Sharp Teeth
Disclaimer: I own nothing, no copyright infringement intended!
A/N – So. Yes. WolfStar is still needed. And this was planned to only be a one-shot. But... heh. That's not going to happen. ;) Hope you enjoy reading this first chapter as much as I did writing it! And as always, do let me know what you think! :D
Chapter One
He opened the door in a pair of paint splattered sweatpants and nothing else.
Multiple tattoos and smooth, tan skin. Remus stood and stared, wide green eyes running slowly down over the sweatpants to knobbly feet and back up again, lingering on a flat stomach with its tempting trail, then moving over a long, lean torso and up onto a firm, ink covered chest, before pausing over wonderfully defined arms and shoulders that had him flushing and shifting on the spot. Mouth dry, he dragged his gaze upwards, very briefly distracted by softly sculpted lips, and was startled to find himself looking into the most amazing set of grey eyes he'd ever seen.
The most amazing set of smirking grey eyes he'd ever seen.
"Something I can help you with, mate?"
A hot rush of mortified colour flooding his cheeks at being caught ogling, Remus's gaze dropped to the concrete steps he was standing on. "I-I-I'm h-he-he-" Frowning severely, he swallowed hard, sucked in a long, steadying breath and determinedly lifted his head. "S-sorry. Um, I'm h-here about the r-room. You have a room available? To r-rent?"
Sculpted lips pursed and a head full of thick, wavy black hair tilted. Those grey eyes now held just as much curiosity as they did laughter. The half-naked man leant against the doorframe and nodded.
"I do. Most folk ring first though. You've caught me indisposed, just showing up." He folded his arms and eyed Remus closely, making him feel like a bug under a microscope. The sandy-blond shifted again, uncomfortable, and had just opened his mouth to say that he would've called, if he owned a cell phone, when the man suddenly straightened up and shrugged, taking a step back. "No mind, I like the way you look. Let's do this."
He turned to the side and waved an arm into the flat. Remus pushed his glasses up and blinked a few times, an unsure frown wrinkling his forehead. After a moment, a jet-black eyebrow rose in question.
"Door's open, mate. Are you coming in to see the place or not?"
Oh, get over yourself, Remus! So the landlord's incredibly fit; so what? It's not about him, is it? Do you need a place to live or don't you?
Jaw tightening, Remus stepped firmly over the threshold, only to pause when the man with his back to the doorjamb didn't move to allow him past. Another smirk grew when Remus's eyes flickered down the body absurdly close to him, then snapped up to the just as remarkable looking face before cutting away very quickly. With burning cheeks, he eased through the doorway holding his breath, unable to help the way his pulse jumped when his entire side all but slathered across the man standing in the narrow entranceway.
He swore he heard the bloke chuckle under his breath. Arrogant prat.
"So it isn't much. Just a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms. But it's got a nice balcony and the rent's cheap. You got a job?"
"Student," Remus answered shortly, pushing his too-long curls out of his face and deliberately ignoring the man behind him as he wandered the sparse space. He was correct when he'd said it wasn't much. It was clear that a bachelor lived in the small flat, and it actually looked like he didn't live there all that much anyway. The curtains were still pulled and there was a layer of dust coating everything. "I work part time. I can pay, don't worry."
"Why're you looking for a place?"
Darting a look at the man, Remus headed down the hallway. "B-breakup."
"Ah. Door on the left's the room going."
The room was tiny. And dirty. Remus's nose wrinkled, and without even thinking out it he walked across the worn carpet to open the window wide before turning to survey the mattress on the floor, the sheets on it looking like they hadn't been washed in donkey's years. Random junk sat in piles around the room. A bunch of clothing in the corner looked like it could start moving any moment.
The man grinned lazily at the incredulous look Remus shot him. "My old flatmate will come and clean this up before a new one moves in. He's a little preoccupied with his girl at the moment."
"A girl stayed here?" Remus muttered in disbelief, flushing when the man laughed. He hadn't meant for him to hear that.
"Not often, I'll admit. Lily insisted sleepovers happened at her place. And since sleepovers never actually involved much 'sleep', James didn't complain. It'll get cleaned."
"I should hope so," Remus murmured, taking one last look around the room. It wasn't at all what he was hoping for. "Is the rest of it this bad?"
"Relatively," the man answered, grin widening. Heat invading Remus's cheeks for what felt like the umpteenth time – why the bloody hell didn't his brain catch the words before they came out of his mouth? – he wandered back out into the main room. It took five minutes to see the rest of the flat, and his spirits were low when he opened the French doors that led off the squat little kitchen.
"O-oh."
"Yeah, this pretty much makes it worth it. Bloody amazing, right?"
There was a jungle behind the building. The flat was on first floor but had a number of steps leading up to the front door, so the balcony was raised off the ground a little. Nature existed prominently in front of that balcony, and while the view wasn't vast and endless, it was still rather spectacular. Remus felt like he was standing in the middle of the Amazon.
After never-ending stone and brick, fog and fumes, it was shockingly freeing to stand there and breath in trees and brush and insects and rain-thick oxygen. Remus drew it in, a smile blooming.
He was still smiling when he turned to the landlord, the expression faltering at the look on his face.
"You have braces."
"Yes," Remus scowled, shoving his glasses up his nose as his lips rapidly pulled together over his teeth. Fucking things. He hated them. "What of it?"
"Nothing really, I've just never… how old are you?"
"Twenty-two."
The man hummed lightly, head cocking again. There was something in his eyes that made Remus's stomach lurch. Not liking the feeling, he dropped his gaze and strode past the man back into the flat. "How m-much a m-month?"
The answered figure shocked Remus a little, even knowing that it was going to be low. Still, it was definitely in his price range, which wasn't much with the urgency he'd had to scramble the money together, and he was pleased to know that he could afford the bond and the rent in advance. Just.
Besides, he couldn't afford to be picky, could he?
"So when you moving in?"
Eyebrows winging, Remus turned to his landlord. "You want me as a flatmate? Just like that? No references or anything?"
"Nah," the man replied, waving his hand with an easy smile. "I said before, didn't I? I like the way you look." The smile morphed into a smirk and his arms crossed again. Remus had to fight to stop himself gawking at the straining cords in his upper arms. "Might be best if you told me your name though, yeah?"
Eyes snapping up, the sandy blond blushed profusely. "Shit s-sorry! R-Remus. Remus Lupin."
"Nice to meet you, Remus Lupin," the man said, holding out his hand. "I'm Sirius Black. Move in whenever you like."
"O-O-O-k-kay," Remus blabbered, inwardly cursing the goddamn stutter. He usually had better control over it, but Sirius was…
Lips pressing together, Remus shook his head. Nothing. Sirius was nothing. Sirius was his flatmate slash landlord, and nothing more. He was no way near ready to open himself up to that sort of heartache again. And with that in mind, he headed for the door.
"Is t-tomorrow too soon? I need to get out of where I am."
"That's fine," Sirius answered, holding the door open for him. "I'll be here all day, and I'll tell James to get his arse here tonight and get the last of his stuff. Oi, Remus!" he called out after Remus had nodded and thanked him, stopping the man at the bottom to the steps. Remus turned and looked at him questionably.
"You shouldn't stop yourself smiling. The whole braces look is bloody cute."
The door closed and Remus stood on the sidewalk, face red and heart pounding far harder than it should.