[Shell we dance?]

Sirius offered to walk him back to his room but he'd politely denied. Stranger danger and all that. Besides, it was obvious Sirius was procrastinating going to sleep and he wasn't going to be held responsible when he suddenly dropped dead. And me too.

He didn't say that of course. He didn't know the boy well enough to chastity him, yet an itching feeling told him it was a common occurrence. Remus knew the type well enough that he was bound to wreck eventually. Though, Remus hated thinking about it so clinically as if he wasn't a real person he'd thought this about.

"Remus! It's been so long! I swear it's been ages since I saw you!" His aunt-in-law hugs him around the side. Her arms were held down with dozens of bags despite her stay with them only being a couple of days. Behind her heaving under his weight load, Arthur rolls his eyes and pretends to gag.

She fusses over him for the next couple of minutes before losing interest in the 'shocking' view as she called it. She tries to lure Madaline into the conversation who's displeasure is permanently drawn on her face. Arthur takes the advantage of it and sits down on the plush leather sofa with a huff.

The boy was five years younger than him at fifteen. He was tall, almost as tall as him, and just as scrawny. They weren't necessarily very close growing up because of the age difference and because of how little they saw each other. Not to mention the very obvious change of personality. His corn-silk-colored bangs that ran in the family were pushed back underneath the cap he always wore. There was a confederate flag emblazoned on it and a fishing hook slid on the bill that Remus thought was ironic at first.

It wasn't.

"How's the leg?" He asked. They already exchanged their forced greetings earlier where they had an audience to please.

"Still chopped off," he says plainly. He wiggles it for extra measure.

"Bummer."

He's forced to sit with his family for lunch. Remus tries to be on his best behavior, he really does, but he can't help but make tiny snorts whenever the discussion of politics comes up. Madaline eyes him sympathetically across the table.

Remus really did love his family, they'd taken him in after all, but he really wanted to strangle them once in and while. Any time politics came up was a plain example. They weren't stupid per se (most of them anyway) just that their family had been set up on a certain set of ideas and were too stubborn to see the facts for other perspectives. At least he didn't want to think otherwise.

"- I know! Darling, I know. They've taken over this generation, I swear it. Artie here says that there's even been talk of a club at the high school."

"Really?" His aunt asks over a glass of wine

His uncle shakes his head with disdain. "They're brainwashing them. Don't know what they want anymore." And then, to his dread, faces Remus sitting next to him. "That's your generation. Don't let them get to you, you hear me?"

"Nah, he's a smart boy. He knows better than that."

Remus politely nods and smiles despite the strong grip on his fork. Carefully, he places it down on the placemat and asks to be excused.

The chatter fades out as he escapes to the kitchen. His heart is beating in his chest like a wild rabbit gnawing its cage to be released. He places his forehead against the cool tile wall and closes his eyes in an attempt to stifle his urge to throw something.

Madaline hadn't wasted a beat hurrying to his rescue. She comes up behind him and places a hand on his shoulder that takes some of the tension out of his body. She doesn't say anything at first. There were too many instances like this that any comforting words had run dry long ago.

"I think I can convince mom to let us skip. I don't know about you but I'm itching to go beat some rich punk's ass in mini-golf, yeah? Aunt Lisa won't even notice us gone."

He pulls his head back and peaks over the corner. She's smiling at him. Remus runs a hand through his hair to cool himself down. "You're kidding yourself if you think you're going to win."

She shrugs. He doesn't know where she got it but suddenly she's shoving chocolate into his hands. It's semi-melted from the heat. He eats it anyway.

They're slipping out the doorway, Arthur giving them a side-eyed glance when his aunt Durella called after them. "Don't forget to eat, dear. If you're going to go out later today you'll need your energy. Oh- something other than chocolate for the last time!"

He gives her a small smile. "Of course."

? ﾟﾌﾣ?

"Holy shit, that's him?"

"You saw him at the pool."

"Yeah but not up close. Holy shit. He's like a Greek god or something. Are you sure he was flirting with you because if not..."

