A Christmas Miracle?

by SebbiGrey

Summary:

The Black brothers decide to skip family Christmas. Sirius wants to go somewhere tropical, but Regulus wants to be able to explore the concrete kind of jungle.

Regulus comes up with a compromise. Australia.

Chapter 1: Intro

Summary:

“Why are you like this” - Sirius Black

Notes:

The Australian Christmas AU that nobody asked for (and I desperately needed)

Sirius puts his hand to his brothers head to check if it’s hot— he must be sick, delirious or something, because this proposal is the most insane thing that has ever come out of his mouth.

Regulus bats his hand away and scowls. “What? It’s not like there’s anything for us here. Andi is spending Christmas with Cissa, and we all hate Lucius. Not to mention Bella and her equally terrible husband will be there. Just because Andi wants to make amends with her sisters doesn’t mean we should suffer too. So what else are we going to do? You’re the one that suggested we go away for the holidays.”

”Yeah to a tropical paradise or something!”

”What do you think Australia is?”

”I don’t know, bush and desert?”

Regulus rolls his eyes. “Look. I don’t want to stay at some stuffy hotel and watch you drink cocktails, suffer you flirting with everyone you meet and potentially get arrested because we’ve accidently missed the memo that it’s actually illegal to be queer. I want to go to a place where there’s great views and a lot to do. Will you just do a little research before you shoot down this idea?”

Sirius sighs. “Fine.”

Chapter 2: December 22

Summary:

“Let them drink beers” - Remus Lupin

Notes:

This is the chapter that started it all. It’s been Written for literally over two years. This chapter im very happy with. The rest i feel are… A decent effort in trying to get the story to be written but contain less detail than I had hoped? I dont know. I might come back and pad it in the future but it’s Christmas and it’s been here for over two years and it’s TIME.

“It’s possible the heat is exacerbating the problem.” Remus admits defeatedly from his place behind the counter, trying to enjoy the feel of the somewhat cooler air coming through the desk fan. It’s not enough to stop the sweat dripping down the side of his face, though; it’s certainly not enough to stop him from being argumentative.

The humidity in this part of the city can be stifling. His hair is perpetually damp with sweat and frizz is unavoidable. Leading into the warmer months he always forgets the severity of the heat and gets his usual haircut, not considering the fact that it won’t be long enough to tie up- he’s just not willing to buzz it any shorter because then the curls look ridiculous, and his sandy blonde hair being short just makes him look like he may as well have no hair at all. 

He scrunches up his nose as he feels a bead of sweat trickle down the curve of his spine under his binder.

“Maybe the heat would be less of a problem, Remus, if you weren’t wearing a button down and a sweater vest,” his coworker Marlene snarked from her position on the floor by the counter where she was sorting through new (albeit second hand) inventory. 

She, unlike Remus, had quite happily shaved her head as they came into the summer months. She also dressed appropriately for the weather.

“It’s tolerable for 10 out of 12 months. Maybe I can convince Aborforth to let us use the split system, work something out with the doors.”

Marlene scoffs. “Yeah right. Mr. ‘A closed door is as effective as a closed sign.’” She shakes her head. “Not a chance.”

“Let a man dream, Marls.” Remus sighs out, leaning his cheek on his palm, setting his face right in front of the cool stream of air. He startles when a small novel hits him in the head.

“Oi, what was that for?” He cries indignantly. 

“Marls, Remus? Fuck all the way off.” Marlene glares at him. 

Remus snorts, smirking down at her. “Marly, then?”

“Absolutely not.” 

“Hmm.” Remus hummed. “Mar—s? Mar—ty? Mar—tian? Oh! I could get you antennae. Little alien Mars-lene the Martian.”

Marlene sighs in defeat and returns to her task. “I think I preferred it when you were too scared to talk to me.”

Remus smirks and relaxes back into his seat, hands cradling the back of his head. He should be working on valuing the books that Marlene was sorting, but like he had told her just minutes ago, he couldn’t think in this heat. 

Being task free and openly watching over the shop means he doesn’t miss it when the most beautiful person he has ever seen walks through the door.

His arms drop to his side and he barely manages to stop his jaw from dropping. He blinks to be sure that they’re not some heat induced illusion or mirage.

But his eyes refocus and they’re still there—getting their bearings of the shop's setup, focus eventually settling on the general fiction section.

They are beautiful. Their dark hair and pale complexion stand out in stark contrast, and he only wishes he’d seen their face long enough to see the finer details.

They’re wearing a short sleeved button down and slacks, smart shoes that say ‘I have money.’ So they’re surely not Remus’ type at all, he despises the straight hipster ass holes that manage to find their way in here hoping to pick up a straight hipster girl, but nothing about this person says straight, even though everything about them should.

He jumps, shaken from his reverie when Marlene dabs at the side of his mouth with the hem of her shirt like the shirt itself wasn’t already more than a little damp from sweat. He bats her away with a frown.

“You’ve got a little drool, there” she points to the non existent drool that she had been dabbing at.

“Oh please.” He rolls his eyes, pretending he’s suddenly busy with work.

“They’re pretty.” She muses quietly after a moment of silence.

Remus huffs instead of responding, trying to tamp down something unwanted and territorial that’s rising in him for absolutely no reason he can think of.

”Go greet them.”

Remus just huffs again. “You greet them.” He mutters, grabbing the nearest book within his reach and opening it to check it’s condition.

Marlene sucks her teeth, sitting back in her chair while she continues to watch their latest customer. After a moment she stands. “Icy pole?” she asks.

He nods. “Please.”

Marlene strides off to the cafe to raid the freezer for their stash of icy poles, and Remus looks up the book for a reference point. He lasts maybe two more seconds before glancing up again.

The customer seems to be making it their mission to read every title of every book on the wall with the pace they’re going, and he wonders if he should actually go and help them.

How is he supposed to focus when all he can think about is how to get them to notice him. 

Marlene comes back with three icy poles and Remus furrows his brow in confusion. She hands one to him with a smirk before turning towards the customer, who already has his hands full of books, and greets them with none of the trepidation that Remus would have had.

He strains to hear the conversation.

“Oh, I didn’t order anything.” Regulus says politely. Oh that accent. English. Remus wants to drown in it.

“I know you didn’t.” He can hear the smile in Marlene's tone. “Here, I’ll leave these at the counter for you- don’t worry, you don’t need to commit to them all, but you truly don’t need to lug around a pile of books. You’ve barely made it through the front of the store so far. There's a whole other level, too, just up those stairs. Queer stuff, poetry, you know.

“Anyway, it’s hot, this is on us. Here.” She offers them the icy pole and the customer glances at the counter, at Remus, the other side of us. Remus, who had been idly unwrapping his own icy pole for most of their conversation but rather unfortunately, currently has his entire mouth over the end of it for no reason he could reasonably explain. His face heats and he slides down and out of sight on the chair, disturbing the cat that was sleeping under the desk and sending her running.

He hears the faint snicker of the customer and the sounds of their exchange.

“Thank you.” They say.

“You’re welcome! I imagine a Brit like you isn’t particularly enjoying the heat at this time of year. Why you might give up a white Christmas I could not even fathom.” She laughs. “I’ll leave you to it,” She says after a moment, heading back towards the counter, but not before calling out over her shoulder, “Don't let it drip on the books!” 

She winks at Remus and he frowns, huffs and returns to valuing the vaguely sorted books. 

When he sees someone approaching the counter in his peripheral, he straightens, marking down the price in pencil on the first page of the book before setting it aside and looking up, finding the pretty customer in front of him.

When he meets the others eyes he feels like he might suffocate- his heart is beating so hard in his chest he feels like it’s taking up all of the space in his ribcage, blocking the airway completely. Wordlessly, because truly, he couldn’t speak if he tried, he reaches for the books in their hands and adds them to the pile that Marlene has started. 

While Remus’ ice block was quickly bitten down to nothing, Regulus’ is gripped precariously in his hand by the stick, half gone but not bitten, and Remus only wishes he’d been watching the other boy licking the condensed moisture as it melted. As it is, his lips are a deep red from the cold of it, and Remus can’t tear his eyes away from them.

The corner of the other mans mouth curls up and he says a quiet “Thank you.” before turning to continue their venture through the stacks. They stop a step away, and turn back to face Remus, whos eyes are wide. He’s sure he looks a little like a deer in headlights. 

“Regulus— is my name. I uh.” They gesture to the books strewn all over the place with a crooked smile. “So that my pile doesn’t get lost.” 

“Oh, okay,” Remus says dumbly. 

And then Regulus turns, disappearing from the main room, so, so unfortunately out of sight. 

Marlene coughs. “Smooth.” 

Remus throws his pencil at her. “Shut up.” 

Marlene sits back on her heels and looks up at him thoughtfully. “What’s your deal?” She asks.

Remus raises his brow and she rolls her eyes. “I mean we have scores of incredibly attractive people that come through here all the time, and you barely give them a second glance. I have seen countless people blatantly flirting with you and all you do is offer them a free tote bag. This whole flustered thing-” she gestures at him vaguely, “It’s wigging me out a bit.”

Remus looks up to the ceiling, as if it had the kind of reasonable explanation that he wishes he could give written across the cracks.

He settles on shrugging.

Marlene sighs, rolling her shoulders. “I, myself, am omnisexual. As you know, my pronouns shift because I’m also genderfluid. Today, she/her. Tomorrow, maybe not. Who knows. Not me.” She looks up at him expectantly.

When he doesn’t respond with anything but an acknowledging humm she clears her throat. “That’s where you tell me yours?”

“What are we, six? You show me yours I’ll show you mine?” He shakes his head and sighs when she just wiggles her eyebrows at him suggestively like the filthy brat she is. “I’m on the aro/ace spectrum.” he allows.

“Right. So you’re going to make me guess where you sit on that spectrum? Because we could be here all day.” 

“This is not a work conversation.” Remus chastises weakly.

“Anything is a work conversation when we’re at work.” Marlene waves him off. “You started this when you decided we were going to be friends. No backing out now. It’s too late.”

Remus sighs. What is he supposed to say? He’s only been in love (in the traditional sense) once. It was the only time he felt sexual and romantic attraction at the same time, and he absolutely worshipped her. 

It had been a few years, he thinks, honestly he isn’t keeping track anymore. The prospect of a relationship made him incredibly uncomfortable, if he was honest. He wasn’t really willing to make any concessions to the way he was currently living his life.

As sure as he was that he wasn’t interested in dating though, he couldn’t deny that he felt an instant interest in Regulus. Had noticed them as soon as they came in. Had not been able to stop himself from tracking them through the store. 

As his hand spelled their name on a spare piece of paper, it didn’t feel like the first time he was writing it. There was something so familiar about the curves of the letters in their name. 

Perhaps it was just similar to his own. 

He sighs, reluctantly answering Marlene. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable labelling it.”

When he next took a glance around the shop, he found Regulus leaning on the end of the shelf, nibbling the side of their icy pole and watching Remus curiously. He didn’t look away when he was caught staring, and Remus couldn’t help the flush he felt on his cheeks. Regulus smiles at him and Remus feels like he’s malfunctioning. He can’t move. He’s locked on Regulus’ gaze. Thankfully, Regulus rounds the barricade and makes their way up the stairs, not looking back. 

