"Remind me again how you convinced me to go to a bar with you?" Remus scowled across the table where Alice was innocently stirring her long island ice tea with a red straw. It was admittedly one of the more upscale bars that he had seen, but it was still a bar nonetheless, and Alice knew full-well that Remus didn't approve of these types of locations. They attracted the wrong sort and, as officers of the law, it was important to keep their records clean.
She shrugged at him as she took a sip. "Francis said that it was a good place to meet up. It's pretty central for all of us as he lives on the east side, and you're south of here. His mate Alphard lives further west, and I'm just up the road a little. I guess he thought it would save everyone a bit of fuel."
"Except that you still picked me up."
"Well, it's the thought that counts. I didn't exactly tell him about your fear of public transportation and lack of a driver's license."
Remus looked around the bar, taking a closer look at their environment. It was dimly lit by string lights that trimmed the crown moldings and the oil lamps sitting on all the tables. The bar had an industrial vibe with dark wood flooring contrasting nicely with the bare concrete walls. At least twenty high tables with chrome accents and black stools littered the center of the room, while the perimeter was lined with corresponding booths. Near the front doors sat a simply decorated long bar with a dark quartz top and a generous selection of alcohol lining the wall behind. It was a rather cozy location and didn't have an overwhelming beer scent, which promised the guests weren't particularly sloppy.
The room was fairly crowded with several parties of various sizes filling up the other tables. There were business men dressed finely speaking in hushed tones with one another, as well as several groups of people on double-dates, dressed to the nines in finery in an attempt to outshine the other couple.
He stared self-consciously down at his navy blue jumper, khaki slacks, and brown work shoes, feeling a little under-dressed just looking at the other patrons, but Alice had assured him this location didn't have a dress code. She herself was wearing a simple flowing white blouse, tweed skirt, and black pumps, but the freshwater pearl necklace gracing her neck brought her appearance up to a level that matched the other guest's nicely.
"Oh, there he is!" Alice cooed as she stood up from her chair, waving at someone that stood in the doorway. "Francis! Over here!"
Remus turned to see a tall man with tightly curled brown hair walking towards them, a bright smile on his face. He was fortunately not dressed up, wearing only a red tee with a black blazer and a pair of nice jeans. He pecked Alice on her forehead before sitting down next to her and extending a hand out for Remus to shake, his light brown eyes fixed firmly on Remus.
"You must be Remus? I'm Francis Longfellow."
"Yes, Remus Lupin," he replied, shaking Francis' hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine. I have heard plenty of nice things about you, Remus."
He looked over at Alice in surprise. "Why have you been talking about me with him?"
"Well you are my best friend," she responded as if that was obvious.
Francis laughed. "She hasn't told me anything embarrassing. I promise!"
Remus looked back towards the door. "So you came alone?" He moved his eyes between Alice and Francis. "I was told I wouldn't be a third wheel," he started nervously. "I'd rather not watch you two on a date."
"You won't be," he quickly replied, smiling at Remus. "At least you better not be. Alphard told me he'd be coming, and he wouldn't dare stand me up. I made my stance very clear with him on coming tonight."
He nodded uncertainly. "Alright, as long as you're sure I'm not going to be the odd-one out."
"Oh, we'd never do that to you," Alice said, reaching to pat Remus' hand. "I just thought it would be good to have you meet my soulmate, and when Francis mentioned that he had a friend that has been feeling rather alone lately, I thought that we should get you two to meet."
"So you're trying to get me to make another friend so you won't feel bad about abandoning me in the future when you only have time for Francis?"
Alice mock gasped, placing her hand above her heart. "I would never abandon you!"
Remus laughed.
"In all seriousness though, from what Francis has told me about Alphard, I just thought you two would hit it off. You two have a lot in common and it'd be great for you to have another friend."
He frowned disbelievingly.
"That is true," Francis interjected. "So long as what Alice said about you is accurate. I won't bother telling you all the details, as I'm sure you'd rather get to know him for yourself, but you two will be good for each other. Especially since you're both single fathers, so you have something important you can relate to and maybe even help each other with."
"You told him about Teddy?" Remus asked accusingly, glaring at Alice.
"I didn't realize he was a secret!" Alice said, hands up defensively.
"It isn't, I just – I don't know this guy. I don't want him knowing about my personal life."
Francis offered him a reassuring smile. "Hey, look. No judgment okay? We all have a past."
Remus took a calming breath. It was irrational to be upset about Alice mentioning Teddy, but he couldn't help it. He just didn't like random people knowing stuff about him, even if this was his best friend's soulmate. He didn't know Francis, and that's all that mattered.
