The Holidays
Of course Remus knew how much Sirius loved Christmas and everything and anything that had to do with it.
What kind of boyfriend would Remus be if he didn’t?
But maybe Sirius went a little bit more overboard every year. First it was just decorating and gift shopping in December. Year after that the decorations came out in November. This year listening to Christmas songs started in October and they had, let Remus point out, a huge Christmas tree in their living room by the 15th of November.
Remus was sure he had seen every Christmas movie known to man already three times by the time it was December. Sirius started wearing their Christmas pyjamas in October the same time the songs started playing in their car and apartment.
And he was fine with it, because usually it didn’t mean that he had to do anything. Usually it was enough when he helped Sirius to put all the decorations up, reach the places they couldn’t. Let out an agreeing hum now and there and a couple of ‘Yes honey, that looks great’ and ‘No darling, all those Christmas lights are surely enough’ from time to time usually did the job.
Until it was time for the present. Those days were Remus' personal hell, because honestly he didn’t really care what pair of funny socks they’ll get for James. Or was the bodywash and hand lotion better smelling than the previous four one’s and which Remus’ mom would like the best. But seeing Sirius smile and be happy over the present they have chosen was more than enough for Remus to just suffer through the ten hour long shopping days. So he just followed Sirius around the mall and swiped his bankcard through the card readers.
Still he felt as pained as every other year when Sirius pulled him up from the bed at eight.
“Okay, so,” Sirius started from their place on the breakfast table. They had a way too long list on the table. A pen on the other and their way too sweet tea on the other. “I don’t really have a plan for Lily yet, but I’m sure we will come up with something,” Sirius said and circled something from the paper with the red pen. “For James we will of course get the funny socks, because it’s a tradition at this point, but something else too. I was thinking of some corny ‘Dad of the year’ mug or other awful shit now that Harry is here”
Sirius turned to look at Remus who was scrolling through his phone and sipping his coffee from time to time.
“Are you even listening?” Sirius asked and kicked his leg gently under the table. Remus looked up too and locked his phone, turning his whole attention to Sirius.
“Of course, something for Lily, not sure yet. Socks and dad shit for James,” Remus said repeating what Sirius had just said. Remus knew better than not to listen when Sirius was talking about the gift list. It was important.
Sirius nodded and wrote something down again. “Do you have any ideas for your mom?”
Remus sighed and shook his head. The only thing his mom had been talking about the past year was grandbabies and Remus sure as hell wasn’t going to give her those, for another two years at least.
“Doesn't matter just buy whatever and she’ll be happy”
“Remus,” Sirius said and sounded disappointed. “You can’t just buy whatever it needs to be something useful”
Remus hummed and got up from his spot, walking to the sink to rinse his now empty cup. “Sure, because James’ funny socks are useful”
Sirius let out a huff, “You don’t have to come if it’s that awful,” they said trying to sound offended. Remus rolled his eyes until he turned to walk behind Sirius and wrapped his arms around them. “Darling, you know I’ll always come with you. But you also know that I suck with presents”
He kissed the back of Sirius’ neck and felt them melt into his chest.
“But it’s your mom”
Remus pressed his face to their neck to press more kisses to their neck and behind their ear where Remus knew was a tender spot before pulling away.
“And that mom of mine definitely likes you more than me, so maybe we should just wrap you in gift paper”
Sirius smirked and turned their head to look at Remus, “I’ll wrap myself in gift paper for you”
“Please be naked underneath the paper and I’ll sure as hell be happy”
Sirius sighed and pushed him away. “Go get dressed, pervert. The mall opens at ten and we will have to be there before ten”
“Of course, darling. Anything and everything for you, darling. Whatever you need, darling”
“Go get dressed then you idiot”
-
One thing about Sirius and their shopping trips is that half of the time they will spend more time looking for something whole different than what they were supposed to. Sometimes it was a cute top Sirius saw that would be perfect for Christmas dinner or something else that Sirius has been wanting for years. Or so they say.
So Remus was more than used to sitting outside the fitting booths. He for sure didn’t mind watching Sirius come out with whatever clothing they had chosen and make them do a spin for him, maybe another if Remus asked nicely.
That’s why Remus found himself sitting in one of the chairs outside the fitting booths, because Sirius had seen, as they’d said, ‘the cutest skirt ever’ that they needed to try on. So Remus was staring at his phone screen, tapping it from time to time to see the time.
It was only twelve and so far they have only found Lily a green scarf that apparently matched her eyes and a jacket she had bought earlier this year.
“Are you guys Christmas shopping too?”
