Work Text:
"You know, the muggles have a few traditions about New Year's Eve."
Sirius was startled out of his reverie at the sound of his boyfriend's voice, followed closely by the click of the balcony door closing and the slight muting of the music pulsating from within the flat that they had all gathered in. Pete was hosting again this year, as he always did because he had the biggest lounge with the most seating (except for James and Lily, but they lived in the middle of nowhere). Pete lived in the city, so they were able to see several different firework displays from his third-floor windows. The perfect location for this particular celebration.
He loved parties, he did, but even he needed to take a breather now and then. And at quarter to midnight on New Year's Eve, this was his last chance to have a break. Once the countdown passed and the firework displays reached their peak, the party would devolve into the usual drunken debauchery that all marauders parties ended up in and he knew he'd lose his own memory of anything that happened after James inevitably cajoled them into a game of Truth or Dare. So he'd sequestered himself out on the balcony for a moment alone before the party spilled out here to watch the fireworks that would be spread through the city — though he should have known that Remus would find him. He always did.
He leaned back from the railing slightly, turning his head to the side to cast his eyes over the welcome intruder. "The kissing at midnight thing? Why Moony, if I didn't know any better I'd think you might be propositioning me."
"Hmm." Remus stepped closer, and wrapped his arms securely around Sirius' waist as he leaned to rest his chin against his shoulder. His lips brushed against the shell of Sirius' ear as he spoke, the warm air sending a shiver down his spine. "They say that whatever you're doing as the clock strikes midnight, that's what you'll be doing the whole year."
"That so?" Said Sirius, turning in Remus' arms so that his back now rested against the railing and they were face-to-face. "Probably shouldn't kiss you then, would be mightily inconvenient being attached by the mouth all year."
Remus chuckled softly. "I don't think I'd mind."
Sirius smiled and leaned forward to capture his lips in a soft kiss anyway. They'd shared hundreds of kisses over the years — thousands, even. But still, kissing Remus Lupin managed to set butterflies fluttering in the pit of his stomach and the red flush across his cheeks could not solely be blamed on the Firewhiskey he'd been steadily drinking for the last few hours. Almost a decade of loving this man — half of it with him — and he was still reduced to a blushing schoolboy in his presence. It would be annoying if it wasn't clear that Remus wasn't equally as affected.
"I was thinking…" Remus bit his lower lip and flushed deeply. "The others are heading out now, Pete suggested going to the top of the hill for a change. Better view up there, he says. I said we'd stay here, if you want. Just us?"
"Now that does sound like a proposition, Moony dearest." Sirius pressed another light kiss against Remus' lips before continuing. "But you know we can't. Remember last time? I don't trust Pete not to have something set up."
"Those sirens were really something," said Remus, reaching up to scrub a hand through his hair. "He never did explain how he set them up to go off right when you came."
"Knowing him, it was just a simple time delay." Sirius paused for a moment in thought, then grimaced slightly. "He's definitely heard us going at it enough to know my average."
"True. Pays far too much attention, that one." Remus sighed softly and extracted himself from Sirius' embrace, then manoeuvred him to lean forwards against the railing again before taking his own place alongside him. "It's been a good year, don't you think?"
"One of the best. I still can't believe James let me be Harry's Godfather." He really couldn't — he knew they were best friends, and selfishly he acknowledged that he was closer to James than Remus was, but still. To trust him with a child? He'd already played a part in helping to raise his own brother, and look how well he'd done there? Regulus hadn't spoken to him for years.
"Pfft, as if they'd choose anyone else." Remus elbowed him softly. "I'm more surprised that Marlene is Godmother. I'm sure she put his nappy on back-to-front last week."
"She did," Sirius replied, a faint wistful tone to his voice. "But I'm pretty sure that was on purpose. He was due a poo and it was my turn to change him next, after it all leaked around the edges."
Remus barked out a laugh, startling in the relative quiet. "Poor kid. He's going to grow up so weird with all of us."
"Yeah," said Sirius, choking back a giggle himself. "But at least he'll never be bored."
Remus' laughter tapered off and both men leaned further forwards onto the railings, heads dropped low between outstretched elbows.
"The muggles have another tradition, you know." Remus' voice was quieter now, tentative. Sirius didn't respond, simply tipping his head slightly to urge him to continue. "You're supposed to take a minute to reflect quietly on the year. Just think about the things that happened, the choices you made. Make peace with any regrets and think about what you wish will happen next year."
Sirius glanced at his watch, less than a minute to go. "That sounds nice. Let's."
Remus nodded with a small smile, and shuffled away just slightly. Their elbows no longer touching, Sirius took a deep breath as he heard Remus do the same and swept his gaze over the city below. It seemed to be at a complete standstill, as if the buildings themselves were anticipating the changing of the calendar with bated breath.
After a few moments, the sound of the city counting down to midnight filtered towards them through the crisp night air and Sirius looked over at his boyfriend. His eyes were closed as he remained in position leaning against the balcony railing, still not quite touching each other. Further apart than they had been for the whole conversation so far, but still very much in each other's space. As they always were. Sirius and Remus, said in one breath without pause for as long as either could remember, never one without the other.
Ten… Nine… Eight…
It was strange though, Sirius thought, to be here alone with Remus. All the years they've known each other, and they've never been alone together for this moment. They've counted down the seconds to each other's birthdays before, tangled in sweat-soaked sheets and panting the countdown into each other's necks. They've done it for Christmas too, despite Remus' warnings that Father Christmas wouldn't come if they weren't asleep. But every single other New Year's countdown was spent with other people. Always a party, always a crowd. Never just them. Their midnight kiss had even been interrupted last year by a very drunk Frank Longbottom wrenching Sirius away before their lips could meet to plant a wet smacking kiss against his forehead instead. Sirius had been livid until he spotted Alice doing the same to Remus.
