Cycles

Remus shifted about quite uncomfortably at breakfast, particularly in his new clothing. He and Tonks had dressed appropriately, amidst much blushing from both parties. Both had tried very hard neither to look at each other or to look down, for the sake of modesty. The underwear was the most uncomfortable. Remus understood the necessity, as Tonks had made him squeeze into the same tight Muggle jeans she loved to wear, but it was terribly awkward.



He sipped his tea, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, because Charlie Weasley kept eyeing him, and Molly was watching him closely, trying to engage him in conversation. At the other end of the table, Harry was waxing on about the upcoming school year to Tonks, and she was nodding slowly and staring wide-eyed at Harry as though he had grown two heads.



When he couldn’t stand any more of this, Remus excused himself. He went upstairs to the hallway bathroom, and it took him quite a few minutes to figure out which muscles to use to pee sitting down. It was, like every other thing in this body, exactly the same idea, but carried out quite differently. Once he had finished, he wiped himself down, staring straight ahead and blushing madly. Then he reached to pull his knickers up, and he noticed the rust-red stain. He looked down between his legs, into the toilet, and he had to stifle a shriek.



It seemed Tonks had failed to warn him about this; he had started his period. Embarrassed and completely unsure what he should do, he folded a wad of toilet paper and stuffed it in his underwear. He flushed and pulled pants and trousers back up, scrubbed his hands nearly raw, then left. If he went to Tonks’ bathroom, he was sure to find something he could use. The toilet paper bunched and wadded as he walked out, only to find Charlie waiting for him.



“Need the loo?” he asked, startled by the way Charlie looked at him.



“I was waiting for you,” Charlie said, sliding solid arms about Remus’ small waist. “It’s been a while.”



“H-has it really?” Remus was sure he was blushing. He could feel the heat in his cheeks, and the heat radiating from Charlie’s body.



“Uh-huh. What happened to that warm welcome back that you promised me?” Charlie asked, dipping his head down. Remus turned his face away, laughing nervously. This was rather too much for one morning. “Trying to play shy with me, after all that happened last time?” Charlie laughed, then tipped Remus’ face up and kissed him.



Oh, Lord. Charlie was a fantastic kisser, all warm, soft lips and the barest scrape of morning stubble. Remus’ lips parted before he thought about it, and Charlie’s tongue flicked at his. He found his hands sliding up to grip at Charlie’s upper arms. Charlie’s hand slid down, cupped at one of his breasts, and Remus gasped, pulling away.



“I can’t do this,” he said, knowing he was flushed. He pushed Charlie’s hand away. Charlie looked rather dumbfounded. “It’s just… I started my, erm, you know, just now, and I’m not in the mood. Terribly sorry!” Remus took advantage of Charlie’s surprise and squirmed out of his embrace, tearing down the hall toward Tonks’ room and shutting the door firmly behind him.



Tonks was waiting, sprawled in the floor, a blush on her cheeks, too. “Remus,” she said when he entered. “I can smell and hear and see everything, it seems like, and—”



“No time for that,” he nearly squeaked. “I’m bleeding like a stuck pig, and you’ve got to show me what to do about it.”