Chapter Text
The first thing Sirius did was ask for him. One elder employee had enthusiastically told him he last saw him in the Frozen Foods section, but he wasn't there when Sirius casually made his way there. He asked another employee and had only said he didn't know where Remus was, grumpily. The last was the least helpful, who had only looked at him and asked "who?". In the end, he was forced to walk around the huge store with a shopping trolley.
He added random objects to it, to appear like he was only there for supplies if he magically bumped into Remus. He was practising his lines and his manners in his head, so he could be prepared in any different situation. Of course, in his head, Sirius was smooth and charming, and Remus ended blushing and begging him to take him on a date.
Once every scenario, Sirius had to remind himself he was the one simpering over the employee and not the other way around. There was still the huge possibility he was either straight or taken, which would make Sirius' plan and preparations useless. There was one more possibility, and that was Remus was gay, available, and simply uninterested, but that was the very last of his worries. Sirius laughed selfishly because look at him. He was extremely good looking, and he had put extra effort this day to look hot.
He passed through the hygiene section, the flours, fruits and vegetables, the meats, grabbing random items he would return as soon as he finished his mission. He had a plan in his head, and if Remus wasn't showing up today, then Sirius would come back tomorrow, then the next day and the next until he saw him again. It was most likely Remus would forget him if too much time had passed, but Sirius needed would do the same as he'd done the last day and then come back again, as many times as needed until Remus would at least go out with him.
An hour passed, but Sirius didn't give up. He'd walked the entire store twice and had run into the same employee three times, and each time she'd give him an even more questioning look. Why can't that be Remus? He asked and rolled his eyes the three times. The possibility that Remus wasn't here became more and more real. Or, the hopeful part of Sirius' brain, said they had been walking in circles and he had to walk the other way around, and look more closely.
His pocket buzzed with a text. Sirius rested his arms on the handle and took his phone out, staring at a message from James.
(10:38) While you're there can you get granola? And Lily asks for olive oil, thanks :*
Sirius rolled his eyes and made his way to the grain and cereals, might as well. There were about ten different brands of olive oil's, and he took five minutes in reading each of the ingredients and labels. In the selected one randomly. He walked to get the granola, dragging his legs and supporting his body weight on the trolley, his feet getting tired. Again, there were countless different bags and boxes of granola, each with one more different ingredient than the last one.
He reached for the one with the prettiest design in the end; a pink bag with black bold letters. When Sirius made to throw it to the trolley he stopped short, hearing distant ticks. He looked around, then down, and realized the floor was now filled with nuts and almonds. The bag was opened. Some person that gave zero fucks had opened the granola bag and left it on the shelf. As to make it even crueller, it was the only one left of the same brand.
Sirius considered for a second picking up the few foods from the floor, put them back and then walk away as casual as he could. Though the rational part of him won, and he decided to take the item to an employee like any normal customer would. Even if Sirius' could care less about what a civilised person would do and just wanted another chance to see Remus.
"You're supposed to pay before you open the products," a voice came from beside him.
There were millions of different outcomes on how the next moment could have happened. And every single one of them would have been better than what happened in reality.
For one, the voice came out of nowhere. There was no sound around Sirius other than his voice inside, then suddenly someone was talking, and it sounded like a gunshot against the quietness of a night. For another part, he was holding an opened bag with stuff inside that easily slipped with even the slightest of movements. Lastly, it wasn't a regular employee. The universe had magically chosen the one employee who Sirius didn't want to encounter in a situation like this.
Sirius slowly turned his head, dreading the moment he had been anxiously looking forward to. How the tables had turned.
Remus was snickering almost quietly, but enough for Sirius to hear it loud and clear. He had powder, nuts, almonds, oats and a few raisins on his clothes, even more spilt on the floor, and he could feel some in his hair, thanks to the jump scare he got. The bag was in his hands. He stayed still for a few seconds, considering that maybe he had imagined a voice, and if he moved one more muscle something even more embarrassing could happen. Which he doubted, since that small, panicked yelp that came out of his mouth a few seconds ago was the worst part of it all.
He figured acting like a statue would just take things to a whole other level of awkwardness. Inevitably, Sirius moved. He placed the bag on the shelf with a small huff. The least he could manage was pretend it had been funny, even if he wanted the earth to swallow him and never let him out. He turned to the voice, and so did his stomach.
