It’s Wednesday and Sirius is feeling generous. He struts into the Three Broomsticks, a conventionally located café on his way to work, and stands on the line while his eyes look for the cheapest pastry he can take to the office with him. It’s not that he can’t afford much (he lives on a very large, very stylish flat in the middle of London for fuck’s sake), he’s just not sure he likes his co-workers enough to spend too much money on them, even if it’s just on some brownies. However, he woke up to an Instagram story about how some guy in New York took a stray dog home and gave it a new life, and now he feels like he should help society in some way he’ll hardly keep up with.
The café is blessedly empty given that the morning rush is over and Sirius nepotist position at Potter Books allows him a flexible schedule. The bricks on the walls are exposed, mismatching with the variety of tables scattered around the place. They all probably came from different owners and different thrift shops, but there’s a certain aesthetic to the whole thing that Sirius appreciates. It’s wildly different from Potter Books’ white walls, and crystal-clear windows, and altogether boring and too minimalist style.
He's about to leave with his bag of six brownies (he can’t be arsed to share with any of the other departments) when the most beautiful creature enters the café in a whirlwind. His rosy cheeks contrast attractively against the paleness of his skin, brown curls bounce against his forehead in an appealing disarray and his big, brown eyes look shily around the place in an adorable manner. It’s too much and it’s, after all, just after eight o’clock and Sirius is not awake enough to do anything other than gape at the beautiful creature and walk out the door after him, putting a barrier between them far too quickly. He realizes, already half-way to his job that he may never have the pleasure of looking at the gorgeous man again. It’s a horrible thought that dampens his day in a second, brownies be damned.
_
For once, Sirius is grateful that his job keeps him occupied and the memory of the beautiful man from the café is replaced by numbers, and meetings, and late nights, and working overtime. It’s a week later when he wakes up far to groggy and decides that a stop to the Three Broomsticks is in order. He has just walked in when he’s met by the sight of the beautiful man again. This time, he even has the pleasure of listening to his (not surprisingly) beautiful voice. He has a light Welsh accent that rolls when he orders a “Sugar pie, to go, please”.
Sirius just stands there, again, utterly impressed by the fact that there aren’t any wild animals following Remus like in a Disney movie, or that a large group of fans is not waiting outside. It takes the barista three annoyed calls of “Next!” until Sirius regains control over his body and orders a large coffee to go.
It’s, altogether, not a very impressive encounter, if it can even be called so, but this time at least Sirius has the chance to find out the stranger’s name is Remus and that, for all the angelic features he portrays, he must not be easily misguided by these if the sly look sent Sirius way is anything to go by. He does not understand what it means, but he certainly needs to know more about Remus.
So, the weeks go on and Sirius never misses his Wednesday stops at the café. He tries going on Monday and then on Friday with the hope to catch a glimpse at Remus more than once a week, but it’s to no use and for some reason his hot chocolate, or black coffee or apple pie don’t taste the same those days.
He confesses his crush to James a Thursday afternoon, brain muddled by too many expenses reports read and boredom reaching unvisited boundaries.
“He’s a dream, honestly, I’m not even sure he’s real,” he mumbles over coffee in the break room. James stays silent for a solid minute before breaking into uncontrollable laughter.
“Oh my God, it’s finally happening!” he cries. “The great Sirius Black has fallen in love.”
“I wouldn’t call it that” he replies quickly, but he’s not entirely sure he’s being honest, and it’s the first time he’s spoken about a guy to James without making emphasis on the fact that he just wants to shag them.
James laughs until he’s red in the face and has to clean his tear-stained glasses with a napkin.
“What’s his name again? Please, I won’t try to find his Instagram account or anything” he replies with a dismissive gesture of his hand.
Sirius face must have shown his apprehension but he replies with Remus’ name, making an effort not to sigh lovingly at the memory of him. James annoying nature knows no limits.
“Huh. Isn’t there a Remus in the Editorial department? Remus Lang, is it?”
James’ goes on trying to guess if he’s right on his own, but soon enough Sirius is rushing to his cubicle and going through Potter Books’ employee list, until, there, snuggled right between López Ericka and Morgan Sarah stands Lupin Remus, editor. He thinks for a second that it’d be way too invasive to take a look at Remus’ records but his work ethic is not strong enough as to avoid a glimpse at Remus resumé and personal information (there certainly are some perks to being the owner’s son’s best friend and having access to pretty much everything within the company). Turns out Remus is an English Major graduated from a school in Belfast who has apparently been working for the Potters for over three years.
