Work Text:
Being grounded was horrible. Far worse, in Remus’ opinion, than even being trapped in the brig of someone else’s ship. At least someone else’s ship was a ship, and not a bloody office.
When he had first arrived at port everyone had been so very polite and so very apologetic, and had told him we’ll have a ship for you as soon as one becomes available.
So he had waited.
…sunk just off the coast…
And waited.
…attacked by pirates…
And waited.
…last minute diversion…
And waited
…just so sorry.
He had been here months. He was tired, missing the sea, and, like the unfortunate icing on the proverbial cake of misfortune, incredibly sexually frustrated.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t find partners, even in a place like this, but the partners he found were all so…
So not-Sirius.
Goddamn it. He had a problem, he knew that. He’d only slept with the thrice-dammed pirate twice, but the man had wriggled his way under Remus’ skin and refused to leave, and it was beginning to prove a definite issue.
Especially if he were to spend the rest of his days in a tiny set of rooms, gazing longingly at the sea over a mound of paperwork. He certainly wouldn’t get to see Sirius here.
He found himself staring out of the window and wondering where he would be if he had agreed to stay on a worryingly regular basis. It was a stupid daydream, but at least he would still be at sea.
Stupid as it was, he enjoyed thinking about it, and sometimes he found himself wishing, in the privacy of his own head, just to see Sirius again.
He told himself it was just for sex. It wasn’t a very convincing lie, but he had a reputation to uphold. Even inside of his own head.
The universe had been laughing at him since he was born and he, in his foolishness, had only given it more ammunition. It only made sense for him to get his wish in what might have been the worst way possible.
He had thought of Sirius, of course, when he had first been told that they had brought a pirate in, but only in passing. Sirius wouldn’t be foolish enough to get himself caught, surely.
Apparently not. It seemed he had seriously underestimated Sirius’ foolishness when it came to things that could get him killed.
And he would be killed, because most people were not Remus and most people wouldn’t let him go because of a handful of pretty words and some really good sex.
Remus wasn’t really sure how he felt about it, to be honest. Yes, Sirius was a pirate and yes, he probably deserved to die but Remus liked him. He was … something else.
He just felt rather sick when it was finally announced that Sirius was to be hung. He knew, on one level, that there was nothing to be done about it and that he just needed to move on, but he just … couldn’t.
He didn't love Sirius, not exactly, but there was a strange, budding feeling in his chest that could easily unfurl into it, if he let it.
Remus had never been in love before. He'd always been too busy with his work, had always told everyone that his first and only love was the sea.
And now, it seemed, his only chance was going to end before it had even begun.
He knew where they were keeping Sirius. On more than one occasion he pulled his coat on and got all the way out into the street, telling himself he was going to visit, but he never quite managed to go through with it. Once he even made it almost all of the way to the jail before turning and fleeing back to his tiny office to stare at the sea and curse his own cowardice.
He didn't know if he was going to go to Sirius' execution. He didn't know if he could stomach it.
Probably not.
Still, when the morning dawned (bright and beautiful, as though mocking him) he found himself pulling his coat on and heading down the street, his legs carrying him towards the gallows without his permission.
He didn't want to go. He didn't want to watch Sirius' bright, vibrant life end.
He couldn't help it, though.
It had garnered quite the crowd, loud and rowdy. People were gathered around, talking and laughing amongst themselves.
Remus just felt faintly sick, staring at the empty noose. He wasn't ready for this.
He imagined vaguely what Sirius would say if he could see him now. He'd probably crack a joke, say something stupid, voice dripping with bravado. He was like that.
He'd always been like that, even before everything had changed between them. Remus had been almost jealous of the way he took everything in stride.
It was too soon and too late when they dragged him onto the stage, hands bound behind his back. He looked like hell, hair soaked with blood, hanging limply over his face, but he still managed to smile at the crowd, giving them a little half-bow.
One of the guards kicked him, and the smile faded. Remus wondered if he was scared, beneath all the layers of bravado.
The guard shoved him, making him stumble, and the crowd laughed. Remus absently rubbed his thumb across the grip of his gun.
Sirius was looking out at the crowd, and Remus wondered if he'd seen him. What he'd think if he did.
The commodore strutted onto the gallows a few minutes later, chest puffed out. He'd been in command when they'd caught Sirius, and so he was taking the credit, of course.
