Chapter 12
Sirius really meant it when he said the other day was the best birthday ever. He got what he has been dreaming about for years. A chance to just laugh with his little brother.
He entered the coffee shop and orders his usual, then waits for Remus to take his break. Tapping his fingers on the table, Sirius can’t help but worry. He sent a message not long ago asking to meet Sirius because ‘they need to talk’. That is never a good sign. Never. Remus is going to ‘break up’ with him, isn’t he? Sirius scared him off on his birthday by saying he’s falling for him. He’s such an idiot, he should’ve just kept his mouth shut.
“Hey,” Remus says as he sits opposite Sirius.
“What’s up?” Sirius asks anxiously.
“Not much.”
“Then what’s with that message you sent?”
“Oh...that.”
There was an awkward silence after that. Something is really wrong with Remus.
Sirius sighs, “You’re ending things, aren’t you?”
“What? No, of course not!”
“Then what’s going on? You’re worrying me, Moony.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” Remus looks down at his hands. “It’s about what you said the other day. About you falling for me.”
“Oh, that. I was just caught up in the moment. Just forget about it.”
“You didn’t mean it?” Remus sounds disappointed, and almost hurt.
“Well, I, uh... what’s the right answer here?”
“The truth would be nice.”
“The truth is...it turns out I’m not very good at the whole casual thing,” Sirius takes a sip of his drink.
“It turns out I’m brilliant at the whole casual thing, just not with you.”
“What do you mean?” Sirius has to ask; he doesn’t want to risk assuming the wrong thing.
“I mean that I think I’m falling for you too.”
“You are?”
Remus chuckles, “Yes, Sirius. You are amazing and I have never cared about anyone the way I care about you. Your little declaration the other day made me realise that I am also falling for you.” He takes a deep breath. “What I am trying to say is that I would like it if you would be my boyfriend. If you want to, that is.”
“Of course I want to be your boyfriend!” Sirius leans over the table and grabs Remus’ apron, pulling him into a long, passionate kiss.
“If I knew that would be the reward, I would’ve asked you to be my boyfriend much sooner,” Remus laughs.
“I can’t believe I came here thinking you were going to end things.”
“Quite the opposite actually.”
“What took you so long? I thought you weren’t afraid to go for what you want.”
“Feelings are different. It’s hard to let people in, I can never tell if someone genuinely cares about me or not. But with you...I just know. I know you care and relationships are scary, to me at least, but there’s no one else I’d rather do this with.”
There’s a moment where Sirius just admires the man sitting in front of him. How did he ever get so lucky that someone like Remus has fallen for him? “Sirius?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you want to go on a date with me? Now that we are official.”
“Yes, I’d love that!”
“Great. I’ve got to get back to work, but I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”
Sirius kisses his boyfriend (his boyfriend!) goodbye, then finishes his coffee and goes to leave.
“What’s got you so happy, Sirius?” Emmeline asks as he walks past her collecting empty plates and coffee cups.
“Remus and I are official!” He beams.
“About time,” she smiles.
“I guess we were both scared to make the first move.”
“So, who asked who out?”
Sirius scoffs, “You’re still such a gossip, aren’t you? But Remus asked me out.”
“I knew it.”
“Of course you did,” he replies sarcastically.
“I’m happy for you, Sirius. Really. You’ve come a long way from the ‘troubled teenager’ who used to prank people every day and go from girl to girl.”
“Thanks, Emmie. That means a lot.”