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Sirius Orion Black

He knew as soon as he walked into the History Of Mythology lecture hall that he was done for.

He arrived ten minutes after James, who was waving at him from a seat in the fourth-to-back row, one row in front of the man of Sirius' dreams.

He had medium-length, curly, mousy-brown hair, and golden skin. His perfectly imperfect nose was interrupted by a white scar, curving across his face. Upon further inspection, there were two more on his right jaw.

The angel sent from Sirius' dreams was wearing an old patterned grandad jumper that, quite frankly, looked like it was from a bin behind a charity shop, but to Sirius it was as beautiful as a designer suit. His long legs, crossed elegantly, were made longer by brown, stonewashed, baggy jeans and worn, black Doc. Martins.

In front of him sat a Macbook covered in stickers saying things like 'books are better than people', 'trans rights are human rights' and a picture of some cheese with the words 'ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA' plastered across it, but front and centre there was a bisexual flag, which Sirius thanked the universe for and nearly punched the air for before he stopped himself.

Also on his desk were two notebooks, a few pens, a pencil and a green cord bag with more badges on it than Sirius had seen in his whole life. 

He was sat, long, thick, fingers turning the pages of a large, white, book with a gold, illustrated, mermaid on the front. Sirius IMMEDIATELY, no hesitation from his brain, no 'well we're in class right now, lets come back and imagine this later', not Sirius' brain, no sir, started imagining those fingers caressing him. Beet red instantly. Sirius cursed his fucking inbred unnaturally pale skin for showing his blush so easily.

He couldn't even bring himself to wave back to James, who today was in a particularly James-y outfit of grey joggers, worn red high-tops and a faded, old, red and orange jersey from some sports team Sirius had never heard of, something Cannons. His black curly hair was a MESS, which somehow looked stylish on him. James never made an effort for class.

Sirius wandered over to him mindlessly, flopping down in the seat next to him, still staring at the absolute angel now sitting directly in front of him, his sharp, aristocratic jaw slack. "You okay mate? Why are you late? Got caught up in something? Usually I'm the late one!" Sirius broke out of his trance. "Wha-Oh, yeah no I'm fine! Definitely fine! 100%! Yep! Just-uhhh,"

He had missed his bus, which would usually be a matter to be laughed over with James later, but he wasn't about to admit that he was imperfect in front of the divine being sat merely a metre away. He racked his brains for a plausible excuse.

"I-um, the... the bus was.. late! Yes, yeah, it was late. Sorry mate." Sirius gave James a half-hearted grin and shrug, internally congratulating himself on having come up with a good reason to be late that wouldn't embarrass him in front of the sex god sat just a metre away.

James gave him an odd look, his brown eyes flooded with confusion, like he had just grown a second head, or decided to get a buzz cut. He spoke very slowly, as if Sirius had perhaps suffered a head injury and he was just checking. "Sirius, I saw your usual bus come by when I was coming in. What's going on, are you okay?" Sirius flushed, in his awe he had forgotten that the bus he missed must have, in fact, arrived here. On time. Without him on it. Shit.

"...uhh-I... Must have been at the wrong bus stop!" He laughed nervously.

James looked very concerned now. Goddamn it, today was not a good day to have such a perceptive friend.

This time he spoke even slower, as if he had just confirmed that Sirius did, in fact, have a concussion of some degree. "Are you alright Sirius? You're acting very odd. Did something happen?"

Sirius blushed harder. He resolved that he must tell James why he was acting so strangely, especially as the class was about to start and he. Could. Not. Stop. Staring at this mystery man.

He leaned in close to James' ear, whispering, "Look at the fucking angel in front of us, James. Use your useless fucking eyes. Why do you think I'm acting oddly?"

Sirius reclined back, scowling and watching a look of realisation pass over James' scrunched up face. "Ahhhhh,"

Sirius scowled more, folding his arms, especially when he saw the mousy curls of his dreams bounce a little, as if he was laughing at the two of them. Sirius blushed. Had he heard?

"Yes 'ahhh'. Well done." Sirius snapped, muttering, "Fucking prick," as he saw James grin at him.

