Sirius is shivering. James has been watching him for the last ten minutes. He was sitting across the picnic table, eating his chips, sucking on his fingers obscenely, and he was shivering. James watches Sirius wrap his free hand around his middle, curling in on himself as he shoves another chip into his mouth, he smacks his lips obnoxiously and then sucks his thumb between his lips.
James vaguely hears someone clear their throat. He blinks, once, his eyes beginning to stray as Sirius licks salt off his hand, his tongue moving between his fingers. He blinks again and watches Sirius grab another chip, salt dripping down his palm now. James swallows thickly. He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and bites down, nearly yelping when Lily digs her elbow into his side.
“Ow.” He huffs, turning to look at her.
“What?” He asks, his voice low. She’s looking at him like he’s an idiot. But says nothing.
“What!?” He asks again, his voice sharp.
“You’re drooling, Potter.” She sighs, rolls her eyes, and moves her attention back to Mary. They’re laughing about something, proper laughing. James smiles at the sound before looking back to Sirius. He shoves the empty paper boat away from him with a groan.
“Fuck.” He takes a deep breath, leans back with a stretch, and then wraps his arms around himself.
“Those were fucking delicious.” He sighs, looking content. He’s still shivering.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring a jacket.” James scoffs, rubbing his hand over his chin, doing his best to get the image of Sirius’ tongue out of his head. Sirius’ eyes snap to James.
“Oh? And whose fault is that, Mr. Impatience.” Sirius rolls his eyes, straightens up in his seat, and puts on a voice.
“Hurry up, Sirius. We’re gonna be late, Sirius. Get in the car now or I’m leaving you behind... Sirius.” He mocks, tilting his head side to side with each repetition of James’ own words from earlier in the evening. James, Lily, and Mary had been his ride to the fair. They’d met Peter by the bumper cars and had been wandering around all night.
The sun had gone down, taking the heat of the day with it. A breeze had picked up too, sending a chill through the air. And Sirius was just wearing a t-shirt under his vest. Because James had rushed him, and laughed at Sirius when he’d tumbled clumsily down the steps of his house to jump in the car.
James said nothing. Sirius gave him a shit-eating grin. James rolled his eyes and stood up, grabbing Sirius’ trash and tossing it in the bin closest. Sirius rose to his feet as well, the grin on his face softening as he nodded his thanks.
“Where to next?” James asks, the others standing now too, all of them milling around the picnic tables, tossing their trash.
“I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m heading for that baby.” Sirius jerks his thumb over his shoulder, James smiles at the ground as Peter groans, stepping up next to Sirius.
“The Ferris wheel!?”
“You bet your ass, Peter. Nothin’ better than a Ferris wheel at night. The liiiiggts. And the rooomance.” He sways side to side, arms pressed close, his hands shoved in his pockets, clearly trying to stay warm.
“You should come, ladies. Might be worth your while.” Sirius smiles at Lily and Mary, both of them turning red as Mary grabs Lily’s hand and tugs her in the opposite direction. Sirius laughs, his whole body moving with it.
“Suit yourselves! You’re missin’ out!” He calls after them, hands cupped around his mouth. James hears Lily laugh as Mary flips Sirius off over her shoulder. Sirius’ eyes move to Peter.
“Absolutely not. We came here to have fun, not ride in slow circles for ten to fifteen minutes.” Peter’s hands make air quotes as he walks backwards away from them, shaking his head before disappearing into the crowd. James watches until Peter’s mop of hair is no longer in sight before turning back to Sirius.
“Just me and you, Potter.” He winks, but there’s something behind his eyes, and his smile isn’t quite as bright as usual. He looks... hesitant? Nervous, maybe?
“I don’t know.” James says, hands moving to his hips.
“Peter might be right.” He shakes his head sadly. And then instantly regrets it. Sirius misses the joke. His face drops, hands shoved deeper into his pockets.
“Oh. Yeah, no that’s... that’s fine. I can go by myself.” He says quietly, his shoulders slouching as he turns away from James. James immediately jogs after him, bumping into his side when he catches up.
“I was just kiddin’, mate.” James huffs a half-assed laugh through his nose. Sirius looks at him, waits a beat, clearly trying to figure out if James is still messing with him. James is blinded by a smile seconds later when Sirius clearly decides he’s being serious now. Sirius looks away, bumping his shoulder into James as they walk toward the bright shining wheel standing out against the dark sky.
James watches as Sirius moves his hands up his arms slowly, trying to subtly warm himself. James sighs, feeling a little guilty now that he’d rushed Sirius earlier. He shrugs off his jacket and holds it out.
Sirius stops. “You’re... giving me your jacket?”
“You’re cold. And it’s kinda my fault, so... yeah.”
Sirius takes the jacket hesitantly, pulling it on. James watches him wiggle into it, muttering about how ridiculous he looks.
“What’s wrong now?” James doesn’t look at Sirius.
“I look like a dweeb,” Sirius huffs dramatically, flailing his arms in the oversized sleeves.
“Hey! That’s my jacket. You saying I look like a dweeb?” James pretends to be offended.
“Yes.” Sirius deadpans. James rolls his eyes and shoves him lightly.
The Ferris wheel looms ahead, and James suddenly feels the pit of his stomach drop. It looked much taller up close. But before he can say anything, Sirius is already dragging him towards it.
As soon as they’re seated and the ride starts moving, James grips the safety bar tightly. His knuckles turn white.
“Sirius?”
Sirius, who had been admiring the fair lights, turns and immediately notices James’ tense posture.
“Oh, Merlin. You’re afraid of heights?”
“I didn’t think I was.” James’ voice is tight.
Sirius hesitates, then carefully takes James’ wrist, prying his fingers from the bar. “Hey, look at me.”
James swallows and forces himself to meet Sirius’ gaze. His grey eyes are warm and steady, grounding him.
“There we go,” Sirius murmurs. “Just breathe.”
James tries, but when the Ferris wheel lurches, he grips Sirius’ hand tightly. Sirius inhales sharply, then mutters, “Please don’t hate me for this.” And then he kisses James.
James freezes for a moment, mind going blank as the sensation of Sirius’ lips presses against his. Soft, warm, slightly chapped. He can feel Sirius’ fingers tightening against his own, like he’s anchoring himself, or maybe trying to anchor James. The world outside the Ferris wheel, the height, the fair, everything blurs away.
Then James exhales, his grip loosening just a fraction, and suddenly he’s kissing back. Tentative at first, but then Sirius shifts, leaning in just enough that James can feel the smile forming against his lips.
James pulls back slightly, blinking at Sirius in the glow of the fair lights. Sirius looks nervous, like he’s bracing for rejection.
“I—uh—sorry?” Sirius mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.
James stares at him for a beat before shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.” Then he tugs Sirius by the front of the jacket, closing the gap between them again.
Sirius grins. “Told you Ferris wheels were romantic.”
James laughs, pressing his forehead against Sirius’. “Yeah, yeah. You win.”