Pairings: Remus/Sirius, James/Lily
Rating/Warnings: Sexual situations, language, descriptions of violent acts/deaths
Notes: Magical AU written for the Marauder Big Bang at Livejournal. This is complete and will be posted in 10 parts. If you'd like to read the whole story at once, please see my profile for a link to my LJ page. From there, you can find the post leading to the Marauder Big Bang. Thank you to my beta and inspiration, dogsunderfoot for her help and support, and to brighty18 for going above and beyond the call of duty to get this fest back on track.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters, places, objects, ideas, and related material are the property of JK Rowling and her various publishing entities. Neither the author, the artists, nor the marauderbigbang are in any way making a monetary profit from this posting.

'This is such a bad idea,' Sirius muttered, glaring at Remus as they approached the entrance to 'Skin' nearly three weeks later. 'How did I let you talk me into this?'

'I offered you a blow job,' Remus said absently as he peered closely at the faces in the crowd outside the club. 'You do recall how spectacular they are?'

'Oh, God,' muttered James, sidling closer to Peter and starting a deliberately loud conversation about the weather.

Sirius smiled to himself, sneaking a peek at Remus out of the corner of his eye. 'Yeah, I seem to have a vague recollection,' he murmured, wishing he'd pretended to take Remus' joking remark about getting down on his knees and begging Sirius to let him come ("and I'll let you come as well – right down my throat") seriously. They'd been seeing each other regularly; ostensibly because Sirius wanted to keep Remus informed about the investigation's progress, but really because he just wanted to see him.

He wasn't going to pretend Remus' revelation hadn't affected him; it had. He spent days trying to work out how he felt about the fact he'd unknowingly shagged a werewolf, burying himself in books and research as he tried to learn everything he could about lycanthropy. Eventually, Peter and James had bodily dragged him out of the office, Apparated him to 'The Burrow' and, with a slap on his arse, told him to 'go and fuck the sense out of Remus, for Merlin's sake. We're sick of seeing your mopey face and we all know you're not really going to let his furry little problem get in the way of a good shag.'

But they hadn't fucked, or even really talked about the great big elephant – or werewolf – in the room for that matter. They'd flirted, they'd tossed innuendo and double entendres around like they had a quota to meet, but they hadn't discussed anything of personal significance or made any real attempt to return to their previous – mutually satisfying – relationship.

Sirius wasn't sure where they went from here, or where he wanted them to go. If he was being honest with himself – which he tried not to let happen too often – he had to admit that he liked Remus. Not just the sex, although that was phenomenal. He liked Remus, and that wasn't something that happened to him very often. He glanced at Remus. He didn't know where he stood or even what he wanted, and the feeling was unfamiliar and discomforting.

As they waited in line, Sirius used the crowd as an excuse to stand close to Remus. He breathed in as quietly as he could, inhaling the musk of the other man's aftershave. He stifled a moan, as well as the urge to bury his nose in Remus' skin to sniff out where that scent was the strongest. He smiled to himself. The draw of scent obviously wasn't just a werewolf thing.

'Are you sniffing me?' Remus asked softly, leaning in so Sirius could hear him.

Sirius laughed. 'Am I that obvious?' he said ruefully.

Remus shrugged. 'Yep,' he said with a smile that seemed a little forced. 'A werewolf's nose is more sensitive than yours. You won't be able to smell what I am.'

Sirius' eyes widened. 'No,' he said quickly, grabbing Remus' elbow. 'I wasn't... I... Gods, I like your aftershave, alright? You were wearing it the first night we met and... ' Sirius sighed, 'it just about drove me insane. You know the smell intensifies when you get hot and sweaty, right?'

Remus blinked then the corners of his mouth turned up. 'Oh,' he murmured, biting back his grin. 'Sorry, I...'

'... was thinking the worst of me?'

Remus sighed, his burgeoning smile collapsing. 'I'm sorry,' he mumbled, looking a little ashamed. 'It's just... well, we haven't talked about all this, about how you feel knowing what I am. I'm not sure where I stand - if you want to keep doing what we were doing, or if you just want to call it a day...'

Sirius chuckled ruefully. 'I was just thinking the same thing,' he admitted. He flashed Remus a quick, tight smile, noticing Fabian and his brother, Gideon approaching. 'I don't know, Remus. Let's just get this over with then we can talk.'

