Chapter Text
Sirius Black was the idea of a lady's man personified, and he knew it. So it was odd that he didn't seem to have a date for the New Years party. Of course, it wasn't for lack of trying on the girls part; they were practically throwing themselves at him (there was gossip that several actually did, not that Remus listened to or cared about that sort of gossip, no sir.) But there he was, day of, and he still didn't pull any tricks from his sleeve. Smile, decline. Smile, decline. Smile, decline. (It was driving Remus crazy trying to figure out what he was about). What? No it wasn't. Shut up. Go away. No one said that.
Geez.
Remus Lupin was more reserved than his friend. He had gone on maybe two dates, both with a nice hufflepuff girl named Belle, which both ended before it got dark. He found he preferred the company of his books and friends (not one friend in particular, of course not! he liked them all….. equally. Mhm.) Oh, and he realized he was gay. He hadn't told anyone, but it was a thing. (Just because it didn't come up, he wasn't hiding it from a certain black-haired, gray-eyed someone, what are you thinking? Stop it!) So it was no surprise he didn't have a date that night.
•••
James entered the room, standing completely straight, eyes wide, mouth shut. That last part was quite rare.
"Prongs? You alright mate?" Sirius asked from his bed, where he was pretending to read to stop Remus from yelling at him (although, every now and then he would concentrate on it and his eyebrows would furrow and-). James sat on the edge of his bed, staring into space. Sirius got up and went to sit by him, putting an arm around him. (Merlin his arms). What? Remus wasn't thinking that. Get outta here.
"Now, Prongsie. She's said no a billion times, hasn't she? What's one more? Knowing her it was a swift rejection, Evans isn't one to draw this stuff out. And you've toned it down, I'm sure she appreciated that. C'mon mate, it's not the end of the world. Happened to me a million times." James scoffed. Remus didn't even try to stop the grin that was spreading over his face. Not just because of Sirius' comment, which was preposterous, but because he knew something. Something Sirius didn't. Being good friends with Lily payed off, apparently.
"She didn't." James sputtered.
"Didn't what, Prongs?"
James didn't answer.
"Oh, lay off the man. He's in shock." Remus told Sirius. His head whipped around; Remus was surprised he didn't get whiplash.
"What? What do you know, Moons? Why does no one tell me anything?" He threw himself back on the bed dramatically. Remus savoured the moment. How nice it was to be able to keep something from the boy.
"Sorry Pads, that's his business."
Sirius groaned. "Fine then Moonshine. Killing me, you are." Remus rolled his eyes. Moonshine. When did he become alcohol?
Eventually Sirius gave up on James and left him on his bed. Unfortunately, he also gave up on pretending to read.
"I'm going down to the common room. Coming?"
"Sure, why not?" Not like he was going to get anything done. He followed Sirius down the stairs grumbling.
The common room decorations were halfway though being put up, and Remus wandered over to the huge table that had materialized in the middle of the common room. A huge bowl of punch sat in the middle (for the Littles. Oh, poor things. There was no doubt it would get spiked.) Bottles of firewhisky and butterbeer sat off on one side (procured by none other than the Marauders, of course) and snacks were on the other. He grabbed a pumpkin pasty and sat on the edge of the table. Sirius was over with Peter and Marlene McKinnon, no doubt sabotaging Peter's chance at a date. Suddenly Peter's eyes grew wide and he scurried away, looking embarrassed. As he ran by Remus he whispered. "She's dating Meadows!" Remus chucked. Just then Lily emerged from the girls dorms and came to sit next to Remus.
"You've got poor James in shock, you know. Hasn't said a word other than 'she didn't' to Sirius. It was hilarious."
She smirked. "Serves him right. Think he'll faint tonight?"
"Maybe," he laughed. He'd have to tag around them.
"So," she said in a very falsely nonchalant voice. "Black have a date yet?"
"No… I suppose he'll just snog whoevers closest."
"Mm."
Remus looked at her. "You know something!" He said. She widened her eyes in clearly feigned surprise.
