Chapter Text
Remus
Remus is again, not aware as to where he is when he starts to wake. He’s faintly aware of laughter and the hum of some TV show. He stretches, face pressed up against a pillow, his arm above his head.
“Oh shit he’s waking,” that’s Lily’s voice, Remus opens an eye and stares up at her. “Morning Rem.” She’s smiling over a cup of coffee, her legs crossed on the couch, dressed in a white shirt and nothing else. Sirius is settled next to her, pose mimicked, he smiles down at Remus.
“Good morning!” Sirius says brightly, Remus huffs, drags his hand down his face and pulls at the blanket.
“What time is it?” Remus grumbles.
“7.” Lily says chipperly.
“What the fuck .” Remus opens both his eyes then to stare at the pair of them. “It’s a Saturday you heathens .”
“Emily in paris is on,” Sirius pouts, gestures to the television, Remus stares at it for a long moment trying to figure out what was happening.
“It’s Saturday.” He mumbles, stretches his back out and shuffles so he’s facing them. “Where’s Teds?” He faintly remembers James saying it was too late to drive home, faintly remembers agreeing to stay the night.
“Asleep with Harry upstairs.” Lily waves her hand through the air, “oh god they’re not going to kiss are they?” She almost sounded generally offended.
“YES!” Sirius pumps a fist in the air, “oh, the others are coming round as well.” Sirius says then, looking back over to Remus. “Mary’s already here, she got in some time after you fell asleep, but she’s in bed.” He waves down the hall and Remus tries to make that make sense.
“Right.” He swings himself up right, groaning when his knee click, click, clicks in and out of place. He settles his hands on either side of the couch. He was missing his shoes and socks, his jumper and tie, he runs a hand through his hair. “Bathroom?” He asks, not wanting to have to climb back up the stairs.
“Down the hall to the left,” Lily waves, “ew!” Remus looks up and watches as two people kiss on screen, he rolls his eyes, pulls himself up and uses the side table to walk.
“ Cane. ” Sirius warns him, picking the thing off the table and passing it over. Remus huffs but takes it anyway shuffling down the hall.
He’s faintly aware of Marlene’s giggles as he reaches the end of the hallway, Dorcas is shushing her, and Remus’ hand falls from the doorknob instead opening a different door. It’s another bedroom, blinds pulled wide open, an overnight bag on the ground and open, clothes spilling across the floor, Mary’s asleep in the bed. Brown curls fanning across the atrocious number of pillows, he slips it shut, opens another door and is finally met with a bathroom. He locks the door behind him, cups his hands over the bathroom sink and just stares at his reflection. His hair is a mess, his body is sore, and he realises that he doesn’t have anything to change into, or access to his meds. And that he had just spent the night at his bosses house.
Only it wasn’t his boss's house was it?
It was more like a central hub to everyone, flowing in and out as they pleased. He was in Sirius’ home, Sirius not Mr. Black, as he so frequently reminded him. He frowns. This was normal for these people, Lily and Sirius were trying to make it normal for him as well. He grabs the bottle of mouthwash that’s sitting on the side of the sink, swirls it around his mouth and spits. Right. He can keep pretending all of this was normal and not freaking him out internally.
When he's back in the lounge room he kind of just stands there, trying to get his surroundings in place.
“Lil’s.” He says, she looks over her shoulder to him, “do you have my meds?” She always carried a spare bottle with her, ever since they were kids. A habit she had picked up on when she realised Remus never had spare.
“In my bag.” She gestures vaguely to the kitchen and he makes his way to the counter. There’s three different phones plugged in to charge in the outlet, one of which he realises is his own. He slides it into his pocket. His bag is laid next to Lily’s floral one, there’s another bag as well, black and leather, contents spilling across the counter, sport uniform and empty powerade bottles. Marlene’s then . He digs through Lily’s bag until his hand comes to the pill bottle, carefully he shakes a few into his hand and swallows them dry, digs in his own bag until he finds his lighter and smokes and heads to the balcony.
When he’s sat down, and massaging his joint he realises how weird this all was.
The door slides open.
“Coffee.” Sirius says handing out a mug, there’s little stars all over it, it looked handmade. Remus takes it grateful and downs half of it.
