Sweet Tangerine
Theme #9: Citric scent

---

Sirius thought it over very carefully, staring critically down at his written plans, and taping his quill lightly against the crisp parchment, overlooking every little plan he'd come up with the past few weeks. The top of the page was happily titled Operation Tell Moony. Sirius always had to name his missions, and while this one was actually kind of dry and lame, it was still a title and that was good enough for him.

Now was the arduous decision on which plan to use. They ranged from dramatic and extravagant to quaint and heartfelt. But they were all good, and Sirius was indecisive for once in his life.

At that moment, the door to the dorm opened and Remus strolled in, holding a couple of tangerines Peter and he had frisked from the kitchens. He hummed lightly to himself as he pulled off the tie to his uniform with one hand and dropped it in his trunk before turning to Sirius.

"Afternoon," he greeted, and tossed Sirius a tangerine when the said boy outstretched his hand towards the werewolf. "Have you been up here all day? That's unlike you."

"Been lazy," Sirius lied as he looked back down at his parchment.

Remus began peeling his tangerine and the room filled with the sweet scent of tangerine. He hummed again to himself, the same song he'd been humming when he'd come in. He worried his lower lip as he tried to peel the tangerine's peel in one long, continuous strand.

Sirius watched him and then looked at his parchment with a small grimace. What kind of Gryffindor was he? Sirius did not plan in the ways of love! Crumpling up the piece of paper, he tossed it unceremoniously into the rubbish basket and peeled his own tangerine, watching Remus like a hawk out of the corner of his eye.

Remus was at his trunk, slipping off his heavy robe with one hand and holding onto the fruit in another, one strand of juice slipping from his palm and landing on the ground.

"Long day?" Sirius asked at last when the silence stretched on long enough for his tastes.

"I guess," Remus said taking a section of tangerine and popping it into his mouth. "Same as always. Are you going to eat your tangerine?"

"Yes," Sirius said, trying to look appalled by the mere suggestion of a wasted tangerine. He peeled his tangerine and took a huge bite out of it and the juice dripped down the sides of his mouth before he wiped them away with the back of his hand.

"Hm," Remus hummed, unamused by Sirius' messiness. He shut his trunk once he'd removed the necessary amounts of clothing, leaving just his button down shirt and his slacks. He collapsed onto his bed, back upwards, his head buried in his pillow. He groaned, "I am so tired."

"Moony, I have something to tell you," Sirius said promptly and abruptly. Remus glanced at him by turning his face to the side, one eye emerging from the expanse of fluffy pillow.

"Oh?" Remus said, arching his back up and stretching not unlike a cat. "What is it?"

"I think I should kiss you," Sirius said without preamble.

Remus blinked at him, and while he did look quite surprised by such a statement, it was simply surprise. Sirius couldn't detect any anger or disgust or fear. Just curiosity and surprise.

Remus' lips pursed in thought and his brow furrowed for a short moment. He wasn't looking at Sirius, but, rather, at a distance past his shoulder. He worried his lower lip and his fingers threaded through his own hair nervously.

"Well," Remus said at last, just as Sirius' patience was about to drain him. Finally his eyes locked on Sirius' and he smiled sweetly. "If you think you should."

Sirius nodded and stood, approaching Remus' bed, where the other boy sat up to meet him. He slowed as he reached him, standing between Remus' knees. The other boy looked up at him, his eyes curious but no longer surprised, and almost expectant.

He grabbed Remus' forearms and hauled him to his feet. His lips were there to greet him when he rose. They kissed and it wasn't anything earth-shattering or heart-stopping to look at. It was just a kiss between Sirius and Remus. But... if asked, both boys would have said it felt earth-shattering and heart-stopping.

And Remus' lips and tongue tasted like citrus.