James Potter was a morning person since first year. The Marauders, over the years, grew accustomed to morning rush – this was mainly due to the fact that Sirius and James were both on the Quidditch team and James made them train very early in the morning; moreover James and Sirius were the loudest people possible. So yeah, Peter and Remus might as well get up too.
However, something seemed off this morning. Remus was standing by the mirror fixing his tie and putting on his robe. James was attempting to tame his unruly hair, or perhaps he was messing it up on purpose. Peter was neatly arranging his books and packing the things he would need for the first two classes – potions and charms.
“You seemed a bit quiet today, Prongs. Everything alright?” asked Peter.
“Really?” asked James, meeting Peter gaze through the mirror. “I haven’t noticed”
“He is quiet. But only because his platonic idiot half is on the bathroom.” Pointed out Remus.
Peter nodded and James opened his mouth to protest. As if James was just realizing he tilted his head.
“Why is my idiot half taking so long?” asked James to no one in particular as he made his way towards the bathroom floor. “Padfoot, hurry up!” shouted James
“We are going to be late for breakfast!” added Peter.
“Again.” Sighted Moony as he arranged his prefect badge.
No answer. Sirius had been on the bathroom for about twenty minutes.
“Padfoot?” asked James softly.
“James I can’t go out.” Was the muffled response Sirius gave.
Remus exchange puzzled glances with James and Peter.
“Everything alright in there, Star?” asked Remus, as he too moved towards the closed door.
“No.” said Sirius with a wobbly voice.
The Marauders exchange looks, they all knew that tone. Sirius was either on the verge of tears or already crying.
“Open the door please, love.” Said Remus. And in an ordinary occasion, Remus’s thick welsh accent, calling Sirius “love” would have been enough for the rave haired boy to comply. However the door remain closed.
“No.” said Sirius, sounding like a little kid throwing a tantrum.
“Pads, open up. “ encourage James.
“Tell us what’s wrong and we can fix it.” Agreed Pete.
“We’ll fix it, love. But we can’t fix it with you inside.” Said Remus.
There was no response from the other side. Just as they were about to consider breaking down the door, it finally swung open, revealing a pale-face Sirius.
“Finally!” said Peter, earning a stern look from James.
“What wrong Padfoot?” asked Remus wit genuine concern.
Remus moved to cup Sirius face in his hand but Padfoot took a step backwards; it almost seemed he was scared. Remus’s concern grew.
“Sirius what’s wrong?” ask Remus trying to get close again.
“Sirius?” asked James, who had gone a bit pale himself.
Sirius averted his gaze. He took a quick glace at Remus and then back to the floor. Remus and James could tell
“I… uhm… I got a pimple.”
Remus took Sirius’s chin and tilted the raven haired boy head up, to scrutinize his countenance. And… yes. Lo and behold, there it was. On Sirius’s usually flawless skin a big red angry pimple had taken center stage. Nestled on his cheek, it presence was impossible not to notice. The pimple stood out from miles away, contrasting heavily with Sirius’s other wise pale skin. Even more, the color was not the only thing standing out; it’s size was remarkable.
The room fell into silence, broken only when James tried to stifle his laughter.
“ A pimple? Is that all?” asked Peter with an amused grin.
Sirius bit his lip, looking uncharacteristically self-conscious. It only took one look from Remus for Pete to shut up and for James to stop laughing.
The thing is, all the marauders had deal with this when they first entered puberty. Remus had thought he looked like a troll when a few small pimples appeared on his forehead to add decoration to his already scared face. However Lily had talk to Remus about the importance of a skin care routine and had also said that the pimples where maybe because of Remus’s fringe. So, for a brief moment back there, Remus used to rock head bands.
Peter had a bigger struggle with them. His face was covered entirely for months. But it was a hormonal and normal thing. And James usually got them on the nose. He sometimes still got them. Regulus always had a field day when a pimple appeared on the tip of his boyfriend’s nose. Reggie had introduce James to Rudolph the reindeer. So on those days, James ceased to be “love” “darling” or “Jamie” and he was exclusively called “Rudolph the reindeer”. James had grew to enjoy when the pimple appeared on the tip of the nose cause it made Reggie smile more often.