“Was he listening to that entire conversation?” Remus whispers when he’s sure Regulus is out of earshot.

Marlene just smirks at him, shrugs and goes back to her work, muttering, “You’re welcome.”

Fuck this, Remus needs a cigarette.

“I’m taking a ten.” Remus mutters, standing and tip toeing his way out of the mountainous piles of books surrounding the counter.

He steps out of the shop onto the street, the legal 4 metres from any entrance, and lights up.

“Oh thank God.” An accent not unlike Regulus’ speaks from a few metres down the street and Remus blinks at the glare from the sun on the windows as he looks up at the person almost running towards him.

The person stops in front of him, panting a little. “I’ve been trying to find someone, anyone, with a lighter for like, an hour.” They exaggerate. “Could I borrow yours?” 

Remus nods, handing it over.

“Thank you!” They say, handing it back and taking a long drag, their shoulders instantly deflating with relief. “No one smokes here, huh?” they mention conversationally.

Remus shrugs. “Barely, yeah. Too expensive. I hope you had the foresight to bring a couple decks in with you.”

They nod. “I did, actually, yeah, but only because I favour a certain brand. I’m glad I did, truly. Haven’t seen a tobacco shop since we got here this morning.”

“There aren’t a lot of ciggie shops in this area, no. There's one around the corner on the main road, but that’s it. Have to get them from the shops, like Coles or Woolies, and Servos, too, but they’ll be more expensive there.”

“Well hopefully I don’t have to buy any, because to be honest I have no idea what any of those things are,” he laughs. “We’re just here for the holidays, I should be alright.”

Remus snorts. “Don’t underestimate Australian culture, particularly this time of year. Chain smoking goes hand in hand with excessive food and alcohol consumption. If you’re here for the holiday, surely you’re planning on doing it right?” Remus needles with a playful smirk.

“I would love nothing more than to fully immerse myself into the culture of your people.” they say seriously, before offering their hand to Remus. “I’m Sirius.”

With a name like that, this must be a relation of Regulus’. Remus can’t really tell with the large sunglasses covering most of his face. But the dark hair and pale skin, and of course the accent, is the same so… 

Remus wipes his palm on his pants before offering a handshake to Sirius. “Remus.” He returns. 

“Nice to meet you.” Sirius smiles. “Did I see you coming out of that book store?” He nods in the direction of the shop. 

Remus nods. “Yup.” He raises his cigarette. “Just taking a ten.” 

Sirius nods. “You haven’t happened across my brother have you?” He raises his hand to just above his shoulder, “About ye’ high, almost as good looking as me, with shorter hair?” 

Remus snorts. “Yeah, he’s upstairs. I have to dispute the almost as good looking part, though, he’s very nice to look at.” 

Sirius raises a brow in surprise but takes the comment in stride, even as Remus feels his cheeks heat and rolls his eyes dramatically. “Oh please. I know I’m gorgeous.” He flicks his hair over his shoulders and flashes a smile at Remus. 

Remus huffs a laugh. “I’m not arguing that. I’m just saying…” He licks his lips. “Regulus is...” he hums, unable to quite articulate his thoughts on the other man.

Sirius raises a brow. “On a first name basis already, are we?”

Remus sucks in a breath, flushing. “Oh, uh, well-” how does he not sound like a stalker right now? “I mean… You do realise you introduced yourself to me in under five minutes, right?” 

Sirius chuckles. “Right you are. Well,” they crouch down to butt out their cigarette, glancing around for a bin. There’s one not too far up the street. “I’m going to go and find a bar to sit at while Reg gets his rocks off over old books. Tell him to text me when he comes out from the heady old book smell daze I’m sure he’s in.”

And with that, Sirius sets off.

Remus butts out his own cigarette and rounds the corner to put it in the ashtray they keep by the alley to the cafe, deciding to go in through the back so he can tidy from back to front before returning to his post at the counter.

When he returns to the front room, Marlene is eyeing him with an amused expression.

“You know, you had absolutely no trouble talking to that handsome stranger out the front just now. What’s so different about the one upstairs?”

“Shhh!” Remus hushes her as he glances at the stairs and hopes to god that Regulus didn’t hear that. “Can you just, not? Okay?”

Marlene raises her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine alright. Maybe you should go up and check on him, see if he needs you to bring anything down for him. At the very least I’m sure he has no idea what to do with his popsicle stick by now. And if you find it wedged between a book somewhere then you know they’re a pig and can get over it.”

Remus rolls his eyes. “And why do I have to do it?” 

“Because, Remusaur, this whole pining energy that is radiating off of you right now is agitating the shit out of me. Fuck off out of my space.” Marlene says casually, not looking at him. She’s joking, no malice in the words, but Remus grumbles petulantly regardless. 

“Fine, fine. Probably need to do a quick tidy up there anyway.”

“They’re the only one who’s been up there, I’m sure it’s fine. Don’t potter around up there like an idiot. Just go straight in for the kill. You’re a customer service representative, it really shouldn’t be that hard.”

Remus waved her off as he ascended the stairs. 

He finds Regulus sitting on the floor by the autobiography section with a book open, immersed in the pages amd can’t help but smile. 

“Hey.” Remus greets softly, not wanting to startle the other man too much. 

Regulus looks up from the page and smiles guiltily. “Is this allowed?” He asks sheepishly.

Remus smiles. “Yeah.” anything you want “Encouraged, even.” please stay as long as you want. 

“It’s not bad for business to have your customers reading the books instead of buying them?”

Remus leaned against the bookshelf, putting his hands in his pockets and shakes his head. “On the contrary. If people spend a little time reading the book, they have the opportunity to decide if they can commit to it or not, and a lot of the time it’s just enough time to get them hooked. And honestly,” he says, lowering his voice, “If people don't have the means to buy books, and they come here to read… Well, I’d never deny someone that. Access to literature is important.”

Regulus looks up at him with something akin to reverence and Remus’ heart flutters.

“That’s… I’ve never thought of it like that.” Regulus says.

Remus shrugs. “We’re lucky that we deal in second hand books, most of them have already been read several times, so it makes it easy for us to be lenient on people reading our inventory.”

Regulus smiles, raising the book. “Like me.” He chuckles. “You’re right though. I will be buying this. I haven’t even started looking at anything else up here, yet.”

“Well one room is all sheet music, and one is just records, so unless you have a particular interest in music there's not all that much more than this room.”

“I do play piano, actually. Any unique Australian compositions, do you think?” he asks.

Remus shrugs, his eyes now focused on the long, slender fingers of the other man, trying to tear his imagination away from the image of them making music with such lovely hands. “I-” his voice cracks, and he clears his throat, dragging his eyes up to Regulus’ amused face. He flushes. God, Remus might not have blushed this much since he was a kid. “I don’t handle the music room; know shamefully little about it if I’m honest. But everything should be categorised. Aberforth really loves to section off the Australian stuff.”

“I appreciate that. There’s a lot here I haven’t seen before.” Regulus smiles, closing the book and handing it to Remus before hauling himself up off of the floor. 

Remus glances to Reglus’ now empty hands and the floor looking for the popsicle stick, and Regulus eyes him, confused for a moment before pulling the stick from his pocket and holding it up. 

“Looking for this?” he asks, “I was going to hold onto it until I came across a bin.” 

“It’s fine. I’m happy to take it down.” 

“Are you always so attentive in your service?” Regulus asks, handing the stick to Remus, who has to remember to breathe after the brief contact.

Remus doesn’t have a good answer for that, so he just smiles back at him. “I met Sirius, outside- said they were going to go and find a bar to sit at. Asked for you to send a message when you are done.”

Regulus frowned. “It’s 11am.” 

Remus snorts. “No one would bat an eye even if it was still 9.” 

Regulus looks back at him incredulously. “That’s…” He shakes his head, expression returning to neutral. “Well, we are on holiday.” he concedes.

Remus smiles, raising the book. “I’ll see you downstairs,” he says. 

“Wait-” Regulus calls, and Remus stops at the top of the stairs, turning back. “I don’t know— you haven’t…” he huffed out a laugh at himself and tried again. “I don’t know your name.”

“I’m Remus.” He returns, before heading down the stairs.

---

By 12.15PM, Sirius is tired of waiting. It’s lunchtime on a Wednesday and somehow, despite the time of year, the pub he chose is basically desolate. Or at least, it may as well be. The only inhabitants of said pub are pot bellied old men nursing pints and clutching tickets. It may have something to do with the fact that the whole bar area fronts onto TAB– every kind of race you can think of with a few little screens of KENO on the side. This is what you get for going to a random pub before lunch, he supposes.

He finishes the final dregs of his own pint and nods farewell to the bartender as he exits the pub, immediately pulling a cigarette before groaning because he still doesn’t have a lighter. He pops the cigarette back into the packet and skulks down the street back to the place of the last confirmed sighting of his brother.

Sirius enters the book store and glances around, trying to catch sight of his brother, sighing heavily when he doesn’t see him.

“He’s just around the corner behind the stairs.” the Aussie he spoke to earlier says. “There’s a little reading nook there that gets a good brush from the fan–” he gestures to the large fan at the back of the store which is slowly whirring back and forth.

“You told him to text me?” he asks.

Remus shrugs, smiling apologetically. “I told him.”

Sirius huffs a laugh. “Right.” He leans against the end of a bookshelf across from the counter, leaving enough space for people to come in and out of the shop. “You could just kick him out you know.”

Remus raised a brow. “And why would I do that?”

Sirius is nothing if not quick, tilting his head side to side as if considering his response. “Well if you would be so kind to, it would save me from dragging him out by his hair, really save me from the inevitable animosity.”

“I’ve already told him he can stay as long as he wants, I’m afraid.” Remus says apologetically, crossing his arms onto the desk and leaning forward into the stream of air from the desk fan.

He’s cute, Sirius thinks. A little more spindly than he would usually go for, but there's something about him that Sirius is drawn to, and there’s no question that Remus is radiating bi energy, from the plugs in his ears and the little silver sword dangling from one of them to the shag cut of his curling hair and the oversized button down only contained by an oversized sweater vest in a clashing pattern. In the sun he could barely see the faded scarring to his left cheek, but in this light, he could see that they must have been brutal marks to have left such scarring on his face. 

“Ah, well.” Sirius relaxes into his position, popping his hands into his pockets and crossing one ankle over the other. He grins at Remus. “His loitering gave me a chance to meet you again, I’d say it’s kind of like fate, wouldn’t you?”

Remus raises a brow. “Well, no, not really. If you hadn’t told me to pass a message to Regulus, I wouldn’t have been able to affirm that he could take his time here, and he might have picked his books and left to find you without needing to be asked. You increased the probability of your return on your own, I’m afraid.”

Sirius let out an amused huff. “You think I planned to come back all along?” 

Remus shrugs. “If it was just a drink you wanted, you could have gone out the back to the cafe. The bar opens at 11. Then you wouldn’t have had to leave in the first place.”

Sirius smirks. “Did you want me to stay?”

“It would be pretty dumb to refuse additional patronage.” Remus says nonchalantly. 

Sirius likes him. A lot. His quick wit and the whole playing hard to get bit. Maybe he could do a fling instead of the potential string of one night stands he had planned on.

Sirius bites down on his lip and lets his eyes rove over Remus shamelessly. The other man doesn’t appear to notice, turning to push at his nailbeds in the onset of silence. 

