Nothing New

After the ice cream, and Bridget Jones’ Diary, they sat awkwardly on the sofa. The silence hung heavier than anything Remus had known—the anticipation threatening to suffocate them. Sirius wondered if he should go home. It was after 5 am and maybe Remus wanted to sleep. But he really didn’t want to leave.

He looked over at Remus to find his eyes already on Sirius’ and smiled.

“I like you, just as you are.” He quoted the film and Sirius grinned.

“Even when I am incapable of not making a nuisance of myself in the middle of the night?”

“Especially then.” Remus tilted his head slightly, “Apart from the first time, it’s been very endearing, honestly.”

“Yeah?” Sirius was genuinely surprised.

“Yeah.” He laughed softly, “Picture me, absolutely livid, storming out of my flat about to give the new prick next door a piece of my mind only for… you to answer the door, shirt unbuttoned, hair up, eyeliner. I was more mad about the audacity you had to look that good while I was trying to be mad at you, while holding Teddy, trying to manage a coherent thought.”

Sirius stared at him, “Well, fuck, Remus.”

“And then! You leave me chocolate and a card to apologise. Chocolate!” Remus groaned, “And then…”

“I get it, I get it!” Sirius laughed. “Bane of your existence, object of all your desires.”

“Did you just quote Bridgerton to me?” Remus grinned as Sirius nodded. “...It’s not just me, right?”

“No, it’s not just you.” Sirius scooted across the sofa to sit next to him. “Imagine throwing a housewarming party and then opening the door to an absolute vision in pink pyjama bottoms, face like thunder, all while being quite drunk and trying to focus on anything other than your adorably furious face.”

“Adorably furious?” Remus laughed.

“You’re the writer, not me.” Sirius shrugged. “Look, I know you don’t want to date or anything—”

“That’s not— I don’t know.” Remus said, looking at him, “I’d go on a date with you.”

Sirius felt like he’d just dropped out of the sky, “Yeah? You’re not just saying that?”

“I think I’m as surprised about that as you are.” Remus paused, “I get that we both have relationship stuff. Plus, I have Teddy. You’ll probably be off on tour before too long. There’s a lot that could go wrong.”

“But you want to try anyway?”

“But I want to try anyway.” Remus nodded, “If you do?”

“Oh fuck yeah!” Sirius grinned as Remus snorted. “Plus. This was a date, by your standards.”

“Ice cream and Bridget Jones?” Remus said. “Yeah, I suppose it was. Congrats on our first date, I guess.”

“It’s a shame it’s such a long way home.” Sirius feigned exhaustion.

“Oh, then you should definitely stay over. Wouldn’t want you to risk a perilous journey at this time of night.” Remus shivered as Sirius’ eyes darkened. “Or I could always walk you home.”

“No, I think I should stay. Best not to risk it.” Sirius realised they’d been getting closer and closer and now they were only centimetres apart. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be attracted to someone and read sex scenes they’ve written?”

“Well, now I feel like I have a lot to live up to.” Remus laughed softly, smiling as Sirius’ laughter ghosted over his lips. “Sirius.”

He wasn’t sure which of them made the final minuscule movement to press their lips together, but instantly, Sirius was in heaven. Remus kissed like he did everything, passionately, yet with immense care and attention. It was intoxicating and Sirius knew that he was absolutely fucked. He pushed Remus against the back of the sofa and placed his thighs on either side of Remus’ before kissing down Remus’ pale neck, along his jaw and brushing his lips against Remus’ again, teasing him.

Remus grabbed Sirius’ thighs and flipped them, grinning as Sirius gazed up at him like he was the most incredibly beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“Hi,” Sirius said, dragging his thumb along Remus’ jaw.

“Hello.” And then Remus was pulling his hoodie over his head and leading Sirius by the hand to his bedroom.

🌙✨🌙✨🌙

The doorbell, a few hours later, roused Remus. He blinked several times before looking down at the mass of black hair pressed against his chest. Then he remembered everything that had happened the previous night. The power cut, the ice cream, the conversation and everything that had followed it. He smiled to himself before he was startled by the doorbell again. Shit. He checked his watch. It was a little after nine.

He shook Sirius gently. “Hey,” Sirius grumbled before covering his eyes. “No, no, no. My mum and Teddy are here. You need to wake up.”

Sirius’ eyes snapped open. “What?”

“I forgot to set an alarm, and now she’s here bringing Teddy back.” He looked down at Sirius. “I’m so sorry.”

