Chapter 2
'A grizzly bear would kill you, you know.'
Sirius looked down.
'They attack humans sometimes. And they kill you,' Teddy continued, kicking his legs back and forth on the bench. Sirius raised his brows, what a peculiar way to start a conversation.
'But couldn't I defend myself?' He asked, because Teddy seemed to have all the answers. Teddy laughed.
'No!'
'What? Why are you laughing? I'm strong, kid,' to emphasize this, he flexed with one arm. The one Teddy wasn't holding onto. Teddy shook his head vigorously.
'Serious,' he began solemnly, 'a boy grizzly bear weighs 80 stones! That's like eight of you!' he was yelling. Sirius tried not to take offense. 'it could probably lift a car. Two cars!'
'Alright, alright,' Sirius admitted defeat.
'Did you know that they eat moths?'
'Grizzly bears?'
'Yes.'
'No. I didn't.' This kid was so weird. He liked him.
'A grizzly bear in America once ate 40,000 moths in one day,' Teddy continued, his eyes bright like he was very excited about this fact. Sirius humored him.
'Really?'
'Yes, it's true. Did you know that the hump on their backs is a big muscle?'
'Uh, no?'
'It is,' Teddy confirmed, nodding. 'Dad put my backpack on under, see? It's like the hump,' He turned in his seat, and pointed to the little lump on his back.
'Ah, I see,' Sirius said, a grin on his face. This dad seemed great, and his son obviously worshiped the ground he walked on. Teddy turned back around. The cuffs of his costume had ridden up a bit at the arms, and Sirius jolted at the scribble visible on the little forearm. 'Teddy? What is that?' He asked quickly. Teddy only shrugged and offered the arm to him. Sirius pushed up the fuzzy fabric and yes! it was a phone number!
'Look! This must be your dad's number,' he explained, pulling out his phone.
'Oh... I didn't know,' Teddy looked at him with huge green eyes, and Sirius felt immensely relieved he could help him.
'I'll call him, alright? He'll be here soon, I'm sure,' he said while typing in the number. He felt thankful that James was dyslexic and refused to wear his glasses as a teen, otherwise he never would've been able to make out the messy scribble. He dialed.
'Hello?' The voice on the other end was out of breath and rang with panic.
'Hi, are you Teddys' dad?' He really hoped Teddy was his real name. Sirius gave the kid a soft smile as he spoke. It was eagerly returned.
'Y-yes! Yes- I am! Where is he?' The man was sort of yelling and Sirius really wished he'd seen the number earlier.
'We're-'
'Are you with him? Who are you? Is Teddy ok-'
'Hi dada, hi dada, hi dada!' Teddy was jumping up and down on the bench, holding on to Sirius' shoulder as he leaned over to speak.
'Teddy,' His dad exhaled softly. The word was filled with so much relief, Sirius guessed the man was teary-eyed.
'We're on a bench by the Ferris wheel, he's okay,' he said, hoping it calmed the other man down enough.
'Thank you, I-'
'Sirius gave me ice cream!' Teddy squealed happily.
'W-what? Who gave you ice cream Teddy?' He sounded very alarmed now, and Sirius startled at how it sounded.
'I gave him some ice cream, I'm sorry, I promise he's safe,' he tried to sound convincing. 'I'm a fireman, if that helps,' he added, for good measure.
'YOU ARE?'
'Uh- it does, um, I'm on my way. What's your name?'
'I'm Sirius, I found him a few minutes ago,' he breathed in as the other end didn't respond. 'He's been teaching me about grizzly bears,' he continued in hopes to reassure him that his son really was okay. There came a huff, almost like a laugh.
'Yeah, well, he would,' his voice was even more out of breath now, he was probably running.
'DADA!' Teddy leaped up from the bench and sprinted forward. Sirius had just gotten up to stop him when he saw the boy being eloped in the most desperate hug he'd ever seen. Teddys' dad was close to the ground as he put both arms around his son and held tightly. One arm was around his back, in the hand was his phone. The other hand was cradling Teddys' head, like he was about to fall apart. Sirius' heart pulled.
'Teddy, I'm so so sorry, I'm so sorry,' he said now, on the verge of tears. Teddy only hugged him back. After a few seconds, during which Sirius felt strangely guilty, the dad looked up at him.
'Hi, I'm Sirius,' he waved stupidly. The mans eyes roamed him for a second. Sirius made the inappropriate observation that Teddys dad was... well, hot.
'Uh-' He said, standing up. 'I'm Remus, look I-' Remus breathed out properly and picked up the boy clinging to his leg. Teddy snuggled into his neck. 'I don't know how to thank you.'
'You really, really don't have to, anyone would've done the same. I'm glad I could help,' Sirius said hesitantly. Remus was tall and spoke with a welsh accent and it was just too much. Foolishly he hoped the man lived in England now, going off the fact that Teddy didn't share his Welsh lilt. He did notice Teddy had gotten his green eyes from him, and the light-brown hair.
'I... I feel like I need to tell you I've never lost him before-'
'Don't, I get it.'
'Oh. You have kids?' Remus asked, and Sirius almost let himself believe the idea disappointed him.
'I have a godson, I've lost him at the supermarket and once at the movies. I've also killed every goldfish I've ever had. And I'm not trusted with plants, if it makes you feel better,' what the fuck was he saying? Remus seemed amused. Of course he was, Sirius was rambling like an idiot.
