(If you remember how this goes , feel free to skip my introductory spiel and check for new rules!)
They’re sold by many companies and known by many names: Candy Hearts, Conversation Hearts, Sweethearts, and Love Hearts. Whatever the brand and whatever you call them, they’re the signature sweet of the season. Sure, you could buy your beloved a box of chocolates, but that’s an option any time of year! Good luck finding these bad boys in November!
Not that candy hearts are bad! Sure, they’re kinda chalky… and they taste stale no matter how fresh you bought them… but it’s not about the taste with candy hearts, it’s about the pastel, the experience, and above all else: the sayings! Who doesn’t remember going through a pack with friends, trying to find the kookiest message? Digging through a box to find one that was just the right level of romantic to give a certain special someone? (And maybe the heartbreak when you received one in turn where the message was just a big, pink smudge?)
Now, candy hearts have been around for a long time. And with a constant rotation of messages so we always got fun variety in a box, they’ve had a lot of sayings.
Through a great deal of internet sleuthing (and a little creativity on my part), I’ve collected over seven hundred of them.
Some are a little raunchy (TEASE ME), and some are downright rude (EW NO). They range from classic (BE MINE) to contemporary (SWIPE RIGHT) to were-at-one-point-contemporary (FAX ME). Some of them are, quite frankly so hyper specific it’s a wonder they made it into circulation at all (ME JULIE BEST MUM).
And they are all, even the weird ones, ripe with potential as fic prompts!
The way this mini-fest works is simple:
From 12:01am EST Feb 1 until 11:59pm EST March 1, drop me an ask containing these emojis: 🍬💕
If you don't want to send an ask from your main tumblr account (or don't have a tumblr account), you can do so anonymously. However, you must include the ao3 handle or tumblr sideblog from which you plan to complete the challenge.
I will shake my Great Big Box of Candy Hearts and pull out a unique candy heart for you and only you!
With your message in hand, create whatever that candy heart inspires and your own heart desires! Fanfic, art, graphics, playlists, head canons, shit posts, interpretive dances, cosplay, meta essays, it’s all great as long as its central focus is on Wolfstar, the relationship between Remus Lupin and Sirius Black!
You can either directly quote your candy heart message in your work or use it as a broader inspiration.
You are allowed to use the same candy heart as inspiration for multiple unrelated works and submit all of them to the fest.
You do not need a beta before submitting your work, but I do encourage you to get one. I want this to be as stress-free an event as it can possibly be, and in my personal experience, it reduces stress to have someone else look over your completed work for at least spelling and grammar so you don’t have to reread your own stuff and psych yourself out before posting. If you don’t have any fandom friends with whom you feel comfortable sharing your fanfiction, there are also online resources to find a friendly stranger (including, hopefully, our discord server — see rule 17). But if ultimately, you’d rather be your own editor, I certainly won’t reject your work!
Include the following caption at the beginning of the tumblr post or AO3 beginning notes: For @goodboylupin's Candy Hearts Challenge. My candy heart prompt was ____. I will not reblog your work or allow it in the collection until you have included the caption.
If posting on tumblr, please make sure the @-tag of your caption is working so I get a notification! It should show up on its own automatically as you type. Also tag the work with #RSCandyHearts, preferably within the first five tags.
If posting on AO3, post your work to the collection and tag it with goodboylupin's RS Candy Hearts Challenge (this tag will show up in the suggestions when you start typing it).
As long as the rules have been followed, I will reblog every work on Tumblr, and leave a kudos on every work on AO3. (If I haven't done so on your work and you see I've been active on this blog, then both the @-notification and #RSCandyHearts tag failed. Send me an ask with a link!)
If, after completing your first work, you want another helping of candy hearts, that’s more than welcome! Since I don’t want anyone to get a sugar crash, there is a two-day wait period between submitting a work and getting a second (or third or fourth or wherever you are) candy heart.
If you find you cannot come up with anything for your prompt, you can drop out and send a new ask to get a different candy heart. However, you need to give it an honest effort for at least one week before I give you a new one.
