Remus Lupin lay stretched across the floor of the Shrieking Shack. His clothes were torn, rent by his own claws. He blinked, and tears spilled down his pale cheeks. It still hurts, he thought. Half a decade of it, and it still hurts. He picked himself up gingerly, breathing hard. He ran his hands over his face, assuring himself it was not still a wolf's face. " God," he said aloud, surprised at his own voice, " I must look awful." " Didn't know you worried about your looks so much, Remus," came a delightfully familiar voice. Remus turned quickly, and saw his best friend and secret crush, Sirius Black, leaning against the doorframe. " Hello, Sirius," he replied, trying to keep any embarrassment from coming out in his voice. His eyes flitted down Sirius's body, grazing his lean frame. " Um.Moony? Why are you looking at me like that?" Remus jumped, a hot red blush spreading up his neck. " Er, nothing, Sirius, nothing." " You sure?" There was something in Sirius's gaze that made the hairs on Remus's arms stand up. It was disconcerting, this feeling like Sirius was looking at him.in the exact same way he had been looking at Sirius a moment before. " Something you want to tell me?" " Something you want to know, Padfoot?" Sirius didn't look away, and Remus felt his gaze penetrating his outer defenses. He might as well tell now. He would find out eventually.

Dropping to the floor, Sirius looked at his friend. It was kind of embarrassing, actually, the way he wanted Lupin. Something extremely in the way of not-like-a-friend want. Remus twisted his ragged shirt. " I don't like girls, Padfoot." Sirius blinked, then tried to cover. " Well, they do get pretty damn annoying." " You know what I mean." Sirius gulped, then said, " Well, neither do I, so don't feel alone."

Remus stared at Sirius, amazed at this startling revelation. Slowly, he moved into Sirius's arms. Sirius paused for a moment, then embraced him. Remus pulled up his head, and Sirius kissed his lips with astonishing force. Remus scrabbled at Sirius's shirt, intent upon the fact that there should be as little clothing as possible between them. Sirius merely ripped off Remus's shirt, then backed away for a moment as he removed his own. Coming back, Remus marveled at the feel of his fingers gently running along Sirius's bare chest, at the way Sirius's tongue parted his lips so effectively. " Padfoot? Moony?" They broke apart, each flushing slightly. Remus didn't want to stay away for long. " Coming," Sirius called back, then kissed Remus hard on the lips, pulled on his shirt, and gently pulled Remus along the path.s