So many emotions came to Sirius in two seconds. Excitement, nervousness, disappointment. Remus looked exactly like he had yesterday; impossibly tall, blonde-brownish mop of hair that hung on his forehead in curls, freckles on his long nose and big eyes. Beautiful honey eyes. Except his shirt revealed his arms much more, Sirius noticed with a hard swallow. His shirt was tight on him, and the sleeves were too short on his biceps that, well, Sirius struggled to tear his eyes away from them. It wasn't that they were huge, but they were pale and defined, and that was enough to make Sirius crazy.
The disappointment part was when Sirius smiled at him shyly, he was sure Remus didn't recognize him. He smiled like any ordinary person would when they faced a funny scene. To hide his frown, he dusted himself off, shrugging at his jacket, arms and plucked the little remains out of his hair. He placed them on the shelf, not knowing what to do with them. Then he finally decided to speak up. "I didn't, I mean... It was already opened, I swear."
Remus laughed again and took the bag from Sirius' hands. And no, Sirius couldn't keep his mind under control when they touched fingers. Remus shook his head and clicked his tongue with a smirk. "Someone's getting fired," he chuckled. He had said something similar yesterday, so Sirius wondered if maybe he did recognize him.
His heart made a little twirl at the thought. "Is this the only one there?"
"Uh, yeah," Sirius answered, taken aback by the question. It was a normal question, but he was asking Sirius, looking at him in the eyes. That alone was enough to make Sirius swoon.
"Ah, bad luck," he said with a smile. "I'll bring you another want if you want."
"Oh, nah," Sirius waved off. "I don't care about the brand. I just want granola." James wouldn't mind in the slightest.
"Okay, if you're sure. How's the shampoo on your hair, by the way?"
Sirius' eyes widened shamelessly. Right there in front of Remus, facing him, exposing himself. His words died on his throat and his belly turned so many times it was going to beat the record of tumbling in the Olympics. To make it even worse– or better, Sirius didn't know, Remus was smirking smugly, biting the edge of his lip.
He didn't know what to do or say, so he just smiled back, the most flirtatious grin Sirius could muster. "Was that a good recommendation or not?" Remus asked again.
"Yeah! It was great. Thanks for your help," shrugged Sirius, acting like he wasn't exploding on the inside.
"No problem, Sirius," he winked.
Sirius grinned even more, feeling his heart beat faster. It was somehow scary. No one, in Sirius' 21 years of life, had ever winked at Sirius and made him have the effects he was feeling right now. Something was very wrong with suave, smooth Sirius Black. Something six feet tall with long legs. Something that Sirius needed to touch, to look at forever, to hold and never let go.
"Forgot some things yesterday, did you?" Remus asked again, interrupting Sirius' daydreams.
"Yeah, pfft," he snorted, slapping his own forehead lightly. Remus looked at his trolley with raised eyebrows. Sirius laughed nervously, knowing damn well the objects in it were very different, and not at all necessary. Especially the box of feminine hygiene towels he had carelessly tossed without even realizing what it was. Remus seemed to notice them and looked at him with amused raised eyebrows, and Sirius' face heated up. "I live with my sister," he added with a laugh.
Remus made an 'oh' with his mouth, looking like he was enjoying this much more than Sirius was.
Sirius remembered what he was here for. Remus did remember him, so that made everything at least a little bit easier. The problem was he had no idea how to approach the question. Sure, they knew each other, but their relationship was strictly worker-customer. Not even friends.
So Sirius went with the safest option, which had already proven to work. "So, Remus. Could you help me get to the toilet papers? I have no idea where to find them."
Remus smiled, "follow me." Sirius followed, giddy and ready to break into a silly dance, but held it in. He walked beside him again, matching his stride. This time, he decided to ask a simple question. Some people would've found it odd to ask, and Sirius hoped Remus wouldn't be one of them.
"Say, Remus, how old are you?" he asked quickly, ready to say 'nothing' of Remus didn't hear well. Instead, he looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and Sirius quickly added, "because you look young, is all."
"I'm twenty-one. Just turned actually," he answered.
"Really? So am I," said Sirius, very naturally (though something inside him was screaming). "When was your birthday?"
"March 10. How about you?" Remus asked him. That was good, Sirius told himself. The conversation wasn't one-sided. He tried not to grin to himself, biting his cheek.
"I'll be twenty-two on November third."
They fell into silence again, until they arrived at another aisle where there were rows and rows of toilet papers. Sirius considered asking Remus for another recommendation, but if that wasn't too obvious then nothing else was. There was that moment again, where they both wanted to talk but had no idea what to say but wanted to so desperately. At least Sirius did, but he didn't know about Remus.
"Hopefully you won't forget anything this time," said Remus with a smile.
