All the Young Dudes

It must be very easy to be good when you had no reason not to be.

“Anything for our Moony.”

“I know, I know, we’ve got to keep trying, no matter what.” Marlene said, still crying quietly, “But it’s taking everything I have, Remus. All I do - all any of us do is work and fight. What if… what if the war ends, and there’s nothing left of me? What if I can’t remember how to be happy?”

“Love.” He said.

And then he kissed him.

“Love and hate.” He murmured, thoughtfully.

“Love or hate, I s’pose.” Sirius clarified. “You make a choice.”

As he reached Remus, who was still standing half in the hallway, Sirius had to raise his arm and sweep his hair back, and Remus swore the room went completely silent for a moment, and the only sound was the frantic thudding of his own heart. He forgot to breathe, and gasped,

“Hi.”

Sirius smiled a little, and stepped forward, a hand on Remus’s shoulder to push him out of the room, into the dark hallway. Away from everyone else, Sirius slid his hand up Remus’s neck, into his hair, and kissed him on the lips - so beautifully

“It shouldn’t be something people have to look past in order to love you.” Remus said, fiercely, “It’s part of who you are.”

He climbed into bed and rolled onto his side, facing the wall, to prove that he couldn’t care less which way Danny ‘swung’. Have you seen my boyfriend?! He wanted to say. As if I’d be interested in you, you big lump

But somehow it dislodged a feeling Remus hadn’t had for Sirius in a long time - a desire to protect him. To hold him close and tell him everything was going to be ok, and to be strong and reliable for the man he loved

“Bagsy godfather!” Sirius shouted.

“You can’t bagsy godfather!” Peter said, outraged,

“Just did,” Sirius poked his tongue out.