Disclaimer: JKR pwns us all.
Notes: Written some time ago for a Christmas challenge at SBRL Mailing list.
This Could All Be Yours…
"Y' haven told him yet?" James asked, squinting at his best
friend across the table. He thought he saw Sirius shrug, but it was
hard to tell, as he had apparently misplaced his glasses at some
point.
"No," Sirius sighed. "I wan' ta find the perf'ct way ta tell
him, but I haven' figured it out yet. Cho' think a ring would be
too, uh, too…."
"Shudden?" James asked, lifting his mug and drinking deeply.
"Somethin like tha," Sirius snorted, flinging his hands out
and knocking over an empty mug, which caused both of the thoroughly
inebriated young men to giggle drunkenly.
"Y could a'ways try givin him an album full of pic-tures o'
you naked, and write on the front, This coul' all be yours'," James
suggested, scratching his head. "Oh, there they are," he muttered,
his hands finding where his glasses had been resting on his forehead.
"Hey! Good idea!" Sirius exclaimed, before his head fell to
the table and he passed out.
James poked him a few times, decided a nap was a really good
idea, and put his own head down, albeit much less violently.
The next morning Sirius somehow remembered James' idea about
the photo album, despite his pounding hangover and the bruise on his
forehead. However, while any rational person would have realized
that the nude photos would have been a bad idea, Sirius was not all
that rational when it came to Remus.
He had been in love with his friend since their fourth year
at Hogwarts, and had never quite gotten around to telling him.
Either the place was wrong, or the situation wasn't right, or he
didn't know what to say. And so, for five years he had lived with
his feelings, telling only James.
However, despite his lack of confidence about the reception
he would get from Remus if he did confess, he had supreme confidence
in his looks, and this translated to the idea that if Remus didn't
want him after seeing him naked, then Remus was too daft to be
bothered with.
After downing a potion made to deal with hangovers, Sirius
padded into his living room, wearing only some loose black pajama
pants and a thoughtful expression. He settled down on his sofa with
a listing of all of the wizarding businesses in the area, and turned
to photographers.
"I didn't know there were so many," he muttered, glancing
over the listings. With a heavy sigh, he set about eliminating some,
either because they were too far away, seemed cheap, or were way too
expensive, even for him.
Just as he was about to give up, an elaborate add on the last
page caught his eye. It was a vivid violet color, outlined in gold,
with elegant golden writing that advertised:
"Apollo Olympius
If I can't make you beautiful,
you're beyond help."
A grin lit up Sirius' face, making his gray-blue eyes sparkle
with mischief. "Perfect," he muttered, and quickly began writing a
letter to the photographer to set up an appointment.
Apollo was too busy to work him in that week, but on the
following Monday, Sirius dressed in his dragonhide pants and a tight
black sweater, and headed out the door to his first photo session.
Just as he was locking the door, a voice called to him from
the sidewalk in front of his house. "Hi, Sirius!"
Sirius froze for a moment, like a rabbit caught in the
headlights. "He doesn't know where I'm going, or what I'm doing. Act natural," he assured himself, before turning around with a
smile. "Hey, Moony."
Remus Lupin stood at the end of the yard, dressed casually in
a pair of worn jeans, and bundled up in his long brown coat and old
Gryffindor scarf. His cheeks were flushed with the cold, and his
amber eyes were sparkling with the joy of the season. "What are you
up to today, Padfoot?"
"Oh. Just going to do some Christmas shopping," Sirius
shrugged. "Why?"
"Do you want to go together? I was planning to finish my
shopping today, and I wanted to know if you would like to join me."
Inwardly, Sirius kicked himself. It was exactly the sort of
thing he loved to do with Remus, especially if no one else was
around. But he didn't really have the time now, as he needed to have
his picture taken.
Sadly he shook his head, "I can't, Remus. I'm shopping for
you today, and I can't have you there while I do it."
"That's okay," Remus replied. "I understand. Talk to you
later then."
"Yeah. Bye." Sirius watched his friend Apparate away with a
heavy heart, then Apparated himself to the studio.
His moping was abruptly forgotten when he got his first
glimpse of Apollo.
The photographer was named aptly, as he resembled his
mythological counterpart to a great degree. His hair was long and
blond, and secured loosely with a scrap of violet ribbon. His eyes
were a deep blue, like the ocean, and his teeth were perfectly
straight and very, very white. Physically, while he wasn't bursting
with muscle, he was well toned and lean, as could be seen quite
clearly beneath his form hugging purple shirt and black pants.
And he wasn't just a good looking wizard, Sirius noted as he
caught sight of the newspaper clippings on the walls. He was a good
looking –gay- wizard. After all, there was really no reason for a
heterosexual male wizard to be named "Sexiest Gay in Wizardom".
