Y/N was becoming accustomed to the sound of the bell above her tattoo shop door, especially when it announced the arrival of the same trio of young men. The Marauders—James, Sirius, and Remus—had become frequent visitors, their lively presence and infectious energy now a regular part of her week.
It had started with their initial visit, each getting a piece of body art that spoke to them: James's vibrant nails, Sirius's magnificent phoenix tattoo, and Remus's delicate ear piercings. But their visits had continued, often under the guise of needing touch-ups, consultations for future tattoos, or just to chat about new designs.
Today was no different. The bell rang, and Y/N looked up from her drawing, a smile spreading across her face as she saw the familiar trio enter. James led the way, his glasses slightly askew, followed by Sirius, who carried his usual air of confident nonchalance, and Remus, who trailed behind with a soft smile.
"Back again, are we?" Y/N teased, setting her sketchpad aside. "What can I do for you guys today?"
James grinned, plopping down into one of the chairs. "Well, I've been thinking about getting another set of nail designs. Something a bit more... elaborate this time."
Sirius leaned against the counter, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "And I'm considering another tattoo. Maybe something on my back. What do you think?"
Remus, as usual, was the most reserved, but his eyes met Y/N's with a warm familiarity. "I just wanted to check in on my piercings, make sure everything is healing properly."
Y/N chuckled, shaking her head. "You three are going to keep me busy, aren't you? Alright, let's get started. James, come with me to the nail station."
As Y/N worked on James's nails, she couldn't help but notice the way he watched her, his eyes lingering a bit longer than necessary on her face. There was a certain warmth in his gaze, a fondness that went beyond mere friendship. But she quickly dismissed the thought, reminding herself that these boys were clearly very close to each other—too close, perhaps, to complicate things with feelings for someone else.
Next, she moved on to Sirius, who had removed his shirt and was sitting comfortably in the tattoo chair. She sketched out a new design, consulting with him as he described what he wanted: a constellation of stars that would cover his upper back, representing his deep love for astronomy and the freedom of the night sky.
As Y/N prepped his skin and began the tattoo, she felt Sirius's eyes on her. He was more direct than James, his gaze intense and unwavering. It made her heart flutter slightly, though she pushed the feeling down, focusing on her work.
"You do amazing work, Y/N," Sirius said, his voice low and sincere. "I'm glad we found your shop."
Y/N smiled, her eyes meeting his for a moment. "Thanks, Sirius. I'm glad you guys keep coming back."
When it was Remus's turn, he approached her with a mix of shyness and trust that always warmed her heart. She checked his piercings, ensuring they were healing well, and applied a bit of ointment to prevent any infections. As she worked, she noticed how he seemed to relax under her touch, his usual tension melting away.
"You're taking good care of them, Remus," Y/N said softly. "They look great."
Remus gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Y/N. Your touch helps."
Once their appointments were done, the boys lingered in the shop, chatting with Y/N about their day, their classes at Hogwarts, and the latest pranks they'd pulled on their fellow students. Y/N found herself laughing along with their stories, feeling a sense of camaraderie and warmth that she cherished.
As the afternoon turned into evening, the boys reluctantly prepared to leave. James was the first to speak, his tone a bit more serious than usual. "We really enjoy coming here, Y/N. It's become... a special place for us."
Sirius nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's like our little haven. Away from everything else."
Remus added quietly, "We appreciate you, Y/N. More than you know."
Y/N felt a warmth spread through her chest at their words. "I appreciate you guys too. You're always welcome here, anytime."
They left with their usual promises to return soon, and Y/N watched them go, a smile on her face. But as the door closed behind them, she couldn't help but wonder about the feelings she had started to develop for each of them. It was complicated, given their apparent closeness to each other, but there was no denying the connection she felt.
Over the next few weeks, the visits from the Marauders continued. They came up with more excuses to see Y/N—Sirius needing adjustments to his tattoos, James wanting new nail designs, and Remus occasionally asking for advice on his piercings or even contemplating a small tattoo of his own.
One evening, after finishing a particularly intricate tattoo for Sirius, Y/N found herself alone with him in the shop. James and Remus had left a bit earlier, promising to meet up later.
Sirius lingered, his eyes serious as he watched Y/N clean up her equipment. "Y/N, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course," Y/N said, setting aside her tools and giving him her full attention.
Sirius took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "Look, I know we've been coming here a lot. And it's not just because of the tattoos or piercings. We... well, we all really like you."
Y/N's heart skipped a beat. "You do?"
He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. But it's complicated, you know? James, Remus, and I—we're... together. And we've always been a trio. But meeting you has stirred up feelings we didn't expect."
Y/N felt a rush of emotions—surprise, confusion, and a flicker of hope. "I... I like you guys too. But I didn't want to overstep or make things awkward."
Sirius smiled softly, reaching out to take her hand. "You haven't. We just need to figure out what this means for us. But we wanted you to know how we feel."
As they stood there, holding hands, Y/N felt a sense of clarity. It was complicated, but perhaps love often was. And maybe, just maybe, they could navigate this together.
The doorbell chimed again, and James and Remus walked back in, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. They saw Sirius holding Y/N's hand and smiled, understanding passing between them.
"Everything alright?" James asked, his voice gentle.
Sirius nodded. "Yeah. I think we just took a step forward."
Remus stepped closer, his eyes filled with warmth. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together."
Y/N looked at the three of them, her heart full. "Together," she agreed, feeling a sense of belonging she had never experienced before.
As they locked up the shop and walked out into the night, Y/N knew that whatever the future held, she was ready to face it with them by her side.
