Prompt: Remus and Tonks share a dance before sharing a few other firsts. Rated T/M; nothing explicit. There will be a follow up NSFW/smut shot but it will be posted only to AO3.
...
The Order's impromptu Christmas party had been a resounding success. With the kids staying at Grimmauld Place for the holidays and Arthur on the mend from the snake bite at the Department of Mysteries, there was much for everyone to celebrate.
Tonks had danced with almost everyone in the Order. Sirius spun her around until she was dizzy, but they were both already a little tipsy from their glasses of eggnog. Short, but vivacious Dedalus Diggle was spry on his feet, and when he showed off his Irish step, Tonks felt her legs were going to fall off from trying to match his speed. Kingsley tried the foxtrot with Tonks, but she was too uncoordinated to dance elegantly and instead stomped all over his shoes. There was only one Order member she wanted to dance with, but it didn't appear he felt the same way.
Nevertheless, she could feel Remus's eyes on her as she spun around with other Order members. Every time he stood from his seat, Tonks tried to tear herself away, only to have someone get in her way. It was Sirius, offering Remus a drink. It was Minerva, demanding a dance from one of her former prefects. Or, it was Molly, simply looking for someone to dance with while Arthur was healing at St. Mungo's. Not that Tonks could blame her, she concluded.
The party had come to an end and the kids were upstairs in their beds. Sirius was with Buckbeak, loudly singing him an off-key rendition of "God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs." Molly was busy cleaning the kitchen, while Kreacher muttered to himself in the shadows. Nearly everyone was in their place, save for the single shape-shifter in search of the other.
Tonks poked her head into the kitchen; no sign of Remus there. She went up to the library, to see if he'd slipped inside to enjoy a cup of tea. No jumper-clad werewolf was there, either. She was ready to give up on the venture, deciding that if Remus didn't want to see her, he wouldn't, when the very man in question stopped her on her way to the front door.
"Tonks!" he called hoarsely.
"Remus?" Tonks's heart skipped a beat upon seeing him emerge from the shadows, his hand on the back of his neck, looking sheepishly at her.
"Are you going already?"
"Well, yeah…party's over."
"Oh. Umm."
Tonks took a step toward him, and looked up at his face in the warm light of the gaslit lamps on the wall.
"Is there something you wanted from me, Remus?"
There was a flicker of something in his eyes as a shadow crossed over his face. His body twitched, as if he wanted to step forward.
"If not, err, I should go?" Tonks said, pointing to the door behind her.
Remus's face fell. His lips parted slightly and he closed his eyes, his brow coming together as he inhaled sharply. Determining that he didn't want anything from her, she let out a soft, disappointed sigh and turned back to the front door.
"Wait."
Remus lifted a trembling hand and held it out for her.
"I never did get to dance with you," he said quietly. "I hope you didn't think I'd forgotten about you."
"I was looking for you…I hadn't forgotten about you, either."
His pupils grew wide in the dim light. Taking a step toward her, he said, "Would you like to dance with me, Tonks?"
She gaped at him, astonished that he hadn't forgotten about her, either.
"If you don't want to," mumbled Remus, lowering his hand to his side, "I understand. It's too late for m-music."
"I'm a rubbish dancer," Tonks said slowly. She took a few steps back toward him, seeing his golden brown irises gleam in the light. "But I'll take you up on that dance, if you're offering. To the kitchen?"
"Molly's in there." Remus took a half-step forward, where Tonks saw his eyes glimmer again in the light. "If that's—"
"Don't you have a record player in your room?" Tonks took another step toward Remus, closing the space between them. She could see the premature lines in his face, each one marking the years of turmoil she longed to help him forget.
"I do. Is that—"
"As long as it works, I'll dance with you."
Remus's eyes were unfocused for a moment before they settled on her lips. Her stomach did a somersault as his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat.
"Is jazz all right?" he croaked.
Tonks could feel the warmth of his breath and see his chest rise and fall with soft, steady inhalations.
"I've never danced to jazz before," she replied, taking another step toward him. Their bodies were inches apart now. "I'd like to, though."
