Over the next few weeks it quickly became routine for Tonks to arrive at Grimmauld Place on the nights that she and Remus both had free. Often times she brought newspapers and magazines for Sirius as he was unable to get his own subscriptions being a wanted convict living in a magically hidden house. Even more often she brought some sort of alcohol and entertainment. She had made a hobby out of learning muggle games from her father which she had been introducing to Remus and Sirius. She was particularly interested in cards and had already taught them poker and gin rummy. Sirius had been disappointed to learn that gin rummy didn't actually have anything to do with gin or rum, until Tonks assured him that they could modify the rules to include drinking.
Remus was particularly grateful for Tonks' company as her frequent visits greatly reduced the amount of time Sirius spent sulking. He also found that having her around in the evenings kept the house from feeling so empty since Harry, Hermione and the Weasley's had left. Sirius had been right about the reduced amount of traffic from Order members after the term started and besides Tonks, they often didn't see anyone other than each other and Kreacher for days at a time.
Despite some anxiety about how inappropriate Sirius would get when drinking, Remus found he enjoyed these evening events quite a bit. He was happy to find that Sirius and Tonks got along well. If he was being completely honest with himself he sometimes felt that they got along entirely too well, but he banished that particular thought any time it surfaced. The present was too good to over analyze. He wanted to enjoy this sense of closeness while it lasted. He hadn't shared this kind of intimacy within a friend group since before James and Lily had went into hiding so many years ago.
So he reminded himself that Sirius had always been a flirt and mused that it must be a genetic component of being a Black that Tonks shared. He would simply roll his eyes at their bantering antics. He also pretended not to notice when Tonks' eyes lingered just a bit too long on himself and said nothing when she came up with increasingly insignificant reasons to touch him. He still couldn't quite believe that she could truly have feelings for someone like him, so it was easy for him to convince himself he was only imagining things.
If it weren't for Sirius' propensity to always bring the conversation back to sex eventually, Remus may have been able to avoid the awkwardness altogether. But there inevitably came a point in the evening, usually two or three drinks in, where the subject of sex was broached. This nearly always resulted in Remus becoming flustered and uncomfortable while Tonks and Sirius traded stories, saucey memories and increasingly dirty innuendo. However they never spoke about current sexual escapades for which Remus was incredibly grateful. So he didn't attempt to curtail Sirius, instead opting to remain in awkward silence hoping his lack of input would keep Sirius from dragging him into the conversation or worse begin teasing him and Tonks about the time he found them snogging in the closet.
This strategy worked pretty well for a time, until one evening while they were sitting on the couch drinking some of the muggle beer that Tonks had brought along, watching her try to build a house out of a deck of cards.
Tonks collapsed into giggles after she accidentally wrecked her house of cards for the fifth time. "This is hopeless," she gasped.
"We could play a round instead," Remus offered.
"No I'm too pissed to keep up with it," she laughed and slumped into an armchair.
"We can just talk. Enjoy each other's company," Sirius replied. "Don't you want to enjoy the company, Moony?" Sirius asked with a cocky smile.
Tonks seemed to find this hilarious and dissolved into another bout of laughter. Remus felt his face heating up.
"So Tonks, what is it you do when you aren't hanging around here with us?" Sirius asked conversationally when she managed to stop laughing. Remus watched Sirius wearily. He expected this question was not nearly as innocent as it sounded.
"Oh between Auror work and Order work I don't have much free time or a social life. You're it my friends!" she exclaimed with a wide gesture of her hand.
"Oh no extracurriculars?" Sirius asked.
"None!" she replied and took another drink.
"Well what do you do to blow off steam? You know work out your stress?" Sirius asked taking another drink of his own beer.
Remus realized what Sirius was getting at but Tonks seemed confused. He tried to jump in to redirect the conversation before it was too late. "Like do you have any other hobbies?"
Tonks looked from Sirius to Remus then answered uncertainly, "Sometimes I like to watch Muggle movies, you know those moving picture things they have?"
"Yes those look really interesting," Remus replied with relief.
"That's not really what I meant," Sirius clarified.
"Oh, well what did you mean then?" Tonks asked, leaning far forward, all modesty forgotten in her slightly inebriated state. Remus averted his eyes as not to look down the front of her shirt. He noticed that Sirius did not.
"I mean are you seeing anyone? Or well sleeping with anyone?" Sirius replied without missing a beat.
"Sirius!' Remus reproached him.
Tonks however, blushing deeply, answered, "No. Neither."
"Really? What do you do to unwind then?" he asked her completely ignoring Remus' furious glare.