James looked to be hatching a plan, one Sirius would not like. He scowled harder, then his face morphed into one of shock as James laughed quietly and then tapped the hottest man Sirius had seen in his life on the shoulder.

HE TAPPED HIM ON THE SHOULDER.

HE FUCKING TAPPED HIM ON THE SHOULDER.

Holy shit, James was a fucking dead man.

James smirked at Sirius as the man turned his head, flashing his white teeth at James, and Sirius gawped. He gawped, and gawped, and would have happily stared at the boy all day because this man was somehow impossibly more beautiful up close.

He had a smattering of coffee-brown freckles scattered over his nose and forehead.

His eyes were the colour of dappled sunlight hitting the forest floor, little specks of gold shining out among the greenish hazel, framed so beautifully by his thick, long, dark brown eyelashes. They cast a small shadow below his eyes, and his slightly bumpy, pale scars did the same in other areas of his face.

His jaw was sharp enough to cut steel with, and as he swallowed it flexed slightly, making Sirius drool. His cheekbones had a similar effect, sticking out from his face subtly but so noticeable to Sirius, so obvious to him.

His Adam's apple bobbed as well when he swallowed, drawing Sirius' attention to his neck, and oh god fuck aytdfvbuyghdnvfgdhsufghjsd LOOK at those veins and tendons. Jesus. 

Sirius wanted to have a study done, because surely this level of attractiveness was not possible in a human being? Surely? How was he LEGALLY allowed to exist?

And then the situation got worse (or better, depending on how you look at it), because this man, this heavenly being, he spoke.

"Hello, sorry, do you need something?"

Such simple words, and yet Sirius boggled once again at the man's fucking voice.

It was gentle yet deep and authoritative, and Sirius imagined that voice telling him other things, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

James patted him gently on the arm, alerting him to the fact he was staring and literally drooling at this complete stranger. He was shocked out of his trance by this and the fact that those hazel-gold eyes were directed upon him currently.

"Oh, sorry mate, I think my friend here might have something he wants to ask you. He's a bit... in awe? Yeah, in awe of you. He'll be very embarrassed by me telling you this, but otherwise I think he'll spend the whole lecture drooling on your head, and I don't think you'd enjoy that. I mean, each to their own, but I wouldn't. Anyway, I'll, uh, I'll leave this bit to him."

James Potter was going to die, and he knew it. Sirius was blushing so red he was essentially a tomato at this point, but he still managed to fix James with a pointed stare that read as 'JAMES POTTER YOU FUCKING BASTARD! you will be sorry.', which he was definitely serious about, however he did have to deal with the, now mildly pink, incredibly beautiful man in front of him, who was blinking rapidly in shock.

"I-uh," He glared again at James, who only grinned in response, knowing his ass would be beat later. "Um... WOuld yOu.. perhaps.. likE to-uh, meet mE for, uh, some drINks, a-after claSs..?" Sirius stuttered out, voice cracking profusely, more than it ever had before in his life. "Oh, and, uh.. whAt's yoUr n-name?" He remembered to add on at the last second.

The man who Sirius was openly obsessed with now smiled at him awkwardly, blushing a little. "I'm Remus. Remus Lupin. It would be lovely to meet you afterwards. What's your name?"

Sirius almost gasped in relief. Instead, he swallowed the drool in his mouth and answered, "Sirius, Sirius Black." Now that the awkward part was out of the way, Sirius's insanely good flirting skills took the limelight as he desperately tried to bag this wildly hot man.

He smiled, flashing his bright teeth at Remus and cocking his head, leaning in as if he was about to let him in on a secret that only he knew. He looked a little dreamy when he did this, he had been told before (which had done WONDERS for his ego), and he ran a hand through his shoulder-length, wavy, black hair, ruffling it slightly.

He brought his gaze directly to Remus's eyes, winking at him, and said in a low and charismatic voice, "Have you ever been to The Three Broomsticks?".   

Sirius was the luckiest fucking man alive.