“My body is aching .” Remus admits when Sirius is settled next to him, pulling his own smokes from his pocket. He flicks his lighter on, takes a drag and then leans forward to light Remus’ for him. Remus allows him.
“Anything I can do to help?” Sirius asks carefully. Remus shakes his head.
“Again not unless-”
“Remus the morgue was a shitty joke Reg made, sorry to disappoint.” Remus snorts then.
“Well that sucks.” Remus blows the smoke out, watches it curl up in the wind. It’s a grey morning, clouds up above, the world barely awake. He lets his neck crack as he pulls his head to the side.
“Is that a side effect?” Sirius asks, takes a sip from his own mug.
“What?”
“The cracking, your bodies always doing it.” Sirius says then, watching him. Remus shrugs. “Maybe?” He never really thought about it, it was just something that happened. “Sirius,” Remus says then carefully, Sirius’ eyes widened. “Are we… Are we friends?” He had to ask, had to. It’s been racing around his head like a storm for the last week.
“What?” Sirius laughs. “I rather thought we were, did you have other plans?” Remus smiles then. This was rather easy, why was he so scared of it his whole life?
Sirius
It’s around 8 when there’s noise throughout the household. Dorcas had made her way to the kitchen, pulling out mugs, Marlene following after her, her flannel buttoned unevenly, her hair properly tousled, there’s a red mark on her neck, faint impressions of teeth. Regulus slinks down the stairs, Harry on his hip, Teddy trailing after him, a spiderman stuffed toy in his hands, no doubt James’. James is nowhere to be seen, and when Regulus breaks directly to the kitchen pulling his own set of mugs down, the lack of James makes sense.
“Morning lovebirds.” He calls. His statement is met with Marlene’s middle finger as she plops down on the couch next to Remus, her head slotting against his shoulder casually, mug cradled to her chest.
“Remmy!” Teddy squeals, running across the room and up into Remus lap. “Look! Look what Jamie had!” Teddy thrusts the toy upwards and into Remus' face.
“Wow,” Remus says, staring at the bright red thing.
“He let me borrow! Mr Wolfs at home.” Teddy hugs the toy to his chest, snuggles closer to Remus.
“Well isn’t that kind of him, hope you said thank you.” Remus runs a hand through his hair. He was dressed in one of Harry’s jerseys, Harpies embroidered in red on the front of it. Remus runs his hand down the shirt in question.
“Harrys!” Teddy beams up at him and as if summoning him Harry comes running through the lounge room and climbs up into Marlene’s lap pulling at Remus’ hands.
“Thank you for staying Uncle Rem-us!” Harry says happily, as if the concept of it being 8 in the morning meant nothing to the boy. Remus only smiles and leans his head so it’s on top of Marlene’s eyes closing.
“I’m going to go wake the beast, wish me luck.” Regulus calls from the stairs two mugs in his hands. Lily snorts next to him on the couch.
“I do not miss that- oh hello baby.” She says when Mary walks out from the hallway then. Mary humps, curls up on the couch and promptly closes her eyes again, curling into Lily’s side.
“You’re all freaks. It’s 8 in the morning.” She mutters.
“I said the same.” Remus calls then.
“Lupin, I love you.” Mary grumbles, pulls at Lily until they’re wrapped up together. Something flickers in Sirius’ chest.
“The markets are on today,” Dorcas says casually, coming to sit in the arm chair, she has her phone open in one hand, a mug of tea cradled in the other. Lily and Marlene perk up.
“Can we go?” They both speak at once. Lily laughs then. “Well the others are coming over, seems a waste to stay bundled up in here all day.”
“Hey!” Sirius grumbles, but his eyes catch on Remus’ cane and he frowns. “Maybe-”
“We should go.” Remus says then, eyes matching Sirius’ as if in challenge. “Teddy, do you want to go?” He looks down at the boy.
“What’s markets?” He looks up at Remus, hugs the spiderman toy closer.
“Like a big shop, with all different kinds of things.”
“Spider man?” Remus runs a hand through his hair.
“Maybe Pup.” Teddy swings his legs back and forth.
“Okay, well meds and breakfast then.” Dorcas says pointing to Sirius. “And I know you’ve forgotten yours already.”
“I’ve only been up for two hours.” Sirius grumbles, but he stands, stretches his back out and makes for the stairs.
