Moonlight Prince Charming

Sirius 

Sirius is usually a full send kind of a person, but this isn’t a challenge he wanted to partake in. At least not with a pounding headache that is.

Which is why he ran to his buddy James’s flat. In any normal instance, he would’ve taken his bike over but he didn’t have the time nor the patience to swing by his apartment and grab it. Plus his adrenaline rush was doing him wonders and in no less than ten minutes, he was already arriving. Well, it also helped that the strange man lived closed by. 

So there Sirius was, nearly breaking down James’s door with the sheer force of how hard he was knocking on it. Let’s just say that when James finally opened it, he wasn’t entirely amused.

“Sirius are you kidding me? First you don’t answer my calls, then proceed to nearly break down my door trying to get in.” James said sighing while rubbing his eyes.

“Well I for one am famished, do you by any chance have any water?” Sirius asked, pushing James aside. He knew the man had water; he just didn’t want to answer his questions quite yet. From somewhere behind him he could hear James grumble ‘Let yourself in, what do I care?’. 

“Are you serious? So you’re just going to pretend my questions don’t bloody exist?”

“No, I’m Sirius . Completely different and easy to mistake. And I wasn’t ignoring them, I was just delaying on answering.”

“Sirius you know you can talk to me, if you’re in any danger I would like to preferably know before I have men breaking down my door trying to get to you.”

“I’m truly flattered you believe I have men lining up to chase me, Jamie.” Sirius said, putting his hand on his chest and swooning. 

“Sirius.”

“Alright alright I’ll fold. Just let me sit for a minute. ” And so Sirius relayed the past events to James, from when he was sitting on the curb in the cold to when he woke up in the man’s house.

“Well, I’m just glad you’re alright.” James says sighing after taking in the information Sirius had just dumped on him.

“Wait you’re not mad that I walked into some random stranger’s house or even that I didn’t even call you to come pick me up.”

“I mean you weren’t the only one drunk off your ass, so I don’t know how you calling me would’ve done you any good. And I am slightly worried that you trusted some random stranger and went willingly into his house, but seeing as you made it back here in one piece, I can overlook that.” 

“Oh lord James, one of these days one of us is gonna to end up dead with our mentalities.” 

“My money is on you, if you keep trusting jumper wearing randoms that is. Now come on and haul your ass up. I made breakfast.”

After around an hour of catching up and cracking jokes, Sirius decided it was high time to leave and get ready for his day to start despite his mini meltdown.

“I hate to do this, but I must be you a farewell Jamie.” Sirius says taking a bow and making his way towards the door.

“You act as if you won’t be pestering me by dinner.”

“Rude but true. Seriously I need to get home so I can get ready and open the shop with Marls.”

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It didn’t take long for Sirius to reach his flat and get ready. He knew he should’ve called Marlene and told her he would’ve been in late but he honestly couldn’t find the energy. Plus he was going to be there soon enough.

He decided to take his motorbike in a way to clear his head. Whenever he went out for a ride he instantly felt at ease and at peace with all that was bothering him. And today was a perfect opportunity for a ride. 

 So that’s what he did. He grabbed his helmet and keys on his way out, slid on his classic black leather jacket, and set off for his new record shop.

Unsurprisingly enough, Marlene was there waiting to chew him out.

“By any chance have I ever told you how dashing you look in your signature red leather jacket?” Sirius asked, putting his stuff down in the employee’s room.

“Flattery will get you everywhere but not in this case. You’re late. How are you late to your own shop?” Marlene questioned. 

“Long story.”

“Uh huh isn’t it always with you? Well you can tell me during lunch, which you’re paying for by the way,” Marlene said making her way towards the front of the store and flipping the sign announcing they were open, “and it better be a good one!”

“Would you expect anything different from me?” Sirius called out from the back.

And with that, the two set off. The store was bustling for a good while seeing as how they were the only store that sold newly released records that other surrounding areas did not. Nearly three hours later, the swarms of customers finally died down and there was a little moment of quiet. Which Marlene interrupted of course. 

“Seeing as how not a soul has walked in in the past ten minutes, I believe this is a great time for us to take that lunch.” Marlene said, making her way towards Sirius.

“You’re dying to hear that story aren’t you?”

“Oh of bloody course!” she said, linking her arm with his. “And I happen to know a perfect spot, you can tell me on the way.”

“This wouldn’t happen to be the same perfect spot where that barista you gush over works, would it?” Sirius asked, as they made their way out the door, locking up behind them.

“Shut up.” Marlene grumbled. Her spreading blush gave her away and Sirius cackled. “Just go on with your lie for today oh great storyteller and make sure you leave nothing out.” 

“Alright, alright I’ll tell you the tale I told Jamie.” and Sirius relayed the story once more. From when he chewed the man out to when he woke up in his home. Marlene was silent for awhile before letting out a honest to god screech. 

“You’re pulling my leg right?” Marlene asked, laughing and holding her sides. 

“I’m telling you Marls, I don’t know who he was truly. He was like a prince dropped down in front of me.” 

“A modern day Prince Charming? How sickening.” Marlene said, rolling her eyes.

“You wouldn’t be saying that if it was a princess charming.” Sirius grumbled.

“Your point being?”

“My point being is that I know I’ll never see him again and like an idiot I ran out of there without a name.

“Just like bloody Cinderella!”

“Marlene.”

“Fine fine. Well if he was some prince and you were in your usual case a true damsel, he’ll find you. Or at least fate will.” Marlene just shrugged as she pulled the door open for Sirius. 

