Remus shifted slightly in his seat. The fire was blazing, and suddenly the Gryffindor common room felt entirely too hot, despite the winter weather outside.
"Why do you always do this, Pads? It isn't funny."
Remus's obvious discomfort at his antics made Sirius break out into a bark-like laugh.
"Of course it's funny, dear Moony. That's why I do it."
Still chuckling, Sirius scooted closer to Remus on the large sofa. There was almost no space between the two now, and Remus's blush became more pronounced. Sirius teasingly grazed his fingers over the flustered Remus's thigh, and leaned close to the sandy-haired boy's ear.
"That's not the only reason I do it, though," he whispered seductively.
Remus had had enough. He jumped out of his seat and turned toward Sirius, his face still flushed red, but out of anger rather than embarrassment.
"Not the only reason?!" Remus very nearly choked on his tongue trying to get the strangled words out. "You constantly touch me and poke me and play with my hair and make inappropriate comments and I haven't had a moment away from you since term started and… and… and all you ever have to say is that it's funny."
Remus deflated, now out of breath. He slumped into the armchair beside him, and paused to breathe for a moment before continuing dejectedly.
"I wish you would just stop joking around, and be serious for once in your life." Remus glared at the boy across from him before he could utter the entirely overused pun.
They stared at each other for a moment, Remus waiting for what he hoped would be a true confession of feelings. Another moment and Remus stood to go, muttering something about studying at the library.
"Wait!" Sirius reached for Remus's hand before he could walk away. He gently pulled the boy back down onto the sofa. "I'm sorry."
Remus stared at his best friend, silently urging him to continue.
Sirius sighed. "Sometimes," he began, pausing to gather the courage to finish his thought. "Sometimes, I forget that I'm not allowed to touch you that way, or flirt with you like I want to. Sometimes I see you and I can't help but stroke your ridiculously soft hair. Sometimes I just want you to know how much I like you."
Sirius dropped the hand that he forgot he'd been holding. Looking into Remus's eyes for the first time since he started talking, he continued.
"But then I remember that you're my best friend, and a guy, and I try to play it off as a joke. 'Just mad ol' Sirius having a laugh.' So you won't hate me, you see."
He looked away then, so as not to see the pity and disgust in the werewolf's eyes.
"Sirius," Remus said, almost a whisper. "Padfoot."
He waited until Sirius looked back up at him. "I really wouldn't hate you for that."
Remus smiled softly at his friend and reached for his quidditch-roughed hand. He moved closer, so that his left leg was touching Sirius's right, and laid his head softly on his shoulder.
"I wouldn't hate you at all."
Both boys sat quietly, enjoying the comfort of being together.