Chapter Text
Remus groaned, rubbing his eyes with the back of one hand and fumbling to shut off the blaring alarm with his other. He’d barely slept, fueled more on bad coffee than actual rest as he’d stayed overtime at the sheriff’s office from late last night long into today. Damn, it was still the same day. 3:00 pm to be precise, and now he’d get to do it all over again. This time with feds.
He was too exhausted from barely three hours of sleep to move the corresponding muscles to roll his eyes but Remus tried anyway, giving himself more of a headache. Two days ago things were quiet, things were nice. He had a comfortable routine in his sleepy town, no big cases, rarely an arrest. True, sometimes there were bar fights, illegal campers in the woods, a domestic dispute to break up. Mostly his days were spent patrolling the streets, being a friendly face the community had learned to trust. He liked making people feel safe. And giving out the occasional speeding ticket.
But now things were different. His routine was disrupted, and Remus--being a grumpy seventy year old man trapped the body of a thirty year old--hated it.
“Can’t wait for some stuffy milktoast suit to arrive and steal my case,” Remus grumbled, swinging his long legs over the side of the bed as he contemplated the FBI’s eminent arrival that evening. He stretched, the loose shirt he wore to bed riding up on his toned abdomen before settling back as he rolled his shoulders. Then it was a shower, a hot cup of coffee and a piece of toast smothered in nutella before Remus was out the door, neatly pressed uniform and deputy badge all in their proper place.
Being mid December, the small mountain town of Greyback Peak was covered in piles of dirty snow, plowed from the roads after the last storm, while the wooded areas had two to three feet of pristine ground cover that had stubbornly refused to melt given the frigid nightly temperatures. Remus started his four wheeler carefully, snow tires gripping the slushy road as he turned his head to insure there weren’t any citizens in need of assistance as he navigated the unusually crowded streets. It was cloudy but the next storm was still a couple days off, at least if the hit-or-miss meteorologist could be trusted. Remus thought it just as likely to get a sudden heat wave, meteor strike, or any other catastrophic weather if his track record counted for anything.
Luckily no lightning struck on the way and Remus arrived at work to fall into the blessed heat of the sheriff’s office where he promptly removed his coat and made for the corner boasting a variety of subpar coffee and tea options. Sheriff McGonagall was out but Remus’ partner James looked to have stayed the entire time he’d slept. His large brown eyes, reddened from lack of sleep, had an extra manic, I’ve-drank-at least-a-dozen-cups-of-coffee look that Remus was all too familiar with. Single and decidedly married to his job, James was on the fast track to becoming sheriff himself through his diligent hard work, a feat almost everyone was surprised at, seeing as he’d been quite the delinquent even up into his academy days. Something had changed him there, or someone, Remus never quite knew, but James had been set to impress ever since and doing a damn fine job of it all.
“Make any headway Jamie?” Remus asked, walking over to hand his partner a cup of tea. He wasn’t sure the man could survive any more coffee.
A jittery hand movement Remus was unable to decipher came in lue of words as James gulped down the tea.
“Something’s happened,” James said dramatically. His eyes darted to the side but Remus had no idea what that could mean.
“Oh yeah?” Remus replied, ducking his head to speak more softly. He definitely would have gotten a call if they’d caught the perp they were searching for, so this was decidedly something else. “You get promoted? Snape get demoted? Oh did they call off the feds before they can saunter in with sticks up their asses?”
James eyes got even wider. So did his mouth. He looked like a hungry fish and Remus was about to laugh when a suit walked out from behind a nearby partition. A very slim, tailored suit which tapered perfectly at trim hips and accentuated very long legs. Remus swallowed. Then he looked up and met the man’s gaze.
“I must’ve forgotten my stick,” the man said, stone faced but with a hint of a twinkle in his grey eyes.
“Well fuck,” Remus uttered under his breath, watching the corner of the man’s beautiful lips tilt upwards as he obviously heard. Then a second agent, slender and pale, fiery hair and a stylish navy pant suit, sauntered up to the other agent and cocked an eyebrow at them all.