How he had managed to pull the angel that was Remus J. (John, he now knew) Lupin he did not know, but he thanked the universe that he had convinced him to come out for drinks.

The rest of class was a fever dream. Sirius took a few notes on the lecture -that he thinks was about Loki? Maybe?- that were probably complete and utter gibberish (which TOTALLY wouldn't come back to bite him in the bum later when he needed to study for exams...), and mainly tried not to squeal in excitement at the prospect of having an actual conversation with Remus.

Currently he was explaining something animatedly about a book (?) of some sort. What it was, he didn't know, as he was too busy marvelling over Remus fucking Lupin. God. Surely, surely, he wasn't real. His existence was, simply put, ethereal (to Sirius at least) and impossible. What the fuck.

Sirius should be getting to know him before Remus woke up from this dream in which he deemed Sirius good enough to speak to, he realised. He came back to himself just in time to catch the back end of what Remus was saying.

"Honestly, changed my brain chemistry. I'm sure I experience life differently now. Sirius, I swear, you have to read it. Sirius?"

"Hm-Oh, yes, yeah definitely, it sounds great! Very... good, yeah. I'll-uh. I'll have to buy it!" Sirius tried to make up words about this mystery book. It clearly wasn't a great performance as Remus gave him an odd look and then seemed slightly miffed as he replied, "It's a fanfiction... you read it for free online." Remus sighed.  "Were you even listening?"

Sirius flushed, looking at his feet in shame. Remus seemed a little ruffled and sat back, quietly. Luckily, James came back with Peter and a seemingly random person at that moment.

He had blonde, shiny hair and looked well-groomed, a bit posh even. His blue eyes sparkled smugly in the yellow pub light, and he looked overall like a pampered, reasonably attractive, slightly-too-smug-for-his-own-good guy. 

He reminded Sirius of the boys he'd grown up with, all expensive hair gel and manicured but unpainted fingernails and hand cream and fancy cologne, all neat and tidy and dapper but never feminine, no, never feminine. It simply didn't do for a man to be feminine, no. Never.

Sirius was on his guard instantly, but curious as to why this kind of man was with his group and standing almost too close to Peter.

Peter was smiling widely, his cheeks pink and dirty blonde hair messy. Sirius squinted at the pair. Upon closer inspection, they did both seem a little unsteady and swollen-lipped.

This must be Gilderoy, Sirius deduced, and they must finally be going out. Peter had been obsessed with this guy since they started uni.

James set their round of drinks down, breaking the tension, and Peter cleared his throat nervously, still grinning.

"This is Gilderoy. um-Gi, meet Sirius-" Sirius  lifted two thin, elegant fingers in a sort of half-hearted wave. "James-" James smiled broadly at him, deep brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "And, uh... who is this...?"

Remus looked up as if noticing them for the first time, gorgeous hazel eyes scrutinising them. Sirius jumped in. "This is Remus. He's my... new friend." 

Remus looked at him a little affectionately, and Sirius looked back like a lovesick puppy, eyes wide and very clearly showing every emotion he felt at having Remus look at him even remotely romantically. Remus chuckled, shaking his head, and added. "I think this is supposed to be a date, but for some reason the git invited all of his friends to come along too."

Sirius blushed furiously, wishing he had never been born, nervously nudging Remus's foot with his own and weakly smiling up at him. "Sorry..." Remus smiled widely, tapping Sirius's foot with his own, larger, one playfully. "Don't be. I'm joking." He shuffled along the wooden booth seat, closer to Sirius, making room for Peter and 'Gi' to sit down.

Remus' warm side pressed against him, and he shivered. Remus smirked, sending a shudder of arousal through Sirius and he blushed, looking up at Remus through his long, black lashes. Remus winked down at him, slightly crooked grin flashing at Sirius, for only him to see. A private display of happiness. Obviously, Sirius immediately spontaneously combusted.

He blushed bright red, looking down at the floor, and his long, silky black hair fell around his face. His hands fidgeted with his shiny silver rings in his lap.

