@jeggyverses-jegulus-microfic word count: 413

Sometimes James forgot that Sirius wasn’t actually his brother, and that he couldn’t really Inherit anything from Euphemia and Fleamont Potter. It was hard to remember! Sometimes he did things or said things exactly like them. For example, the glare he was giving him right now was entirely their mother.

“James Fleamont Potter, what the fuck are you doing with your hands on my baby brother’s ass?” James winced. Of all the ways, this was not how he wanted Sirius to find out about him and Regulus.

That however was a good reminder that they weren’t blood related, because Regulus (who until just a second ago had his tongue down James’ throat and who ass James still was holding) was most certainly not his relative. Instead of freezing in fear, like James, Regulus kept hold of James’ hand and turned around, leaning back against him in a way that was not going to make this easier to explain to his brother.

“Calm down, Sirius. As if Potter could lay a hand on me if I didn’t want him to.” That did not, in fact, calm Sirius down.

“Calm! What- as if- I- James!” Sirius spluttered, hands resting incredulously on his hips in a stance that was very Fleamont. James cleared his throat.

“I mean, he’s not wrong?” James offered which was, apparently, not what Sirius wanted to hear.

“James! I can’t believe this, after everything you wouldn’t tell me you had-” He began to rant but Regulus interrupted. 

“James didn’t tell you anything because I asked him not to, if you must know.” Regulus said coolly. “It was actually a bit of a chore to get him to agree to that. Now if you’re quite done interrupting us, we were a bit busy and we’d like to be left alone.” Sirius’ eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

“Oh yes, you did look quite busy!” He exclaimed, “But if you haven’t noticed you’re in the middle of the family kitchen, which last time I checked was not your private quarters.” 

Regulus hummed and turned around to look at James thoughtfully. 

“Good point, big brother.” he grinned and pulled James by the hand. “Come along, Jamie.” Helpless, especially after that particular nickname, James followed without a second glance at Sirius, matching Regulus’ pace as he began running down the hallway ignoring the screaming behind them.

Naekit scrambled to the top of the dead and dying steelwood tree. It had been centuries since it bore leaves, but its trunk and limbs were still as sturdy as a song.