Sirius was finally going to do it. After five long years working for the same shitty record company, Sirius was finally under new management. Which meant he no longer had to deal with arseholes that screwed him over for more money in their pockets and he could finally, finally come out to the world so people would stop assuming his songs were written about anyone other than Remus Lupin.
Well maybe not the Remus Lupin part, they hadn’t quite come to an agreement about making their relationship public yet, but at least they would know they’re about men.
He’d gone over dozens of ways for how he could do it. Being a pop and country musician there were definitely going to be some negative reactions but he had made his peace with it. What was important to Sirius was to find a way to do it that was completely his own.
He could tweet about it, some grand formal coming out post.
Or he could casually mention a boyfriend at his next show.
He could make a tiktok with a pride flag in the background and hope his fans make the connection on their own.
But none of those things seemed like him, none of them were fun.
He’d asked Remus but the bastard had been no help. (He’d been out publicly for years after he was cast as the love interest in a queer film and was asked by an interviewer how he felt about “playing gay”. To which he had casually, uneventfully, boringly, informed her he was bisexual. He’d trended on twitter for two days after and Sirius had had a laugh scrolling through the tags, showing Remus his favourite reaction memes.) He simply suggested not to force it, that the moment would come organically.
Boring.
So Sirius did what he always did in times of major (or minor) crisis: he asked James.
James Potter, the godsend, the genius, the love of his life (sorry Remus) had suggested he write it in a song.
And that’s exactly what Sirius was going to do.
***
Sirius spent a full week writing and refining the song, followed by another two weeks of recording and editing, and another week of boring logistical meetings with his management (who were great, really) about release dates and advertising.
It had taken a little convincing for everyone to be on board with the song, given that it was a lot less, well, serious, than his other singles. But he managed to do it.
They had decided on a surprise release, meaning Sirius didn’t have to do any advertising or play any demos of the song and it could really be a surprise for his fans.
***
“So this is for TikTok?” Remus asked.
“Yeah.” They were sitting in a parked car as Sirius fiddled with his phone against the dash, setting it up to record with Remus just out of frame. “I’ll post it after the song in released.”
He hadn’t told Remus anything about the song yet, he didn’t even know that this was how Sirius was planning to come out to the world.
“Just uh, tell me what you think, alright?” He said, feeling that name nervous energy he always felt when he first showed his work to someone, even if this one was supposed to be a little silly.
“Alright.” Remus responded with a tender smile.
”Alright.” Sirius repeated, as he hit play on the demo.
He looked at the camera as a soft country guitar filled the car, taking a breath in before the sound of his voice joined the music.
”There’s something ‘bout the way you look in my eyes. Like a starry night, you light up my sky.”
”Stars, really?” Remus interrupted with a raise of his eyebrows, his expression endearingly fond.
“You lean in closer and my heart stars to pound. I heard you sigh you know I love that sound.”
“It’s sweet.” Remus comments.
It takes everything in Sirius not to laugh at the way Remus’ face drops when he hears the next line.
“He’s bouncing off my booty cheeks, I love the way he rides.”
”I- what?”
“I can hardly breathe when he’s pumping deep inside.”
Sirius watched as Remus’ face seemed to go through various stages of grief, before landing on something that was an equal split of horror and amusement that only he could pull off.
“I kiss him on his neck and then he kisses on my bussy.”
”Sirius!”
“Call him Daddy while I holler, man. That boy so damn good looking.”
Sirius points at Remus, mouthing along to the song before the music drops into the second verse.
“Well?” Sirius asks after the song finally comes to a close, “What are your thoughts?”
”Sirius.” Remus says, his tone stern.
“Yes?”
“You can’t release that.”
”Why not?”
“It’s inappropriate!” Remus looks at him with an expression of mock outrage before he bursts out laughing.
“You didn’t like the part where I said you took my breath away?” Sirius asked.
Remus gave him a goofy grin. “I liked all of it.” Sirius watched his expression sober, “Are you sure this is how you want to do it? It doesn’t really fit your discography.”
