Sirius had never believed things happened for a reason; they just did. However, on a Friday, rainy morning, he was more than happy that last week he had sold his bike. You see, Sirius absolutely loved his motorcycle; however he had given up his baby in order to be able to drive around little Harry, when it was godfather-godson play day (as he called Sunday mornings). Of course it had been a decision prompted by Regulus and James, who didn’t like the idea of Sirius riding the bike with Harry strapped to his chest and no other protection than the raven haired boy’s arms.
Sirius had been sulking every day since. He haven’t got a car yet, so in the mean time he sulked while walking everywhere. Mind you, his work wasn’t very far but still he missed his bike. That is until he reached Hogsmeade avenue.
The headlight turned green and the cars proceeded their way. Sirius hadn’t reached the pedestrian stop but he could see a very tall man standing next to a lamp post. The young man was terribly tall and even from Sirius’s distance, the raven haired boy could see that the other man had a cane. Sirius wondered about it for a second. This was something he liked to do when walking around; he would just invent stories for random people based on the vibe they gave him.
As Sirius as walking up to the stranger he imagine the curly haired boy was a librarian; he certainly looked the part, with his corduroy jeans and a jumper with elbow patches. Maybe he was on his way to work as well, imagined Sirius. He imagine the stranger lived in a beautiful house with two dogs. But, what about the cane? Was he blind? Or was he injured? Sirius resolved that the tall stranger was blind, and he invented that he had became blind by some tragic, yet heroic accident.
There was not much more to imagine because when Sirius reached his side his breath was taken away. The tall man was wearing sunglasses, so he indeed was blind. He had some scars along his face, even in his hands, Sirius noticed. But he was smiling and Sirius thought there wasn’t anything more bright in this world than that smile.
“Is some one there?” asked the tall man tentatively.
“Uhm, yeah, hi.” Said Sirius equally hesitant.
“Oh, sorry, I just thought I heard someone and you know I like to be aware of my surroundings.” Explained the tall man.
“No problem.” Answered Sirius.
They stay in silence, because really they had nothing else to say; they were just strangers. However, Sirius felt a tug in his heart telling him that just strangers wouldn’t be enough.
“Do you need help crossing the road?” asked Sirius.
The man stopped smiling, but rather than offended he seemed like he was weighting his options. He turned his head to the direction Sirius voice as coming; he smiled again and Sirius just about melted.
“Sure, that will definitely be faster.” Said the tall man cheerily.
Sirius offered his arm then he realized the man could not see him. The blind bloke extended his arm to the side looking for Sirius’s.
“Should I grab him?” thought Sirius. But he discarded the idea cause it seemed rude. At least he had only been grabbed by his parents when they forced him into his room after being scolded. “Maybe I can direct his arm towards mine.” Thought Sirius.
In that moment the head light turned red and the cars stopped; and so Sirius did what he thought was the best approach.
“Oh.” Exclaimed Remus as Sirius grabbed his hand.
Sirius was grateful the man could not see the blush creeping his cheeks.
“Is this okay? “he asked as they started walking towards the other sidewalk.
“Yeah, no of course. Thanks.” Said the man. He seemed to be holding his tounge back. “Normally people grab me by the arm.” He finally said.
“I’m sorry!” said Sirius letting go. “Is just that the head light turned red and I panicked.”
The man was searching the air for Sirius and after realizing how rude that had been Sirius grabbed his hand again. “Sorry again.”
“Is okay, I was just teasing you.” Said the man with an indulgent smile.
“You were teasing me?” asked Sirius scandalized, but slightly amused.
This only served to widened the strangers smile.
“Maybe a bit.”
“I am offended.” Said Sirius dramatically. “ I should just leave you here on the middle of the street.” He laughed.
“Shit did that sound rude?” thought Sirius to himself.
But he was relived when the stranger wheezed with laugher. It was a breathy laugh, and it shouldn’t have been attractive, however Sirius thought otherwise.
“You have a lovely laugh.” Sirius blurted out without even thinking.
