Crush
The morning after Remus arrived at camp, the boys quickly learned that he had three friends with him: Lily, Mary, and Marlene. They were all sitting at the long dining tables in the hall, chatting over breakfast. It was a lively scene, filled with the sound of laughter and easy conversation.
Sirius couldn't help but notice how much he enjoyed being around Mary. She was loud, sassy, and had a razor-sharp wit, always ready with a sarcastic remark that made him laugh more than he'd care to admit. Then there was Marlene, who was a bit more reserved but equally funny in her own quiet way. She had a dry humor that seemed to sneak up on you, catching you off guard in the best possible way.
But it was Lily who caught Sirius' attention in a different way. She was quieter than the rest of them, mostly talking to Remus, but Sirius didn't mind. In fact, he found it strangely endearing to watch Remus light up when Lily asked him about a book he was reading. Remus' eyes would get this spark, and he'd begin talking animatedly, his usual shyness fading in the warmth of the conversation.
It was almost like a little secret world the two of them shared in those moments, and Sirius couldn't help but watch them, a faint smile on his lips.
After a while, though, his attention started to drift. He couldn't help himself. It wasn't long before his gaze moved across the room, searching for a familiar, much less pleasant sight: his younger brother, Regulus.
Sirius spotted him after a moment, sitting at a table in the corner with two boys he didn't recognize. Regulus was as ever, his dark eyes narrowed in that signature scowl, but these boys were new, and Sirius couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious.
*Probably the kids from his cabin*, he thought, as he watched them talking quietly amongst themselves. One of them was sitting to Regulus' left. He had dark brown hair, but what stood out were the bright green highlights scattered throughout it, clearly dyed in patches. It was a messy, DIY job, the kind of thing Sirius would do himself.
The other kid sitting on Regulus' right had dark tanned skin and platinum blonde dreadlocks that stopped just around his ears. His look was laid-back, but the way he carried himself suggested there was more going on beneath the surface.
Both boys wore simple clothes—track pants and hoodies—but they stood out in a way that Sirius couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was probably just his older brother instincts kicking in, making him automatically dislike anyone Regulus associated with, but still, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy about them.
"Probably nothing," Sirius muttered under his breath, but the feeling of discomfort lingered. He shook it off, figuring it was just the usual sibling rivalry and moved on with his breakfast.
Once the meal was finished, everyone made their way to check the activity roster for the day. As Sirius skimmed the list, one particular activity stood out in bold letters:
**BUSHWALKING**
And just like that, Sirius’ day was ruined. Of all the activities they could have done, this was the one he dreaded the most. Not because he minded nature—he just couldn’t stand the idea of walking through it for hours, getting sweaty and uncomfortable, all while surrounded by people.
But what really sealed the deal was that it meant he'd be spending the next few hours trudging through the wilderness with Remus. Now, that wouldn't have been so bad if it weren’t for the fact that Remus, with his quiet charm and slightly awkward demeanor, made Sirius feel *things*. Things he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with. And now, with the thought of spending the day alone with him in the woods, Sirius was already bracing for the inevitable flustered feelings that would surely arise.
“Alright, everyone!” Arthur’s cheerful voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. “I’m going to pair you up for the walk, and then we can get started!”
Sirius shot a quick glance at James, silently hoping to be paired with him—he'd much rather deal with James' over-the-top enthusiasm than the torturous proximity of Remus. But Arthur had already anticipated that, and before either of them could move, he had announced the pairings. James was stuck with Peter, while Sirius was reluctantly paired with Remus.
Sirius groaned internally. *This is going to be a long day,* he thought, as the realization set in that he’d be walking through the woods next to Remus, his mind swirling with thoughts that were entirely too distracting.
As Arthur led everyone toward the trail, Sirius tried to focus on something—anything—that wasn’t the warmth of Remus' presence beside him. But with every step, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that just being near Remus was enough to make his heart race in ways he didn’t know how to handle.
The sun had barely begun to rise when Sirius and Remus set off for their bush walk. They’d only met a day ago, and so far, they hadn’t had much time to get to know each other. The camp was for kids from all over, most of whom were strangers to each other, but there was something about Remus — the way he was quiet, thoughtful, and just a little different — that had caught Sirius’s attention from the start.
It wasn’t that Sirius had a specific plan to get to know him better; it was just... well, it felt right somehow. And now, here they were, awkwardly paired together for the day’s walk, completely alone in the middle of nowhere.
"Alright, Remus," Sirius said, stretching out his legs as they set off down the narrow trail. "Let’s see if we can make it through this without getting lost."
Remus, adjusting the straps on his rucksack, gave a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, that’s the idea. Just... follow the path, stay with the group. It’ll be fine."
Sirius didn’t quite buy it. There was something about Remus’s voice that hinted at more concern than he was letting on. Sirius stole a quick glance at him, noting the way his brow furrowed as they continued on.
Remus seemed like the kind of person who would be prepared for anything — the type who probably knew the map by heart and could navigate through a forest blindfolded. But something was off.
"So, how’s it going so far?" Sirius asked, trying to break the silence, though his tone was light, teasing.
Remus glanced at him, his face expressionless. "Going fine, I guess. It’s... just a walk, really."
Sirius snorted. "That’s one way to put it. I’m not sure if I’m walking, or if I’m lost in the middle of nowhere already."
Remus didn’t laugh, though there was the faintest shift in his posture as if he was trying to shake something off.
They continued walking in silence for a while, the trail winding through trees that were beginning to thicken as they moved deeper into the forest.
