There is was, in so many words. Finally, after years of avoiding it, they had somehow managed to tell each other. It would have been a relief, James would have suggested a celebratory round of pints, had it not been for the current circumstances.
James' nerves were on edge. Fuck if he didn't prefer fighting Death Eaters over trying to navigate this bloody minefield. Remus was in no condition to take a punch, and when Sirius advanced James had to consciously prevent himself from darting between them. Not yet. He didn't want to make this about being on anyone's side. Some of the tension in his body abated as Sirius backed away.
"Sirius," he said sharply, his voice hard and heavy.
Yes, James had screwed the pooch in this case. But that was no excuse for Sirius to start laying into Remus like he was. His jaw was tight, his shoulders squared. Sirius was slightly taller, but James had a bigger build. All he wanted was to keep Sirius' anger in check. James knew that rage that enticed you to just start swinging your fists, and he'd be damned if Sirius turned that against Remus. Another glance to Remus only made him feel worse. The man looked as though he was about to be sick or pass out or both. Sirius might be hurt, but this was killing Remus.
"You can't demand that he explain something he hasn't done yet. Whatever's going on, whatever's brought us back, it isn't simple. And this," he said, gesturing at them all, "isn't simple either. You want answers? Ask someone who lived through it. But whatever Remus did in his... past-future holds no fucking bearing on how you both feel about each other right fucking now."