The man stopped abruptly, they were almost on the other side. The tall guy snapped his head towards the sound of Sirius’s voice and Sirius could almost feel the man staring, even tough it wasn’t possible.
“Thanks.” He murmured, continuing his path. “You… uhm… you have a nice voice… I think.”
“You think?!” asked Sirius. “I’ll have you know that I have the nicest voice in London.”
“Debatable.” Said simply the other man.
Sirius laughed at the dry wit of this attractive stranger.
“I’m Sirius by the way.”
“I am also serious, I thin Bowie has the best voice on the world.”
“Oh no I meant my name.” corrected Sirius. “My name is Sirius.”
“Oh like the star?” asked the other one.
Sirius perked up. “Yeah! Just like the star!”
“The brightest star on the sky.” Recited the stranger. Then after a moment of silence he added “You do sound like the brightest star. Suits you.”
And Sirius was rendered speechless for a moment.
“My name is Remus.”
“Really?” asked Sirius. To which Remus nodded. “Our parents were rather original ey?”
“I think is funny we met.” Said Remus. Sirius stopped slightly, but Remus must have felt it because he quickly added. “I mean how many times people with names like ours meet.”
Sirius wandered if this stranger was bent. He desperately hoped so. He had been flirting just now, hadn’t he? Or was he not?
“I’ll call It fate.” Declared Sirius.
“Fate, huh?”
“Yes.” Said Sirius, with a certainty that Remus believed it for a second. “So you like Bowie?” asked Sirius after a beat.
Remus light up and Sirius was glad he had brought it up. “Yeah! He is the best artist in this century. Besides he is a fashion icon.”
“Says the guy dressed in corduroy.” Teased Sirius.
“They are comfortable, thank you very much.” Remus said, shoving Sirius lightly. “Wow, you are really short.”
“Hey!”
“Am sorry I didn’t meant it that way.” Laughed Remus. “I had suspected you were short but I hadn’t felt it.”
“I’ll have you know, I am average.” Defended Sirius. “The problem is that you are freakishly tall.”
Remus laughed lightly. “Sure, whatever you say pal.”
“I can leave you, you know?”
“Oh but you seemed like such a nice person. You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”
Remus crouched a bit to where he thought Sirius was, however he missed by a few degrees. So Sirius reached his hand up and grabbed Remus chin, making him turned to the right side, where Sirius’s face was. Both of them stood frozen. Had Sirius really done that?
“I am not as nice as you think I am.” Answered Sirius lowly.
He was blessed to witness how Remus cheeks turned red under the sunglasses. This man was definitely gay. Remus cleared his throat as he stood tall again.
“So, what music do you like?” asked Remus as they resumed their walk.
“I like queen, they are the best band in the world. Well one of the best.”
“Who are the other ones?” asked Remus.
“Abba!” answered Sirius immediately.
“No way!” laughed Remus.
“Yes way! My best mate, James, introduced me to them.”
“You can like ABBA and Queen at he same time.” Complained Remus.
“Why not?!” asked Sirius amused. “They are both awesome. Remus don’t tell me you are a music snob because I will kick your cane.”
Remus barked out the loudest laughter Sirius had heard and a sentiment of happiness bloomed at his chest; he had made Remus laughed, like, really laugh. And it had been one of the proudest moments of his life.
“I am a snob, you prick, glam rock is the best. How can you compare disco music to rock?” he laughed. “And I’ll beat you with my cane, I am trained in martial arts, you know?”
“You are?!” asked Sirius curiously. He studied Remus smug face for a moment. “You are not!”
“Am not, but it would have been funny.” Remus said surrendering.
“Tosser.” Smiled Sirius shoving Remus playfully. “Remus the beauty of music are in fact, the different genres. You don’t know the thrill to be pumped by rock and then all that energy you can dance it out with the disco music.”
“I don’t get it.” Shrugged Remus.
