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“Phone, Remus!” Dorcas calls from the front. Remus sighs, standing up from the warmth of the staff room, heaving open the heavy door as he walks out to the phone. He passes by Dorcas, giving her a small wave while she continues tattooing her client.
He picks up the phone, customer service voice at the ready. “Dork Tattoo Parlour, what can I do for you?”
A laugh sounds down the line. “Shit, didn't mean to call the Wales location. Is there another number, or something?”
Remus sighs internally, profiling the guy as another posh London prat probably getting their girlfriend’s name on their arm. “Only have one location, mate. London. Are you familiar?”
“Sorry, bad joke…can I book a tattoo?”
“We’re a tattoo parlour, so yes.” If Mysterious Posh Wanker can make jokes, so can Remus.
The man chuckles before speaking. “Yeah, that's on me. Does next Friday, the 28th, suit?”
“Let me check.” Remus says, pulling up the calendar that Dorcas polices like the army. It’s his lucky day, as not only are Dorcas and Marlene booked for part time off, Regulus has already got someone booked that day.
“What time were you thinking?”
“Uh, like…around three?”
Remus hums. “Can you give me a quick description of what you want, if you have an idea already?”
“I was hoping you'd ask that, ha, funny.” Mysterious Posh Wanker seems excited this time, and Remus hears the familiar click of laptop keys in the background.
The man clears his throat. “Ok, they’re mostly fine line, but just like freckles but stars. One of my mates drew up a kind of sketch idea, I can email it or bring it in or whatever.”
Not another fucking fine line tattoo that will just fade in a year. Remus already had someone complaining that their fineline water lily faded, when he warned them six separate times that it was inevitable.
“Ok, so I can book you in for the 28th, or if you can wait a week after that our fine line specialist should have an appointment free Thursday the 6th?” Remus tries to hide the strain in his voice, but masking his distaste around tattoos has never been a strong point.
“Has to be the 28th, apologies. Family stuff.”
Remus wants to shout but instead he responds calmly. “Ok then. To confirm, 28th, three o’clock, freckles, fine line.”
“Perfect,” the stranger says, stretching out the word in the way posh people love to do.
“Ok, usually we only have one person on the floor, our piercer Evan, who mans the front, so just ask him for ‘Remus’. Can I also just get a name?”
“Sirius.” The name makes Remus pause, and Sirius clearly notices.
“I know, it’s a weird one. Didn’t expect judgement from a guy called Remus, that's just as bad.” Sirius laughs, the kind of expectant chuckle that means he wants Remus to laugh with him.
Remus does not laugh, instead taking a couple seconds to type Sirius’ appointment into the system. “All booked in. If you have any more questions, feel free to call this line or send an email.”
“Am I not special enough to get your personal number, my dear Remus.”
Remus blinks in confusion, the somewhat sultry tone making him cough once before replying. “If you pay me double, maybe. See you next week.”
Remus slams the phone down, looking up to immediately meet Regulus’ eyes. He groans, slamming his head onto the counter. He hears a laugh from the younger man.
“What is it now?”
“Fine line tattoos.”
Regulus just laughs, and Remus hears him walking away, probably to set up for his appointment.
Suddenly, someone raps on the desk, causing Remus to snap up. Evan stands there, grinning at him.
“Wake up mate, your next appointment’s in five.”
Remus sighs, rubbing his eyes before walking over to set up.
~*~
Evan calls in sick, so Remus is taking turns between manning the front desk and taking all the piercings while Regulus is holed up in the backroom, working on a back piece that he estimated to Remus would take a minimum ten hours, on top of the twenty he’s already spent on it over the last week.
He’s sorting out their written calendar for the next month, noting his time off in big red marker. Someone coughs behind him, and he turns on his stool, mentally preparing himself for customer service.
A man stands there, long black hair curling onto his shoulders as he stares at Remus with piercing grey eyes, dark eyelashes framing them. Remus lets his eyes flick up and down once, noting the huge amount of piercings in both of his ears and the heavy black leather jacket on his frame. He’s attractive, and by the way he looks at Remus, he knows it too.