Remus elbowed her in the side. "Oi, let me have one good thing once in a while you spoiled brat." He popped the melting candy into his mouth and continued to scroll down the Instagram page. Madaline was squished up to his side with the excuse of the small tram benches when they both knew she just wanted to get a look in at his screen.

She'd insisted he look him up before he met up with him later that night. While he agreed to the safety aspect (he really could have a weird fetish for all his luck), he still felt like a creepy internet stalker scrolling through his social media. It wasn't something he did often. He kept as far away as possible from it just for this very reason - he didn't want anyone poking their nose in on his life.

Sirius Black did not seem to have the same thoughts.

He was popular, he'd give him that. That little blue checkmark next to his name irked him at first sight, but as he filtered through the posts it was quick to see why. Not only was the boy hot - he was an activist. Dozens of photos had been taken at pride festivals, charity events, and protests, some of which had him decked out in so many colours he might as well have become the pride flag itself. Links to donations and other movements also decked the page. Others were just him hanging out, usually at some party, with what he supposed was his friends. The dark-skinned boy with round eye-wear he'd seen on the first day was the most frequent.

Suddenly, Remus wasn't hungry for chocolate anymore.

"Fuck, dude," Madaline said next to him. "You've hit the jackpot."

Remus takes it a step farther and opens a new tab (not without screenshotting a few pictures, mind you), and quickly types the boy's name in. The results are instantaneous.

Dozens of photos of the boy flash at him like traffic lights. There's a couple from his Instagram mixed in, but nearly all of them gravitated to the same photo: a small boy with a hand-shaped bruise on his throat staring down a camera. He couldn't have been more than fifteen and the large mansion doors behind him did nothing to help. Nearly all of them had the same caption.

'Duke of Westminster Disowns Heir; Abuse or Sham?'

Remus' throat goes dry.

He really shouldn't. Really shouldn't, seeing as he would hate anyone doing the same for him, but he reads on anyway. He was already going to hell anyway so what was the harm.

Shocking outrage spreads across the nation as the oldest son and heir of the Duke of Westminster, Sirius Orion Black, is caught fleeing Eaton Hall at a party dedicated to his turning sixteen. Dozens of bruises littered his face and neck, none of which had been caught by the cameras hours before.

It wouldn't be the first time the beloved troublemaker had been caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. He's known to be provocative in the community, especially with those in the Duke's household. The excuses have been tossed up hazardously as a result of stunts the reckless teen was known to pull. The question is: where is the line between fact and fiction drawn?

The same night as the photo was taken by an unsuspecting journalist, it was declared the youngest child was to take over the family. A curious thing to announce on a birthday for the discarded son. The young Black has not publicly made a stance on this. In fact, he has not made a stance on anything since that fateful night. He's been silent on all matters except that he wishes to be excluded from his family.

Orion Black is notorious for his temper in debate. Could this be tied into his silence of his son's departure from the family? It was then in the silence that reports came tumbling through. Dozens of workers of the household came forward to admit the violent behaviors inside the household. Sirius has also not made a public claim about this either b-

Remus clicks off. He doesn't think he can read anymore without being sick. He really doesn't know why it leaves him with an uncomfortable rock in his stomach. What had he been expecting, anyway? He didn't even know this boy, yet some weird mixture of fear and a connection settles deep inside him.

The hand-shaped bruise on Sirius' throat burns into his retinas, and with that, came another. A little boy with mousy brown hair hiding underneath the bed, a fimble knife in his hand to protect himself against invisible monsters.

The shuttle bus comes to a jolting stop. Remus blinks twice before he realizes where he's at. Madaline either hadn't noticed his dissociation thankfully. She's picking up their bag filled with towels and sunscreen and faces him with a smile. Other people are filing out into the hallway behind her yet she remains to wait patiently.

"Coming?"

"You're not my type, unfortunately."

She shoves him playfully. "Mom would be upset she hadn't washed your filthy mind out yet. You'd think a childhood with soap in your mouth would sort you out a bit."

