"Take it Off" – Chapter Three


Remus hurried through the trapdoor, intending to grab Sirius and get back inside. Looking around the dim corridor, he couldn't tell if the snow inside had been blown or tracked in.

From where he stood, the shack looked completely empty, covered with dust, and untouched. Remus was crestfallen. The snow was already piling up outside, and he had no idea where Sirius could be. He turned on his heels and headed back.

"Leaving so soon?" Sirius' voice called from behind the dilapidated piano dominating one corner of the large room.

"I didn't see you." Remus whispered, walking over. Sirius was seated at the piano bench, gently tapping some of the silent keys.

"I was playing."

"But it doesn't work."

"I know."

'Sirius" Are you ... all right?" Sirius inhaled, and continued to hit the keys.

"I don't know how the bloody thing got in here, anyway. Who puts a piano in an abandoned shack?"

"Maybe the spirits were restless."

Sirius said nothing in reply, and Remus quietly sat down on the bench next to his friend. Sirius turned away quickly.

"You don't want me. I know. I think that ..." Sirius started, and stopped abruptly.

"You think what?" Remus asked, hesitantly.

"I think that everyone is in love with me." Sirius furrowed his brow. "I assumed. You said ..."

"I said what?"

"You were attracted to boys. So I assumed."

"That I wanted you?"

"Yes." Sirius moved, wanting to stand, but unable to. The bench creaked.

"You're my best friend, Padfoot."

"I know."

"I wouldn't want to change that."

"I know."

"I don't dislike you. And you're an attractive person."

"I know. I know; I know I've heard that a thousand times! Don't you know that? As if it makes everything fine, in the end. I should start wearing a bag over my head."

"I'm sorry." Remus whispered, his words almost lost in the dusty air of the shack. "I'm so sorry." Silence enveloped the pair and they began to sink into the darkness of the room.

"Did it ever cross your mind?" Sirius bleated, after a moment.

"Did what?"

"I mean, did you ever consider it."

"It crossed my mind. But I never considered it."

Sirius stood, finally, walking away in defeat.

"I wanted to make you feel good about yourself."

"Sirius ..."

"Didn't you like it when I touched you?"

"I-" Remus gawked.

"You did. I felt it. You can't lie."

"I know." A faint blush grew over Remus' face.

"Has anyone ever touched you before?" Sirius asked, bluntly, looking out the window.

"That's not the point."

"Right. It's about me. But if not me, then who? James?"

"Pad, look."

"No, you look, Remus." Sirius paced forward, looming over his friend. "There was something."

"I don't want to talk about it. We should go before the storm gets worse."

"Fuck the storm. This is important."

"I said I don't want to talk about it. I am freezing cold. I marched all the way out here to get you, and I still have to march all the way back. If you want to rot here, be my guest."

"You can't go back, so you might as well start talking."

"What do you mean?" asked Remus warily. "Why not?"

"Because we're completely snowed in. When you came in, you left the tunnel open, so that's probably full too. Either way, there's no room to get out. And neither of us has a wand." Sirius smiled unhappily. Remus leapt to his feet, staring intently out the window.

"Shite." Remus looked scared. "What do we do?"

"Freeze to death, I suppose."

"Not funny." Remus clutched at himself. "I can't feel my feet already."

"Cold feet? How ironic."

"Not funny at all."

"Here." Sirius resignedly peeled off his robe and tossed it to the werewolf. "Take it."

"No thanks."

"Don't be an arse, Moony. You can't reject an inanimate object. Besides, I know how cold you always are."

"Then share it, at least." Remus held a portion of the fabric towards him.

"Are you fucking kidding? No way in hell."

"I … don't want you to get sick."

"How considerate." Sirius watched as Remus huddled himself into a corner.

"Look, this isn't a game."

"Isn't it? First you tell me no thanks, now you want to snuggle?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Of course not."

"Stop it, Sirius. Body heat is …"

"Is what, Moony?"

"Is the best way to stay warm."

"Oh, is it?' Sirius chuckled gloomily. "I thought nothing I did could warm you up."

"Give it a rest." Remus sighed, frustrated. "Do you think guilt tripping my is really going to change my mind?"

"No." Sirius smiled. "But it's worth a shot. Of course … I could always try again."

"Don't even think about it." Remus looked scared.

"Why not?" Sirius slowly crept forward towards Remus. "It worked last time."

"Now is not the time for this."

"Is there going to be a time?" Sirius queried. Remus looked at the floor, silent. "Thought so."

"Just leave me alone."

"You don't have to be afraid."

"Afraid? I'm not afraid of you." Remus spat. "I feel sorry for you."

"And I feel sorry for you. Denying yourself, for no good reason." Sirius squatted down in front of the shivering werewolf.

"I'm not denying anything."

"Oh really?" Sirius smirked. "I dare you to look at me and say you wouldn't like it if I kissed you right now."

"Please. Don't."

"Say it then." Sirius waited as Remus began to get flustered.

"I…"

"You?" Sirius leaned forward, breathing warmly on his friend's face.

"I…"

"Yes?" Sirius ran his lips against Remus' cheek, causing the other boy to shudder.

"I could give it a shot." Remus whispered hoarsely. Sirius, taken aback, turned his head to feel Remus' lips pressed harshly against his own.

"Are you … you sure?" Sirius took hold of the werewolf's shoulders and gently backed him against the wall. Remus nodded, positioning himself against his friend.

"At least for now." Remus felt his heart jump as Sirius hands were suddenly gripped around his hips, under his robes, under his shirt, grasping for flesh as quickly as possible. Remus moaned and bucked forward. He could feel himself sliding down the wall, slowly moving horizontally. He wrapped his arms around his friend's shoulders, and tried to regulate his breathing.

"You guys okay in there?"

Remus sat up quickly, smacking his head into Sirius' chest. They were both paralyzed.

"James?" Sirius called out, mouth dry. "Where are you?"

"Outside."

"Oh." With a sigh of relief, Sirius rolled off the panting werewolf and lay sprawled on the floor. "How did you find us?"

"The snow stopped, so the map started working again."

Sirius, eyes narrowed, glanced at Remus, who was completely flushed.

"We're going to try to melt the snow in front of the broken window. Hold on."

"Great. Just don't set the shack on fire." Sirius replied, sitting up. He went to help Remus up, but the boy was already standing, arms crossed, staring at the floor.

Sirius forced his eyes closed as he collected his robes, dusty and tangled in a heap on the floor.


tbc, again.