Remus
James walks downstairs shirtless. Dressed in what Remus assumes is the other half of Marlene’s flannel pyjamas, arms stretched above his head and hair tousled, eyes barely open. He all but drops into the couch where Sirius was a second ago and Remus has to tear his eyes away.
“Meds?” Dorcas asks not lifting her eyes up from her phone and James frowns at her.
“ Meds?” He mocks, but he jumps back up and heads to the kitchen pulling out a pill bottle. Teddy goes running after him.
“Thank you Jamie!” Teddy beams up at him, but it comes out as fanks.
“What?” James says, a little surprised.
“Spidey!” Teddy holds it up so James can look at it and James smiles.
“Your welcome bud,” James pats his head and pours another cup of coffee out.
“And breakfast!” Dorcas says when James is about to leave the kitchen, he grumbles, grabs a banana and settles back on the couch, Regulus settling next to him. “What do you two want?” Dorcas says then gesturing to Harry and Teddy.
“Porridge!” Teddy says happily, dashing over to Dorcas like she could magic a bowl into existence, she smiles down at him.
“Don’t like porridge.” Harry pouts.
“You can have whatever you like darling.” Lily says then. She’s gathering herself off the couch to scoop up her son and wanders into the kitchen, Dorcas follows after her.
“I don’t know if we actually have porridge.” Dorcas is muttering to herself and Remus feels that bubble of panic serge in his chest as Teddy’s face falls.
“We do.” Sirius - now dressed in a black denim playsuit thing, his hair pulled up into a kind of knot, strands dancing in front of his face, fingers dotted in silver rings - says. He leans into the pantry, pulls a bag out and drops it on the counter. “Pandora.” He says when both girls look at him.
“Well look at that, Ted’s!” Lily says, but she’s still looking at Sirius.
“Remus you can use the shower if you want,” he says then, “everyone else has already.” Remus stills. “James, that's not all you're eating is it?”
“I’m not that hungry.” James mutters, Regulus runs a hand through his hair.
“I can make french toast,” Sirius says then, almost like a plea. James huffs and moves to the kitchen to jump up on the counter.
“Alright.” Remus gets up and heads back down to the bathroom, this was all too domestic.
Sirius
He’s halfway through the first batch when the front door swings open.
“Ah there’s the other two.” Barty says, shuffling to get his shoes off and drop his coat on the rack, Evan files in behind him, plastic bags in hand, Pete and Pandora following in after.
“Uncle Barty!” Harry kicks his feet and Lily sets him down, still stirring the pot of oats on the counter. Harry clings at him until Barty picks him up and then promptly drops him in Evan’s arms.
“Loony!” Teddy says happily, running up to the small girl. She’s in a pair of floral overalls and a pastel yellow jumper, she grabs at Teddy’s hand and he lets her. Sirius drops the toast onto a plate handing it off to James.
“French toast!” Peter says then and Sirius snorts.
“Plenty to go around.” Sirius drops the other slice on a plate that’s quickly taken by Pete.
“We’re going to the markets.” Marlene smiles at the group, “take the little ones out, get a walk in.” Evan drops the bags onto the counter, “chocolate?” Marlene digs through the bag until she has a bar in her hands breaking pieces off and dipping it into her coffee, Dorcas rolls her eyes, stealing a piece. Barty digs through the bag then, pulling out pouches of juice with superheroes on them.
“Luna got to pick her one, sorry.” He says handing off an iron man juice pouch to Luna. He offers the other two to Harry and Teddy, Harry grabbing onto thor. Teddy carefully takes the hulk one.
“Thank you Barty!” Teddy says and sits down next to the other two kids.
“Where’s Reg?” Pandora asks then, Mary had settled up on the counter next to where Lily’s cooking.
“Upstairs?” She offers, and Pandora takes them two at a time.
“So markets.” Evan says, pulling more things from the bag and stuffing them into the fridge. “With three extremely energetic kids, sounds ideal.” He stuffs the bags into the bin and pulls the kettle from the stove. Sirius passes him a mug.
“Well you can blame that one,” Sirius nods towards Dorcas, dropping another piece of toast on a plate and passing it out behind him, someone takes it.
“Thanks Dorcas.” Evan chimes, settling next to her.
