Begin Again
After a tumultuous break up with Youtube darling Eddie Bones, yes, that Eddie Bones, Sirius Black had done a lot of soul searching. He was supposed to be writing an album, but all that he wrote seemed twisted and bitter, and that wasn’t the music he wanted to put out into the world. So he wasn’t really writing. There was enough in the tabloids about him without him baring his soul further.
He’d moved in with James, Lily and Harry for two months until he could find his own place, and honestly, their domestic bliss hadn’t inspired him either. He wanted someone to kiss him and tell him to have a good day, casually, like they’d be doing it for the rest of their lives. He wanted someone to share his most ridiculous thoughts with. He wanted someone who didn’t just want him because he was Sirius Black.
He fell in love with his new flat instantly when he saw the listing. He didn’t really need to go and see it, but the viewing only solidified that this would be his new home. He could see where his piano would go, with a view over the city. He’d been assured that the flat was very soundproof so he wouldn’t annoy the neighbours. He found out later that wasn’t quite the case.
After being there for a week, Sirius threw himself a housewarming party. Nothing major just twenty or so people, drinking, and dancing, and maybe there was a little coke and ecstasy being shared between friends. No big deal. He was having a great night.
James and Lily had left early to relieve the babysitter, but he was so glad they came at all. He knew how hard it was for them to leave Harry, even a year after Pete’s betrayal. He had no idea how you’d even start to recover after your friend tried to kidnap your baby to raise with his girlfriend who couldn’t have kids. The whole thing was a mess, but once Pete and Sybil had been sentenced to at least ten years in a secure psychiatric facility, Lily and James were able to slowly move forward. Harry hadn’t been harmed. At eight months old, in the long term, he would never remember the three days he was away from his parents, but he had definitely been more clingy and in need of affection since he returned, even a year on. They were all coping incredibly, all things considered, Sirius thought.
Around two in the morning, over the music, he heard banging on his front door. He opened it to find a man. A very attractive man. Wearing pink pyjama bottoms, socks and an open hoodie over his bare chest. Glowering at him, with a whimpering toddler on his hip.
“Hi!” Sirius said, suddenly wishing he was sober. “I just moved in. I’m Sirius!”
“Hi, Sirius.” The man said tightly. “Can you please shut the fuck up? It’s 2 am.”
Sirius opened and closed his mouth a few times. “Uh, you can hear the music?”
“The music. The shouting. I don’t know who Marlene is, but apparently, she’s having a great time.” The child burrowed into his neck and whined again. “I don’t care about my sleep, but you wake my kid up, and we have a problem, ok?”
“When I came to see it, they said it was soundproofed,” Sirius said dumbly. “You can hear that much?”
“Do you want to come next door?” He asked incredulously.
Sirius debated this for a moment. “Well, I’m kind of drunk right now.”
“I can see that.” The man said. “I was just asking if you wanted to hear how loud it was. I wasn’t… propositioning you in the middle of the fucking night with my kid in my arms.”
Sirius felt his cheeks heat up, “I knew that.” He mumbled. Well, he’d have to move now, he’d pissed off his neighbour and made an absolute fool of himself. There was no coming back from this. “You’re very pretty though.”
The man stared at him, “Look, can you just keep it down?”
“Yeah, we’ll call it a night. Sorry. I really did think—”
“It’s fine, just… actually think, next time, please.”
Sirius frowned, “Alright mate. I wasn’t being loud on purpose. You don’t have to be a dick about it.”
The man’s face contorted and he stepped closer to Sirius. In a low voice, he said “When you have a two-year-old screaming because some arseholes shouting about Taylor Swift woke him up at two in the morning, I’d like to see you not be a dick about it. Good night, Sirius.”
And with that he turned and went back into the flat next door, slamming the door behind him. Alright, so not a great first impression made on the neighbour. It could definitely have gone better.
Sirius took a moment to collect himself, then went back into the flat and turned the music off. Everyone groaned. Marlene swore at him. “Apparently, we’re being too loud.” Sirius rolled his eyes. “Think it’s time to call it a night.”
“Nah, fuck whoever said that!” Marlene shouted. “Fuck you if you think we’re too loud!”
“Marlene!” Sirius snapped. “He’s got a kid. It’s time to go.”
Prior to this, Sirius would probably have turned up the music and ignored the complaint. The man being exceedingly pretty probably had something to do with it, plus he had a soft spot for kids since Harry was born and he knew it. He’d also be lying if the way the man had gotten closer and spoken in that low, enunciative voice when he was angry hadn’t turned him on a little. A lot. Ugh, so fucking much,
The flat he’d shared with Eddie had been a top-floor, isolated kind of deal. He hadn’t considered how noise would travel. He’d have to soundproof the flat himself because he was sure the hot angry man wouldn’t appreciate him playing the piano at 4 am when he couldn’t sleep. Maybe he could play lullabies as a compromise.
As the last of the partygoers left, Dorcas dragging Marlene with a hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t shout abuse through the door at the poor guy on her way out, Sirius sat down on the sofa, suddenly exhausted. It was then he realised that he didn’t even know the other man’s name.