “Tracking charm. It's easy enough if you have something of the person you're searching for.”

Easy. Only Sirius would call something that sounds like a good bit of complicated magic easy.

James can't stop grinning. His eyes go over to the lifeless body of the monster they fought together. Maybe Sirius can make him a new protection pendant out of the stinger of the fallen beast. “We work well together.”

“Funny that,” Sirius says, looking down at the beast as well. “And more than a little ironic.”

James frowns and turns back to him. “Why?”

Sirius keeps his eyes on the ground. “You know how you keep saying that my magic is pretty good?”

“Obviously.” James points down at the slain beast.

“And how you were so sure I would be the perfect mage for the prince?”

James opens his mouth to say something, probably to apologise again for his thoughtless comments on the matter, only thinking of himself, but Sirius lifts a hand and stops James' rambles before they can even start. James' mouth falls shut so fast, he almost bites his tongue, no magic involved.

“Well, you weren't the only one thinking that.” Sirius nudges one of the many legs of the beast on the ground with the tip of his boot, then takes a deep breath and looks at James. “I slipped out of a certain carriage last spring. That's how I ended up in the forest. I kind of ran away from becoming your mage and somehow you found me anyway.”

James stares at Sirius. He blinks a few times. Then the grin slowly returns to his lips, wider than ever.

“Please don't say it,” Sirius grumbles.

James' grin only widens more, his hazel eyes sparkling. “I told you it's fate!”

Sirius sighs, his shoulders dropping in defeat. “You won't shut up about it now, will you?”

“Are you kidding me? Of course not!” James flings the arm that's not holding his sword around Sirius and pulls him closer, only wincing a little when the cuts on his skin from the beast's stinger brush against Sirius' clothes. “It's exactly the epic, fated romance I was hoping for in my life.”

Sirius leans his forehead against James'. “Whatever you say, Your Highness.”

James closes his eyes and just takes in this moment of being close to Sirius again. “What will I have to do for you to stop calling me that?”

in the woods somewhere | part 17 @dailyprongsfoot prompt March 2026 | 28: sleepless | AO3 | start at part 1 Happy Birthday @neverenoughmarauders!🥳 (after breaking your heart last time I thought it would be nice to kind of glue it back together for your special day! 😂 I hope you like it! 💖)

Sirius can't sleep.

It's too quiet in the cottage without James' snoring. The bed feels too big without a warm body at his side, too uncomfortable without a pair of arms wrapped around his middle, just on the edge of too tight.

Sirius tries to ignore it and force sleep to come, like he did every night for the past week, but sleep does not cooperate with his wants or needs this time.

The night drags on forever.

Sirius wonders where James sleeps tonight, if he has found an inn or if he made camp by the wayside on the soft spring grass. He's hoping it's the inn. With James' level of self-preservation he would be robbed and murdered in no time if he'd ever attempt to sleep in a field.

This is exactly why it's good for him to have a travel companion that can cast protective charms. He needs that. He's getting into far too much trouble on his own.

It's for the best Sirius tells himself over and over.

It's for the best. It's for the best.

But if it's really for the best, why does it feel like Sirius' insides burn with a raging fire every time he thinks of James bonded to another mage?

It's not jealousy. Of course it's not. It's just that he knows the other mage families and the possible options they will present to James.

Sirius wonders if Lucius will slither his way into the crown's good graces or if a Nott will take his place.

His place.

Sirius tries to shake off that thought. It's not his place to be the prince's mage. He made sure it won't be, made a decision against it, one for freedom.

But that was before he got to know James.

And before he learned more about that bond too. It wasn't easy to get the information he wanted out of stolen books and transcripts, but he did his research. More than he has shared with James yet.

Still, he made a choice to turn his back on it all, to try for a life on his own, away from his family's expectations and meddling. Away from court. It felt good at first, this taste of freedom. His own cottage. Peace and quiet.

Too quiet maybe.

Just when he got a little bored with nothing but trees and herbs and bird song, James had arrived at his doorstep and made things a lot more interesting.

But now James is gone and boredom can return. There is nothing much to do in the forest, not for someone who likes to learn and explore.

He could leave the country and go somewhere else. Try something completely new and get rid of the lingering longing for James.

Or he could do something stupid...

Sirius huffs and turns around, punching the pillow into a better shape. No, he won't run after someone just because he has a nice smile and a pair of bright, hazel eyes and a witty, sharp tongue.

Just because he makes Sirius feel wanted and loved.

Just because he has taken a part of Sirius' heart along with him when he left.

Sirius groans and turns onto his back, looking around the room in the low light of the dying ambers in the hearth. It's utterly insane to give all of this up for a stupid, charming princeling.

His mother would have a field day with it.

Groaning again, Sirius gets out of bed. He rubs his eyes. There is no sleep for him tonight.

James might be already halfway across the country. The weather had been nice and in his favour for the most part.

Which means that he's halfway to the waiting, greedy arms of Lucius Malfoy.

in the woods somewhere | part 16 @dailyprongsfoot prompt February 2026 | 21: season | AO3 | start at part 1

Spring sneaks in eventually.

The snow melts completely and flowers bloom. Birds sing and build their nests in trees. The chill in the air vanishes, the hours of the day grow longer.

The roads are ready to be travelled again.