Sirius does his best not to either meltdown, punch James in the face for retrieving this vital information from him, or taking a run to the Editorial Department and ask Remus to marry him there and then. Opposite to his impulsive nature, he very maturely limits himself to a few shaky breaths before deciding that this is, undoubtedly, a matter of fate, and that he must speak to Remus next time he meets him at the café.
_
The following Wednesday Sirius is basically jumping on his seat. He’s waiting in his car because he got ready far too early and refuses to move farther from his comfort zone as to wait inside. Fifteen minutes later, Remus walks up to the café’s door clad in his usual vintage outfit with wide legged jeans, an oversized sweater, a jean jacket and a backpack slung over his shoulder. Wildely different from Sirius' black trousers and button down.
He gathers all his courage, which is, admittedly, just enough as not to faint on the steps to the door, and pushes his way in. He orders his coffee, with Remus waiting next to him and looking at the various desserts displayed. It’s incredible what this beautiful person can do to him. He used to be absolutely shameless and flirty in college, less than a decade ago. Maybe it has something to do with being thirty. Or maybe it’s just Remus defeating every single one of Sirius’ defences without uttering a word. Maybe Remus’ charm is not even human.
“Hi,” he croaks, “I’m Sirius.”
“Hi,” Remus’ sweet smile is slightly hidden by a red, fluffy scarf and his eyes are wide when he figures out Sirius is speaking to him. “Remus,” he then says, stretching his hand towards Sirius.
It’s too much and too little, but Sirius survives the encounter by telling Remus he just thought it would be polite to introduce himself given the fact that they have crossed each other’s paths several times now. He says so as if he has any intention to acknowledge any other person that walks into the café. Remus laughs but replies no more.
“I think I’ve seen you… where I work, that is. I work in the financial department in Potter Books.” Smooth, yes, he thinks, I did not stalk you, not at all.
“Oh, yeah, yeah, I work there. Haven’t seen you around I’m afraid. I’m an editor,” he says, as if Sirius didn’t devour every piece of information he could find.
“How nice,” he smiles. “You guys keep the company going.”
The conversation flows just slightly awkwardly and then Remus says that he needs to get to work and Sirius checks his watch, and yes, indeed, he’s going to be late but no one is going to give Fleamont Potter’s basically-adoptive-son any shite for it anyways. He doesn’t bring that up of course, because Remus doesn’t need to know of his pureblood ways yet, and he’s well aware that Minerva McGonagall, Remus’ supervisor, is rather scary.
Their meetings on Wednesdays now provide Sirius with small insight into Remus’ life. Their conversations eventually carry on with more ease, and Sirius even starts taking long walks after breaks that involve stopping by the editorial department and chatting with Remus just enough before McGonagall’s glares become too obvious and Marlene McKinnon, an old friend from college who just happens to be Remus’ office best friend, starts smiling rather lasciviously their way.
With a bit of luck, Sirius happens to stumble into the company’s cafeteria when Remus is having lunch and they end up meeting there every weekday, sometimes accompanied by James, Marlene, or other co-workers.
Sirius is, naturally, undoubtedly and unsurprisingly every day more smitten with Remus. And he thinks Remus might like him too. After months of pining and talking and sugar pies, Sirius decides he is ready to take the next step and ask Remus out. A quick glance to the company’s policy on internal relationships assures him they shouldn’t have any trouble with HR, and finally, holding a recently bought sugar pie from the Three Broomsticks he walks his way up to Remus’ cubicle. The slice of dessert is what first brought them together and he can’t help but think of the obvious resemblance between the sugar pie’s brown, rich colour and Remus’ beautiful hair and eyes.
Soon enough he’s standing next to Remus’ desk. He awkwardly knocks on one of the walls of the cubicle calling Remus’ attention.
“Hey,” Remus says, with a beautiful, beaming smile. Sirius melts right there and then.
“Hey, uh,” he swallows with difficulty, but thinks of how a date with this man would be, probably, the best thing to happen to him since Harry said Padfoot as his first word. Yes, Remus is definitely worth it. “Well, I was wondering if maybe you would… if you… if you’d like to go out with me?”
Sirius carefully raises his eyes, which had been looking at Remus wolf-shaped stapler for the last minute. Remus is looking right back at him, and if anything, his smile is even brighter.