“How ominous and why thank you my good sir.” Sirius said curtsying.

“Of course, dear madam.” Marlene replied bowing

The cafe Marlene suggested wasn’t solely a cafe it also appeared to be a bookshop.

 It was cute in a small cozy town type of way. It was filled with plush chairs, some with patterns that you would see at your grandmother’s house. While others with structures so weird, Sirius could hardly believe they were chairs. It had knick knacks along the walls and on shelves next to books as well as an ungodly amount of plants that somehow seemed to dim the lighting. It reminded Sirius of a place someone might describe as a home, which is where it more than likely got it’s namesake, The Resting Joint . 

While Sirius was taking the joint in, Marlene seemed to have her eyes glued to one person in barticular, the barista behind the counter. She had dark brown skin to go with eyes so dark of a brown, they were almost black. Her beautiful locs were adorned with gold charms that complemented her skin wonderfully.

If Sirius batted for that particular team, he might’ve gone for her. 

But she wasn’t the one who caught her eye. No, the one who caught his eye was the man behind the other counter. The man who just said “Welcome to The Resting Joint. Please take your time in browsing around and don’t hesitate to ask any questions.”The man who he saw just this very morning.  

It was safe to say Sirius resembled a deer caught in headlights. 

“Oh you’ve got to be bloody kidding me.”

Sirius hadn’t realized he said that aloud until the stranger looked back to meet his eyes and Marlene turned to look at him. 

“You alright over there mate?” Marlene asked, finally done gawking at the woman.

“Seeing as how that man in the jumper behind the counter, was the same man I ran away from this morning, I’d say I’m doing alright.” 

“You mean Remus? Remus Lupin? The lad over there who is pushing 6 '4? That jumper wearing man?” 

“I mean I didn’t know his government name Marlene, but yes the same one.”

“Oh this is brilliant!” Marlene said, pulling Sirius over towards the counter.

“Marlene I’ll fire you, I swear I’ll do it! Don’t pull me over there, I ran out of his house like a headless chicken!” Sirius said, starting to panic and pull himself back.

“Man up will you? You’ll be fine, Your Prince Charming doesn’t bite.”

“Marl-“

“Hey Remus, long time no see! Still working here I presume.” Marlene said, putting her hands on the counter and facing towards the man.

“You were in here yesterday Marlene, and the day before that. I also own the store so I see no reason for me to no longer be working here?” the man who was apparently named Remus said, crossing his arms. 

“Right well this is my good ole buddy Sirius. He’s the one who owns the shop with me that I’ve mentioned. I hear you two have met.”

“Salem Horror Record Show right? Still no idea where you acquired the Salem from and yes I do recall us meeting briefly.” Remus said, turning his gaze towards Sirius and now facing him.

“Well Sirius would love to tell you, he’s the one who came up with it. I’ll go order our drinks Siri!” Marlene suggested, patting Sirius on the back. He barely had time to protest before she was already making her way towards the cute barista.

“Well I suppose it’s just us two now. I must warn you however, if you plan to sprint out again, be weary of the rugs. They can cause quite a tumble.” Remus smirked.

“Oh so you remember that do you?” Sirius asked, chuckling awkwardly.

“Seeing as how it was only this morning? Yes I must say I remember vividly. Never have I had someone run away from my presence that fast. Sure the scars and height may seem intimidating but your running was almost immediate.” Remus laughed.

Sirius immediately turned crimson, he was really hoping he wouldn’t remember it all. “I sincerely apologize for that by the way. I meant no disrespect in my haste, it’s just waking up in a strange and unknown area tends to throw someone off. Especially so early in the morning.” 

“It’s quite alright Sirius. You wouldn’t be the first man to go running for the hills when seeing me and you more than likely won’t be the last.”

Sirius wondered what he meant by that, but felt that this exact moment wasn’t the perfect moment to ask.

“Still, I am very sorry and you seem like a nice man.”

“Charming even?” Remus asked with a slight smile and a raise of the eyebrow.

Oh for fucks sake. Sirius was really hoping the ground would open up and swallow him whole, but alas it didn’t and he remained there even turning a darker shade of crimson.

“So you heard that as well. Great. Is there anything by chance you didn’t happen to hear?”

“Why you named your shop Salem Horror Record Show.”

“It’s a lovely story actually. But it is a bit lengthy.” 

“Well I would absolutely love to hear it. Maybe over tea sometime?” Remus asked.

“Are you asking me out on a date, Remus?” Sirius knew the man probably wasn’t, but he couldn’t help but hold out a little bit of hope.

“Depends, are you planning on running off into the sun again?” 

“Guess we’ll just have to wait and see won’t we?”

There was no way this Adonis of a man was asking him out.

“I suppose we will. I get off at around five on Wednesday if that works for you?” Remus asked.

Apparently there was a way and there wasn’t the slightest chance Sirius was going to turn him down.

“Works perfectly. I get off at around the same time. Where shall I meet you?” 

“Oh don’t worry about it, I’ll come pick you up.” Remus said, beginning to jot something down on a piece of paper, “This is my cell by the way, just in case you want to give me a warning this time on the run away.” 

“Very funny Mr. Lupin. I shall see you Wednesday, don't you worry.”

“If you two are done flirting, we must be getting back to open the shop.” Marlene said, tapping her foot on the and shaking their drinks lightly.

Is there any shade darker than crimson? Because if so, that was the current shade Sirius was exhibiting. 

As Sirius was turning away to meet up with Marlene and head out, Remus chuckled and called out, 

“Can't wait for our date Cinderella!”