as the rock bears the weather

Remus isn’t sure how you manage it, but you’re making eating crisps look very cute. James brought out the big bags to share and you said, “Yes!” so nicely as you grabbed one that everyone has left you alone with it. 

“You sharing?” he asks, just to see your nose wrinkle. 

“Not with you.” 

“Not with me, what’s that supposed to mean?” 

“Go on, then.” You shake the bag at him enticingly. “But I’m only sharing with you.” 

He offers his hand. You pour out more than he can keep in his palm, forcing him to cup them in both hands instead. 

“That’ll keep you happy,” you say. 

“Thank you.” 

“Aren’t you welcome, handsome?” you croon, leaning back against Sirius’ leg with an air of disdain. 

Still, there’s something there that marks it as a playful act, the hint of a smile on your mouth, your knees pulled up and swaying a little to the side. Self-satisfaction. 

Sirius pets your shoulder. You don’t seem to notice. 

“Teasing lovely Remus?” he asks you. 

“Only a bit.” You nod to the coffee table in front of you, your drink, and give Sirius an imploring smile. 

“I love that movie, I love Scooby-Doo.” 

Remus hums. “I don’t mind it.” 

“With the escape ball and– and when Scooby draws the bunny?” You grin. “It always makes me laugh.” 

“I like the frisbee flashback.” 

“That’s the first one.” 

“Is it?” Remus takes a sip of his coffee, a white chocolate mocha, barely any coffee at all. 

“I don’t know.” You laugh. Remus likes how it tumbles from you, unabashed, your hands drifting towards your chest. You’ve slumped with time into the cushions of the coffee shop’s patchwork sofa, a thigh of space between you and Remus filled with your purse, his wallet, and his longing. 

You start to squeeze your hand into a fist. You’re still smiling. Remus has to compute the event quickly, lest he ask if you’re okay and make a fool of himself. You’re fine, just excited to be having a laugh, and this is what happens. He resists the urge to clench his own fist as yours rolls in and out of itself like a flower, blooming and un-blooming, taking in the sun, heat of your chest, and closing again. You squeeze again and Remus remembers it’s his turn to talk. 

“Did you watch the cartoons?” he asks. 

“I did! Yes! The cartoon movies were the best.” 

Remus is sure you’d let him kiss you if he asked politely enough, but you’re so busy trying to learn everything about one another that there hasn’t been time. Genuinely. He’s ditching a lecture to be here now, wondering if he can persuade you into calling in sick from work tonight just ‘cos he wants to see you that little bit longer. 

“If you skip work, we can watch the Cyber Chase. I have the DVD.”