Only about two minutes after Remus completely and permanently wrecked his brain, Remus decided to put his hand on Sirius' knee, thumb lightly resting on Sirius' inner knee. And of course, Sirius nearly squealed, because, like, oh my god he's TOUCHING ME, LOOK, jesus, his hand his bigger than my WHOLE FUCKING KNEE, asdfghjkloiujhnbvfrewsdcdujsg and OMGGGGG LOOK his fucking VEINSSSSSS I CAN SEE THEM SO OBVIOUSLY is that healthy (?) I don't know but ARGHHHHHHHH SO. FUCKING. HOT.

Remus, very aware of Sirius' current paralysed state, began to stroke his lower inner thigh with his large thumb, and Sirius, the absolute beast that he was, nearly jumped his bones right then and there.

How Sirius was going to survive the night (and the forseeable future in which he spent like, ANY time around Remus), he didn't know. 

<^--~~~~~~-----~~~~~~--^>

Remus John Lupin 

Well, this had turned out great. Genuinely.

Most things didn't, but clearly the universe had taken pity on him after the years of shit after shit after shit hitting the fan, and had rewarded him with some fucking flowers hitting it instead. He should probably buy Sirius flowers.

Why this random hot guy had decided to ask him out was currently unclear, as he was a nerd, by no means attractive, and a bit awkward.

Remus walked a little unsteadily along the moonlit cobbled streets back to the Griffindor dorms.

He usually had quite a high tolerance, but his body seemed to act a bit oddly a few nights a month for some reason (probably his star sign or some bullshit), and that included getting drunk faster, and being really really fucking horny. Which was probably why he'd agreed to go and get smashed with this beautiful stranger and his mates. 

To be honest, he shouldn't have gone out with Sirius. He really shouldn't. But when did Remus ever not do the things he shouldn't? Ah, well. It was late. He should get to his dorm, and get some sleep before tomorrow morning.

Except he knew, he knew that Sirius was also in Griffindor College. And also in Griffindor dorms.

Furthermore, he knew that Sirius liked him. And he was quite sure that he liked Sirius. Plus, he was in a fuckable kind of mood tonight.

This culminated into a messy, half-drunk equation where the answer was that he should turn up at Sirius's dorm, and have sex with him. All night. A great plan. Genius. Feeling a bit off? Just go sleep with the incredibly fit guy down the hall! Absolutely 10/10 idea. 

Then his legs gave out.

Well, that was a slap in the face.

He tried to stand up again, cursing his injuries, but couldn't. He shuffled on his bum along the pavement to lean against a signpost, feeling extreme embarrassment and self loathing. He started to cry, sad, gasping tears of pain and humiliation. He thanked God that it was late and no-one was here to see him like this, lying sad and alone in the street.

He pulled his phone out, wiping his cheeks as the screen lit up his face with blue light. He called who he always called in these instances. Lily.

She picked up on the first ring.

"Remus? Remus, love... don't cry, it's okay. I'm coming, don't worry. Where are you?" Her comforting voice came out from his tinny phone speaker, bouncing off of the cobbles. "I-thank you, Lily, I can't stand, help me, please... I-I'm on Hogsmead Avenue, it's near... I-uhh... The big stadium-thingy... where they p-play that weird sport..." He let out the words between sobs.

"Yes, I know where you mean, yes, don't worry Remus, I'm on my way." He heard her door click shut and her feet rush quietly down flights and flights of stairs, whispering reassurance to him all the way.

Really, Lily was his best friend.

Ever.

He probably wasn't hers, but she was the sole person who he trusted unconditionally and loved with his whole heart. All the time. Which she totally and utterly deserved.

After a few minutes of only Remus's sobs and Lily's quiet words filling the air, he could hear her footsteps in the distance. He sighed, sniffing, and tried to wipe his eyes with the sleeve of his ratty old jumper.

It didn't help.

She slowly came into view, and her expression when she saw him confirmed that he was a sorry sight to behold. She hung up, pocketing her phone in her lovely, paisley-patterned trousers.

