#comfortfest

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Meet Ugly · word count: 1359

Sirius Black was tragically, unavoidably late.

Remus looked down at his watch, then up at the closed door. His eyes travelled to the right corner of the room, where Harry, one of the children at the kindergarten class he looked after, was quietly playing with a toy train.

Remus was grateful he was one of the calm, nice kids, because if he'd had to spend an extra hour of his time with Draco Malfoy, for example, he would be tearing his hair out.

However, the fact that it was Harry didn't make Remus' frustration disappear. Yeah, sometimes parents encountered unexpected issues that made them late and, as much as it was kind of a pain for Remus, it was something he had to endure. This was the first time a parent was one hour late, though, and Remus was starting to feel very pissed off.

It was surprising, given that Harry's parents were always the type to arrive on time, even early, but this time it seemed they couldn't pick Harry from the nursery and they had called earlier to inform that a certain Sirius Black would go in their place.

Well, that "Sirius" was nowhere to be seen and, just by the poshness of the name, Remus could assume he would be one of those snooty kind of people who looked his nose at people like Remus and put an excuse about "how busy they were" when it came to picking a child and letting a poor man leave his job on time.

He was about to call Harry's parents to ask what was going on —he had been holding back the urge to do it sooner in case they were in the middle of something important— when the loud sound of the door bursting open startled him.

'Oh, finally, I was about to call...' he started saying, but a desperate, breathy voice interrupted him.

'Shit, I'm so sorry, really,' he exhaled between rapid breaths, and Remus couldn't help but look at him with wide eyes.

In the middle of the doorframe stood an older man —he assumed in his forties—, completely soaked from head to toe, his pitch-black hair sticking to his face and shoulders, his tempestuous, grey eyes staring at Remus with obvious guilt and anxiety.

Remus felt bad for him in an instance.

'Did you come by foot in this rain?' he asked, running to the cupboard where they kept the towels.

'Y-yeah, you see, my car broke down just after I finished work, and I lost the bus in the middle right in front of me when I was going to take it. Given that the next one came in twenty minutes, I had no other choice but running,' he explained. 'I'm really sorry... Remus, is it?

'Yeah,' Remus answered, as he took one towel and approached the man.

'Yeah, I've heard of you from James and Lily. They said you are very sweet and that Harry likes you a lot.'

Remus' couldn't help but blush at his words, and he tried to distract himself by wiping Sirius' face. His skin was cold, and when Remus pressed the fabric against it, he felt an electric current running through his hand. He moved it away immediately.

'Oh, sorry, I'm used to wiping the kids without asking, that was rude of me.'

Sirius' eyes were fixed on him, and it would have been intimidating if it wasn't for the kindness reflected on them.

'Oh, don't apologise, I appreciate you doing it for me, I can't feel my fingers,' he joked, and stole a smile from Remus.

Without saying anything else, Remus focused on gently rubbing the towel over Sirius' sharp jawline, then over his reddish cheeks and over his straight nose. During the whole time, Sirius just stared without speaking, and Remus' heartbeat was getting faster and faster.

It was now that they were so close that Remus couldn't help but notice how handsome the other man was, with that ethereal kind of beauty that made him seem flawless and untouchable, but then there were small details, like the brown spot on one of his iris, and the little mole on the tip of his nose, that made him human and tangible and lovely.

'James and Lily were right,' Sirius murmured, and Remus' heart skipped a beat for a second.

'What do you mean?' he asked, while he moved the towel to Sirius' hair, where he rubbed it slowly, enjoying how the other man seemed to be relaxing under his touch, closing his eyes and smiling softly.

'You really are kind.'

They were just words, and Remus shouldn't let himself get excited by them, but his head was spinning and his face was impossibly red.

'I'm really not, I just don't want you to catch a cold,' he muttered, focusing his attention on the way Sirius' hair seemed to come alive as it became drier and how it slowly turned into magnificent curls that Remus wanted to slip between his fingers.

'Well, you should be slapping me for being so late, instead of taking care of me. That makes you an angel,' Sirius tilted his head playfully and Remus prayed for his sanity.

'It wasn't like it was your fault, so it's okay, really.'

'Mmh.' Sirius seemed to get lost in his own thoughts for a second, until his frown relaxed and he looked at Remus with sparkly eyes. 'Let me make it up to you, buy you dinner tomorrow after your shift and make up for your lost time.'

Remus' breath hitched —he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

'Oh, Sirius, there's no need for that. I...'

'Remus.' He said his name so sternly Remus' words died in his throat. 'I would be happy to. If you don't want to, it's okay, of course, but... could you just give me a chance? To redeem myself?' Sirius' smile had a playful edge on it that made something turn inside Remus' stomach.

'Well... yeah, okay.'

Sirius exhaled, relieved, and Remus couldn't help but wonder... was Sirius really so worried that Remus would turn him down? A gorgeous man who could have anyone he wanted having dinner with him?

He couldn't help but feel special, and, as they both shared a deep look, he believed something good, the type of things that didn't normally happen to him, could come from all of this.

'Uncle Padfool...' Suddenly, a tiny voice approached them, and they both turned to see a shy Harry playing with the edge of his sweater.

'Oh, hi, Sprong , didn't see you there,' Sirius exclaimed as he ruffled the child's hair and stole a cute laugh from him.

