Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Warning: well, not any music stuff in here, so… not much besides preish-slash, I know. I'm cruel.
RRs:
ProtegoNox: Yes, he did come to the rescue, sans White steed. Or is it stead? Miles says both are correct… James' little thing heh. Here's an explanation I came up with right on the spot: he's away from his wife and son, he's been having to act all up tight and proper in London so he can't tease or torture anybody, and he's around people who remind him of a simpler time. Don't get too excited. By now you should've realized I never write what I'm supposed to.
Mortitia3: well, what to THs look like? Maybe I've seen one…in passing…while wandering half-drunk around a music store…in the middle of the night…
Drastic diner: You're right, there are a few good Remucius fics out in the world. Don't worry. Remus' whole thing with Regulus is that he sees Reg as a child looking for guidance(I think?) and as a younger more sociable version of Sirius.
Yourmomismyheart: I don't how many people saw that, but thanks for noticing! I felt really sneaky cool by putting that in there.
Charlotte Lazarus: Ah, the cello up the donkey is a fantasy I've had many a time between the two of them. It's not that I hat James, it's that I think that would be very erotic. If you think about it, cello is the most perverted instrument in the entire orchestra. They have G-strings, they finger, when they shift it s looks like a hand job, they have F-holes, they have tail pieces, they have both a scroll and end pin that can go you-know-where, and they are the only instrument that requires a woman to spread her legs to play. Trust me, I've gotten crap because of it.
Puffy Marshmallow: I'm not yet done with James, but he is a bit of a creep. Here's the update! Happy New Year! Quick Q: what is this year's animal? Last year was a chicken, I think.
Kim: They don't…hate…each other……ok, yes they do. But with good reason! That I can't think of right now. Yay! You brought drinks! Now, where is that rat poison… btw, should I wiggle peter in here somehow?
Zchocolatebunniesrulezworld: sorry to burst your giant parentheses filled bubble, but read on. I want to ruin it for you. I just have the feeling that you're going to hate me by the end of this chapter. A violinist eh? Sorry to make you guys out to be a dime a dozen, but it's true. Sorry. But you called them my characters! Thank you, I may get sued now, but I least I'll go down carrying my AU personalities.
AznRyoOhki: sorry, but I have to defend Sera and Andy…………ok I can't. But James is their friend too. And they're not sure that he was the one that beat up Remus, but if it did or ever does come to violence, they will defend Remus to the death! That cute little line, thank you for noticing! It is a little bit my favorite line in that chapter. Again, I don't write what I'm supposed to, I had to have James win, not sure why, but he had to. Thank you for the compliment. Action scenes, especially with music players, can be very, very, very difficult. I figured only cellists who had played Vivaldi would know what I was talking about.
Kenzigirl: You are so nice! You compliment me so much. I almost feel my fingers breaking in joy! Kidding. Question for you though: should I use Peter or no?
Chapter 7Remus' eyes narrowed. Even half-awake he could distinguish a wanted guest from an unwanted guest. "How did you find out where I lived?"
Sirius tried to catch his breath. "The phone book." Damnit. Them again.
Remus was still not about to let this person into his home. "Why are you here?"
A small smile settled itself on Sirius' lips as he glanced up at the hostile violist. "I'm still working on that one, but I've figured out where I came from and where I'm going."
Remus remained unamused. Sirius dropped his gaze and his light humor.
"I was worried about you."
Remus' silence invited Sirius to elaborate.
Sirius continued to look down, but his eyes found the floor of Remus' kitchen infinitely fascinating. "You didn't answer your phone."
Remus chose to respond with a biting and slightly sarcastic retort. "What, did you think that I sliced my wrists and was collapsed on the bathroom floor?"
Sirius locked eyes with Remus again with the barest of smiles on his face. "Wouldn't be my first time in that situation."
Remus' mouth shut and he lost the staring contest as he moved aside and let Sirius into his home.
The young man had caught most of his breath, but still had to fall onto the couch so he could hunt down the rest of it. Remus silently went into the kitchen and poured Sirius a glass of tap water. He walked into his living area and handed it to his guest. Sirius took it with an unspoken thanks. Remus sat down on the other side of the couch facing Sirius, with his arm crossed on his knees. He stared at him as Sirius drank down the water. Sirius turned to Remus once he realized he was being watched intently. His raised eyebrow requested that Remus be the first to talk.
His eyes were only ones to speak.
Sirius sighed in slight exasperation. He closed his eyes, counted to ten, and then opened them again. "What do you want me to do?"