Works are expected by March 15, but this is a low-stakes, self-posting challenge! If you need more time, just message me or drop an ask. And if you want to drop out, that’s totally fine! I’ll even delete your first ask where you requested a candy heart if you prefer. I only need to know for the sake of my own record-keeping. Let’s all just be honest, considerate, and try to have a good time!
If you need a really long extension: Your candy heart is yours until January of next year, at which point, if I haven't heard back from you with an update or request for extension in the past few months, your prompt is going back in the Great Big Box of Candy Hearts so somebody else can have a go at it. The AO3 collection closes at the same time.
I will keep a masterlist of works pinned on my blog until at least March 22.
There's a discord! Feel free to join to discuss your prompts, your progress, your love of Wolfstar, or just to have another little circle in your sidebar.
Over the past two challenges, there have been a small handful of people who requested a candy heart, did not create anything and did not speak to me any further to tell me they were dropping out or having trouble. I work hard to make everyone a custom graphic and keep this fest running smoothly, therefore: Any creators with multiple instances of ghosting are suspended from getting another candy heart until next challenge.
Since this is not the usual timeframe for #RSCandyHearts, I'd love it if you could reblog this post to signal boost!
My ask box is open now to receive your candy heart requests 🍬💕
For @goodboylupin's Candy Hearts Challenge. My candy heart prompt was Ever Yours!
This is a little tidbit I wrote as a second work :)
“Cheers, Moony.”
As Charms class was dismissed, Sirius tossed Remus a small pink box.
Narrowly missing the catch, he frowned at it and gave it a slight shake before opening it up. Sirius had his legs propped up on the desk in front of him and was leaning dangerously far back, hands gripping at the sides of his chair.
“Sirius, there’s a single candy heart in here.” he said, frowning at Sirius who shrugged without wiping away his sharp smile.
“And what’s it say?”
Remus rolled his eyes and fought back a grin as he popped it into his mouth.
‘EVER YOURS’
“Thanks, Padfoot. Ever yours.”
—
A few minutes later, in the Gryffindor common room.
“Sirius?”
“Hm?”
“Why hasn’t this dissolved into wet chalk yet?”
Sirius settled his book across his chest and looked up at him slyly.
“Right, well, I enchanted it to last forever too.”
Remus screwed his face up in disgust.
“I’m sorry, I love you, but I will be spitting this out now.”
For @goodboylupin 's Candy Hearts Challenge. My prompt was U R #1
1977
The first quidditch match of seventh year was set to be a tense one. As always, Slytherin and Gryffindor were the first teams that would face off. It was James's last season as captain and he was determined to go out on a win. The opposing captain was Regulus Black. It was his first year as captain and he wanted to start on a high.
And then there was Sirius, who had been welcomed back to the team after a year's suspension and would be facing his brother for the first time since leaving Grimmauld Place. He had been practising with James all summer, trying to get back to where he was before he took the time off. He was looking good, possibly better than he'd ever been, but it wasn't enough for him.
Sirius had spent every night on the Quidditch pitch for weeks. Remus had followed him out, braving the cold evenings to sit on the stands and watch his boyfriend hit bludgers back and forth with startling accuracy. Remus had practically had to drag him back to the dorms the closer it got to the game.
Sirius was exhausted leading up to the game. He was overworking himself and still wasn't happy with his performance. He didn't just want to be good. He wanted to be perfect. For James. For himself. Even for Regulus, at least a little. Remus was worried. He had to do something.
He started with gentle encouragement, watching Sirius's every move at practice and telling Sirius everything he did well as they walked to the dorms together. Sirius would blush and smile at the ground bashfully. When that stopped working, when Sirius stopped taking him seriously and began talking down on himself, Remus switched tactics. He'd head down to the pitch with a thermos of herbal tea for Sirius and walk to the castle with his boyfriend in silence. When they got to the dorms, Remus would massage Sirius's sore muscles and put salve on any bruises he'd acquired that day before they lay down to sleep.