“Well this is going to be fun,” she said, hand on one hip. Remus heard James let out a choked sound and turned to find his partner practically about to have a fit. He wanted to blame lack of sleep but also knew the man had quite the thing for redheads. For whatever reason. Remus always prefered tall dark and handsome himself, not that he was looking. Oh damn he hoped he didn’t look as pathetic as James did right now.
Straightening, Remus held out his hand to the female agent who gave his fingers an overly strong shake. “Remus...Deputy Remus Lupin. And you are?”
“Agent Evans, and this is my partner Agent Black. I’m sure you know why we’re here so let’s not bother with small talk.”
“Er yeah,” Remus said, feeling like he was getting scolded by a parent. “It’s not every day a murderer runs off into our woods.”
“Alleged murderer,” Agent Black corrected, “He was being transferred. For his trial.”
“Right,” Remus said, embarrassed at the slip. He’d obviously read that and completely forgotten when confronted with stormy grey eyes and cheekbones that could cut glass.
“We’ve seen Deputy Potter’s notes, maybe you could go over your own observations as we take a look at the site of the accident?”
“Don’t you want to talk to the witness first? Officer Longbottom should be discharged from the hospital today…” Remus attempted to ask but was cut off.
“We’ll do that after. Just in case a storm comes in and wipes away evidence. Unpredictable things happen in these woods. I hear,” Agent Black said.
“Okay,” Remus drew the word out before continuing. “Then let’s get going. I can drive, I think Jamie...Deputy Potter here has had a bit too much coffee…”
“No need. We rented a truck at the airport. I’ll follow you,” Agent Evans said, turning on one heel, grabbing her coat from a chair back and heading toward the door.
“Of course. I’ll be happy to lead the way for you and Agent Black.” Remus looked to James, who seemed borderline catatonic, then to Black who gave him his first real smile. It was more blinding than fresh snow and about as debilitating as an avalanche. Remus decided his best approach was to find the man as unappealing as possible, starting...now. He gave the man a blank stare.
“Sirius,” the man said all liquid grace as he righted himself from the wall he’d been leaning one perfect hip upon.
“I...am?” Remus was thrown.
“No. My name. Is Sirius,” the man seemed to be trying to repress a laugh. “Deputy,” he said, nodding his head by way of goodbye, before turning to follow after his partner.
Remus let out a breath and slumped over James’ desk the moment they were alone. “That could have gone better.”
“You think?” James sputtered, running his fingers through his messy ratsnest of what some would call hair on a very good day. “I just...she...then I…”
“Okay, let’s get you to the car, before we get them even more upset at us. Can you walk?” Remus asked, righting James with a supportive arm before the other man shook it off.
“Gotta play it cool. Be the best me I can be. You’ve got this Jamie Boy.”
Remus knew it would be a long day if James was already talking to himself.
* * *
As they drove through the late afternoon light and neared the crash site, James seemed to awaken from his coma and finally open up to Remus.
“Remus, it’s her,” he said, and Remus swore he could almost see hearts in the other man’s eyes.
“Her Majesty the Queen or some other ‘her?’” Remus asked, talking a right onto the mountain pass.
“No, I mean Evans. She’s the one. The one I met at the academy. The one I fell in love with. The one who...kind of hates my guts.”
“Ah,” Remus said, starting to see the big picture. He’d never gotten the full story out of James, only that his delinquent days were over and he had a desperate need to succeed. Now he saw why. He wouldn’t put it past Agent Evans being a witch with the spell she seemed to have cast on his partner.
“So this was an unexpected meeting I’m guessing?” Remus asked as they rounded another turn.
“Yeah. I mean, I knew Evans-- Lily-- was in the FBI. I googled her a while back. You know, like friends do…”
“Sure.”
“But I had no idea she’d be assigned to our case. Oh fuck she’s literally on my case. Remus what do I do?” James seemed to melt into the seat.
