Braids
Sirius walked downstairs to see Remus taking a bowl out of a cupboard and his parents were milling about, packing lunch, eating breakfast, grabbing miscellaneous things they would need for work. Remus’s dad was trying to read the paper while doing all of that, and Remus’s mom was on the phone with someone.
Sirius copied Remus after he took a bowl and cereal to the barstool section of the counter. Remus went to get the milk and brought back spoons for both of them at the same time.
Sirius and Remus got through about half a bowl of cereal before his mom hung up and started talking to them. Sirius could see Remus’s dad look up from his paper every now and then to look at them while they talked to Remus’s mom.
“Remus, your dad has a dinner meeting with work this evening and I’m going out with some friends so you’ll have to decide what to have for dinner” Remus’s mom informed him. Sirius looked over at Remus and shot him a smirk, Remus smiled and shook his head in a playful way before responding to his mom. “Ok, sounds good. When do you guys think you’ll be back?” he asked, “not sure, probably late though, eleven ish?” she said.
Remus’s dad spoke from the table “yeah I won't be home until then either, a bunch of us are going to one guy’s house to watch the game afterwards” he explained and went back to his paper.
Sirius had almost finished his cereal by now. He reached for the box in front of him, Remus’s mom went “ah ah ah” as he started to pour a second helping of it into his bowl, signaling him to stop. Sirius whipped his head around to look at Remus, his reaction was pretty neutral.
Still frozen holding the cereal box above his bowl, he looked over at Remus’s mom. She laughed and gestured for him to keep pouring. “I’m just kidding, help yourself, you're still growing, have as much as you want” Remus’s mom said.
Sirius let out a breath and started filling the bowl again. He could tell Remus was doing his best to not laugh too hard at him. Sirius nudged his foot under the counter to take his attention away from what just happened.
Remus’s dad got up and brought his empty plate to the counter, “alright well, I’ll be off soon” he said and departed the kitchen.
“So the legend is wrong” Remus’s mom started, very cryptic. Sirius put another spoonful in his mouth so he wouldn't have to answer, hoping to get this legend explained to him.
Remus put his spoon down “what legend?” he asked, she smiled. “Oh haven't you heard the legend of hockey players and figure skaters hating each other?” she asked. Sirius and Remus sighed in unison. “You know that's not true, you've known that for years” Remus said, she smirked, “well I’ve never seen you hang out with a figure skater before” she said.
The front door opened and closed as Remus’s dad left. Remus looked at Sirius, then back at his mom. Sirius didn't want to make it too obvious but the way Remus’s hair flops around when he turns his head does something to him every time.
“You know that's not how all hockey players and figure skaters think of each other, it's a waste of time to fight about who’s sport is better” Remus argued, he sounded like he was getting a bit defensive and maybe protective of the subject.
Remus’s mom checked her watch, “I’ve gotta go soon” she said and began to put assorted things into a laptop bag that was sitting on the counter. The debate seemed like it was over as Remus’s mom got her bag packed and moved to put on her coat and boots. That was, until Remus decided to finish it, “you’ve known that wasn't true since you and dad started dating” he called from the kitchen.
Sirius stayed silent on his barstool, processing. “Thought that might've been a fluke but hey, like father like son I guess” she said, and without giving Remus any time to respond, she was out the door.
They were quiet for a few moments, Sirius went back to his cereal. “Guess they did find us out” Remus commented, Sirius nodded. “So your mom figure skates and you didn't tell me, rude” Sirius said sarcastically, Remus let out a mildly amused laugh.
“Yeah, she used to anyway, the story goes that skated throughout university on the team but after she graduated she stopped, and my dad kept playing for a couple years after and still plays Sunday league when he can, they go to public skate every now and then together though” Remus explained. “That's what you think, I have a feeling that we aren't the only ones who skate on the pond” Sirius suggested, “that wouldn't surprise me to be honest” Remus said.
They finished breakfast and started to actually get ready for school, not that Sirius had much to do. He put on his clothes from yesterday, plus a sweater Remus threw at him, brushed his hair with his fingers as best he could and went back downstairs.
Remus was making his lunch and made sure everything was in his backpack. “I’m pretty much ready, just gotta brush my teeth” he said, Sirius followed him up the stairs and into the bathroom seeing as he had nowhere better to be.
Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius in the mirror when he showed up next to him in the bathroom. Sirius caught another look at himself in the mirror and tried to make his hair less of a disaster, noticing the finger combing didn't really work too well.
“You can use a hairbrush you know” Remus said around the toothbrush, “yeah but that's yours, besides, I don't want lice” Sirius said, it was an obvious joke but he didn't care, Remus rolled his eyes again and looked at his watch.
“If you don't brush it then I will” he said. Sirius was very happy about that prospect, trying to not let it show didn't work out and Remus smiled at him again.
Remus spat out the toothpaste and ran the brush under the tap for a few seconds before putting it away in exchange for his hairbrush.
Remus led the way out of the bathroom and towards his bedroom. He sat on the edge of his bed and gestured to the floor in front of him, Sirius took the hint and sat down between his legs on the ground.
Remus started running the brush through Sirius’s hair, which proved to be more difficult than either of them had thought. “What the fuck makes it so tangled?” Remus asked while holding a clump of hair in his hand away from Sirius’s head and Sirius could feel him brushing it more aggressively than before.
“It's just kinda long and I guess hat hair doesn't help” Sirius shrugged. Soon enough, Remus found a rhythm in brushing the hair and Sirius started to lean backward into it.
Sirius had closed his eyes and was taking in the feeling of Remus’s hands in his hair as he got closer to the front of his head. It felt so good and Sirius let out a quiet moan, he hadn’t meant to but he knows it happened and he knows Remus heard it because even after he finished brushing the hair, his hands were still moving along his head in a way that Sirius loved.
Then he stopped. Sirius opened his eyes and turned his head around to look up at him. “Why'd you stop” he said, Remus tapped his watch a couple times “we gotta go soon” he said.
Sirius grumbled and stood up, then pulled Remus off the bed and they went downstairs and out the front door together.
Remus started the car and they both sat in it to let the engine warm up before leaving.
They drove to Sirius’s house and he ran inside to grab his bag and ran back out to jump into Remus’s car. Not that he would use anything in his bag but he took it along anyway.
They pulled up to Sirius’s school parking lot, “I’ll pick you up here after school again?” Remus asked, Sirius nodded. Sirius got lost in Remus’s gorgeous eyes again and Remus pulled him in for a kiss by the front of his coat.
Sirius got out afterwards and began the dreadful short walk to the actual building.
---
Sirius had been waiting the entire day for school to be over.
When the faithful final bell rang, Sirius was about to bolt it to the parking lot when he remembered Remus still had to drive to his school and their school ended at the same time so he wouldn't be there for at least another ten minutes.
Sirius walked to Lily’s locker instead. “Going to Remus’s again?” Lily asked as soon as she saw him. “What makes you say that?” Sirius asked, “you've got that happy look on your face and I know that the only other reason that would be happening at school is if they're giving out free pizza and cookies from the caf, and I know they're not doing that” Lily said.
“Ok so, I’m going to Remus’s, happy?” he said, they laughed together. Lily took the last textbook out of her locker and put it in her backpack. “James is coming over” she said, “ooh” Lily gave him a glance “shut up, it's not gonna be like that, besides he hasn't really talked to my parents before” she explained and shut the locker.
“Hey all I’m saying is we didn't intend for Remus’s parents to find out either yet here we are” Sirius said. Lily gasped and brought a hand up to her mouth “no way” she said. Sirius just nodded, “yes way”. They started walking away from her locker and towards the doors that were closest to the parking lot.
“I don’t even know if I wanna ask but how?” Lily asked, “we were fuc- no I’m just kidding, in my dreams, anyway, we were just cuddling together in Remus’s bed and his mom came to wake him up, not expecting me to be there basically” Sirius explained.
“Well that's way more wholesome than I was expecting” Lily commented, “yeah, honestly it feels kinda nice to not have to hide in front of everyone” Sirius said.
They had made it to the door, Lily went to leave but Sirius didn't see Remus’s car yet so he decided to stay in the warmth. “I hope things go well with James” Sirius said as they got separated “hey you too!” she called back at him.
A few minutes later, Remus’s car pulled into the parking lot so Sirius went out to join him.
They shared a quick kiss before Remus started driving out of the lot and back to his house.