The night before the game, James had physically withheld Sirius from going to the pitch and carried him back to the dorm, insisting that he get a full night's sleep to be at his best. Remus waited until he was snoring gently before extracting himself from Sirius's grasp and sneaking back to the common room to meet Lily. He felt bad leaving Sirius alone, but he would be back soon, and it would be worth it when Sirius saw what they had been doing.
The next morning, the quidditch team was first at the breakfast table, meaning Remus, Lily and Peter were also present, if much more sleepy. Sirius pressed a kiss to Remus's head before he left for warmup, muttering something about a good luck charm that made Remus smile into his second cup of coffee.
The game started a while later, and it was tight from the beginning. The Slytherin team was ruthless, breaking a few rules and attempting to shove Gryffindor players off their brooms, but the Gryffindors were good flyers and held their own. It took a long time for a point to be scored, James finally breaking through Slytherin's defence and putting the quaffle through the middle hoop as Sirius hit a bludger at the Keeper, distracting him from blocking the point.
The crowd cheered for the two marauders and Sirius grinned, searching the crowd for his boyfriend. He finally spotted him and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Remus Lupin, who always brought a book to quidditch matches, who barely bothered to wear a Gryffindor scarf to the games, was decked out in Gryffindor colours, wearing Sirius's old quidditch jersey that he had charmed to fit him. Next to him was Lily Evans, also dressed up with her boyfriend's jersey. They were hiding a sign between them, a beautifully drawn lion at the bottom - likely Lily's work - with words in gold spanning the length of the sign.
POTTER AND BLACK
U R #1
Sirius was nearly hit by a bludger as he stared at the sign, snapping back to attention as Marlene flew up next to him and slapped him upside the head. He blew a kiss to Remus before refocusing on the game.
Sirius didn't miss a single hit for the rest of the game, managing to defend the chasers in perfect sync with Marlene. He eventually hit a bludger towards his brother, blocking the seeker's path and allowing Gryffindor to catch the snitch. He flew straight to Remus when the game ended, ignoring the team's celebration on the ground. Remus caught him easily and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Brilliant," he whispered into Sirius's hair. "You're bsolutely brilliant."
For @goodboylupin 's RS Candy Hearts (nearly a year late 🙃 but will I ever forget about it? Maybe never ...)
Maybe Never - Three Times Sirius Won’t Shut Up About His Husband, and One Time Remus Won’t
(1)
“You know, MY husband is an author. Writes all kinds of things. See, he started in journalism and then made his way to publishing. These days, MY husband writes high fantasy instead of hard hitting journalism. Though in my opinion it’s still ‘hard-hitting’…” Sirius trails off with a smirk and a nudge to Remus, who is standing beside him, hands in his pockets.
Remus blushes, leaning in to grumble, “Really? Must you talk about me at every opportunity? I thought you wanted to get in and out of this benefit your brother’s hosting. You hate these things.”
“I do. But I love talking about MY husband. All accomplished, supporting me and my art.”
“Like you don’t make well enough money selling under your family name anyway. Will you ever tire of talking about me?”
Sirius hummed, “Maybe Never.”
((2))
Another Sunday brunch with Remus’ parents, another meal sitting back and watching Sirius drone on about him. Remus has already finished eating is sitting with his arms crossed, leaning against the back of his chair and occasionally sipping his tea.
“See, MY husband just submitted his newest work to his editor and so MY husband is taking us on a little vacation to London to celebrate while he waits for edits and feedback. Not that there’ll be much that needs editing, MY—“
“Yes, dear, Your husband. Our son, must you refer to him like that every time, he has a name that we gave him,” Hopes says with a teasing smile. Truthfully she finds it endearing more than anything, but she has to call her son-in-law out on it anyway.
“Yes, I must,” Sirius says matter of factly.
Remus scoffs, “Don’t you think you’ll get sick of it?”
“Maybe Never, so get used to it.”
(((3)))
“So anyway, MY husband loves this recipe. MY husband says it’s the only good think my parents ever gave us, besides me and my brother of course.”
“Sirius, who are you— oh. Hi, instagram,” Remuss says as he sees the phone propped up against a bag of flour.
“Here he is now, MY husband. Say hi everyone.”