"I assume you're Sirius Black," Apollo stated in a
surprisingly sensual voice.
"Er, yeah. That's me," Sirius confirmed, holding out a hand
to shake. Apollo's grip was firm, and Sirius found himself slightly
turned on.
"So, you wanted me to take nude photos of you. That is
correct, yes?"
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, looking at his feet.
"Excellent. Shall we get started then? And may I just say,
I think it will be a pleasure working with you. I do not often have
the chance to work with one as naturally attractive as yourself."
"Thanks," Sirius mumbled, following Apollo into his studio.
The studio was set up like many a photo studio. There was a
camera back in the shadows, and in the center of all the lights,
there was a place for the subject to sit, after choosing from a
multitude of different fabrics and textures. Behind the subject,
there were a number of backgrounds, only as this was a wizarding
studio, the backgrounds all moved.
"Now, what kind of look are you going for?" Apollo inquired.
Back on more familiar footing, Sirius found he could function
more normally, as long as he didn't look too closely at Apollo. "I'm
not actually sure," he confessed.
"For what purpose do you want these photos taken?"
"For my own amusement," Sirius told him after a pause. Why
he didn't want this gorgeous wizard to know he was having his
pictures taken to impress another guy, he didn't know. He just felt
that he would rather keep his true reason to himself.
"Very well," Apollo conceded. "Then may I suggest the dark
blue velvet fabric with, perhaps, storm clouds in the background?"
Before Sirius could comment, Apollo waved his wand and the rich blue velvet covered the couch that was set up, and the picture in the back changed to a vivid image of storm clouds periodically broken up by
flashes of lightening.
Sirius raised his eyebrows in appreciation. "Very nice," he
remarked.
"And now if you will take off your clothing and arrange
yourself, we can get started."
"Sure." Feeling himself back in control of the situation,
Sirius began disrobing while Apollo went over to his camera to begin adjusting the settings. Once Sirius stepped out of his pants, he
settled down on the sofa and stretched out in what he hoped was a
sexy way.
Apollo turned around and froze momentarily. "Oh yes, I shall
not mind this shoot in the slightest," he murmured more to himself
than to Sirius. Sirius, however, heard it and grinned.
Two days later, Sirius was brushing his hair and getting
ready to go out when there was a knock at his door. "Coming!" he
called as he looked at himself one more time in the mirror, and then
barreled down the hall to the front door.
He flung it open and swallowed hard. "Hey, Remus."
Remus smiled at him. "I was thinking about going ice skating
today. Do you want to come?"
Inwardly, Sirius groaned. Yet again, he had already made
plans and would have to pass up spending time with his beloved
Moony. But there was nothing he could do about it, so he sadly shook
his head. "I can't. Sorry. I've already got plans for today.
Maybe I'll come by this evening?"
His friend looked disappointed, but shrugged as if it didn't
bother him. "Okay. Sounds good. I'll see you this evening then."
"Yeah. Definitely," Sirius nodded, reaching out and gripping
Remus' shoulders. "I'll see you tonight."
"And I can give him his present then," Sirius added mentally
as Remus turned and walked away.
Just then, his eyes landed on his clock. "Shyte! I'm almost
late!" Hurriedly he Apparated out of his house and into the middle
of Hogsmeade where he arrived at the front doors of the Chat Noir
just as Apollo appeared out of thin air.
"You are here," Apollo observed, holding out a package full
of the developed photos.
"Of course! Like I would skip out on you!" Sirius teased,
taking the envelope and opening it, flipping through the
pictures. "Hey. These are great," he commented, unable to help
himself. "I am so gorgeous."
"Yes, you are," Apollo agreed, taking his elbow and leading
him into the restaurant. They were immediately led to a
table. "Which leads me to my next topic."
"Oh?" Sirius inquired, sitting down across from him, the
photos on the seat next to him. "And what topic would that be?"
"You are one of the most extraordinarily handsome men I have
ever seen. You also take amazingly beautiful photos. As such, I
think you would make an excellent model."
This caused Sirius to laugh outright. "I can't be a model!
I already have a job as an Auror!"
"It would bring in extra money," Apollo prompted. "And I
would very, very much like to work with you again."
At just this moment, Remus was walking the cheerily lit
streets, for lack of anything better to do. It was mere chance, a
caprice of Fate, that caused him to glance in the front window of the
restaurant he was passing, and see his best friend sitting at a table
and talking, apparently intimately, with an absolute sex god.
From his location, Remus could see the blond deity reach
under the table and place his hand on Sirius' thigh. An unidentified
emotion wracked the werewolf's deceptively thin frame, and with no
further thought, he Apparated to his warm home to sulk.
