Tangerine
Harry was in a rather good mood when he made his way over to Lip’s house.
Remus wasn’t leaving. Harry had some of his belongings returned to him. Sirius was no longer Harry’s problem.
In the deepest part of Harry’s mind, the little part that was as tainted by his week in the dungeon as his left forearm, Harry didn’t think Sirius or Remus were going to return. It made sense to that mildly paranoid part of his brain. Sirius didn’t want to be there in the first place and Remus had no reason to.
But they returned.
The sun was shining, the birds were singing… Harry still had a hangover and needed to find out what happened during the party the night before, but all in all it was a brilliant day.
Harry knocked on the back door of the Gallagher house and realized he was actually humming to himself. He quit when the door swung open and Harry saw Fiona smiling at him with Liam on her hip.
“The boys aren’t home yet,” Fiona said, already backing up so Harry could enter. “You’d know that if you took your truant ass to school today.”
“I was sick,” Harry grinned. He reached out for Liam as an offer when he realized Fiona was trying to cook with only one hand. Fiona handed Liam over easily and Harry tickled him before settling him on his hip.
“I bet you were sick,” Fiona snorted. She was frying up some sort of chopped meat and Harry watched her with interest.
“You were a wreck last night,” Fiona said. “You know you tried to snort a line of coke with Steve?”
“Did I?” Harry asked, surprised.
“You sure as hell tried.” Fiona looked over at Harry and grinned. “Kevin wouldn’t let you, he said you’re not allowed to mix booze with weed and coke.”
That was probably a good general rule. That did seem like a lot of substances to mix together.
“I was in a weird mood,” Harry said as explanation. “Thanks for not letting me get worse.”
“Oh I was totally going to let you,” Fiona said as she continued to cook. “In the South Side it’s like bad fucking manners to not share your drugs with whoever owns the house you’re partying at. But Kevin’s like practicing being a parent with you, I guess.”
Harry blinked, rather unsure how to process that.
“Oh,” he said lamely. “Er… any idea what else I did last night?”
Because Harry didn’t exactly trust his own memory. Aside from Sirius, Harry was the most unreliable person in his life.
“You played a lot of tonsil hockey with Mandy Milkovich,” Fiona said. “Other than that you’ll have to ask Lip or Steve. You spent like an hour talking to Steve.”
Harry looked around and belatedly realized that Steve wasn’t actually around.
“Where is Steve?” he asked Fiona.
“Driving a car to Indianapolis,” she said.
It was the word ‘car’ that jogged some of Harry’s memory. He could vaguely recall taking shots of something clear and vile tasting with Steve while he asked how hard it would be to steal an RV.
Apparently the theft wasn’t very hard, but not getting caught while driving it was tricky.
Harry sat down at the kitchen counter and bounced Liam on his lap while he chatted with Fiona. They talked a little about the party the night before, Fiona said Lip was the one who made everyone pitch in to help clean the house after Harry passed out. Then Fiona showed Harry how to make a lasagna and explained the steps he’d missed before showing up.
It was easy to talk with Fiona. She was rather funny in a sarcastic way and seemed to speak her mind about any given topic. Harry didn’t even realize how long they spent just talking until the front door opened and the other Gallaghers returned home.
Debbie was the first one in the kitchen and she lit up all happily when she saw Harry sitting at the counter.
“Harry! Hi! Guess what I did today?”
“What’s that?”
“I made a poster with the whole periodic table on it!” Debbie gushed as she shed her backpack and jacket on top of the washing machine. “It was really hard because stupid April broke my ruler, but Mrs Farmers said that it was still good.”
Harry nodded along while Debbie talked on and on about a girl she hated, April. Ian darted around his sister and held a fist out for a bump from Harry before running up the stairs. Lip also walked around Debbie and tossed his backpack on the table to start pulling books from it.
“Debs, April is a horrible child, we get it,” Fiona said, interrupting Debbie’s still ongoing story. “Where’s Carl?”