“Do you get a lunch break?” Sirius asks. 

Remus looks up at him with a crease in his brow, a small bemused smile on his lips. “‘Course I get a lunch break.”

“Well yeah, but you might have been working a short shift and only gotten the smoke break, I don’t know.” Sirius huffs a laugh. He pushes off the shelf. “Could I take you out to lunch?” 

Remus’ eyes widen almost comically, his jaw slackening with surprise. Did he not realise Sirius had been flirting with him since they met?

“I–” Remus croaked, before they’re interrupted by a crashing sound in the next room. Sirius looks over his shoulder to see his brother standing over a toppled stand of books, feigning inculpability and regret. Sirius scowls, but Remus is over there in a flash to right the stand and reassure an apologetic Regulus that it’s fine, no harm done.

Sirius huffs, crossing his arms as the pair return to the counter.

“I think I’m done for today, Siri.” Regulus says, picture of innocence. He hands Remus another two books, and he takes them, Sirius notes the way their fingers brush, sees Remus glance up at Regulus only to glance away flushed when they make eye contact.

For fucks sake. Of course.

“You haven’t gotten to go through them and check you definitely want them all.” Remus reminds him.

“Oh.” Regulus says. “Well, maybe I can come back after lunch?” He asks hopefully, “You should join us, Remus.”

Remus bites his lip. “I go on lunch at 1, when Marlene gets back. You could have lunch here, if you’d like, I can always meet you in the cafe. Then you don’t have to wait for me.” He says.

“You sure you don’t want to get out of here for a bit?” Regulus asks.

Remus shakes his head with a smile. “It’s alright, I don’t usually go very far.”

“Okay, well, we’ll meet you outside then?” Regulus asks.

Remus nods and they turn to go towards the back. Remus calls out quickly– “Regulus.” before he hands him one of the books, and Regulus can’t suppress his smile as he takes it from him gratefully.

Fucking excellent, Sirius rolls his eyes.

Once they’re out of sight and out of earshot, Sirius slaps his brother's arm. 

“Hey!” Regulus complains, rubbing his arm. “What was that for?”

“Who knocks over a shelf to get someone's attention!” Sirius exclaims as they take some menus and find a table.

“Oh please, it was basically a magazine rack, there weren’t more than 10 books on there.”

“That’s so beside the point Reg. You could have just joined us at the counter like a normal person instead of pushing things over like a petty cat.”

“You should be thanking me for saving you the embarrassment of rejection.”

Sirius rolls his eyes. “You don’t know he would have said no to me. He’s still coming to lunch, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, but it was me he said yes to. Honestly Sirius, I saw him first. Back off.”

Sirius raises his hands in defeat. “Alright, alright. But I’m telling you right now, if it turns out he’s not interested in you I am absolutely not holding back.”

Regulus glares, but says nothing. Sirius pulls out a chair and goes to sit down, startling when the chair is no longer there and he crashes to the floor in an ungraceful heap. 

Regulus takes a seat in the chair he pulled out from under Sirius and smirks down at him.

---

It’s 10 past 1 and Regulus is getting antsy. 

“Relax would you,” Sirius chides. “He’s probably just caught up with a customer. He can’t stand you up in the shop he bloody well works at.”

Regulus pouts, pushing the remaining food around his plate. 

He hadn’t noticed Remus when he first came into the book store. Regulus has no idea how he managed to walk straight past him, yet, it had been a good ten minutes before he caught sight of him.

Once he was aware of him, he couldn’t become unaware, and he couldn’t quite figure out how he hadn’t felt his presence the minute he was in his vicinity. Because Remus was impossible to ignore. Not only was he beautiful, but his presence demanded a certain attention. And by that, he means all of Regulus’ attention. 

He’d been trying to play it cool. Settling in to ‘read’— although, his eyes skimming the same paragraph multiple times because you just can’t quite grasp the words barely constitutes reading. He doesn’t want to leave. He’s found him now, and isn’t that the groundbreaking acknowledgement. He’s found him. Like he’s been wandering aimlessly trying to find a missing part of himself and he’s just happened upon him entirely by chance. 

It’s not the whole, we met and we just clicked rhetoric. No, the very fabric of his being recognises Remus as someone he has held countless lifetimes before. 

He has never believed anything of the sort. If you had come to him with the question of whether soulmates were real yesterday? He would have said no. But to his very core, he knows.

He startles back to reality when Sirius flicks a edamame bean at him, and it hits him in the cheek. He barely contains himself from scooping up the remaining food on his plate and flinging it back at him, instead reaching up to his cheek and making sure the bean hadn’t had some kind of dressing on it. Thankfully it didn’t.

An amused Remus settles into the empty seat at their table. Reg tries to contain the boiling irritation towards his brother for being the one to make Remus smile.

“Hey-ya. Sorry I got caught up.” Remus apologises, pulling out his own lunch, a plain sandwich, and digging in. “How was yours?” He asks, gesturing to their almost empty plates.

“Was good!” Sirius says, and Regulus nods. Remus eyes their plates. 

“Are the two of you vegetarian?” he asks, noting their food choices. 

“I am.” Sirius nods. “Reggies–”

“Not.” Regulus interrupts him. “But I’ll choose whatever looks best. I’m not fussed.” He tries to gain control of the conversation, turning his body to Remus and offering the other man a small smile. “Do you happen to know of any good places to eat around here?”

“Almost everywhere around here could more than accommodate a vegetarian diet. There are a couple of vegetarian restaurants along this road, and even more vegan ones.” Remus tells them. “I’m personally a big fan of the Ethiopian place a few doors down. It’s particularly good for large groups. Is it just the two of you here?”

Regulus nods, shrugging. 

“We wanted to escape the family drama this year. To see what Christmas in summer looked like.”

“We.” Sirius scoffs, rolling his eyes. “It looks hot. Which ruins almost all of the good things about Christmas.” He argues.

”Please, you wanted to go somewhere tropical. Here we are.”

“You’d be surprised, you know.” Remus says, interrupting their squabble. “About summer ruining the good parts of Christmas. There are plenty of things that we do here that are summer friendly and still festive. We’re nothing if not scrappy.”

The glint in Remus’ eyes tells him that there might be something to that, and Regulus would love nothing more for Christmas than to see him light up brighter than the lights adorning every street in the city.

“I’m willing to be proven wrong.” Sirius concedes with a wink, flirting, again. Regulus kicks him under the table but he doesn’t even flinch, continuing— “After all, even peppermint mochas taste better iced.”

Remus grins at him, and Regulus might kill them both, actually.

And then he wishes he could kick himself, because it’s ridiculous that he should feel so jealous over someone he just met.  

“Be careful what you wish for, mate. My friends have a ‘the more the merrier’ policy.”

”Is that so?” Sirius says, leaning towards Remus with interest. 

Remus shrugs, unaffected by his brothers flirting. Regulus takes a deep breath, reminding himself that he’s the one who has been making Remus blush. 

“We’re having a barbecue tomorrow arvo, if you guys want to come? Bit of a pre-Chrissy celebration for friends before we all get accosted by our birth families. Should be fun. You in?”

”Will there be shrimp… On these barbies?” Sirius says, struggling to keep a straight face. Regulus groans, sinking into his seat and hiding his face in his hands. 

Remus responds flatly, “No,” and Regulus can’t help but chortle.

 

Notes:

If you’ve been to the inner west in sydney you might be able to guess the bookstore that inspired the setting for moonseekers meet-cute. Maybe if you’re nice ill go and take pictures and you can really immerse yourself in the vibes

Please dont hesitate to ask me about the australianisms in the comments ex oh

Chapter 3: December 23

Summary:

”What up I got a big cock” - Regulus Black

”Oi nah!” James shouts, jogging back to the barbecue, tongs in one hand and beer in another. He elbows Fabian out of the way. “Fuck off you ranga cunt this is my barbie.”

“And what’re you gonna do about it eh, brus?” Fabian replies, puffing out his chest and staunching up to James, who starts clapping the tongs in his face. 

“I said fuck off! God you’re worse than a bin chicken.”

Fabian chuckles, ducking away from the snap of tongs. “Don’t burn my bloody sausages by getting distracted then!” He calls when he’s far enough away that he won’t get accosted by aluminium kitchen utensils again.

Of course it would have been ideal that Regulus and Sirius had turned up after this moment, but Remus looks up from watching the exchange to find them standing right there, likely having witnessed the entire interaction.

”Oh er, hi— wow you came.” He blurts, straightening from his perch and over correcting, stumbling a little. “Hi.” He says again, flushing. 

God they must think he’s ridiculous. 

“Hi, Remus. Merry Christmas Eve- eve.” Sirius says, but Remus’ eyes are on Regulus. How could they not be? He can’t stop smiling, especially because Regulus has his own sly smile for him.

“Oi moony, you gonna introduce us then?” James calls from his place at the barbecue, and Remus has to shake himself out of it, turning to his friends to introduce the newcomers. 

“Yeah- yeah uh. Guys this is Regulus,” he points, “And Sirius.” He looks at the brothers in turn. “The one that was shouting is James. The red haired one he was yelling at is Fabian.” He turns around to face the rest of the group, pointing in turn, even though he knows they’re going to forget as soon as he introduces them. He would, in any case. 

“Marlene, Lily, Gideon— you can tell them apart because Gideon’s nose is crooked, if that helps— Peter and…” he turns back to James. “Where’d Frank go?” 

James shrugs. “Dunno mate.”

Remus sighs heavily. He’s pretty sure Frank is off his meds and really shouldn’t just be wandering around, but alright. He doesn’t see Alice either, maybe she’s with him. Distracted, he continues, “Uh, Mary, Mundy— and…” He frowns. “Well Alice and Emmeline seem to be MIA too. They were here. Ah well.”

He turns back to Sirius and Regulus, the latter of which is looking a little overwhelmed. “It’s a lot, I know. Happy to help remind you at any point.” He offers him what he hopes is a reassuring smile, tucking his hands into his pockets, then taking them out, and tucking one in again, leaving one free to dictate as he goes on.

He points to the giant esky it had taken three of them to haul out of the car and to the park. “Esky— there’s beer and soft drink in there so help yourself.” He gestures around to their shady picnic spot. There is a lot of tree cover, a large table close to the ground on a slab of cement, and layers of everyone’s picnic blankets, outdoor pillows, and all kinds of chairs from beach ones to camping chairs. “Plenty of seats and blankets, so whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

Watching Regulus take it all in is nothing short of a delight really. They even wrapped a tree in some battery powered lights, put their group prezzies underneath it. Even he can admit it’s a bit extravagant, they’ve been here for hours— first to secure the spot and set up, then to fuss over food and drink, taking in turns to go to the store and get ice and anything else they hadn’t already prepared. 

“Oi Moony!” James calls from the barbecue, clicking the tongs in the air. Remus looks up questioningly, and James points to the lines of zink on his cheeks.

“Oh! Right.” He turns back to the brothers. “I know it’s shady but are yous wearing sunscreen?”

”SPF 50,” Sirius assures him, and Remus smiles, mollified. 

“Right, good. James will probably remind us to reapply in an hour or so, it’s best to listen I think. Bit of a mother hen.”

“That guy?” Sirius smirks, looking at him with interest. 