'I didn't want to bother because that seemed like an adult talk...'

'It's okay, Harry. You must be tired from waiting here, right?' Remus smiled at him sweetly and the little boy bit his lip nervously.

'Yeah, I want to go home and play with my broom, I'm trying to make it work...'

'Broom?' Remus looked at him confused as Sirius let out a loud laugh.

'Oh, yeah, he's been obsessed with magic and fantasy, so now he's trying to charm the broom to fly.'

'Woah, that's an amazing thing to do, Harry.' Remus faked admiration and Harry gifted him with a timid smile.

'Yeah, I'm sure I will make it fly soon.'

'Well, then, don't let me retain you here.' He smiled lastly to the boy and then turned to look at Sirius, who seemed hesitant about leaving. 'Well, then, Sirius, I'll be waiting for you tomorrow,' he dared to say, and felt butterflies flying in his chest when the other man's expression automatically brightened up.

'Don't worry, this time you won't have to wait,' he answered with a goofy smile and gave Remus the towel back.

After they left, Remus couldn't help it. He hid his face in the towel and got a good hold of sandalwood and citrus. It made his head buzz in a delicious kind of way, as a small feeling similar to hope and something bigger, stronger, built up inside of him. 

It seemed like Sirius wasn't a posh guy, after all. 

[waltzreprise]

MY WORKS FOR THE WOLFSTAR COMFORTFEST 2025

Hello!! I've been posting microfics for the Wolfstar Comfortfest on Twitter and now I posted am Ao3 work so you can read them there ♡

https://archiveofourown.org/works/74281266

Thanks to @wlstcomfortfest for doing this fest, it's always a pleasure ✨

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Borrowing clothes · word count: 1343 · pure fluff

Sirius Black is, in short, a condemned man.

He knows he is doomed from the moment Remus walks in the room, wearing nothing but Sirius' clothes.

The military boots that are a bit too small on his feet, making him walk more funnily than normal. The ripped jeans that don't hug his legs as tightly as they do to Sirius, but still expose parts of that milky, soft skin Sirius dreams of running his fingertips over. The Bowie t-shirt that is a bit oversized for him and would definitely show off his bony shoulder if it wasn't for the famous leather jacket, the one that Andy gifted Sirius when he turned 16 and that he wears all the time, doesn't matter if it was winter or summer, rainy or boiling hot. It contrasts with Remus' pale neck, makes him look a bit awkward and out of place, but still lovely, so lovely.

Remus notoriously gulps, clears his throat, and looks at Sirius with obvious nervousness, his amber eyes shaky and sparkly, gaze kind and sweet like honey, dripping right through Sirius.

'Well, so?' he asks, waiting for Sirius' approval, but Sirius can only think of one thing.

It has been a terrible idea.

When James suggested that Remus and him should exchange outfits for the Carnival party he and Lily had organised, Sirius thought it would be funny.

Moony wearing his leather jacket? Yeah, sure, it would look enormous on him because, even if he was a bit taller, he has no trace of muscle on his figure and is, still, as lanky as the twelve-year-old that stuttered every time he talked to Sirius.

But he isn't supposed to look like that. Like it is something he is supposed to wear more often than less, like he is meant to look adorable and cozy in it. Like he is Sirius' and Sirius' clothes are made for him.

'Shit, Moony, you look fabulous!' James' loud voice takes him out of his reverie, and he finds the other man smiling widely as he roughly pats Remus on his back.

'Thanks, Prongs. Sirius wasn't saying anything, so I was getting a bit conscious...' Remus mutters, and Sirius can only stare as Remus pulls the side of the jacket a bit, leaving the reddish scar on his collar bone at sight. Sirius swallows hard.

'Yeah, Sirius looks a bit flustered, maybe the punch?' James jokes, looking at him with that mischievous smart gaze that definitely knows what is going on in Sirius' mind and still decides to tease him for that.

'Yeah, well, not my fault you decided to empty a full vodka bottle in it...' Sirius grunts, trying not to stare at Remus, at how messy his curls look after dancing a bit with Lily, at how pouty his lips are after not receiving a compliment from Sirius.

'Talking about Sirius, why are you still wearing the robe I lent you?' James inquires, raising a brow at the hot pink piece of clothing that does its job at hiding what Sirius is wearing underneath.

'Oh, wanted to surprise Moony, but he surprised me first, looking cute,' he answers, and his heartbeat fastens at the soft blush spreading on Remus' cheeks.

'Well, that has a quick solution,' James states, and suddenly he is behind him, untying the rob and taking it off his shoulders before Sirius can complain.

It falls to the floor, and he is about to, in effect, complain, when he sees Remus' face.

His beautiful eyes widening, his plump lips turning into an adorable 'o' and the soft red of his cheeks turning bolder, spreading across his neck.

'Pads...' he murmurs in a quiet voice made only for the two of them, alone in the hallway after James just ran away, and Sirius feels himself blushing, something that doesn't normally happen, but Remus has that effect on him.

'Yeah?' he asks, his mouth dry.

'You look...' Remus doesn't finish the sentence, but Sirius can imagine what he means.