'Depends,' he mused, 'how many goldfish have you had?'
'Um, I've lost count?' He answered, scratching his neck. Remus smiled.
'Dad, Serious is a fireman and he said he could fight a bear but I told him he couldn't. I also told him about the moths,' Teddy had his arms around his dad's neck. 'Do you remember? About the moths?'
'Yes, love, I remember. Very good.'
'He's nice,' he mumbled lastly. Remus smiled.
'I'm sure he is,' he said. There was eye contact.
'I didn't even tell him to say that,' Sirius grinned and, feeling bold, winked. Remus rolled his eyes in a playful manner.
'You won him over with the ice cream,' He argued. Teddy was squirming in his arms so Remus set him down.
'And with my natural charm and charisma, of course,' Sirius shot back, running a hand through his hair. He was flirting, and it was obvious. Remus didn't seem disgusted by him, so just maybe...
'Of course. Could I buy you an ice cream? As thanks, and to repay the one my son got his hands on,' he said, ruffling teddys hair with a large palm.
Sirius smiled. 'Sure.'
'And did you know their claws are longer than my fingers?' Teddy continued, holding up his hand and wiggling the fingers to demonstrate. Sirius hid his grin behind the cone, sharing an amused look with Remus. His green eyes twinkled.
'No, I didn't. What do they need the claws for?'
'Everything! They kill a lot. They also catch fish. Their favorite is salmon and my favorite is salmon,' he breathed, his eyes going big.
'Yeah? Does your dad cook?' He grinned, looking up at Remus who rolled his eyes. He did that a lot. Sirius didn't know if he was just like that or if Sirius brought it out in him. He kinda hoped for the latter.
Teddy laughed. 'No, he's very bad. Aunt Mary tried to teach him but then she screamed at him. We eat a lot of pasta and grandma doesn't like it. I like ketchup,' he rambled. Remus looked at his son fondly, but Sirius found it impossible to not look at Remus. 'Dads boyfriend makes me salmon and he doesn't even burn it,' he finished.
Sirius' eyes widened and he felt the steadily building hope inside him crumble up and die. Fuck.
Remus was quick to jump in, a little caught off guard. 'Uh, ex-boyfriend,' he looked up to Sirius, probably unintentionally, but their eyes met and Sirius was helpless to the stupid smile spreading on his face. Remus blushed and looked back down. 'Remember, Teddy? What we talked about?'
'Oh yeah,' he nodded, 'ex-boyfriend.'
The two men exchanged smiles again, and Sirius suddenly felt awfully smug.
'And Mary didn't scream, Teddy-'
'She said you started a fire-' Remus quickly covered Teddys' mouth with a hand and the boy fell in his lap giggling. Sirius raised his brows.
'Sounds like you're a walking fire hazard,' he began cheekily. Remus glared. 'I'm not sure I can, professionally, let you cook for yourself,' he continued. 'Or do, I'll be there to carry you out of the flames,' Sirius winked. Remus shook his head and looked away.
'My hero,' he mused. Sirius looked at his side profile and the way the sun made his hair all golden-y. It looked soft.
'Any chance you're from London?'
Remus looked at him. 'We are, actually.'
Sirius leaned back. 'Interesting.'
'Oh?' he lifted a brow, his voice amused.
'Yes, I'll have to alert my station of the risk you pose, of course,' he bit back his smile. Remus shook his head.
'What do you do?' He asked after a few seconds.
Stroking his sons hair, and a corner of his lips curling, Remus looked at him. 'I'm a teacher.'
'Truly dauntless, you are,' Sirius grinned, tongue in his cheek.
'Sure, sure, make fun. I'll call you next time I see a kitten stuck in a tree.'
''long as you call me, sure,' he winked again, and Remus looked at him for a very long time.
'Daaad, can we go home now?' Teddys voice was muffled from where he was burying it in his fathers side. 'My feet are tired and you said we could watch the frog movie,' he whined, growing cranky.
'I, um-'
'I have your number,' Sirius reminded him, 'I'll make use of it, if that's alright with you?'
Remus smiled. 'It's very alright, yeah,' he breathed. Teddy stood up on the bench and leaned in to whisper in his dads ear. 'I don't know, love, why don't you ask him?' Remus suggested softly, but Teddy was being shy and shook his head. He did that thing kids do where they press into their parent and hide their face, looking smaller than he was.
'Would you like to come with us, Sirius? Get dinner, maybe?' Remus asked finally. 'You probably have plans.'
Sirius sighed heavily. 'I'm meeting my brothers partner tonight, I'm sorry.'
'It's okay, really-'
'But how about tomorrow instead?' He asked desperately, internally cussing out his brother.
'We go home tomorrow,' Remus said, looking genuinely disappointed.
'Okay, I go home in a week, how about a cooking lesson?' Sirius grinned. 'I've never been known to burn salmon.'
Remus laughed. 'S-sure, yeah,' he got up from the bench, Teddy following him. 'We'll see you, then,' They looked at each other, and Sirius was kinda concerned he would never get this dopey smile off his face.
'Yeah,' he breathed.
Teddy suddenly ran towards him, and Sirius got down to meet him. The boy tied both his little arms around Sirius' neck.
'Thank you,' Teddy said quietly. Sirius stroked his hair.
'Bye, bear. Say nice things about me to your dad, alright?'