"Me? Of course not dear. What on earth would I know?"
"Oh please Lils come on, help a mate out!" He whined.
She grinned devilishly. "And why are you so interested?" That gave him pause. Why was he so interested? (Because he's Sirius Black! Gods above how thick are you? His head screamed at him. Sirius Black, with his hair and his jacket and his smile and his lips.. Mm… )What? No. No no no. Preposterous. Completely fake. Not his thoughts at all.
"Cause he's my friend! Why would he keep it from me? Especially if he told you! It's not a secret that you haven't always been his adoring fan!"
She just smirked. "Who knows, Rem? People change."
What did that mean?
A few hours later, the windows held dark skies and a bright moon, and everybody who was anybody was in the common room. Remus hadn't maganged to find James and Lily, a sad thing really. He had been quite looking forward to seeing his reaction. Then again, Sirius was making quite a spectacle of himself (he was a bit more than tipsy), and that was always fun.
"10"
A shout echoed through the room. He wondered who was counting down.
"9"
Ah, good old Gideon Prewett. 'Course.
"8"
But how was he counting down?
"7"
Eh. Magic, he guessed.
"6"
Oh Merlin, who was near them?
"5"
He was next to Sirius; who was he going to have to watch him kiss? (Merlin he wished it was him.) No he didn't.
"4"
A bunch of good-looking girls had suddenly popped up. When did that happen?
"3"
Maybe he should go upstairs. He wasn't needed here anyway, right? Right.
"2"
No, he'll stay.
"1"
Nope nope nope, maybe he could run for it!
"0!"
And then he couldn't run (wouldn't run?), because (fortunately) a pair of strong arms had wrapped themselves around him. Unfortunately! (Nope, this was definitely fortunate). But then he didn't have room in his head to care about the stupid prefix or what anything meant. Because Sirius bloody Black was kissing him. And Merlin, could he kiss. It was slightly sloppy, because he had been drinking, but Remus couldn't care; it was perfect. They fit together perfectly. He loved it. Loved him (always had).
A thought fought its way through Remus' brain:
He had been drinking.
Remus was closest.
Remus was just there and Sirius had been drinking. He was drunk.
Remus pushed away frantically and ran. He ran and ran and ran more, until he couldn't anymore, which was saying something. By then, he didn't have a clue where he was. He should've grabbed the map. Oh well. He had more pressing issues. Like his love for his best friend. Or the fact that they just kissed. Which, normally, would've been fine! He could've blown it off, he wouldn't've cared! But no! He had to go and (he kicked the wall) love (kick) him (kickity doo da.)! Merlin. He sank to the ground, holding his head in his hands, not caring if Filch found him.
He didn't know that Sirius had not, in fact, been drunk at all. He didn't know that he was with James right then, pulling him away from Lily and asking frantically what to do. He didn't know that James was pushing the map into his hand, or that Lily was giving him a kiss on the cheek and telling him to be brave. He didn't know that Sirius had to be brave.
Time passed, and he wasn't found. Well, not by Filch.
"If you wanna hide so bad, you might want that."
The map fluttered down beside him.
"I won't follow you. But please, listen to what I have to say first?"
Amber eyes met gray. And those gray eyes were pleading and swirling and beautiful and how could he ever run away from them? He nodded.
"Well, um," Sirius sighed and sat down next to him. "I did that because, well, I was hoping you could help me with my New Years resolution. Well, it's more of an 'all you' type deal."
Of course it was. Yep. 'Cause that's all Remus was good for. Why not trade a bloody kiss for doing all his work for him. Remus didn't realize he had said all of that out loud, and Sirius never told him.
"Why not? What is it Padfoot?"
He felt a hand on his chin, tilting his head up. Sirius swallowed.
"Be my boyfriend Rem? Please?"
Remus' eyes grew wide. If this was some sick joke- but he didn't think it was. Sirius' eyes hardly ever looked that sincere. Remus leaned forward and captured the other boy's lips with his own. When they broke apart for breath, Remus nodded vigorously.
"I'm all yours Pads. Forever."