"Glad to disappoint."

? ﾟﾌﾣ?

The ice cream shop was at its busiest time of the day as visitors scrambled in life after dinner. Most of them were either young couples on honeymoons or rich elderly enjoying their retirement. Seeing as Remus was neither, he faded into the background on the heavy leather couch in the corner of the room. The bustling chatter calmed him as he waited for the other - desperately hoping he hadn't been stood up. Though that was crazy seeing as Remus himself was half an hour early. (He wasn't an anxious person. He really wasn't. Who wouldn't be in his situation?)

And despite his worry and constant scanning of the crowd, Remus didn't see him approach. Sirius had come up from behind him, peering over the back of the couch.

"Miss me?" The boy asked. He had a smile that was contagious even if you were in the worst of moods. Remus' second thought was that, yep, still hot. Pictures really didn't do it justice. It was like taking a picture of a sunset; you couldn't truly capture the essence of it.

"I would be lying if I said no," Remus replies just as Sirius swings in next to him. He leaves a good foot between.

"You're rather cute when you're flustered." He says as if he has no filter. He probably doesn't. The boldness of it makes Remus blink at first then hits him upside the head.

"Jesus Christ," he laughs, "okay then."

"What?"

"I don't- okay. Nothing. It's just- I don't know really."

"Would you rather me lie? Say your haircut makes you look like a straight tosser and not the most gorgeous man on earth?"

His usual sharp-wit tongue has been dulled at the compliment and he doesn't know what to say. He'd never met someone so confrontational, so much like an open-book. Remus' own style preferred hiding in the shadows, alluding to the truth until the other caught on. Not to be noticed until he ought to. Sirius had torn right through it.

So instead of some smartass response back, he tilts his head to the line. "You could win me over with the ice cream you so desperately asked me out for."

Sirius mocks bows causing loose strands of his hair to fall in front of his face. A funny twist happens deep within him. "Anything for you m'lord."

Before he can't blink Sirius has grabbed his hand and pulled him up into the crowd. The boy is wearing the same leather jacket covered in patches and pins (most of which are rainbow-themed) as the one that most frequented his posts online.

It looks even better on him in person, Remus thought to himself.

"So, Remus," Sirius asks as they stand in the line. "Favorite movie?"

Remus smirks. "Not so fast. I still owe you a tour of the place, right? Deal is a deal. Don't go skipping on me now."

"Multi-tasking. There's a movie theater here, right?"

"Well - sort of. It only plays old Disney movies. It's in the visitor's building."

Sirius flashes him a perfect, cheeky smile. "Well if I'm a little kid then it's perfect."

They're up next in the line. True to his word Sirius supplies him with his favorite: rocky-road. Sirius gets sherbert for himself ("That's not real ice cream, you know." "Don't tell him that! You'll hurt his feelings!"). They're walking back to their seats when he says, "Fight Club."

Sirius' nose scrunches up in confusion before it dawns on him. "Oh! I don't think I've seen that one before, actually."

Remus pulls a face. "You're joking, right? It's a classic."

"I don't watch very many movies, honestly." He says as they sit down at one of the only free tables. "Or shows."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Curiosity? You strike me as the movie critic type."

Remus laughs. "Far from it." He'd chosen a science degree for a reason after all. Any time analyzing fiction made him want to bang his head into a brick wall. He really was only in it for the fight scenes seeing as they were the only thing that kept his attention span long enough. He says as much to the other who throws his head back in a laugh with him.

Somehow Sirius pulls him into a conversation about himself, something he hated. Sirius sits and lets him talk about his favorite movies - and before they know it the conversation has been swiped off its feet. He doesn't even know how they bounce from one subject or story to another. Somehow they get from talking about all the swimming pools in the area to avoid in danger of toddlers' faulty bladder systems to the time Remus kicked a fake foot at an old lady's face. All he does know is that it's easy - almost too easy.