She looked delightful for the time of night, wearing a lacy, faded green crop top that complimented her wide, soft curves, and made her fiery red hair stand out even more against the dark, grey-blue streets. She had clearly thrown on a thick, deep blue, zip hoodie over the top for warmth at the last minute, and she pulled it tighter around her now as she hurried towards him, crouching down in front of him the second she reached him.

"Remus, love, are you alright?" 

"Y-yeah, it doesn't hurt, I mean, not properly anyway, I-I just want to get home, please."

Lily nodded, "Of course." She pulled out a packet of tissues from her pocket, handing them to him. He thanked her and dabbed at his tear stained face, sniffling. She smiled at him.

"Remus, can I call Reg or do you want me to try and get you back myself?" He glanced at her, her phone now in hand, poised to call Regulus.

Oh Reggie.

Dearest, dearest Reggie.

Loveliest person you ever met, sweetest too. He was vicious and witty, but also the softest person Remus knew, had known, and would likely ever know. He had been raised in a less than lovely home, with horrid, horrid parents whom he never mentioned and an older brother he rarely spoke to anymore, after he left home (and Regulus) at 16, and talked about even less.

He was born into high society (which was incredibly funny because his manners were that of an 18th century gentleman), and had many snobby friends left over like a hangover from that time when his life was all corruption, training to be a politician, and cocktail parties full of the poshest people in the country, the kind to turn their nose up at people they considered 'new money'.

The only nice ones out of the whole lot were Barty and Evan, who were, quite frankly, the most obsessed-with-each-other couple Remus had ever seen, and he was friends with fucking Mary and Marlene. Remus had once seen Barty lick Evan's drink off his chin when he coughed and some dribbled out of his mouth. Evan didn't even seem to care and continued talking to the person he was talking to. Remus had been (and still was, frankly)... disturbed.

Regulus lived off his Uncle Alphard's inheritance, which, although he shared it with his brother, was frankly huge. He did used to work part time in a cafe, but some gross fucking girl that worked there groped him one time and that sent him into an anxiety attack. She didn't even say sorry. Needless to say he did not go back. 

Reggie was often called to help Lily carry Remus 'the beanpole' back to his dorm room when his knees or ankles gave out, as Lily had tried to do it alone a couple of times and very barely succeeded. 

He nodded at Lily. 

"Y-yeah, 'course Lily." 

She smiled at him, standing up and stepping away a little, but despite her efforts, Remus heard snatches of her conversation.

"Reg-"

"-he's been crying..."

"Please..."

"-need your help..."

"You know I can't-"

He stared at the ground, willing his stupid fucking legs to work.

He tried to stand, barely managing to keep himself up for 30 seconds before his knees gave out again. Which Remus knew would happen. Because he knows that his legs take time to work again after they give out, and by trying to stand on them so soon after they had stopped working, he had likely made it so that they would take until tomorrow to be strong enough for him to walk on his own.

But still, the defeat and pain hit him like an avalanche of rocks as he collapsed back on the floor, causing Lily to whip her head back round just in time to see him clutching his left knee and crying silent tears.

She hissed something to Regulus before hanging up and pocketing her phone, rushing the few steps over to him.

"Hey, hey, hey, Remus, Remus, shh, shh, shh, it's okay. Did you try to stand up?"

Remus nodded, choking on tears and embarrassment. Lily looked at him with a sorrowful expression.

"And now it hurts, doesn't it? More than it did before?"

Remus nodded again, rocking back and forth and avoiding her gaze. She rubbed his lower thigh comfortingly.

"It's okay Remus, you'll be okay, you'll be fine. It'll just take a little longer for you to get back to normal. That's all that'll happen. Now, Reggie's on his way, so, you know, you'll be home soon, okay?"

She smiled, a comforting mask that attempted to hide the concern and panic within. Although he could see through her expression, Lily's mention of Reg coming had made him hopeful, and he perked up a little. 

If Reggie was on his way, Remus would be back in his dorm shortly, and able to stretch out his sore limbs and painfully swollen knees on his bed and watch Motherland with a tub of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food and a cup of tea. Finally relaxed and (as close as he could get to) pain-free. 