He started talking, bragging, really. Talking about how his leadership led them here.
“Well,” Sirius said, loud enough that his voice rang clear across the yard. “We both know that's not true.”
He earned himself the pommel of a sword to the back of his head for his trouble, and Remus smiled faintly. He must have known they'd hit him, but he never knew when to be quiet.
He was so … good. Pirate or not. He didn't deserve to die.
Remus was the only one who thought that way. The commodore scowled, grabbing Sirius' chin and forcing his head up.
“Are you not afraid?”
“Of you?” Sirius said, and spat in his face.
“You're very brave,” the commodore said, tightening his grip. “For a dead man.”
“I'm not scared to die.”
“You're a-”
A gunshot rang out. Remus' gun kicked in his hand. The commodore went very, very quiet, keeling over almost comically.
A hush fell over the crowd.
“Just for the record,” Sirius said, in the silence. “That wasn't me.”
Remus stared at the gun in his hands, beginning to panic. He hadn't even thought about it, just acted, and now everything was far, far more complicated than it had been before.
If he tried thinking to hard he would freeze up, and so he did what he had always done when things started getting difficult, letting autopilot take over.
Autopilot reloaded his gun and started pushing its way through the crowd, while Remus' mind screamed are you crazy over and over again.
People got out of his way very quickly when he waved the gun at them, and it didn't take him long to get up to the platform. Sirius had noticed him by now, and was staring, eyes wide.
“Captain,” one of the guards said, confused, and Remus waved the gun at him.
“Move away,” he said, his voice even and steady, though it sounded to him as though it were coming from a long way off.
“Remus,” Sirius breathed, taking a stumbling step towards him. One of the guards grabbed at him and then pulled away as Remus aimed the gun in his direction.
He'd been lucky, so far. Everyone seemed too confused to react, all the guards standing around, hands on their swords but still unmoving.
They didn't move until Remus grabbed Sirius' arm and started moving, towing him off the platform. He shot the first guard to try and stop him, releasing Sirius for a moment to reload.
He didn't carry many rounds with him, and he'd already used two. The only other weapon he had was a dagger, hidden in his boot, and it wouldn't do much against trained navy officers.
They made it away from the gallows and into the streets before the guards organized themselves well enough to pursue.
Sirius was very quiet, stumbling along beside him. Remus knew he wasn't in a good way, and he wouldn't be able to run for long.
They had enough of a head start that the shouts of the guards searching for them were distant, but Remus knew it wouldn't last long. They weren't moving fast enough, and the navy were coordinated and well-trained. It wouldn't take them long to sweep the city.
They couldn't go back to his office. That would be the first place people would search for them, which meant all they had were the things he was carrying on him. It wasn't enough.
He could hear boots getting closer and he took a sharp right, pulling on Sirius' arm. They swung around the corner and into a tiny alley, barely more than a meter wide. Remus pressed Sirius up against the wall and hoped it was dark enough that their pursuers would miss them.
He could feel Sirius' heavy breathing, hear his heart beating erratically, and it slowly began to sink in that this was real. He'd betrayed the navy to save Sirius, and now they were both outlaws.
The sound of boots went right past their hiding spot and faded out. Remus pressed his head against Sirius' shoulder, just taking a moment to catch his breath.
“You saved my life,” Sirius breathed, and Remus glanced up at him. He looked worse, this close, dark shadows under his eyes and face streaked with tears long dried.
Remus cupped his face gently, rubbing his thumb across his high cheekbones, and didn't say anything.
The guards who had been right behind them were gone, now, and Remus pulled away, going in his boot for the little knife there.
“Turn around,” he said, pushing at Sirius' shoulder.
Sirius gave him a cheeky smile, though it was tired around the edges. “Gonna take me right here, captain?”
Remus rolled his eyes and pushed his shoulder again. Sirius turned, resting his forehead against the brick, and Remus sawed through the ropes keeping his hands bound.
“Thank you,” Sirius said, a little too honest, and turned to face him, rubbing his wrists almost absently. They were red and painful, and Remus winced in solidarity.
“Here,” he said, offering Sirius the knife. “You should have something to defend yourself.”
Sirius nodded, taking the knife and weighing it in his hand. “Probably for the best. So, what's the plan?”