“Well, for starters,” Remus slowed a bit as they neared the site, “Pull yourself together man. You’re a deputy, fast tracked for sheriff once McGonagall retires, and that’s no small feat. Be confident. But not cocky. Whatever you did in the past, it’s time to brush past it. Or better yet apologize. Show her you’ve changed. You’re not the same toe rag you used to be.”
“How’d you know her old nickname for me?” James gasped.
“Lucky guess,” Remus siged, side eying his partner. He wished someone could give him similar advise regarding how to act around the much too handsome Agent Black. “But regardless, you’re not the same kid she met. And apparently hated. You’re, what, thirty now? Accomplished, mature...damn it how many cups of coffee did you have, I feel closer to arresting you for intoxication than having you help me catch a perp!”
“Eleven. No fifteen. I don’t remember. But you’re right,” James took a deep breath. “I can do this. Hey maybe put in a good word for me with her partner?”
“Oh yeah. I’m sure Black’s just dying to hear more opinions from me, especially about who does or does not have sticks up their asses.”
“Please? Look, I just want to smooth things over with Lily. Show her I’ve changed, like you said. So maybe if we have to split up, I’ll go with her and you can take Agent Black for me?”
“Yeah, sure,” Remus sighed. Not that being around the other extremely fit man would be a hardship but he’d have to pretend extra hard not to be attracted to Sirius. And maybe he shouldn’t refer to him as Sirius, even in his head. Agent Black. Much better.
“Thanks, you’re a good friend,” James said, seeming to relax an infinitesimal amount. And just in time. Not wishing to further destroy the scene, Remus parked about ten yards from a snowy spot where yellow caution tape still fluttered in the wind around one thick tree. The agents parked behind him and got out, both sitting on the edge of the truck to change into snow boots. Looking down on Agent Black for the first time --damn the man was tall-- Remus noticed his slicked back black hair was just a tad too long as it curved behind his ears and back from a widow’s peak hairline. He wondered if this was a small act of rebellion or the man simply had no time for a haircut. Or perhaps he had a romantic partner who loved running their fingers through it… Remus stopped that line of thought in his tracks. And glared.
Sirius...Agent Black, looked up at him and gave Remus a quizzical look.
“If you’re about ready, I’ll show you the scene,” Remus said, attempting to sound as standoffish as possible. It seemed to work, the professional air was back about the agents as they both rose to follow he and James.
“So this is the spot,” Remus indicated with his gloved hands, “Where Officer Longbottom’s patrol car went off the road yesterday around 4:00 pm. He stated that somehow while transporting him from the prison, Tom Riddle got out of his cuffs and opened the barrier, using said cuffs to choke him until he swerved, hitting this tree.” Remus pointed to the tree with the caution tape. “The car then rolled onto its side, hitting these rocks and shattering the windows. Riddle then escaped on foot.”
Taking a step off the road, Remus let his boots sink into the deeper snow of the surrounding forest.
“And why were you unable to recover a clean set of shoe prints deputy?” Agent Evans asked as they followed him further into the woods.
“This area is a popular spot,” James interjected, pointing towards snow covered picnic tables. “With the recent snowfall and melt, the area was mostly mud, sloshy wet puddles. There were many footprints leading up the mountain, one side of which is used for tubing and sledding. We took several impressions but most seemed to be from sledders or led no farther than the creek.”
“Do you think he could have traveled up or down it in order to escape?” Agent Black asked, looking directly at Remus.
“Hard to say. The water is forty degrees at it warmest. He’d develop frostbite for sure if he stayed out with cold feet into the night. Hard to run away on frozen limbs.”
“So what do you believe happened?” Agent Black pressed as they began to hear the gurgle of the creek draw closer.
Remus shook his head. “I don’t know. I get this feeling he didn’t run far, not in this weather and definitely not without leaving prints. Unless he somehow had help.”
Nodding, Agent Black turned to his partner who shrugged and continued onward. Seemed they were all back at square one.
By the time they reached the small creek, Remus could see the fog rolling in. It crept in slowly, barely there whisps between the trees, but he knew that soon enough it would be so thick you could barely see five feet in front of you.
