2 -The Delay
Sirius was so looking forward to Saturday that he counted almost every minute. He regularly reported number of remaining minutes to James, who threatened multiple times to hex him if he doesn't shut up, but Sirius just couldn't help himself.
"At least you know how we feel listening to you babbling on and on about Evans," Peter told James after really long monologue from Padfoot about what he should wear.
Sirius was so happy, that when he met Snape on Friday night on his way from last afternoon class, he didn't even bother doing anything more than grinning at him. He noticed the other boy waving his wand, but no words came out of his mouth and he didn't feel any effect of being cursed - Snape must have screwed that up trying to use nonverbal magic. Sirius mercifully decided not to attack back and risk detention, he just grinned at Snape once more and left.
Then the big day came and he woke up really early in the morning. But not from excitement.
He barely made it to the toilet where he got on his knees and threw up and then again and again. When he was done, he heard footsteps quickly approaching him.
"What's going on? Are you alright?" Remus asked and helped Sirius up.
"I think… Snivellus must have hexed me last night," Sirius answered in croaky voice. "It's like that time in third grade, but that bastard must have refined that hex so it wouldn't affect me immediately…" He got back down again and started throwing up once more. He gratefully noted Remus' hand holding back his hair and stroking him lightly, but still he was feeling like crap as nausea was hitting him in one wave after another.
When he was almost sure he wouldn't vomit in next five minutes, he allowed Remus to help him get back to bed. He was too exhausted to feel embarrassed that Remus saw him in such unflattering situation, he was just glad he wasn't on his own - in that case, he would probably collapse on the floor right next to the toilet and wait it out.
Moony tucked him under the blanket, as Sirius started shivering, and casted a warming spell on him.
"Is that any better?" he asked, his eyes full of worries. Sirius managed only nodding. Remus than conjured a bucket, so Sirius wouldn't need to get up if he was going to be sick again, and sat at the edge of the bed, stroking Sirius' hair and quietly humming a soothing melody.
They thought it would pass as fast as it came, but when rest of the dorm woke up, it was clear Sirius would spend day in the bed and not on the best first date as he planned.
Everyone left for breakfast, although Remus was reluctant about it and promised he would just grab something, eat it on his way back and return as soon as possible. Sirius was lying in the bed, falling asleep and waking in short intervals. Then he felt someone climbing next to him. He didn't need to look to know who it was.
"I'm so sorry," he managed to whisper. Remus kissed his forehead lightly.
"That's all right. Peter and James promised me to weed the dittany instead of me, so I'm gonna stay here with you and if you need anything, just tell me and I'll get it to you." He pulled the blanket over both of them and hugged Sirius.
"I want vengeance on Snivellus."
"We'll get to that when you're feeling better, as long as your plan for vengeance isn't vomiting all over him. Though that would be hilarious, if you weren't so exhausted. Now sleep."
"But I was so looking forward to our first date and I know you were too," Sirius whimpered.
"Yeah, I was. But you're sick and that's not your fault, we will find a way to make up for it. It's not like this was our one and only chance, we have all the time in the world. Seriously, try to sleep, you'll see you will feel better when you wake up." Remus caressed Sirius' cheek and moved closer.
"Will you tell me a story?" Sirius asked after he settled himself in the most comfortable position against Remus' body and closed his eyes.
"Okay," Remus smiled and brushed away a strand of black hair from Sirius' forehead, wet from cold sweat.
"Once upon a time, the Moon fell from the sky. She didn't remember falling, just woke up one night and found herself floating in some small pond. She was terrified and confused and didn't have any idea of how to go back home or why she even had fallen. She just stood in the pond, trying to hold back tears, her mind racing from one thought to another. But then she heard something. Startled, she looked around. She didn't see anything at first, it was too dark. But then she saw it and gasped. It was the Night Sky, who came down looking for her - he sat there, under trees on the bank, just staring at her. She was staring at him too. I don't know which one of them smiled first. She still didn't have any idea how to get back home, but now she knew one very important thing - probably the most important thing anyone can know. She wasn't alone anymore."
The story went on, but Sirius was already falling asleep, lulled by soft sound of Remus' voice.
He woke up in the afternoon, still feeling very weak, but at least he wasn't throwing up anymore. Remus was sitting on the floor next to the bed, working on his homework, and Sirius couldn't help himself from running his hand through Remus' hair.
"How are you?" Remus asked as he looked up from his textbook, caught Sirius' hand and placed a kiss on his wrist.
"Better. But not good yet," Sirius said in husky voice.
"It'll wear off soon. Can I get you anything?"
"Water, please?"
As Remus got up, the door opened and James and Peter entered, both dirty and with slightly disgusted expressions on their faces.
"So, Prongs, how was your date with Pete? Did you have fun, weeding all that dittany like you've been dreaming about for so long?" Sirius teased and winked at Peter.
"Bugger off. You can't feel that bad if you're making poor jokes," James answered with grin and tossed his shirt on the floor. "Your boyfriend is a jerk," he informed Remus as he passed him on his way to shower.
"Maybe, but he's the cutest little jerk around, so it's still a win," Remus smirked.
"Hey! I'm not little," Sirius protested as he took a glass of water from Remus.
"Sure you're not," Remus patted him on head.
"Oh, you're really lucky Snivellus hexed me or I would certainly show you how I'm not little, you mangy mutt."
Once Prongs and Wormtail cleaned themselves, all three of healthy Marauders gathered on the floor next to Sirius' bed and proceeded to make plans for revenge on Snape. Sirius, still tired, smiled for himself, closed his eyes and started drifting back to sleep.
He woke up again in the middle of the night. This time he felt perfectly alright and when he realized Remus' warm body pressed to his back and his arm around his chest, he almost purred.
But no matter how much he wanted to stay there forever and how awesome Remus' breath brushing against skin of his neck felt, needs of the body aren't something you could easily ignore. Not for long, anyway. Sirius sighed, got up from Remus' embrace and started heading for the bathroom.
Remus just murmured something and hid his head under pillow. Sirius couldn't help himself from stopping and staring at him for a while. He was already used to butterflies in his stomach, but this time they felt a thousand times warmer. More than anything ever, he wanted to go back and cuddle with Remus till the end of the world. But his bladder was still demanding his full attention, pushing anything romantic aside. Cursing Mother Nature under his breath, he went to the bathroom.
When he came back, Remus wasn't sleeping anymore, he was sitting on the bed, yawning. Sirius felt a small sting of remorse that he can't just go back to his arms and fall asleep again. But then again, he wasn't tired anymore and with both of them awake, they could do much more interesting things than sleeping.
"Hey," Remus said softly, when he noticed him.
"Hey," Sirius answered and smiled widely. He went to the bed and sit next to Remus, who immediately put his arm around Sirius' waist and pulled him closer.
"You look much better."
"I feel better, too. I'm sorry I spoiled our first date, though," he added and shook his head.
"That's all right. Staying in bed all day isn't that bad for a date. And as I said earlier, we'll find a way to make up for it," Remus assured him and kissed his temple. An idea formed in Sirius' head.
"Did you get enough sleep?" he asked.
"Yeah, plenty," Remus answered, looking curiously at him.
"So what do you say, we sneak out and make up for it right now?"
Note: the story Remus told Sirius is inspired (who am I kidding, I shamelessly stole it) by beautiful piece of art by Chiara Bautista. Go search her on facebook and love her, she's amazing. I'd love to give credit link, but it just doesn't work :(
facebook-dot-com/chiarabautistaartwork/photos/pb.558917134161144.-2207520000.1460698530./1075939235792262/?type=3&theater this one