“Remus… I mean, you can just spent all your life listening to one single band. Sometimes you are in the mood for rock, fine. But sometimes you want to dance; or in the mornings I’m usually in the mood for classical music.” Argument Sirius.
“But even the glam rock has more softer music. That is what I play in the mornings.” Answered the other man.
“Ugh, Remus you are impossible. ABBA is the best as well as Queen. I don’t get how you don’t see it!” exclaimed Sirius squeezing Remus hand.
Now, in that moment, the raven haired boy realized two things. One, he hadn’t let go of Remus hand, even though they had crossed the road ages ago. And two, Remus could not “see” the beauty in mixing music and he in fact could not see.
Sirius felt mortified, by the phrasing of his sentence and by the hand that was still holding onto Remus’s. He hope Remus didn’t get offended. He was about to apologize when Remus snorted.
“Well I guess I just can’t see it.” He teased, as if reading Sirius’s mind.
Well if Remus was fine by it, then Sirius wouldn’t make a big deal out of it by bringing it up. “You are incredible.”
“Why, thank you very much.”
“Fuck off.” Laughed Sirius.
Suddenly Remus demeanor changed, and Sirius wonder if he had said something wrong.
“Hey… I don’t mean to over step but uhm… I get the feeling that you… are you…” Remus was struggling to asked but Sirius was enjoying himself to much to help out. “Are you?”
“Am I what?” teased Sirius.
“You know I can hear you smiling.”
“You can hear me smiling?”
“Fuck off. I know you know what I mean.”
“Maybe.” Laughed Sirius.
“So?”
“So what?”
“Sirius you are insufferable.” Said Remus, but the smiled plastered on his face made the sentence had less impact. “Would you like to go out sometime?”
“Really?” beamed Sirius as his head snapped at Remus.
“Yes really.” Laughed Remus.
“Yes! God yes!” answered Sirius, and Remus couldn’t help but smile.
Suddenly Sirius was feeling rather giddy. He examined Remus face; this gorgeous man had just asked him out.
“Are you staring?” asked Remus.
“How did you know?” sad Sirius without averting his gaze.
“You became quiet.” Snorted Remus.
“Oh sorry. Is just that, I think you are beautiful.”
Remus coughed a bit. “You are direct aren’t you.” He laughed goo naturedly. “Sirius could I…” he cleared his throat. “Could I feel your face?”
Sirius was taken aback by the request. “Sure.”
Remus lifted both hands and Sirius took a step closer to meet Remus in the middle.
“Oh you are even more beautiful than I imagine.” Said Remus as his fingers explored every inch of Sirius face. The his hand went for his hair. Sirius’s breath hitched as Remus ran his fingers trough his long hair. “You have long hair.” Declared Remus. Sirius hummed, leaning into the touch. “What color Is it?”
“Black. My hair is black.” Answered Sirius. “That is also my surname.” He added shyly.
“Sirius Black.” Remus murmured. His face was incredibly close to Sirius and Sirius could see his own reflection on Remus’s glasses. Remus brushed his fingers one last time against Sirius cheekbones and gave a satisfied nod.
He stood tall once again and offered his hand out so Sirius could continue guiding him.
“Mine is Lupin.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. And I am aware of the irony.”
“I think is perfect.” Smiled Sirius.
“Sirius, what color are your eyes?” asked Remus after a while.
“Grey.” Answered Sirius.
“What are you? A Greek god?” asked Remus tugging Sirius’s hand.
“Oh, don’t say such things, they will go straight to my head.” Said Sirius. “And yours?”
Remus looked startled by he question. “Mine?” he asked. “My eyes?”
“Yes.”
“Mine are brown.” Answered Remus, still dumbfounded.
“Can I see them?” asked Sirius.
“Oh.” Said Remus as he crouched down. He accommodate the sunglasses on top of his head.
Sirius hand flew up to his chin and guided his face towards him, once again.
“You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.” Said Sirius breathlessly.
“They are brown git.” laughed Remus awkwardly.
“Yes, I can see that.” Stated Sirius. “They are brown and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen… And you are blushing.”