After another half hour, Sirius noticed Remus had slowed his pace, eyes scanning the surroundings more intently. He couldn’t help but feel a little more nervous himself now. It was hard to ignore the tension that had crept into the air. He was starting to notice the signs that something wasn’t quite right.
"Remus," he asked, taking a step closer, "Are you sure this is the right path?"
Remus glanced at him, a flicker of something in his eyes. Panic, maybe? It passed so quickly that Sirius wasn’t sure he had seen it at all. "I think so... but, I don’t know, Sirius. I don’t think we’re going the right way."
Sirius tried to mask his growing unease with a casual shrug. "Oh, it’s fine. We’ll figure it out."
But even as the words left his mouth, something shifted in Remus. His face had gone pale, his eyes darting nervously between the trees. "Sirius, I don’t think we’re... I don’t think we’re supposed to be here. I—" His voice cracked, and it was then that Sirius saw it — real panic, raw and unfiltered. "We were supposed to stay with the group, weren’t we? We were supposed to follow the path, and now... I don’t know where we are anymore."
Sirius’s stomach dropped. Remus never panicked. He seemed so grounded, so calm, even when the world was falling apart. Seeing him like this made Sirius’s pulse quicken. He couldn’t let Remus fall apart now — especially not when they were so far from the rest of the group.
"Hey," Sirius said quickly, stepping closer, his voice low but firm. "We’re fine, alright? It’s just... a little detour, that’s all. We’ll figure it out. No need to panic."
But Remus was already pacing now, his eyes wide, his breathing coming faster. "What if we’re stuck out here? What if no one finds us? What if they think we’ve wandered off? What if— what if we—" His words were starting to jumble together, fear edging into his voice. It was clear he was spiraling, and the more he talked, the worse it seemed to get.
Sirius’s chest tightened. This wasn’t the time for jokes, and it certainly wasn’t the time for his usual brand of reckless confidence. He had to help Remus, and that meant staying calm, even if he didn’t feel calm himself.
"Remus," Sirius said, gently grabbing his arm to stop him from pacing. "Look at me. Breathe."
Remus’s gaze snapped up to meet his, wide and startled, but he didn’t pull away. His breath was still shaky, but when he tried to speak again, his words came out in gasps.
"You’re... you’re not scared?" Remus managed, his voice quivering. "We’re lost. We’re really lost."
Sirius shook his head firmly. "We’re not lost. Not really." He gave him a small, reassuring smile, though his heart was pounding. "We’re just... taking a longer walk than we planned. The counsellors will find us soon. They always do. And hey, we’re both perfectly capable, right?"
Remus’s lips quivered at the corners, but he didn’t smile. He pulled his hands into his sleeves, clearly trying to force some kind of control back over himself. "I— I don’t know. I’ve never been good in situations like this." His voice dropped to a quiet murmur. "I... I don’t deal well with not knowing where I am. I get... I get nervous."
Sirius’s heart squeezed. He hadn’t expected Remus to be like this. They’d barely known each other three days, and yet, he felt this strange, protective instinct rising in him. It was strange, and a little frightening, but it made him want to do whatever it took to make Remus feel better.
"Okay," Sirius said, his tone steady and kind now. "Alright, here’s what we’re gonna do. First, we’re going to breathe. Like this." He took in a deep, slow breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it. "We’re not going anywhere, Remus. We’re just sitting tight until someone finds us. And if we need to walk a little more, we’ll do it together. No big deal."
Remus blinked at him, his eyes still full of uncertainty. He hesitated, then breathed in deeply, trying to follow Sirius’s lead. His breath was ragged at first, but with each exhale, it steadied just a little.
"That’s it," Sirius said softly. "Just one breath at a time."
They sat down on the ground by a large tree, the dirt still warm from the early morning sun. For a while, there was nothing but the quiet sounds of the forest around them. The world felt huge, overwhelming even, but for the first time since they’d started walking, Sirius felt like they weren’t entirely alone in it.
"So," Sirius said after a long silence, trying to ease the tension again, "since we’re stuck out here for now, we might as well talk, right? Get to know each other a little better?"
Remus looked up at him, a hesitant smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You mean, other than the fact that we’re both hopelessly lost?"
Sirius grinned, feeling the awkwardness between them start to fade just a bit. "That’s the least interesting thing about us, I’m sure. Tell me something I don’t know. What’s your... what’s your favorite book?"
That question seemed to ground Remus more than anything. He sighed, the tension leaving his shoulders as he leaned back against the tree. "Well, I suppose you could call me a fan of mythology”
They continued talking, the conversation flowing more naturally now. Remus’s answers were more thoughtful, and with each word he spoke, Sirius felt that connection between them strengthen, even if it was just a small thread, woven in the quiet moments of a lost bushwalk.
Hours passed, and eventually, the sound of voices and footsteps came through the trees. The counsellors had found them, and Remus let out a long, shaky breath as relief washed over him.
"We’re saved," Remus whispered, almost in disbelief.
"See?" Sirius said, standing up and offering his hand to Remus. "Told you. No big deal."
Remus smiled, albeit a little wearily. "Thanks, Sirius. For... everything. You really helped."
Sirius’s grin softened, and for a moment, their eyes met — more than just a shared experience in the forest. "Anytime, Moony. Anytime."
And as they walked back toward the camp, Sirius couldn’t help but feel that, maybe, being lost wasn’t the worst thing after all. Not when he had Remus beside him.