“I thought you'd never ask. Yes, I’d love to.”
Now it’s Sirius’ turn to beam. He stands there nervously combing his hair with his fingers while they make the arrangements for the date. When he’s about to leave to his own workspace, he remembers the dessert safely tucked under his arm.
“Oh, here, I got you this.” He places the packaged sweet on Remus’ desk and can’t help but smile adoringly and unabashedly at him. He was a fool to think he was being discreet.
_
Turns out dating Remus is pretty spectacular and better that Sirius' fantasies had put it. Not having to hide his feelings in any way allows Sirius the space to devote and adore Remus the way he deserves. Remus is not as tactile as he is, but he constantly reassures Sirius that the devotion is requited. From the date on, it doesn’t take them long before first kisses are given and childhood stories are told. However, as incredible as it is to leave the office holding Remus hand, or pressing him against the lift on their way to Sirius’ flat, he has the nagging feeling that Remus is holding some distance between them. And, of course, he understands: they’ve just started dating and not everyone dives head-first into things the way he does. But this feels grand and, for some reason, like something he should know.
Finally, one month into their relationship, the mystery is solved when James calls out a big lunch at his and Lily’s house. Harry’s on his second year at preschool and has already managed a best friend he wants to have a playdate with. The child’s grandmother and father will be joining them as well and Sirius is required as a buffer. Sirius tries to get Remus to join him, but he claims to have already made arrangements for that day, no details shared.
Sirius arrives to the Potter house just on time. He can hear laughter as he walks up the garden and can’t help but smile at the thought that he’s at a good place, not just literally, but also emotionally. When he gets inside, no knock on the door necessary, he walks to the kitchen where the voices are coming from. Sure enough, James and Lily are there, but for some unexplainable reason also Remus and a fifty-something lady standing next to him.
“Huh… Hi?”
“Sirius, oh my God! This is the best thing to happen to me since we found out about Peter’s secret girlfriend. Who would’ve thought? Harry’s Teddy is Remus’ son. What a small world, huh?” Sirius’ is used to James’s antics but this feels just a bit too much.
He waits for Remus to laugh and offer a more logical response, but when it never comes, he frenetically apologizes and walks out to get some air. He’s not mad at the fact that Remus has a son. He has known how babies are made since he was 12 years old and Euphemia and Fleamont Potter dragged him and James through a rather horrendous conversation. Hell, before he realized he was more into men, he and an old girlfriend had a pregnancy scare themselves. What makes him mad is the fact that Remus would hide such a huge part of him from him. Is he ashamed of Teddy or is their relationship not serious enough as to introduce Sirius to his son?
“Sirius,” Remus says quietly. He approaches him slowly, as if he’s scared Sirius might react like some wild animal.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, just straight to the point. Remus eyes widen and he moves nervously while he speaks.
“I-I don’t know I was just sort of getting to know you and I thought it was better to wait, you know. I didn’t really know what your intentions were or how serious you were about us. And then, of course, we just kept getting to know each other better and by the time I noticed we were friends and I had this huge crush on you and it just seemed awkward to sort of blurt it out: Hey um all this time, every Wednesday we’ve met at the café, I’m buying my son’s favourite dessert because that’s the day I pick him from school and take him home until Sunday. And well, I’m not even sure I like sugar pie anymore, might be sick of it actually. Not that that’s important, anyways,” he grimaces as he finishes his rant.
“Are you serious about me then? Is this a long-time thing? Because it is for me, Remus. I’ve been serious about you the whole time. Quite.”
“Yes, yes, I’m in for the long haul I promise," Remus finishes, with his plump bottom lip between his teeth. They’ve just been dating for over a month, but he just knows, Remus was meant to be his all along. “I’m truly sorry, Sirius, I didn’t mean to keep this from you for so long. And, I’m not ashamed, for the record, to have a child. Teddy, he’s uh, he’s pretty spectacular actually.” A fond smile illuminates Remus’ face.
Sirius sighs, but walks close to Remus until he can place his hands on Remus’ waist, until they’re chest to chest and he can tuck his face in his boyfriend’s neck.
“Do you-do you want to meet him?” Remus murmurs after a couple of minutes of silence, holding tight onto Sirius.
“Of course.”
He places an adoring kiss on Remus curls and takes his hand in his as they make their way inside. He must thank Teddy, after all, his sugar pie craving led him to meet the love of his life.