Sirius had been getting worse. More reckless. It hadn't just been that night with Remus. The 'joke' with Severus was telling. How brutal he had been as well. It had stopped being 'pranks' a long time ago. Severus was genuinely afraid of him. A good portion of those scars on his pale skin probably had been at his hand.

Sirius rubbed the back of his neck and didn't say anything.

"I'm not queer," he said. "I like birds just fine. But I fancy you. Maybe I am queer. Just how it is, right?" He snorted. "Sorry, Rem. I am.