Super later birthday chapter :')))
***
"So uhh Remus.. 5 Sirius-es or a 5 year old Sirius ?" James slides next to Remus.
The professor's brows knit. "What do you mean ?"
James shrugs, eyes looking over at Sirius who was talking to Lily in the garden. "I have a birthday gift idea. Just needed to know your preference."
Remus stirs the tea in his cup, giving the question a thought. James is amused by how serious Remus was considering. Oh he's going to like what James is planning.
"I say 5 Sirius-es. I mean we've always joked that one Sirius is a matter of national security." Remus poured more tea in James' cup. "I'd like to see 5."
The Potter smirks. "Got it."
***
The jingle of keys as it goes in the knob is a comfortable sound to Remus. Sirius had nagged about it millions of times. Being a wizard since birth, he doesn't see the point of having keys when he could just "alohomora" a door.
Remus says the act of opening a door is symbolic as it is satisfying. To new opportunities, he says.
"Hey Pads.. I.." Remus stands rooted by the door.
Sirius turns around and grins. "Remus !"
He comes skipping into Remus' chest, successfully knocking the wind out of him.
"Hey there." Remus smiles. What a good mood to come home to.
He stands still in Sirius' arms, just absorbing the moment. Sirius has that effect on him. The tension in his shoulders, the thoughts weighing him all gone in a quick hold.
"Oh Moons, you're home." A door closes from down the hall and Remus thinks he might've bought the wrong type of cigarettes.
Sirius comes in the living room with a ponytail and his usual lose grey shirt.
"Sirius ? Than who?" He glances down at the boy hugging his waist.
"Moony, your tea's ready." A voice calls behind him.
Remus doesn't want to see who just spoke. He recognizes the voice. He knows who it belongs to. That's 3 Sirius-es already.
"Remus ! Can I borrow this ?"
"Remus I'm wearing your sweater !"
Remus must need new glasses. He's seeing double Sirius-es wearing his sweaters. They hop around him gleefully, like fairies. To Remus' horror, they take either of his arms and start hugging it as they showed off the borrowed items.
"Merlin, what the fuck." Remus murmurs.
"Sirius !" Big mistake. All 5 sets of eyes stare at him. Remus gulps. "The real Sirius."
They blink at him.
"The one I'm dating ?"
The Sirius-es look at each other. "Aren't we all dating Remus ?"
"The one I'm dating right now ?" Remus tries rephrasing.
Sirius, in the ponytail, steps forward. The other three make space for Remus to catch him. "What the hell's going on ?"
"James' birthday present for you." He says. "He told me you chose it yourself."
Oh. That odd question. Remus gets it now.
Remus peers around him. The Sirius holding tea chuckled at his lost expression. Sirius on his right tell him that they'll be here only for one day or until Remus reverses the spell.