Remus nods. “Very territorial of his barbie duties you might have noticed, but he loves a yarn so don’t think he’ll chase you away like he did Fab.”

“A yarn?”

Remus huffs a laugh. “A chat. He’s a talker. He’s been asking about you.” He glances at Regulus, shrugging. “Well, both of you. Had a full big chat with the butcher about vegetarian options.”

Regulus nudges Sirius, the older brother shooting a quick glare his way. 

“Fine,” Sirius huffs a small laugh, sauntering in James’ direction.

Remus can’t say he’s not a little relieved to have Regulus to himself for a bit, turning to him with a smile. “Drink?”

Regulus smiles back and nods. “Sure.”

 

After food, a few drinks, and a round of reapplied sunscreen, the group is settled on their blankets, chatting in several small groups. Except James, who ran off after the Fire Truck with Santa. 

Regulus and Remus are sat somewhere in between on beach chairs under an umbrella Lily brought out when she saw a gap in their shade, drinking cans of lemonade and creaming soda respectively with festive straws, a Christmas hat adorning Remus’ head and antlers on Regulus’. Regulus fans himself with a Christmas themed paper plate, and Remus slips another ice cube out of the paper cup of ice he scooped out of the esky, holding it to his neck. 

“We really should do this in Brighton Le Sands next year.” Marlene mentions, their big floppy hat providing their own circle of shade nearby. 

“Ugh, Brighton is always so packed with families though.” Peter complains.

“If we’re going to go out of our way we might as well go somewhere in the national park.” Lily counters, fanning pink cheeks with two paper plates. 

”Brightons not that far though, like at all.” Marlene counters. “National park is like an hours drive. And none of us would be able to drink.”

”Beer is a crucial part of this event,” Peter agrees.

“What are we talking about,” Regulus leans over and whispers. 

Remus smiles, pushing the bright red festive “sunglasses” up his nose where they’ve slipped down. “They’re talking about the beach.”

”Oh,” he says, sitting back in his chair with his gained perspective. 

“Remus— your place has a pool doesn’t it?” 

Remus shrugs. “Sure, but it’s small. Don’t think it’d fit all of us unless you want to be packed in like sardines.”

“Yeah, Peter’s building has a much bigger pool area.”

Peter sighs, resigned, as people begin to discuss the logistics of getting there. Remus’ place is close, and would be most convenient, but Peter’s complex is certainly more suitable, and not that far. The main problem with Peter’s is his insufferable dude-bro housemates. 

“I didn’t bring swimwear,” Regulus leans over to say quietly to Remus, and Remus turns to him. 

“Like to Australia or to the park?” 

Regulus huffs a laugh. “To the park. Though I nearly debated not packing them at all, I’m not very comfortable with swimming.”

Remus glances Regulus over, mostly to determine that he will fit into something he owns before he offers. Remus is taller and it sometimes gives the illusion that he’s thinner than he is—so he decides it should be fine. “You can borrow some of mine, if you’d like?” Then the whole, I’m not very comfortable with swimming, replays in his mind and he corrects— “I mean, you don’t have to swim if you don’t want to. If you just dress the part, and put your feet in, people might not bother you about it at all.”

Regulus presses his lips together, considering while he searches Remus’ face. A slow smile spreads over his face. 

“I know if I put my feet in Sirius will drag me in.”

“Do you want to swim?” Remus asks seriously. 

Regulus shrugs, his shoulders a little hunched. “Maybe? I’m not sure. It’s just…” He looks around nervously, and Remus reaches out to place his hand on Regulus’ wrist, just a gentle touch. 

“You don’t have to explain yourself. If you want to, you could accompany me to mine to get changed?”

Regulus nods, a small smile and Remus pulls his hand back into his lap, returning his attention to the group.

James returns at a jog, finally, returning to Sirius’ side and leaning in to ask what he missed. Remus would worry less about how well they’re getting on if they’d stop leaning in to one another to whisper conspiratorially. He thinks if they were given more time together they’d be right menaces. 

While Alice, Frank and Emmeline had returned around the time lunch was being served, they opt out, citing that they have evening plans, as does Mary, and Marlene explains they’re tapped out. So as they clean up, they begin to disperse, and once the last blanket is packed into the boot of a car, Remus turns to find Regulus waiting patiently at the curb not far behind him, grinning as he nods in the direction they need to go.

Sirius and James accepted a lift from Marlene, and now that Lily’s car is all packed, they’re good to go.

”See you in a bit!” Lily calls through the passenger window over Gideon, who offers a salute as they pull away from the curb.

“It’s so surreal that most of you have cars when you live in the city.” Regulus comments as they begin the walk to Remus’ apartment.

Remus hums in agreement. “I wanted to get rid of mine when I moved here, but transport is a bit of a nightmare sometimes. Where are you from?” 

“Mmm, have lived in London my entire life.”

Remus glances at him from the corner of his eye. “Do you like living there?”

Regulus shrugs, “I’m not sure I know any different. Can’t really count the Summers at the v—“ he stops himself, and Remus turns to him with a raised brow. “We have estates in France,” He admits sheepishly. “It never really felt like a holiday though, when you couldn’t leave the house.”

Remus bites his tongue, no matter how much he would love to ask exactly what kind of wealth Regulus came from and why on earth he would want to hang out in second hand book stores with a guy who works in one. He doesn’t, though, just tucks his hands in his pockets and tries to break the tension with his own experiences.

”Mum was always big on family holidays around Australia. She loves to travel. So we’d get in the car and drive and drive, camp at a beach or in the bush under the stars. I’m proud that I’ve seen a lot of this country.” 

What he doesn’t say, is that he hated it as a kid. Hated camping, hated bathing in a creek or the beach showers, hated the bugs, cooking on a fire, hated barbecue, and spent a lot of his formative years wondering why on earth they couldn’t just go to a resort or on a cruise like other people he knew. 

They’d never gone without, but they’d never had a lot of money. He realised later, much later, how much these holidays with his family had meant to him. He realised now, that not everyone got time with their family to make positive memories of the times they explored the land they called home.

He was grateful.

”What would you say was your favourite place that you visited?”

”Oh god, that’s hard.” Remus throws his head back, groaning a little at the hardship of having to choose a favourite place to visit. 

”One of my favourite holidays was at a distant cousins beach house near Noosa. I spent a good part of the week or so we were there being absolutely feral with cousins I’d never met, who I don’t even recall the names of now. But I remember going to the beach every single day, running the small distance through some trees at the side of the house to the light sand, just spending hours and hours at the coast. It felt like it was just us and the beach.”

He pauses. “For that memory alone I think that’s my favourite place. But the Blue Lake at Mount Gambier is a close second.”

Regulus is quiet, and Remus glances at him only to find him watching him with interest. Remus offers a small smile and looks away, pressing on. “Why did you choose Sydney? I feel like a lot of tourists would come here for the Gold Coast, right?”

Regulus shrugs in his peripheral. “Compromise. Enough City for me to be comfortable, enough beaches for Sirius to be satisfied. Not that I’ve really been yet. Besides, this is hot enough, I don’t fancy being any closer to the equator.”

Remus hums in agreement. “Where are you staying? I don’t think I asked.”

”An airBnB in Balmoral.” Regulus replies, and Remus lets out a low whistle. 

“Fancy,” He grins at Regulus, who shrugs, a small smile on his face. 

“Ticks off the beach part for Sirius. And I put him in a room that leads to the courtyard and has an ensuite, so that I don’t have to see or hear from anyone he decides to bring back.”

Remus can practically hear the sound of Regulus rolling his eyes at that, and huffs a small laugh. 

“What, you didn’t think you’d want it for yourself?” The teasing words tumble from his mouth before he can stop them, and he wants to smack himself a little for saying something stupid. While he’s hit his stride in talking to him, Regulus still makes him incredibly nervous. 

He doesn’t look at him, but he can see Regulus tilting his head to look at him from the corner of his eye.

He certainly doesn’t expect Regulus to say what he says next.

”Well no, I didn’t think I’d need it. Besides, I don’t think I need to sneak you in and out, do I? I’d much rather have breakfast with you the next morning than hope you slip out the back door before I wake up.”

Remus stops, cheeks flushed a furious red as he stops to look at Regulus with wide eyes. 

Regulus stops a few steps ahead, turning and smiling a little nervously, looking somewhat sheepish. “Did I read this wrong?” He asks apologetically.

Remus shakes his head adamantly, not yet able to speak, but needing Regulus to know. He motions for them to keep going, trying to reduce the tension in the air. 

Regulus fills the silence. “I don’t mean to seem presumptuous, you know, I don’t expect… Well I did overhear your conversation with… Marlene wasn’t it? At least the part where you said you were aro/ace spec. And I don’t expect sex, I really don’t, but the interest is there, romantically, right?” He glances at Remus who nods, and he continues.

”And I’ve really been enjoying spending time with you, and I’m not here for that long, and I—“

”I’m trans.” Remus blurts, his mind going too fast for his mouth, skipping several steps in the conversation. He’d rather get it out of the way now, though, than find out that Regulus wasn’t interested, or was a bigot, or—

“Oh— so am I.” Regulus replies, and Remus stops again.

”Really?” Remus blinks at the other man who turns to face him a couple of steps ahead once more.

Regulus nods, a small smile on his lips. “Really.”

Did Remus dream him up? Did the universe hear him calling for the perfect person for him and send this man his way? 

It wasn’t fair to put him on a pedestal, but it was difficult not to. He was all fit and lean with his curly black hair and expensive sunglasses and Remus wishes he could see his eyes because then at least he would have a feature to distract him from the full, pink lips with a sharp cupids bow that he was currently looking at. 

Regulus’ tongue darts out to lick his lips and Remus blinks, attempting to ‘look him in the eye,’ as if he could. 

“Oh, yes okay. Well. Good.”

He begins to walk again, and Regulus chuckles. 

“I don’t know if I have any objection to being intimate,” Remus adds, “I won’t really know until I know, does that make sense?”

He could come right out and say it, that he won’t know until they try, but he doesn’t want to try right here, and he should probably talk to Regulus about the fact that he’s had exactly zero of the surgeries that he wants so that he knows what to expect— do they have to have that conversation at all? Remus doesn’t know. He doesn’t do this.

”Yeah,” Regulus replies kindly, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to pressure you. I just knew I would regret it if I didn’t tell you that I’m interested.”

Remus nods, wishing he’d had the same courage. Or, he supposes in a way he did, or Regulus wouldn’t be here with him, approaching the door to his apartment building. 

Remus removes the hand clasped around his keys from his pocket and taps the tag to open the front door lock, holding the door for Regulus. 

“I’m two floors up,” He says behind him as they begin ascending the stairs, then directing them down the hall to his door. 

The building is fine, though it gives off lonely hotel vibes with its off-white walls, beige doors and industrial carpet on the floors. Every now and then there’s a large indoor potted plant or a generic painting on the wall- but aside from that, it is completely plain but for the dozens of doors along the corridor. Each was closed with no personality to speak of on the outside— it was against building rules. 

Remus had been here for two years, and knew exactly zero of his likely tens of dozens of neighbours but for small polite nods in the hall or the laundry room. 

He hopes to god he didn’t leave anything laying around that you wouldn’t for polite company as he opens the door and steps inside to hold it open for Regulus. 