But Remus understood where Sirius was coming from. Sirius… well, he never had to deal with this sort of thing. He pride himself on his looks. And talk smugly about his flawless skin when someone would get a pimple or a blackhead. Remus eyes grew fond looking at his boyfriend’s vulnerability. Remus knew it was a temporary intrusion however this intrusion held no regard for Sirius’s confidence. The pimple challenged Sirius’s self-assured demeanor in a way that nothing magical ever could, because the pimple was a remainder that Sirius was not perfect. And Sirius desperately wanted to be. Although he had been trying to let go, since moving with the Potters. But yes… Remus understood.
“Sirius, this is normal, sweetheart.” Assured James with a mildly amused demeanor.
“But not for me.” Said Sirius and his voice was almost like a plead.
James exchanged a look with Remus. Remus shook his head as if saying leave it to me.
“Padfoot, you are human and you are still drop dead gorgeous” tried to encourage Peter. “You are so much more than your appearance. I mean sure it looks bad but don’t let this define your day.”
Sirius pouted at Remus with tears pooling his eyes.
“Out!” said Remus sternly.
“But-“
Remus squinted at Peter.
“I’ll see you guys at the Hall.”
“ You are the most pretty person I’ve ever seen Pads, pimple or not.” Assured Remus. He moved forward to kiss Sirius cheek and Sirius retreated.
“Moony don’t kiss my pimple, it’s gross.” Said Sirius as he retreated to the bathroom to look himself in the mirror. “Oh Merlin, it’s enormous… Ugh, so gross.”
“Sirius, love, I’ve had your lovely arse on my face, a pimple is nothing, beside I can not not kiss you.”
“Grodic’s balls! That was way more information that I didn’t need to know” exclaimed James as he ran to grab his bag. “Ugh now I have that image on my head. I need bleach for my brain.”
James was a the door when he turned to Moony. Remus mouthed him “I got it”
“I’ll see you lads on the hall. We love you Sirius! Hang in there, mate!”
And with that James was gone and the dorm was left once again on silence.
“Moony, I know it’s stupid but I feel ugly.”
Remus couldn’t help but smile, his heart warming at Sirius’s vulnerability.
Remus entered the bathroom with new resolution. Sirius always made him feel beautiful, even on the full moons and the days after. Remus would be damn if his Padfoot felt less than gorgeous because o a stupid not—so-small pimple.
“Ugly?” asked Remus “I don’t even know what that means!”
Sirius finally met his gaze trough the glass. Remus stepped behind Sirius and took the raven haired face between his hands making Sirius look at himself in the mirror.
“First of all, Mr. Padfoot, you are sexy!” Remus said. “You are beautiful and curvalicious.”
Sirius cracked a smile at the word. Moony did not said stuff like that.
“Moony.” Sirius snorted.
Bingo. Thought Remus.
“You don’t need to be insecure. I mean look at you.” Said Remus and he made a show of checking Sirius out. Sirius giggled shyly.
“Pads, I’m serious.” Said Remus turning Sirius around so they were face to face. “Oh Merlin, look at that face, uff.” Added Remus. “Is it you or is it hot in here?” he continued as he loosened his tie.
Sirius face broke into a wide grin.
“Moony, stop it.” He said, faintly blushing.
Remus grabbed Sirius’s hand and gave Sirius a little spin.
“Wait here.” Said Remus as he let go of Sirius’s hand.
Remus exited the bathroom and seconds later he entered again. “Oh, Merlin!” he said as if he was surprised Sirius was in the bathroom. “Why, hello there.” He said smoothly, wiggling his brows at Sirius. “Are you single by any chance?”
“Remus Merlin.” Said Sirius hiding his face behind his hands, laughing softly.
“Wait, wait. I got more.” Said Remus.
Remus exited the bathroom once again. Sirius stood there with an goofy smile. Remus entered again, just as he had done a few minutes ago but this time he didn’t said anything. He made a show of checking Sirius out and he acted as if he was doing a double check as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. As if the boy standing in front of him wasn’t the boy he woke up to every single day.