“We need to head back,” he stated and both agents gave him an incredulous appraisal. “Sorry but the fog comes in fast here in the evening. Trust me, you don’t want to be out in it. If we head back now we can make it to back to town at least.”
Looking to his partner, Black raised his perfect eyebrows. “We can always go interview Officer Longbottom. Doesn’t look like there’s much to see here.”
“Yeah, fine,” Agent Evans conceded and they headed quickly back through the snow. The golden light had begun to fade from the sky and with it the grey twilight that could be just as damning as the mountain fog. Though a seasoned mountaineer in these woods, Remus still thought it prudent to get back into town where the clear streets and lights provided more relief between the thick white wall.
“Follow me back. I’ll go slow. If you have any trouble just flash your high beams and I’ll pull over.” Remus looked at the agents in turn before stepping into the driver's seat and James jumped in beside him.
“They’re really pissed about the lack of evidence,” Remus said as he started the car and cranked up the heater.
“We preserved it as well as we could. Not our fault there’s not much to go on,” James said, pressing gloved hands to the vents.
“Maybe they’ll have more luck in the daylight tomorrow. Or get some new info out of Longbottom that he forgot. He was pretty banged up.”
“True. Hey they’re flashing their lights,” James said, turning in his seat.
Sure enough, the other truck had slowed and Remus pulled over so they could see what was wrong. Getting out of the warmth of the cab into the biting chill was always the hardest part and he failed to repress a shiver. In the driver's seat, Agent Black rolled down his window.
“Fog’s getting a bit thick,” he observed and Remus looked around. Apparently he was too used to it, this was nothing in comparison to a white out, but he didn’t wish to put the agents in danger by suggesting they keep driving.
“Hop out, I’ll have Deputy Potter take over,” Remus suggested and Agent Black got out. The two men switched vehicles and somehow Remus found himself seated alarmingly close in a confined space with the much too attractive Agent Black.
“So,” Black said after they pulled back onto the road, “tell me about.. your town.”
“Oh,” Remus said, a bit flustered as he’d finished that sentence in his head to instead be “tell me about yourself.” “Well Greyback Peak is pretty touristy during the winter, lots of sports enthusiasts since the ski slopes are a half hour away and it’s cheaper to stay here than there. Small regular population, low crime, even less murders.”
“You grow up here?” Black asked.
“No, well kind of. I was born here but my mom left when I was a baby. I came back after the academy. The town was expanding with the tourist industry boom and they needed more deputies to keep the peace.”
“I take it they’re not overly welcoming to outsiders?” Black observed.
“Or those born here who left. Took me years to gain back some trust and even now it’s dicy,” Remus replied.
“So, what would an accused murderer be doing in your woods?”
“Freezing to death, hopefully,” Remus said with a snort. “The file didn’t have much info on Mr. Riddle. Anything extra you can tell me, or is it some hush hush high clearance only thing?” Remus asked without expecting an honest answer.
“Hmm,” Black said, and Remus could feel those grey eyes sizing him up. Remus wondered if he was found wanting. “Well, Riddle’s a cult leader, which is why I was assigned the case.”
“Your expertise is cult leaders?”
“Cults. In general. Yeah,” Black replied. “I had a case early on, solved it fast. Made a good impression on the higher ups and was transferred to the FBI to solve cult-related cases. You have no idea how many cults there are these days.”
“What’s the weirdest one you’ve worked on?”
“Pretty sure each one is weirder than the next,” Black laughed somberly. “Did you hear about The Vampire King?”
“Oh no,” Remus said, turning to Black.
“Oh yes. Believing Jesus was a vampire should’ve been a red flag for everyone. But then the man decided he was god, married his daughters, then their daughters after that. We were too late before he murdered nine of them, but he was stopped and the remainder saved,” Black finished, looking down at his gloves as if invisible blood stained his hands.
“Damn,” Remus replied as he drove carefully down the mountain.
“Yeah,” Black said with a sigh of deep resignation to the horrors of the world. A sigh Remus knew too well.
“Greyback Peak has a weird cult history actually,” Remus said, attempting to navigate the touchy subject. He felt Sirius raise an eye at him before he turned to see it.