Life transpired from there, they made dinner together and ate it while curled up on the couch watching their favourite show.
Even though it was only seven, it felt like it was much later. Sirius had rested his head on Remus’s shoulder and Remus was flicking through his hair every now and then.
“Can I braid your hair?” he asked, Sirius laughed “do you even know how to braid?” “in theory yeah” “fine, but only if I get to braid yours too” Sirius compromised.
Remus pushed Sirius off himself to go search for a brush and hair elastics. When he came back Sirius swore he looked like a kid who’d just been told he's allowed to eat as much Halloween candy as he wants.
Sirius sighed and moved to sit on the floor like in the morning. “Hang on” Remus said, he put the hair stuff on the coffee table and knelt on the couch to move one of the cushions.
Remus sat on the cushion and motioned for Sirius to sit between his legs on the couch. Sirius sat and gave Remus the hairbrush.
Brushing it out this time wasn't as much of a struggle as this morning, so Sirius could relax a bit and not feel the pain of having his hair pulled by accident. When Remus put the brush down, he ran his hands through it a few times, which felt fantastic.
Sirius could tell that Remus was going to try two braids, a little ambitious for someone who’s never braided before but Sirius would let him figure that out on his own, no matter how much he disliked middle parts.
“What's that thing where you start at the top and braid the hair along someone's head until you get to the bottom?” Remus asked, still splitting Sirius’s hair in half. “Either French or Dutch braid depending on how you do it” Sirius said, “in which case good luck” he added.
Remus held the right half of Sirius’s hair in his hands for a moment, “having problems already?” Sirius asked. “I'll get it, don't worry” Remus answered, “honestly just braid from the bottom, it's a lot less complicated if you've never done it before” Sirius advised.
“Yeah but you don't have a ton of hair past the back of your head, I’ll get like three things in and run out of hair” Remus commented. “Better than trying on someone like James who has no hair past the back of his head” Sirius responded.
Remus admitted defeat and broke the right half of hair into three, giving Sirius one of the sections. Once he started braiding it wasn't long before Remus was asking for an elastic, Sirius handed him one.
“Why is this the hardest part” he said, Sirius laughed, “just put it on the end and twist and do it again”. Remus still didn't do anything so Sirius grabbed another hair elastic and demonstrated on his fingers. Remus tried again and this time it worked.
Remus moved to do the left side and a few minutes later, Sirius went to the bathroom mirror to look at what he had done to him. “Y’know what, it's not half bad” Sirius said, moving his braids around a bit to see them better in the mirror. Remus looked proud of himself, “alright now it's your turn” Sirius said.
“I thought you said it's basically impossible to braid someone's hair if it's short” Remus said, “not if you're French braiding it” Sirius said and started dragging Remus back to the couch.
Sirius wanted to do this both so they would be even, and so he had a good reason to constantly run his hands through Remus’s soft hair.
He started brushing it backwards towards him and Remus complained a bit but Sirius reminded him of the fact that nobody would have to see, and it's only fair.
Sirius settled on doing one French braid down the middle, until he ran out of hair. Remus’s hair was longer up front due to his bangs so brushing them backwards would get him a bit more length to work with.
A little while later and Sirius was done, he took a picture and showed Remus because it's hard to see the top of your head even in a mirror. “How did you do that so quick?” Remus asked, “I’ve done a lot of girls' hair, mainly Lily’s if she couldn't figure it out on her own or if she had to do something else at the same time” Sirius said. Remus nodded and walked to the bathroom anyway.
“Now I look weird” Sirius could hear the light heartedness in his voice but he also knew what he meant. Sirius himself felt like he always looked weird with a middle part, let alone little pigtail braids to go with it.
“Well I’m not a whole lot better, I’m like a three year old girl” Sirius said.
They took some goofy pictures together and migrated back to the couch. “I don't know Sirius, three year old girl might be the look you need” Sirius gave Remus a confused look “well with hair like that you're less likely to get taken from me for your looks”. Sirius laughed, Remus joined.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Sirius’s mind drifted from the tv show to skating outfits for some reason.
“Hey Rem, do you wanna put some sequins on your hockey jersey?” Sirius asked, Remus didn't answer right away. “I would but I don't even know if we’re allowed to” he said, “I don't see why not, it's not like it's a danger, we’re allowed to skate with sequins and that's not a problem” Sirius reasoned, Remus nodded.