Noticing Alice's tea was empty, Remus offered to get the next round of drinks, checking with Francis what drink he should order Alphard. There was a long line and only one bartender, but he didn't mind having to wait. He was certain the newly found soulmates would appreciate a bit of alone time. As Remus headed for the bar, he heard the front door open again, but didn't bother turning around as a dark-haired man walked in.
The newcomer made his way to the table, draping his jacket over the chair back before sliding into the seat across from Francis in one fluid movement. He ruffled his wavy hair with his left hand, trying to hide any evidence of helmet head before giving a forced smile at his coworker.
"I'm glad to see you actually came, Alphard," Francis said in greeting.
Alphard shrugged, his expression tired. "I said I would, didn't I?" Gray eyes slid towards Alice, quickly taking in her facial features before extending a hand. "You must be Miss Alice Fortescue?"
"Ah, yes," she responded, clasping his proffered hand.
"You may call me Alphard White." He gave her a curt nod before pulling his hand back and straightening his black long sleeve shirt. Alphard leaned back in his hair as he allowed his gaze to roam around the room, clearly looking for something entertaining to watch.
"You cut your hair," Francis noticed, tilting his head in a curious gesture. "I thought you loved having long hair."
Alphard made a non-committal noise, not bothering to look at Francis as he spoke. "I wanted a change. I've had long hair since I left home and figured it was time to go for something different."
"I think your hair looks really nice," Alice said, smiling politely. "That's a good look for you. You sorta remind me of a ruffled greaser." She examined his facial features for a moment longer before grinning lightly. "Although I suppose greasers don't wear eyeliner and purple lipstick."
He looked at her as she spoke, but did not offer any further response.
Francis scowled. "This change doesn't have anything to do with Moony, does it?"
Alphard resumed his people-watching, not willing to take part in another conversation about his wayward soulmate.
"Moony?" Alice looked between the two men questioningly. "Who's that?"
"Alphard's soulmate."
"Really? I would've thought that Moony was a pet's name or something."
Francis snorted. "Yeah, that's what I thought, but that's the name Alphard picked for him."
"Picked for him? He picked his soulmate's name?"
"It was either that or not have a name for the bloke. Apparently, when they met, Moony just ran away without so much as an explanation or name."
"What?" Alice turned pitying eyes on Alphard. "So he rejected you for no reason?"
"Well, I'm sure there was a reason, but Alphard doesn't know what it is," Francis supplied.
"Still though – he's a soulmate. What kind of person would do that? That's just awful! It's the worst thing someone could ever do to their soulmate."
Alphard sighed loudly, shutting his eyes as he did so. "Really, Francis. Must you air my dirty laundry? I'm trying to move past this, alright?"
Alice ducked her head, clearly embarrassed for having pried.
"So you staying home to sulk every night is trying to move past this?" Francis asked, his voice laden with sarcasm.
Alphard glared. "You know I'm only here because you asked me to come. I don't want to be here and I will gladly leave if that's how you plan to treat me."
"And what will you do when you get home? Watch Homeward Bound for the eighth time this week?"
Alphard made to leave, the chair scraping loudly against the floor, but was stopped when Alice set her hand on his arm.
"Wait Alphard, please. My friend is here and I promised him that he wouldn't be a third wheel. At least hang out with him for a bit, yeah?"
He clenched his jaw but resumed his seat after a moment. "Fine," he conceded before pointing an accusing finger at Francis. "But you shut up about Moony, alright?" He scowled before pulling a box of cigarettes out of his pocket, putting one of the fags in his mouth. "Not everyone I talk to needs to know about my soulmate."
"Yeah, yeah," Francis agreed, raising his hands in surrender.
"Ah, Remus!" Alice said as she noticed Remus finally returning with a tray of drinks for the table.
As Remus placed the drinks in front of their respective recipients, Alphard lit up, taking a long drag. Remus placed the tray to the side before sitting in the chair beside Alphard, curiously looking at the other man. There was something oddly familiar about him, but he couldn't place his finger on it.
"Remus," Alice continued. "This is Francis' coworker, Alphard White." She gestured between them as she spoke. "And Alphard, this is my best friend, Remus Lupin."
Remus hesitated. The man still had his head turned away, as if more interested in the crowd than in meeting Alice's friend, but he held his hand out all the same. "Um, it's nice to meet you Alphard."
Alphard blew out a long stream of smoke before turning to look at Remus, eyes widening in recognition. "Moony," he breathed, his mouth hanging partly open.
Remus mirrored Alphard's reaction as he realized why this man had appeared familiar. "Sirius?"