The brown Converse are too big on his feet, and the corduroy trousers are a bit too tight on his thighs, maybe giving the opposite effect they give on Remus. Then, of course, there's the sweater. The one Hope herself knitted for Rem, years ago, with a beautiful mix of browns, oranges and greens. James always says it makes Remus look like a grandpa, but Sirius has never agreed with that. The sleeves, a bit too long, make Remus' hands look smaller, like they are asking to be held. The soft neck would make anyone want to hide their face there, sniff until they get a good hold of Remus' cinnamon and old books scent. The thickness hides Remus' slim waist, urges Sirius to hold him tight and feel the soft skin underneath.

'Ridiculous, right?' he answers for Remus, because there's no way he can look good in his clothes, so delicate and soft, just like Rem.

But Remus quickly shaked his head, giving one more step until their noses are inches apart.

'You look... dangerous,' Remus states, and a shiver runs through Sirius' body.

'What do you mean?'

'Like people will get the wrong idea,' Remus whispers, his fingers playing with the edge of the sweater, driving Sirius crazy.

'And what idea is that?' He slightly tilts his head, and Remus' eyes follow a playful hair lock that fell from behind Sirius' ear. Sirius hopes he would put it back in its place.

'People will mistake you for my boyfriend or something.'

And it's now or never. Because Sirius knows Remus, he has known him since they were 12, has been in love with him since they were 15 and can perfectly tell when Remus is actually worried about something. But right now he really isn't, none of that lingering anxiety reflected on his face. And his eyes are staring lower than they should, right at where Sirius is biting his lower lip, and he is licking his own.

It has to be it.

'Well, maybe I wouldn't mind it if they thought that,' he says, trying to ignore tremble of his limbs, the sweat falling down his back and the tiny voice inside his head telling him that he might be fucking everything up.

But then Remus' hand moves to Sirius, and he holds it so carefully all the doubts in Sirius dissipate in an instance.

'Me neither. And I'm also wearing your clothes, so they could think the same about me.' There's a playful smile slowly appearing in Remus' face, like the Moon shining bright and warm in the middle of the night. Sirius can't help but imitate it.

'I think I'd love it if they thought you were my boyfriend, then. Wearing my jacket and all.' Sirius dares to brush Remus' palm with his thumb, and he feels himself melting when Remus' breath hitches, just a little, enough for him to notice.

'I think I'd love it too.' His mouth is close, too close, and Sirius can feel his shaky breath against his own, asking to be swallowed.

'Good, then we can make them happy.' He doesn't wait anymore.

Before Remus can answer, Sirius' free hand is cupping Remus' cheek, like it was meant to always stay there, and their mouths are brushing against each other, a bit shy at first, bolder when Remus' tongue outlines Sirius' lower lip and rushes to intertwine with Sirius', meeting like lifelong lovers who were supposed to reunite at some point.

It's magical, and somehow simple like the best things in life are, like a warm fireplace in the coldest days of winter or a timid daisy blooming in the first days of spring.

It's everything Sirius ever wished for and even a little more that he ever dared to wish for, because it would break his heart to do it if it never actually happened. But it has happened, indeed, and now he is kissing Remus in the middle of James and Lily's flat without caring about anything else, because, if he's sure of something, is that it will definitely happen again, and again, and again.

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Love at first sight · word count: 1958

It was supposed to be just another day in Remus' life. Get up, feed his bunny Romeo, feed himself, dress up with his usual wool sweater and corduroy pants and walk to the flower shop he had inherited from his mother after she decided it was time for her to retire and start travelling all around the world. Not that Remus minded —he had loved herbology since he was a little kid and his father read to him books about amazing flowers and plans that could cure all type of diseases.

He always got there early, loving to take the morning easy while he arranged the bouquets that had been ordered for the day and watered the most spoiled plants that immediately bloomed after the fresh water soaked them.

He put on his favourite John Denver playlist and softly sang for himself as he opened the door, the fresh early air hitting his face and giving him energy to give the best of himself.

He was so focused on pruning a very wild plant which never seemed to behave that he didn't notice someone had entered the shop. Not until he heard a low, unsure voice behind him.

'Um... hello?'

Remus didn't hesitate to turn around and show the potential customer a bright smile.

However, the smile kind of got stuck in his face when he was hit by the image in front of him.

Soft-looking curls, black and shiny, falling down broad shoulders and a sharp jawline. Thin lips, half-open and letting out a silent gasp, a pale and flawless skin that reddened a bit around the cheeks, and wide eyes, storm-coloured, sparkly and lovely.

The stranger looked at him with a shared astonishment, and Remus' breath got stuck in his throat, something strong and weirdly intimate passing between them.

'Can I...' Remus tried to talk, but his brain didn't seem to remember what he was supposed to say. Suddenly, all his experience dealing with customers had vanished, and he could only stare like an idiot while the other man gulped and tried to regain his composure.

'Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm Sirius.' The way he pronounced his own name, so softly, his tongue sliding over the s's , timid and a bit awkward, made Remus' heart flatter.

'I'm Remus. Well, you can read it in my tag. So, yeah,' Remus babbled, his face turning red with embarrassment.

But Sirius didn't judge him. Instead, he let out a bubbly laugh that was music for Remus' ears, like a match lightning up in the middle of the darkness.

'You are funny, Remus. I like you,' Sirius said, and those last three words did something to Remus, something stupid and crazy and dangerous, if the way his brain buzzed said something about it.

Sirius' expression was so openly honest Remus would have let himself fall with the trust that he would, indeed, catch him. It didn't feel casual, anything he said. It was more like he was tasting his own words, enjoying himself with a new flavour of candy that was like nothing tasted before, but still so addictive.