“Got an appointment?” Remus askes, clicking open the computer to open the schedule for today.
“Uh yeah, guy on the phone told me to ask for Remus?”
Remus looks up at the man, immediately recognising the poorly hidden posh London accent. He raises an eyebrow. “Sirius?”
“That’s me. You Evan?” Sirius tilts his head as he asks, eyes darting up and down Remus.
“Only one Welsh guy here, mate.”
Sirius’ eyes brighten up. “The one and only!”
“You’re late.”
“Fashionably late.”
Remus looks up, raising his eyebrow once more before he stands up, moving the desk bell to the middle so that any walk-ins won’t be left waiting for hours. He walks over to the chair farthest in the corner, looking behind to make sure Sirius is following.
Sirius perches on the edge of the chair, watching Remus get all of the things he needs together. “You’re…very tall.”
Remus doesn’t acknowledge the sentence, choosing to pull a stool up next to the tattoo chair, dragging one of the small tables that holds all his tools with him. He picks up the studio’s iPad, the cracked screen coming to life as he taps on it. He flicks through the designs, eventually getting to Sirius’ design. He had sent in his friend’s sketch, and Regulus had traced over it.
Remus flips around the tablet, showing it to Sirius. “So, I’ve just separated each of the stars so we can individually place each one. We just had to trace over them, just to make it easier and it will look a lot cleaner.”
He looks up, and Sirius nods, eyes wide. “They’re perfect, thank you.”
“Wasn’t my work, I’m afraid, it was one of the other tattooists. We’ve been pretty busy, and his client needs a lot of breaks, so…” Remus trails, unsure why he feels the need to explain himself to this man.
Sirius nods, looking enraptured. “Oh cool. This is my first official tattoo, so I’m kind of unsure about the whole process.”
“Official?”
“I’ve had a few stick and poke tattoos, went to a boarding school from eleven to eighteen, in Scotland. Things got pretty boring up there.” Sirius looks almost sheepish as he speaks.
“How many girlfriend’s names do you have?”
Sirius narrows his eyes at Remus. “Two less than you, I bet.”
“So five?”
Sirius throws his head back as he laughs, uncontained glee spilling out of him. Remus cracks a smile, spinning the iPad around to face him.
“ ’M just gonna print out the design, so just stay put for a minute…”
~*~
An hour and a bit later, Remus is finished with the tattoo, just having to wrap it up and do all the finishing bits. He had put on the parlour’s shared playlist, which meant one second they were listening to Chopin, then Taylor Swift, then Queen. Sirius had been sitting perfectly still as the tattooting went on, seemingly content to listen to the music.
“Sorry mate, just gotta have a leak, if thats ok?”
Remus nods, switching the tattoo gun off and letting it rest on the side table as he stood up to stretch. Sirius disappeared into the bathroom, and half a second later Regulus emerged from the private room.
“How’s it?” Remus askes, rolling his shoulders back as he walks up to the speakers to turn them down just a little.
“Long. It’ll need at least two more sessions, since she wants to take pretty regular breaks.” Remus nods in understanding, stretching his neck.
“At least you’re not stuck out here doing fucking fine line tattoos.”
Regulus smiles. “Trouble in paradise?”
“My fingers are going to fall off Reg, and then you’ll have to hold my fags between my lips. It won't be a nice life for either of us.” Remus says, glaring at the younger man as he laughs.
“Try me, Lupin.”
“You’d fall over if the wind was too strong, Black.”
“At least I’m not getting killed by posh pricks because their fine line tattoos faded in eleven months instead of the twelve you gave them, Lupin.”
Remus fake laughs before glaring at Regulus. “At least I haven’t been single for four years, Black.”
“Sorry, me?”