For a non-smoking pacifist, he sure soaked up cynical characters and grim tales surprisingly well. He's sure there's a part of him that wants to be just like the tough "dames," perhaps without the chain-smoking.

He catches Sirius side-glancing the arcade through the glass wall separating the two rooms. Caught up in the moment, Remus' face brightens with the possibilities setting themselves out in front of him.

He throws back the rest of the ice cream before gesturing to the flashing game tables with a smirk. "Ready for that tour?"

"From you? Always."

Just like the rest of the resort, Remus knew this room like the back of his hand. Years of cheating and sleight of hand from his youth had promised him that. Every machine had something to them if you watched them close enough whether that be employee back-entrances or a hoop just-so misshapen you missed every time. The trick was never getting caught.

They dumped their empty cups into the nearby over-flowing trash cans. Remus was grinning like an idiot and Sirius just raised an eyebrow. That stupid eyebrow. But he hadn't cared - this is where he shined.

"Got more secrets to share with me, Lupin? You are a man of mystery." Sirius winked, "So just my type."

Remus just held open the door. "After you, then."

The vivid, neon lights rise to ignite the hues to a vivid playfulness as they step inside the atmosphere of chiming bings from pinball games and the smell of hot electronics. Kids are laughing and cursing in every corner, their faces alight in the dark room with glowing screens. Rows of machines with colorful pictures on the sides with their pre-recorded dialogues of cheering picks at an old flame inside him begging to be released. He obliges without fuss.

"What the hell are you doing here."

Sirius' head jerks up at the sound of a dragged, feminine voice behind the counter. Remus' doesn't even look, already smiling internally. He gives the brunet a soft nod to tell him it was alright.

"Hello, Lily."

The frustrated girl leans up against the ticket counter she stood behind. Her fiery, red hair was tied up in a bun and hiding behind the ridiculous visor cap her uniform required. "I thought you were finally gone."

"You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Er-," Sirius says, obviously confused by the new interaction. This hadn't been on the agenda for him. "Hello, there."

Remus shakes his head with amusement. He can practically feel Lily's glare without even looking.

"Sirius, meet Lily Evans."

Lily rolls her eyes and slips off the counter blatantly ignoring them as she pretends to count some kid's tickets. Just how he liked it.

"What did I do?" Sirius whispers. "I didn't offend her, did I?"

Remus shakes his head again. Evans and he had a history together. That being his consistent progress at making her job a living hell whenever he came to town since they were both fifteen. She'd been a new employee on a summer gig and he was a frequenting juvenile delinquent with a hand in knowing things he shouldn't. He was careful about what he did though, never enough to get her in serious trouble with her boss (he wasn't a monster after all), but just enough to piss her off. "Nah, she's just like that. I'm a wanted criminal here if you didn't know. Now c'mon."

Sirius looked rather dashing with his pale skin and face illuminated by the blinking lights of games they passed. The dozens of metal pins of his jacket reflected the light and sent colorful arrays of beams everywhere he walked as if the light bowed down to him instead of the other way around.

"How about this one?" Sirius asks eagerly while hovering over a center roulette game. The speeding light circled the table as if taunting him. "Seems simple enough. I could beat it."

"Cocky."

"You like it."

"Rather bold of you."

"Am I wrong?"

"Maybe I have a thing for other nerdy movie critics."

Sirius' laughing was like ripples in a still pond after a stone had been thrown in. It radiated outwards through the other excited yells of the room. Now they too began to titter and soon the ripples of laughter became great waves of hilarity as they hopped from game to game. Each one gave the same results: Sirius' ultimate failure and Remus' unsurprising success. Each time Sirius demanded him how he had done it.

"A magician never reveals his secrets. Especially not on the first date. That would be ludicrous."

The slippery, cold coins in a sweaty palm settled the swirling in his stomach at the feeling of the boy's attention on him. He really wasn't typically a nervous flirter. He'd had his fair share of lovers who came and left. He'd known Sirius barely less than a day and he could already tell there was something different about him. If that was a good thing or bad thing, he had no idea.