“We can decorate James’s jersey too” Remus said, Sirius nodded.
*The Ice Kids*
Sirius: what do you guys think of putting sequins on the hockey jerseys?
,James: why?
Moon: why not
James: when did you stop being the logical one
Moon: stop changing the topic, are you in or not?
James: I mean sure but nothing like super over the top, wouldnt wanna be so cool that I distract our whole team
Lily: that sounds like a fun idea, the sequins I mean
James: well I guess I’m not allowed to say no
Sirius: correct
Moon: alright then its settled
“What are we actually putting on the jerseys though?” Remus asked, “I don't know, maybe just an S on yours and an L on James’s?” Sirius suggested, a bit shy. Remus smiled “that's a good idea, don't know how keen James would be on having an L on his jersey but hopefully he’ll forget it means loser for long enough to actually do it” Remus said.
They settled back into the couch and after a couple minutes, Sirius could feel Remus’s hand in his hair again. Remus undid the braids and did his best to set Sirius’s hair back to normal.
Sirius lifted his head just a bit so he could shake the middle part out and run his hand through it a few times until it felt normal again. He also undid Remus’s braid, Remus did a similar action afterwards.
Sirius rested his head on Remus’s chest again to watch the tv.
Sirius started to get a bit tired until Remus started running his fingers up and down his sides gently. Sirius copied and ran a couple of his fingers along Remus’s thighs seeing as those were the only body parts he could reasonably access.
They moved in unison without words, Sirius bringing his hand closer to Remus’s crotch every time, just to tease him a bit.
“Babe, you can't keep doing that, it's unfair” Remus almost whispered. Actual affectionate names was something new for them but Sirius would be lying if he said he didn't like it. If anything, Remus’s words spurred him on more.
Remus sought to get revenge though when Sirius noticed his hand was creeping its way into Sirius’s back pocket.
Sirius propped himself up and started to swing one leg over Remus’s lap when Remus stopped him, “my turn” was all he said as he pushed Sirius to sit on the couch with Remus straddling his lap.
Remus put both his hands in Sirius’s back pockets and started kissing him like no tomorrow. Even though Sirius knew what was coming, he still wasn't ready for it.
After a long, much needed making out session, Remus and Sirius collapsed onto the couch, Remus laying on top of Sirius, head on his chest. They fell asleep shirtless, with the tv still on.
---
The sound of the wind outside woke Sirius up, he looked to find a clock anywhere in the living room, no such luck. The tv was still on and the late night news was on, clock in the bottom corner. 10:53.
Sirius debated going up to Remus’s room but didn't move due to Remus being asleep on top of him. The couch wasn’t that uncomfortable so Sirius closed his eyes again.
A breeze came in before Sirius had fully drifted off again, he kept his eyes closed but was aware of what was going on.
Someone came in and stomped their feet on the doormat to get snow off them. Keys landed on a table, and the zipper of a coat slid against the wall a few times before coming to a stop.
After they got all their snow gear off, the person walked into the living room, presumably hearing the tv.
“How many times do I have to remind him to turn the tv off before he goes to bed?” it was Remus’s mom’s voice Sirius heard.
She turned the tv off and replaced the remote on the coffee table. “Aw, Remmy if you weren't too big I would carry you to bed” she said.
Even with his eyes closed, Sirius could tell she was petting Remus’s hair, and Remus cuddled his face even further into Sirius’s chest. It took everything in Sirius to not react.
Remus’s mom walked away and Sirius began to fall asleep again. The footsteps came back and this time she was gently placing a blanket over them both and tucking them in.
Sirius tried to make it look like he was getting comfy in an asleep way and Remus’s mom tucked a strand of Sirius’s hair out of his face. “He made a good choice” she whispered, “goodnight boys” this time she left for good.
Once the footsteps disappeared up the stairs, Sirius held onto Remus tighter and smiled to himself.
The door opened and closed again before Sirius was asleep.
Why does that door have to open every thirty seconds
Much less aware this time, Sirius only heard Remus’s dad come in the living room to steal a couple of the small chips at the bottom of the bowl and nearly trip on a sweater, only to wonder why it was there.