Sirius blinked a few times, “No, it’s ok.” He smiled up at Remus. “Morning.”

“I have to go and let them in, or she’ll let herself in.” Remus stroked his cheek gently. “You can stay in here, it’s ok.”

“And miss the chance to meet your mum?” Sirius grinned in a way that made Remus’ heart do all manner of things. “The one time you didn’t lie about having a date?”

“On your head be it.” He kissed Sirius’ forehead before rolling out of bed, instantly missing the warmth of Sirius’ body next to, and on, him. He pulled on a pair of jeans and looked for the hoodie he’d cast off on the way to the bedroom before heading to the front door, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

He opened the door just as Hope was about to pull the key out of her pocket.

“Morning!” Remus said, blinking against the light from the hallway.

Hope looked at him and a smug smile crossed her face. “Good morning to you too. Did we wake you?”

Teddy threw himself at his dad and squealed when Remus spun him around. “Did you have a fun time with Nana and Grandpa?”

“Yeah!” Teddy beamed at him, “We watched Moana!”

“Your dad cried,” Hope said under her breath and Remus laughed. “Sounds lovely. You fancy a cuppa, mum?”

“Would your… company not mind?” She asked breezily. Of course she knew.

“No, he was surprisingly keen to meet you, actually.” Remus chuckled.

Hope was a little taken aback by this. Remus set Teddy down and he ran off to the living room.

“A mess, Dad!” He yelled. Ah yes, he hadn’t cleared up their ice cream bowls, mugs and blankets from last night.

“Has Teddy met him?” Hope asked in a low voice.

“Yes. Not in that capacity, obviously. He… He lives next door.”

“The loud one?” Hope frowned.

“That was one time, mum. He literally soundproofed his entire apartment the following week.” He smiled, “I think you’ll like him.”

Hope pursed her lips to prevent the wry smile that was forming. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

Remus rolled his eyes before heading to tidy up the living room and make them some tea. Hope took in the bowls and blankets and finally smiled. Remus nodded at her as if to say 'See?’.

As he was making tea, he heard the bedroom door open and then Hope gasped. She rushed to the kitchen door and hissed, “You didn’t tell me it was Sirius Black, Remus!” Remus stared at her bewildered. “He sang on the Strictly Results show last year. He was very good. The Whatsapp group from Dancercise were very partial to him.”

Remus just blinked at her as he heard Sirius talking to Teddy.

“You know who he is?” He said slowly. She nodded.

“Remus didn’t.” Sirius appeared next to her. “It was refreshing. I was just his annoying neighbour.”

“Sirius, this is my mum, Hope. Mum, this is Sirius.” Remus said, smiling.

“Lovely to meet you, Hope.” Sirius hugged her, sensing she wasn’t a handshake person.

“Likewise. I was just saying to Remus that I saw you sing on Strictly last year. I thought you were very good.”

“Oh, thank you, that’s so kind.” Sirius grinned, “I was so chuffed to get to play on Strictly.”

“Would you ever go on it? As a dancer?” Hope asked as the two of them moved to the sofa, leaving Remus to finish the tea, smiling to himself.

By the time he brought them into the living room, they were comparing notes on who they loved in the current series. They both agreed that Chris McCausland, a blind comedian, was their favourite, and both were pleasantly surprised by Pete Wicks, of reality TV fame. Teddy was playing with farm animals on the floor and this picture of domesticity had Remus’ heart soaring. He set down the tray before sitting down next to Sirius and sliding an arm around his shoulders. Sirius leaned back against him, continuing his thoughts on the Italian professional dancer Vito and Hope looked over at Remus and nodded in approval.

After Hope went home, Sirius wasn’t sure whether he should leave or not. Remus and Teddy probably had things they did on a Sunday, and he was probably intruding. Remus seemed to sense that he was in his head and pulled him close again.

“We have no plans, but if you want to go home and be in a toddler-free zone, I’m not about to judge you for it.” He said into Sirius’ ear.

Sirius shook his head, “I told you, I lived with my friends and godson ’til I moved in here. Kids aren’t an issue for me. Seriously. Plus, he’s hilarious and a good kid.” He shrugged. “I’ll stay as long as I’m welcome, just didn’t want to intrude on your Sunday.”

“Well I usually just cook a chicken mid-afternoon and then we watch movies until his bedtime.” Remus smiled, “You’re more than welcome to stay.” He looked at Teddy, then back at Sirius, “I’d love it if you stayed.”

"Alright." Sirius nodded, "I'll stay."