“Shiela’s,” Debbie said. “I think he’s trying to stay the night there so he doesn’t have to tell you that he’s suspended.”
“Hold up, what?” Fiona slammed the lasagna in the oven and put her hands on her hips while she stared incredulously at Debbie. “Don’t move because I want to know why Carl was suspended and he’ll lie to me. And you,” Fiona fixed Lip with the same stare, “why in the fuck is Carl trying to stay the night with your girlfriend’s mom?”
“Not my girlfriend, for one,” Lip muttered while flipping through one of his textbooks. “And probably because that’s where Frank’s been staying since you threw him out.”
“Your dad is staying with Karen’s mum?” Harry asked, accidentally inserting himself in the conversation. “And Karen’s dad is okay with it?”
Karen’s dad didn’t seem real keen on having blokes in his house, but perhaps if Frank wasn’t trying to shag Karen then he’d be fine.
“Eddie? He moved out,” Lip said, glancing up at Harry. “Frank saw an easy mark, warm bed, hot meals, and jumped.”
That actually did sound like something Frank would do, just from what Harry knew of him.
“Debbie, go get your brother,” Fiona sighed.
“Don’t worry about it, Debs.” Lip closed the textbook he has open and stuffed it back in his bag. “I’ll walk over there. Harry, you coming?”
“Sure,” Harry said agreeably. He wanted to ask Lip about the night before anyway.
As it turned out, Harry didn’t need to ask. Lip was all too willing to tell Harry all the things his alcohol soaked brain forgot.
“I hope you wrapped your dick last night,” Lip said as they set off together. “Mandy isn’t the kind of chick you want to knock up and abortions are up to nearly two hundred.”
Harry stumbled over his own feet, more shocked that he’d shagged Mandy than he was about any concerns for pregnancy.
“You’re sure we- er… you’re sure?” Harry asked Lip, thinking of Mickey.
“Pretty sure since I accidentally saw it with my own eyes,” Lip chuckled. He lit a cigarette that he passed to Harry before lighting one for himself. “Sadly, you were not the only person I saw getting fucked.”
“Oh yeah?” Harry was only partially paying attention to Lip while he was mostly hoping that he hadn’t caused a row between Mandy and her brother.
Also it would be excellent if Mandy didn’t tell Mickey because—
“I walked in on Ian fucking balls deep in Mickey’s ass.”
Oh.
Harry inhaled wrong and they had to stop on the sidewalk while he coughed until his chest ached and his eyes teared up. Lip just stood with a deadpan expression while he smoked and waited for Harry to be able to breathe again.
“Mickey and Ian shagged?” Harry asked hoarsely.
“Yup.”
“Before or after I shagged Mandy?” Harry asked, not questioning Lip’s honesty.
“After.”
So Harry fucked up first, but Mickey did as well. Even if they were over, at least they were even.
“Huh.” Peculiarly, Harry wasn’t much bothered. He liked Mickey well-enough but clearly he didn’t fall in love with the first person he had sex with.
“You’re not pissed?” Lip asked as they resumed walking.
“No,” Harry said truthfully. “A bit worried that I wasn’t any good for Mandy, but I’m not mad.”
Harry couldn’t imagine that he was very good at all, but maybe Mandy didn’t care. Except Harry would probably feel guilty if he… finished… and she didn’t. According to a long lecture Harry had to sit through from Angelina, Katie, and Alicia, ensuring a partner had as much fun as he did was the most important part of sex.
Harry had been thirteen when he was subjected to that rant, but it was the type of speech that tended to stick with a bloke. Especially because Angelina had been changing her uniform when she gave it.
Lip snorted and the two of them exchanged grins. Then Lip filled Harry in on everything else he did.
Apparently he had been very interested in selling coke and stealing cars with Steve. To be fair, Steve did make his job seem rather easy and incredibly profitable.