The comments flood with greetings as Sirius continues on baking away. Remus walks up to him for a brief kiss.
“Will you ever even consider stopping referring to me so formally?”
Sirius smiles ear to ear, “Maybe Never.”
(+1)
Remus stands beside Sirius at the art gallery opening, glass of champagne in hand and smiling politely at whoever comes by to talk to Sirius about his art. Currently, some gentleman is talking about considering buying some art for his office, something about sprucing up the family practice.
“Well,” Remus interjects during a brief lull in the conversation, “MY husband, I’m sure, would also be more than happy to do some commission pieces for you too, if there is a theme you have or if you wanted something relating to… teeth? Dentistry, correct?”
“Yes, yes, that’s correct. You think that would be something he— you could do?” The man looks from Remus to Sirius.
“Absolutely, MY husband loves the opportunity to create things especially for patrons. I’ll take a business card if you have one and have MY husband reach out later this week.”
“Yes, I will contact you and we can discuss what you might have in mind for the pieces,” Sirius says, extending a hand to shake before turning to Remus as the man wanders away. “Really? MY husband?”
“How’s it feel?” Remus asks with a smirk.
“Will you ever not tease me? I just like calling you mine.”
“Will I? Maybe Never,” Remus whispers as he leans in for a kiss.
For @goodboylupin's Candy Hearts Challenge. My candy heart prompt was "UM HI"
Benjy has fallen head over heels. Again. But he swears this time it's different! Again. However, it turns out his new love interest is already dating this Remus guy, and he's just using Benjy to cheat on him. Somehow, Remus himself seems to be more interested in Sirius Black's reaction to the whole situation than in his actual cheating boyfriend.
There's Always Something
Benjy has never felt like this before.
Sure, he’s been in love before. Benjy is quite a sucker for love, actually. He falls fast and always immediately jumps in head-first, which has never had any good results in the past.
But then again, it has never felt like this in the past. The eruption of butterflies at just the meeting of their eyes, the light-headedness that has nothing to do with the wine he’s been drinking, the excitement that for once doesn’t resemble anxiety. It makes him think that all those times before weren’t even crushes, if this is what it’s supposed to feel like.
Benjy has always considered himself a hopeless romantic, but in retrospect, he might have been just hopeless. Like when he claimed the charming man from the coffeeshop who once made his latte art resemble a heart was the love of his life, or when he swore he was going to marry his handsome neighbour who had helped him carry in some heavy boxes when he was moving in, even after he met guy’s girlfriend, or when he was so sure that his friendly trainer in the gym was the one for him, or even way back in high school, when he didn’t stop talking about how smitten he was with the very fit, very broad-shouldered, and very straight jock who was one class above him.
Over a week ago, Benjy ran into said jock again, who was still very fit, still very broad-shouldered, but, as it turned out, not quite so straight anymore.
Benjy had blushed when he entered the deli and suddenly stood face-to-face with the man he still vividly remembered from his school days, Caradoc Dearborn. While Benjy immediately recognized him, he truly didn’t expect Caradoc Dearborn to even know who Benjy was, so he had stammered a quick hello and walked away, expecting that to be the end of it. However, when Benjy was about to leave, Caradoc Dearborn suddenly approached him. He gave Benjy his number, saying it was nice to see him again, and that it would be nice to catch up some time. They texted for about a week before deciding to meet up for coffee. Coffee turned into dinner, and dinner turned into drinks.
And that’s were they are now, sitting together in a cosy bar, so close that there legs are pressed together, just talking and talking and talking. Talking to Caradoc is easy, listening to Caradoc is captivating, and hearing Caradoc laugh is mesmerizing.
From the moment they started talking, Benjy doesn’t ever want it to stop.
Somewhere during their conversation, Caradoc’s hand has ended up on Benjy’s thigh, and Benjy is trailing his hand up over Caradoc’s very impressive biceps. Caradoc reaches out to brush a strand of hair from Benjy’s face, Benjy leans into the touch, Caradoc leans in too, their faces suddenly very close, and almost simultaneously, both of them move in further, slowly closing that last bit of distance between them, and...
