A/N: House: Hufflepuff | Category: Themed | Prompt: Making a sandwich | Word Count: 596
A resounding crash broke the silence of Grimmauld Place, waking those who were still clinging to the last moments of sleep before the day began. Tonks grimaced and picked up the coat stand she had just knocked over before carefully continuing her path to the kitchen.
She was humming as she cut a tomato for a sandwich when she heard someone approach behind her. Her first thought was to hope that it was Remus, but she pushed the thought and its accompanying butterflies aside.
"Thanks for the wake-up call, Nymphadora," Sirius drawled from the doorway. She spun to face him, pointing the knife threateningly at him.
"I'll let that slide this time since I woke you up, but watch it," she warned, eyes narrowed at him. He brushed off her threat with a chuckle and sat at the table in front of her, giving her a shrewd look.
"You look a bit put out. You weren't hoping to see someone else, were you? Perhaps a certain wolfish friend of mine?" he asked innocently, eyebrows raised.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied evenly.
She turned her back to him and resumed cutting the tomato, though she did not miss the smirk he gave her. She brought the knife down with more force than she had intended, crushing the last slice of tomato.
"Sure, you do," Sirius said cheerfully. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Although, truthfully, it's not much of a secret at this point. I don't think there's a person within a fifty-mile radius that doesn't feel the tension when the two of you are within twenty feet of each other."
Tonks threw the knife down and clenched her fists. "And how is any of this your business?"
"The happiness of my cousin and my best friend is naturally my business. Besides, I'm on your side, so there's really no reason to get testy with me. I think Remus is being ridiculous about this whole situation."
As Tonks thought about what to say, she placed two slices of bread on a plate and began piling on meat, cheese, and tomatoes. She wasn't sure if she should be candid with Sirius, but he knew Remus better than anyone else and she was growing tired of acting as though she felt nothing more than friendship with Remus. She bit into her sandwich aggressively and chewed, coming to a decision as she did so.
"Is there any chance that he'll stop being ridiculous any time soon?" She tried to keep the pleading tone out of her voice as she spoke and turned to face Sirius.
His smirk was gone, replaced with a look of sympathy. "I'm working on him, trust me. I think I'm starting to wear him down, so I think that there is a very good chance he'll come to his senses sooner or later," he reassured her.
"Has he always been this stubborn?" she asked.
"When it comes to protecting those he loves, yes, he has always been this stubborn," he replied, meeting her eyes. Her stomach lurched at the implication, but she kept her expression smooth.
"Oh. Well, if he could hurry up and get over that whole protective thing soon, that would be great, because it's kind of getting in the way of the love part," she grumbled.
"Patience, Nymphadora," Sirius advised, his eyes now filled with mischief.
She glared and threw an apple from the counter at him, but he had already ducked out of the room, his receding laughter now the only sound throughout the house.