Basketball Shorts
Remus really didn’t want to go.
And oh how’d he’d regret feeling that.
The playoffs were set to begin in a few weeks and the team had been stressed out of their minds. Staying late after every practice, and coming in on their off days. Pushing themselves further everyday.
It was unnerving to see the team like that. They were always so full of life, joking in between runs and cocky in practice games. Halfway through the day Barty hadn’t made one dirty joke. Hadn’t even stuck his tongue out in his snake like way when he scored. Evan didn’t smile anymore, and while Remus was never a loud one, he noticed himself becoming more reserved. Constantly running plays in his head. The rest of the team had also been feeling the pressure. The overwhelming urge to win. Eventually their coach stepped in.
“No practice tomorrow, and I’m locking the doors. No one’s allowed to come in. And if I even catch a glimpse of soreness when we get back you’re sitting out the next practice.” Alastor warned them with stern eyes. Although one of them never truly followed the other.
Everyone groaned and shouted their protests.
“These are gonna be the most important games of our lives!” Barty spat out.
Evan placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “Moody, we can not take a day off.”
Alastor raised his eyebrows. “You can and you will.”
“This isn’t fair.” Barty argued. “Lupin, what do you think about all this?” He turned his piercing stare onto him.
Remus frowned and worked his jaw. “That maybe he has a point.”
Evan shook his head as Barty exploded under his touch.
Later that evening in Barty’s condo, Remus ran his twitchy fingers through his hair so hard it pulled at his eyes. Flopping onto the entirety of one side on the L shaped couch.
Opening a beer, Barty sat on the other side with a scowl as he sipped. “This is all your fault, you just had to agree with him.” He said subconsciously eying Evan who was ordering the food.
“He’s our coach, we should listen to him.” Remus rolled his neck on the couch, watching the TV play their previous games on a loop. “And the team has been down recently.”
“So what are you gonna do tomorrow then?” Barty annoyingly reminded him.
Remus huffed. “I don’t know.” He pointedly pronounced every syllable.
Barty remained quiet until Evan was off the phone, and Remus was trying not to anticipate what was coming next. “Evan…”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve known Remus the longest… name a horrible experience that happened to him.”
Remus scrunched his nose in defiance while still watching the TV.
Clicking his tongue in thought, Evan answered. “Uhh, there was that time you had a date at the ice skating rink and fell on your ass.” He chuckled a bit at the end.
Barty clapped his hands loudly. “We’re going ice-skating tomorrow!”
And Remus really didn’t want to go. However, he was threatened with not being able to eat the takeout until he agreed, and he knew that maybe a nice outing would be what they needed on their day off. And maybe Barty could finally get his head out his ass.
He still complained the entire walk there. Huffing and rolling his eyes as Barty badgered on and on about the wonders in ice-skating. Although Barty believed he was winning this game, Evan’s smile was slowly coming back after everyone one his jabs.
“How come I’ve never heard of this rink?” Remus asked thirty minutes into the walk.
“It’s not too popular as it’s usually only meant for professionals, but don’t worry they have a room for recreation.” Evan said with a small smile.
Remus frowned. “If it’s for professionals then how are we getting in?”
“A friend from our boarding school is going to get us in.”
“Ah.”
Barty laughed loudly. “Yeah, figured since you both don’t do too well with crowds.”
“I do well with crowds. The crowds just don’t do well keeping their hands to themselves.” Remus reminded.
“It’s only going to get worse if we win the playoffs.” Evans said gravely.
“Okay this is not taking the direction I wanted it to.” It was then Barty’s turn to frown, causing Evan’s smile to return to its full height.
At the rink, the two had to call their friend ‘Regulus’ multiple times before he showed up at the door. The man wore loose black pants with a tight long sleeve. He had short black hair and sharp features despite his upturned nose. Nose red from the presumably cold air of the rink. His expressions were stoney, but he evidently pleased to see them there. He greeted Evan and Barty with hugs before turning to Remus. “Hello. I’ve heard about you.”
Remus laughed and brought him into a hug, which startled him as he flinched. “And I, you.”
Inside Regulus led them through the building. “That room is for intense training, which you are not allowed in.” His eyes fixed on Barty. “Then we have changing rooms, equipment, showers, nurses, and lastly the fun rink. The only place you will be allowed in.”
The three of them nodded.
“Right, now give your shoe sizes and I’ll be back with skates.”
Leaving them to walk into the rink by themselves. Which was a huge mistake, but nothing could have prepared Remus for what he saw. He instantly froze. Standing in between the bleachers, watching through a glass as a figure danced on the ice. With beautiful black hair that swayed in the movements. Their hands gliding in the air as easily as their skates. They wore tight black pants that wrapped over their skates, with a black turtle neck and small skirt. The fabric so delicate as it wrapped around their waist. Remus was frozen in place.