Remus nodded and, as the brothers smiled their greetings, they, along with a nervy James and amused Peter, walked into the noisy club, Sirius groaning silently to himself as he watched Remus' arse move in his tight jeans.

Fuck.

An hour later, Remus was nursing a beer and watching in amusement as Gideon Prewett attempted to gyrate in time with Sirius on the dance floor, the two of them laughing and bumping into the couples around them. James Potter slid into the seat next to him, snorting out a laugh at Sirius as his attempts to get even closer to Gideon were firmly rebuffed, the redhead pushing him away. Sirius fell against a tall, dark-haired man and had to drag out his most charming smile to placate the annoyed stranger, who grabbed at Sirius' shirt aggressively.

'He's such a wanker,' James said, glancing at Remus who laughed and lifted his beer to his lips. They sat without talking, the music throbbing through their veins as they searched the crowd for their quarry.

'Nothing yet?' James asked, and Remus shook his head.

'I'll walk around again in a minute,' he said then glanced over at James. 'Listen, James, I want to apologise again. I should have insisted Lily tell you about me...'

'No,' said James, turning on his stool. 'That was Lily's doing. She chose to keep this from me. It's something we have to talk about and work through.'

'I've caused trouble for the two of you,' Remus said regretfully.

James shrugged. 'Nah, not really,' he said. 'She should have told me, and I was pretty pissed off, but...' He grinned. 'You seem alright, and Sirius trusts you. But I think I'll let Lily think I'm mad for a bit longer. It's not often that I'm right. I want to savour it.'

Remus laughed then turned to see Sirius watching them. The other man looked away when he realised he'd been caught, and James rolled his eyes.

'Gods, he's got it bad for you,' he muttered.

Remus, barely able to hear him over the music, was sure he'd misheard. 'What?'

James leaned in closer. 'He's got it bad for you,' he repeated, gesturing towards Sirius as if Remus needed reminding who they were talking about.

'I... I don't think so,' Remus stuttered, but James waved a hand dismissively.

'I've known Sirius a lot longer than you, Remus, and I've never seen him quite so... besotted.'

'Besotted?'

James grinned. 'Lily's word,' he admitted. 'But it is appropriate. He likes you. Quite a bit. Just... be careful with him if you decide to give it a go, yeah? He doesn't love easily, and he's a lot more fragile than he looks.'

'Who is?'

Remus jumped and snapped his head around to see Sirius looking questioningly at James.

'Harry,' lied James smoothly. 'Have you finished trying to hump that poor straight boy's leg?'

Sirius poked out his tongue then turned to Remus. 'We should do another sweep,' he said, and Remus nodded, finishing his beer off quickly.

'Yep,' he agreed, standing up. 'Let's go.'

They spent a few seconds struggling through the crowd clambering around the bar then Remus felt a hand slide into his own. 'Don't want to lose you,' Sirius said, pressing against Remus' side. His warm breath washed over Remus' neck, and Remus shivered.

'I... I can't smell him yet,' Remus muttered, trying to focus on the scent he was searching for rather than the intoxicating perfume of sweat and cologne layered on top of that something unique that was all Sirius' own. 'Perhaps he isn't here.'

'Mm,' Sirius murmured as they emerged from the melee. 'You haven't looked down there.'

Sirius pointed towards the darkened corridor where shadowed figures writhed and the scent of sex was strong enough on its own to make Remus as hard as stone. He jumped as hot lips ghosted over the delicate skin behind his ear. 'I'll come with you,' Sirius whispered, and it was all Remus could do not to whimper.

''kay,' he gasped out quietly, fighting to urge to lean back into the heat and strength of the other man's body and failing badly.

Sirius' lips were right next to his ear so he heard Sirius' breathing hitch quite clearly. An arm encircled his waist, pulling him firmly against the body at his back, a body that was – clearly – already responding to their proximity.

Remus felt his own body stir, and he twisted in Sirius' grasp, groaning when their hardening cocks caught on each other. Sirius growled as he nipped at Remus' earlobe. 'You and I definitely need to talk about this. And soon.'

Remus choked out a tiny squeak of agreement as Sirius' lips moved to his throat, planting sucking, open-mouthed kisses there. 'Talk,' he said breathlessly. 'Yeah, sure.'

