From the previously reblogged โidiots in love but are in denialโ prompt list
Prompt 3: โAnd why do you think Iโd ever like them? I have taste.โ
Pairing: barty/sirius
@nightshift-clocking-in don't forget, you asked for this.
Remus nudges Sirius, eyes narrowed. โWhat is with you Pads?โ
โHmm?โ Sirius looks up, his dreamy gaze reluctantly drawing back from the Slytherin table. Remus doesnโt even want to know who he might have been gazing at, and circe he hopes that it was just an accidental direction of his gaze while daydreaming. Canโt hurt to make sure though.
โYou spend an awful lot of time gazing wistfully at the Slytherin table, you got the hots for a snake do you?โ
Sirius scoffs. โAnd why do you think Iโd ever like them? I have taste.โ
โIs that so?โ James cuts in. โIs that why I saw you on the map with Barty Crouch Jr. in an abandoned classroom last night?โ
โJames!โ Sirius says, horrified, throwing his jam toast at the other boy. James giggles as he dodges the sticky breakfast food, turning to toss the end of his croissant back at Sirius, but Sirius is too busy doing damage control, looking at Remus, pleading.ย
โYou know I could never, a Slytherinโ you know right?โย
โDo I?โ Remus raises a brow. โWhat were you doing in a room all alone with him then, huh?โ
โTalking about Reggie. Obviously.โ Sirius says quickly, but he canโt meet Remusโ eyes, instead over-correcting on acting casual and carefully spreading Jam on a fresh piece of toast. Remus can see the tremble in his hands. Heโs lying and Remus understands, because itโs Barty, but also doesnโt, because surely theyโre not doing something so incomprehensible that Sirius would feel the need to lie about it.
โOh?โ James says, prodding further. โAnd how is dear Regulus, hmm?โ
โHeโs fine.โ Sirius says shortly, lips pursed.ย
โAnd youโre going through Barty because, youโre still not on speaking terms with Regulus, is that right?โ James asks.
Sirius nods, taking a bite of his toast.
โHa!โ James says, pointing. Sirius stiffens, and James continues. โI saw you in the astronomy tower with Reggie last week! I know youโve reconciled because I asked him and he told me.โ James leans forward on his elbows, perching his chin on clasped hands and grins at Sirius conspiratorially. โWhat were you doing in the classroom with Crouch, Sirius?โ
Sirius presses his lips together, glaring at James. If looks could kill, James would likely be aflame. They both know Sirius wonโt admit to whatever it was they were really doing, so teasing, Remus takes a shot in the dark at the least likely scenario to get him to realise itโs fine.
Remus gags, moving slightly away from his friend. โCrouch, Sirius? Really?โ
But at the hurt look on Siriusโ face, he falters, because apparently yes, really. And Remusโ heart cracks because he was so sure, at least he had hoped, that when Sirius finally settled into his sexuality that it would be him that he fall for. And yet, the look on Siriusโ face told him that wasnโt the case.ย
And there must be something showing on Remusโ face because the next thing he knows, Siriusโ hands are on his arm, and he canโt breathe, he canโtโ
โI wasnโtโ it wasnโtโ well it is, but I, we werenโt going to tell anyone because itโs not serious.โ Remus sees the battle in his eyes, because heโs still lying but heโs correcting to try not to hurt their feelings and doing the exact opposite.ย
Because Remus knows. He knows the kind of sweet nothings and promises that can fall from Siriusโ lips because heโs heard them all before. For him they were promises of friendship and loyalty and comfort wrapped in blankets and a warm embrace. He can only imagine the kinds of words that fall from Siriusโ lips when heโs in love, and thatโs what this is, isnโt it? The longing looks across the hall, the deep flush and the hurt at the insinuation that he was wrong for wanting Barty, the flicker of resentment that crossed his face at the mere insinuation that what he felt was not okay.ย
And Remus canโt breathe.ย
Because he breathes the air Sirius breathes but that air is for someone else.
Sirius is looking at him, and he retracts his arm, blinking back tears as he stands, excusing himself from the table.ย
For the first time this morning, Remus catches movement on the other side of the hall, his eyes flicking to the movement and seeing Barty stand to leave, likely following Sirius from the hall.ย
Remus feels as if the air has been punched out of him despite feeling so sure that there wasnโt any left in his lungs, and he takes panicked gasping breaths, James rushing around the table to steady him and talk him through it.ย
โYouโre alright, Moony, youโre alright. Breathe inโ That's good. Breathe out. Good, youโre doing great.โ