“I merely mentioned it. The other two all but jumped at the idea.” Regulus comes down the stairs then, followed by Pandora, a handful of clothes in his arms.
“James, I stole your jeans.” Regulus says turning and heading down the corridor.
“What? Why?” James' head shoots up.
“Remus!” Pandora knock, knock, knocks on a door.
“Teddy needs to get dressed as well.” Lily points to James then, and James drops his plate in the sink and heads upstairs. “ And Harry!” Lily calls.
“Yeah yeah.” Lily pulls out bowls, pouring the porridge into them and dropping the pot into the sink when she’s done. Sirius plates more french toast, the slices taken almost instantly.
“Where’s the honey?” Lily asks, digging through the pantry, Sirius leans over her to grab it and Lily drizzles some into a bowl. She picks up two of them and passes them to Luna and Teddy before stealing a plate and cutting up the toast to give to Harry. There’s another bowl set on the counter, Sirius raises an eyebrow. “Remus,” she says, “only with honey though- Teddy blow it’s hot.” She warns when Teddy huffs as the oats hit his tongue. He finds out Remus likes honey in his porridge, that Teddy despises it. He adds this to the list as well.
Remus
Regulus is kind enough to give him one of his sweaters, and a pair of James’ jeans, informing him that there was an assortment of coats Remus could steal from later. The jumper in question is a black almost turtle neck thing, and the jeans, though a little tight, are a faded grey. Remus pulls them both on, shakes his hair out until it’s only damp and not dripping and sits on the edge of the bath just breathing. He can hear everyone chatting loudly in the kitchen, can hear Marlene’s laughter and the sound of music. Someone must have turned on the stereo.
He clenches his hands in his lap and just waits for his heart rate to slow a bit, just a small bit before he can face the others. There were more people now, more faces he barely knew, who wanted to know him, he was in a house that was unfamiliar, in clothes that weren’t his, and it was a common thing for them, so he was determined to make it a common thing for himself.
He grabs his cane.
“Hell-o.” Barty is the first to greet him, and Remus smiles politely.
“Remus!” Pandora smiles.
“Hey,” Lily’s there then, handing him a bowl of honey porridge and he takes it from her grateful for the distraction, he pushes himself over to the love seat settling down.
“James is getting the boys dressed, I should probably get this one dressed as well.” Lily says, picking up Mary’s hands. “Drink some water Remus,” she points at him determinedly and then drags Mary down the hall. Remus takes a bite of the porridge.
“Okay, everyone’s eaten right?” Sirius is holding a plate of french toast and there’s a round of thumbs up. Sirius turns the stove off, shoves the dishes into the dishwasher and then walks through the kitchen to come and drop on the loveseat next to Remus, placing a glass of water next to him.
“I take it this is a common occurrence.” Remus says, digging at the porridge.
“Hm?” Sirius breaks off a piece of the toast drenched in maple syrup.
“Everyone just showing up? Do they all have keys? Is this not actually your house?” Sirius laughs then, picks up his mug of coffee.
“Yes this is my actual house, well mine and Regulus’ really. When I, uh, ran away I ran straight to James’, and so did Regulus and Euphemia and Fleamonts house became like this central hub for all of us. They actually wanted a big family so it worked out, I don’t think there was a single night where someone wasn’t crashing in a spare room or on the couch. When we were adults and we moved, to go to uni or apprenticeships, it was kind of sad almost? So my house became the same thing,” he breaks off more toast, “and yeah they have keys. I’ll come home after work and find Marlene in my bed, or Barty stealing food.” Remus takes a sip of the water. “My house is right in the centre of everyone’s work so if they crash here a few times a week it’s not that big of a deal.”
“That’s cause your bed is bloody comfy .” Marlene calls, “love that thing.”
“I literally just replaced the food Barty stole,” Evan protests.
“Couldn’t imagine that.” Remus says then, takes another sip of the water.
Sirius
“Teddy hold onto someone.” Remus calls ahead of him when Teddy begins to run up to random stalls. “Not just Luna.” Remus sighs when he grabs Luna’s hand. Teddy grips onto the buckle of Barty’s pants.
“Not my kid!” Barty says, but he places a hand on Teddy’s shoulder anyway, scooping Luna up on his hip.
“That’s new.” Remus says then, watching the three of them wander off.
“What is?”