“So I guess in the seventies there was this crazy guy, called himself Salazar. Started off harmless. Wanted to reduce stress in people’s lives, lots of hippie meditation and self actualization. They had a retreat in the mountains here where they wanted to find themselves or whatever the point was. Then the leader started saying all the gods were one and were in his head. They ‘told’ him to do things. Harmless at first. Then they got weirder and weirder. How some races were above others, how they were born with magical potential could be unlock under a full moon. Finally he decided to sacrifice a child and all hell broke loose. No lives were lost but the cult was disbanded and Salazar killed himself before he could be taken to prison.”
“Damn, so much for a sleepy town,” Black said. “I think I remember the case, there were so many like it in the seventies though, it’s hard to keep track.”
“Tell me about it. I don’t think it would have stood out among the crazy Charles Manson-type cults though, if I hadn’t lived here I would never have heard about it,” Remus said as they finally got into town. Warm incandescent lights shown like fireflies high up on street lamps, projecting through the thin fog. “Hospital’s close, should be there in a few.”
“So what was your impression of Longbottom when you interviewed him? You’d never met before, correct?” Black asked, jotting something down on a notepad.
Remus nodded. “Well I was one of the first on scene of the crash. He was pretty beat up, had to pull him from the upturned car. He said he couldn’t remember anything, pretty typical with head wounds that severe. If I’m being honest, he didn’t seem the most competent officer to me. Not sure why he was assigned to transport such a high profile criminal.”
Black shrugged and rolled his neck. The man must be tired from all his travels. Remus wondered if he’d like a back rub. Then he shook his head to clear the thoughts. He was just lonely, damn how long had it been since he’d even been on a date?
He pulled into an empty parking spot and Sirius started to get out before Remus remembered something. Before he thought better of it, he put a hand on Black’s shoulder and the other man turned back, a questioning look in his eyes.
“Oh,” Remus pulled his hand back and tried to pretend he wasn’t embarrassed. “I almost forgot. I have a favor to ask.”
“Really?” Black said, his lips quirking in intrigue.
“Er, I for my friend. I mean for Deputy Potter. See he wanted me to put in a good word about him for you to pass onto Evans. Agent Evans. Um, how he’s changed, matured. Something like that.”
“Ah, and has he?” Black asked expectantly.
“Oh yes. He’s fast tracked to take over as sheriff as soon as McGonagall retires. He’s just a bit...thrown off his game. Between the escaped murderer…”
“Alleged murderer.”
“Right, and being up all night running at least a dozen cups of coffee, then you guys, well mostly Agent Evans showing up. Let’s just say he’s giving an inaccurate impression.”
“Ah. Well the deputy I was speaking to earlier told us to steer clear of you both, so I must say I’m intrigued to find out which is accurate,” Black replied.
“Let me guess. Deputy Snape?” Black nodded. “Yeah, he’s...well he’s not too keen on either of us. Especially Potter. Thinks he should be sheriff next. I don’t want to talk ill of him, but you can figure out for yourself who you’d rather work with.”
“I think I’m forming an opinion on that matter,” Sirius said with a small smirk before stepping out of the truck.
Remus swallowed. Damn what was this man doing to him?
Either fortunately or unfortunatly he didn’t have time to ponder the matter as Agent Evans and James got out of the truck beside them and they all headed into the relative warmth of the hospital. It was a small building, mostly used to set and splint broken bones of skiers or car accidents victims who swerved off the icy roads. There was a small ER and a surgery ward but most patients were flown out after they were stabilized. A helipad sat close beside the parking lot with the helicopter blades lightly iced over in old snow.
After checking in with the night nurse, the foursome made their way into a small private room where Officer Longbottom had been recovering. Remus winced inwardly. If anything the man looked worse than yesterday. His entire face was swollen from the collision, lumpy and purple, one eye completely closed while the other opened just enough to squint at the television above. His left arm was in a sling and a green hospital gown hung from one pale shoulder.
