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small_giftsTitle: Read between the lines, aka Sirius doesn't bite
Author/Artist: rainyparade
Recipient: amahami
Rating: G
Contents or warnings (highlight to view): *Swearing *
Word count: 2000+
Summary: Remus chances upon a beautiful stranger in a bookstore.
Notes: This may have turned into a non-magic AU, hope that's okay! Thanks to my two wonderful betas S and R (perfect, isn't it?) Ryan, I really hope you enjoy it!
Remus was standing in the History section of the bookstore, holding about five different books, all with different subjects, going from the Crusades to the Civil Wars to historically accurate works of fiction. He’d been standing there for God knows how long, wondering which one he should buy for Lily’s birthday present. The poor girl was working way too hard for her own good lately…being a lawyer who was six months pregnant certainly wasn’t easy…and Remus wanted to give her something she would really enjoy, something to help her forget about her sister, who continued to remain cold and detached. He remembered how she was the only student at their private school who genuinely enjoyed History.
After thinking for a few more minutes, he finally put Watergate: The Presidential scandal that shook America back on the shelf, leaving him with only four more options. Come on, Remus…It’s not that hard…
After what seemed like an eternity, he was left with only two options. Remus was about to just roll with it and buy both books when a deep voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I read that one, it’s pretty good.”
His head snapped back up, looking around to see who was talking to him. As he was about to answer, his eyes laid on the other man’s face, and his sentence got stuck in his throat.
Remus was looking at the most gorgeous human being he’d seen in his whole life. His hair was deep, jet black and looked like the man hadn’t even tried to comb it in the morning. His eyes were a pale, stormy grey, so captivating that Remus knew he could get lost in them for hours on end and never really explore all of them. His lips were full and dry, though they looked soft at the same time, and he felt the sudden urge to just kiss them, so he could know if he should buy him some chapstick or not.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. Are you okay?” The man asked, a soft smile revealing perfectly aligned teeth.
Come on, man, snap out of it. Focus.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, sorry. Got lost in my thoughts for a moment. Which one did you read?”
The man pointed toward The Killer Angels in Remus’ left hand. “My name’s Sirius, by the way. What’s yours?”
“Remus. Lupin.” Remus answered, not too sure where this was going.
“Nice to meet you, Remus. You know, it won a Pulitzer in 1975. Believe me, it’s worth the read.”
“Oh really?” He replied, not sure what to say. He’d always been awkward when it came to meeting new people, particularly when said people were so attractive.
“I really liked the way the story was written. You don’t follow just one, but multiple protagonists, and you can see their perspective. I enjoyed that quite a lot.”
“That seems like a nice, huh… I mean, interesting way of writing.”
...Really, Lupin? That was as smooth as sandpaper.
He had to get out of there. If he stayed here only one more second, he was pretty sure he would combust into flames right on the spot. He was so humiliated by his own lack of knowledge on history, he could feel the heat on his cheeks and neck, and he was convinced everyone around could see it as much as he could feel it. He felt like a beacon of stupidity, like one of those people proud of their mental abyss.
“Well, thanks for the recommendation” he said, dropping the other book randomly on a shelf before turning around and heading straight for the cashier.
He paid for the book and walked as fast as he could, looking at the exit like it was his only chance of solace, until those grey eyes appeared in front of him again, destabilizing him as much as the first time.
“Sorry to interrupt your thoughts again, but this was a book I really appreciated and I can’t help but want to know other people’s opinion when it comes to this.” He scrambled into his front pocket before giving Remus a small business card. “Here, take this. If you feel like it, when you’re done, give me a call. We could go talk about it around a cup of coffee or something. Have a great afternoon, Remus.” he said, before turning around and disappearing in a ray of sunshine as he slowly walked out the store.
How long he fidgeted there, wondering what to do? He had no idea. Why did he turn back to go buy a second copy of the book? Because he knew, deep in his core, he wanted to see this Sirius Black again. Would he regret it? Probably, but the only thing he had in mind the moment he came out the store was a statement in itself.
Fuck it.
***
“Happy birthday, Lil”, Remus said, throwing his poor attempt at a gift wrap at his best friend. He eyed it critically. After everything she’d done for him since they’d first met in middle school, it seemed like a lousy effort.
“Thanks” Lily replied, a smirk forming at the corner of her mouth. “It’s not an obligation to buy me a gift, you know? We’ve been friends for what, twelve years?
“Just open it, will you?”
Lily tore the wrapping paper apart, revealing the book Remus had bought a few hours ago. This time, a real smile lit up her whole face.
“Wow Remus, I didn’t know you’d be able to make such a good choice. Thanks, I really like it. It’s gonna be a good read.”
