A/N: A HUGE thank you to my reviewers/alerters. It is because of you that I update quickly. Enjoy!

Warnings: A wee bit of violence and implied non-con. (Oh's no's!) Made up for with sexual tension up the wazoo. ;-) This is a slash fic in case you missed that!

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue.

Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered. - Marilyn Monroe

Chapter 3: A bear and his master

"Well look who decided to finally show his face again."

Remus tensed, shoulders hunched.

"What's the matter cub? Decided to take a vacation? Forgot you had nowhere else to go? Or did you just miss me too much?"

Remus kept his eyes on the ground and turned to face Mr. Grey. He could hear the shuffling of the other lads scurrying away from the sadistic whoremaster. Remus had broken the rules and left his work, he knew better than to expect help from the others.

Mr. Grey grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back sharply so that Remus was staring at the warehouse ceiling, he could feel Gray's hot breath against his throat. A pigeon flitted nervously against the skylights as trapped and desperate as Remus was, as Remus had been all his life.

"I got a good job…" Remus stuttered.

Crack. Gray slapped him across the face hard. His large silver ring cut Remus's cheek.

"Did I give you permission to speak bitch?" Gray's fingers tightened in the roots of Remus's hair and his scalp burned. Gray slapped him again and Remus tasted blood, his ears ringing. Gray examined him closely for any thing other than total submission before speaking.

"Now you may answer me cub. Explain to me why you thought it might be a good idea to disobey me and go off when there were plenty of cocks to be sucked tonight. Hmm?"

Remus drew a shuddering breath, locking away his pain and fear and adopting a dead look in his eyes.

"Sirius Black." He said simply. He hated to say the name of the handsome man who had treated him like a human being out loud in this filthy place, but knew it would catch Gray's interest.

"Go on." Mr. Gray growled loosening his grip in Remus's hair slightly.

"The Sirius Black approached me tonight and offered me a job. He wants to pay me to spend the day with him Saturday, and I accepted."

"How much?"

"500 hundred pounds." Remus said quickly. He would be damned if he was going to let Gray take all his hard earned money like he always did. He'd been holding back a little here a little there for years now, hoping to put together some money to run away on, but it had never been enough. But now? He just hoped he could get away with it.

"500 hundred fucking pounds? For your scrawny arse?" Gray threw back his head and howled with laughter. "Better him than me then. Specially since I get you whenever I please for free, isn't that right my pretty little whore?"

Mr. Gray traced Remus's cheek with a dirty finger, stinging as his nail dragged across the open cut.

"Yes Mr. Gray." Remus said submissively.

"You done good cub." Gray chuckled letting go of his hair and ruffling it affectionately. "Real good. Always knew you'd be worth the few pounds I gave your shit mother.

Remus winced.

"Ya'll hear what our Remus has hooked me?" Mr. Gray yelled to other boys lurking around the edges of room. "You all could learn a thing or two from him, eh?" Gray slapped Remus on the arse. "You can have the rest of Saturday off. Just be sure to bring daddy back that 500 pounds, mmm?" Mr. Gray gave him a warning look and Remus nodded hastily.

"Yes Mr. Gray."

"Now get back outside, you've got a whole night of work to make up for."

Saturday couldn't come fast enough for Remus. Although he constantly reminded himself that it was just another job, just another client, Remus was excited to see the ebullient Sirius Black again. The man just seemed to shine a light on those around him. Remus could do with a little light in his life. Even if it was just a second hand glimpse. And a day off was nothing to scoff at either, Remus reasoned wiping his mouth and collecting his money from yet another post coital and fumbling customer.

He counted the cash right there quickly before leaving. A client had stiffed Remus once and Mr. Gray had not been forgiving. Never again.

"Can… can I kiss you?" said the man who said his name was John (uh huh)

"No," Remus said shortly without looking up from the money.

"Please? Just a goodbye kiss… I'll pay you?"

"No." Remus repeated bored. This man was a regular of his. He drove round every Friday night 11 o'clock on the button. He was a bit shorter than Remus and looked (and felt) soft everywhere, giving him something of a baby look, emphasized by his thin blond hair and big blue eyes that squeezed shut when he came.

Remus supposed he was an all right sort. Reliable as a sinking rock, never too rough, never tried to cheat Remus out of pay, and rich if his soft hands and pampered attitude were anything to go by. He certainly never looked at home in this neighborhood. But then who did? Even plague infected rats used the buddy system around these parts.

The only thing that Remus couldn't stand about Friday 11'o'clock, what he called "John", was the man's weekly request to kiss him.

"So you'll su… suck me off but you won't kiss me?" Friday 11 pouted.

"Yup," said Remus shortly. "Don't take it personal," he continued, "I don't kiss anyone I don't like." Truthfully Remus had never kissed anyone at all, ever. It was the irony of being a prostitue. He had had more sex in nineteen years than some had in a lifetime but had completely skipped over those intimate moments. Fucking was one thing. Every animal did it. But kissing? It just didn't feel right to share that kind of intimacy with someone he didn't even like. And sadly Remus had never met anyone he remotely cared about or, worse yet, actually cared about him.

