Nerd

‘Nice.’ James clapped him on the back and refilled his glass, ‘Your turn, Wormy!’

‘Erm, ok I’ve got one.  She’s a red headed ten, but,’ Pete looked at James, ‘She hates Quidditch.’

‘Ooof,’ James put a hand over his heart. ‘I dunno mate, does she still come watch me play?’

‘Nope.’

‘Definitely still a 10 then,’ Sirius quipped, laughing as James took off a shoe and chucked it at him.  Sirius dived behind Remus, who reached out and caught the shoe lazily in one hand and then raised an eyebrow at James.

‘Doesn’t look like this 10 is missing much, hey Jam.  That was a shit aim.’

‘Yeh!’ Sirius popped up from behind Remus and hooked his chin on his shoulder, ‘My granny could have given that throw more welly, and she’s dead!’

‘Hey! That was fucking on point and you know it!’

‘Whatever helps you sleep at night babe.’

‘Wormyyyy,’ James whined, clambering onto Pete’s lap, ‘Padfoot and Moony are being mean to me again!’

‘Never mind Prongs,’ Pete said, patting James on the back, ‘You just need to practise more, ‘tis all.’

James gasped, ‘Traitor!’

‘Don’t give him ideas, Pete!’ Sirius said, ‘He’s already got practise scheduled for 6 o’ clock on Saturday morning.’

‘The early bird catches the worm Paddywhack.’ James slid of Pete’s lap and back to his spot on the floor. ‘Level with me Petey, is this red headed 10 Lily Evans?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well then,’ James leant back on his elbows, the usual dreamy look on his face, ‘It’s still gonna be a 10 isn’t it.’

‘Good man,’ Remus said. ‘Ok. He’s a 3 but he’s a werewolf.’

‘Remus!’ both James and Pete chorused.

’10.’ Sirius said quietly.

The three others looked at him.

‘What?’ Sirius shrugged, a faint blush spreading over his cheeks, ‘I think werewolves are cool. And,’ he turned to Remus, the blush deepening, ‘You’re not a 3 and you know it.’

Remus rolled his eyes, ‘Ok, he’s a 5.’

‘No.’

‘What do you mean n- fine, a 7.’

‘Higher.’

‘I’m not going higher! I’m not! Ergh, ok. 9. But that’s it!’

Sirius just looked at him, a scowl creasing his flawless brow.

‘Ok, ok, oh my god.  He’s a 10.  Happy?’

‘Very.’ Sirius said, although he didn’t sound it and he whirled around to Pete and James, looking at them defiantly. 

James held his hands up. ‘You won’t see me arguing.  Always said Moony’s a 10.’

’10 and a half if anything,’ Pete added and Sirius looked slightly appeased, settling back down next to Remus, starting a little as their hands brushed together. They both pulled away as if they’d been burned. 

An odd silence settled in the room.

‘Right.’ James said slowly, looking at them bemused. And then continued more loudly, ‘So a 10 but a werewolf still gives us a 10! Sorted!’ Remus scoffed but James ignored him.  ‘Moony, your turn!’

‘Fine. This game is ridiculous.’ He looked at Sirius who was looking unusually subdued.  ‘He’s a perfect 10, but he’s as stubborn as all hell.’

‘Oh my god shut up,’ Sirius mumbled, the flush that had been beginning to recede reappearing twice as bright.

‘I will not.’ Remus said matter-of-factly, and then, with a quick glance at Pete and James he leaned forwards and dropped a kiss onto Sirius’ cheek.

‘Oh my God, it’s finally happening.’ Pete squealed, giving little wiggle just as James muttered ‘What the fuck? A perfect 10?’

He looked between Sirius and Remus who were now both blushing furiously. ‘Wait. I’m confused. Padfoot’s the perfect 10?’

‘Come to the kitchen with me Prongs!’ Pete said suddenly, ‘We need more orange slices!’

‘More orange slices?’ James repeated, looking even more confused, ‘What the hell is going on.’

‘Come onnnnn,’ Pete said, tugging James up and frog marching his towards and out the door.  He shut it behind him. ‘Walk with me.  I have a plan!’

------------------------------

‘Okay!’ James said, chucking a handful of orange segments into the jug and topping it up liberally with red wine before sticking 4 straws in. ‘Come on lads, bottoms up!’

‘Yeah!’ Pete said, grabbing a straw and beginning to slurp enthusiastically. ‘Yum!’ he said, pulling away, ‘Come on you two!’

Remus and Sirius, who had been sat throwing furtive glances at each other for the past ten minutes, shuffled forwards. 

‘This is unsanitary,’ Remus said, eyeing his straw dubiously but leaning down to take a suck anyway.

‘Pfft,’ James made a garbled noise, his mouth full of liquid. He swallowed. ‘I’ve literally seen you stick your face in Padfoot’s butt, Moony.’

