It was cold. Really fucking cold. Remus zipped his jacket in an attempt to keep warm, absentmindedly playing with the needle in his pocket to pass time. The line into the club was ridiculously long and Remus could not quite understand why Marlene had picked this overrated club over the ones they usually went to.
“It’s your birthday! We gotta switch it up a little,” she said as she linked arms with him, squeezing his sore arms. Remus hissed silently, his breath visible in the frigid night air and none of the girls seemed to notice. A loud shout made the group of four turn around.
“Birthday boy!” one shouted, and he immediately recognized the voice.
Remus silently groaned. Marlene, wearing a mischievous grin, turned to him. "I know what you think babe, but hear me out. It's your birthday, and they are your bandmates, they wanted an excuse to drink, so I thought, why not?" Remus couldn't help but roll his eyes playfully. Sirius, James and Peter made their way to them as plenty of people vocally disapproved of them cutting in line.
James lunged at him, pulling Remus into a bone crushing hug. “Happy birthday mate!” he slurred as he let go of Remus. “Why didn't you tell us? We had to find out from twitter.” James pouted, hanging onto Peter's side.
Remus stood up straight and massaged his lower back slightly as pain shot from his sore back. "I didn't want to make a big fuss about it," Remus then said, patting James on the shoulder.
Later.
The room was spinning. The lights flashing just as fast as his heart. Red, blue, purple. Red, blue, purple. Red, blue, purple.
In his intoxicated state, Remus stumbled through the colorful chaos of the club, the blaring music pounding in his ears. The alcohol had hit him harder than he had anticipated, and the room seemed to be spinning out of control. He weaved his way through the crowd, searching for something, someone. His gaze scanned the dance floor, the flashing lights making it hard to focus.
He knew this was stupid. They couldn’t stand being in the same room for more than 15 minutes before starting to bicker with each other. They were slowly driving their bandmates and management insane. But despite the chaos of the club and the haze of Remus's intoxicated mind, there was one constant that cut through the tumult— the magnetic pull of Sirius Black. Remus's eyes locked onto the dark-haired figure amidst the swirling lights, and suddenly, the chaotic abyss seemed to narrow down to a single, shining point.
His raven-black hair was slightly disheveled as he danced to an upbeat song. He was wearing a fitted shirt and his sleeves were rolled up casually, revealing a glimpse of inked skin. Well-worn black jeans hugged his lean frame and a silver chain adorned his neck, catching the sporadic flashes of club lights as it dangled with each rhythmic sway. He moved through the dance floor with an effortless grace, a celestial being in the midst of earthly chaos. He was like a star in a black, never ending abyss— a steady source of light and warmth that defied the surrounding darkness.
As Remus stumbled toward Sirius, the room's disarray faded into the background. It was as if Sirius carried his own gravitational force, drawing Remus closer. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the noise and confusion melted away, leaving only the two of them there.
“Hi,”
“Hi,” Sirius replied, his voice barely audible over the music.
“Hi," Remus echoed, the single word hanging in the air between them like a secret waiting to be unveiled. The pulsating beat of the music seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the one word in the air.
Remus felt a warmth spreading through him, and he couldn't tell if it was from the alcohol, drugs, or Sirius's presence—perhaps a potent combination of all three. The club's vibrant lights painted everything in hues of red, blue, and purple, casting a surreal glow on the scene around them. The bass reverberated through the floor, adding to the sensory overload of the night. As Sirius leaned in to speak, his voice barely audible over the music, Remus could feel the warmth of his breath on his ear. "How's your birthday so far?"
Remus turned to look into Sirius's eyes, the depths of which held a magnetic allure. The question lingered in the air, and Remus took a moment to absorb it all. “It’s been…” he smiled. “Great.” The simplicity of the word belied the complexity of Remus's feelings. It was a deliberate choice, a way to encapsulate the multitude of emotions he was experiencing on this tumultuous birthday night. The warmth in his chest, the rhythmic thump of the music, and the magnetic pull of Sirius's presence all contributed to the adjective that barely scratched the surface of the truth.
Sirius grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Just great?" he teased, his voice teasingly low as he leaned in closer. The proximity sent a shiver down Remus's spine, a thrilling combination of anticipation and intoxication.
"Well," Remus began, his words slightly slurred, "it's not every day I get to celebrate my 23rd birthday with my chaotic bandmates and the enigma that is Sirius Black."
Sirius chuckled, his laughter a melody that intertwined with the pulsating beats of the music. "Enigma, huh?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Remus's face. "I like the sound of that. Maybe I should get it tattooed."
Remus laughed, the sound merging seamlessly with the music. "Enigma in elegant cursive across your chest? Very Classy."
Sirius pretended to consider the idea, a playful glint in his eyes. "Or maybe on my forehead, right between my eyes." Remus burst into laughter at the absurd image and Sirius followed. As their laughter echoed in the chaotic ambiance of the club, Sirius leaned in even closer, his lips almost brushing against Remus's ear. "Do you want to smoke?" he whispered, as he took out the joint from his pocket to show Remus. He nodded as Sirius placed the stick behind his ear, misplacing his hair. Remus had the urge to fix it, but decided not to. Sirius flashed him a grin and took his hand, dragging him through the dancefloor. The pair slipped through the crowd like shadows, the music growing fainter as they approached the back entrance. The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, providing a welcome contrast to the heat and intensity of the club. Sirius found a secluded spot just outside the entrance, hidden from the prying eyes of the partygoers. He took out the joint and a lighter, offering the joint to Remus.