Remus doesn’t notice Sirius coming in, and the two men turn around. Sirius stands there, eyes fixed on Regulus. Remus looks at Regulus, whose eyes are stuck on Sirius similarly.
“Have, you guys, uh, met?” Remus asks, trying to break the silence.
“We are brothers, so.”
Remus feels his jaw drop at Regulus’ words, and a million things fire through his head. How Sirius’ name sounded familiar, their similar accents, the colour of their grey eyes. How Regulus had told him about his tenuous relationship with his brother, about how they saw each other every four months, or more.
“Well, that’s…um…”
The three sit in silence, until they hear the front door swing open and Barty’s voice calls out. “Heya, Remus, Reg! I’m here to save the day, even though I’m not booked in. You can thank me with copious amounts of alcohol.”
Remus looks between the two brothers before replying. “Back here, mate.”
“You finish that headache of a tattoo, the fine line one you were complaining about, with the posh prick?”
Remus winces, looking at Sirius, who finally moves his gaze from Regulus to Remus, cocking a perfect eyebrow. Barty is still talking when he finally comes over to them, immediately pausing when he sees Sirius.
“Shit, is this the Sirius Black?” Barty says, looking at Regulus, who just nods.
“I am Sirius, yes. And you are?”
Barty turns to Sirius, grinning. “Bartiemus Crouch. You here for a tattoo, or just to visit this wanker?”
Barty turns to Regulus at this, rustling his hair. Regulus bats him away, rolling his eyes at his friend's childish antics.
“I believe you described my tattoo as a ‘headache of a tattoo’, with me as ‘the posh prick’?” Sirius says, and Remus winces internally at his words.
Barty laughs obliviously, then squeezes Regulus’ shoulders once more before speaking again. “Mate, why don’t you come out to drinks with us tonight? Bring some of your pals, catch up. It’ll be fun!”
Regulus and Remus trade looks, communicating in their own silent way.
“I don’t see why not. We could use it, brother.” Regulus says finally, and Sirius nods enthusiastically.
“James will definitely come, and Pete!” Sirius says excitedly, which brings a ghost of a smile to Remus’ face. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Barty nods, then proceeds to move over next to Sirius before speaking. “Gotta go, but just remember, I work with lots of needles. Something to keep in mind.”
Barty winks, patting Sirius on the shoulder before walking off to the front desk, whistling as he makes his way.
“I need to wrap your tattoos.” Remus says, walking over to his station.
“I need to finish Sybil’s session, we’ve an hour left.” Regulus says similarly, nodding in goodbye to Sirius, who settles himself back down in the tattoo chair. Remus begins to wrap the fresh tattoo, methodically following his memorised routine.
He notices a bit of blood near the smallest star, and wipes it off. “You’re bleeding just a bit, sorry.”
“There were some old scars there, so that could be why, sorry.” Sirius apologises, and Remus tuts, shaking his head.
“No worries, mate, it’s common with tattoos. You’re all done now.”
Sirius jumps up, strolling over to the mirror to admire his star freckles dotted across his left arm, even through the thick plastic wrap. He turns it around, a wide grin spreading over his face as he observes the various styles of stars.
“Don’t become too fond of them, they will fade.” Remus warns, and Sirius rolls his eyes in the mirror, the movement so familiar to Remus, a mirror of Regulus.
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve only warned me six times.”
Remus scoffs, turning to go to the register. “Ok, pretty boy no more admiring yourself, you gotta pay now.”
“You think I’m pretty?” Sirius says, leaning over the counter as Remus types up his details into the register. He looks up at Sirius, who he notices is slightly red. He stays silent, filling in the
“So, this comes out to around 300 pounds, for payment we take cash or card,” Remus says, typing everything in as he speaks, “Evan mentioned you paid your deposit online, so…you only have about 250 now.”
Sirius nods, pulling out a black credit card from his wallet. Remus follows the movement with his eyes, noting the expensive leather wallet. He always knew Reg came from wealth, but this was different, more tangible in a way. The card machine pings, and Remus hands Sirius his receipt, and the parlour’s business card.