Remus remained silent, but his passive stare kept Sirius from just leaving. He finished his lukewarm tap water and took it the kitchen. He saw a few dirty dishes and no dishwasher. He guessed Remus hated the sound and preferred to do everything by hand. Wordlessly, Sirius squeezed some liquid soap onto a sponge and cleaned his glass, along with the hand full of other dishes in the sink. He set them to dry in the drying rack, and then put the dry dishes away that had been there previously.
The entire time, Remus watched his every move silently.
Sirius returned from the kitchen and mirrored Remus' position. Sirius glanced at Remus' eyes before resting on the violist's hands. His eyes softened as he remembered how Remus had gripped the sides of his piano bench. Unasked, he took Remus' left hand his own hands and began to slowly massage the fingers. Tension could do Hell to a musician's joints.
"I'm sorry." Sirius' apology startled Remus, but he made no outward sign. Sirius continued, not looking at Remus. "I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. It was a very childish thing to do." Remus wasn't exactly sure what Sirius was talking about, but let him go on. "I know it was stupid of me to goad James like that, but I didn't want him to think of me as insignificant." Sirius stopped massaging Remus hand for a second and took a breath. "And, it was rude of me to investigate about my brother."
Remus' eyes jumped from Sirius' hands to his still downward gaze. Sirius began working Remus' joints again.
"I knew it had to be my brother. I first thought he was involved with you when I caught his scent that one time. Then when I heard you playing inside the Black Tree Hotel I saw him at the bar." He glanced up at Remus. "You sounded very nice." He then averted his gaze. "I walk by there every now and then, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He's gotten a lot older. He almost looks like me when I was his age. I hope he grows up to be the heir I never wanted to be. He tried to, er, off himself when I threatened to leave. He begged me to do what father asked. When I left, I got a call a few days later from my mother, telling me that he was being treated at the Anul Kys Hospital for a suicide attempt and psychological damage. I had hoped to never feel like that again."
Remus felt the guilt shredding his insides. Like it would've been so hard to just pick up the damn phone. He put his head and tried to compose himself. He had to be in control or else he was going to be taken advantage of again. Once his face was silent he faced Sirius. The cellist was still concentrating on Remus' hand.
"I want to know what history you and James have, but that would be inappropriate. I willingly offered mine. I have no bargaining chip to get yours. I suppose," he softly smiled in a painful fashion, "you could say, I lost." He looked up to see tears gracing Remus cheeks and sliding down into the fleece blanket. Sirius looked worried. "I'm sorry! What did I say?"
Remus could only close his eyes and shake his head slowly from side to side. He stopped and looked at Sirius with a smile. "It's nice to meet someone who knows what I want to say, and answers my silent questions."
Sirius was taken aback, and wasn't sure how to respond. After a few moments of silence he tried to subtly check his watch for the time. "Oh wow, I'm sorry. It's almost 1. I should be going now." He released Remus' hand and got up off of the couch. He walked to the door and grabbed the door handle.
"Please." He paused at Remus' voice. "Stay." He turned around and saw Remus sitting facing him with his knees no longer shielding him. In fact, Remus looked very vulnerable and Sirius had learned not to leave fragile people alone. He walked back to Remus and sat as far as he could from him, without looking like he was trying to avoid the formally hostile violist.
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. Slowly, the silence became more and more relaxed 'til both musicians fell asleep.
Sirius awoke to a face full of curly dark brown hair. He felt his arm comfortably thrown over the waist of Remus. Remus! Adrenaline pumped through his system as he realized his predicament. He slipped out of his trapped position between the back of the couch and Remus' back without awaking him.
Sirius gave himself a little pat on the back as he silently left Remus' apartment. He wasn't sure why he felt scared. It just didn't seem like a wise choice to have Remus wake up next to him in that position. It might've jeopardized all of the progress he made last night.
Remus awoke to find himself alone on the couch next to a cold indent in the cushions. It still bore Sirius' scent, a faint aroma of rosin and Everclear. Remus turned so he could trace Sirius' outline in the plush material. He wasn't sure why he let Sirius stay the night, but he felt his chest twinge at the fact that Sirius wasn't here to wake with him. Remus shut his eyes and finally got up to change.
After his shower and breakfast Remus had a brilliant idea. He went into one of his lower kitchen cabinets and pulled out his phonebook. He looked up Sirius' number and dialed it. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
"Hello?" Oh, Remus could almost smell rosin.
"Hi Sirius, this is Remus. I was just wondering if you would be willing to turn my pages at my next performance at the Black Tree Hotel." Remus bit his lip and waited with baited breath.
"I suppose I could."