“Fuck off.” Laughed Remus as he pushed Sirius. He in fact, was blushing.
Remus hand flew towards his head.
“Would you mind not putting them on?” asked Sirius. “Or does something bothers you.”
Remus stood frozen on the spot. Nobody had ever requested such thing. “I don’t mind.” He said, smiling sheepishly. “Uhm, Sirius?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for… uhm… for treating me, well… like a normal person.” Said Remus.
If Remus could see, he would have definitely made fun of the way Sirius whole face went red. “Sure. No problem.” Said Sirius.
Sirius felt entrance by those beautiful eyes, and that beautiful smile and the way the wild sandy curls fought against the sunglasses that had them held back. He had never seen someone like Remus. He wondered about the scars that adorned his face; and in Sirius opinion he was only so much more beautiful and unique because of them. Sirius had scars of his own, and he admired the beauty in them, now that the pain had gone away. Sirius found strength and resilience in them and in Remus.
“So, Remus, about going out, I was wondering if your have something to do this-“
WHAM!
Remus went down, dragging Sirius in the process.
“Are you all right?” asked Sirius.
Remus was rubbing his face. “Fuck, that hurt.” He said. “Did you just walked me into a lamp post?” asked Remus.
“Oh my gosh.” Said Sirius scrambling to his feet and trying to help Remus out. “Remus I am truly sorry I wasn’t looking-“
“Good thing you were guiding me.” Said Remus smiling but still in a bit of pain.
“I’m sorry.” Said Sirius.
“Are you all right?” asked Remus.
“I am fine. But really sorry.”
Remus laughed. “You already said that.” He pointed out. “How could you miss a lamp post?”
“I uhm… I was… I was staring at you?” said Sirius tentatively.
“Oh my god! You were staring at me?!” Remus barked out a laugh again, and Sirius din’t felt embarrassed anymore.
“You are a very pretty person to look at.” Pouted Sirius.
Remus hand reached Sirius face. “Are you pouting?” he asked amused.
Sirius swatted his hand away. “Am not!”
Remus laughed.
“Next time keep your eyes straight ahead so you don’t kill us both.” Teased Remus.
“Is that a yes I want to go out with you?” beamed Sirius.
“It a yes.” Confirmed Remus, shaking his head.
Sirius fist bumped the air as he and Remus continued walking down the street.
“Uhm, Remus? Where are we going?” asked Sirius. They have been walking for at least five blocks.
“I don’t know I was following you.” Answered Remus.
“You were just following me?” asked Sirius. “I was waiting for instructions!”
“I thought you were leading me somewhere!”
“I don’t even know where you were heading to!” defended himself, Sirius.
“Well, where are we?” asked Remus.
Sirius looked around. They were near a pretty park, surrounded with little suburbs. “I don’t know, I never been here before.”
“Brilliant!” exclaimed Remus face palming himself.
“Don’t worry I’ll get us back to… where were you heading?”
“Howgarts school. I’m a teacher there.” Said Remus.
“I thought you were a librarian, but teacher suits you. Don’t worry professor, I’ll get us there.” Declared Sirius.
“See that is the part that concerns me.” Said Remus as he was spin around by Sirius.
“Oi!”
“You are not going to get us lost on our second date are you?” Remus cringe internally as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Oh, is this our first date?” asked Sirius smugly.
“Do you want it to be our first date?” asked Remus. “I’d say it would make a really funny story.”
“Then yes, please. I will like it to be our first date.”
“What do you want to do then?”
“Don’t you have classes?” asked Sirius.
“Yeah but they are until one o clock.”
“It’s eleven thirty.”
“Thanks.” Said Remus. “So what do you want to do?”
“There is a park behind us. Do you want to go there? Is a pretty neighborhood. We could walk and have an ice cream.”
They turned around once again and started heading towards the park.
“ That sounds lovely.” Said Remus. “As long as you don’t run me into any more posts.”
“I made no promises Remus.” Laughed Sirius.