“Guess I’ll see you later, Moony.”
Remus looks up to argue, but he just sees the door close and Sirius’ back. He chuckles, shaking his head. He notices Sirius left his receipt, with his number scrawled across it and a drawing of a winky face. He rolls his eyes, tucking it into the back of his jeans.
~*~
Remus pulls down the shutters, Barty crouching down to lock them as Remus shrugs his coat up his shoulders. He pulls his cigarette carton out his pocket, immediately lighting up.
Barty stands up, dusting himself down before turning to Remus. “Bum a smoke?”
Remus just nods, offering Barty the packet. They smoke in silence for a few minutes, before Regulus emerges from the alley way, clearly coming out the back door of the shop.
“Let’s go straight to the pub, no need to hang around here,” Reg says, zipping up his jacket, looking between Remus and Barty. The pair nod, both putting out their cigarettes underneath their boots.
“Where we going?” Barty askes, scuffing his boots on the ground as Regulus types out something on his phone.
“I told Sirius to meet us at the Three Broomsticks in twenty.”
The trio start walking, the pub only a fifteen walk from the studio. They frequent it, due to the cheap beer (for Barty and Remus) and ‘secret’ top class wine (for Reg). Rosmerta calls out for them when they walk in, the pub surprisingly busy for a Thursday night.
“The usual?” Remus asks as Barty and Reg settle at their usual table. They both nod, and he turns to go to the bar. He leans up against the slightly sticky counter, nodding in hello to the handful of regulars he knows.
“How goes it, young Remus?” Remus turns with a smile at the voice, seeing the old Irish man that he sees here every time he visits without fail. Oisin first talked to him when he swore out the English under his breath when Remus put his order in before him. He immediately turned to dispute the claim, and was now more than fond of the old man, with a habit to go off on a tangent and end up with Remus getting pulled back to his table by Barty.
“Business is busy, we’re all booked out at the studio. Can I buy you a pint?”
“Psh, don’t even think about it. You know, my mother use to say,” Oisin pauses, Remus readying himself for a long story, “‘Déanann sparán trom croí éadrom’.”
Remus nods, trying to look like he understands, and Oisin laughs. “Which means, roughly, ‘a heavy purse makes a light heart’. Yet, you look so troubled, lad.”
“Don’t worry about my troubles, Oisin. I’d be a fair bit happier if I could order my drinks,” he says, raising his voice while he cranes his neck to try to catch Rosmerta’s eye. She nods at him, flashing him two fingers to let him know she’d be with him in two. He turns back to Oisin.
“You have much family here?”
Oisin seems to ponder this for a second, staring off into the distance as he talks. “My daughter, Clare, and her kids live here. I was going to stay home, but now, there wasn’t much for me there. Much rather spend time with my grandkids, meeting new people and doing new things.”
Remus nods once more, and Oisin looks back at him. “Family bothering you, boy?”
“Nah, I haven’t got much of it to speak of. ’S just me and my dad now.”
“Well then Remus,” Oisin laughs, “we’ve got to find you a lady so that I have a chance to meet your kids.”
Remus laughs with Oisin, who goes to speak again. “Or a lad, if that’s what you're into.”
Remus smiles, winking at Oisin before turning to see Rosmerta standing waiting for his order. “Yeah, hi, just two pints and whatever wine Reg usually gets.”
Rosmerta scrawls it down, turning to leave, but another voice stops her before she can leave. “Can you add three more pints to that, and one more glass of wine?”
Remus turns to the strange yet familiar voice, immediately meeting Sirius’ eyes. Rosmerta seems confused, but Remus just nods at her. Oisin lets out a laugh at the exchange.
“Want to introduce me to your friend, Remus?” He says, putting a heavy tone onto the word ‘friend’.