Caradoc is abruptly jerked backwards, pulled from his barstool and shoved up against the wall.
Benjy nearly face-plants into the empty bar stool in front of him, and can barely catch himself. “What the-?”
Benjy looks up at the man who has grabbed Caradoc by his collar and is currently glaring at him furiously. He knows that man. Well, he doesn’t know him, but he knows who he is. Everyone does. He’s the kind of guy who walks into the room and you immediately say ‘who is that?’
Sirius Black unfairly handsome, like he’s designed for the sole purpose of making the rest of mankind feel inadequate. Too intimidating for Benjy to ever even dare to talk to, but that’s not to say he hasn’t enjoyed the view from time to time.
One more reason why everyone has had Sirius Black’s name on their lips lately is because of his notorious, high profile family, whom he recently dramatically cut ties with. Everyone loves to speculate about what happened, and Benjy has heard the wildest stories flying around about the fallout between Black and his family.
Benjy most certainly isn’t enjoying the view now, now that Black is pushing the latest Love of His Life up against the wall.
“Um, hi,” Caradoc says, blinking at Black.
“Don’t ‘hi’ me,” Black snaps. “What the hell, Dearborn? How could you?”
“It... It’s not what it looks like!”
“What ‘it looks like’,” Black snarls. “Is that you were about to stick your tongue down that guy’s throat!”
Oh, Benjy really hopes that it is what it looks like!
“Yeah, okay,” Caradoc says. “I suppose that is what it looks like, but I’m not cheating!”
“Oh, right, no, of course,” Black says, rolling his eyes. “Because surely your boyfriend would be absolutely fine with you snogging some other guy!”
Boyfriend? Benjy’s heart drops. Of course, there’s always something, isn’t there? It’s only the first date and it shouldn’t hurt this much, but god, it bloody does!
Caradoc shakes his head. “Sirius, please, it’s something between Remus and I.”
“Oh no,” Black says. “I’m not going to keep this from Remus! You can forget about that! You know what? I knew from the very start you weren’t good enough for him! I should’ve just spoken up back then.”
“Yes, that would’ve saved us both a lot of trouble,” Caradoc mutters.
“I just hope Remus will realise-”
“Remus will realise what?” A guy with floppy, honey-coloured hair and matching honey-coloured eyes comes walking up to them. He looks curiously from Caradoc to Black, his expression strangely... hopeful?
“Remus!” Black says, sounding way too pleased for the current situation, as he turns to the guy, apparently Remus, apparently Caradoc’s boyfriend. “Excellent timing. I think your boyfriend has something to say?” He looks at Caradoc with a slightly smug smile on his face.
Caradoc sighs. “Sirius seems to be under the impression-”
“Sirius isn’t under any impression!” Black interrupts sharply, glaring at Caradoc. “Sirius saw with his own eyes!” He turns back to Remus. “Dearborn was about to snog this random guy here!”
Benjy opens his mouth to protest, because Black may have a good reason to be angry, it’s not Benjy’s fault and Black doesn’t need to talk about him like that, but Caradoc beats him to it.
“Don’t talk about him like that!”
Benjy feels a tingle in his stomach at hearing Caradoc defend him, he’s just so... No, Benjy, no! He’s a liar and a cheater and you deserve better!
Remus presses a hand against his chest and gasps dramatically. “Caradoc! How could you!” He says, rather theatrically, Benjy thinks.
“That’s exactly what I said,” Black says triumphantly.
The way Remus is studying his face makes Benjy think he’s more interested in Black’s reaction to the situation than in his actual cheating boyfriend.
“And I said that it wasn’t like that!” Caradoc exclaims, looking more fed up than guilty or ashamed.
“Caradoc!” Remus hisses, giving him a pointed look.
“I mean, yes, I suppose it is, but...”
“Caradoc!” Benjy says, aiming to sound angry, but it comes out more like heartbroken.
“I mean, no, it’s not...” Caradoc rubs his temples. “Oh, fuck this.” He looks at Remus. “Sorry, Remus. I’m done with this.” He turns to Black. “Remus and I aren’t dating.”
Remus lets out another one of those overly dramatic gasps.