When Regulus steps inside, Remus begins glancing around at his small studio with a critical eye, wondering what it must look like to someone like Regulus. Someone likely used to large rooms that had singular functions, not one that had to be every room at once. 

He stood nervously at the door as Regulus surveyed the space with what seemed like genuine interest, eyes trailing over the art on the walls and the plants hanging from the curtain rod that no longer contained curtains, the blinds pulled open to reveal floor to ceiling windows with a tree so large its leaves almost encroached on the small balcony outside. His bed was almost pressed up to the window, he liked to lay in the sun in the winter, and in summer it was right beneath the air conditioner unit fixed onto the wall. Across from the bed was the door to the bathroom, small as it was, and perpetually closed because the door took up too much space. 

There was a large, plush chair in the corner of the room where he would read, the walls lined with modular bookshelves on either side between his bed on one and the door on the other, containing everything from books, to clothes, to kitchen supplies that didn’t fit in the small kitchen nook nestled between the bathroom and the door.

A rug spread in the small space that was left in the centre of the studio.

”It’s not much,” Remus said, shrugging.

”It’s cozy,” Regulus offered him a smile, and then sat on the edge of Remus’ bed, leaning back on his hands. 

Remus had a sudden urge to climb into his lap, and felt his neck heat at the thought. He turned and started towards the shelf by the door which contained a few draws, pulling the one open that contained swim shorts. 

“So uh, you came to Australia in the middle of summer, are staying at a beach and didn’t bring swim shorts?” Remus asks as he rifles through the drawer.

Regulus huffs a small laugh. “Wasn’t really planning on swimming. Still won’t be, I think.”

Remus turns with a furrow in his brow and three pairs of swim trunks in his hands. He can’t imagine not swimming, body issues or no. He loves to be in the water. “Oh,” is all he says, looking at the trunks and then back at Regulus. “Do you want these, or?”

Regulus shrugs, looking unsure before he seems to make a decision. “I don’t like the way that clothes cling to you when you’re wet. Makes me uncomfortable.”

”We don’t have to go, you know.” Remus offers, holding the shorts in an awkward half out position.

”Your friends are expecting you, Sirius is with them—“

”I’ve already spent more time socialising than I can usually manage, my friends will understand. Sirius… Seems to be on a mission to get into James and Lily’s pants.”

Regulus snorts. “You noticed that, huh?”

Remus shrugs. “It’s easier to pick up on social cues when they’re not happening to me.”

”You sure?”

Remus tosses all three pairs carelessly over his shoulders with a smile and a nod, and Regulus huffs an incredulous laugh.

“Alright,” Regulus says, collapsing back onto the bed with a huff, his eyes closing as he huffs with discontentment.

“Hot.”

Remus hums in agreement, turns on the air conditioner and stands kind of awkwardly in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do with himself. 

Regulus’ eyes open and meet his, Regulus quirking his head questioningly. “It’s okay that I—“ He sits up, clearing his throat. “Do you want me to stay?”

Remus nods, yes. “I’d like you to stay.”

They skirt awkwardly around showering, and changing into clothes to lounge about in, but when Regulus crawls onto the bed, freshly showered and crawls towards Remus, his throat goes dry, heart pounding as the other man asks if it’s okay if he curls up next to him and goes ahead and tucks himself into Remus’ side. 

And the thing is, Remus doesn’t like being touched. He doesn’t have many people in his life that he’s happy to touch him freely. This is the first time that Regulus has really touched him, and the second day he’s known him, and he’s ready to give him blanket permission to touch him whenever he wants to. 

He makes it look easy, sliding down and against Remus’ side, laying his head on his shoulder where he’s tucked in under it. 

Remus has never been so grateful for cooling as he is right now, as he sets an arm around Regulus and they settle in. 

They chat quietly after choosing to watch a tv show that’s new to neither of them. 

Remus slides further down onto the bed, and Regulus falls asleep on his shoulder. Rather than overthink it and panic, Remus falls asleep too.

---

He wakes to cool, slim fingers playing with the stretched out collar of his oversized shirt.

”Hi,” Remus greets lowly. Not yet opening his eyes, he takes Regulus’ restless fingers in his hand and brings them to his mouth, kissing them softly. 

There’s a small, pleased hum from beside him, and Remus adjusts his position to face the man next to him, eyes bleary and tired.

”You’re pretty,” he says, eyes tracing the lines of Regulus’ face up close. The sun has hilighted a light dusting of freckles. His lashes are dark, and his eyes contain more depth, contrasting greys of his iris’ more clear up close. There’s a dark fleck in the left one. 

“I like your eyes,” Regulus says softly, hand freeing itself from Remus’ loose grip to reach his face, tracing the line of the scar high on his cheekbone but not looking away from his eyes. 

And this is another thing Remus was sure he would hate. Another thing that with Regulus, is entirely fine, but something that when brought to the front of his attention, makes his eyes drop, falling on pink lips. 

“Can I kiss you?” Remus says on an exhale, pleading, really, wanting, so that he doesn’t have time to think about how long it’s been for him, or if he can remember how to.

In answer, Regulus closes the small amount of space between them, pressing his lips to Remus’.

It’s soft and pleasant— chaste, really. Lips are wet and they’re moving but the kiss isn’t deepening and Remus finds he wants to deepen it, he wants more. Is Regulus holding back on his account? Or is this just how he kisses? Maybe he doesn’t like tongue? That could be a thing, right?

Regulus breaks the kiss.

”What’s wrong?” He asks, a furrow between his brow making Remus realise his own brow is creased in much the same way.

”I—“ he hesitates, frowning. What is he supposed to say? I want you to stick your tongue in my mouth? No, how about, kiss me like you mean it, which he’s sure would go over incredibly well if this was how Regulus kisses like he means it. 

Remus’ lack of words has Regulus drawing his hand back from where it’s trailed from the side of his face to his neck where it was threaded through his hair, an apology on his lips and Remus reaches up quickly to catch his hand, eyes trying to find Regulus’ but they won’t meet his. 

“I asked you to kiss me, remember?” Remus murmurs, wondering why on earth Regulus would apologise when he was the one who initiated the contact. Regulus huffs a laugh, turning his hand in Remus’ grip and winding their fingers together, but still unable to meet his eyes. 

“I liked it,” Remus assures him, noting the way Regulus’ lips press together as if he’s not sure. 

Remus squeezes his hand gently, and prays he isn’t going to fuck this up, that Regulus won’t change his mind and decide he doesn’t like him because he’s trying to roll the right thing to say around in his head before it passes over his tongue and instead he says—

“Okay so it was a bit chaste and I’m not going to lie I like it a little more… Well. Filthy.”

Regulus’ eyes meet his, and he might see his pupils dilate before the other mans mouth captures his once more, with much more behind it and a tongue instantly running along the seam of his mouth, pressing in as their mouth widens against his. 

Regulus pushes up, pressing Remus onto his back and getting a better angle. And this, this is exactly what Remus meant. Tongues pressing against one another, gasping breaths between a deep kiss. 

Regulus won’t press his body down against Remus’, but god Remus wants to touch, wants to feel him on top of him. He reaches for the back of his thigh and urges him to climb onto Remus’ lap, to straddle him. When he seats himself Remus moans, breaking the kiss, Regulus’ mouth trailing down his throat as he squeezes the flesh of Regulus’ ass.

”Better?” Regulus asks, voice low and pleased, and Remus nods, mouth moving along Regulus’ jaw to try to reclaim his mouth, muttering his approval.

The way he’s overtaken with desire doesn’t really take him by surprise, but somehow it’s always a slight shock when it does happen, as if he had forgotten it could. Perhaps later, when Regulus is gone it could then get overtaken with the whole, if it can happen with him, perhaps it can happen with anyone? And the imposter syndrome rears it’s ugly head as he tries to find the answer all over again. 

Best to accept it and enjoy the easy intimacy while it lasts. 

”Want you,” He says against Regulus’ mouth, as if it isn’t obvious. 

The kiss deepens again in response, and Remus’ hands slide under Regulus’ borrowed shirt, his back bowing, his chest pressing against Remus’ with the firm pressure of his hands, slow rolling of his hips against Remus’ stomach. 

They break from the kiss for Regulus to speak, a smirk on his lips that Remus wants to bite— “I suppose you like your sex the way you like to kiss?” 

“Hot and filthy?” Remus checks, a little stupid from Regulus’ tongue alone, and Regulus smiles in a way Remus wishes he could capture, slow and mischievous and full of desire before he captures Remus’ mouth once more.

They struggle out of their clothes, mouths finding new skin, nipping, licking and sucking. The sun is steadily getting lower, orange tinged sunlight and long shadows painting what is sure to be a long lasting memory, especially as Regulus lines himself up, sliding into Remus’ hot wetness, filling him just right. 

He moans, uninhibited, unashamed as Regulus fucks him within an inch of his life. He’s gripping the other mans shoulders tight as his thighs tighten, hips rolling tight against the other man as he cums harder than he has in a long while, maybe ever. 

“Fuck,” he whines, aftershocks running through him. Regulus has slowed to a slow thrust, but hasn’t stopped, and Remus shudders and lets out a high pitched whine. It’s a lot, too much maybe, but he wraps his legs around Regulus as the other man kisses him languidly.

”Need you to ride me,” Regulus murmurs into his mouth, voice low and husky. Remus shivers, tightening around Regulus again for a moment as another aftershock runs through him. 

“I’m not sure if I can manage it—“ 

Regulus kisses along his jaw, to his throat, nibbling on the soft spot behind his ear before whispering, 

“I think you can,”

”Mmm,” Remus’ eyes flutter as Regulus continues to roll his hips, his tongue running over the lobe of his ear before he takes it in his mouth, sucking lightly, the roll of his hips not stopping. Remus’ legs have lost their grip, he’s feeling a little boneless and a lot cock drunk, and Regulus is licking his neck, telling him how good he is, and so he agrees and they switch positions, Regulus on his back, adjusting the angle of his cock and Remus holding himself up on shaking legs to seat himself on it. 

He can’t lift himself, not really, but he has a feeling that’s not what’s going to get him there anyway, and begins rolling his hips on the other mans lap, eyes falling closed and head tipping back as he does. 

He’s tender, and spent, but Regulus’ hands are gripping his thighs tight and he’s rolling his head on his shoulder to look down at him, Regulus’ eyes drinking in every part of Remus’ body and looking no less hungry for it. 

Remus lets out a long sigh, feels himself winding up for more, wonders if he’ll be able to stand touching his clit again yet, if he’ll be able to cum again so quickly, and then he’s looking at the man beneath him again, goal forgotten as he falls forward, a whimper falling from his lips at the change of angle before his mouth is pressed against Regulus’ again. 

A little more adjusting and he’s riding him in earnest, rolling himself against Regulus, kissing him long and languid and gasping. His second orgasm creeps up on him, long and building and slow, and when Regulus’ hips start meeting his he lets him fuck up into him while one hand slips into his hair and pulls, the other sliding between his legs. Then Regulus is moaning from his chest as he reaches his end. All it takes is Regulus’ teeth sinking into the skin on his neck to reach the crest of his own orgasm, hips slapping down once, twice more before he falls pliant over Regulus’ chest. 