The man looked hurt, "Fine, fine. If that's the way it is. I thought I meant a little more than that to you Remus but I guess I was wrong." He stalked out of the alley to his waiting car.

Remus let him go. It wasn't uncommon for regular clients to delude themselves into thinking this was some sort of relationship. They would buy Remus chocolates or give him a little extra money "to buy something for yourself from me" and then huff and puff like Romeo walking in on Juliet in bed with Mercutio when he refused to kiss them and their dirty little fantasy life was shattered. But they'd always be back, begging and apologizing, saying things like "Couldn't stay away from you" and "let's never fight again". This man was no different. He would see him next Friday on the dot of eleven. If it was a minute sooner or later then he would be very much surprised.

Remus stretched and headed back to the warehouse to hand in his nightly earnings to Mr. Gray.

Tomorrow was Saturday. He felt a flutter of butterflies in his stomach. Not that that means anything. I mean, everyone gets excited for the weekend…

Right. The weekend.

Sirius paced restlessly on the steps of City Bank. He checked his watch again, 1:55. Only a minute later than when he had checked it at 1:54. God damn. Sirius didn't know why he was so anxious over a rent boy. But something about Remus had unsettled him.

It's nothing, Sirius told himself. So an undeniably gorgeous man catches my eye. I'd be blind not to be excited.

But Sirius knew it wasn't just the boy's good looks that had him tossing in bed and kicking off the sheets every night since they met. There was something indefinable about Remus. In the way he moved and the way he talked. When Sirius spoke to him it was like he was only scratching the surface of a complex and remarkable glacier. His banter reflected off of disquietingly cold and barren eyes where something fascinating lurked beneath, like sunken treasure beneath the frozen, opaque ice of the sea. Sometimes Remus's eyes would flash pure gold like pirate coin in the sun and Sirius would be left breathless.

He ran a hand through his hair and checked his watch again, 1:57.

He wasn't even making sense now. It must be this damn break up with Lucius that had kept him up all night and befuddled his mind with misplaced fancy and convoluted metaphors. Sunken treasure indeed. That's really reaching Sirius.

Still, he couldn't lie, it had been thoughts of the beautiful whore that kept him up through the night. Picturing how his eyes would glint gold when he was laughing and carefree, or angry and dominant or looking up with his mouth wrapped around Sirius's cock…. Oh bugger. Who was he kidding?

"Sirius?"

Sirius dragged himself out of his thoughts reluctantly to find the very man standing in front of him, a step below.

"Gahhh… Remus! Ah. Excellent to see you." Sirius checked his watch, 2:00. "And right on time as well, capital."

Remus shrugged. "I'm a strict believer in accuracy I've found that hitting exactly the right time… or the right spot, can make a world of difference."

Sirius blushed a little and shook himself. What are you 12? You are a wealthy, powerful, smart, bloody gorgeous man. Not a teenager with a crush. Pull it together.

"Shall we get going?" Remus nodded and the two of them walked the few blocks to Sirius's town house in silence. He let them in the front door and although Remus didn't say anything Sirius could hear him examining the rich surroundings. Sirius's chest puffed a bit in pride at this. He had worked hard on this place and it showed. The walls were bright and colorful and the furniture modern and elegant. Art pieces were positioned tastefully throughout the house. All in all the place was rich and stylish. Sirius knew Remus would be impressed.

Sirius allowed him time to admire in what was hopefully silent awe before walking up behind Remus who was examining a rather avant garde bronze statue he had spent a fortune on last summer when bronze was making a comeback.

"Stunning, isn't it?" said Sirius. "When I look at this I see mold work reminiscent of Rodin. The almost impressionist attitude makes me think of a field of geraniums post bloom. While the classical base and proportioning is distinctly classical and invokes images of ancient Rome. What do you see when you look at this Remus?"

Remus leaned forward studying the statue base carefully. "I see dog piss."

"What..?" Sirius leaned in as well and sniffed. "Padfoot!!!!"

Remus watched what seemed to be an apocalyptic epic unfolding before him as he relaxed at the kitchen counter.

Sirius had hunted down a small bear, which he insisted was actually a dog, lurking under the dining room table. He yelled and cursed at the beast to "get out from under there and face the music", which apparently the 'dog' refused to do. Probably because it was a bear and above such things, Remus contemplated.

Sirius had then dropped to his hands and knees and crawled under the dining room table to forcibly remove the black hairy creature only to have it run away from him and around the table. Sirius crawled after it cursing and growling.

"Hello?" A pretty, slightly heavy set young woman with bright red hair entered the room and addressed Remus ignoring the chase going on at ground level.

"You must be Master Sirius's friend. The one I'll be fitting for a suit today?"

"Yes, that's me. My name's Remus. Thank you for doing this at such short notice."