Black’s eyes narrow. “You dare deny it?” He asks in a dangerous tone. “You would just dismiss your relationship with Remus like that, while there are so many people who would die to be with Remus, who would want nothing more than to have him to themselves?”
“I know at least one,” Caradoc mutters under his breath, at the same time as Remus asks “You really think so?” while beaming at Sirius.
“Of course!” Sirius says wholeheartedly. “You deserve someone who knows how lucky they are.” The last part is said with sideways glance in Caradoc’s direction.
Caradoc rolls his eyes. “Remus and I were only pretending to date to make you jealous,” he plainly states.
Sirius blinks at him. “Why... Why would you want to make me jealous?”
Benjy crosses his arms over his chest. “Were you just using me to make him jealous too?” He demands. For some reason, he feels especially hurt that he isn’t even the only one Caradoc was using to make Black jealous. Maybe his friends did have a point when saying he needs to work on his self-esteem...
“Not me!” Caradoc exclaims. “Remus wants to make you jealous.”
Remus lifts his chin. “Why, I do not know of what you speak,” he says airily.
“Oh, Remus, let it off!” Caradoc snaps.
“Fine!” Remus throws his hands up in the air. “Fine! It’s true! It was me!” He turns to Black looking almost defiantly. “I asked Caradoc to pretend to be my boyfriend to help me make you jealous.”
Benjy’s previously sunken heart perks up a little. Caradoc isn’t a cheater! He’s just a loyal friend!
Black stares. “You... What? Why?”
“Because!” Remus exclaims, poking his finger against Black’s chest. “Because I like you, and I know you like me too, but you never bloody say it!”
“And you thought pretending you were happy with someone else would make me more inclined to say it?” Black asks incredulously.
“Every time something seemed to happen between us, you drew back! I thought that maybe the possibility of losing me to someone else would finally give you the push you needed to speak up.”
“Really?” Black crosses his arms over his chest. “The person who thought it a better plan to fake an entire relationship rather than just have a conversation with me is lecturing me about speaking up?”
Benjy must admit he makes a fair point.
Remus places his hands on his hips. “You’re damn right I am! If you like me, you would fight for me!” He averts his gaze. “But you didn’t. So maybe I was wrong. Maybe you don’t like me.”
“I don’t like you,” Black says. “I bloody love you, Remus!”
Remus spreads his arms. “Then why didn’t you fight for me?”
“Because loving you means wanting you to be happy,” Black says. “And believe me, Remus, wanting you to be happy and wanting you to be with me are two very different things.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“What... what’s that supposed to mean?” Remus asks, but his tone is much softer now.
Black runs a hand through his hair. “Look, Remus. You’ve got your shite figured out. You’ve got your own place, you work as a teaching assistant, from where you can get your accreditation and grow into becoming an actual teacher, and you love your job and are damned good at it. You’ve had a rough time, and now you’ve got your life on track. But me? I just got kicked out of my parents’ house, am crashing on my best friend’s couch, and just dropped out of my Business and Accounting studies my parents forced me to do. I never applied for any scholarships, because, you know, rich parents, and now I’m disinherited, so I’ve got no idea how I’m ever going to afford any type of education ever again. In short, I’ve got no place to live, no money, and no idea what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. Why would I let you be a part of that? Why would you want to be a part of that?”
“That makes sense,” Remus says.
Black drops his gaze, but then Remus continues. “Or rather, that would’ve made sense, had it been anywhere near the full story.”
Black looks up again.
Remus takes a step forward. “You forgot to mention how strong and brave you are for defying your family, no matter how much it’ll cost you, or how a fiercely loyal you are to your friends and how you’ve always been there for me, but find it so difficult to ask for help yourself, or just how clever and talented you are, and how you can now finally use that drive and passion to follow your own path, and I can’t wait to see where it’ll take you, but Sirius, there’s no rush. You’re allowed to take your time to figure things out, and while you do, I want to be there with you. So please, let me be there with you.” Remus takes another step towards Black and places a hand on his cheek. “Please, let me be with you.”