“I’m sure.” Sirius said with a small smile. “Besides, all artists should be able to make at least one silly song.”
***
They were sitting on their bed that afternoon, Remus had been reading a book but he had abandoned it now in favour of curling up with his head on Sirius’ chest.
Sirius was getting restless as he scrolled mindlessly through his phone, stroking the hair back from Remus’ forehead in a repetitive pattern.
“Remus?”
“Hmm?” Remus hummed, moving his face to glance up at Sirius.
“Do you think I’d be in trouble if I posted about the song release early?”
Remus seemed to think about it for a minute, returning his head to Sirius’ chest. “No, probably not.” He said sleepily.
That was all the encouragement Sirius needed to open TikTok and record a video.
He started the video pointed slightly down, just enough that viewers could see his hand in curly brown hair, but not enough for anyone to accurately identify Remus. As soon as he started speaking he moved the camera up to his face, but he knew those two seconds would be enough to get his fans speculating.
“Hi everyone!” His voice sounded jarring in the otherwise quiet room, “I’m not supposed to tell you yet, but just between you and me,” he dropped his voice to a stage whisper, “my new single ‘Good Lookin’’ is out tomorrow at midnight, I hope you like it.”
He showed the video to Remus, getting his approval before hitting post and tossing his phone away to enjoy one of his and Remus’ only free afternoons.
***
Within minutes Sirius was trending on Twitter. In an hour his fans had posted dozens of theories, about who Good Lookin’ could be about, whether it would be a pop or country song, a love song, a breakup song, what gut-wrenching line Sirius was known to write it might include, and most commonly, the split second of video where they could see a head on Sirius chest.
@ceoofsiriusblack: There’s a head on Sirius’ chest! A. HEAD. Good Lookin’ is a love song omg !!
@siriuslycunty: That’s Remus Lupin’s head I’m certain of it! I’d know those curls anywhere
@rjlupinsgirlfriend: @siriuslycunty Maybe that is Remus’ head but that doesn’t mean they’re DATING everyone knows they’re friends
@wolfstartruther: Good Lookin’ is about Remus Lupin and you can’t tell me otherwise
@siriusblacksbitch: Everyone thinking Sirius is with a guy is forgetting that @marlenemckinnon recently cut her hair for her new movie
@lesbiansformarlene: @siriusblacksbitch That is NOT Marlene, her hair is definitely blonder
@popstarsirius: Sirius Black gay????
***
By the time Good Lookin’ was released the next night, many fans had already correctly guessed at Sirius’ hinted coming out and some had even crafted theories that Remus was the person the song was about. But that didn’t stop them from being shocked about the content of the song.
@popstarsirius: Sirius Black gay!!!
@siriuslycunty: I was expecting a love song but oh my god this is amazing
@siriusblacksbitch: He’s bouncing off his WHAT NOW???
@siriusblacksbitch: The whiplash I got when the chorus started oml
@siriusblacksbitch: How do I explain this song to my parents???
@wolfstartruther: What did I tell you?? What did I tell you??!?
@ceoofsiriusblack: “That boy so damn good looking” So true of you king! *screenshot of Remus Lupin from recent interview* *Photo of Remus Lupin at red carpet event*
@siriuslyobsessed: Sirius calls Remus Lupin daddy? DADDY?!?!
@siriuslyobsessed: There’s no way this isn’t about Remus Lupin
@siriuslupin: Proof that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are dating and have been for years; a thread
***
The following day Sirius released the TikTok he and Remus recorded, captioning it “My boyfriend reacts to the song I wrote about him.” And he watched as Twitter exploded again.
They decided they weren’t going to hide their relationship like they had before, there wasn’t really any reason to now. But they wouldn’t outwardly say anything either, enjoying their fans speculations and theories.
***
They kept up their secret for a whole two months, before Sirius released his much more serious (ha!) album and kissed Remus at the launch party in front of the paparazzi.
@siriusblack: Good Lookin’ is about @remuslupin, so are all my songs, past, present and future. “Cause this ain’t just a fling, I’m all in baby.”