Harry was feeling perfectly fine with the party and considered it a relative success by the time they made it to Karen’s house. Then Lip ruined Harry’s contentment completely—
“THEY SHAGGED IN MY BED?!”
*****
Fiona sat out on the steps of her front porch, letting the cold wind rip through her tank top and chill her bare legs.
It was past midnight, but Fiona couldn’t sleep and needed to get outside to clear her mind when their neighborhood was semi-quiet.
She was just so mentally fucking tired.
It was always something going wrong in her life. First her baby brother was being preyed on by some creep, then Steve did something so fucking stupid as driving Frank to Canada. And then Carl got himself suspended for bringing a knife to school.
Fiona called the school as soon as Lip and Harry dragged Carl’s ass home and he admitted what happened. The school knew Fiona was the only adult in Carl’s life but suddenly they were demanding a parent or legal guardian to show up or they’d report Carl to the juvenile criminal courts. Then the courts would call DCS… the kids would be taken away… and who knew if Fiona could get Frank to sober up long enough to get them back again?
Fiona was twenty-two years old. She shouldn’t have to be keeping her siblings from foster care.
But if she didn’t take care of her kids, who would?
Fiona pulled her knees up to her chest and propped her chin on them. She played it cool with Lip, assuring him that she would take care of it. She just didn’t know how much longer she could carry it all before she broke.
The sound of the front door at Harry’s house opening then closing had Fiona swallowing down the shaky cries she only let herself show when the kids couldn’t see.
Fiona had to be strong. Fiona had to take care of the kids, the house, the bills. Fiona couldn’t cry because who the fuck else did the kids have?
In the quiet of the night Fiona heard a lighter flick and then there was the sound of someone inhaling deeply and holding it for a few seconds before breathing out. When the smell of good weed wafted over to Fiona, she wiped off her face and slowly stood up.
“Oh.” Fiona looked over and saw that it wasn’t Harry enjoying a late night joint but a man that Fiona didn’t recognize. And she definitely would have because he was fine as hell.
“You’re not Harry,” Fiona said stupidly, her brain blanking some.
The man curled his lips to the side, twisting the scars he had on his face, and his eyes trailed slowly and obviously up and down Fiona’s body. Fiona didn’t blush over her state of undress, but she did cross her arms over her chest.
“I’m not Harry, no,” the man said in a pleasant tone. There was something about it that sent a tingle down Fiona’s spine. He had an accent that was cute on a teenager and hot as fuck on a grown man. And there was something extra about his voice, some dark and smoky tone that made Fiona want to jump the fence and see if he tasted as good as he sounded.
“I’m Remus, Harry’s uncle,” the man said. He took a few slow strides to get from his porch to lean against the fence. He lifted the joint to his lips and took another long hit without ever looking away from Fiona. “And you, love?”
“Fiona,” Fiona told him. She stepped off her porch to join him at the fence and leaned against it close enough that she could smell the tobacco and coffee, mixed with something she couldn’t identify, but not so close that they were touching.
“Pleasure,” Remus smiled lazily. He offered her the joint with a hand covered in scars. “Some pot for your thoughts?”
“Thanks,” Fiona said gratefully. She accepted the joint and swore that Remus angled it last second to make sure their fingers touched.
Fiona rolled her head back, showing off her neck and the top of her breasts, while she took a long hit of the excellent weed.
Fiona had a Steve, but it didn’t hurt to flirt with a cute new neighbor. Especially one with bare arms that were chiseled enough to make Fiona’s panties want to drop.
“Usual bullshit,” Fiona said with a bland smile. She realized she had been basically eye-fucking Remus’ arms and zeroed in on his tattoo as an excuse. “You’re in a gang?” she asked.
It looked like a gang brand complete with two ticks on the side of the flag that Fiona would bet were a kill count.
Seen one gang tat, seen ‘em all.
Remus chuckled when he accepted the joint back from Fiona and there was definitely something interested in his eyes.