In other words, things were about to get better.

Reg was spotted by Lily as he turned the corner onto their pity party, and his face broke into a small smile as he saw Remus grin at him, raising his arms and doing grabby hands like a baby for uppies. Regulus rolled his eyes, and hurried towards them, black ankle boots clicking across the cobbles. 

"Remus, I've told you about making me leave my dorm in the middle of the night. It's rude and highly inconvenient to make your knees give out just to see me. I know I'm amazing, but you'll get to enjoy my company eventually, no need to fast-track it with medical emergencies." Regulus reprimanded with a twinkle in his eye.

Remus chuckled and Reggie shot him a perfectly symmetrical smirk. Lily tried looked unimpressed, but she was holding back a giggle as well. Regulus smiled, wide and beaming, and hoisted Remus up with one arm, and Lily ducked under Remus' other shoulder, holding up that side.

"Onwards!" Remus proclaimed, and they obliged, tottering with him balancing on their shoulders.

It was a short but fun walk back to his dorm, and the stairs up to his floor was hilarious. After much trial and error, they eventually they decided that the best course of action was for Remus to shuffle up backwards on his bum, like a toddler who hasn't quite figured out how to make their legs go up stairs yet.

This, paired with the late hour, made Remus scowl and the other two completely lose their marbles. Lily actually started crying with laughter. Reg was rolling around on the floor, laughing so hard he wasn't breathing anymore or making any noise.

When they eventually reached his door, Lily fumbled in Remus' bag to find his keys. "Where the bloody hell have you put these keys? The actual fuck? Where are they???" Remus snorted. "Lils, don't you have your own set of keys to my place?" Lily glared at him. "Yes, smartass, I do. They are at home. Where they usually are. Because I anticipated you having your own bloody keys to hand and not fucking... teleported to another universe somewhere???"

Remus giggled again as Lily continued to turn his bag inside out looking for his keys. 

"Lily, maybe try the pocket that has my phone, wallet and (should have) my keys in at the front of my bag, instead of the massive pocket with my books and pens and other random shit I've collected over the course of the day?"

Her nostrils flared and she stuck her arm inside defiantly inside to find... Remus' keys. Exactly where he said. She grunted in annoyance, side-eyeing Remus, and he stared at the floor, trying desperately not to laugh so as not to have her wrath directed at him.

When they eventually bid him a goodnight, making sure he was all set up with everything he needed (water, Phish Food, tissues, tea) and wouldn't need to get out of bed until morning- when he would be able to walk again- Remus turned on his TV and immediately put on 'Nit Blitz' from Season Three.

He giggled for an hour or so at Motherland before his phone dinged. The screen lit up with the message from a contact labelled 'sexy man ;)'. Remus shook his head, grinning. He had given Sirius his phone to put his number in and not checked the contact after. Evidently Sirius had taken advantage of that. He unlocked his phone and changed the name to 'sirius ❤️'

Sirius had sent him a text:

Home safe? xx

23:37 read 01:04

And just now:

Haven't heard back, are you okay? xx

01:03 read 01:04

Remus smiled at his phone, flushing a little. He started typing:

yeah sry i'm fine i js

What was he gonna tell Sirius? It was a little early to have the whole 'chronic pain' chat, Remus usually saved that for date three unless 100% necessary. But... what's a good excuse? He didn't have to lie completely, he could say... he... ran into a friend? He was with his friends! He just hadn't randomly run into them.

yeah sry i'm fine i js took a detour cos i saw my friend lol and didn't see your msg. gdnt x

01:05 

Remus watched the read receipt show up and smiled at his phone again. Sirius sent back:

Goodnight xx

01:05 read 01:05

❤️❤️❤️

01:05 read 01:05

Remus grinned wider. He shut off his telly and shuffled down, putting his phone on his bedside table and sipping his water. He laid his head on the pillow and fell asleep still smiling. 

Chapter Text

james potter from chapter 1 :) https://share.icloud.com/photos/07cjvFXEHD2t1ZeitHyKS9eG