Sirius choked on his mouthful as Remus came up spluttering. ‘What?! No you haven’t!’

‘He means when you were Moony, Moony.’ Pete said, deciding to come to Remus’, who was almost purple, rescue.  He shot James a look. James just grinned back.

Remus turned to look at Sirius, aghast. ‘I haven’t done that. Have I?’

Sirius didn’t say anything, but there was no denying the red splotches appearing down his neck.

‘Padfoot?!’

‘We weren’t going to say anything,’ Sirius glared at James, ‘Because we knew you’d be embarrassed, but yeh, you do. But it’s ok!’ he hurried on, ‘It’s a totally normal thing!  I think it’s because the wolf knows I’m pack and also the whole canine thing.  It’s really nothing to worry about Moons, I swear. I read somewhere that canines do it because it helps calm them so if you think about it, it’s actually kind of sweet.  I don’t know, I sort of like it.’

‘You like it?’

‘No, not like that!’ Sirius was now scarlet. ‘Just the fact that maybe I can keep you calm.  I don’t know,’ he tailed off, ‘It makes me feel special.  That the wolf needs me.’

‘Of course the wolf needs you,’ Remus said quietly, taking another sip of Sangria and determinedly not making eye contact. ‘You’re it’s Padfoot.’ He paused. ‘Just like I need you.’ He looked up, ‘Because you’re my Sirius.’

‘Eek!’ James squeaked.  Pete shoved him.

‘Moony, I’ve got one for you.’ Pete said, as the last of the jug was drained. ‘He’s a 9 but he speaks French.’

‘Oh my God 100% a 10.’ Remus said without hesitating.

‘Padfoot,’ James threw out, ‘He’s an 8…but he has freckles.’

‘I thought we agreed that Moony was a 10?’

‘Who says I’m talking about Moony?’

‘Oh. Right. Sorry.  Well freckles are always a 10, aren’t they.’

‘If you say so! Moony! He’s a 7 but he can really pull off a leather jacket, if you know what I mean.’

’10.’ Remus said slowly, narrowing his eyes slightly, ‘What are you-‘

‘Padfoot!’ Pete interrupted, ‘He’s a 6 but he lets you steal his jumpers.’

’10.’ Sirius answered immediately, although he looked a bit bewildered.

‘Cuuuuute,’ James kicked his legs happily. ‘Moony! He’s a 5 but he’s left handed.’

Remus levelled James with a look which said he knew exactly what going on but then he smiled.

‘A 10.’ He sighed, looking bashful.

‘Damn right it’s a 10. Paddy! He’s a 4 but he has a lip ring.’

‘God I love a lip ring,’ Sirius said, shooting Remus a sideways glance.

‘We know!’ Both James and Pete chorused.

‘So…?’ Pete prompted him.

‘Well it’s another 10 isn’t it.’

‘Hell yeah! Moony, he’s a 3 but…’ Pete paused to think.

‘He writes in cursive?’ Remus suggested drolly.

‘Yes! Good one! He’s a 3 but he writes in cursive.’

‘Another 10.’

‘Writes in cursive?’ Sirius said, eyes flicking between Pete and Remus, ‘What the hell? That’s so random? Why is that a-‘

‘S.O.B, my main man!’ James clapped a hand on Sirius’ shoulder as the other two burst out laughing. ‘He’s a 2, but he can’t fly for shit.’

‘Hey!’ Remus flipped him off. ‘I’m not that bad!’

‘You so are Moons,’ Sirius laughed and then stopped, a dawning realisation spreading over his face. ‘Still a 10 though.’

‘Ok.’ Pete said, more calmly.  ‘This one’s for both of you.  He’s a 1. But. He’s your first kiss.’

Neither Sirius or Remus said or did anything, they just starred at one another.  The room crackled with unspent magic and Sirius shifted towards Remus slightly.

‘Oh my God,’ James whispered eventually, ‘One of you needs to do something. I’m dying here.’

And with that, the tension was broken.  Remus threw his head back, laughing.  ‘Oh come here you sausage!’ And he moved forward, grabbing the neck of Sirius’ t-shirt and crashing their mouths together.  

Sirius melted into him immediately, threading one hand through Remus’ hair and clutching the sleeve of Remus’ jumper with the other.  Remus returned the gesture in kind, dropping one hand to Sirius’ hip to pull him forward and deepen the kiss, the other pressed against his cheek, thumb rubbing softly back and forth along his jaw.

Pete and James high fived.

They kissed for several more minutes, until eventually Sirius pulled away, gasping for air. Remus, panting lightly, pressed his forehead against Sirius and smiled at him adoringly. 

‘Well?!’ James said, making them both jump, ‘Give us the number then!’

Sirius huffed a laugh and pressed his lips to Remus’ once more in a much more chaste kiss. ‘A 10. Definitely, always a 10.’