“Of course. Sirius, this is Oisin, my adopted grandfather. Oisin, this is Sirius, Regulus’ brother.” Remus puts heavy implication on the word ‘brother’, widening his eyes ever so slightly at Oisin. Sirius grins, holding his hand out. Oisin meets it, shaking it enthusiastically.
“Pleasure to meet you, Oisin.”
“As to you, Sirius.”
Remus looks between them, eyes darting back and forth. Rosmerta interrupts the moment by putting the variety of glasses in front of them, and Remus thanks her.
“Tab is open under Black, ok?” She asks, and Remus nods, gathering as many glasses as he can carry.
“See you around, Oisin.” Sirius says, winking. Oisin smiles back, the old man having a mischievous look dancing through his eyes.
“I expect I will, Sirius.”
Remus rolls his eyes, managing to bring four of the pints to the table while Sirius carries the rest. He sets one in front of Barty, one in front of his own seat, then looks up to meet the newcomers.
Two guys and one girl sit there, each studying Remus. One of the guys is tall, with curly brown hair, tan skin, and a pair of round glasses that Remus has only ever seen before on late night Pinterest doom scrolls. The other man is a fair bit shorter, blonde hair flopping on either side of his face while his blue eyes study Remus. The girl is vaguely familiar, bright red hair falling in waves. Remus meets her eyes, and recognition dawns on him.
“Lily Evans!”
“Remus Lupin, as I live and breathe!”
He quickly puts down the remaining drinks, throwing his arms around the ginger as she stands up to greet him.
“It’s been years!” She yells, practically slapping him, “Why did you never tell me you moved to London!”
Remus scoffs. “Why did you never tell me you moved to London! Jesus, I haven't seen you since my last day of uni!”
“Well I was stuck there for four more years!” Lily grins, Remus laughing with her. A pointed cough comes from the table, Lily turning to smile sheepishly.
“Care to introduce your best friend to us, Lils?” Glasses says, grinning.
Remus holds his hand out to him. “Remus Lupin.”
The man shakes his hand, smiling. “James Potter.”
Remus turns to the blonde next, who just tips his head up at him in acknowledgement. “Peter Pettigrew.”
“And I’m Sirius Black.” Remus looks at Sirius, one eyebrow raised. The black haired man just winks at him.
Remus ignores him, pulling out the stool in between Barty and Lily to sit down. He sees Regulus glare at Sirius, who sits between Regulus and James.
“Stop flirting with my friends.”
“Get ugly friends then.” Sirius shoots back. Regulus mocks him, before turning to James, tilting his head in a gesture Remus recognises from many nights out, when the tattoo parlour had less business and drinks were a luxury out of their price range.
“You have someone waiting for you at home, Potter?”
James looks taken aback, shaking his head, his brows furrowing. Regulus smiles slightly.
“Interesting.”
Sirius turns to Regulus, eyes narrowed. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
Remus interrupts, before their inane argument takes up the whole night. “Stop using me and James to fight, neither of us are deaf.”
The table laughs, Barty clapping Remus on the back. “Hell yeah, let's drink instead!”
“I like you,” Peter says, knocking glasses with him.
~*~
More than a handful of drinks later, Remus and Lily are telling everyone at the table how they met in college, which seems like a million years ago but really was only six.
Sirius laughs, and Remus forces himself to look away. Looking is a dangerous game, staring even more so, a game that leads to nothing but trouble.
“You know, Remus, Sirius is single.” Lily whispers, Remus shushing her automatically. She giggles, beckoning him closer.
“I know he’s your type, there’s no harm in getting to know him!”
Remus subtly nods towards Regulus, before making eye contact with Lily. “There’s one big problem.”
“Well, considering how he’s looking at James…” Lily trails off, and Remus chuckles slightly, glancing at the pair. Sirius has moved to talk to Barty and Peter, and James and Regulus are sat talking, a little too close for people who hardly know each other.
“Hey gorgeous,” a voice says from behind Remus and Lily, and the two turn. A curly haired woman stands there, and Lily grins, kissing her on the cheek.
