Chapter Text
“Do you ever think about owning a bookstore?”
They’re laying in bed, Sirius curled into Remus’ chest, both of their faces flushed after what they’d just done. Sirius always asks random questions after they’ve just had sex, ones that aren’t heavy and are just full of curiosity.
Despite the rush they both experienced, it’s so easy to get back to normal with Sirius.
“Sometimes.” Remus’ arm traces circles on Sirius’ back. His pale skin is smooth and radiates heat. “But I like the library. I like working with Emmeline and Kingsley and doing storytimes with the kids.” He pauses, reaching deeper inside him. “I also like what it stands for.”
“What it stands for?” Sirius giggles, craning his head to look up at Remus, who in turn looks down at him. Remus can barely see the grey in his eyes as his pupils are full blown.
“Yeah. A safe place with free and accessible knowledge for anyone. Libraries are underrated in that way.” That’s all Remus ever wanted when he was growing up, and now he gets to provide it for other people.
He brushes some of Sirius’ dark hair out of his face. Sirius reaches up and flicks at a golden curl on Remus’ forehead.
“Remus Lupin, you are too good for this world.”
“I’m too good for you is what you mean.” He comments sarcastically.
“You really are.” Sirius says earnestly. “I don’t know how I got so lucky with you.”
Sirius says it so casually, so easily, that it makes Remus’ eyes widened. No matter how long they’ve been together, Sirius continues to do and say things that will surprise him. Sirius is magnetic, attracting all the right things in Remus. Making his heart flutter and his mind relax. Remus has never stopped falling for Sirius.
“You know for a lad who reads books all day, you sure do get speechless a lot.” Sirius jokes, after a moment of silence that Remus didn’t even capture.
“It’s you who makes me speechless, dear.” Remus replies ardently. “What about you?” He continues, flipping the conversation back to Sirius. “Do you ever think about owning a bakery?”
“Oh, of course.” Sirius takes a breath, like he’s been waiting for this question. He looks to the ceiling, as if imagining it in space. “It’d be a small storefront in the city centre. Cosy seating inside and out. We’d serve tea too, Harry could help after school. Host some events like book clubs or something. And of course it’d have the best sweets ever.”
“I can picture it.” Remus says, and he fully can. Nothing is impossible for Sirius. “What would you name it?”
“Love at First Bite.” He says proudly.
Remus has to hold himself back from exploding with laughter. It doesn’t work that well, with Sirius laying on him, feeling his chest rising and falling quickly with stifled chuckles. Sirius turns his head quickly, some of his hair whipping Remus in the face.
“What?! What’s wrong with the name?” Sirius asks, offended.
“Nothing, nothing’s wrong with the name.” Remus tries to say convincingly, although his smile gives it away.
“You don’t like the name.” Sirius says with a pout and a soft hit to Remus’ chest.
“It’s just a bit cheesy.” He begins to twirl some strands of Sirius’ hair between his fingers.
“I thought of it because of you.”
“What?” Remus is genuinely surprised, his fingers still in Sirius’ hair.
“Because of like, ‘Love at First Sight’? I know it’s one of your favourite literary tropes.”
Remus opens his mouth to say something, and is yet again struggling to find the words.
“Yeah… it is.” Is all he ends up saying. It’s what I felt when I first saw you, he wants to add, but holds himself back. Maybe another time, when it’s the right time.
What Remus does do in the moment though, is hold Sirius tighter. Sirius reciprocates without question. Their embrace is more than physical. It’s magical.
Thursdays at the library are the slowest day of the week.
Today is particularly slow; Kingsley has already sent Emmeline home early, and he and Remus have just been catching up on paperwork. Despite libraries known for being quiet, there comes a point for Remus where it’s too silent.
He glances at the computer screen then down at his phone. Checking the time, he sees it’s 4:35. His gaze softens at the lock screen.
It’s a candid picture of Sirius sleeping on the couch, a copy of Dracula open and forgotten on his chest. His hair is in a bun, but there’s strands falling out, almost perfectly, like it was intentional. One of his arms is dangling off the side, long nimble fingers grazing the carpet, while his other hand is resting atop the book. There’s a blanket covering his bottom half, but you can see the outline of his long legs folded up against himself, despite the other side of the couch being completely empty.
Remus remembers this moment so clearly. It was winter and they had the fire on, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, just reading in the sitting room together. Remus had glanced up from The Picture of Dorian Gray (a re-read of course), and seen Sirius peacefully fast asleep.
Remus just had to snap a picture of Sirius because his heart softened when he thought about the fact that this was his life. Getting to read separately, but alongside his lover in the cold winter of their own little house, no other worries than what they’d make for dinner tomorrow when Harry, James, and Lily come over.
It’s a simple and quiet life- Remus knows this -but it’s enough.
Besides, there’s still some good noise; coming from when Sirius and James get together. Remus thinks about when Harry gets old enough to be in on the trouble.
