Chapter One
Remus lay on his back, naked, arms spread eagled under the moonlight. His body was aching, covered in blood, mud and grass stains from the ground below. His eyes were closed. Sirius watched Lupin's eyelashes flutter gently as he slept, occasionally twitching in his dreams.
Sirius smiled, a little protectively.
Although Remus did not realise it, Sirius had watched him after every time he had transformed. He wondered what Lupin dreamt of, whether he dreamed of those nights when he hunted after rabbits, or whether he dreamt of something more human. Sirius wondered whether Remus dreamt of him.
Once Lupin had changed into a human again, James and Peter had walked up to the castle.
"You can take care of him now, right mate?" James had asked, slapping him on the back.
Yes. He could take care of him. In fact, there was nothing Sirius would rather do with his life. Taking care of Remus would be almost as good as having him as a lover.
He gasped. Had he really just thought that? Did he want Remus as more than a friend?
Sirius Black, the boy who had girls swarming around him like flies, the one boy in year 10 who had slept with a girl, the boy who had dated almost all the girls in the year (and other years, as well), was imagining what it would be like to love a boy.
The thought of Remus touching him, Remus' thigh against his, bodies entwined in a passionate embrace... it sent a shiver up his spine. He could feel his heartbeat quickening. He was very aware of the naked body beside him, and Sirius' face began to burn. He groaned.
Remus whimpered softly in his sleep, feature twitching a little. His head rolled on his neck, but he did not wake.
He looked beautiful, Sirius thought. His pale skin gleamed in the moonlight, a silvery-blue shimmer enlivened in the soft rays, pristine except for one long pink scar running down his left side, from his ribs to his hipbone.
Sirius flushed as his gaze hit Remus' hips and forced himself to continue studying his friend's face.
He looked so peaceful, despite his rough night, his long lashes resting faintly on his cheekbones, lips faintly parted. His features were soft, effeminate, his jaw rounded, with a sharp little chin nuzzled into his own collarbone.
It was natural, though, the boy thought. Natural that he should have a regard and affection for his friend. Natural that he should appreciate his friend's beauty... wasn't it?
Yes. That was it. Black rolled over onto his other side, away from Remus. He couldn't look at his friend any longer. He felt like a creep.
Yet, even facing away from the werewolf, he could still sense him. He could feel the fluttering breath on his neck, smell his familiar, earthy scent. That scent filled every cell of Serius' body, heady and familiar. He could hear every breath, and feel every heartbeat.
He was just a friend. They had been friends since childhood. Sirius remembered comforting the werewolf, defending him from bullies. He remembered the way every tear of Remus' was torture to him, but the way Remus clung to him was heaven.
A friend. Just a friend. He shouldn't think about Remus this way. It was... sleazy. Unnatural.
But, just then, Remus rolled over, still sleeping. The other boy tensed as Remus nestled into the crook of his neck, feeling the rise and fall of Lupin's breath against his back., the feeling of his hand loosely around his waist.
Sirius was suddenly very aware of his friend's nakedness. But as he heard Remus' sigh of content, he began to relax. He yawned softly. He was fine where he was. Just for the moment.