Written for the Marathon Competition (3 of 4 AU fics) seven deadly sins!au
Sirius steps in, his shirt unbuttoned and dark hair ruffled, his piercing grey eyes scanning the room. The embodiment of lust smirks, leaning casually against the wall. "Well? It must be awfully important if we're calling a meeting."
James straightens, grinning. "So good of you to finally join us," he says. "Some of us take pride in being on time. You're almost as bad as sloth."
Peter grumbles. "I was busy. My nap was very important," he yawns.
Bellatrix snarls, slamming her fist against the table. "Can we start this already?" she snaps, her nostrils failing. "The longer I'm stuck with you idiots, the more I want to fight."
"You always want to fight," Dorcas points out, cramming a biscuit into her mouth before immediately retrieving another. Judging by the pile of crumbs on the table before her, she's gone through several bags already.
"I want to fight, too," Marlene chimes in. "But it isn't fair. Wrath is a better fighter. I want to be like her. Or as rich as greed."
At his name, Lucius looks up from his pile of gold. Sirius wonders if it's actually necessary for him to keep his collection with him at all times. The money grows at an alarming rate, and he thinks that the weight of the gold will soon crush greed. "No one will ever be as rich as I am," he boasts.
James clears his throat. "We have a new assignment. Some of our charges have failed to sway him. We're afraid that he might be too virtuous to fall," he announces. "So they've brought in the absolute best. And you lot, too, I suppose. His name is Remus Lupin."
James waves a hand, and an image of the mortal appears. Sirius licks his lips, imagining the things he could do to him. Those golden eyes and tidy hair. The scars that lend him a rugged air.
"Too skinny," Dorcas calls. "He should eat more. Lots more."
"Scrawny thing wouldn't last two seconds in a fight," Bellatrix agrees.
Peter yawns. "Okay?" he says, resting his head on the table.
"So, sins! Do your worst! Obviously, I will go first," James says. "I'm in charge for a reason. So, the best should take his turn, and you guys won't even have to worry."
Marlene pouts. "I never get to go first. I want to go first! It would be so nice to be first for once," she sighs, defeated.
…
James returns, looking completely miserable. "I tried. Got him top marks on his exams, and the humble bastard didn't give in. He just smiled and returned to his studies," he announces. "He could have easily flaunted his success over the girl beside him who failed!"
Sirius grins, propping his legs on the table. "Better luck next time, mate. Need a quick shag for comfort?"
"Marlene. You're next," James announces, ignoring Sirius.
The embodiment of envy squeals, clapping her hands. She salutes before disappearing.
…
Marlene is in a foul mood when she appears again. "So many people had nicer things than he does," she says. "I whispered in his ear that he should have those things, that it isn't fair for others to get nice things when he has to have second-hand items. But he didn't care!"
Sirius feels a flutter in his stomach. He loves a good virtuous man or woman. They're always the sweetest to break. Most would give in upon facing the sin of envy. And yet….
"Bellatrix!" James barks. "Go!"
Bellatrix cracks her knuckles, fire in her eyes. "Child's play," she laughs.
…
It takes roughly ten seconds for Bellatrix to completely tear the room apart. Her fury is so great that even James swallows his pride and tries to hide.
"It should have worked! I spent all day working on his temper. I had people insult him! One boy even shoved him!" she fumes, punching a hole in the wall. "He apologized. That weak, disgusting little-"
"Greed?" James calls.
Lucius waves his hand, vanishing his gold. "Very well. There are many types of greed. I'm sure he will give in when I'm through with him."
…
Lucius is calm when he returns. Sirius almost believes that he's been successful. Greed takes his usual seat and resumes counting his coins. "I tried. Money? Not interested. He could have had it all, but when presented with dropped many, he sought out the owner. Upon failing, he donated it to charity," he sneers. "Power? Ugh. He didn't care. Had the chance to rise in rank at his university, and he declined to focus on his studies."
James looks like he's about to lose his cool. He paces, scowling. Sirius wonders if he's ever been so close to failure in his life. "Sloth?"
Dorcas looks up, her mouth stuffed with scones. She mumbles something, but it's hard to distinguish the words when food muffled them. Then she vanishes.
…
Dorcas is eating more than usual when she returns. "I tried. He snacks carefully. He does everything carefully and in moderation. A sip of wine. Just one little snack. Proper portions at dinner. Everything in moderation! Do people really still live like that?" she screams, stuffing an entire bar of chocolate into her mouth.
"Sloth? Sloth. Sloth! Peter!"
Peter wakes up, looking around with heavy eyes. "Sorry, what were we talking about? Must have dozed off again."
"Go. Make him lazy."
…
When Peter returns, he rests his head on the table with a yawn. "No luck, mate. He just wanted the be productive. No naps. No procrastination. It's disgusting, really. I kept telling him that school and work could wait. Did he listen? Of course not."
Sirius looks at each of the sins. All six have tried and failed. It's up to him now. He smirks. "Sins of the flesh are always the best," he calls before James can even speak. "Watch and learn, my friends."
…
"Oh! Excuse me," Remus says as he bumps into Sirius.
Sirius offers him his most charming smile. "Not at all. It was entirely my fault," he says, placing a hand on Remus' arm.
He sees the shiver that shoots through the boy's body, and he tries not to smirk. The others just whispered to him. If they had been smart, they would know that physical stimulation is key.
"Let me buy you a drink to apologize," Sirius offers.
"It's nothing, really. I couldn't-"
Another smile, and Remus is putty in his hands. "I insist."
…
When Remus sleeps, Sirius lingers over him, watching curiously. Such pure thoughts. It's ridiculous.
He reaches down, pressing his finger against Remus' forehead, smiling at how easily the dreams change.
Remus can see him in the other world. He can see Sirius splayed across the bed, wanting and waiting. He likes it. Sirius does, too, really.
Remus moans, his hips bucking. Sirius can feel his power growing stronger. He almost laughs. After all the failures, he never would have thought that it would be so easy for him to fall into temptation.
Another moan, and it's music to Sirius' ears. He can hear the desire, the need, the lust.
With a smirk, he vanishes.
…
"There you have it," Sirius announces, placing the orb on the table. "His sin. Not so virtuous now, is he?"
"Where are you going?" James asks as Sirius starts to walk away.
Sirius smirks, brows raised. "Oh, you know me. Once I have a taste of someone so pure, I need more," he says. "He's quite an animal in bed. The things he fantasizes… I'll have him completely depraved before it's over."