'Well, Sirius, if you find my absurd sense of humour funny, then I guess I like you too.' He didn't know where he took that confidence from, but he said it like a promise, wishing the other man would get it.

If the way his smile widened and little wrinkles appeared in the corner of his eyes were a sign of it, Remus was proud of the result.

'By the way, I'm assuming you didn't come in here to just enjoy my jokes, as much as that would delight me', Remus continued, and found himself smiling stupidly when Sirius giggled like a teenager.

'Oh, trust me, if I'd known that before, I would have come a long time ago. I'm actually here because of a bouquet. Big, extravagant. A few roses, not too many in case it could be pretentious, but also chrysanthemum, and some cute daisies. Oh, and lilies, of course. How could I forget the lilies?' Sirius talked non-stop, and Remus found himself fascinated, listening with an expression of pure delight that he didn't even try to hide.

'Oh, yeah, I remember that one, took me a long time to arrange, but had a lovely time doing so. The person receiving it is definitely someone special.'

Now, Remus wasn't a nosy person, but if Sirius had felt that spark too, why wouldn't he want to know who the lucky person was?

'Oh, I didn't order it.'

At this, Remus raised a brow, and Sirius hurried to explain himself.

'I mean, yeah, I'm picking it up, but this is from my best mate, for his wife.'

Remus couldn't help it —the relief was instant. It was silly, he had known this man for only a few minutes, but, even so, the way Sirius had answered, that mild desperation not to be misunderstood, it had to mean something, right?

'Well, your friend must love his wife a lot. Roses are the most traditional representation of love and passion, but they never get boring. And then the chrysanthemums, that mean eternity and a love that will last forever, also powerful. The daisies are underrated, but they mean purity, a love that lacks flaws. And the lilies, well, one of my personal favourites. Pure love, devotion, loyalty.' Remus started yapping without really meaning to, but his love for flowers had always been stronger than anything else.

When he went out of his reverie, he looked up, and found Sirius' eyes sparking like stars, his whole attention fixed on him. His heart skipped a beat.

'Sorry, I always get excited talking about flowers,' he quickly apologised, playing with the hem of his t-shirt as he always did when he felt nervous.

'Please don't. That was lovely. I will make sure to tell all of this to James, my friend, so that he tries to impress her wife. Her name is Lily, by the way. Your favourite,' Sirius said, a beautiful, infectious smile blooming on his face.

'It is, indeed.'

Neither of them said anything for a few seconds, and the music in the background was all that could be heard inside the small and humble flower shop.

"Come let me love you, let me give my life to you, let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms...' John Denver sang, and Remus couldn't have found a more perfect song for that unbelievable, specific moment.

Sirius' eyes danced between his eyes and his lips, and Remus felt himself holding his breath without really intending to.

'Remus...' Sirius said his name with that soft pronouncing of his, and Remus realised he loved how it sounded, coming from him.

'Yeah?'

'What's the flower that represents 'love at first sight'?

If Remus had believed he was dreaming before, he now saw himself jumping from cloud to cloud, the bright sun hitting on his face and nothing else mattering.

'That would be the orchid,' he answered, his voice shaky, his throat dry.

'Could I get one of those, too?' Sirius asked, his fingers tucking a stray lock of black hair behind his ear while Remus could just watch.

'Of course. Here.'

Remus didn't even have to move, not even look. He knew the lavender-coloured orchids were right at his left, and he just had to reach out and carefully take one. He offered it to Sirius.

'It's so pretty,' the other man murmured, his fingers finding Remus and sliding between them to take the flower. A sharp, electric current passed between them, right through their veins. They both gasped, looked at each other again.

'Yeah, these always bloom beautifully at this time of the year,' Remus added, his fingers not moving, staying right where he could feel Sirius' cold ones sending goosebumps through his skin.

'Well, I know how absurdly stupid it is to gift a flower to a flower shop owner, but I would love you to keep it, away from the others, in a place you consider special and at your sight to enjoy whenever you look at it.'

Remus' smile couldn't grow bigger.

'I'd love that. Thank you, Sirius. It's kind of funny, but even if I love flowers, I've never been gifted one.'

Sirius frowned a bit at this, and Remus had to restrain himself not to smooth his brows with his finger.

'Well, that's a shame, because you obviously belong between flowers. I'm glad I was the first one, then.'

'Me too.'

They both smiled at each other, Sirius' white teeth showing, and, god, Remus didn't want this to end.

'Well, then... Let me bring the bouquet to you, and put this beauty in a vase with water,' he said, and rushed to the backroom before he could do anything he might regret.

When he was finally alone, he let out a huge breath of air and put one hand right where his heart was, beating fast.

He quickly put the orchid in a vase, while he thought of how he should invite Sirius on a date. Would it be too desperate to just ask for his number? Or should he play mysterious, wait for the other man to ask?

He took the giant bouquet and went back to the shop, where Sirius was looking around, admiring the plants.

'Here it is, in all its splendour.'

Sirius looked back at him, and that gorgeous smile came back to his face.

'Oh, James will love it. And Lily too, for sure. How much is it?

'17 pounds.'

Sirius' brows raised.

'What? That's too cheap.'

'You gave me a gift. I think that's enough payment.'