“Longbottom,” James said in greeting, causing the man to start. He recovered and tried to smile before realizing that was a bad idea and winced instead.
“Potter and...Lupin was it?” Longbottom said through the garble of shattered teeth and bruised lips.
“Well at least you remember some things,” Remus said, trying to lighten the mood. He hoped it didn’t sound as passive aggressive as he meant it.
“Not much else though if that’s why you’re here,” Longbottom said before giving the other two a once over. “Or are these your replacements?”
“In a sense. Agents Evans and Black,” Evans said, not reaching to shake Longbottom’s hand, Remus noticed.
“Ah the cavalry has arrived,” Longbottom mumbled. “I guess it’s because of me we’re in this mess.”
Neither Evans nor Black denied it or placated the man with soothing words as others had done, and Remus was glad of it. He was tired of this whole shitstorm and anyone who had lead to it, though he’d act professional to the man’s face.
“We just have a few more questions,” Evans said to Remus before turning to both he and James with a look of dismissal.
“Ah, we’ll be in the hallway,” Remus excused themselves and sat in a chair to wait beside James, who slumped over to do the same. He wasn’t sure when they’d get rest other than upright in a chair, so he might as well take it. Luckily a twenty minute nap was granted them both and Remus awoke to a warm hand on his shoulder. When he looked up into beautiful grey eyes, Remus was sure he was still dreaming.
“Good nap?” Black asked, and Remus wasn’t sure if it was his sleep-addled brain, but the man did not sound an ounce sarcastic.
“Oh. Shit sorry,” Remus yawned, stretching and hoping he hadn’t drooled. Black was smiling at him so this might come back to haunt him. “Longbottom remember anything new?” he asked as a hazy recollection of why he fell asleep in a hospital chair returned.
“Not really. We asked which direction Riddle ran and he thinks it was up the mountain. Anything there we should be aware of to merit a late night pursuit?”
“More trees, maybe a derelict hunting lodge or two. Nothing heated or sustainable to life in the winter.”
The agents looked like that was the answer they’d expected. “If he’s there, he’s a popsicle. It can wait till morning,” Black said, looking to his partner who seemed unfortunately resigned to their fate to wait out the night.
“That wasn’t much of a talk you had with him,” Remus said, checking his watch.
“His wife called, and since we weren’t getting anything useful out of him we left him to it,” Evan said.
“Longbottom said he’s staying at the inn once they discharge him later. Want to show us where that is?” Black finished.
“Yeah, follow me again,” Remus said and they drove to the small inn on the far side of town.
Dorcas, girlfriend of Marlene who owned the Sleepy Owl Inn, was manning the desk and looking more than a bit frazzled. She offered Remus a weak smile, as if she couldn’t wait to hear what fresh hell he was about to heap upon her or the establishment.
“Easy, I come in peace,” Remus said, nodding his head to the stragglers behind. “Got some guests looking for a room for a night or two.”
“I was afraid of that,” Dorcas sighed and scratched a hand through her messy hair.
“Last I heard, inns are kind of dependent on new guests,” Remus said, leaning tiredly on the wooden counter.
“And any other week I’d tell you you’re not wrong, but we’re booked solid.”
“Really?” James came up beside them looking dubious.
“Yeah, sorry guys. Some sort of solstice event at the Malfoy Estate, Marls is off doing laundry and fetching extra pillows from storage. We’re completely booked.”
“I wondered why town was so crowded today. Maybe one of the bed and breakfasts…” Remus started but was cut off.
“Also full, we checked. It’s a mess.”
“Can’t you swing something? They’re here helping us on... business, can’t exactly send them off down the mountain.”
Dorcas seemed to notice the stranger’s impeccable suits for the first time and put two and two together. Her eyes widened and she looked worriedly to Remus. “Anything I should know about?”
“Not sure yet. Just...lock the doors at night. And maybe during the day. But keep it quiet, we don’t want to start a panic,” James said in his incredibly official voice that should sound like a joke but actually made others step up and take notice.