Remus shook his head. “There is no plan.”
“Not even a little plan?”
Remus shook his head again, swallowing thickly. “Not even a little. I have no idea what I'm doing.”
“Exciting,” Sirius said, giving him a crooked smile. “You know, I think a little spontaneity will be good for you.”
“Not that I don't appreciate your optimism,” Remus told him, “but if we get caught we're both going to die.”
“Well, that's half a plan right there,” Sirius said cheerfully. “Step one: don't get caught.”
Remus gave him a tiny smile. He'd missed this, he realised, missed Sirius, not just the sex. “What's step two?”
“Piracy,” Sirius said, giving him a wide smile and leaning in to kiss him, a little sloppy. “We're going to steal a ship.”
Remus didn't grace that with an answer, tangling his hands in Sirius' hair and pulling him closer instead, kissing him again. They weren't safe here, he knew that, but they had a moment's grace.
Sirius wrapped his arms around his waist, and for a moment they stood like that, caught up in each other.
“Thank you,” Sirius told him, when he finally pulled away, cheeks flushed beneath the blood and dirt and tears. “You saved my life.”
“I couldn't leave you to die.”
Sirius smiled a little. “There was a time you would have turned me in yourself.”
“There was,” Remus admitted. “That was then, though.”
“I'm glad,” Sirius said, and pulled away, stretching. “Not that I couldn't have rescued myself, of course. I was waiting for an opportune moment.”
Remus rolled his eyes. He could see right through Sirius' bravado, and the man beneath it was far more afraid than he would ever admit.
Remus didn't mention it, though. Just took Sirius' hand, linking their fingers together.
“Come on,” he said, peeking out of the alley and finding the street beyond empty. “You said something about piracy.”
“Oh yes,” Sirius said, and let Remus lead him out of the alley, keeping a watchful eye out for the guards. “You've made a fantastic start, but I still have a lot to teach you.”
“Shh,” Remus told him, fond, and started heading towards the docks. As much as he was loath to admit it Sirius was right; stealing a ship was their best option.
The walk down to the dock was a nerve-racking one. They had to hide every few minutes from a patrol of guards, and Remus found himself pressed up against Sirius more than once, listening to the beating of his heart.
They made it, though, and the docks were almost empty. Any navy officers who would have been there had been dispatched to find them, and the only people around were a handful of dock-hands who eyed them with suspicion and stayed away.
“That one,” Sirius said, and pointed to the crown jewel of the fleet stationed here, a huge thing with billowing white sails.
“Absolutely not,” Remus told him. “We can't sail that ourselves.”
“We could try,” Sirius insisted, and Remus rolled his eyes. “Pick something smaller.”
Sirius grumbled about it, walking up and down the jetty, and eventually settled for something half the size. It would still be an effort to sail with just the two of them, but hopefully it would be fast enough to get them out of here.
It was empty, and no one stopped them as they climbed aboard, though a few of the deck-hands stared.
“This'll do,” Sirius said approvingly, and set about casting off.
With any luck they would be a way away before the navy noticed they were gone. They couldn't out-sail the navy ships, not in this, but if they got enough of a head start they might have a chance.
It felt so good to be back on a ship with the sea beneath him, and once they were firmly away from the dock Remus paused for a moment to enjoy himself, closing his eyes and feeling the sea wind on his face.
Sirius came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin on Remus' shoulder. Remus leaned back against him, opening his eyes and smiling faintly.
“Do you think we'll make it?” Sirius asked quietly, and Remus looked out at the sea. The wind was behind them and the sky was clear, the sea calm and blue.
“Yes,” he said, twisting his head to kiss Sirius as best he could with such an awkward angle. “I think we'll make it.”
“Good,” Sirius said, and Remus didn't mention the slight shake in his voice.
Still, it was two hours and the land was well out of sight before Remus finally began to relax. Sirius had been flitting back and forth across the deck, singing to himself, and Remus had been keeping a hand on the wheel, making sure they don't get blown off course.
“Where are we headed?” Sirius asked, around lunchtime, coming to wrap his arms around Remus' waist again.
“I don't know,” Remus admitted. “Away.”
“I have a suggestion,” Sirius said, kissing the back of his neck. “There's an island James and I used to visit when we were kids. We meet there when we get separated.”
Remus nodded. “Is it safe?”