Sirius made a noise that sounded like a surrender and then they were cutting a hasty swathe through the milling men, clutching at each other as Sirius' hungry lips found Remus'. By the time Remus' back hit a nearby wall, their hands were sliding under the soft fabric of their shirts, greedily seeking the warmth of skin, tracing musculature with eager hands.

'We're supposed to be... oh, right there... um... working...' Remus said, the words quickly swallowed by Sirius' lips and objections forgotten with a tweak of his nipple.

'Uh huh,' Sirius mumbled, tongue flicking at Remus'. 'In a minute.' His hips rolled, grinding deliciously into Remus' and Remus hooked a leg around Sirius' legs to draw him closer.

Sirius moaned – the vibration along Remus' skin raising goose bumps – and rocked rhythmically against Remus, lips trailing along his jaw. Remus tilted his head, his eyes closing as he lost himself in the sensual assault.

The tantilising scrape of teeth against his throat made Remus inhale sharply and, as the mingled scents of the club dwellers tickled his senses, Remus smelled something familiar, something earthier. Something more animalistic and primal.

'Fuck.'

'Gods, yes,' Sirius groaned, his hand curving over the bulge in the front of Remus' jeans. 'Now...'

'No,' Remus said, struggling to drag himself out of the haze of lust he'd been drowning in. 'No, he's here. Sirius, I can smell him.'

Sirius lifted his head and stared at Remus with glazed eyes. 'Where?' he asked, thickened voice catching on the inquiry. He cleared his throat and, with obvious effort, pushed away from Remus. 'Where is he?'

Remus gestured to his left, towards the dance floor. 'Over there,' he told him, shoving himself off the wall. The flush of heat Sirius' touch engendered was dissipating, and an icy chill tumbled down Remus' spine. 'I'll track him,' he said, his hand moving instinctively to the hilt of his wand. 'You get the others.'

'No, I...'

'Sirius, he might leave,' Remus hissed, taking a step towards the dense mass of bodies congregating around the dance floor. 'I can find him, keep an eye on him, then you can arrest him.'

'Remus...'

'Sirius...' Remus fisted Sirius' shirt and dragged him in for a fast kiss. 'I'll be fine. Go.'

Before Sirius could raise another objection, Remus darted off, quickly disappearing in the crowd. Sirius groaned in frustration then turned on his heel to find the others, anxiety clawing in his stomach.

'I have a bad feeling about this.'

Remus moved as quickly as he could through the undulating throng, letting his nose lead him. The scent was heavier here amongst the heaving bodies, exacerbated by the heat of so many people in close quarters. A prickle crawled across Remus' skin. He could feel the other werewolf. The smell was pungent, thick, stronger than he'd experienced before, and Remus realised that the other man was excited. He was aware of Remus, knew that he was being hunted, and he was getting some kind of feverish charge out of it.

A body knocked Remus off balance, and he stumbled into a thick-set man. He mumbled an apology then was forced to get out of the way of a couple who were enthusiastically rutting against each other, limbs flailing.

Remus stopped and closed his eyes, breathing slow and deep to orientate himself. That irritating little itch turned into burning awareness and he opened his eyes, locking gazes with a tall, broad-chested man who was suddenly just an arm's length away. The man's eyes were dark and malevolent and, as Remus' stomach twisted unpleasantly, a salacious, sly smile spread across his face.

'I know you, Remus Lupin,' he said, rough voice grating over Remus' frayed nerves. He stepped closer, and Remus' hand tightened on his wand. The werewolf grinned nastily, catching the slight movement. 'You think you're going to stop me?'

'My friends...'

'They all smell delicious,' he taunted, so close now that Remus' head was spinning from the scent of blood and flesh and death emanating from him. 'So vibrant, so youthful, so untainted.'

Remus' blood ran cold, and he tugged his wand from his pocket. 'You leave them alone,' he snarled, aiming his wand and silently casting an anti-Apparition spell.

But it was countered, the white glow bouncing off the other man and hitting Remus, sending him staggering backwards into the surrounding crowd. As he caught his balance, he saw Sirius frantically pushing his way through the crowd towards them. He raised his wand again, but the werewolf laughed as he turned on the spot.

'Oh, I'm going to enjoy this,' he laughed before he disappeared.

tbc