'That's not fair, Remus. I took that gift from your own shop, you should be charging me that one too.'

'You already paid with your kindness.'

Sirius said nothing, just bit his lower lip, and Remus couldn't help but feel nervous. Was this the goodbye?

'Sirius, I want to-'

'Remus, I actually-'

They both talked at the same time, and looked at each other with a fair blush on their faces.

'You first.'

'I wanted... your number... is it okay if I ask for it? So we can meet sometime again?'

'Yeah, of course.' Sirius rushed to take his phone out of his pocket and gave it to Remus, so that he could write his number on it.

After he clicked 'save', he gave it back.

'Thanks. I don't know what came over me, I never do this, I just...' Remus tried to find the sentence, but he didn't know how to explain the overwhelming feeling growing inside of him. Luckily, Sirius understood.

'I know. It's the same for me.,' he said, a timid laugh after.

He was nervous too, Remus could tell. That only made him more lovely.

'Well, then...'

Remus was about to say goodbye, when Sirius interrupted him.

'Remus. Actually, when do you close the shop?'

'Oh.' Remus blinked with surprise. 'At 3 pm, why?'

'I don't know if it's too sudden, I don't want to scare you off, but this has to mean something, right? We only talked for a bit and I already feel... like I've known you forever.'

Sirius' words match what Remus was feeling, what he didn't know how to express. Emotion came over him, and he quickly nodded with his head.

'I get exactly what you mean.'

'Please, could I pick you up after you finish? I understand it if you are too tired or-' But Remus didn't let him finish.

'Yes. Yes, please.'

Sirius' smile lighted the whole shop, filled it with hope and excitement and something Remus couldn't quite understand yet, but it was there, vivid and shiny.

The promise of something Remus couldn't wait to find out. 

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Moving in together · word count: 857

When Sirius hears the front door opening, she is sitting on the sofa, drawing something abstract that came to her mind that afternoon, while a corny TV show plays in the background.

She looks up to find her beautiful girlfriend Remus leaving the keys in the porcelain bowl Sirius made for her on her 21st birthday. Then, she takes her boots off and leaves them in the little green cabinet she painted only a week ago, right after they moved in.

When she finally looks at Sirius through those thick eyelashes that drive Sirius crazy, the genuine smile that grows on her face makes Sirius' breath hitch.

'I'm home, cariad.'

Sirius still can't get used to it.

To the books scattered everywhere imaginable —the bathtub included.

To the warm smell of freshly brewed tea and cinnamon filling his nostrils from the moment she wakes up.

To her own paintings hanging on every wall of the flat. The one of Remus' childhood home, with Hope feeding the chicken on the left. The one of all their friends reunited at a Christmas dinner, with James and Harry making faces and Lily holding a tray with roast chicken. The one of Remus' reading next to the chimney, her brunette hair shining like the fire, her long fingers caressing the book's cover with affection.

To Remus' photographs lighting up the house with colour and memories. The one of their trip to Edinburgh, where Sirius asked a young couple to take the picture and they posed happily, Sirius' arm surrounding Remus' waist, Remus' lips leaving a lovely kiss on Sirius' cheek. The one of Sirius' naked back, sketching on the sunbathed bed. The one of them kissing in the middle of the rain, after Remus rested her camera on a street bench at the risk of it getting wet.

It's perfect.

Sirius has always brought a bit of order to Remus' messiness, cleaning all the dishes for her after she suddenly has the urge to try a new recipe, or folding every blanket after Remus makes a fortress with all of them. She doesn't mind, finds peace in cleaning, actually, and she would do anything for her chaotic, lovely Remus.

At the same time, Remus has always had a gift for showing new perspectives to Sirius, for turning everything upside down and still seeing art in it. She taught Sirius that flexibility doesn't destroy everything, that she doesn't have to be so harsh on herself when Remus is there to catch her.

Between the two of them, they've made of their new flat a cozy, homely place, where their different personalities match in a surprising yet harmonic way.

The autumn-themed pillows Remus crocheted look amazing on top of the red sofa Sirius ordered online. The black kitchen counter —Sirius' idea— is brightened by the pink and yellow appliances Remus chose. The modernist decoration Sirius likes is balanced by the cottagecore items Remus brought from her parents’ house.

It couldn't be better, and Sirius can only smile back when Remus finally approaches her, takes the sketchbook off her hands, leaves it on the table and sits on Sirius' lap.

'What is it, love?' she asks while she caresses Sirius' curls, because of course she only needed a quick look at Sirius' face to know she's feeling something so strong it might explode in the middle of her chest.

'I'm just so happy,' Sirius answers, and she doesn't need to say anything else. Remus chuckles and leaves a kiss in her temple.

'Me too, baby. How did I get so lucky, mmh?' she murmurs against her skin, and Sirius can feel that playful smile. She can't help but kiss it, outline that sinful lower lip with her tongue before biting it, stealing a surprised gasp from her girlfriend.

'If you are lucky, then what am I?' Sirius mutters, her lips still brushing against each other. Remus leaves another peck before answering.

'You are everything, Pads.'

After that, they love each other in the kitchen, while they dance barefooted and the food ends up being a bit too salty, but they eat it happily anyway. They love each other again, when they cuddle and Remus lets Sirius put her freezing feet under her thighs while they watch Star Wars for the 20th time, because of course Remus lets Sirius play it again and again. And, finally, they love each other deeply and intimately, when Sirius worships Remus' naked body on their queen-size bed and Remus sings her girlfriend's name until her voice turns hoarse.