“He doesn’t like strangers, touch is this big thing for him.” Sirius looks at him then, Remus looked godly in all black. “Are you all sure Barty doesn’t have kids? He seems awfully great with them.” Marlene’s up on Dorcas’ shoulders, James and her throwing a ball back and forth as they walk through the crowd.
“If Barty was hiding children from us Pandora would’ve found them by now.” Sirius says absently.
“You okay?” Remus ducks his head until Sirius meets his eyes.
“You sure you’re okay with all this walking?” The market had taken up an entire park, there’s people and smells and sounds everywhere, endless amounts of stalls filling around them.
“Sirius,” Remus sighs, “I didn’t tell you about my condition for you to dot on me like a hen.” Remus bumps their shoulders, “I’m fine, we’re going slow, I’m not being dragged around like Peter-” Sirius looks over then, spots Peter’s hands caught between Mary’s and Lily’s as they run between stalls, “-It’s fine. If I need a break I’ll take one.” Remus takes a careful step forward, “yesterday was a fluke, won’t happen again.”
“But it happened.” Sirius points out, fidgets with his rings.
“Okay, and you’re anxious 90% of the time, but I’m not coddling you. Respect goes both ways.” Sirius lets go of his rings, head shooting down, “Siri- it’s fine ,” Remus stops them, hand hooked around Sirius’ elbow. “Look, I know your natural instinct is to worry. But you don’t have to, I know more about this condition than you will ever be able to learn from google. Okay? I know my limits, I know my strengths, I know how to cope, and I’m fine.” Remus is staring at him intently, head ducked a little so it gave off the impression that they were the same height. Remus’ hand slides from his elbow to interlock their fingers, running patterns into the back of his hand. “I will let you know the second that changes, okay?”
“‘kay,” Sirius says then, easing a breath out carefully. This was fine, Remus was right, and the crowd- with Remus’ hand still in his own the crowd was bearable. Remus starts walking again, a small tug of his hand lets him know that Remus isn’t going to let go, Sirius takes a quick step so that he’s not being dragged behind, Remus’ thumb is still pressing patterns into his hand.
“I have to ask.” Remus says then, absently browsing a stall. “What the fuck are your pronouns?” Sirius snorts.
“What?”
“Everyone calls you Sirius, and he, but then some people use they, and them, and I don’t know if it’s like… an accident? I don’t want to be misgendering you, and your jacket has that patch- the nonbinary one? Should I not be calling you Mr?” Remus isn’t looking at him, but Sirius can feel his heartbeat quicken, a warm feeling taking room in his chest.
“I would honestly prefer you to stop calling me Mr. Black all together, just use my name. Sounds nicer when you say it anyway-” Remus’ head snaps towards him, “-I’m nonbinary, yes, They/He. I thought that was obvious?” Sirius peers up at him and Remus bites into his lip carefully thinking. “I really don’t care though? Call me she, he, it, whatever. Not fussed.” Sirius shrugs, “just hate fancy titles. Mr, Mistress, Ma’am, sir.”
“Right. Glad that’s cleared up, was giving me a headache.” Remus says, tugs Sirius forward softly so they can move to the next stall.
“And you?” Sirius asks, squeezing his hand, it’s like it’s only then that Remus realises they were still linked together, his eyes shooting to their hands.
“Me?” Sirius gets the awful sensation that he’s going to pull away.
“Pronouns?” Remus looks at him then.
“He.” Remus runs his thumb across the back of Sirius’ hand and it’s so delicate. “He and Him. Nothing special.” Remus breathes out half a laugh and then his eyes are trained back to the stalls in front of him.
Remus
What the fuck was he doing?