“Safe as anywhere else.”
“Let's go there, then.”
Sirius smiled against Remus' skin. “It's a bit of a journey, but we can make it in a few weeks.”
“A few weeks,” Remus said, and turned in Sirius' arms to kiss him.
They didn't stop that night. It felt like they were still too close to port, and Remus would just feel better if they got a little further away.
He told Sirius to go below, to rest as much as he could. Remus didn't think he would sleep even if he tried, too worked up from everything that had happened.
Sirius kissed him goodnight and left him alone by the wheel, standing under the stars.
For a few hours it was silent and peaceful, just the lap of the waves against the sides of the ship. The wind hadn't changed, still blowing true, carrying them away from the navy ships that would surely be after them by now.
There was no sign of pursuit, though. Just the wine-dark ocean and the bright stars above his head.
It must have been one or two in the morning when Sirius emerged from the belly of the ship and made his way up to the helm. He was wearing just a shirt, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, and as he got closer Remus saw moonlight reflecting off the tears on his face.
“Is everything alright?” he asked, as Sirius came to stand beside him.
Sirius exhaled slowly, breath shaking. “Nightmares. I'll be alright.”
Remus pulled him closer, taking a hand off the wheel to wrap around his shoulders, and Sirius rested against him. For a moment they were still.
“Secure the wheel,” Sirius said, finally. “Come sit down with me.”
It wouldn't hurt, Remus supposed. “Get me a rope.”
Sirius exhaled, lashes fluttering, and pulled away from him, leaving the blanket on the ground. Remus watched him go, digging around for a spare length of rope.
He came back with one he'd found coiled on the deck and cut into two pieces. He offered Remus one, leaving the other on the floor by their feet.
Remus tied the wheel tight, ensuring they wouldn't drift off course, and watched Sirius arrange the blanket on the deck.
“Sit,” he asked, offering a hand, and Remus took it, letting himself be pulled down onto the blanket. Sirius curled up against his side and Remus stroked his hair.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked, and Sirius tipped his head back, staring up at the sky. The tears were drying, but his eyes were still shining with them.
“No,” he said, finally. “Not really.”
Remus didn't know what else to say. He'd never seen Sirius so vulnerable before, and he didn't want to say the wrong thing and make him regret it.
He didn't say anything, in the end. Sirius sat up and kissed him, and then there wasn't anything that needed to be said.
They kissed until Sirius was squirming in his lap, Remus' hands on his waist the only thing keeping him still.
“Rem,” he said, pulling away just far enough to speak. Remus chased his mouth, kissing him again, and he smiled against his lips. “Fuck me.”
Remus pulled away a little, though still close enough that he could feel Sirius' breath on his lips. “Now?”
“Now,” Sirius said, grinding down in his lap. “Please.”
“I don't have oil.”
“We can find some.”
Remus kissed him again, carding a hand through his hair. “Go find some and come right back.”
Sirius smiled, bright and beautiful, and was off like a shot, stumbling a little in his hurry to get down the steps.
Remus watched him go, smiling to himself, and lay back on the blanket, staring up at the stars.
It wasn't long before Sirius returned with a little vial of oil, falling to his knees on the blanket and offering it to Remus. “Found it.”
“Good,” Remus said, and watched curiously as the colour in Sirius' cheeks darkened.
He wriggled out of his shirt before Remus even asked, tossing it to the side and leaving him naked, kneeling on the blanket with his knees apart.
Remus pulled his own shirt over his head, trying to shake the urge to cross his arms over his chest. Sirius didn't care about his scars, he knew that, but it didn't make him any less nervous.
Sirius grabbed his shirt out of his hands before he could put it down and tossed it to the side, in the same direction as his own.
“You're not wasting time folding it,” he said, by way of explanation, and Remus laughed faintly.
“I'm not a captain anymore.”
“Shame,” Sirius said, climbing into his lap to kiss him, as though he couldn't wait for Remus to get his trousers off. “I do like a man in uniform. Or out of uniform.”
Remus laughed faintly, pressing a kiss to a scar on Sirius' shoulder. “I can't take anything else off with you in my lap.”
Sirius pouted, but he shifted, letting Remus stand and remove the remainder of his clothes, turning to throw them onto the pile. He didn't care much about folding them, not right now.