Evan cleared his throat a bit too loud, reeling him back before anyone else would notice. Not that there was anyone else in the rink.
Oh god.
Remus thought helplessly.
Alone in the rink with them.
It was all too much, and Remus swallowed hard as he made way to sit on the front bleachers with Barty.
“What’s wrong with him?” Barty asked Evan with a laugh.
Remus glared at him. “Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine… Shut up.”
“Alright.” He chuckled.
There was a burning torture waiting for Regulus. Not being able to stop watching them, but cursing himself afraid they would notice. Remus didn’t know who they were but he was absolutely enthralled by them.
“No.” Barty tutted. “No, no.”
Before Remus could piece together what he meant by that Regulus came in with a bin of skates dropping them promptly with his face. “Sirius! You can not wear the costume for recreational purposes!” He yelled at the figured.
The figure slowed his turns, but smiled widely. “But it’s so pretty.” They fake pouted, and continued moving about.
Regulus grumbled, picking the bin back up. “Wait until I tell Effie you’re ruining your costume.” He stated loudly.
They- or Sirius- stopped abruptly, the ice shaving with the hard pause. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh no! My phone accidentally slipped and is now calling her.”
Sirius rolled their eyes and continued. “Twenty more minutes, then I’ll take it off. Swear.”
When Regulus handed the rest of them their skates, Remus stumbled over his words a bit. “Who-um well, ahhh.”
“He wants to know who Sirius is.” Evan mumbled at Regulus.
Who sighed and pursed his lips. “My idiot sibling, that's who they are.”
They… okay.
Remus thought to himself. He didn’t want to assume, but seems as though he was right. Sirius had a way with their androgyny that was so unbelievably stunning. Not one or the other but completely Sirius. He couldn’t keep his eyes off them.
Until he was struggling to stand in his skates and shamefully watched the ground. Though it wasn't the worst as Barty and Evan were struggling next to him.
Regulus laughed a bit. “Yeah, this is why your coach called off practice.”
Barty shot him a look as if he was going to kill him in that spot if he could move without falling over. This only caused Regulus to laugh louder, Evan now joining in. Which made him lose his balance and fall over.
“Oh my god. We’re gonna die before we get on the ice.” Remus groaned.
However a few minutes later, they had managed to crawl their way onto the ice one by one. Barty and Evan toppling forward every two seconds. Remus clung onto the wall, desperately cursing the universe for his height. He was simply too tall for balance. While Sirius was small and petite, a frame so soft, they looked like they might blow in the wind if you breathed too hard on them, Remus was a clunky 6’6 with two hundred pounds of muscle, in which none resulted in coordination. His knuckles were white on the bar as he inched forward.
Sirius then swiftly came towards and stopped beautifully beside him. “I don’t think this qualifies as ice-skating.” They smirked, tucking their lips into their mouth.
Remus felt his eyes go wide, along with the breath leaving his lungs. “Uhh, well it wasn’t my plan to come here.”
“No?” Their grey eyes like a storm stood searchingly.
“No, I uh…” Remus gripped the bar tighter. “I’m not the best skater. As you can see.”
Their eyes continued to rake over him before they looked up, locking eyes for the first time. “I think you just need a good teacher.”
“Would that be you?” He tried to ask casually, but as he was fighting not to fall it only sounded strained.
Sirius’ smile didn’t falter, in fact the corner of their eyes had now begun to crinkle. “If you want.”
Remus wanted to smack him for making him say the words, already so flustered and so close to hitting the ground at any second. “I do want.”
Presenting a hand, they waited calmly for him to stand straight and take it. It took a couple of moments but soon, Remus was staring down at their hands trying not to pinpoint every graceful line that made them so effortlessly beautiful. With the most dainty wrists, covered by the black fabric. Remus felt strange as his hand that was made to carry a basketball took hold of the other’s. It was notably bigger and he had to place his thumb over their palm and let his fingers grip around those perfect wrists to hold on.
As he regained his footing, Sirius' smile turned small. Like a secret only meant for him. Which made him lose his balance all over again.
“Stop.” They giggled. “You are far too tense.”
“Well it is freezing in here.”
“And you chose to wear basketball shorts and a hoodie.”
“Why, what was I supposed to wear?”
“I don’t know, have you ever been in cold weather before?”
“Yes.” Remus laughed loudly. “I have.”
“Sorry, I just have to know what I’m dealing with.”