“Hey, always the best for you, Lil. And the best part is, we’ll be able to spoil each other about it depending on who reads faster” Remus said teasingly, showing Lily his own copy of the hardcover.
“You bought one for yourself?” Lily asked, surprised.
“Yeah, I read the back cover and it sounded good so… Yeah.”
Remus had never been a good liar. Well, he was, but not to Lily. She had some secret power, making him know when he was bullshitting, which made it super hard for him to surprise Lily whenever he wanted to. Or when he wanted to hide some information, like now.
“Oh yeah?” Remus asked, grinning. “What does it say?”
…Shit.
“It’s huh… It’s about this guy who, huh… I…I don’t have a good answer.” He could feel his cheeks going pink under Lily’s stare.
“So you’re gonna tell me the real reason why you bought it for yourself?”
“Nope.”
“Come on, Re, You know I won’t laugh at you, whatever the reason is.”
“That’s exactly why I’m not telling you actually, because I know you will laugh.”
They stared at each other, Lily with her smirk, knowing Remus would talk, Remus acting all tough but slowly giving up.
“OKAY, stop looking at me like that! There was a guy there when I bought the book, and he just recommended it to me. So I thought I’d try it.
Here. Close enough.
“And? What else? If it was only that, you would’ve told me. There’s nothing incriminating in that.”
“Stop lawyering me. It’s not because you do that 60 hours a week to freaky suspects that you gotta do it to me too. Now start reading if you wanna keep up with me.”
So they read. It took both of them a few weeks to get through, Lily dealing with work work and being extremely pregnant, while Remus was trying to help both Lily and James as much as he could, bringing her food whenever she had weird cravings.
They both teased each other about the book, Lily going as far as writing a small message in Remus’ : “About time you reach that part!”. She also wrote something on Sirius’ business card, which Remus had used as a bookmark : “Who the hell is Sirius?”. This one, Lily wasn’t about to let go. He kept asking questions, taking guesses on who Sirius was, until he finally guessed right.
“He’s the bookstore guy, isn’t he?”
Remus never responded, faking being really busy with a stain on his shirt, giving Lily a clear answer.
“He is! Why the hell did he give you his business card?”
“He wants me to call him when I finish the book. He wants to know if I liked it or not. Discuss it around a cup of coffee or whatever. It’s not important.”
Lily looked at Remus in disbelief. “Do you realize what that means?“
“It doesn’t mean shit, Lily, I don’t even know if I’ll call him.”
“But you’re considering it. If you say you don’t know, it’s because you’re considering it.”
Of course he was considering it. More than considering it. Remus was haunted day and night by Sirius’ stormy grey eyes, by Sirius’ hair, by Sirius’s voice. He had to admit to himself, he was obsessed and there was nothing he could do about it. Except, maybe... give in.
“What difference does it make to you anyway?” Remus asked, his defences rising up.
“What difference does it make?! Remus, I want you to be happy! You’re always there when I need you, even when I don’t even know yet that I need you. You deserve to have someone that takes care of you a bit, too. And don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for that Sirius guy, it shows on your face. It shows every time you look at his business card. I don’t care if you’ve met him only once…you really want to see him again. So listen to me carefully. You are going to finish this book, and you are going to call him and talk. Or I’ll call him myself.”
It took Remus another week to finish the book. He didn’t tell Lily right away. He didn’t call Sirius right away.
He didn’t do a thing, because he was petrified.
Until one day, he checked his phone after going to a doctor appointment with Lily to see he had one new voicemail from an unknown number.
“Huh… Hello, this message is for Remus Lupin… Your friend, Lily, called me, saying you were too busy with I don’t know what to give me a call yourself. So, huh, yeah, I heard you’ve finished the book. Give me a call. I don’t bite.”
That bitch.
Remus was ready to chew Lily out, but he couldn’t help but be excited about the fact that Sirius had reached out for him a second time in a row. This time, he didn’t wait until his brain freaked out. He called back.
It took Sirius a few rings to answer, but he finally picked up, making Remus take a sharp breath.
“Hello?”
“H-hi Sirius. This is Remus.”
“Hello, Remus. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks, what about you?”
“I’m great, thank you. So you got my message?”
“Yes, yes I did. You wanted me to call back, so… yep.”
Come on, Lupin, you can do better than this.
“Wanna go take a coffee this afternoon? Talk about the book, or… anything you want.”
Remus barely took a second to think about it. “Sure, I can make it work. Where to?”
