Remus was bored of his life. Nothing was enjoyable and exciting anymore. Everywhere he turned he was being beaten up or kicked out for reasons that were unknown to him. He hated not being able to talk and listen to people. Everyone just treated him as a worthless piece of shit on the side of the road. People would manipulate him and twist his soul so much that it became normal after a while. He damned himself for trusting people with his... Secret. He felt like he wasn't good enough for the world. Like he should disappear. Like he should die. He was a joke for all of society to laugh at for a while. Something that people just threw around for amusement. He soon got sick and tired of this poor treatment from the real world, and locked himself in his room for months. But as he sat at home, alone and depressed, found a safe place in the world of books and music. They comforted him and actually wanted him to read and listen, which is something he and been missing from the real world. They acted like his family and friends. The way the text and lyrics always seemed to seep into him and make him feel good inside was the turning point from feeling suicidal and toxic to feeling like he was worth a little bit more in life. People just couldn't make him happy or warm but, his books and records could. His brain would tell him to stay away from people and he wouldn't get hurt. And he believed it. For a while. But, staying in your bedroom separated from the world gets lonely and made it seemingly impossible to resist the antagonizing urge to escape the depths of your room, only stopped by fear of the world. Until his need for socializing took a hold of him and he left his burrow, looking for who knows what? He just need some outside air. (Just between you and me, it was mostly because of his fear that imagining talking to his favorite book characters wasn't healthy and really weird)
So, here he was, wondering around London aimlessly. He was experiencing the first social activity in mere months of just delivery men. He couldn't remember how he felt about it before but, right now he absolutely despised it. He forgot about all the children everywhere, all the business people who were always in a rush for something that seemed important, the old and lonely people who just wanted to mingle. Disgusting. He knew it wasn't healthy to feel like that but, after everything he has been through, can you really blame him? I guess being a helpless introvert isn't a good thing. So he tried to stay invisible as he walked. He mindlessly scooted through the immense crowds and ran through the sketchy alleyways until, he found himself staring at a random store on a street that was unknown to him. So he opened the door and entered.
He was met by the smell of coffee tainted with cigarette smoke and loud music. He looked around and realized he had just waltzed into a record store. Oh, how he loved record stores. They had everything he loved more than anything, books and music. He let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't been to a record store sense his mother died. That was another supporting factor to his depression. Though, he knew that she wasn't very enthusiastic about having a son with a... Little furry dilemma, she still loved him. She had never stopped. But when she died, he realized nobody really loved him anymore. He had no family, friends, or money. He was know unlovable. That added to the impenetrable and degrading thoughts that go through his head quite frequently.
He tried not to think about this as he flicked through a box of records. As he flicked through, he came across a David Bowie album. Oh, how he loved David Bowie. So he snatched the record hastily, though there was no one else in the store.
He walked up to the counter to pay and was met by a man who looked about his age. He had black curly hair that hung down bellow his shoulders and bright blue eyes that contrasted against the mascara and eyeliner on his face. He had never seen a man wear makeup except for on album covers. Quite frankly, he liked. He was wearing a 'Queen' shirt underneath a black leather jacket. His Doc Marten boots were kicked up on the counter and was reading a magazine. Remus stood there for a minute, not sure what to do. He cleared his throat, hoping it would catch his attention.
"Let me finish," the man said, holding up a finger in front of Remus. When he looked up and caught a glimpse of Remus his blue eyes widened and his pupils grew.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, tossing the magazine to the side and taking his feet off the counter. Remus suddenly felt a wave of self consciousness hit him so, he looked down at his feet. Oh also, something else he hates about going out in public is all the attention his scars pull to him. What was confusing this time was that the man didn't look scared of them like everyone else. He looked more in awe. He lifted his head back up and sort of shoved the record in front of the cashier. The man set the record on the counter, not taking his eyes off of Remus.
"Well, I don't think I've seen you in here before," the man said with a grin on his face. Remus had never seen anyone ever grin like that. There was something different about it, something he could not fathom right then. He stared at the man for a long moment before he answered.
"Oh, uhh.... Yeah I have never been in here before.... Ummm.... Lovely place it is," he replied awkwardly.The man's grin grew even brighter.
"Yeah it is in' it. My best mates parents own it. I just love it here though. Well newbie, what may your name be?" he asked. Remus hesitated.
"Uh.... Lupin.... Remus Lupin!" He stuttered, sticking his hand out to be shaken. He hated himself for being so weird around people. He shook his hand.
"Sirius. Sirius Black. So, you like Bowie?" he asked. Remus perked up. He had a hard time talking about practical stuff but, when it comes to Bowie, he could talk for ages.
"Oh yes, I love him! I have pretty much all of his albums. I just feel like his music style along with his fashion sense is fabulous and.... I'm sorry," he apologized. Sirius started to laugh a little.
"It's alright. You don't talk about him a lot, do you?"
"No, not really. People really don't like to talk to me and I really don't try to either. They tend to stay away from me because, you know," he gestured to his face. Sirius laughed. His hair bounced on his shoulder weightlessly, his blue eyes sparkling in the light. Remus couldn't explain why but, he loved his hair, and his eyes, and his smile so very much.... Not at all in a gay way, of course. Or at least he thought.
"Well they do look pretty threatening," Sirius returned. Remus' eyes widened.
"Not in a bad way, though. Well, yeah, sort of in a bad way but, you seem like a nice guy Remus. If I have to be completely honest with you, I think they look killer," Sirius added, his grin as big as ever. Remus' features softened as a smile pulled at his lips.
"Well thanks, I guess," Remus giggled.Their eyes locked and they smiled at each other. What snapped Remus out of his enchantment was another man their age walking in with a box. He had darker skin and black hair atop his head. He wore a red jumper and navy blue shorts. He looked fairly tall but, not taller than Remus, of course. He set the box down on the counter and his hazel eyes looked up at the two from behind his round wire framed glasses.
"Oi Black! Put these away will you?" The man asked. Sirius turned to glare at him.
"Fuck off, Potter," he said through gritted teeth. The man stood there confused for a moment until he realized what he had just walked into. He smirked.
"Oh, you just went arse over tit didn't you? Sorry boys!" he muttered, looking Remus up and down, his smirk still planted on his face.
"You have fun with him. He's a handful," he told Remus as he started to back away. Sirius tossed his magazine at the man's head in rage and he ran into the backroom again, laughing. Remus too coughed out a laugh. Sirius just rolled his eyes.
"Sorry about James. He can be a major dickhead sometimes," he said, annoyed. A funny one at that Remus thought. They just stared at each other in that weirdly comfortable silence once again. After a few minutes at most, Sirius spoke.
"Well, that will be 3 galleons sir," he said, looking down at Remus' record. He all of the sudden remembered it.
"Oh yeah! Wait a second," he replied, digging in his pocket. Sirius just smirked and gazed out the window. After he paid, a sly looking smile grew on Sirius' face.
"And now for a phone number," he said, sliding a piece of paper and a pen in front of Remus. He lifted an eyebrow.
"And why is that?" he asked, smirking. Sirius shook his head.
"Just for this raffle, rewards, thing we do here. I have to ask, it's just my job," he returned. Remus rolled his eyes and wrote it down.
"May I trouble you for your phone number, perhaps?" he asked. Sirius' eyes shined and sparkled as his face turned pink.
"Well, uhh yeah if you insist," he giggled out.
After they exchanged phone numbers, ( lets just call it what it really was), Remus started his walk back to his apartment and smirked to himself. Maybe somebody did love him after all. Maybe he was capable of loving someone as much he did sound and parchment. Maybe he did have his spark after all.