Too Many Puzzles to Count

The Match

"What did you wanna talk about?" Remus asked.

He and Sirius were sat in the stairwell where he had chased after Mary earlier. The two boys were  sitting next to each other, their legs touching. Remus was acutely aware of every point of contact. His heart was pounding.

"Something's up with James," Sirius said, looking at Remus sadly. "And he hasn't said anything to me. I know you know something."

Remus' stomach churned. "Don't ask me to do that, Sirius. Please."

Sirius sighed. "Fine. Did you talk to Mary?"

Remus nodded, unable to speak or look at Sirius. He had let him down and they both knew it.

"She likes Marls, doesn't she?" Sirius asked.

Remus nodded again. "I think she's in love with her, actually."

"Bloody hell. What about Pete?"

"She can't help it, Padfoot. If she could really like him that way she would. She tries anyway." He scoffed. "Whatever. It's not like you get it anyway."

"Who says I don't?" Sirius asked quietly.

Remus looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Sirius sighed. "Have you heard of this thing called bisexual?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"I think I'm that," Sirius said, blushing. "I like girls, but blimey, some guys are pretty decent, you know?"

Remus laughed. "Fair enough."

"So you don't mind?"

"I'm the last person who would mind. Thanks for telling me though."

"Why thank me?" Sirius asked.

"Because you don't have to tell me things like that. It's private. But I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me."

Sirius shook his head with a small smile. "You're my best mate, Moony. Of course I trust you."

Remus looked down at his feet. He was blushing. He watched Sirius tap his toe against Remus'. He swallowed hard. He knew his ears must have been bright red, but he was too nervous to look at Sirius now. He was sure one look would give everything away.

"Remus," Sirius said, his voice just above a whisper.

Remus whipped his head up to see Sirius already looking at him. His eyes were wide. He was picking at the ends of his fingernails, his eyes never moving from Remus'.

It felt like they were on fire, the space between them a breath of air. They leaned closer, without even thinking about it until their entire legs were pressed together and the tips of their pinkies touching. Sirius' eyes flicked down to Remus' mouth. He parted his lips, his breathing coming out slower.

A tiny voice in the back of Remus' head shouted, warning him about what was going to happen but it was no use.

Within a second, Sirius had pressed his lips against Remus' who kissed back, eyes fluttering shut. Sirius moved over on the stair to fill the space between them, the sides of their bodies just barely touching. He reached his hands up to brush Remus' grown-out hair from his eyes as he tilted his head, getting impossibly closer to the other boy. Remus sighed, relaxing into his touch as fireworks went off in his soul.

After a long moment like this, the boys heard the portrait-hole swing open, the sound of music and the party trickling into the corridor. Remus pulled away from Sirius, who kept his eyes closed until he felt Remus get up and walk away. When Sirius opened his eyes, he was alone in the stairwell.