“Fuck.” He says once more, definitive. Regulus chuckles, the sound warming Remus to the core, a smile raising at the corner of his mouth when Regulus agrees with a soft, “Yeah,”

Remus is almost on the side of discomfort, at this point, and eases himself off of Regulus, collapsing against his side, this time resting his head against the others shoulder.

He wants to rest just so that he can do it again. He wants to do nothing but this for the next four days until Regulus leaves. He’s insatiable and possibly insane, so he doesn’t tell the man next to him his desire to tie him to the bed and have his way with him indefinitely.

Regulus is playing with his hair, twirling a piece from the back into a coil and letting it go, it feels like, and Remus smiles, burying his face into the other mans neck. 

It’s dark now, so it must be past 8, close to 9. They haven’t had dinner, and it’s late enough that—

“You should stay,” Remus says, softening the suggestion with a light kiss to the other mans jaw. “If you’re comfortable.” He quickly adds. 

“I’d like to,” Regulus replies, turning to plant a soft kiss to Remus’ nose. It makes him melt. 

“We should get dinner, though. Order in?”

Regulus nods, “Pizza?” He asks hopefully, and Remus grins, turning out of his position to reach for his phone.

”I know just the place.”

Notes:

They get pizza from Angry Tony’s in Darlington, thanks for asking.

Also, the fire truck thing is a pre Christmas Australian thingo-I dont know how to explain it other than that they throw some tinsel on a fire truck and go through the streets playing Christmas carols and their sirens either giving out candy or soaking children with a hose while Santa rides either on the truck or in a convertible in the lead. This is an iconic Australian tradition that has variations across the country

Ask me about australianisms in the comments. Theres a LOT in this chapter

Chapter 4: December 24

Summary:

“I frew up” - Regulus Black

Regulus wakes to filtered sun and Remus curled up against his side, his temple pressed against his shoulder, soft brown curls tickling his skin.

The last dregs of sleep wash away as he recalls an insatiable Remus from the evening before, eager and wanting and in such contrast to what Regulus had been expecting from the borderline timid, quiet man he met at the bookstore just two days ago.

He turns on his side carefully hoping not to rouse Remus before he’s ready. They’d had a late evening, and now that he can see the sleep slack face of his bedfellow beside him he really doesn’t think he could bring himself to wake him.

On the other hand, he’d love to kiss him awake.

He touches his lips softly to the top of the other man’s cheek, to his brow bone, his nose, the corner of his mouth— and he starts to stir, a small smile making a dimple at the corner of his mouth.

Regulus smiles, gentle fingers tracing Remus’ jaw, over his throat as he stretches and finally, finally opens stunning amber eyes to see Regulus.

Regulus thanks god that he’s near sighted, because he doesn’t want to miss any detail of Remus up close, from the freckles on his nose to the fine line of his scar, to the brown that dips into the amber colouring of his eyes.

He wants this image to last.

“Good morning,” he murmurs. There’s a flash of teeth in the smile of the man next to him before he leans in and kisses him quickly.

“Morning,” Remus murmurs as he flops back down on the bed and stretches, Regulus’ eyes drinking in the taught skin as he does.

“What time do you start work today?” Regulus asks, turning on his side when Remus settles back down. Remus turns his head to look at him. With a small pout on his lips he huffs.

“We open at 10. So about 9:30.” He reaches blindly to the side of the bed as he searches for his phone, pulling it up to check the time— 6:40am (damn the sun) before tossing it away. “Why are we awake,” Remus frowns, turning and sliding a hand around Regulus’ waist, burying his face in his chest.

Regulus chuckles, threading his fingers through Remus’ sleep mussed hair. He doesn’t answer, just relaxes into the embrace. After a few minutes, Remus mumbles something incoherent against his chest and Regulus pulls back a little to look him.

”What was that?” He asks.

”Hungry,” Remus mumbles, eyes closed. “No food, we should go out.”

Regulus scratched the base of Remus’ neck with blunt nails, and Remus hummed.

”Not if you’re gonna do that though, then I’m never leaving.”

Regulus smiles, pressing a kiss to Remus’ nose and continues to scratch his scalp lightly, settling back to his previous position with Remus pressed against his chest. He would be quite happy to stay here like this all day. He would happily skip breakfast to get every moment before Remus had to go to work exactly like this, but that was incredibly selfish.

He never claimed not to be.

Remus tilts his head back, rolling onto his back again.

”We should shower, and then venture into the bright outside for sustenance.” Remus mutters, then groans. “Outside, ugh.”

Regulus hums, and can’t help but think that the stupid smile on his lips might be a permanent rearrangement of his features.

Remus slides out of bed, all limbs and browned skin, reaching up to his hair and fluffing it out from its sleep flattened state.

He turns at the end of a yawn and offers Regulus free reign of his closet, except the christmas vest he’s wearing today, of course, and steps into the bathroom to shower, leaving Regulus to have a slight crisis over how easy it is to be here with him, like they’ve known one another for much longer than two days.

Sighing, he reaches for his own neglected phone, picking it up and finding the response to his message to Sirius the evening before.

“Use protection,”

Short, succinct, and offensive. He was joking, of course. Sirius probably thinks all they did was cuddle. To be fair, he would usually be correct. It took time for Regulus to care, to trust someone enough to sleep with them. So he has no idea what has come over him in this instance, or what makes Remus different. He doesn’t regret it, though.

He shoots Sirius another message, asking if he wants to meet somewhere for lunch or if he wants him to bring stuff back to the house, and then gets out of bed to go through cupboards— he had permission to go through Remus’ stuff, and that shouldn’t be as thrilling as he found it. Not just that, but to wear his clothes.

Regulus rifles through the closet and the drawers near where Remus pulled the swim shorts from until he finds something he thinks is a delicate balance between believably something he would wear and something that is undeniably Remus’.

Impatient and missing Remus’ touch already, he slips out of his pants and into the bathroom, slipping in behind Remus in the shower.

---

“You look weird,” Sirius says instead of a greeting as he sits down in the empty chair across from Regulus. He frowns.

“Hello to you too,” he gripes, pointedly sparing him a quick glare over his menu before returning to pursuing it.

They had compromised and he met Sirius in Balmoral for lunch—some cafe on the esplanade.

Sirius tugs the menu down, and Regulus looks up at him, a little harried as Sirius really looks, like he can see through him. Regulus’ frown deepens, and he bats Sirius’ hand off of his menu, trying to return it to being in front of his face. He hasn’t been back to the house to get his glasses, and his contacts are long gone.

”You got shagged—“ Sirius says, and Regulus tuts, closing his menu and rolling his eyes.

“Sirius, that is so not appropriate table talk.”

Sirius looks surprised, confused and a little concerned, which only serves to irritate Regulus further. He leans forward on his forearms, Regulus biting his tongue about manners— some things are just impossible to shake, especially when it’s his brother sitting in front of him.

“Did he pressure you? Are you alright?”

“You sent me a message last night to “use protection”— which, while I know you were joking, please. What did you think was happening?”

Sirius just presses his lips together, his eyes hardening. “Did he pressure you?”

”No!” Regulus says, a little too loud, glancing around him in alarm and lowering his voice. “No he did not. If anything— Just. God, Sirius can you not.”

”Are you going to see him again?”

Regulus rolls his eyes. “It’s Christmas tomorrow, what do you think?”

”On Boxing Day then?”

”What has gotten into you?”

Sirius sighs. “You don’t do this,”

”I know,” Regulus shrugs.

“Like ever.”

”I know.” He repeats, firmly.

”So you slept with him and everything is just fine?”

Lord save him from his brothers protectiveness.

“You’re such a hypocrite.” He mutters, looking unseeingly at his abandoned menu.

”I’m not demi.” He returns, leaning back and crossing his arms. Regulus looks back up, and Sirius looks annoyed. Why is he mad?

”What is your problem?”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You are so annoying.” Regulus mutters, glancing around the room hoping, willing someone to interrupt them to take their order.

“I can’t move to Australia with you, you know.”

”Oh my god, Shut up.” Regulus says, flagging down a waiter.

They place their orders and Regulus leans back in his chair, waiting for Sirius to make another inane comment.

“It’s not weird bad,” —like that

”What’s not.”

”The way you look. With the yno,” he gestures vaguely, “Glow and shit.”

Regulus gags. “Glow?”

”Yeah, like you’re frowning but you look happy.”

Regulus sighs, but his heart flutters a little at the fact that he is. He is happy. He’s ecstatic, actually, and he really really likes this guy. And he’s trying really really hard not to think about his return flight that was booked for December 27th.

Sirius doesn’t mention it again, except for off handed comments about the clothes he’s wearing or teasing him about not being able to see 20 metres in front of himself.

It would have been worse if he’d turned up in the clothes he wore yesterday, really.

He gets sporadic messages from Remus throughout the day. Commentary on the heat in the bookstore while there’s a christmas rush, about a good customer and a really, really bad one. He can’t help the laugh that escapes him in the evening while he and Sirius are sitting at a bar having a drink, recounting on one of the most ridiculous encounters of the day.

”What?” Sirius asks, swirling the ice in his glass.

Regulus smiles, typing out a reply before he explains. “Someone came into Remus’ shop asking for a recent release. At the second hand book store. There’s a new book store next door and they refused to buy the book new. Imagine trying to explain that to someone.”

He laughs. “Oh sure, allow me to go and purchase the book and resell it to you. Be back in 5.”

”That’s what Remus said he wanted to say,” Regulus eyes Sirius a little suspiciously.

Sirius sighs, draining his drink. “Relax, I don’t want your sloppy seconds.”

”You of all people should not be slut shaming,” Regulus admonishes, and Sirius smiles wolfishly.

“Au contraire, I am the reigning king of slut town, and I will do as I please.”

”Sure,” Regulus says, scanning the QR code on the table to order another round.

“Are you drunk enough to tell me how it was yet?” Sirius asks, casually, and Regulus wants to scowl at him, but he can’t quite bring himself to when he sees a message banner at the top of his screen from Remus, a smile turning the corners of his mouth instead.

“Incredible,” Regulus says, not thinking much of it as he processes the order, glancing quickly at the message from Remus saying he had to head to his parents and would be driving for a bit. He flicks a quick “XX” and turns his phone down and looks back up at Sirius who’s smirking at him.

His brother raises a brow, obviously hoping for more.

”When have I ever told you about my sexual encounters, Sirius,” he deadpans.

Sirius shrugs. “Well never, but you know, we spent so much money on—“

”Stop!” Regulus admonishes, blushing. “It was good, alright? Great, amazing, life changing, all that.” Sirius scoffs, and Reg presses his lips together, narrowing his eyes. Then he decides now was as a good a time as any to do his annual “shock Sirius by saying things you would never say in polite company,” thing.

”The best part is probably the lack of disappointment from the other party when I come prematurely because I wont go flaccid. Is that what you wanted to know?”

Sirius cackles with delight, head thrown back and eyes alight with mischief while Regulus’ cheeks stay hot. He manages to keep a straight face while Sirius offers his congratulations on christening his cock, somehow. He really wants to shrink into his chair and die.

He’s saved with the next round of drinks arriving.

“What about you?” He tries to divert back to Sirius’ favourite topic, himself.

He raises a brow. “What about me?”

“Don’t tell me you went home alone last night?”

Sirius shrugs. “Yeah, but it was kind of nice to be alone.”