“Remus, this is my girlfriend, Mary. Mary, this is my friend from uni, Remus.” Lily smiles, the other woman putting her arm around Lily’s waist.
“Nice to meet you.” Remus says, and the couple walk away to greet the rest of the group. He downs the dregs of his beer, looking around the table to see various other empty glasses.
“Anyone want another round?”
James nods, Regulus holding up his half full glass already. Barty, Mary and Lily all ask for a drink, and Remus nods, heading to the bar. He leans against, noting Oisin has made his way home already.
“What can I get for ya, love?” Rosmerta asks, the woman’s Scottish accent familiar.
“Four pints, one glass of wine and a vodka Coke, please,” he says, smiling at her.
“Comin’ now.”
He drums his fingers on the bar, looking around at the mill of people. He looks along the walls of the pub, the ‘Hall Of Fame’ as Rosmerta likes to call it, which holds photos of all celebrities, minor or otherwise, that have visited. A rugby match is playing on the TV screen in the corner, Remus noting that it’s the Wales versus Ireland under 20s match.
“You need help with the drinks, darling?”
Remus averts his eyes to his side, where Sirius is standing with a smile. He licks his lips, feeling his lip piercing as he looks back to the bar.
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re overfamiliar?”
“Only you, honey, only you.”
“You usually flirt with everyone?”
“Only the hot ones,” Sirius winks. “Are you this standoffish with everyone?”
Remus scoffs, standing up to his full height before leaning down to whisper into Sirius’ ear. “Only the hot ones.”
He grabs the awaiting drinks, walking back to the table to divide them up. He leaves some of them for Sirius to carry, looking back once to confirm he has actually taken them. He sets them all down before he taps Regulus.
“Need to talk to you for just two minutes.”
Regulus nods, excusing himself. Remus leads him outside, pulling out a cigarette, lighting up. He puffs out once before coughing.
“How mad would you be if I asked your brother on a date?”
He studies Regulus carefully. The younger man looks to the sky, seemingly lost in his thoughts. He looks back at Remus, sighing only lightly before he speaks.
“You cannot tell me anywhere near the details you usually share if you do. As few explicit details as possible, would be preferable.”
Remus smiles. “Knew your heart wasn't completely frozen yet.”
“Shut up, you toff. It’s also partially because he won’t be as much of a pain to James, if, you know…” Regulus trails off, licking his lips as he stares away. Remus chuckles, looking away similarly as the smoke from his cigarette floats in the breeze.
“Is there where the party’s at?”
They both turn their heads to see Sirius and James practically fall out of the pub, James nearly getting taken out by a bicycle.
“Are you sure about him?” Remus whispers to Regulus, while Sirius tries to pull James towards them.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Regulus sighs, but the smile on his face is too bright for him to dim, a look in his eye unfamiliar to Remus.
A look he’s seen before in his mother’s eyes, when his father would bring her tea made just the way she liked it, four sugars and all. A look he’s seen in Evan’s eye, when Barty comes in to walk him home every day, no matter if he was scheduled to work or not. A look he’s seen in Oisin’s eye, when he talked about his late wife, Caoimhe, and how she was fond of painting.
A look of love.
“Remus? Hello, Remus Lupin? Ha, did you know your name means Wolf Wolf!” Sirius laughs, snapping Remus out of his thoughts. He raises an eyebrow at Sirius, choosing to take a deep drag of his cigarette.
“You’re not original,” Regulus snarks. Sirius shoots him a glare.
“Shut up.”
“You first.”
The pair begin squabbling in French, and Remus sighs, looking at James. They share a smile, and the two brothers pause for a second before Regulus talks once more.
“Tu peux sortir avec Remus si je peux sortir avec James.”
Sirius narrows his eyes. “D'accord.”
“Care to share?” James grins, raising his eyebrows. Remus thinks he looks too eager, but in the handful of hours he’s known James, he just seems to be stuck like that.
