Sirius woke up to a bright beam of morning light falling on his face; transfixed, he watched the sun's atomies swirl through the light gracefully like miniscule snowflakes against a watery golden sky. It dawn: the pale, gentle colors too delicate to withstand the harsh blows of daybreak spread lazily across the land.

It was only when a muffled groan from Remus jarred him from his daydream that he woke fully up and felt his hangover with the a jolting force. Seconds later, he realized that he was naked and in Remus' bed. His hand flew to his mouth.

"Shit," he muttered, as he closed his eyes tightly and tried to remember what had happened the previous night. Flashes sped through his mind: the taste of Lupin's mouth, nails digging into his back, clumsy, leaden fingers fumbling to unbutton his shirt… and then the entire experience crashed into his mind like a giant wave breaking. "Oh God, oh God." He shook his friend lightly, touching him awkwardly with only the tips of his fingers. "Moony? Moony?" It was hard to release the words from his throat, and every time he spoke, his head rang painfully.

"Mhmm?" Lupin slowly turned over in the bed and faced Sirius. He casually chewed the cuticle of his index finger and studied the other boy's face.

"About last night – did we really –?"

Remus raised his head slowly, his eyes puffy from sleep. "We did." Sirius couldn't read the tone of his voice; he almost sounded happy about it… but that couldn't be.

The two regarded each other in silence for a moment. Sirius' eyes skipped all over Remus' face rapidly, but the werewolf's gaze was steady and penetrating. Finally Sirius let out a short bark of laughter, then shook his head. "Of all the things we've done when we were drunk, this is the most interesting by far."

"Interesting how?" Remus' tone of voice was conversational, but it was laced with coldness.

"Embarrassing."

Remus said nothing.

"But it's best to broaden your horizons, isn't it, mate? Even if it does mean doing a guy."

Remus nodded stiffly. He seemed upset.

"What's wrong, Moony? That wasn't your virginity, was it?"

Remus shook his head.

"Ah, that's a relief. Oh, Moons, don't be like that… c'mon. We were drunk. We weren't in control of the situation. There's no need to be ashamed. Kay, I'm gonna – erm, get dressed then…"

Remus lay in his bed silently, immobile and staring straight ahead blankly as Sirius stepped into a pair of boxers and climbed into his own bed.

Another silence fell, blanketing the room. After a minute or so, Sirius laughed again. "I still can't believe we fucked, that is just the most awkward – Hey, you okay, Moony?"

Remus nodded.

Author's Note: That's the end. I didn't originally intend for it to end like this, but I like the way it turned out. It makes me sad too, so don't throw rocks at my house. Please. )

I might do an epilogue from Remus' point of view if someone convinces me it'll work 'cause I'm not that sure about it yet.