Tomorrow, they'll love each other a bit more, when Remus' lathers Sirius' hair up and turns her into a sleepy ball under the shower head. The next day, they'll love each other again, when they share a cake piece Sirius bought for Remus in their small balcony and they observe the city life underneath them.

And in 60 years, they'll continue loving each other, in this flat or in a bigger house, where they might adopt a cat, or maybe two, and where Remus will still smile widely at Sirius whenever she gets home.

'I'm home, cariad.'

'Now I am, too.'

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Sirius' birthday · word count: 918 · slight angst, mention of domestic violence (not explicit) and blood, comfort

When Sirius closes his eyes, he sees darkness. The mold clinging to the corners. The tapestry. His burned face.

He feels that soaking cold from which he doesn't know how to protect himself. It runs through his bones, freezes his blood, paralyses him.

He hears the sharp steps, the too-well-known stiletto heels whose bleeding mark was so often left on his skin. He tries to move, but he is stuck to the creaky old floor, panic blooming in his chest.

'Already fourteen, and still a disgrace.'

His mother's contemptuous tone pierces his ears, makes him want to scream at her, but no sound escapes his throat.

'And you expect me to give you a gift? You stain of dishonour, disappointment of my blood.'

He needs to escape, needs to peel his own skin until there's no Black trace left in it, needs to-

'Happy birthday to the biggest regret of all.'

Sirius opens his eyes.

'NO!' He doesn't know if he's really screaming, but his body is soaked in sweat and he struggles with catching his breath.

'Sirius.' A sweet voice, nothing to do with his mother's, says his name so gently Sirius feel like he'll break in pieces.

'No, please, no...' He doesn't know who he's begging to, but tears fill his eyes and he can't distinguish what is real and what is not.

What if he never escaped Grimmauld Place? What if he's condemned to spend all his life there? What if he never went to Azkaban and all of it was just a horrible nightmare, but one that would be even better than staying there, surrounded by the ghosts of his ancestors?

'Cariad, breath.'

In an instance, the air comes back to his lungs, some pressure leaves his chest and he can, again, breath.

There is only one person who has always called him like that, one that Sirius gave up for lost many years ago and, with him, a part of his soul left and sent him to solitude.

But he came back and, with him, hope, a new found happiness and those tingling butterflies that turn him back into a teenager even if he is almost 50.

'I'm here, love, I'm here.'

He sounds too real to be a dream, a soft whisper right next to him, soothing his heart and assuring him that Grimmauld Place is far away, abandoned and decrepit, while Sirius stays safe, right at home.

'Rem?'

He almost never calls him like that, more used to "Moony" or "Sweetheart". But "Rem" is saved for those moments of vulnerability where Sirius allows himself to fall apart and let the other man catch him, caress all his broken pieces without fearing getting cut by them, and slowly put him back together in a way that can only mean love.

"Rem" is saved for those nights in their fifth year of Hogwarts, when Sirius woke up crying and his Moon lied next to him, brighter than ever, a safe and constant weight on the left side of his bed that smelled of old books, cinnamon and relief.

'It's me, Pads.'

The same answer as when they were 15 and immature and scared, too young to admit their feelings while they cuddled as young men didn't use to do and ignored everything around them.

Now, old and traumatised and tired, Sirius can still feel the warmth of his Moon, full and shiny, next to him. He can ignore the ache of his damaged joints and move closer to him, the sign that he is already ready for physical contact after the worst of his nightmare has passed. He can sigh slowly when two long arms wrap around him and the smell of old books, cinnamon and habit fills his nose.

'Better?' Remus asks, and Sirius' answer is a kiss on his bony jawline, one that is reciprocated with a kiss on the wrinkles of his forehead.

'Yeah. Sorry, I know this tradition is not fun at all,' Sirius tries to joke, but Remus doesn't laugh. Instead, he hugs him tighter.

'Don't be dumb, Pads. I know how hard it is, every year,' he murmurs in that gentle voice of his, and Sirius swallows hard as he tries not to cry again.

'Yeah.' Is all he manages to answer, but Remus doesn't need more. He knows.

'I already bought the ingredients for the carrot cake, and after we visit Prongs and Flower, we can enjoy it while we watch one episode of that horrible TV show you like. How does that sound?'

It is the same routine every year, one that brings comfort and peace to Sirius, one that helps the loose memories that sometimes leave his mind come back easier when that happens.

He knows he's broken, a shadow of what he once was, but he also knows there are moments when he can still smile, and laugh, or just simply stare at Remus and feel grateful that he didn't lose everything.

'Yeah, that will be great.'

'Deal, then.'

They don't talk for a while, but Remus softly sings welsh lullabies to Sirius, the ones that Hope used to sing for him after the bite, and, at some point, Sirius can close his eyes again without the fear of seeing his mother's face.

They don't say "I love you", they don't need to. But in the safety of Remus' arms, in between the innocent pecks and the creaking of the bed, Sirius can feel Remus' smile against his temple, and he simply knows.

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Yule Ball · word count: 1205

If someone asked her, Sirius Black would say that everything was fine, that she didn't really care.

However, one look at her and anyone would notice that she did, in fact, care.