”Bullshit. What happened?”

Sirius almost looks sheepish, being called out. “I might have pushed a little too hard and underestimated the animosity Lily feels towards James. At the end of the day James was too bummed out— truly it would have been wrong to try to hook up with him after being rejected so spectacularly by her.”

”So you were what, trying to hook up with both of them?”

Sirius shrugs. “Yeah, but honestly, I don’t think… I mean I like James, yeah? He’s wicked cool. I was talking to Mary, and she said that James used to bully Lily’s friend Sev when they were kids and she never really forgave him for it, but I asked James later- fuck he was morose by the end of the night, and he told me that Sev was a racist prick. Some of the shit he used to say— you know once he started going on a racist spiel about asians right in front of Lily— her grandmother is from Indonesia, you know? It’s crazy that he just managed to make her an exception because she is “white passing.”

Sirius rolls his eyes. “I walked into the most complicated web. Couldn’t get past it.”

Regulus snorts. “Should have just gone out to find someone to shag.”

Sirius smiles devilishly. “I did that too.”

Regulus laughs incredulously, shaking his head. “I have no idea where you get the energy.”

Sirius shrugs. “I’m not here long enough to let myself worry about that.”

”Gotta make your mark,” Regulus nods sagely.

 

A few hours later, many drinks, and not nearly enough dinner, Regulus is laying in the empty bathtub. It seemed like the logical thing to do after throwing up.

He holds his phone in front of his face, squinting at it. Everything was blurry. His eyes were itchy.

He drops his phone on his stomach, scratching them, before realising it’s his contacts. He manages to get them out and toss them on the floor when he feels the phone vibrate on his chest.

A message from Remus, an empty bottle of wine on the glass table, garden in the background, a full glass, and a cigarette burning between his fingers.

He zooms in on the image, the background dark except for the shadows on shapes from the light behind Remus, soft and not very bright, likely from a window.

“There’s a pole in the middle of the lawn. Why?” He texts.

”Hahahhaha”
”It’s a clothesline. Looks like this,”
*image of hills hoist clothesline*

”That’s weird.”

”what is a clothesline supposed to look like then, Mr London?”

”A dryer.”

“Hahah”
“Suppose there’s not enough sun in London for your clothes to dry. No wonder you’re so pale”

”How dare you”
”I am the normal amount of pale”

”You think so? Even Lily’s darker than you and she’s a ranga”

”What is with that word,”

”Dunno, its a bit like cunt, isn’t it? Derogatory unless its towards your friends.”

”If you say so”

”I thought English people used the word cunt just as liberally as Australians?”

”not in a nice way”

”Fair enough.”

And then Remus is calling him.

Blinking, he stares at the phone screen for a second.

”Hello?” He asks, confused and a little nervous.

“Hey,” Remus breathes, “Are you alright? I haven’t offended you, have I?”

Regulus frowns, heart thudding. Did he do something wrong?. “What?”

”I mean, you seem upset?”

”I—“ Regulus takes a deep breath. “I’m not, I’m not upset, are you?”

Remus laughs nervously, and Regulus can almost picture him picking at the hem of his shorts as he settles on the exact right thing to say.

”I’m alright just— you come across a bit dickish over text, you know?”

Regulus gapes, because that was surely not a carefully thought out statement, and he tries hard not to be offended by the blunt delivery of the statement. “Am I?” He almost chokes out.

Remus laughs nervously again, “A little, but I— I think it’s just because I don’t know you well enough to tell.”

”Oh,” Regulus says softly, unsure how to respond to the conversation. Remus just called him a dick, he just considered it banter.

“I figured it would be easier if I could hear your voice,” Remus continued, and Regulus slid down in the bath some, smiling to himself, thinking for that, he can forgive the comment of him being a dick.

“I’m glad you called,” Regulus finds himself saying. “I didn’t realise how much I wanted to hear your voice until just now.”

His mouth was running way ahead of his thought processing. He doesn’t have time to be embarrassed or take it back though, because Remus responds and he can hear the smile in his voice.

”I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

”I was wondering if I hadn’t dreamed you up,” Regulus says stupidly. He squeezes his eyes closed, hitting his palm to his head.

”Not a dream,” Remus says, tone fond. “I want to see you again.”

”Mm, me too,” Regulus says, biting his lip. “But it’s Christmas tomorrow. Boxing Day- do you do stuff for Boxing Day?”

”Yeah,” Remus admits, “But Boxing Day is more extended family stuff, you know? I’ll be going to James’, I think.”

There’s a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. “You’re leaving on the day after that. I—“ he stops, huffing.

”Yeah,” Regulus says, feeling a little sad.

He hadn’t expected this when he came to Australia for Christmas. He was trying to go somewhere bright and fun, to forget the stifling Christmas’ past. He was supposed to have a great time with Sirius, not wish that he was with someone he just met.

“I’ll figure something out for Boxing Day, ok?” Remus says, and Regulus hums agreement.

They steer to safer topics. How Regulus is feeling after a boozy evening, what they had done for the day and what they were planning on doing tomorrow.

Eventually Regulus is just about falling asleep, and Remus urges him to get out of the bath and go to bed.

He falls asleep quickly with Remus reading a Christmas Carol to him over the phone.

Chapter 5: 25 December

Summary:

”Yahtzee!” - Remus’ Grandma

Remus wakes to his mum knocking softly on the door, announcing she comes in peace, holding out a large cup of coffee for Remus who sits and accepts it greatfully.

“Merry Christmas kid,” She smiles, patting his ankle through the sheets. He smiles over his mug, taking a scolding sip before setting it aside on the bedside table.

“Merry Christmas mum,” He returns.

“Did your fella get back to you about coming yet?”

Remus bites his lip, reaching for his phone to check if Regulus had replied yet.

After Regulus had fallen asleep, Remus had ventured back into the common spaces of his parents house to find Hope and spend the rest of the evening with her. She liked to stay up until midnight, to see the day turn to Christmas. A little ritual she had maintained from childhoods at midnight mass, he supposed, but with less scripture and prayer.

He had told her about Regulus. Not everything, of course, but the basics. She saw right through him, though, and urged him to invite the brothers for christmas. In her words, it was “Silly for them to spend Christmas alone when she had way too much food and plenty of love to go around.”

Regulus had replied, but the response had been uncertain, asking if Remus could call him when he woke up.

”He’s asked me to call. Can I get back to you?”

Hope squeezes his ankle and nods. “Your grandmother has started breakfast, how do you want your eggs?”

”Fried, of course,”

“Of course,” Hope smiles, closing the door.

He calls Regulus, manages to placate him despite his nerves over the entire thing, trying not to overthink it himself. He manages to encourage him to make the trip out there, promising that he’ll be able to drive them back to the city in the morning, that there’s plenty of room at his parents.

He thinks Sirius played a bit in convincing Regulus that it was a good idea, and he was grateful for it. It was a pretty giant leap to make, to spend Christmas with a family you don’t know for a guy you just met. Remus doesn’t know if he would have been able to do it, if their positions had been reversed.

He’s cheerful when he makes it out to breakfast, greeting his dad and grandma, making himself another coffee.

Grandma has recently had eggs on croissants at a cafe in the town and so has recreated it for Christmas Day, and while Remus thinks it’s borderline insane, it actually tastes pretty good.

The Black brothers don’t arrive until just before lunch, after they share presents and make themselves presentable for the day ahead. When they arrive, Remus has already had two mimosas and certainly can’t stop the way his face lights up when he hears the car on the gravel of the driveway.

He shoots up from the couch and barely stops himself running to the door, flinging open the wooden door and fiddling with the screen lock, eyes flicking up to see the brothers exiting the car, opening the back doors to collect their bags.

The battle with the door turns to Remus’ victory and he skips down the path to the drive, throwing himself at Regulus without a second thought, a small ooft escaping the other man.

Regulus drops his bag to the ground with no hesitation as he returns Remus’ embrace, and Remus is sure he can feel Regulus smile against his neck.

“Hi,” Remus smiles, pulling back to look at him, refusing to admit the ramifications of everything he’s feeling for this man, his heart thudding in his chest. Not on Christmas, thank you.

“Hi,” Regulus smiles, so softly and with such affection that Remus can’t help but lean in and kiss him briefly, stepping back but his smile not falling when Sirius clears his throat behind him.

“Hello, Sirius. Merry Christmas.” He speaks over Regulus’ shoulder, briefly managing eye contact with the older Black before his eyes inevitably return to the younger.

He nods back towards the house, “Shall we?”

His mother has made her way to the living room where Grandma is sitting on a chair with her handheld digital game of Yahtzee, putting it down when Remus leads the two men into the living room.

“Mum, Grandma, this is Sirius,” he gestures to the older brother, and then to the other, “And Regulus. Guys, this is my mum Hope, and Grandma Joelle.”

“Thank you for being so gracious to invite us to your home today,”

Remus has to tamp down a snort at Regulus’ formal greeting but Hope saves him by waving him off. “Don’t be silly, we’ll be eating leftovers for the rest of the week as it is, and we’re certainly not sad for extra company. Especially Remus’— I was afraid he’d never stop texting you.”

”Mum!” Remus protests, gaping a little, narrowing his eyes at his grandma snickering from her place on the couch.

Regulus has stepped closer to him and pressed his head against his shoulder, laughing silently. He slips his hand into the other mans, slumping in defeat. “Fine alright, yeah.” He admits.

“Go on then, show the boys ‘round.” His mum shoo’s them out of the living room, and grandma reaches for the remote, flicking through the radio channels as Remus leads Regulus with a nod at Sirius to follow.

He stops outside of the guest room, pushing the door open.

“Guest room,” He directs at Sirius, and Sirius sends him a grateful look, dropping off his bags.

“And where will Regulus be sleeping?” Sirius says, throwing himself over his bed and immediately starfishing over it.

Remus turns to Regulus with a sheepish smile. “You good to bunk with me?”

Regulus lets out a put out sigh, as if it’s a hardship. “I suppose I’d take your snoring over Sirius’ kicking.”

Sirius is chuckling but Remus frowns, “Is it loud? I’m sorry, I can sleep on the couch if you want—“

“Absolutely not,” Regulus says, meeting his eyes with determined look. “Show me the way.”

Sirius doesn’t bother following as Remus leads Regulus to his childhood bedroom.

It’s been stripped of almost everything personal and basically serves as a second spare room in the four bedroom house, but it’s the room he snuck out of, had his first proper hook up in, got caught smoking out of the window of.

“Don’t know why I expected it to be more juvenile,” Regulus comments as he sets his bag down beside the door, peering in.

Remus shrugs. “When I moved out I moved out. You know?”

Regulus sort of nods, but it’s a little noncommittal. He doesn’t elaborate, and Remus doesn’t push. It’s Christmas, and he wants them to have a good day. That’s why they’re here, after all.

”Spose we should go find dad.” Remus mentions, tugging him back out and snarking at Sirius to get out of bed.

Sirius stops in to give Hope a bottle of wine and a giant box of Favourites with a kiss on the cheek, thanking her again for inviting them.

Remus hears his grandma cooing when they return from the backyard where his father is preparing the barbecue about how handsome their guests are, and he tamps down a groan.