Why the fuck did he grab - okay he knows why he grabbed Sirius’ hand. He doesn’t know why he hasn't let go yet. Watching Sirius’ face crumble, their eyes searching through the crowds, he understood they were anxious. Since Regulus had told him about Sirius' panic attack, he had been looking for signs as to why because Sirius didn’t seem to have an anxious bone in his body. But the more he looked the more he understood. He hated crowds of strangers, he could deal with business meetings and interviews and a house hold of friends drinking and yelling and laughing and loud fucking music, but put him in a park crowded with strangers? That was his breaking point, Remus was the complete opposite, none of these people knew them, knew who they were or cared to know them. He was invisible. Sirius must feel like he’s the opposite of that, all eyes on him. His hands shook, when he thought no one was looking, and when someone was looking his fingers would fiddle with the rings decorating them. He hated people touching, prodding, cooing at him, he had noticed that during the photoshoot. So he tried his best to ease him. Had stepped into his buble until Sirius had looked at him, face easing away from distress and into something softer, grounding - offered him coffee, dragged his hand across his face under disguise of fixing his hair, a familiar touch, something that wasn’t three strangers. He had noticed, as well, that Sirius’ lip was always busted, broken open and raw, nails dugged at and ripped even when there’s an insane amount of nail polish on them. He tried to notice the signs, like he did with Teddy, because it’s easier to calm Teddy down when he could pick up on whatever mood he was in. And so he had grabbed Sirius’ hands to stop the shake, to ground him, like he did with Teddy, or Lily, he had tried, and they had stopped shaking and Sirius seemed to no longer care for the crowds so what the fuck was he doing still holding on?
“Oh that’s so cool.” Sirius beelines for a stall and Remus stumbles after him.
“Slow down ,” Remus grumbles, his knee clicking and Sirius’ feet dig into the soft ground spinning quickly.
“Sorry-”
“Don’t. Just slow down, yeah?” He offers a smile, Sirius nods their head, lip caught between his teeth and Remus wasn’t sure how he was supposed to soothe that anxious tell. How to stop them from digging literally chunks of flesh from their skin, Remus swipes his thumb across Sirius’ hand again. “What’s cool?” He asks softly, Sirius turns back around softly tugging and Remus follows. The item - as it turns out - is a pair of black fingerless gloves, hand made, embroidered with a million different stars and constellations in silver thread. Sirius picks them up carefully, turning them around and tracing the patterns, he drops Remus’ hand to try them on - and no he didn’t want to immediately grab their hand back, thank you very much - and shows them off to Remus. “Suits you?” Remus offers when Sirius keeps staring at him like he’s waiting for something.
“I love them,” they’re digging through the pocket of the playsuit pulling out a black star pouch and digging through the assortment of coins in there. “Oh look!” He picks up another pair of gloves - warm brown in colour, still fingerless, a cream coloured threaded moon embroidered into the front of them, little stars on the cuffs - “try them.” They shove the gloves into Remus’ hands who frowns slightly, but nonetheless pulls them on. “Looks perfect moons,” they’re smiling and then suddenly they look away with a flush on their face. Remus frowns, that’s the second time now. Moons. “Just these two-”
“Siriu-”
“Please,” he smiles at the girl behind the stall and hands over a fistful of coins, slotting the pouch back into his pocket - and then as surprising as everything already was - picks Remus’ hand back up and starts to move to the next stall. Remus lets them.
“Thank you.” He says, not sure if Sirius has heard him or not.
Sirius
He has to let go of Remus when Teddy comes running up to him, Barty hot on his heel and Luna up on his shoulders. He doesn’t want to let go, but he does, watching as Remus hugs the small kid close. Lily finds them as well, Harry on her hip, Mary linked through her other arm.
“Hey,” she smiles politely. “Haven’t seen you guys in a bit. Peter ran away as soon as he could,” she pouts at them and Sirius laughs.
“Sounds like him.” Sirius offers. Barty swings Luna down from his shoulders.
“Look!” She squeals, pressing her and Teddy’s face together staring up at Remus. He can see faint colours on their cheeks.
“Sorry, should have asked.” Barty amends when Remus still stares down at the pair.
“Did you have fun?” Remus asks, Teddy nods and nods and nods. “All that matters, thanks Barty.” The smile Remus gives him is genuine.
“Sirius!” James calls, jogging over much to Regulus protests. “They have a whole section of old records, come help me find something of taste.” James slots his hand into Sirius and without much protest they walk off. Regulus huffs.
“I’ll just stand around then!” James is polite enough to send a kiss back at him.
“Where have you been?” James asks, “we’ve been looking for you for ages.” Sirius shrugs.
“Remus can’t walk fast, we’re still only like ten stalls in.” James' head whips back.