“Just a friendly brotherly discussion,” Sirius grins as he speaks, winking at Regulus, who dismisses him.
“About me and James?”
Sirius’ grin turns into a smirk. “Oui.”
Regulus scoffs, before shivering. The cold London air has a certain bite, but Remus can’t help and compare it to the below freezing Welsh winters he loved so dearly. The cold that comes with space, with isolation.
“I’m going inside. James?”
James looks up, nodding. He offers Regulus his arm, and Regulus gives him a once over before pushing by with a scoff, but no amount of bravado can hide the slight pink to his cheeks. James scurries after him, leaving Sirius and Remus alone outside.
“So, what’s your favourite colour?”
The question makes Remus pause, giving a Sirius side glance as he blows smoke out of his mouth. “A grey blue. Yours?”
Sirius smiles softly, his bravado gone. “Brown, but kind of hazel toned.”
Remus makes an agreeing sound, allowing his eyes to drift to the other man. His hair around shoulder length, the black curls shining in the lamplight. As Sirius shifts slightly, the silver piercings in his ears glint, various hoops and one shining star all clustered together. His eyes flick up to meet Remus’, the sharp grey piercing Remus.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Remus laughs, a puff of smoke coming out of his mouth. “Doubt you carry change.”
“Try me.” Sirius’ voice holds a challenge, raising one defiant eyebrow as Remus tries to read him. It feels like they’re teetering on the edge, and one gust of wind will send them both into an action neither can reverse.
Remus drops his cigarette, stamping it out with his boot. “What were you and Regulus talking about?”
Sirius winces, before moving closer to Remus. “Let’s not talk about my brother right now.”
“Sirius.”
“Remus.”
Remus sighs, staring down at Sirius. His eyes subconsciously drift down to Sirius’ lips, and when he looks up, Sirius is looking back at him. He shouldn’t kiss a man he met today, who is his best friend’s semi-estranged brother and a massive asshole.
Yet, he leans closer, sliding one arm around Sirius’ waist. “I still think you’re a massive twat.”
“Mhm.” Remus watches as Sirius’ tongue darts across his bottom lip, tracing the smooth motion with his eyes.
The rational part in him is screaming at him, but Remus had promised himself years ago that he would allow himself to live. After years of caution, all the risks he regrets never taking, he still managed to slip into the ‘wrong’ life his mother had warned him about. Still ended up scarred, hurt, and damaged.
He feels Sirius’ cool breath on his face as he leans forward even more. He looks into the cool grey of the other man’s eyes, and allows himself to give in. Closing the distance, he captures Sirius’ mouth in a kiss, the other man immediately surging up to meet him just as eagerly.
And in that dingy side street, Remus feels it click in. The beginning of his demise, or the start of his heaven. The two feel confusingly similar as Sirius groans into Remus’ mouth, Remus backing him up into the hard brick wall.
A laugh sounds in the alley, and they break apart suddenly, both snapping their heads to the noise in tandem. Lily is standing there with Barty, both bent over as Remus and Sirius look at them in surprise, which quickly shifts into concern.
“I know you guys are laughing at us, but are you ok?” Sirius askes, and Barty holds up one finger, straightening up to talk before he immediately wheezes once more. Remus just raises an unimpressed brow, turning to stare at them while keeping one arm loosely wrapped around Sirius’ waist.
“You’re both adults.”
“We’re also both,” Lily hiccups, giggling before she continues, “drunk. Those vodka coke’s are strong.”
“What’s all the noise?”
The group turn to see James and Regulus, both looking distinctly ruffled. Remus sees Sirius’ mouth drop open at the pair.
“My baby brother? Really, James!” Sirius half yells, unable to hide his laughs. James immediately runs, spinning on his heel at an unnaturally fast pace. Sirius takes off after him, the pair calling between each other as they travel down the long alley.
“What mess have we gotten ourselves into?” Regulus sighs, and Remus laughs.
“We’re in our twenties, we’re allowed to be messy.”