"This is no fair. I'm feeling out-sparked here." Sirius' hand slips off the joycon to the modern Pacman game. As the screen goes back to the leaderboard he catches the new name at the top of the list: Moony. "I'm starting to hate this guy,'' he says, staring down at it. It was the game he swore up and down he could beat anyone at while blind-folded but had spent the last twenty- minutes of futile attempts to beat Remus. His nickname shone proudly on the screen everywhere they went.

"I don't know. He seems like an alright bloke. Rather talented."

"Who's the cocky one now?"

Remus hums happily under his breath. "I built my talent from the ground up and know where they lie."

Sirius tilts his head then gives him a look. "So you're a geek as well as a nerd."

"Unless you're going for reverse psychology, you aren't doing well with this flirting thing. I'm pretty sure you're supposed to flatter me."

"You're immune to my charms. Had to weasel my way in somehow." Sirius throws the ball towards the Skee-Ball machine. It's the only one Remus can admit that they can match evenly on. "Is it working?"

Remus cracks his fingers nervously against his thigh. "I guess we have to wait and see."

Remus managed to win nearly a half-thousand tickets with the few meager quarters that were in his wallet. The grin on his face seemed nearly permanent. Sirius' was too.

Their last stop was a rickety claw machine in the back of the room. Sirius's smooth hands had circled his to pull him towards it, the large stuffed animals inside catching his attention. The contact had caught him off guard at first, but the way he would have thought. He'd only noticed when the warmth slid off.

The tip of Sirius' tongue sticks out as he tries to focus on grabbing the prize trapped inside the game's glass prison. It's adorable, he thinks. It's bright, like his name's sake. And he wonders what is being reciprocated if energy never really dies out because he was full of it. A star gives and gives until it eventually explodes. It was as inevitable as life.

? ﾟﾌﾣ?

In the dark of the fire, all Remus had seen was the brunette's high cheekbones and mischievous eyes. He danced like no one was watching, but of course, they all were and he looked like a fool. He just hadn't cared. His eyes were on the scrawny boy refusing to join him.

The oversized stuffed animal of a dog sat in Remus' lap as he watched from the sidelines. There were other teens and young adults gathered around the fire in the middle of the courtyard laughing loudly as they danced. Huge benches comforted those sitting down with warm embraces and cool sweets.

"You've got your mother in a whirl, She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl."

"C'mon Moony! It's my favorite song!"

"I never allowed you to call me that, you know."

Remus refused to dance. There was no way. He was plenty content watching Sirus though. He was a sight and everyone else around knew it.

"You're avoiding the point! Have some fun!" In one sudden movement, the boy yanked Remus upwards with surprising strength. The front of his body was thrown forwards, knocking the toy dog from his lap. His eyes went wide trying to regain his balance with the prosthetic before Sirius' unwavering grip steadied him on his feet.

"I'm really bad at dancing-"

"Who cares? You're never going to see any of these people again." He grabbed both of Remus' wrists and was moving them back and forth with his own to the beat of the music. "Why so uptight?"

"Sirius," he says, a little more strict this time. "I really can't dance." Technically, he could, but with the shoe over the shell meant he was more prone to falling and he wasn't ready to trip face-first into the fire.

Yet.

With his leg covered it took the boy a little longer to process the words. However, the moment's clarity was a brief one. "Well, you're fine right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I-"

"Then let's just do this then," Sirius says casually. "It's still dancing. And with me! Look, you're smiling! I told you you'll like it."

Remus was indeed smiling.

So they jived and shook to classic music like it was thirty years previously, every move a throwback to an era that had belonged to their parents. Remus didn't do much but shake his hips and arms whereas Sirius flourished.

The tour Remus had promised was long forgotten as the night got darker around them. The others around them slowly started to retreat back to their rooms to sleep the night away like normal people. Eventually they were alone.

"Hey babe, your hair's alright. Hey babe, let's stay out tonight!"