I Want To Hold Your Hand...

[lupinotuum]

Who: Remus Lupin lupinotuum and Sirius Black heirofficium
What: A date.
When: The afternoon of March 17th.
Where: In town.
Rating: PG. (Should not really go any higher than that, really.)

[ To say Remus was nervous was a complete understatement.
Sure, he'd already gone through this before, but that didn't change the fact that Sirius still hadn't. Whatever hopes Remus had for this relationship, it still hung on a thread. There was no telling how Sirius would feel about it after tonight, whether he would want to continue this or not. More than anything, Remus didn't want to waste or ruin this chance.

After slipping a small note under Sirius' door naming the time and meeting place, here he is, waiting on one of the couches in the lobby with a book spread across his lap and his wand behind his ear. Looking positively bookish as usual. He glances up every-so-often, but otherwise keeps his nose buried in his book, attempting to distract himself until Sirius does finally make an appearance. ]

Comments

[heirofficium]

[ To say Sirius was nervous was also an understatement.
What was he thinking when he agreed to this?! Sirius had never been with a guy before. How did he know any of his usual flirting tactics would work? (Though, if he had to be honest with himself, he had a sinking feeling that Remus wouldn't like to be flirted with the way he flirts with 'his girls', and that left him with even less.)

What eases his nerves a little, when he arrives in the lobby, is the familiar sight of his friend, curled on the couch with a book. He still hadn't gotten quite used to Remus' unusual loss, but at least he knew what his was. He chuckles to himself as he comes down the stairs, a little of the uneasiness ebbing. ]

Wondered if I'd find you like this. Didn't keep you waiting?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus looks up from his rather awkward position and gives him a little smile. He's managed to get used to his rather odd loss, just sort of putting up with the strange positions he's forced to sit in in order to read. Today he'd been bent over, nose literally inches away from the page he'd been stuck on for the past ten minutes. His back had started to ache almost immediately.

For now, though, he shuts his book and places it to the side, finally able to straighten himself up. While he won't say anything, he's relieved to see Sirius. Some part of his mind had been afraid that he wouldn't show.

He shakes his head as he stretches his arms up, his spine cracking little. ]

No, you're right on time. I came down early.

[heirofficium]

And you had to crack open a book so you could torture yourself beforehand? Interesting.

[ He produces a small bouquet. This was where it gets iffy. ]

I got flowers- I don't really know what guys like when it comes to this sort of thing, but... [ He holds them out more than a little awkwardly, poor thing. ]

So, where are we headed?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus simply scoffs softly and rolls his eyes. Of course Sirius would think reading a book was torture. ] Just because you don't enjoy reading as much as I do.

[ He chuckles softly, before his eyes fall on the small bouquet Sirius holds out for him. He blinks, eyebrows raised in surprise. This, he wasn't expecting. He wasn't exactly into flowers -- chocolate was more his thing -- but Sirius had gone through the trouble, put in effort.

He smiles softly, glancing at Sirius and blushing as he reaches to take them. ] Thanks, Padfoot.

I was thinking we could go into town?

[heirofficium]

[ Sirius rolls his eyes and makes a soft jab at his back, knowing that he couldn't poke too hard or the poor sod might cry. That really didn't look comfortable. ] I meant your, er, creative reading positions.

[ Yeah well the last time he got chocolate from the castle it got him steamy makeouts with 3 girls and started this whole mess. He's not taking his chances, Moony. ]

Ah. I'm guessing you'd like to not go to the place Alex and I went to, either.

[lupinotuum]

Oh. Right, yes. I've sort of gotten used to those. Even if it does put a strain on my neck... [ He chuckles softly as he moves to stand, straightening his shirt and sweater.

He tenses a little at the mention of his date with Alex, but he forces the jealousy that curdles in his stomach back down. He'd rather not spoil this chance by letting that sort of thing bother him. Especially not in front of Sirius.