Remus placed the stick between his lips and waited for Sirius to light it. Sirius's fingers skillfully worked the lighter, the flame dancing in the night breeze. As he brought the fire to the joint, Remus took a slow, deliberate inhale as he looked into Sirius' gray eyes. The glow from the joint cast a warm, amber hue on Remus's face as he inhaled, his eyes locked onto Sirius's. The subtle flicker of the flame played in Sirius's gray eyes, creating an intimate dance of light and shadow. He handed the stick over to Sirius, his fingers lingered on the joint for a moment longer than necessary, their eyes still connected. Sirius took his turn, inhaling deeply, and the moment lingered, suspended in the quiet space between them. The club's music, muffled by the walls, became a distant melody, fading into the background.
As Sirius exhaled, a plume of smoke escaped his lips, blending with the night air. Remus found himself mesmerized by the ethereal quality of the moment—the dance of smoke, the warm glow from the joint, and the night reflected in Sirius's eyes. “I think your brother misses you,” he said suddenly. Sirius's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions at Remus's comment, the vulnerability momentarily breaking through his usually confident demeanor. The ambient glow from the joint accentuated the thoughtful expression on his face. A faint smile played on Remus's lips as he continued to observe the enigma that was Sirius Black. “He asks about you alot,” he continued.
A moment of contemplative silence hung between them as Sirius absorbed Remus's words. The glow from the joint cast shifting shadows on his face, highlighting the complexity of emotions that played across his features. "He does?" Sirius responded, a hint of surprise and something akin to longing in his voice. "I never thought he'd...." Remus nodded, his gaze unwavering.
"He might not say it outright, but I know. I think he’s afraid."
Sirius's brows furrowed, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. "Afraid? Afraid of what?"
Remus sighed, taking a thoughtful drag from the dwindling joint before passing it to Sirius. "Afraid of breaking away, of admitting that he was wrong. That there's more to life than what your family does. Afraid of the unknown."
"I always thought he'd resent me for leaving," Sirius admitted, his voice tinged with a vulnerability that was rarely on display. "For choosing a path different from what our family expected."
Remus placed a reassuring hand on Sirius's shoulder. "Regulus might be more understanding than you give him credit for. People change, Sirius, and sometimes, all it takes is someone to show them that a different path is possible." He took a misplaced lock of hair and twirled it betweens his fingers. "But change is daunting, especially when you've lived your whole life under a set of expectations. But sometimes, the fear of the unknown is what keeps people trapped in places they don't want to be."
As the joint burned low, Sirius reached out and extinguished it, the light fading away. Remus's fingers continued to twirl the lock of hair, as the music started to throb around them again. Remus and Sirius found themselves drawn closer, caught in the magnetic pull of the moment. Remus's fingers gently traced Sirius's jawline.The soft caress moved upward, slipping through the tousled strands of Sirius's raven-black hair, as if unraveling the barriers that had kept them apart.
Their breaths mingled, warm and inviting, as they leaned in closer, their lips hovering tantalizingly close but not yet touching. The air between them crackled with anticipation, charged with the electric energy of their unspoken desires. Remus's heart pounded in his chest, a steady rhythm that echoed the pulsating beat of the music. He could feel the heat of Sirius's breath against his skin, a whispered promise of what was to come. Their lips finally met in a tender kiss, a fusion of longing and passion that ignited like a flame in the darkness. Remus's senses were overwhelmed by the taste of smoke and desire, the sensation of Sirius's lips moving against his own with a gentle urgency.
It was a kiss filled with the raw intensity of unspoken emotions, a silent confession of everything they had been too afraid to say out loud. In that moment, they were lost in each other, their bodies pressed together in a tender embrace that spoke volumes without a single word. The world spun around them, a whirlwind of sensations and emotions, as they melted into each other, their kiss deepening with every passing second. It was a kiss that transcended time and space, a moment frozen in eternity, as they surrendered to the intoxicating pull.
As Remus and Sirius found themselves lost in the depths of their passionate kiss, a sudden interruption jolted them back to the reality of the crowded club. A voice, familiar and slightly slurred, cut through the music and the haze of their shared moment. The words cut through the music and the intoxicating haze, causing them to reluctantly break apart. James, wearing an impish grin and noticeably without his glasses, seemed to be navigating with a hint of mischief and a touch of nearsightedness.
"Oi! Found you at last!" James declared, his tone carrying a playful edge as he approached the pair. Remus shot Sirius a bemused glance and couldn't help but smirk at the sight of James squinting slightly in their direction. "What's going on here, gentlemen?" James continued, his grin widening as he squinted at them.
"Just catching up, Prongs," Sirius replied, a smirk playing on his lips. “Where’s your glasses, mate?”
James, seemingly undisturbed by the absence of his glasses, chuckled in response. "Oh, they decided to take a break. But guess what? I had my own celebration on the dance floor." He paused for dramatic effect, and then with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he slurred, "Snogged Lily right into oblivion."
Remus and Sirius exchanged amused glances, the unexpected revelation drawing laughter from both of them. "Seriously?" Remus said, his eyebrows raised in mock surprise.
James nodded, wearing a proud grin. "Yep, in the heat of the moment. Lost my glasses in the process. The sacrifices we make for love, my friends."