She blushed even deeper and looked at Remus for a split second before averting her eyes. "I, err, I take care of myself." Then she clamped her hands over her mouth and moaned. "Oh my god I can't believe I just told you that!"
Sirius was grinning madly and Remus was staring wide eyed at Tonks, so surprised by her admission that he had forgotten the reprimand he had prepared for Sirius.
"Merlin. This is so embarrassing." Tonks replied, her hands still over her face.
"It doesn't have to be. It's actually kind of hot," Sirius reassured her. "Well no wonder you tried to jump Remus in the closet." He chuckled.
"Sirius!" Remus shouted again. Sirius ignored him. Tonks looked uncertainly at the two of them through her fingers.
"Pardon me, I seem to have lost most of my good manners in Azkaban. Sexual propriety was the first to go," Sirius replied affably, with a shrug.
Tonks laughed again, this time sounding nearly hysterical. Remus watched her helplessly, unsure how to repair this horribly derailed conversation. After a few moments of the wild laughter she straightened up and observing them, timidly said, "Well that was mortifying."
Remus shook his head in silent agreement, which elicited a smile from Tonks.
Sirius gave her a wink. "We're all friends here. No shame darling."
"Oh I'm certain that you have no shame, Sirius my dear," she replied getting to her feet. "I'll see you two tomorrow. I think I've had enough embarrassment for one night!" She winked at Sirius and smiled again at Remus and headed down the hallway to the front door.
They sat in silence as they listened to her muffled footsteps move down the hall. After they heard the front door close Sirius turned to Remus with an impish grin. "That went well."
Remus stared at him in disbelief. "You're joking. What about that would you define as well?"
"Oh come on Remus, even you have to have noticed that she's into you." Sirius replied, matter of factly.
"Did I miss something? What did humiliating her like that have to do with anything?" Remus replied hotly.
"Well you told me you thought she was attractive." Remus felt his face flush. He couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or rage. "I think if we asked her she'd be open to messing around with us."
Remus did not think his jaw could drop any lower while still remaining attached to his face, "You can't be serious. You were feeling out if she'd be into a threesome?"
"Yup and I think she'd be into it." He paused to take another drink of his beer, while Remus struggled to respond. "She was embarrassed but she was eager enough to tell us about masterbating." Sirius pointed out in a calm and logical fashion, which only infuriated Remus more.
"What is wrong with you!" Remus shouted.
Sirius gave him a look that clearly meant he thought Remus was overreacting. "What? She likes you, you like her, I'm so bored and frustrated I'd shag nearly anyone who's willing."
"Sirius, you are so frustrating!" Remus realized he was shouting. He took a deep breath to stable himself and made the effort to lower his voice, "Did you think of asking me if I'm even interested in something like this?"
Sirius made a move to pull Remus into his arms but Remus moved out of his range. He crossed his arms instead, pouting. "I thought you would appreciate it. I can tell you like her."
Remus sighed heavily. "Look Sirius, not everyone is like you. Not everyone can just separate sex and feelings. It would be an awful idea to- to include Tonks in- in sex."
Sirius stared at him blankly, as if he were speaking nonsense.
"You think she has feelings for me? Well it's just stupid to bring sex into this. You'll just be making it harder on her. I don't want to encourage her."
Sirius narrowed his eyes. For the first time all night he appeared to be experiencing something other than detached amusement. "You don't want to encourage her? Or are you talking about yourself? How badly do you want her Remus?" His cool demeanor had completely dissolved. His voice was hoarse and hard. "Are you scared that you like her too much?"
Remus flinched at the harshness of his tone and the accusatory nature of his question. He took a moment to steel himself. "Yes. I can't keep my feelings separate from sex." Sirius inhaled sharply. "I don't think she could either. That's why it's a bad idea. Can we just drop this?" He shifted closer to Sirius, reaching out and taking his hand. "I'm with you. It's where I want to be," he whispered.
Sirius squeezed his hand gently, repeating softly, "You want to be with me…"
Remus stared determinedly into his face, then pulled him close. "Yes. I do. So please stop trying to fuck it up."
Sirius wrapped his arms around Remus and held him tightly. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice muffled by his proximity to Remus' torso.
"You're forgiven," Remus replied, kissing the top of his head. "But please stop pushing things with Tonks. I like where things are at. Let's not ruin this."
Sirius didn't reply but leaned heavily into Remus, pushing him gently down on the couch. He laid half on top of Remus with his face and arm pressed against his chest. Remus gently rubbed Sirius' back hoping that he found it soothing. They laid like that for a long time until finally Remus suggested they go back to their bed.