#crease

In hockey the crease is meant to protect the goalie. It's a boundary, a line that is never meant to be crossed. You don't get to crash it without consequence, you don't get to score when it's violated.

It's not a weakness, but protection written in black on white.

Remus knows this, understands it instinctively.

He has spent his life learning the rules, has memorised where the lines are. He knows when contact becomes dangerous and when the danger of getting penalised comes close. He keeps his distance and holds his ground.

He knows when to retreat into the safety of the blue-painted lines. Into the safety of himself.

Sirius does not. He is brash, all speed and impact, never afraid to come too close to the net, of breaking the rules which he never learned were made to keep others safe.

He thrives in the chaos in front of the goal. The high speed collisions, the scramble for the puck, the chance that something reckless might score the goal.

Until he notices the flinch in Remus when someone comes too close. Until he realises that Remus doesn't back away because he is afraid, but because he knows what happens when someone ignores the crease.

The shift comes slowly, unknowingly, as Sirius begins to learn what loving Remus means; not charging in, but respecting the boundary. He learns to guard the space, he stands between Remus and anyone who dares to cross the blue lines.

He learns that strength does not lie with charging but with protecting.

@wolfstarmicrofic January 23, word count 932

Previous part First part

They pulled up outside Alphard and Henry’s house. Sirius shut the engine off and swallowed nervously. 

“We’re here,” he said, as though it wasn’t obvious. “Oh, I don’t remember if I mentioned. They have a dog. I hope you don’t mind, he’s a sweetheart,”

“I’m a wolf, remember,” Remus winked at him. “Canines stick together.” Before Sirius could say anything, the thick wooden door opened, and Alphard and Henry crowded into the opening, waving wildly at them. Sirius let out a low groan. This was going to be unbearable. Remus patted him on the back and got out of the car, leaving him to his embarrassment. 

Remus had barely made it around the front of the car when an enormous black shadow raced across the gravel at him. 

“Padfoot, no!” Sirius shouted, leaping from the car and trying to head the dog off, scared that he might jump on Remus and hurt his already sore ribs. But the giant puppy stopped at Remus’s feet, plopping his big butt on the ground and wagging his tail, sending pieces of gravel everywhere, including at the paintwork on Sirius’s Porsche. 

“Good, boy,” Remus smiled down at the mischievous pup, patting his head gently. 

“Remus, welcome,” Alphard strode out of the house, his arms open wide. Remus stepped into the embrace, a huge beaming grin on his face. “I’m Sirius’s Uncle Alphard, and this devishly handsome man behind me is my husband Henry.” Understanding seemed to dawn on Remus’s face, and Sirius realised he’d never made it clear that they were husbands and not his two related uncles living together. Oops.

He watched Remus’s reaction very closely. Any signs of homophobia and he’d be out of there faster than Padfoot's tail was wagging. But, thankfully, Remus seemed completely relaxed and greeted Henry as warmly as he had Alphard. 

“I like him already,” Alphard whispered into his ear as they embraced. “I hope you’re hungry, Remus. I made far too many burgers, and they all need eating,” Alphard said, moving them towards the house. 

Sirius hugged Henry before they walked inside, and his uncle, much like his husband, whispered in his ear. “I like him already,” Sirius shook his head, a grin spreading across his face that he tried and failed to hide before following them into the house. 

“Fucking hell, Uncle Alphard, how many have you made?” Sirius gawped at the towering plate of perfectly prepared burgers waiting for them on the kitchen table. Alphard shrugged. 

“I had a feeling that more was better. Remus, can I get you a drink?” 

“Erm, I can’t have alcohol,” Remus said, shyer than Sirius had seen him yet. 

“Not a problem at all. We have lots of soft drinks.” Alphard opened the little under-the-counter fridge and showed Remus the choice. 

Alphard tossed Sirius a can of Coke, raising an eyebrow at Sirius's scowling expression. “You’re driving, young man, no alcohol,” he chastised. 

“What if I want to stay over?” he pouted. Alphard raised his other eyebrow and nodded his head towards Remus. 

Sirius felt his face turn vermilion as he realised he’d forgotten about taking Remus back to his hotel. 

“It might actually be best if you both stay over,” Henry said, pulling out a chair for Remus. “I’ll have more time to go over your contract and figure out a way to help.” He moved to pull a chair out for Sirius as well. “That is, of course, if you have the time, Remus. You can always leave it with me, and I can tell you my findings over the phone or via email.”

Sirius shook his head at his uncles. Meddling old coots, and they wondered why he’d never brought anyone over, not that that was what was happening here. Remus needed legal advice, and Henry was bursting with legal knowledge. 

“That sounds great,” Remus agreed. “If that’s OK with you?” he asked Sirius. 

“Yeah, sure, sounds great,” Sirius repeated Remus’s words, feeling like an utter idiot. 

“Dig in, boys,” Alphard announced, saving Sirius from himself, as he poured himself and Henry glasses of wine, leaving Sirius out. Sirius gave him a questioning look, and Alphard waggled his eyebrows at his nephew. Sirius had to hold in the groan that was threatening to escape his throat. His uncles were menaces. 

“Oh my god!” Remus groaned beside him, and Sirius’s cock twitched in response. “Alphard, this is by far the best burger I’ve ever tasted,” Remus moaned, taking another huge bite. Sirius couldn’t do anything but stare at Remus. He had a tiny splodge of ketchup in the little crease at the corner of his lips, and Sirius had the sudden urge to reach over and lick it off. 

“What?” Remus asked, catching him looking. “Do I have something on my face?” Sirius nodded dumbly, watching Remus’s tongue flick out and swipe across his lips, leaving them shiny and wet. Sirius’s cock twitched again and began to fill; this was equal parts dream and nightmare. He did the only thing he could think to do. He grabbed a burger and took a big bite out of it. He chewed once, the delicious flavours spreading across his tongue, and then he choked. 

Remus immediately leaned over and patted him on the back until the coughing subsided. “Not so good at the eating, are you?” He teased, moving back into his seat and getting started on a second burger. 

When he dared to look up at his uncles, they had ‘aww' faces on. Sirius dropped his head and concentrated on his food. Tonight was going to be a long night. 

heart of steel