“Oh, wow.” Said Remus breathily and then he fake-fainted.
Sirius roared with laughter as Remus fell down onto the wooden floor with a somewhat loud thud.
Remus, from the floor, gave Sirius a bashing smile. His mission has been accomplished, Sirius was beaming delighted in his boyfriend antics. But most importantly, with his characteristic confidence almost completely back. Sirius helped Remus get up from the floor.
“You are something else, Moons.” He said once the laughter had subside. “But don’t throw yourself at the floor like that, you are going to hurt yourself.” Sirius scolded as he buried himself on Remus embrace.
“Sirius, you don’t have to be perfect.” Whispered Remus.
Something in the room had shifted. Sure Sirius was laughing mere seconds ago but now, it all seemed more intimate.
"I know Moons.” Sirius pulled back to met Remus’s eyes. And Moony knew Sirius meant it now.
Remus step even closer, crouching down to capture Sirius’s lips. They exchange a soft and sweet kiss. The slow type of kiss that made Sirius think everything else was just frivolous, just dull in comparison with the way Moony felt beside him.
“Thank you.” Whispered Moony against Padfoot’s lips.
“For what?” asked Pads, tilting his head on a dog-like maner.
“You always reassure me around the full moons. You always make me feel like I’m still me. Thank you for letting me do the same for you.”
Sirius let out a sight, relaxing into Remus’s embrace. “You always know how to cheer me up, Moons.”
“Well yeah, as the love of your life, that’s my damn job.” Said Remus placing a kiss on Sirius’s forehead. Padfoot laughed once again.
“Come on. My beautiful werewolf in shining armor or we’ll miss breakfast before Sluggy’s class.” Laughed Sirius, interlacing his fingers with Remus’s.
.0.
“What took you so long?” asked Regulus as soon as Sirius and Remus arrived. He was reading the daily Prophet. “Here you go, sunshine.” Added Regulus as he passed James the crossword section.
James and Sirius enjoyed doing the crossword together. But Reggie would give that section of the paper exclusively to James.
Regulus averted his eyes from the news paper as he said “James said you finally got a- Merlin’s Balls that is a huge pimple.”
James elbowed his boyfriend. And Pete snorted into his glass of pumpkin juice.
“Yes it is.” Answered Sirius proudly as Remus intertwined their hands together. “But my boyfriend likes me anyway. He loves me and my pimple.”
“I mean I do love you but loving the pimple…”
“Remus kiss my cheek.” Demanded Sirius still maintaining his eye contact with his little brother.
Remus shook his head before placing a sonorous kiss on Sirius’s cheek.
“Why didn’t you tried a concealing charm?” said Reggie as he took his wand out. With a swift motion he cast the charm and the pimple was gone.
Sirius touched the zone, mesmerized.
“I mean, is not gone but it’s sort of invisible.” Said Regulus.
“See that! That’s my boyfriend losers!” exclaimed James delighted as he pulled Reg for a kiss.
“What was that for?” ask Regulus with a blissed look.
“Because you are fucking brilliant.” James gave him a wink and got back to his crossword.
“No, no, leave it there.” Complained Sirius. His brother gave him an unimpressed look. “It reminds me that I’m human, and I’m me.”
Regulus exchanged a knowing look with Remus. Remus shrugged. With a swish of his wand Regulus casted a finite incantatium and everyone resumed eating their breakfast with light hearts and smiles creeping their lips.
“Okay, I need a six letter word that is synonym of gorgeous.” Said James showing Reg his crossword puzzle.
“Sirius.” Answered Remus without missing a beat.
“I’m so in love with you right now.” Swooned Sirius.
“And I’m in love with you too.” Remus leaned to kiss Sirius on the lips, even though he had a mouth full of toast.
James fake-gasped. “Ohhhhhhh”. Then turned to Regulus, and with a conspiratorial tone of voice he added “Remus’s answer fits.”
“You guys are a bunch of wankers.” Regulus laughed.