For just a second, James finds himself thrown completely off-kilter. He's not used to Scorpius asking if he can kiss him, not used to hearing the other boy stutter, and it makes something in his stomach twist. For as much as the definition of their relationship has only served to make James a thousand times more confident in it, it seems to have Scorpius on confusing new ground.

"I've missed you too, dumbarse," he mutters, and then smirks at him with a sassiness he doesn't really feel. "And you don't have to ask to kiss me."