So he simply smiles and shrugs, studying him with this fond, but knowing look. ]

Sirius, I don't mind if we go there, really. And you can relax, there isn't a need to try to impress or woo me like one of your girls -- the flowers are a nice touch, though.

woo me like one of your wizard girls

[heirofficium]

[ He chuckles, smiling a little apologetically as he studies his face. Remus' smile is nice enough, isn't it...? He's started trying to pick up on attractive attributes on Moony, the way he's always naturally done with girls; he's more than a little relieved that it's not as unnatural as he'd expected, though what to make of this is something for Sirius to decide later. ]

Fair enough, but we don't have to go if you don't want to, Remus. There are plenty of other inns and taverns down in town.

[ And, of course, he offers his arm like the gentleman he is ~ ]

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus chuckles softly as Sirius offers his arm and he accepts it with a small blush. He links their arms together, slipping his wand back into his pocket after removing it from behind his ear. ]

I really don't mind. Besides, I think I'd like to explore a little. I haven't really gone anywhere outside the castle aside from the forest.

[ He smiles at him, studying Sirius for a moment or two. ]

[heirofficium]

[ He gives Remus a lopsided smile, tightening his arm a little. Maybe this won't be so hard after all. ]

You want to explore the town...?

[ He gets an odd little grin on his face, before turning in another direction. ]

I have an idea.

[lupinotuum]

H-Huh? [ Remus blinks as Sirius tugs them in a different direction and simply follows him, confused. He glances at him, blushing when he sees that familiar little grin on Sirius' face that could only mean one thing. Sirius had an idea and one that he knew Remus may or may not approve of.

Nonetheless, whatever it is, Remus will go along with it. He wants this to be just as enjoyable for Sirius as well, after all. ]

Where are we going ... ?

[heirofficium]

[ Sirius throws Remus that cocky wink of his as he leads them toward the little plastic shed he wished up to lock away his baby. ]

We'll be able to explore town a lot quicker if we have something faster than our feet to carry us. ~

[ When they reach the shed, he lets go of Remus' arm briefly to cast an Unlocking Charm on the door. ]

[lupinotuum]

[ The cocky wink Sirius throws at him sends Remus' heart reeling, beating fast and hard inside his chest. He flushes bright red and quickly looks away, as if attempting to hide it.

When they stop at the shed, however, that fuzzy, flustered feeling disappears rather quickly and is replaced with a certain amount of dread. ]

Oh, please don't tell me --

[heirofficium]

[ He pouts at him as the door swings open to reveal his motorcycle. ]

What, are you saying you don't want to? Aw, Moon...

[lupinotuum]

No I ...

[ He takes one look at the motorcycle and gulps. He'll admit it. He's a little afraid of riding anything that goes over ten miles an hour.

But...

He glances at Sirius. He wants Sirius to enjoy this date and if Sirius wants to ride on his motorcycle with Remus, then who is Remus to say no? No matter how apprehensive he is about it. ]

A-Alright, fine, but no pulling any dangerous stunts!

does that first bit include your mum

[heirofficium]

[ He gives Remus an excited grin. ]

Hey Paradisa, give my date here a helmet. ~

[ He chuckles as he watches the helmet drop out of the air in front of his friend, stepping into the shed to get the bike out. ]

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus jumps a little when the helmet appears out of thin air, but he manages to catch it with a small grunt. He steps aside as Sirius starts to pull the bike out, tilting his head to the side slightly. ]

This is the one you were looking at in that magazine, isn't it?

[heirofficium]

The very same. [ He sighs a little as he looks at the sleek black babe next to him. ]

You know, for all the shit it pulls, the castle sure can be sweet on us, can't it?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus doesn't really understand the appeal of motorcycles. He's heard Sirius call it his 'baby' once or twice and that, in his opinion, is a little strange.

He glances at Sirius, though, and can't help but smile at the look on his face. ]

I guess. Now. Are you going to show me what you've done to it, then? I assume you've charmed it.

[heirofficium]

[ He chuckles and gives him another wink. ]

Not yet. I'll save it for later tonight.