“Remus.”
He looks up from his phone and sees Kingsley rolling in his chair over to him.
“Since it’s incredibly dull today, do you mind leaving to get the new donations from Madam Pince’s?
“Yeah, no problem Kingsley.”
“Thanks mate. And don’t worry if we’re closed by the time you’re back. I’ll still be here.” He winks. Remus thinks he’s imagining it.
“See you in a bit.” He does one last look over the computer and desk before he grabs his phone and heads over to the librarian’s lounge. Kingsley replaces his spot at the front desk.
Remus grabs his rucksack and heads out the door.
Two and a half hours later finds Remus finally returning to the now-closed library. Madam Pince’s Bookshop was not far, but she had talked his ears off and Remus was too polite to say anything. (And maybe he did slightly enjoy the conversation with her about the new craze in people wanting smutty books).
All Remus wants to do right now is drop off the books and go home to Sirius. The lights in the main part of the library are dim, but he does see the lounge lights on, and knows that Kingsley kept his promise.
As he enters through the backdoor of the lounge and sets the box of books on a table, Kingsley appears from the door coming from the main part of the library.
“Remus, just in time.” Kingsley gives him a smile and he smiles back, although unsure about why he’s so happy. “I’ll do a quick check with this new collection.”
Kingsley makes his way over to the books and Remus stands there, waiting for the okay for him to leave.
“Anything else you need from me Kingsley?” He asks, gripping the strap of his book bag and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“Oh, yes! If you don’t mind putting those away right now.” Kingsley points to a couple of books resting on the other side of the table. Remus finds the request strange, as they could just do it tomorrow, but just decides to nod and pick them up.
It’s a few cookbooks. The titles look familiar and he figures that Sirius has checked them out before. In fact, when he thinks about it, he’s pretty sure Sirius has actually read all the cookbooks they have in stock.
As he makes his way towards the cooking section, he can see odd lights peaking through the shelves. As he slows, he also hears soft jazz music.
“Kingsley?” He turns his head back towards the lounge trying to get his boss’s attention, but he continues towards the shelfs and rounds the corner. Suddenly, he drops the books with a thump. “Sirius?”
In the glow of fairy lights, Sirius stands in the middle of the stacks, a three-piece maroon suit on, hair down, and the biggest, softest grin on his face. The cookbooks on the floor are forgotten.
“Sirius?” He says again, voice trembling. “What’s going on?”
Sirius approaches Remus, tenderly grabbing his hands as he pulls him back into the middle of the aisle. His nails are messily painted red; an outcome of Harry doing his nails the other night.
“Remus.” Sirius’ voice shakes but his smile holds. His grey eyes are blooming with love as he stares into Remus’ hazel ones. Remus tries to hold back the tears that are already forming in his eyes.
“Remus. I’ll keep this quick because I just have to know. From the moment I met you I knew I had to return to you. You are the guiding force that my life needed and I’m so glad that whatever forces that be have brought you to me. I love you. I want to be yours in every universe, if you’ll have me.”
Without letting go of Remus, Sirius gets down on one knee, pulling a small leather box out of his pocket. Remus knows what it is, of course he does, but it doesn’t change the fact that around him he feels every little thing still, and his heart begins to beat faster.
“Remus, will you marry me?”
There’s a holding of breath. A moment suspended. Everything around him blurs except Sirius; and that’s kind of how it’s always been. Love at First Sight.
“Oh God, yes.” He whispers, the words getting pushed out of him, as if he’s forgotten to breathe.
He reaches out his right hand to hold Sirius’ cheek. It’s warm but it’s comforting. He’s got his whole world in his hands.
Sirius chuckles and grabs Remus’ other hand, steadily placing the ring on his finger. After, he presses a kiss to his knuckles. Hands still lingering, neither man willing to lose the contact, Sirius stands up and kisses Remus properly.
Remus can picture the doves flying. He wants to stay in this moment endlessly. But he also knows that every bit with Sirius can feel like this.
When they finally release from each other, a smattering of claps can be heard from behind and Remus is eased back into reality as he turns to see Kingsley and Emmeline, smiling as they walk out of the lounge.
“You guys were in on this?” He wipes his happy tears away.
“Of course.” Emmeline says, “Why else do you think we’d agree to let Sirius do this in the library?”
She comes up and gives Remus a big hug, Kingsley- notorious for disliking physical touch -does the same, catching Remus off-guard, which in turn makes Emmeline and Sirius chuckle.
“James and Harry wanted to help too but they’re way too chaotic for the library.” Sirius says, making Remus laugh. “They are, however, back at ours for the engagement party, anxiously waiting for our return.”
“Well, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.” Remus declares.
So many thoughts are floating in his head; there’s not enough words and there’s not enough time. But he can grasp on to Sirius.
All he knows is Sirius.
And now they’ll be Remus & Sirius.
Forevermore.