When he felt Apollo's hand on his thigh, Sirius jerked back
in his chair and clambered to his feet, grabbing the photos. "I have
to go now," he said lamely.
"But we have so much more to discuss!" Apollo protested,
worry causing his perfect brow to crease.
"I really have to go now," Sirius stated more firmly, and
then, dignity somewhat intact, he walked out the door. Once out of
sight, he leaned against a wall and took several deep breaths. He
had wanted Apollo; there was no doubt of that. But Sirius knew it
would have been shallow and empty.
He looked at the envelope clutched in his hand. He really
did have something to do. Something very important.
Remus was curled up in a chair by a small fire with his
favorite book. Had he glanced over his shoulder, he would have seen
his tastefully decorated Christmas tree twinkling. However, his mind
was lost in another world.
A knock at the door abruptly brought him back with a jerk.
He climbed out of his chair after marking his page, and crossed to
the door.
"Sirius," he observed, crossing his arms over his brown
sweater in an unconscious gesture of defensiveness.
"Hey Moony. Merry Christmas," Sirius grinned sheepishly,
holding a long, flat package in his hands.
"Actually, it's only Christmas Eve," Remus pointed out,
turning his back on his friend and walking back to his chair.
Sirius, being less dense than he often liked to let on, could
easily tell he was being shut out. Worried, he stepped in and closed
the door behind him, hanging his cloak on his personal reserved peg
on the wall then followed Remus into the living room.
"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing that Remus had picked his
book up again.
"Nothing," Remus replied, never one to complain or accuse.
Sirius crouched on the floor in front of him, covering the
pages with his hand. "Look at me, Remus," he prompted. Remus
reluctantly complied. "What is wrong with you?"
Looking away, Remus shrugged and ran a hand through his
shaggy hair. "I don't really know, actually," was the truthful reply.
"Very useful. Thank you." Glancing around, Sirius' eyes
fell on Remus' ice skates leaning against the wall. "Is this because
I couldn't go ice skating with you today? I really did have plans."
"Yes, I had noticed," Remus shot back, surprising both of
them with the bitterness of his tone.
"You noticed?" Sirius echoed, heart beginning to pound.
Remus could feel the red creeping into his cheeks. "I was
walking downtown and saw you with some blond guy. He had his hand on
your thigh," he pointed out, as if this somehow explained
everything. And actually, it did.
"Were you jealous?" Sirius breathed, trying to catch Remus'
eyes. Remus was being quite stubborn however, and pointedly ignoring
him.
"Yes. No. I don't know. Does it matter?"
"Perhaps I should explain then. I was merely meeting with
him to pick something up from him. Something for you, actually. I
didn't expect him to hit on me like that."
"And what did you do?" Remus asked, his voice an accusation.
"I can't say I wasn't tempted. He was really gorgeous. But
I turned him down."
"Why?" Remus asked. He knew perfectly well that Sirius swung
both ways, so hearing that his friend had been tempted wasn't all
that surprising. What was really surprising was that Sirius had
turned him down. The black-haired Marauder had managed to build for
himself quite a reputation at Hogwarts for being the biggest slut in
the school. Now, while Remus knew for a fact that the majority of
the rumors were blatant lies, he did think that Sirius had likely
bedded one or two of the best looking. So, the fact that he turned
down someone as good looking as the guy he had seen him with was a
bit shocking.
"Because…Well… I have your present," Sirius offered, holding
out the package.
"And this is an answer?"
"If you can interpret it," Sirius nodded, surprised at how
embarrassed and shy he felt.
Remus took the package and carefully peeled away the wrapping
paper to reveal a black photo album with gold trim. He flipped open
the cover and saw inscribed in Sirius' extravagant writing, This
Could All Be Yours….'
Eyebrows raised nearly into his hairline, Remus turned the
page and gasped, feeling his face heating up, though he had no real
reason to be embarrassed. "Sirius!"
"Do you like them? I went to Apollo to have these photos
taken especially for you. It was Jamie's idea," he added, as if that
somehow made it less of a completely ridiculous gift.
"I don't really know what to say," Remus confessed, but much
to Sirius' joy, he continued to flip through the pictures. He paused
at one and held it up closer to his face, squinting in the
firelight. "I didn't know you were that flexible."
"Want me to give a demonstration?"
Remus glanced at him, and closed the album. "Thank you,
Sirius. It was unexpected…but not unpleasant."
"Which means?"
Carefully, Remus set the precious gift on the floor and slid
from his chair into Sirius' lap. Wrapping his arms around his
friends' neck, he grinned wolfishly. "Which means that I would
really rather like that demonstration, if you don't mind."