Chapter Two

"Sirius, what the hell?"

The boy opened his eyes fuzzily to see his best friend standing over him, hands on hips, face gradually turning red.

"Ungh... Remus, what's the matter?"

"What's the matter? I just wake up this morning, and I'm in some forest naked, with my arms around you!"

The previous night flooded back. Remus, lying there sleeping, putting his arms around his friend... Sirius gulped.

"You were the one who hugged me!"

"What, and you didn't think to push me off?"

The two boys glared at each other angrily. Remus could see something in his friend's eyes that he hadn't seen there before... was that... hurt? Sirius turned away, blinking.

"What are you looking at!" he snarled. He was blinking back tears, Remus could see now.

"Sirius... I didn't... Moony didn't... do anything... did he?"

Sirius gaped at him. So this was what Remus thought had happened, was it? Well, it gave him an excuse, at least. But he didn't want Remus to feel that guilt. He coughed awkwardly. He could feel his face burning. In a wierd way, he wished Moony had. No, that was sick.

"No... no, I'm fine."

Remus caught his arm.

"What are you upset about, then?" his friend was practically pleading.

"It's nothing. I just need to sleep. Let go of me!" Sirius practically growled the last part.

The werewolf hesitated, his fingers lingering on the other boy's sleeve. He didn't want to let go. Not just yet. He released the animagus from his grasp with a slight sigh.

He watched his friend go, weaving his path through the trees up to the castle. Shit.

The werewolf collapsed in a heap on the ground, tugging at his hair viciously.

What the hell have I done?

But, remembering that morning... the warmth of his friend beneath him, the soft tickle of his hair on Remus' cheek... the earthy scent... it was... it was...

"NO!" the werewolf snarled. "He's your friend. And a guy, as well."

But it was amazing. Just being with him.

"But nothing! He's a guy! It's just hormones! It's the full moon! And Moony wants to band everything in sight right now, so it's not surprising that I'm feeling this way!"

But it wasn't just lust, was it? His thoughts argued back. You know lust. You felt something for him that was more than just desire. You watched him sleep for fuck's sake.

"Yes, and that makes me a creepy pervert and I would rather just forget about it, thank you."

Lupin clenched his teeth. What was he thinking? Had he gone mad? Probably, bearing in mind he was talking to himself, naked in the middle of a wood.

His hand clenched into a fist, the long, dirty nails biting into the soft flesh of his palm. It hurt, but he didn't care right now.

Remembering Sirius sleeping... the warmth of his body like a fire beneath him, the cute way that his body curled up in a ball, like a little puppy.

The wolf smiled. He could feel his heart fluttering as he remembered every little detail of his friend's sleeping body. The flicker of his eyelashes. The little sighs and moans that he made in his sleep. The twitch of his shoulders, the way he had snuggled into Remus' warm skin. The way his hands had touched Remus'.

Subconsciously, of course, the werewolf assured himself. The dog had been asleep. There was no way he could have known.

Or did he? He seemed hurt when Remus had rebuked him. He had blushed in embarrassment. Did he... like it too? The boy could feel his stomach twisting in knots. He began to button up his shirt. Sirius had looked like he was going to cry. He had never seen his friend like that before. Sirius always made jokes, flirted with the girls, bullied the boys... Remus had never seen him cry.

Sirius had seen the werewolf cry many times. He had always been there for Remus, always had his arms round him. Always there to kiss it better. Not literally, obviously. Remus smiled wryly, tugging on his tie, viciously. Was he disappointed about that?

Maybe. He had never thought about kissing his friend before, but the more he thought about it now, the more it appealed to him. Sirius' lips looked soft, inviting. Almost like a girl's. But, wierdly, he wouldn't want to kiss a girl. He wanted Sirius.

"Don't be an idiot. You like girls. You do. One day you'll find the right girl."

But would he? There were plenty of good-looking, pretty girls at Hogwarts. He could see the attractiveness, why the other guys lusted after them, but yet, he didn't feel it himself. But when he looked at Sirius... it was way beyond what he could ever feel for a girl.

Did he want to kiss Sirius? He contemplated it in his head. The idea of kissing another guy was was different to what he had been brought up to think, but emotionally, it seemed right. And right that it should be with Sirius Black.

Was he in love with Sirius?

There was only one way to find out.