Remus exhaled slowly and nodded, leading her up the stairs to his room. Only one gaslit, fluttering light was illuminating the space. He gestured for her to go first, and he followed, his hand lingering on the doorknob for a moment longer than necessary.
"You can close the door," Tonks said, feeling her body shiver with anticipation. "I don't want to wake anyone up."
Remus closed the door with a click. He walked to his desk, which held the record player, and lifted a box to flip through many vinyl discs. He appeared torn between two of them, eyeing Tonks curiously, and lifted one out, placing it on the turntable gently.
"Do you know who Nat King Cole is?"
"Am I supposed to?" Tonks asked, feeling a blush coming over her cheeks.
"He was an American musician," said Remus, keeping his eyes on the record. "I hope you like his music." Remus placed the needle on the vinyl and after a faint scratching noise, Tonks heard the first lyric.
Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable, though near or far
"This is nice," she murmured, and Remus offered her a slightly trembling hand. She put her hand in his, finding his warm, large, scarred hand to fit perfectly in hers.
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you
Does things to me
Never before has someone been more
Remus laced his fingers with hers and brought his other hand to rest on the small of her back, holding her close to him. He swayed at first, but then took a few steps from side to side.
Unforgettable
In every way
And forever more
That's how you'll stay
"Is this okay?" he whispered, spinning her around slowly.
"More than okay." Tonks pressed her head against his worn jumper, hearing his heart thumping erratically in his chest. "This is perfect."
There was a low rumble in Remus's chest and he held her closer still.
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
The song came to a close and Remus slowed, until he came to a stop and looked down at Tonks.
"Did…did you like it?"
"Yes, very much." Her face was tilted up; his was tilted down. Mere inches separated their lips, the space left between them both too much to overcome, and too little to be ignored.
"Thank you, Remus, for remembering me."
"I'll never forget about you, Tonks."
His voice cracked and he closed his eyes, his brow coming together as if he were in pain. The hand that was on the small of her back clutched her more tightly than before; his other hand fell to her waist, with the feel of his warm, strong hand sending more somersaults to her stomach.
"Remus?"
"Forgive me," he whispered, just before closing the distance between them. His lips brushed against hers softly as he inhaled against her skin.
Tonks's heart pounded in her chest; she felt Remus's warm lips on hers, the gentle, safe feeling of his hand on her back, and the way his other hand held her cheek steady as he kissed her.
It all vanished as quickly as it had arrived. Tonks opened her eyes, not realizing she'd closed them, and found Remus on the other side of the room, looking very much as if he wanted to cry.
"Please forgive me, Tonks. I should never have…presumptuous…a monster—"
"Remus? What are you talking about?" Tonks took slow, careful strides towards him.
"Forgive me," said Remus, inching away from her. "If you want me to go…I'll go."
"Why would I want you to go anywhere?"
Tonks had cornered him. He had his hands outstretched against the walls, looking anywhere but at her.
"Stop."
His chest rose and fell with erratic breaths. He looked on the verge of a breakdown, his eyes round with fear and his cheeks flushed with shame.
"Please kiss me again."
Remus hesitated for a fraction of a second before closing the space between them again. He brought one of his hands up to the back of her neck and ran his fingers through her pink hair, his other hand returning to the small of her back to hold her close.
His lips moved with more urgency now, his breaths more ragged than before, his need for her lighting a fire that had been smoldering for months. Tonks brought her hands to his jumper, clutching him, hungry for him.
When her fingers came to rest on his bare skin, he flinched and stepped back, his lips swollen and his pupils darkened with desire.
"You want this?"
"I want you," Tonks said fiercely. "Only you."
Remus took her hands in his. "Stay with me tonight?"
Tonks squeezed his hands and nodded.
"I'm so happy you didn't forget about me, Remus."
As Remus led her to the bed, placing soft kisses along her jawline, he stopped to hold her face in his hands.
"I chose that song for you."
"I know," Tonks whispered, as she lay back on his bed and looked up at him.
"Then you'll know I could never forget you."
And, as they disposed of their clothes and hungrily touched one another, she knew she would never forget him, either.