James packs his bags and saddles Nimbus. He's dragging his feet a little doing so. His horse dances on the spot, unsure if he's happy about the promise of running or sad to see his cosy stable go.

It's not an easy goodbye.

James kisses Sirius long and sweet, making sure the taste of it will last him for a while on the road. Then he swings into the saddle and takes up the reins.

Nimbus gives Sirius' hair a quick, affectionate nibble as he walks by, then he trots down the path and through the gate, leaving the magical barrier behind.

James doesn't want to look back. If he does, he might turn back around and stay.

Sirius watches them go from his doorstep. They have long vanished between the trees before he finally closes that door.

They might see each other again, once James is done with his business at the castle.

They might, but it's a slim chance, really.

in the woods somewhere | part 15 @dailyprongsfoot prompt January 2026 | 18: irresistible | AO3 | start at part 1

“I've been thinking.”

James rolls over onto his side with a grin. “Dangerous business.”

Sirius throws a pillow at him. James laughs as it hits his face.

“So, as I was saying before I got rudely interrupted by a princely prat,” Sirius continues when James pushes the pillow away. “I've been thinking about what you told me and there is something I was wondering about. How come, if you simply left a message behind when you left the castle last spring, that they didn't send anyone after you to collect you and bring you back?”

“Well.” James cards a hand through his hair, tugging at the roots. “The message might not have been everything.”

Sirius raises an eyebrow at James. “What do you mean?”

“My father might have caught me on my way out,” James admits, giving his hair another tug.

Sirius blinks at him. “The king caught you? And he still let you go?”

“He sat me down for a talk and made me check my supplies first.” James drops his hand and tugs on the edge of the pillow instead. “He gave me a whole list of contacts in case I needed any help out there and then made me promise to come back. In the end it wasn't that sneaky, really. He only let me go in the morning after breakfast.”

“After breakfast, hum?” A slow grin spreads on Sirius' face. “He made you say goodbye to the Queen too, didn't he?”

James nods, a fond little smile tugging at his lips at the memory of his mother. “She gave me an earful about trying to sneak out at night without letting her look at me one last time.”

After that she gave him the warmest hug and the best wishes for his journey. He almost didn't want to go after that. But only almost.

“You really need to learn how to move around the world without being noticed all the time,” Sirius says with a fond shake of his head.

“What can I say?” James grins. “I was born utterly impossible not to notice. It's a burden I have to bear.”

“Such tragedy.”

“Indeed.” James flops back into the bed with a dramatic sigh. “Don't ask me how I survive it.”

“I won't.” Sirius reaches out and pokes James' side. “Instead I'm asking you what brought you to my door that first time.”

“Injury, mostly.”

Sirius pokes him again, making James squirm away when he finds a ticklish spot. “I mean, your father made sure you had help available to you on the road. Surely there would have been a mage or two on that list, eager to help you.”

James shrugs, keeping out of Sirius' poking reach. “You were closer than any of them the first time around. I was just lucky do find you. And after that, you were just...” James trails off with another helpless shrug, not looking at Sirius, hoping he'll drop it. It's more than he intended to say.

Sirius, of course, can't let it be. “Just what?”

James looks at him and like so often with Sirius he can't stop the words from simply slipping past his lips without his permission. “Just mine.”

Sirius' eyes widen a bit, but he doesn't say anything. He looks like he's not quite sure if he wants to run at James' words or wants to hear them again and again.

“It's not my fault you're quite irresistible,” James says with an awkward little chuckle when Sirius' silence stretches for too long.

“My burden to bear.” Sirius reaches for James, this time not to poke him but to pull him closer. “And yet you'll leave me.”

He tries to not make it sound like an accusation. They both know it's something neither of them can stop from happening. Of course James can not break a promise to his parents. He's a good son after all, unlike Sirius.

James buries his fingers in Sirius' hair to pull him closer still. “It's not spring yet,” he says, his words brushing against Sirius' lips softly as he speaks. “We still have time.”

It's not the time for goodbyes just yet.

It will come much too soon. The snow outside the cottage already starts to melt.

But not yet.

1. The court holds Google responsible for statements made by its AI, considering them Google's statements (search engines have limited liability for results in their engine as they're the words of other sites/companies/people), meaning when their AI lies/hallucinates they're liable for the defamation/harm resulting from those statements.

2. Google's defense that customers are generally aware of the lack of reliability and are responsible for fact checking was dismissed. As the court pointed out, that would "significantly diminish" AI Search's stated purpose and it can't be distinguished from Google's business practices/statements as a search tool.

3. Studies have found about 91% of Google's everyday AI responses are accurate, leaving millions of searches per HOUR with potential liability for falsehoods. 56% of correct responses weren't supported by the sources the AI listed. Both of which mean Google is now liable for a LOT more AI "errors."

4. Google was held liable for 80% of court costs in this case and this precedent is expected to reverberate around the world. This is a massive shift from the 3rd-party search provider role Google has previously played and it comes right as they've tied ALL searches to their AI search.

No one owes artists anything.

Give Sirius a vlog, please. 

he's ripped

I just couldn't resist the pun!

look who at pride 🏳️‍🌈 james and sirius glowing brighter than the parade lights while the rest of the world keeps insisting they're just friends.