"Moony?" Francis cut in. "That's Moony?"
"Wait," Alice started, "Why did you call him Sirius?"
"You nicknamed me Moony?" Remus questioned, realizing what Alphard – no, Sirius – called him.
"Well, you didn't give me your name," Sirius mumbled. "I had to call you something."
"But why Moony?"
"Look, that's all well and good, but why did you call Alphard Sirius?" Alice demanded. "Is he Sirius or is he Alphard?" Memories of earlier that week surfaced, and she gasped, eyes widening. "He's Sirius Black! That's why you were researching Sirius Black; Sirius Black is your soulmate!"
Sirius gave the woman a warning look, "Would you keep it down? If you carry on like that, you're only asking for trouble."
"What?" Alice asked, clearly not following.
"Don't you think there's a reason I introduced myself as Alphard White?"
Remus narrowed his eyes. "But you told me your name is Sirius Black, and I'm as much of a stranger as Alice is."
"Yeah, well, that's-" Sirius faltered. "I mean, you're my soulmate. I didn't want to start our relationship by lying to you."
"We don't have a relationship," he responded flatly, gesturing between them.
He flinched, his storm-colored eyes fixing themselves onto the wooden table as he took another long drag of the cigarette.
"It was rather foolish to tell Remus your real name, Sirius," Francis interrupted. "You know the consequences of people finding out our identities. We're supposed to be incognito at all times."
"Consequences?" Remus replied, looking across the table towards Francis. "Like if the police get wind of who he really is? Despite his surname, there isn't an active warrant on him." Remus didn't bother pointing out that Sirius had been assumed dead, as these two men were no doubt already aware of that.
"Wait a moment," Alice started, suspicion clear in her voice. "You said 'we'. What's your real name, Francis?"
Francis bit the inside of his cheek, clearly regretting not minding his words better. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Her eyes widened, the normally calm blue taking on a more erratic hue. "So you really aren't Francis Longfellow!"
"That's my name," he insisted, pulling out his identification card. "See, it says so right here."
"If she's really your soulmate, you can be honest with her Frank," Sirius murmured, stubbing out his finished cigarette in the glass ashtray.
"Frank?"
"Damn it, Sirius," Frank growled, shooting a glare across the table. "Just because someone is your soulmate doesn't mean you need to tell them everything the moment you meet them. Not everyone is willing to accept their soulmate. Certainly you know that."
His remark was met by a sharp hiss from Alice, a recoiling Remus, and a visibly wounded Sirius. If it wasn't for the lack of a red mark on his face, it would be easy to believe Sirius had been slapped.
"Shit," Frank started, reaching across the table for his coworker's arm that was swiftly kept out of reach. "I didn't think. Sirius-"
The stool nearly toppled over as Sirius quickly stood up, black hair swaying as he shook his head in dismissal. "No, you're right," his voice was strained as if fighting the temptation to cry. "I was being foolish. I should go."
"Wait Sirius," Alice interjected, her tone soft. "Please don't leave. I was really enjoying getting to know you."
He shook his head again as he put on his leather jacket, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the floor. "I promised McGonagall I'd have her report typed up in the morning and I haven't even touched it yet. It's probably best to get started on that; she isn't exactly known for her lenience." He forced a soft chuckle before waving. "Goodnight."
Frank and Alice offered him well wishes as Sirius strode away, slipping out the door without a glance back. When Remus moved his gaze back to his friend, she was giving him a meaningful look, but Remus was oblivious as to what meaning it was supposed to be.
"What?"
"Aren't you going to go after him?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Oh, I don't know," Alice said in mock-confusion, tapping her chin with her index finger. "Maybe because your his soulmate. He is clearly distressed, Remus."
Remus shook his head. "We aren't together though, and he knows it. He won't be expecting me to follow him."
"That doesn't matter, Remus. You should at least make sure he's alright. He looked pretty upset before he left."
He looked between the two of them before sighing dramatically and standing from his seat. "Fine, I'll check on Sirius. I don't see a point, but I'll do it if it gets you off my case."
As Remus crossed the room, he could just make out the sound of Alice beginning to interrogate Frank about his alias. While he was interested in learning more, he knew that she would certainly fill him in later.
Word Count: 2777
So, admittedly, this and the next chapter were all one scene, but I like symmetry and that made this WAY longer than the other chapters, so I had to split it up. Sorry! Fear not, though! I intend to post the next section soon (shouldn't be longer than a few days), so you won't be left with a cliff hanger for too long. I thought this was the best part to split it up, so please don't hate me!
Please review!