Remus turned to look at the guy, about his age, who was sitting in the other chair next to Remus’. It felt comforting to know he wasn’t the only one here going through the yearly gift duties.
“Yeah, you know, the usual,” Remus said and laughed.
The guy sighed and leaned against the chair. “Yeah, I feel like the actual Christmas shopping gets forgotten the second she finds something for herself,” he said and pointed towards the booths next to the one where Sirius is. Remus remembers seeing a girl walk in with a punch of different clothes. Remus was lucky, Sirius had only chosen one skirt to try on.
“Tell me about it,” Remus joked.
“Baby?” Sirius called and in a second Remus was up from his seat walking towards the booth Sirius was in. Sirius peeked from the side of the curtain before sliding it open.
Remus looked at the skirt, with a small smirk on his lips, as Sirius watched themselves from the mirror. They spinned around and then turned to face Remus, glancing at themselves from the mirror once more before looking at him.
“Is it too short?” they asked, pulling the skirt lower on their hips. Remus looked at Sirius through the mirror, shamelessly staring at their ass. The skirt was short and tight, but it didn’t show anything that wasn’t appropriate to be seen. Overall it was really pretty with small silver sequins. Did it look uncomfortable as hell? For sure. But did it also look extremely good on Sirius? Also yes. Maybe it didn’t really match with the cardigan and white shirt Sirius was wearing at the moment. But with the right kind of top it would for sure look good.
“No, it’s good. Well as long as you don’t plan on doing much bending over. At least at mom and dad’s”
“Funny,” Sirius said and turned around to look at themselves again and hummed. “There’s this one black top at the back of the shop that would work with it,” Sirius said suggestively and looked at Remus through the mirror. And Remus knew exactly what that meant so he rolled his eyes playfully.
“Give me a second”
Sirius grinned, “Thank you”
Remus smiled too and made his way out of the dressing room. On his way out the guy from earlier looked at him and gave Remus a teasing look. Remus snorted, but made his way to the back of the shop. He was pretty sure he knew what top Sirius was talking about, but to make sure he crapped both of the two tops he saw and brought them to them. Sirius smiled at him widely and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before closing the curtain again.
Remus took his seat again at the chair and pulled his phone out and turned to the other guy who was just staring at the door, looking like he had sunk to the chair more than he had been five minutes ago.
“Seems like we will both be here for some time,” Remus said and glanced at the guy who chuckled quietly.
“At least yours asks for an opinion. My girl doesn’t even bother at this point”
Remus almost wanted to say something smart to that. Could it be because you don’t care enough and she knows? Because as much as Remus acted annoyed, the truth is he loves to watch Sirius go through different outfits and see the shy or less shy smile on their lips as they ask for Remus' opinion. Because he cares and is interested and Sirius knows that.
“Got to get the benefits from this too,” Remus said with a smirk and then got up as Sirius called for him again. Sirius did their usual spin, pouted their lips and turned to Remus. And then Remus was on his way to get a size smaller and bigger from both of the tops. Just because Sirius wanted to try them on and Remus was more than happy to help.
So after some trying and thinking Sirius finally called for Remus again. The guy smirked at him for the fourth time as Remus stood. Sirius was on the other side of the curtain looking at the two tops that hung on the hangers. They hadn’t pulled their shirt on yet, but were rather busy staring at the tops while biting the inside of their cheek.
Then they turned to Remus with a huff. “I don’t know which one to get”
Remus looked at the tops too. They were both very pretty. The other one was a black silk top with thin straps. And the other one was an otherwise simple black short sleeve top, but the whole back was open. They both looked incredibly good on Sirius, so Remus struggled.
“We can get both of them,” he said, not seeing the problem here. Sirius glanced at him before pulling the prize tags out, but Remus shook his head. “Nuh uh, not that darling. I’ll pay them”
Sirius looked at him shyly at first, but then smiled slowly and nodded their head. Remus was more than happy to spoil Sirius whenever he could. And he didn’t even try to hide how much he liked it.
So they walked out of the dressing room with the skirt and both tops. Remus gave the guy, who was still waiting for his girlfriend, a sympathetic smile as they made their way to the checkout. And soon Remus was walking out with another shopping bag in his hand and a very happy looking Sirius.
“Thank you, baby,” Sirius said and leaned to Remus, who wrapped his arms around them.
“Of course,” he said easily. “What then?”
Sirius thought about it and then looked sweetly at him. Remus knew that face.
“I’m kind of hungry,” they admitted and Remus nodded his head.
It was safe to say they didn’t get far with the actual gift shopping, but they still had time. And at least Remus had something to wait from Christmas day with Sirius and their new clothes. That was one more present for him in Remus’ books.