“You won’t tell me why a pretty thing like you have tear trails smearing the mascara you don’t need, but you expect me to confess any possible gang affiliations?” Remus clicked his tongue and smirked. “Sorry, love.”
“I have been taking your nephew in when your brother gets drunk and beats his ass,” Fiona said. “So you could say you owe me.”
And, ohhh, the ways Fiona wished she could cash in on that.
The arrogant amusement dropped from Remus’ face immediately and he looked sad enough that Fiona briefly regret her impulsive words.
“It seems I do owe you,” Remus said quietly. He took another hit from the joint and passed it back to Fiona. “Sirius is… unwell. It’s no excuse, but I truly had no idea that he had gotten so bad.”
“You’re staying then?” Fiona asked sharply. She didn’t care how sexy Remus was, if he was the kind of person who knew his family member was being abused and walked away then Fiona would kick his ass then and there.
Fiona had won fights against much bigger men before.
“I am,” Remus said calmly. He grinned, more of an easy smile and something that made Fiona feel less like prey beneath his gaze. “Which means you’ll be seeing quite a bit of me, love. Are you sure you won’t tell me why you’re crying? If your boyfriend hurt you, I’ll kill him.”
“Oh yeah?” Fiona laughed at Remus’ perfectly serious face. “You’d do that for someone you just met?”
“No.” Remus took the joint back and held it neatly between his ring finger and pinky so he could grasp Fiona’s fingers lightly with his others. “But I would do it for a beautiful woman who took care of my boy for me,” he said softly, solemnly, while he stared in Fiona’s eyes.
Fiona’s breath caught in her throat and her heart stuttered while he was pinned in Remus’ gaze. She didn’t even realize that she was beginning to lean toward him until he licked his lips and she stopped herself.
“It’s not my boyfriend,” she said quickly. Steve was a good guy and he loved Fiona, she wouldn’t repay him by fucking the neighbor.
… Even if she really wanted to.
“Ah.” Remus leaned back some as he dropped Fiona’s hand and Fiona felt as if she could breathe again. “What is it then?”
“It’s… It’s my brother,” she said. Fiona explained the entire situation to Remus while they shared the rest of the joint. Remus was a good listener and hummed and nodded at all the right parts. Fiona found herself explaining even more - about Monica and her sickness and abandonment, Frank and his neglect and abuse. The stress of raising five kids on her own. The injustice of it all that she would never complain about where her kids could hear her.
“Beautiful, loyal, and protective,” Remus said when she finished the whole pathetic story. “You’re quite the woman, love.”
“Family must matter to you too if you’re sticking around this fucking slum for Harry,” Fiona said, uncomfortable with the compliment.
Fiona wasn’t some hero, she was just a girl that loved her siblings.
Remus smiled widely and looked around their block slowly.
“I like the neighborhood,” he said lightly. “I would take interesting and flawed over dull and pretty any day.”
“It’s certainly interesting,” Fiona laughed. She felt better after baring her soul to Remus and was just buzzed enough from the weed to finally be tired. “I’m off to bed. If you ever need anything…”
“Anything?” Remus smirked. Fiona rolled her eyes and could feel Remus’ eyes on her ass as she walked back up the steps of the porch.
“Oh, love?”
Fiona paused with her hand on the door to look back at Remus.
“I wouldn’t stress yourself over Carl,” Remus said. “Sometimes things tend to work out for people who deserve it.”
Fiona laughed bitterly and shook her head.
“That would be magic,” she said. “I thought you’d understand that shit’s for fairytales.”
And Fiona was no Cinderella story.
Remus didn’t seem offended by Fiona’s well-earned cynicism. He continued to smile and watch Fiona with half-hooded eyes.
“It would be like magic, wouldn’t it?” he asked quietly. “Goodnight, Fiona.”
Fiona raised her hand before going back inside. She didn’t know if it was just the weed, the chance to vent to someone about all the frustrations in her life, or what it was… but she slept peacefully that night with a tiny spark of hope that maybe everything would work out okay.