“Captain Lupin, leaving his pants unfolded,” Sirius said, and Remus rolled his eyes, sitting down on the blanket again.
“Not a captain,” he reminded Sirius, and Sirius only laughed.
“You're a captain to me.”
He was holding a length of rope in his hands, the one he'd discarded earlier, running the frayed end absently over his palm.
Remus raised an eyebrow and he smiled cheekily, offering it to him.
“Are you sure?” Remus asked, hesitant. Sirius' wrists were already rubbed raw, and he couldn't imagine it would be comfortable to have rope around them again so soon.
“I'm sure,” Sirius told him. “I've always been into a little pain.”
Remus laughed faintly, taking the rope from him. “Tell me if it gets too much.”
“I will,” Sirius promised, and leaned forwards, kissing him again.
Remus was careful with the rope, wrapping it once, twice around Sirius' wrists and criss-crossing it up his arms, tying it off at the elbow.
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes, and Remus brushed his hand over the pale skin of his wrist. “Does it hurt?”
Sirius shook his head, not opening his eyes. “'s good,” he said voice thick, and Remus cupped his cheek gently. His eyes flickered open and he tipped his head, kissing Remus' palm. “Feels good.”
Remus smiled, running a hand through his hair. “Good.”
He was so beautiful like this, bathed in moonlight. Whatever it was Remus felt for him was quickly barrelling towards love.
“Stop staring and do something,” Sirius grumbled, and Remus smiled, kissing him once more.
“Has anyone ever told you you're a brat?”
“I'm sure you've mentioned it.”
Remus only rolled his eyes. “On your stomach.”
Even Sirius couldn't make tipping onto his stomach with his hands tied behind his back look graceful, but Remus didn't much care. Sirius wriggled on the blanket until his ass was in the air, face pressed to the deck, and Remus helped him with a hand on his stomach.
“C'mon, captain,” Sirius told him, muffled against the ground.
Remus stroked gently across his thigh and reached for the little vial of oil Sirius had discarded. It was a lovely thing, crystal and half-full, and he wondered what it was supposed to be used for.
Sirius wriggled his ass and Remus huffed a laugh, resisting the urge to swat at him. He wouldn't be surprised if Sirius was asking for it, but Remus wasn't going to hit him without verbal permission. Not even lightly.
He tipped a little oil onto his fingers and corked the vial again, smoothing his other hand over Sirius' skin and pressing one finger to his hole.
Sirius moaned, eyes fluttering closed. Remus considered teasing, but Sirius was being good for him and he was oh so impatient. It had been far too long.
Sirius made a lovely noise as Remus pressed into his body, hips twitching. Remus stroked his other hand down his side, as though soothing a spooked horse.
“More,” he demanded, after a moment, and Remus tipped a little more oil onto his hand, adding a second finger and crooking them.
Sirius moaned again, louder. Sound carried a long way out here, on the open water, but there was no one else to hear him. No one but Remus.
It was nice, not having to worry about being overheard or walked in on. They were totally alone.
“More,” Sirius said again, gasping into the blanket as Remus scissored his fingers. “Please, I can take it.”
“Be good,” Remus teased, though he added a third finger, pressing deep into Sirius' body and making him arch off the blanket.
Sirius groaned, though Remus couldn't tell if it had been from what he'd said or the extra finger. Maybe both.
Watching him was mesmerising, skin glistening faintly in the moonlight. His eyes were still closed, cheek pressed to the thin material spread over the wood.
“Can you take another finger?” Remus asked, touching a fourth to his hole but not quite pressing inside, not yet. His own arousal was a distant thought, coming second to the need to make Sirius feel good beneath him.
“Yeah,” Sirius gasped. “Yeah, give it to me.”
Remus pushed another finger inside him and his back arched again, hands clenching at nothing.
“Good boy,” Remus told him, and his breathing stuttered, chest heaving.
“Say it again,” he murmured, like a secret, and Remus smiled.
“Good boy,” he said, just as soft, just as secret. “You like that.”
Sirius' lashes were wet with tears, chest heaving, and it was a moment before he responded.
“Yeah,” he said, cheeks red.
Remus smiled, running his fingers through Sirius' dark hair. “Good boy. My good boy.”
Sirius made a noise that was half moan, half sob. “Yours, yours.”