The deep wrinkle between her brows, that sharp and intimidating gaze, the pout on her lips were proof of it.

Even if Jamie and Lily approached her every five minutes to ask her to dance with them, it was no use.

Sirius would not enjoy the Ball without her Moony.

It was frustrating, to think that Remus was most likely lying in her bed while she read one of her never-ending books, as she did every evening. All because she refused to go to the Ball with them.

Sirius had been waiting for this day during all the school year. It was finally her change to ask Remus out. She even had a plan!

She would walk her to the ball, arms linked and shoulders brushing. She would offer her a drink —one of those disgustingly sweet mocktails that she liked— and ask her for a sip just to get closer to her. After Moony finished her drink, Sirius would ask her for a dance, and Remus would surely refuse, but Sirius would convince her —she always did. While they danced, she would grab her waist and caress her neck, tell her how pretty she looked. Remus would blush, and Sirius would kiss one of her warm cheeks. Then, slowly, her lips would move until they brushed against...

'Sirius, look!'

Jamie's voice took her out of her reverie. She was about to answer with a grumpy 'what', when her gaze fixed on the place pointed by her friend, and all the air left her lungs.

Remus was walking down the stairs, slowly and elegantly. She was wearing a silky dark green high-low dress that highlighted her long legs and slim waist, while leaving her narrow shoulders at sight. Her long neck was decorated by an accessory Sirius recognised right away: Hope's emerald necklace, the one she had inherited from her grandmother. Her hair was tied back with green ribbons and her eyelids were painted with a soft, sparkly shadow that made her amber eyes shine more than ever. She was biting her pink lips, and Sirius felt the urge to make her stop with a kiss.

'Wow, she looks...' Lily said, and Sirius agreed with her, because there was no word in any dictionary that would do Remus' beauty justice.

When she walked towards them, a timid smile on her lips, Sirius felt like she might faint.

'Hi.'

'Remus, you look amazing!' Jamie exclaimed, while Sirius was still looking at her like an idiot.

'Aaaand that's why Sirius should invite you to a dance. Have fun!' Lily winked at Sirius, sharp as always, and took Jamie's arm to walk away from there, leaving the two of them alone.

Silence fell between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable, just intense. They drank in each other's appearance, smiling shyly at each other when their gazes found each other.

'Pads, you look amazing-'

'Moony, you are gorgeous-'

They both talked at the same time, surprise showing on their faces until they both burst out laughing, the nervousness still lingering in the air but the usual comfort they brought each other present with it.

When Sirius collected herself, she gathered her courage and took a step forward to hold one of Remus' hands. Her brows raised, but she didn't try to move away.

Her hand was cold, as always, and Sirius could only think of warming it up.

'Lily was right, we should dance. You look so pretty someone might try inviting you first, and I can't have that.'

Remus' cheeks reddened at Sirius' words, and she felt satisfaction flowing through her veins, knowing she was the culprit of that reaction.

'I'm all yours,' was Remus’ answer, and Sirius was surprised that she didn't reject her, but also felt butterflies after hearing her words, suspecting that they might have a deeper meaning than what it looked like.

'Yes, you are. Now, let me kidnap you tonight.' Sirius winked at her and took them both to the dance floor.

The music was slow, meaningful for a moment like that, and Sirius wanted nothing more than to take advantage of it, hide themselves between the rest of the couples dancing together and do as she had planned.

Her hand quickly found Remus' waist and perfectly fit there, like a missing piece of a puzzle. Her other hand hadn't let go of Remus' hand, and she intertwined her fingers while Remus placed her hand on Sirius' shoulder and caressed her collarbone with her thumb.

It was intimate, and lovely, and perfect.

'I thought you weren't coming,' Sirius muttered while Remus and she started spinning slowly, their faces a few inches away from each other.

'I wanted to surprise you. Did it work?' Remus smiled mischievously, and it sent goosebumps to Sirius' skin.

'Oh, it really did. I'm sure Jamie will make fun of my grumpiness later, you'll see.'

Remus' laughed at that, her crooked teeth showing and making her even lovelier, if that was possible.

'But you have to understand, Moons. What's the point of coming to this ball without you?' Sirius added, and Remus' smile turned sweeter, her gaze soft and affectionate.

'You could have danced with Jamie and Lily.'

'But I wanted to dance with you.'

Sirius would never get tired of appreciating the way in which Remus' face turned pink, a fair blush decorating her skin and making the scars look even more prominent, but Sirius thought that was lovely too.

'Oh.'

'Yeah, oh.'

Remus bit her lower lip again, but Sirius didn't just watch this time. She let go of Remus' hand to move her thumb to her lip, caressing her chapped lips until her stubborn teeth freed them.

'I also wanted to get you one of those horrible drinks you like, and make you laugh a lot with my silly jokes, and make you feel like a princess while I spent all the night showing you how much I care about you,' Sirius murmured, and Remus' eyes widened while her grip on Sirius' shoulder tightened.

'Pads...'

'But the moment I saw you wearing that beautiful dress and looking like the literal Moon walking down the stairs, I forgot about everything. I could only think about holding you tight and having you in my arms, all night long,' she confessed, her heart pounding against her chest with the fear of rejection, of being too much.

But Remus didn't push her, or look at her with disgust. Her mouth was half-open, her eyes shining with emotion.