Black responds by moving in and kissing Remus, his arms coming around Remus’ waist to pull him even closer, and Remus’ hands sliding into Black’s hair.
Benjy starts to clap.
Remus and Black pull apart and give Benjy a puzzled look.
Benjy awkwardly scrapes his throat. “Um, sorry. It... It seemed like a clapping-moment?” He scratches his head. “I’m sorry. Please, um, don’t mind me. Sorry.”
Remus shakes his head and seems to want to continue the kiss, but at that point, a young man with hazel eyes, messy, dark hair sticking up in all directions, and a calm, easy-going manner about him has wandered up to the group, casually sipping his beer.
“Everything settled here?” He asks, looking from Remus and Black to Benjy and Caradoc. “Everyone got the respective man of their choice?”
Remus holds on to Black’s arm. “I’ve got mine!” He beams.
Black smiles at him completely besotted. “And I mine.”
They’re actually cute together. Benjy can’t help it. Besides the fact that Black ruined his moment with Caradoc and insulted Benjy, and Remus nearly ruined things between him and Caradoc all together by not fessing up about his scheming, Benjy finds himself rooting for them.
His thoughts are interrupted by Caradoc gently tapping him on the shoulder. “What about me?” He asks softly. “Have I got the respective man of my choice?”
Benjy can’t help the smile spreading over his face. “Who knows, if you play your cards right.”
Two years later
“And I pronounce you now husband and husband! You may kiss the groom.”
“And now you may clap,” Caradoc whispers in Benjy’s ear.
Benjy glares at him as the room bursts out in applause as Remus throws himself at Sirius, who is all too happy to catch him and pull him into a passionate kiss.
Caradoc chuckles and kisses Benjy’s cheek. “I’m sorry, love. I’m just teasing.”
Benjy doesn’t reply, but he lets Caradoc wrap his strong arms around him and pull him close, and he rests his head on Caradoc’s shoulder with a content sigh as Caradoc starts gently treading his fingers through his hair.
They watch as Remus and Sirius, Mr and Mr Lupin, make their way back down the aisle, towards the exit, Remus holding on to Sirius’ arm and Sirius smiling at him completely besotted, both of them beaming more brightly than Benjy has ever seen anyone beam.
“They really are cute together,” Benjy says.
“Hmmm,” Caradoc hums.
“And it was such a beautiful ceremony,” Benjy sighs.
Caradoc moves a bit closer to whisper in his ear. “Do you think that’ll be us someday?”
Benjy’s stomach erupts in flutters, like it still does every time he’s reminded that Caradoc is actually his. He can’t help the smile spreading over his face. “Who knows, if you play your cards right.”
For @goodboylupin's candy hearts challenge. My candy heart prompt was I DO
Remus turned off the stove and, grabbing the kettle, poured Sirius a cup of coffee.
"Cigarette?" He asked, already looking for his pack.
"You know it." Sirius smiled. "Old habits die hard, Remus. Once you've gotten used to a coffee and a cigarette as breakfast every day, it's hard to let go."
"Tell me about it." Remus chuckled, sitting down next to him, to the window, to the cold air of June morning. "You've been a bad influence, I've been having the same breakfast every since we moved in together."
"Glad to know I had an effect on you." Sirius flicked the lighter on and, bringing it to his lips, he lit up his cigarette.
"You always have. However, that doesn't always make it good." The other man joked, and Sirius stifled a laugh. Remus felt at ease, now, that he and Sirius had warmed up to each other again.
Memories were still memories, though. Nights bent over the same windowsill, sharing a cigarette. (Now each of them had their own; that had changed, of course, but seeing the fact that Sirius always managed to smoke way more than half of it, Remus didn't quite mind.) Nights when they had loved each other, loudly and angrily, nights full of love that had rotten into hatred.
"Do you still...?" He started.
"Of course." It was a mutual agreement; Sirius had known, most likely, what he had thought. "I have. I do, still, I always have. And I always will. And you?"
"Impossible not to, as much as I would have liked to deny it, at some point. It's hard not to love you, Sirius. And even if I could have decided not to love you, I would have, every single time."