"Oh not at all luv. Molly Weasley." She shook his hand. "My husband and I have been taking care of Master Sirius for quite some time now and we've learned how to keep up and roll with the punches. You never know when something's going to need doing when you're working for a man as important as the master."

Remus glanced at Sirius who had managed to grab hold of the bear/dog's tail and was currently wrestling with the animal, and apparently losing.

"What say we get you upstairs so I can get those measurements." Mrs. Weasley continued, unperturbed by the death struggle going on at their feet.

"Should we perhaps…" Remus gestured hopelessly at the rolling pair. There was a lot of growling going on but coming from who exactly he wasn't sure.

"Oh they'll be fine. Neither of them can stay mad for long." Mrs. Weasley said dismissively. "You see? They're already making up."

She was right, Remus noted, turning back to the pair. Sirius and his pet, were both now hugging and whining apologetically.

"He and Padfoot just need to have their post fight cuddle now. If we head upstairs Master Sirius will be up soon."

"How… romantic." Remus followed Mrs. Weasley upstairs into the master bedroom.

"Master Sirius lay something out for you already. Do you like it?"

Remus was startled by how much he liked it. A gorgeous suit lay on the bed. It had a 1920's look to it. Light gray coat, pants and waistcoat of very fine and expensive material and a silk black button down to go under.

"It's lovely." Remus murmered, as he fingered the suit appreciatively. "Really lovely."

"I'm glad you're pleased." Came a familiar voice. Sirius was leaning casually in the bedroom doorway looking flushed, his hair ruffled and his shirt riding up slightly exposing the smooth skin directly above his waistband. Remus's eyes were drawn to the naked skin and he licked his lips unconsciously.

Sirius watched Remus's eyes drop to his crotch and felt his pants grow tighter.

"Arms up luv. I've got to take your measurements now." Mrs. Weasley broke the silence bustling up to Remus with a measuring tape hanging from her fingers.

Sirius continued to watch as Remus raised his arms high above his head, crossing his wrists seductively. Mrs. Weasley measured his chest and Remus made heavy lidded eye contact with Sirius over her head before dragging his teeth over his lower lip. He released it with a pop.

"Now your legs dear."

Remus spread his legs keeping his arms above his head in a pinned position. Sirius dragged his eyes up and down Remus's lithe body finally catching his eyes that flashed the gold of his fantasies. Remus raised one eyebrow and smiled knowingly.

Sirius bit back a moan.

"All right dear." Mrs. Weasley said getting to her feet, "That's you finished. I'll get to work altering these," she said and gathered suit off the bed. "It should be done in an hour or so."

"Thanks Molly. I don't know what I'd do without you. Probaby turn feral, living naked and hunting Padfoots fleas for my supper." Sirius smiled and winked. Mrs. Weasley blushed and hurried from the room.

"You're something of a flirt… Master Sirius."

Sirius smiled and walked straight up to Remus until they were practically touching. He breathed in the man's scent, an alluring mix of rain and smoke and peppermint.

"Jealous Remus?"

"Mmmm, just making an observation."

Sirius opened his mouth to respond when he noticed the healing cut on Remus's cheek.

"You're cut." Sirius said.

"I'm sorry. I know it isn't attractive." Remus replied ducking his head.

"That's not what I meant." Sirius argued gripping the man's chin and guiding his face back up to look at his own. "I'm just concerned that you're hurt." He brushed the pad of his thumb gently over the healing cheek and Remus's eyeslids fluttered before he pulled away.

"Don't be. If it's not a problem than it's not your concern." Remus's voice was brusque and all business and Sirius stepped back startled. Had he imagined the flirtation between them? Or had Remus just pretended to like him? It was his job after all. He was a whore and Sirius was his client. Nothing more. It was stupid of him to think anything different. This whole thing was stupid.

Sirius walked away and ran an agitated hand through his hair.

"I have some things to take care of. The bathroom's through there. You can take a shower if you want. Molly should have the suit ready soon. I will see you later this evening."

Remus shrugged emotionlessly. The 'dead' facade back in place and Sirius felt a wave of anger and humiliation course through him.

"Right, fine." He stalked out of the room and downstairs to his study locking the door behind him feeling sexually and emotionally frustrated.

Remus let out the breath he had been holding. Here he had a man who was paying him not to sleep with him and Remus had to bloody go and lead him on. Why? Because this client is a little better looking than average? Because he's sweet to his own bloody monster dog? What was wrong with him? Remus's cheek tickled where Sirius had stroked his thumb and he scratched angrily at it. It was this stupid hired to be in a relationship and not shagging thing. It was weird and Remus was out of his element.

Psh, and they say sex complicates things. He'd prefer giving a quick 15 pound blow any day to this… this… whatever this was. His cheek tingled.

Stupid cheek. Remus stripped out of his clothes and took a nice cold shower.

A/N: GAH! A pipe burst while I was uploading this. Water everywhere. Mopping up puddles in my bare feet. :-( PLEASE REVIEW! Your words will warm my soggy soul. :-)