“Okay…” Dorcas said, apparently wary but convinced. “Well, as far as beds go, I can do you a favor but you owe me. We’ve got a half room. Marls and I use it for breaks when it’s slow. There’s a twin bed to nap and small bathroom, but not sure it can accommodate two unless one of you like sleeping in a tub.”
Remus looked to the two agents and stepped off to the side for a chat. “What do you say?”
“I’ve slept in worse,” Evans said, looking around the lobby.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a spare room, would you deputy?” Black asked, and Remus swore the corner of his lip twitched into almost a smile.
“I only have a couch...” Remus confessed while wondering why he would possibly offer such a thing, to allow this man, this temptation into his home.
“Sounds better than a tub,” Black shrugged and turned back to the front desk. “We’ll take it.”
Dorcas sighed in relief, calamity averted. It was a feeling Remus had no comprehension of at the moment.
While Evans unloaded her luggage, Remus opened his trunk to allow Black to load his suitcase into his car. “Get some rest,” she ordered, “ I want us all out searching once it’s light. Which would be…”
“7:00 am,” Remus said, resigned as a night person with a morning wake up call could be. They dropped James back at the station before Remus started up the narrow road to his small cabin nestled against the mountainside.
“Cozy,” Black said as they parked, and he sounded like he meant it. The cabin wasn’t much, but Remus was proud of it. He’d had to fix it up, much more than a coat of paint had been needed as the place was a water damaged mess, but now it was home. Leading them up a flight of wooden stairs over a rock outcropping dotted with pines, Remus opened the door into the living room. It was warmly decorated, fall colors and wooden furniture with a large stone fireplace off to one side. There was an russet orange couch that screamed 70s-- but damn Remus loved it-- standing proud on a fluffy cream rug and piles of books everywhere. If he’d known he’d be having company Remus definitely would have cleaned, but he was ordinarily a neat person despite the piles. It wasn’t his fault he’d run out of book shelves.
“Excuse the mess,” he said politely as Black looked about. “Downstairs is the living room, obviously and kitchen. Up in the loft is my room and bathroom. You’re welcome to use it...the bathroom I mean.” Remus turned away before Black decided to take a jab at his accidental offering of the bedroom-- which he was completely sure the man had noticed. Remus was incredibly glad he was not prone to blushing.
When Black was silent, Remus was more worried than if the man had made a joke.
“I could cook us something for dinner but I’m pretty tired, if you’re okay with pizza I can heat one up, sorry there’s no delivery out here, do you like pepperoni, I only have pepperoni?” he rambled as he took off his coat.
“Any pizza sounds great,” Black said, setting his suitcase by the orange couch, careful not to topple one of the many stacks of books. “I take it you or your partner read a lot?”
Remus looked puzzled for a moment before he realized what Sirius was asking. “Ah, just me here, the books are all mine.”
Nodding, Black bent to scan a title, showing off an ass that Remus decidedly turned away from before he stared harder. “I’ll just, ah, put in the pizza.” A little voice in Remus’ head was telling him it was okay to look, but he shut it down quickly before it lead to anything further.
After turning on the oven and putting a pizza in, Remus made for the stairs, noticing Sirius still surveying his piles of books. “Do you mind if I change? I don’t normally wear my uniform around the house,” Remus said, attempting to find something to do with himself that would take him away from Black for at least a minute.
“Don’t let me stop you. When I’m home I usually just throw my pants by the door the moment I walk in. Suits are such a bother,” Black said with an eye roll. Remus swallowed and attempted not to picture the other man removing any article of clothing.
“Right, I’ll just be a minute.” Rushing up to the loft, Remus took a deep breath in the sanctity of his room. He could do this. He just hadn’t been laid in far too long and that’s why his libido was playing havoc on his brain. What was he thinking lusting after an FBI agent? No good could possibly come of that.
After slipping into pajama bottoms, Remus was just pulling off his shirt when he heard footsteps on the landing outside his room. Of course it was Black, staring into his open doorway at him. Their eyes met for a crackling instant before Black looked away and to the side.
“Um, the bathroom is...?” he began.
“Oh, yeah right there,” Remus said, indicating the only other door in the loft.