Next thing Sirius knew, those chapped, plump lips were brushing against hers, and it didn't take her long to kiss her back.

In the middle of the dancefloor, they span around, and they kissed, and they held each other like you only hold the most precious things, and they kissed again.

That night, Sirius felt like the luckiest girl in all of Hogwarts, and everyone who looked at them could only think of one thing.

Remus Lupin looked prettier than ever, but she shined even more with Sirius Black next to her. 

[moonysentropia]

wolfstar microfic for the Wolfstar Comfort Fest · prompt: Sleepy · word count: 1958 · tw: memory issues (nothing angsty)

Remus woke up with the gentle caress of the winter sun on his face and the distant crowing of the neighbours' rooster, who had that stupid fixation on screaming as soon as the sun was out.

It had been something that had bothered Remus for years, but now that he was almost 80, he had accepted that this was one of those things that made life colourful and enjoyable, because, even if the horrible sounds the rooster let out woke him up too early for his liking, they also provided him with the pleasure of enjoying his husband’ sleeping face.

Sirius’ skin shined like a pearl when the sun hit it, and Remus had to resist the urge of outlining his jawline with his fingers as he had done so many countless times before. His closed eyes were decorated by wrinkles and those long eyelashes that Remus loved to lick slowly before sleeping, and his mouth was half-open as he breathed slowly and calmly.

During his long life, Remus had lived a lot of things. He had experienced sorrow, sadness and grief. He had laughed so much that his stomach had hurt afterwards, and he had learned that love was something worthy of feeling openly and honestly, without fear or doubts.

In his 77 years of life, Remus still smiled to himself when he woke up earlier than his husband and had the privilege of just staring at him, without obstacles or the time playing against them.

Normally, it would take Sirius more time to wake up, and by the time he did, Remus would already have the breakfast ready for them —two slices of toast, one with avocado and ham, the other one with tomato and cheese, a boiling black coffee and a sweet tea with milk.

This time, Sirius woke up before Remus could enjoy his view for a little longer. He opened one eye first, then the other, then he blinked, slowly, until he got used to the sunlight.

His eyes roamed around the ceiling, until they fell on Remus, and, just by that gaze, Remus immediately knew.

‘Good morning, Moony. Getting ready for work?’

Neither Remus or Sirius had worked for the last 20 years of their life, and, normally, Sirius would remember that.

However, there were moments like that one, more often as they got older, when Sirius would remain stuck in the past, thinking Remus and he were still 40 or 50 or, sometimes, 30.

It had been the biggest issue after escaping Azkaban, Sirius’ memory. It had meant long nights crying and never-ending days panicking when he suddenly came back from a lapse, but it had also meant Remus comforting Sirius and accepting him the way he was.

It had not been easy for neither of them, for Sirius to feel helpless and in constant loss, for Remus to see him like that. But they had learnt to live with it and, as they got older, it just became part of their routine, the fact that some days Sirius would act as if he was younger and Remus would let him have his way.

'No, Pads, today we have the day off,' he said easily, already used to it.

'Oh, really? That's nice,' Sirius answered with a sleepy smile on his face, and Remus couldn't resist the urge to kiss it softly. They both laughed into the kiss, and the rooster outside crowed again, such an attention-seeker.

'We can fall asleep again for a bit, we've earned it, right?' Remus murmured against his husband's lips, and Sirius hummed in reply, his hand finding Remus' cheek and cupping it gently.

Sirius' sleepy gaze travelled across Remus' face, until it stopped on his hair, and he frowned.

'Oh? What's wrong?' Remus asked, even though they had already lived this situation a hundred of times, but he had always been known for his patience, and especially for his care when it came to Sirius.

'Your hair is white,' Sirius pouted comically, and Remus had to resist the urge to laugh.

'Yeah, it is. Don't you like it?'

At this, Sirius' frown relaxed as he blinked slowly, his absent gaze still analysing Remus.

'You look hot,' he stated with pure satisfaction, and Remus sniggered at this. 'Why are you laughing? It’s true.'

Sirius' hands found Remus' sides and he tickled him merciless, making him laugh louder and uncontrollably.

'Sirius, stop!' Remus cackled, and Sirius did, only to kiss him again.

He tasted like morning breath, something that Remus had found himself loving more and more with time. Maybe that was love, right?

Sirius' thumb brushed against Remus' cheekbone, outlining it calmly, while a soft breeze of morning air entered the half-open window and gave them goosebumps.

'I'm going to close the window, and then we will sleep again. How does that sound?' Remus whispered.

'I'd love that. And maybe, later, we can go for a ride in Stacy?'

Stacy was Sirius' bike, and they had sold it to a younger couple 10 years ago, when their back pain after riding it increased too worryingly.

But Remus was not telling Sirius that, the same way he wasn't telling him about their retirement and about the white in his hair.

He would do, instead, what he did best: take care of him and make him happy, for as long as life let them be together.

'Of course, cariad. But, first, resting.'

And Sirius complied, as he always used to do lately, that bossier side of him wore out with old age.

Remus knew that, when they woke up again, Sirius would not remember any of that, as he might come back as his 80 y.o. self, or maybe he would surprise Remus with any of the other versions he loved the same.

But, in any case, Remus would embrace him warmly, and he would save that memory for the both of them, treasuring it lovingly. 

Because, that, too, was love.