They would have to talk about this, when it was over. Maybe not until the morning, but they would have to talk about it.
Not now, though. For now Remus' mind was foggy with arousal and he felt that if he didn't get his cock inside of Sirius he might drop down dead.
Sirius whined when he pulled his fingers out, pushed his hips back in an obvious plea, and Remus huffed a faint laugh.
“Be patient,” he said, reaching for the oil again to slick up his cock.
“Not patient,” Sirius said, pushing his hips back again. “Horny.”
“I noticed,” Remus said, reaching beneath him to stroke his cock, achingly hard. “Be good for me.”
Sirius moaned loud and unashamed, but he waited patiently until Remus finally pushed into him.
They both moaned, then. Remus took a moment to adjust before he started moving again, rocking his hips back and forth. Sirius shook beneath him, moans and whines and bitten-off curses ringing out over the ocean.
“Good boy,” Remus gasped, with what little air was still in his lungs. It had been too long, and he wasn't going to last, but he wanted Sirius to come first.
Sirius moaned louder, seemingly beyond words, and Remus reached beneath him to stroke his cock again, hand still slick with oil.
The blanket was going to be ruined, he thought vaguely. It didn't seem very important.
“Good boy,” Remus whispered, and that, along with Remus' hand on his cock, pushed Sirius over the edge. He moaned and shook and came, all over the blanket and Remus' hand and his own chest.
“Good boy,” Remus said, again, stroking his hair. “So good.”
It didn't take long for him to fall over the edge too, spilling inside of Sirius and collapsing across his back.
They lay there for a moment, until Remus realised that Sirius couldn't be comfortable and reluctantly pulled away, sitting up.
Sirius hadn't moved, still laying face down on the stained blanket, and Remus reached for his knife, cutting through the ropes.
Sirius slumped onto the blanket, rolling onto his side. His eyes were still closed, lashes wet and cheeks damp. Remus cupped his cheek gently and got a faint smile in return.
“Come here,” Remus murmured, and between them they got Sirius into his lap, resting against his chest.
They sat in silence for a long while, Sirius' head against Remus' shoulder. For once Remus was content to bathe in the afterglow, just them under the stars.
“That,” Sirius said, after some time had passed, “was bloody amazing.”
Remus laughed faintly. “It seems as though I discover something new every time we meet.”
“Still got plenty of things up my sleeve,” Sirius said, smug as a cat that had got the cream. “You'll just have to keep fucking me.”
“What a chore that will be.”
Sirius laughed, easy and content. “I'm a delight.”
“Whatever you say,” Remus said, kissing his forehead. “Come on, we should get cleaned up.”
“Since you made this mess,” Sirius said, tipping his head back to look at Remus, “I think cleaning up is on you.”
“You definitely contributed,” Remus pointed out, and Sirius waved a hand.
“Your fault for being stupidly sexy.”
Remus rolled his eyes, but he was already in far too deep. He might as well get Sirius a wash-cloth. “I'll be back.”
“You're a wonderful man,” Sirius said, and kissed him, or tried to. He missed Remus' mouth, kissing him somewhere in the vicinity of his chin, but it was alright.
Remus pulled himself to his feet and over to where he had left his clothes, ignoring Sirius' cries of protest. He wasn't going to walk around the ship naked, whether there were other people on it or not.
It wasn't too difficult to find a cloth and a barrel of water, and he filled up a basin, carrying it back up onto the deck.
Sirius had folded up the blanket while he'd been looking, and was standing with a hand on the wheel, still naked. The wheel was still tied, and he wasn't doing anything to change that, just staring out at the sea.
Remus thought about asking and decided against it. Instead he put the basin and cloth down by the folded blanket and moved over to stand behind Sirius. He wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing a soft kiss to his neck, and for a long moment they stood there, listening to the lap of the waves against the side of the ship.
“Remus,” Sirius started, and then stopped. Remus opened his mouth to ask what he had been about to say and then changed his mind.
“I’m here,” he said, instead, and Sirius turned in his arms, giving him a smile, much softer than his usual grin.
“I know.”
And then he pulled away, wrinkling his nose. “I feel gross.”
Remus rolled his eyes. “I brought you a cloth.”
“You aren’t going to clean me yourself? You are the one who made the mess.”