“Right, I see it now,” Black said, stepping inside before even turning on the light.
Remus sighed and sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. There were no mixed signals there, Black was definitely staring at him. With something a little more than curiosity. Damn it, Remus knew this was a horrible idea. Only when he heard movement in the bathroom did Remus snap out of his mental stupor and decide to go back downstairs. Then he remembered he should probably put on a shirt before the man exited and got another free show.
By the time Black was finished with what was probably a shower, Remus had pulled the pizza out of the oven. It was only when Black came downstairs, hair dripping slightly, that Remus realized he hadn’t given the other man a towel. The thought of Black wrapping his own towel around what was sure to be a perfectly sculpted body was unusually arousing. Remus bit his bottom lip and took a steadying breath.
“Good shower?” he asked before taking a slice of pizza. He’d laid some out for him on the coffee table so they could sit on the couch, the dining table seemed so formal for pizza in pajamas.
Black sighed and sunk into the cushions, one of the many reasons Remus loved the well worn couch. It was perfect for naps and relaxing after a hard day. “Yeah, thanks.”
“So where is home?” Remus asked searching for a safe platonic subject, wondering if the other man would open up or maintain a federal agent persona. Not that he’d been the stuffy suit Remus had imagined, no sign of a stick up that perfect ass, and Remus had looked.
“West Virginia. For now. Just due to work, hard to really call a place home when you’re only there one week out of every month,” Black replied. Remus could imagine, it was one of the perks of working in a small town, he was allowed to lay down roots. “And how about you, where did you live before coming back here?”
“All over really. My mum was a bit of a free spirit. We only really settled down once I entered high school. Before that we moved all across the US, probably every two years or so.”
“Sounds exciting,” Black yawned into the back of his hand.
“It was when I was little. Then I started making friends and missing them once I left. Pretty soon I gave up on that, remained kind of a loner. That’s why I have so many books I guess,” Remus shrugged.
Black gave him a sympathetic eyebrow furrow.
“Anyway, what made you want to join law enforcement?”
“Oh,” Black looked thoughtful. “I guess it all started when my brother died.”
“Damn, I’m sorry,” Remus said, waring with himself as every instinct screamed to reach out and comfort the other man and yet knowing it would be highly inappropriate since they’d only first met.
“It’s...well it’s not okay. But it is what it is. We weren’t close anymore, like we were as kids. He joined a cult actually. That’s what got me so interested in them. First hand experience and all. They never could pin the blame for his death, ruled it an accidental homicide but no evidence ever pointed to any of the cult members. I was in law school, it’s what my parents wanted, before you ask. So then I dropped out, joined the academy, became a detective, took on a cult case and got fast tracked into the FBI.”
“So are you still looking into his case?” Remus asked.
“Now and again. Nothing new in the way of evidence, even with advances in DNA, but I have my eye on it. I always have hope,” Black said with a sad smile.
“Sorry, I wish I knew what to say. I’m not exactly the deputy McGonagall sends out to deliver bad news,” Remus said, looking down at his folded hands.
“Don’t worry,” Black reassured him, “you don’t need to say anything. It’s good for me to talk about it… to talk about him.”
“What was he like? As a kid I mean?”
“Quirky,” Black said with an actual chuckle. “We were always daring one another to do stupid things. My parents were, well, not the most affectionate let’s say. So it was kind of us against the world, or that’s how it seemed. This one time we decided to open all my dad’s mail, replaced the letters with blank pages. He was so pissed.”
“That sounds hilarious,” Remus said, smiling at the man beside him.
“We used to hide this ugly ass troll doll around the house to scare my mom. In her shoe, in bags of sugar, anywhere she’d be likely to look. I don’t know why we went looking for trouble, maybe we just wanted to get attention, any attention from them. Good or bad.”
“I get that,” Remus said, knowing how hard it was to pin down his flighty mum from her hippie ways. After a moment of comfortable silence Remus reached for the remote. “Want to watch some tv?”
“Sounds good,” Black replied and both men settled in with their pizza.