“Oh fuck I completely forgot- Goddrick we must seem like assholes, lets go-”
“It’s fine James,” Sirius laughs, “we had a good time, Lily and Reg are there now, sure they’ll keep up with him.” James looks unconvinced but keeps walking. They stumble upon stalls and stalls of milk crates slotted with records from the ages. Sirius smiles brightly and starts digging through them.
“First to find The Smiths win.”
“You’re on .”
Remus
Lily links their arms, Teddy and Harry trailing after them as they slowly browse the stalls.
“You doing okay?”
“Hm?”
“Well I know you’ve been in pain recently, a lot more than you let on. So are you okay? Want to sit down? Eat?” Lily looks up at him and Remus rolls his eyes.
“I’m-”
“Hungry!” Teddy pops up next to him, and his smile softens.
“Let’s go find food then, pup.” Lily lets him go in favour of grabbing her son’s hand, and Teddy’s small hand easily curls up in his own.
When they’re settled on a park bench, a little away from the stalls, Remus finally, finally lets his sigh slip and his knee stretch out, ignoring the tug of pain sitting just below the joint. Lily gives him a pointed look.
“So I lied, sue me.” He shrugs, picks up one of the chips they were sharing and takes a bite. “I slept on a couch last night, obviously I’m going to be in pain.”
“Do you want to go home?” Lily asks and Teddy looks up at him with big bright eyes.
“Nah.” He runs a hand through Teddy’s hair, eyes tracing the badger painted on his cheek, Luna had an Eagle on her own, Harry dotted with a lion. “Might just sit over here for a bit.” Teddy takes a bite of the plain sandwich he had insisted on, Harry had a treacle tart in his own hands. Lily hums and takes a sip of lemonade. She had brown paper bags by her feet.
“Those are new,” She nods towards the pair of gloves Remus had taken off to make sure they didn’t get dirty. Remus stares at them.
“Sirius’ doing.” Remus admits, picks up another chip.
“He bought them?” Lily raises an eyebrow.
“He bought us matching pairs.” Remus admits, stealing the drink from her hand and taking a sip himself.
“Cute.” He shoots her a look and she rolls her eyes, “oh! Here.” She digs through the bags pulling out a little box. “Made me think of you.” Remus takes the gift and stares at it for longer than he should before pulling it open. He stares down at the metallic moon pin, tracing his fingers over it carefully. “You like it?” Lily ducks her head, red hair framing her face carefully, Remus nods, not sure why he was so fucking emotional all of a sudden. Perfect moons.
“Thank you.” Remus says, tugging his bag around until he can pin it to the front flap. “Means… a lot.” Lily squeezes his knee, the one not in agony.
“Okay you two, you have to finish at least half of your lunch.” She ducks down to talk to the kids, sat crossed legged on the grass, food abandoned and instead eagerly talking to one another. They protest for only a second before they’re eating again, Remus smiles.
Sirius
They don’t manage to find a Smiths album. But they do find a handful of Queen, Guns and Roses, The police and a few Aerosmith ones. Sirius had also found a David Bowie one - The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust - and it had made them think of Remus instantly, so he bought it as well.
“Reg says he’s with Pete by some kind of flower stall?” James looks around them, the winding maze of stalls and people consuming their vision.
“Helpful.”
“Look for the giant rainbow flag.”
“Again helpful.” Sirius says pointing out more than the fair share of flags.
“Well that’s all the information Reggie has given me, so I don’t… EVAN!” James cups his hands around his mouth, Evan’s head shoots up and he waves, making his way over with Barty and Luna.
“Hey.”
“Have you seen Reg, or like literally anyone else?” James asks, holding onto Luna’s hand when she reaches down for him.
“Nope. Told you all this was a bad idea, who knows how much Marlene has spent already, or Mary. She was already carrying four bags the last time I saw her.” Evan shoves his hands into his pockets pulling out his phone. “And you can’t hear for shit when you try calling one of them.”
“Sounds ideal.” Sirius says, pulling out his own phone.
“Little ears,” Luna huffs on top of Barty’s shoulders and Evan gives her an apologetic look. “Lucky Aunty Lily’s not here.” Sirius snorts.
Little red riding hood:
Remus is taking a break
The brightest star:
He okay???
Little red riding hood:
fine just sore
“Guess we just keep wandering?” Sirius suggests, hand clasped firmly around the handles of his bags, slipping his phone away.