“Sit down, then,” Remus told him, and Sirius did as he was told, laying on his back on the deck and looking up at the stars.
Remus knelt between his legs, dipping the cloth into the basin of water and carefully wiping the come from his stomach and between his legs. Sirius was remarkably quiet for the whole experience, and it was only when Remus put the cloth aside and sat up to ask if he was alright that he realised he’d fallen asleep.
He smiled, soft, and stood as quietly as he could. Sirius wouldn’t sleep well there, but Remus didn’t have the heart to wake him.
Instead he went down into the cabins in search of another blanket and a pillow to tuck under his head, to ensure he was at least comfortable.
Sirius stirred a little when Remus slipped the pillow under his head, mumbling something that could have been thank you. Remus smiled, altogether too fond of him, and kissed his forehead.
“Sleep well.”
Remus knew he should probably sleep as well, but he didn’t think he would be able to even if he tried. So he didn’t bother, staying at the wheel as the stars turned above him.
Sirius woke as the rosy fingers of dawn began to reach up, colouring the sky from black to blue to purple. Remus heard him shuffling around, making soft noises of dissatisfaction, and bit back a smile.
“Good morning,” he said, looking back and finding Sirius frowning at him.
“Remus,” he said, jabbing an accusing finger in his direction. “I ache.”
“Do you?” Remus asked, huffing a soft laugh.
“You don’t sound very sorry.”
“Well,” Remus told him, raising an eyebrow. “That’s probably because I’m not.”
“That’s not very gentlemanly of you, is it?” He stood, on wobbly, coltish legs, narrowing his eyes at Remus when he dared laugh. “You did this to me.”
“You asked for it,” Remus told him.
Sirius huffed, blowing away the loose strands of hair that had been falling into his face. “Did I?”
“You did.” Remus beckoned him closer, running his fingers through Sirius’ hair and gathering it up into a ponytail. Sirius let him do as he liked, something that Remus realised was becoming a pattern.
“It’s a nice day,” Sirius commented, looking up at the sky, slowly turning into a clean, clear blue.
“It is,” Remus agreed, and it was. There had still been no sign of anyone following, and he was beginning to breathe a little easier. Maybe they would be alright.
“You’re still going to have to help me sail,” he said, glancing over at where Sirius was making (perhaps somewhat exaggerated) noises of pain.
“You can’t do that,” Sirius said, put out. “You’d make a man work after ravishing him like that? For shame, captain.”
“Not a captain,” Remus reminded him.
“Well, then. Where’s your authority to give me orders?”
“I don’t have any. But we are fugitives.”
Sirius wrinkled his nose. “I’m always a fugitive. I’m a pirate.”
“I thought pirates had better stamina than this.”
Sirius huffed, jabbing at him. “Rude! I’ve got very good stamina, thank you kindly. I’ve never had complaints.”
Remus rolled his eyes, though it was (as everything was when it came to Sirius), rather fond. “Be serious.”
The look Sirius gave him made it very clear that he’d phrased that wrong. “But Remus,” he said, smirk growing until he looked on the brink of laughing at his own joke without even telling it, “I’m always Sirius.”
Remus picked the pillow off the ground to hit him with it.
It didn’t help, of course. Sirius dissolved into peals of laughter, and Remus didn’t quite have the heart to hit him again, finding himself laughing too. Not because the joke had been any good; in fact it had been very bad indeed, but Sirius’ laugh was just somehow contagious.
He managed to corral Sirius into helping him sail eventually, though it took some time, and they settled into it. It was surprisingly easy, actually, working with Sirius. He could take things seriously, despite how much he seemed to like pretending he couldn’t.
And he was a joy to watch, though Remus would never admit it out loud.
Things continued that way for the few weeks it took to get to the island. It was easy going, the weather clear and the wind strong, and if there was anyone looking down on them they surely had their favour.
And it was good. They spent their days on the open water, with all the freedom in the world, and their nights tangled up in each other. Remus learned to read Sirius like an open book, and every new discovery delighted him.
It was early morning when Sirius called Remus up to the deck, excitement lacing his voice. Remus stumbled up the steps, blinking in the soft morning light, and found that he could see land. Small and far away, yes, but the wind was behind them and it was rapidly getting closer.
“That’s it!”
Remus walked over to join him by the wheel, watching the island on the horizon. “Will James be there?”
