Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's books/characters, but my story.
Spoilers: 3rd book and beyond, I suppose?
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Remus/Severus
Genre: General. I really didn't know how to categorize this, but this will have to do unless there's another suggestion.
Summary: One kiss, two reactions. Remus POV.
It was only a chaste kiss on my cheek that he gave me. He needn't have run away, but he did. I know why he did. If I had kissed another boy I would have run away, terrified, as well. It was out of fear, I suppose, that he ran. Fear of what would happen next (what would happen next?), fear of being caught and what that might mean for the both of us. I imagine it would be worse for him. I just stood there like a fool as it happened, and after. I tried not to look at him but I knew that he was looking at me and I had to confirm that it happened. It did happen. The look on his face told me all. He was horrified, even more than I was. Truth be told, it wasn't wrong that he kissed me. It was more surprising than anything.
We had been brought closer, somehow. It's the kind of thing that happens when you're conversing with someone you like. You want to lean in and get a better listen. They want to lean in for you to hear. But that's not all. It has something to do with magnetism. We were drawn to each other despite everything going against us. We still remained friends even if no one could understand why. I often found myself drawn closer to him, especially recently. I never understood, until now, what it is I was searching for in his face. Simply, I was looking for a place in which to kiss him. He just happened to be much quicker and bolder than I. He got to me first, which was what I was secretly hoping to happen. I couldn't be the one to make the first move, I didn't know how to move; just where.
I stand here, now, like a fool. I honestly don't know where to go from here. I could walk on further. I see the Whomping Willow waving at me like it knows I'll be seeing it soon. The castle is behind me and I do not care to see it or anyone else who might be around it. Someone could have been watching out the window. There could have been someone right behind us, although I'm sure he would check before doing such a thing. There are people all around this place; we're doomed for certain. I need to return eventually, though. I can't continue to walk around all evening, as cold as it is out here. I need to get into bed and hide under the covers and feel afraid for him and for me. (What I really need to do is pack my things and send word to my parents that I have to go back home). I have to do something other than stand here, dumbfounded.
"Remus!" It was someone other than him coming my way. "Remus, there you are! You won't believe what I just witnessed!" Sirius put his arm around my shoulder.
"Wh--- what?" I barely mustered.
"Snape, being sick all over the shoes of some Slytherin!"
I didn't know what to say. I thought I might be sick myself, hearing this. I wanted to run away from Sirius and catch up with Severus and make sure that he was okay. I wanted to tell him that what he did was not wrong and that he needn't worry (although I was doing that already). Most important, I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to kiss him on his cheek or his forehead or his lips, anywhere… so that he might know…
Sirius pulled at my sweater. "So are you coming, or no? I'll show you the exact place it happened."
I showed neither excitement nor detachment for what Sirius had to show me. I followed along and prayed I wouldn't be sick in the same spot.