“Maybe, or maybe this is goodbye and we’ll never see each other again. One can only hope.” Barty says and Luna pouts.
“Uncle Barty, be nice .” She says, abandoning James' hand in favor of placing them on top of Barty’s head.
“Never!” And then he’s ducking away quickly, Luna laughing freely.
Remus
The more he sits here watching people filter about, the less strength he has to get back up. His knee is throbbing, his head is slightly spinning and honestly? He was tired. But Teddy was enjoying himself, clinging to Barty, or Lily, or Harry and Luna, like his life depended on it and that was more than enough to sit through this pain. So he does, doesn’t get up when Lily ushers the two boys back into the crowd, doesn’t bother moving when he spots James and Regulus slip by and wave at him - he waves back, he’s not an ass - but he doesn’t get up. Nor when Teddy runs back up to him, a small crocheted Spiderman in his hands Lily standing at the edge of the crowd. He just sits, absently scrolling on his phone, gloves clinging to his wrists and rests his back against the tree that the bench wrapped around.
That is until Sirius finds him, of course.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hello to you too.” Remus says absently, lifting his head to stare up at him. Sirius has a collection of bags, just like Lily’s, his face is bright and happy and he stares down at Remus with a questioning look.
“What are you out here for?” Sirius crouches down then, staring up at Remus instead, bags pooling between his legs. “You okay?”
“You’re so worried,” Remus snorts but switches off his phone and slips it into his back pocket. “Can’t walk at the moment. Not worth it.” Remus admits with a shrug. Sirius stares at the cane and then back to Remus’ face.
“I’ll sit with you then.” Sirius goes to stand but Remus bats him away.
“ Go, run around, enjoy the market, have fun with your friends.” Remus looks out to the crowd, looking for someone they knew. He can’t make out anything but the face of strangers.
“You’re my friend, you’re at the market, I’m having fun.” Sirius again goes to stand and sit next to him but Remus bats him away.
“I don’t want pity-”
“Oh get over yourself Lupin,” Sirius laughs then. “Is it that hard to believe I just like spending time with you?” His breath hitches, and Remus can’t look at him anymore. “Oh godrick, it is, isn’t it?” Sirius crouches down in front of him again.
“Fuck off.” They’re silent for a moment.
“You haven’t even looked at all the stalls yet.” Sirius tilts his head until it’s in the direct line of sight of Remus’ eyes. He heaves a sigh.
“Can’t walk.” He says pointedly.
“I’ll carry you, come on.” Sirius stands then, gathers all his bags in one hand, grabs Remus’ cane with the same one and waits. Remus snorts. “I’m being dead serious.” Sirius says, with a wink and then Remus is actually laughing.
“How often do you use that joke?” Remus asks, beaming up at him, Sirius’ face softens.
“Drove Walburga up the wall, she tried to burn my birth certificate.” Remus snorts. “I’ll carry you on my back, I carry Marlene all the time, you can’t be heavier than an athlete.” Sirius says then and Remus’ smile is still on his face.
“You can’t be se-” he stops himself at the look Sirius gives him. “You’re not being real?”
“Very. There’s so many stalls Moons! You have to come look at them.” And maybe it’s because they’re calling him Moons again, and maybe it’s because the mention of him doing this with Marlene makes the whole ordeal less scary, but he nods. Sirius’ smile is bright as they crouch down, his back to Remus and waits. Carefully Remus lets his hand trace Sirius’ shoulders before carefully wrapping around them, inching himself slowly off the bench, Sirius’ arms come up, hooks around the back of his knees carefully, the bags get dropped down beside them and Remus reaches out to grab them. Sirius slowly stands, adjusting Remus so he’s holstered high up on his back, hand careful around his right knee. “Okay?” Remus breathes out a laugh.
“We must look ridiculous. ” Remus admits, Sirius manages to shrug, and Remus curls closer, head resting just beside Sirius’ face.
“Not hurting anything?” Sirius asks, and Remus shakes his head. Sirius takes a careful step, then another, making sure they don’t fall, and suddenly they’re back in the crowd, wandering between stalls and looking at the curious items. Remus lets his head sink a little further, his arm tightens a little harder, lets himself relax, breathes in the smell of smoke and coffee that seems to follow Sirius everywhere. Allows himself to not panic, to not freak out, just breathe and exist.