“She has absolutely no shame, or sense for volume.” Remus complains, and Sirius just vows to sweep her off her feet with his “handsomeness” and “Charm,”

Remus doesn’t feel bad at all about telling his monarchs that Sirius struck out with two of his closest friends just the day before.

Regulus barely hides his giggles in Remus’ shoulder, and Sirius cuffs him on the back of the head, Remus returning the favour.

Sirius isn’t offended, seemingly a little delighted even, grinning as they get into a slight scuffle with Regulus between them, Regulus pressing hands to their chests to keep them apart, looking harassed at their antics.

Sirius helps Lyall take the things for the barbeque outside, mum and grandma disappearing into the kitchen as well and leaving Regulus and Remus alone.

Regulus nudges him briefly and Remus turns to look at him, getting the other mans eyes on him for the first time in a while. He smiles softly. “Hi,”

”Hi,” Regulus repeats, eyes darting between his own.

“How’re you coping, hmm?”

Regulus nods. “Okay, I think. You?”

Remus smiles, unguarded. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Regulus smiles abashedly, cheeks a little pink. He presses his face into Remus’ shoulder, a common move for him today. He’s so reserved and shy and hesitant and Remus is so helplessly endeared by it. He leans in to kiss Regulus’ temple.

He wants this. He wants it every day. He tries really hard not to think about how they’re on borrowed time.

 

The weather is unusually mild, so they decide to sit outside for lunch.

The spread is entirely typical for his family at Christmas. A large fish grilled on the barbeque, grilled prawns (Sirius had been very excited about the barbequed “shrimp”), a baked ham, and an assortment of salads from potato, to pasta, and two different types of fresh salads. There was nice bread, good butter, and roasted carrots and beans (upon Remus’ insistence- he hates salad).

They have, as Hope had previously stated, overdone it with the food. That was a surprise to no one. They always did.

What had been a surprise was Sirius adding some of the fish to his plate, Remus rushing to assure him that he didn’t have to and Sirius shrugging and explaining that he didn’t mind fish so much, but had politely declined the barbequed prawn that was offered to him after he had made such a big deal about it.

The afternoon is a divide of half of the family taking a nap, and Remus, Regulus and Hope playing board games with the tv and grandma’s snores in the background.

It’s a pleasant day. If nothing else, it’s entirely typical of a Christmas Day in the Lupin household. Quiet, slow, and entirely relaxing.

Remus tilts his head back as he exhales the smoke from his cigarette later in the afternoon.

“Is it always like this?” Regulus asks from the seat beside him.

Remus tilts his head, looking at Regulus. “For us, yeah, it’s pretty normal. There were a few years there where we went out to lunches, when mum had said she was totally done with cooking and doing the whole shebang. But we reverted after a couple of years. Not sure why, but if I had to bet on it I’d say she just loves having an excuse to go all out for a day. Good food, good wine.”

His head spins a little as he mentions the wine, and he smiles slowly. “Great wine,” He chuckles, taking another drag of his smoke.

Regulus picks up his glass, tilting it in agreement before taking another sip.

”Why, did you expect something different?”

Regulus shrugs. “Maybe? Maybe not. I’m not sure. I mean it’s hard to really comprehend a Christmas in summer when you’ve never had one. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without the chill in the air and the crackle of a fire, you know?”

Remus hums, and Regulus continues.

”But I suppose that’s because I don’t know any different. What’s weird is that despite the fact that it’s Summer here, a lot of the Christmas themed things still resemble the white Christmas of the northern hemisphere. That’s odd, no?”

Remus nods. “It is a bit. There’s certainly an argument to be made, certainly. I mean it’s not a traditional holiday for the country, is it? It was imported with the rest of us who aren’t indigenous. There has been a decent effort to guide the holiday imagery towards a more Australian image over the years though. White boomers for reindeer, Santa in budgie smugglers, or even just a little red singlet and shorts on the beach. I’m fond of these renditions.”

Regulus has his phone in front of him, typing away. “Sorry you lost me at white boomers, and when I look it up all I get is old white men,”

Remus chokes on his smoke, laughing with a wheeze, tears sprouting at the corner of his eyes. Regulus pats him on the back half heartedly as he recovers.

“God no, def—“ He coughs, “Definitely not white boomers. I mean White Boomers, like. White kangaroos. There’s a song.”

Regulus huffs, passing his phone over even as he says, “I don’t believe you.”

But Remus finds the song quickly, holding the phone out to Regulus and snickering.

Regulus soon lets out a loud laugh of disbelief as the most Australian Christmas Carol to ever be sung plays through the speakers on his phone.

“This is incredible,” Regulus says with a grin, eyes following the run of the lyrics on the video.

Remus shrugs, muttering, “The composer was a bloody bastard but it’s the only Australian Christmas Carol I know so.”

Regulus sighs, turning down the volume and skipping to the next track Spotify wanted to throw at them. “People are so disappointing.”

“They can be.” Remus agrees, and after a moment, turns to took at Regulus. “Have you had a nice day? Not regretting spending Christmas with a near stranger?”

Regulus smiles back at him. “No regret at all. Still feel good about inviting us?” He nods pointedly towards where he knows Sirius is getting entirely too chummy with his mother, likely coaxing her into pulling out photo albums.

Remus shakes his head with a smile.

It’s later in the evening, when they’ve all had leftover dinners and a dessert of liquor drenched cake, when they’ve all showered and changed into light pyjamas, bidding their good nights, that Remus and Regulus are completely alone once more.

Regulus looks at him with his hand on his face like he wants to say something, and instead he leans forward and says it with a kiss.

And Remus feels it to his bones, fingers slipping through the other mans hair, gripping it, gasping into his mouth as if he is the source of the air that Remus needs to fill his lungs, as if he’s the lifeline that Remus desperately needs to keep him afloat.

Right now, he is. Remus’ fingers grip hair and the skin on Regulus’ shoulder to tether him to the now, to stop him from slipping into the days before they met or the impending moment where they would have to say goodbye. He feels fingers gripping his own skin, tugging at his clothes in a similar impassioned desperation.

When they fuck this time, it’s more passionate than anything Remus has felt before, it says everything unspoken between them. His heart thuds deep in his chest, blood hot and every inch of skin alight with feeling.

They just breathe against another when it’s over, unable to part, unable to move, unable to speak— until Remus can’t stop his tongue from forming the words.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

Regulus kisses his jaw gently, but doesn’t respond to the whispered comment.

Remus knows he has to go home. It’s alright. Really, it is.

Notes:

Ask me about the australianisms in the comments yo- dont be scared

Chapter 6: December 26

Summary:

“The English are coming!” -James

Regulus had opted to join Remus in his car on the way back to the city, complaining about Sirius' taste in music and then groaning when he realised Remus’ was much the same. Remus didn’t mind him playing whatever he wanted as an alternative though. It also meant he got to see the message that came through from James that Sirius and Regulus were more than welcome to come round for Boxing Day shenanigans.

They had struggled to find parking near Potters house, as Remus had warned Sirius when they called him on the way back that they would. The inner west was not known for its ample parking, even if people did try to leave the city for Christmas. It didn’t help that they were about to walk into quite a large family gathering.

It was loud, kids screaming and adults chattering, laughing loud. Remus knew they weren’t going to manage staying for long, but he had promised James’ mother that he would stop by today, and there was no way she was letting them leave without having had lunch.

Regulus looked overwhelmed, and Sirius just had this look of wonderment and surprise.

Kids were slipping and sliding on a wet tarp covered in suds that was under constant stream of spray from a long strip of sprinkler, someone was yelling at a couple of older kids for trying to swing on the hills hoist, and a few of the older kids were holding another hose directly upwards, creating an umbrella of spray on top of them while they sat with their cans of drink on chairs, feet in a kiddy pool.

Adults sat under the verandah around several tables pushed together and covered with festive cloth. A fan turns almost uselessly above them, some older guests using hand held fans. Almost everyone had in their hands a beer or a soft drink, and were either chatting in their own small groups or watching the cricket that played on a tv in the corner.

That’s where they found James, unsurprisingly. He had a beer in hand, and was taking the cricket as seriously as the old men surrounding the television, barely glancing at them when they first came up before realising that these were his guests and jumping up to greet them.

“The English have invaded!” He calls out inappropriately, several people snickering, some booing, someone going to far as to throw their watermelon skins at James for the comment, yelling at him to shut his stupid mouth.

He just grins, and Remus can’t help but roll his eyes. “C’mon, mums just gone inside.”

”Oi mum!” James shouts before he even opens the sliding screen door.

“What!” She shouts back from somewhere further in the house.

”Moony’s here! Brought some strays.”

As always, Effies ears perk up at that, and her head pops out from the bathroom down the hall, brown hair that Remus can see even from here is frizzy from the heat. He touches his own wondering if it’s looking much the same. It’s possible.

When she comes down the hall to meet them Remus steps forward and gives her a hug and a kiss, wishing her a Happy Christmas and making sure James gave her the gift from him. She nods and smiles, thanking him with a pat on the cheek before turning to the strays.

”You must be the brothers I keep hearing about. Made quite the impression on our boys, eh?“

Sirius takes the lead and introduces them confidently, immediately asking if there’s anything he can help her with, apologising he hasn’t brought anything. She ends up whisking him off to the garage to help bring drinks to refill the eskies.

”And then there were three,” James says, shifting back and forth on his feet awkwardly.

“I know you wanna go watch the cricket,” Remus says, rolling his eyes.

James shrugs. “That’s what YouTube’s for ay. Mum’ll kill me if I just stand in front of the telly while you’s are here. Anyway, hows Hope and Lyall?”

They talk Christmas for a while, conversation turning to New Years plans before Remus can stop it. Sirius joins them halfway through, handing them each a beer and contributing his own plans. Regulus is quiet, and Sirius looks at him meaningfully but neither say anything.

It’s a bit bittersweet and a little awkward, if Remus is honest.

After they’ve gotten themselves some lunch James and Sirius disappear for a while, and Remus really doesn’t think he wants to know.

Remus is quickly becoming melancholy. His social battery is well and truly flat, and he’s going to have to say goodbye to the gorgeous man that’s been clinging to him for three days now. He presses his nose to the other mans temple and Regulus hums.

And then James rocks up with a bag over his shoulder and says they’re going to the Blacks AirBnB in Balmoral for the afternoon to celebrate “Reggie” staying in Australia and a farewell for Sirius.

Remus stares at Regulus with wide eyes, and Regulus is staring at Sirius with a similar look. Remus follows his gaze, brows furrowing.

Sirius lifts one shoulder in a shrug, and barely bats an eye when he says, “I made the decision for you. Take a leap.”

Remus watches as Regulus balks at his brother a bit. Everything about them that he’s gathered over the last few days points to Regulus taking this terribly. He surprises Remus when he turns to him, wide eyed and slack jawed still. But then it morphs into a beautiful, delighted grin, and Remus can’t help but mirror it.

“What do you think?”

”I don’t have to say goodbye?”

Regulus shakes his head, no, and Remus leans in to kiss him.

They have a chance. Maybe there’s something to be said about the whole, Christmas miracle thing.

Notes:

Gee thats it. I just. Wanted something fluffy and nice where they got to be just fluffy and nice. Shut up I needed this (no but seriously I hope were not to disappointed about the slightly rushed ending I just really needed them to be happy ASAP)

Ask me about the australianisms. Do it