[ He gives him a little nod as he puts on his own shiny black and chrome helmet, sliding his leg over the side of the bike to mount it. ]

Are you gonna put that on or what?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus blushes again and bites his lip. Sirius really has to stop that. Moony's kind of afraid of going into cardiac arrest, here!

He glances down at his helmet though when Sirius puts his own on and blinks, before nodding and placing the helmet onto his head. ]

O-Oh, right.
Erm ... I suppose I get on behind you, then?

[ Aww, poor moony doesn't know what to do. ]

[heirofficium]

That's right, but you're not fastening that right. Come here, you.

[ He tugs him a little closer, reaching up to do the strap under his chin the right way. Thankfully his visor was down, or Remus would've seen the blush creeping in his cheeks. Going into this, Sirius hadn't expected the skin on his friend's jaw to be so soft...

He clears his throat as he pulls his hands away and pats the spot on the seat behind him. ]

Th-there we are. Now then! Let me get her started up, and then you can get on behind me.

[lupinotuum]

[ His breath hitches as Sirius suddenly tugs him closer and starts helping him with the strap under his chin. He finds himself almost leaning into it, the brush of Sirius's slightly cold, but soft fingers too much of a temptation not to. He averts his eyes, the blush on his cheeks only growing redder the longer Sirius spends trying to adjust the strap.

When Sirius clears his throat, however, Remus suddenly snaps to attention and clears his own throat, nodding. He could have sworn that Sirius had let his hands linger, if only for a fraction of a second, and the way that his voice wavered ... ]

R-Right, thanks...

[heirofficium]

[ He offers him a little smile as he goes through the process of revving up his bike, kicking the little lever properly after getting the motor to idle.

He looks up at Remus, giving him a grin and a thumbs-up. ]

Come on, then! And you might want to hold on!

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus watches Sirius start up the bike with mild curiosity. He might not be much of a motorbike person, but it was interesting to see how it all worked.

He's only a little wary when it's time for him to get on and he does so with a hesitant little smile. ]

A-Alright, alright!

[ Settling down on the seat behind Sirius, Remus hesitantly wraps his arms around Sirius' middle, his fingers keeping a rather tight grip on the other male's shirt. ]

[heirofficium]

[ Once again, Sirius was thankful Remus couldn't see his face. There was something to be said for the feel of his friend's wiry arms wrapped tight around his chest that he hadn't experienced with any girl, even Alex or Roxy.

And after a little Flinstone-ing, the bike was further out in the open and he could properly get started. He turns his head to shout over the roar of the engine. ]

A few pointers before we leave! When we go into turns, loosen up your grip on me a little and lean back, cause it's hard as hell to turn with a barnacle attached. And keep your feet up on the pegs or you'll burn your trousers on the exhaust pipe!

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus nods in response, trying to ignore the way his heart hammers inside his chest as the bike moves forward. He's nervous, that much is clear, but it's more so from being pressed up against Sirius' thin, but strong frame than anything else. He hasn't been this close to Sirius in a long time, hasn't felt as safe and secure as he does right now, with Sirius' crisp scent washing over him.

He pauses to look down briefly in order to position his feet onto the pegs, his grip loosening just a tad, but still keeping firm. ]

A-Alright, I'm good!

[heirofficium]

Alright then! Here we go!

[ And with a roar of the engine, they take off through the courtyard, as Sirius starts to steer them toward the gate.

He can't help but blink a little, though- that nice feeling of his friend's thin arms wrapped around his middle hasn't gone away yet. In fact, it's even stronger. ]

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus' arms tighten just a little when the engine roars and they pull forward toward the gate. There is a momentary feeling of fear, but it's gone in a matter of moments when they pick up speed and whisk past the gate.

He loosens his grip just a touch, leaning back on cue when Sirius steers the bike down the path. He finds himself almost smiling, actually enjoying himself as he watches the scenery fly past. Is this how Sirius feels when he's up on a broom or riding on his motorbike? ]