Advent Gift!Fic for: Wolf

Writing Club: Make Up Your Mind Day - Write about someone making their mind up on something.

Word Count: 651

Blessing

"Hey Sirius," James said, settling into the vacant chair next to his friend in the common room. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah, course you can, mate," Sirius answered, shoving his half written essay into his bag to complete later. "What is it?"

James hesitated for a moment. He didn't really know how to approach such a subject, but he knew if he was going to have any hope with Regulus, he needed to have Sirius' blessing.

"IwantoaskRegulusout," James said quickly.

"What was that?" Sirius asked, a small smile playing on his lips.

"I said: I want to ask Regulus out," James repeated slowly, avoiding eye contact with his best friend and suddenly finding a hangnail very interesting.

"And what are your intentions towards my brother?" Sirius asked, giving James his best protective older brother look.

"Intentions?" James queried, returning his gaze to Sirius.

"Yes, intentions," Sirius said, raising his eyebrows. "Do you just want a quick fumble in the broom closets? Or do you plan on treating him like a prince?"

"Like a prince?" James said, his answer sounding more like a question.

"I don't believe you, Potter," Sirius stated sternly. "You have quite the reputation for using people for your own pleasure, before casting them to the side. Why should I believe you will treat my brother any differently?"

James lowered his head in shame. He should have known his past actions would come back to bite him in the arse when he had real feelings for someone. He didn't blame Sirius for questioning his motives.

"Sirius," James started.

"That's Mr Black to you," Sirius told him, cutting his best friend off.

James furrowed his eyebrows and gave his best friend a questioning look but decided to go with the flow. If this is what it took to get Sirius' permission to ask Regulus out then so be it.

He cast a glance around the common room and found that it was empty before clearing his throat and starting again.

"Mr Black," James said, feeling strange as he addressed Sirius in that manner. "I can assure you my intentions towards Regulus are one hundred percent pure. I admit, my track record with men and women hasn't been the best, but there is something different about Regulus. I don't just want to have a fumble in the broom closets with him; I want to take him on dates, kiss him and snuggle with him. I don't even really care about the physical side. He could say he didn't want that and I would still want to be with him. Please, Sirius, give me your blessing."

Sirius sat back in his chair and crossed his legs as he pondered the words James had just spoken. James, meanwhile, pleaded with his eyes for Sirius to give him a chance to prove he was good enough for Regulus.

"Oh, Sirius, just say yes," a voice said from behind James. He turned his head and his eyes fell on his other friend, Remus, and James found himself wondering how long he had been stood there. "You know you're going to give him your blessing, so put the poor man out of his misery."

"Moony, you take the fun out of everything," Sirius commented, uncrossing his legs. "You could at least have let him sweat for a while before telling him that."

"Is that a 'yes' then?" James asked, his eyes lighting up.

Sirius nodded his head. "Yes, but if you hurt my brother, I swear to Merlin, you will regret it."

"I won't; I promise," James said, jumping up from his seat and hugging Sirius.

"I'd better not," Sirius told him, giving James a glare when he released him from the hug and stepped back.

"Well, I'm sure you two want some alone time," James said, winking at Sirius, "so I'll just go and find Reg. I have a Slytherin to woo."