***
They were sitting face to face, Sirius looking at Remus, Remus looking at his hands. On the phone, it seemed like a good idea. Remus was even excited about it when he jumped in his car. But now that they had ordered their coffee and that they were actually there, he was nervous. He had no idea what to say, or how to act. He couldn’t even look at Sirius, too scared his eyes would reveal too much.
“So”, Sirius started hesitantly, “what did you think of the book?”
“I liked it. I was really surprised by how much I liked it, actually. That guy can write his ass off.”
To Remus’ amazement, Sirius laughed. “Yes, Shaara is pretty amazing, I’ll give you that. What was your favorite part about it?”
“The fight scenes” Remus answered. “Without hesitation. It felt like I was there with the characters, fighting with them. What about you?”
Thanks to Sirius’ wise questions about the novel, the conversation didn’t die and Remus got comfortable soon enough.
Imperceptibly, the subject shifted, going from ‘The Killer Angels’ to who they were, what they liked, where they worked, where they lived, what music they liked. The conversation was flowing, without Remus or Sirius noticing the time, for it had stopped for them. Sirius was a pretty funny guy, slightly awkward on the edges but still really compassionate and kind. Remus didn’t feel himself falling, but for a bystander, it would have been obvious that there was something, something strong, going on between the two of them. Eventually, they came back to the books and novels they enjoyed, Remus now speaking freely about his love of fiction and poetry.
“Is there something wrong?” Sirius asked, noticing Remus’ sudden silence.
“No, no, everything’s fine. I just don’t read much history, is all, so I don’t really have much to say about all this.”
“You seemed really interested by the books you had in hands the first time we met. And you listened to me when I recommended one to you. I assumed you read a lot. What were you doing in that section of bookstore if you don’t read history, then?” Sirius asked, a playful smile on his lips.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Absolutely, Remus. You can always be honest with me.”
“I wasn’t buying the book for myself. It was a present for my friend Lily. After you left the store I went and bought a second copy for myself… because I wanted to see you again.”
There was a silence as Sirius took Remus’ revelation in. And then he started laughing.
“Why are you laughing? Stop it, I’m not being honest with you so you can mock me” Remus said, trying to look pissed, but unable to keep his own smile down.
“I’m sorry”, Sirius was still laughing, “but I wasn’t expecting that. Remus, I gave you my phone number, if you wanted to see me again, you could’ve just called.”
“I-I don’t know, I was shy or afraid you wouldn’t want to see me, or-”
“Do you think I go in bookstores and give my phone number to every stranger I see? Come on, I’m not that desperate. You were one gorgeous thing to look at, surrounded by books and so focused. I couldn’t help myself, I had to take a chance.”
Remus was speechless. That was a confession he didn’t expect, either.
“So I guess we both took a chance here, huh?” He finally add.
“Yes. And it seems it has paid off. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re not. Still gotta kick Lily’s ass, though.”
“How come?”
“The crazy woman called you. Even if I’m glad she did, she had no right.”
“So I take you weren’t busy. Just shy.”
“Yeah… The girl can read me like an open book. Sorry, for not calling by the way. I don’t know why it made me so nervous” Remus said, sipping at his third coffee of the evening.
“Like I said in my voicemail, Remus, I don’t bite.” Sirius took a sip of his own coffee, looking at Remus playfully. “Unless I’m caught in the moment or you want me to.”
Remus’ eyes grew wide and he choked on his drink, his whole body responding to Sirius’ words.
“And I bet you want me to” Sirius added after Remus’ reaction, this time, an enormous grin stamped on his face.
Remus blushed furiously, but started laughing, because hell yes, he wanted to. He wanted it right now
Lily’ really gonna regret this, he thought.
But deep down he knew he wouldn’t say a thing to Lily. As usual, his old friend knew more than him what was good for himself. And he was pretty sure she had hit the jackpot with this one.
.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-28 09:19 pm (UTC)I had to take a moment to laugh, because holy shit, that is me. I have actually said that to myself before. :"D
I love that Sirius was a bookworm, and that he suggested a book to Remus, a stranger.
I also love that Lily was a lawyer. I think it fits really well with her personality - she can help people and affect the government.
Well done. Thank you so much for sharing this ^^ <3
no subject
Date: 2018-01-02 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-04 07:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-07 05:47 pm (UTC)Really adorable fic, great setting and all around lovely job <3
no subject
Date: 2018-01-07 10:45 pm (UTC)Great dialog and interaction, too.
But the Lily/Sirius friendship was the best, especially this bit:
Remus had never been a good liar. Well, he was, but not to Lily. She had some secret power, making him know when he was bullshitting, which made it super hard for him to surprise Lily whenever he wanted to. Or when he wanted to hide some information, like now. That just made me smile!
no subject
Date: 2018-01-12 06:17 am (UTC)