Seven.. Six…
He dragged his focus past the tall apartment buildings lining the street up to the top of the hill, where he could just barely make out his group of friends huddled together. Distinguishable from the other groups of random muggles scattered about by the flickering light coming from the tips of several wands. Anyone looking too closely would realise they weren't muggle sparklers, but nobody would be looking too closely. Not tonight at least, with how drunk and excited they all would be. Remus had told him once that even for muggles, New Year's Eve felt magical. He didn't get it before, but now? He sort of did. There was something inherently magical about ringing in the new year alongside the love of his life and nobody else.
Five… Four…
He turned his gaze towards Remus, who was staring straight ahead with a solemn look on his face. It had been his idea, using the countdown to reflect, so it was hardly surprising that he was taking it seriously. Still, despite agreeing to play along with Remus' muggle tradition, Sirius couldn't help but watch the way the warm yellow glow from the streetlight below coupled with the backlight from the lamps within the flat highlighted his handsome features just so. His scars almost glittered, and a brief pang of sadness shot through him as he remembered where they'd come from. How brave he was, month after month. The pain he bit through and still came through the other side his Moony.
Three…
God, he loved him. Here he was, supposed to be thinking about all the things he'd done this year, and all he could think about was Remus. The way his voice was thick with sleep in the mornings before he got his first coffee, the way he always rolled over onto his side to press a kiss between Sirius' shoulder blades before stepping out of bed. The way he still tried so hard to make a place for himself within a world that wouldn't even let him keep a job so he had to work at a muggle bookstore because the Ministry rejected him every month. He loved his smile, and his laugh, and his sharp wit. He loved the way he'd never lend his books out to anybody for fear of damage, but dogeared the pages himself. And he loved the way that even though he quite literally tore himself apart once a month, he faced it with grit determination and never let it break him.
Two…
And next year? What did he want to do? This, he realised. Exactly this. Maybe not leaning against a metal balcony railing in the frosty chill of midwinter air, maybe not drunk and 3 feet apart and silent — but the company? He wanted to be with Remus for every moment that he was allowed to be. Sure, they both had work and hobbies and lives outside of each other. But the important moments? And most of the not-so important ones too. This was his wish for the year. To spend it with Remus Lupin. Attached at the lips more often than not if he could, or with his head in his lap as they silently read together. He wants to walk proudly into Diagon Alley hand in hand — they've done it so many times but he still wants more. Wants to show off to the world — wants to make sure everyone knows that he managed to land the Remus Lupin.
One…
The first explosive boom split the night as the first firework went off, green and red and orange sparks dancing through the air. More followed quickly, a cacophony of light and colour and Sirius couldn't help but tip his head back and grin wildly for just a moment, before turning his attention to his boyfriend.
It was midnight, and it was time to get his uninterrupted kiss.
But when he leaned back from the railing to stand at his full height and turned to face him, Remus wasn't there. His eyes were not met with warm hazel looking back at him, all there was to be seen straight ahead was the exposed brickwork of the side of the building. Sirius' gaze fell to the floor to find him there, collapsed on his knees with a strange look on his face.
No.
Not on his knees.
On one knee.
With a small box in one hand and a ring in the other.
"Sirius, I…" Remus stuttered, and it was so adorable that it made Sirius' heart clench even as his hands began to sweat and his pulse began to race. "I love you, I think I've always loved you. And I… I know we haven't talked about it or anything, so I don't even know if you want-"
Sirius couldn't help himself. Couldn't even let Remus get the question out before dropping to his knees himself, the pain of doing so forgotten immediately.
"Yes!" His voice shook as he took Remus' hands in his own, the box dropping to the floor with a soft thud. "Of course I'll marry you Moony."
Tears began to stream down his face as he pulled Remus into his arms. "That is… you were going to ask that right? I interrupted, I'm sorry, I-"
"Yes, Pads. That's… really? You will?" Sirius kissed the incredulous look off of Remus' face as best he could, pecks peppered over his forehead, the bridge of his nose, his cheeks. Every inch of skin he could touch.
"Oh thank fuck for that." Sirius' hands were shaking as he removed them from Remus' wrists, knuckles almost white from the harsh grip he only just realised he had. "I'd marry you yesterday if I could. I love you." He leaned back lightly, eyes never wavering from Remus' face as he held out his left hand. "Put it on me then?"
With hands shaking more than even his own, Remus slipped the ring onto his finger. Sirius barely took any time to admire the sparkling before he pounced, pushing Remus against the floor with tongues tangled together, breaths gasped between contended sighs.
Fireworks above them continued to paint them in a rainbow of colour but neither paid attention to how much time passed with them entwined on the unforgiving tile of the balcony floor. It didn't matter to them, they were bound to ache tomorrow but for now, drinking each other in was all that they cared about.
Eventually, reluctantly, at the sound of Remus' joints popping one too many times Sirius pulled them to standing. But he didn't let up his assault on his fiance's mouth for any longer than he needed to in order to get them safely upright. Roaming hands cupping each other's faces and fingers tangling in each other's hair, the only sounds their own breathy moans and the explosions echoing around them.
They broke apart at the sound of the balcony doors opening, their friends returning from their trip to the hill with excited smiles on their faces as if they'd all known already. Of course, Remus had planned this. It hadn't seemed too strange half an hour ago, the idea that they'd all willingly leave them alone for the biggest moment of the year, but perhaps it should have. He was glad though, that he hadn't questioned it. Glad that it had been a surprise.
Before he turned to greet them, to show off his brand new ring and his brand new fiance, he took a moment to smile to himself as he remembered what he'd been thinking as the seconds counted down.
He'd be getting his New Year's wish sooner than he thought.