“I don’t know,” Sirius told him. “If not, we’ll wait for him.”
Remus nodded, and together they watched the island get closer.
It wasn’t until late afternoon that they actually had to start navigating around to where Sirius claimed there to be a small, hidden port. Remus steered the ship, while Sirius paced around impatiently and kept an eye on the ropes. At least, that’s what he claimed to be doing, though Remus wasn’t sure he was actually paying all that much attention.
There was already a ship waiting in the port when they rounded the corner, though Remus didn’t have longer than a moment to worry about it before Sirius whooped loud enough that it spooked the birds roosting on the cliffs and they took to the sky in a flurry of wings.
It must be James.
Sirius confirmed it a moment later, running over to Remus to kiss him on the cheek. “He’s here!”
“Good,” Remus said, smiling. It was hard not to, when Sirius was clearly so happy.
Remus was half-concerned he was going to fling himself off the side of the ship and try to swim to shore in the time it took them to moor the ship, but he managed to restrain himself, just about. He did not wait to put the gangplank down, sliding down one of the ropes and onto the dock.
It was sort of pointless, really. He still waited for Remus to secure the ship (though it was hardly necessary; he doubted they’d be needing it anymore), and then took off towards the end of the dock and the field beyond, yelling at the top of his lungs for James.
Remus followed, slower. He would have tried to tell Sirius to slow down, to have at least some caution (what if it was a trap?) but he doubted he would listen.
And it wasn’t. Remus had only just made it off the dock and onto solid land (though Sirius had made it quite a bit further) when he caught sight of James, sprinting towards Sirius and yelling about as loud.
That was never going to end well. Sirius launched himself at James as soon as he was close enough and they both went down in a tangle of limbs and a discordant shriek. Remus could have predicted that, if anyone had asked, but they hadn’t.
Neither of them seemed hurt, so no harm done. They sat up, both talking over each other loudly enough that Remus could barely make out a word, though the impression he got was that Sirius was giving some sort of account as to what had happened, and James was accusing him of being an idiot.
Which was a fair accusation, in Remus’ opinion.
They stood, eventually, James pulling Sirius to his feet and slinging an arm around his shoulders, looking over to grin at Remus. “Hello, Captain Lupin. Nice to see you again.”
“Not a captain,” Remus told him. “Not anymore.”
James raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure you’ll tell me all about it.”
“Sirius will, if I don’t.”
“It was very sexy!” Sirius said, turning to give Remus the sort of cheeky smile that he was so weak to. “He saved my life, you know.”
“Did he, now?”
“He did. And…”
“Don’t say it was very sexy.”
Sirius pouted. “Well, it was.”
James rolled his eyes, beginning to walk with his arm still slung around Sirius’ shoulder. Remus followed them, towards a small house with a tall, red-haired woman standing outside. “Tell me the whole story once we’re inside. Lily will want to hear it.”
“Lily!” Sirius said, clearly excited. “Oh, wonderful. Remus, you will love Lily.”
“Everyone loves Lily,” James told him. “Because she’s wonderful. But I’m her favourite.”
“Because you’re shagging her,” Sirius said, gleeful, and James jabbed him in the side.
“She likes me for my personality.”
“And your dick.”
“Shut up.”
“Please do,” Remus said, before Sirius could continue talking about James’ dick. “No offence, James, but I’d rather not hear about it.”
“His dick isn’t nearly as impressive as yours,” Sirius said, in a way that was supposed to be reassuring, and Remus pulled a face.
“That’s unfair,” James said, a little sulky.
“Enough,” Remus said, before this could become a conversation about dicks. Or at least, any more of a conversation about dicks than it already was. “Let’s go inside, we’ll tell you about it, and you can make us a cup of tea.”
Sirius laughed, clear and bright. “Alright. It’s a hell of a story.”
James pulled them both into the house, introducing them to the woman (Lily, and Sirius had been right. Remus could tell they were going to get on very well) and sitting them at the table while he put the kettle on.
Sirius started the story as it boiled, and Remus mostly listened, though there were a few things he had to correct, for his own sanity.
It was nice. Homely, in the little house by the sea, with a cool breeze blowing in through the open windows. Sirius was happy, and Remus was happy because of it.
It felt like the start of something new, something good. And Remus couldn’t wait.