"I have a list, don't worry. And thank you, again," added Sirius.
"No problem. If you ever come back again, don't hesitate to ask for me or find me. I'd love to help you again," he said. Sirius was very confused by that last part. On one hand, he was doing his job, being polite and happy to be of service. On the other hand, Sirius was no stranger to flirty undertones in a phrase. And that had a lot. It could have easily meant "I'd love to see you again", or "Please come back", or many others. So Sirius just smiled again and said thank you.
He returned almost every item on his trolley, except for the granola, olive oil and milk. Sirius couldn't wipe his satisfied smile, because he would come back, and it would be so much easier. He didn't even care about that same employee he ran into again, giving him an ever more weirded-out look as she saw Sirius return a box of feminine pads.
---
Sirius was still a mumbling, stammering mess in the beginning. But it did get a lot easier to make conversation after he regained his confidence.
He went back to Tesco two days later. This time he asked only two other employees. A young worker, who couldn't have been older than eighteen, was the helpful one, who smiled and told Sirius that Remus was most likely in the Sauces and Spices section. And he was.
Sirius didn't even come up with an excuse this time, and Remus didn't bother to ask him why he had been to Tesco three times in only five days. He just smiled and said hello. And just like that, they were having a normal conversation about the dumbest things Sirius came up with. Remus' favourite colour was green, his favourite band at the moment was Kings of Leon, he had two cats at home, which he shared with his mum. Unluckily, Sirius couldn't figure if he was taken or single, gay or not, interested or not. But Remus didn't mention anything related to relationships, so that was mostly a good sign. On the other hand, Sirius mentioned clearly, and twice, that he was single and living with his best friend.
In exchange, Sirius told Remus the same about him, meaning to sound interesting and hoping Remus would want to know more. All while Remus stacked products, helped other customers, organized shelves, and Sirius followed him like a puppy. Though Remus didn't seem to mind, given he didn't stop smiling the entire time.
Sirius had much more control over his actions. Sure, often Remus would smirk, lick his lips or blink slowly, batting his lashes very beautifully that Sirius felt like blacking out in that instant. But most of the time he was calm. He was finally able to be his flirtatious self and was more aware of every attempt ha made to flirt with him; he would push Remus playfully, he would give him his most charming grin, he would wink at him, or he would say suggestive comments, discreet but obvious enough.
So, either Remus hated it or was oblivious.
Sirius went back two days after, and then the next day again. Now there were no more uncomfortable silences, but calm and nice. Sirius never could tame the butterflies going wild in his stomach, but he managed to not look like he was going crazy when Remus did as much as just blink at him.
That last day, Sirius was extra obvious on his flirting, hoping Remus would get the hint. But Remus would simply laugh or smile, even smirk. If Sirius didn't know better, he understood everything and just loved to tease him.
"So, you don't have better things to do than hang around a store? Surely your life isn't that boring," said Remus. They had been almost an hour talking, and Sirius had no intention of leaving. Well, not for the next three hours before he had his late shift at The Three Broomsticks.
"I do, but I'd much rather spend my time here. With you, more specifically," he replied confidently. Though he still high-fived himself mentally when Remus smiled and even blushed just the slightest.
"Your life is pretty boring, then. A random employee against your, I'm assuming, millions of friends and suitors."
Sirius grinned. Who was going to tell Remus that he had only three best friends, and maybe Dorcas? And suitors? "You're much more fun! And much better looking than the suitors."
"Right," laughed Remus. That right there was what was insufferable about people like him. They were built like gods and had faces like models, yet their humility blinded them from seeing how beautiful they were. Sirius wanted to tell him it was true, to yell it, hell. But he bit his lip, not wanting to take three steps back after the slow pacing of their relationship. Friendship? Maybe they could be considered friends. "Well, I go home in five minutes," he said, looking at the watch on his wrist.
Five minutes was very little time, Sirius frowned. "Oh, how sad. I'll miss you." Remus shook his head, smiling. Sirius had no idea how this was going to finish, so he wasted no time in figuring it out. He was there for a reason, wasn't he? Remus turned to help a young girl, and Sirius seized the few seconds to breath in and out. Just ask him! But a nagging voice was telling him not to, that Remus would laugh and turn him down. He shook those thoughts away, he was Sirius fucking Black, for fuck's sake, and he could do this.
Remus turned back again, and he was going to say something. Sirius spoke first, with his voice lower so he could hide the quiver in it. "Are you leaving, then?"
"Yeah. I'll see you again, though, right? You always make an appearance here."
"Sure, of course. But," he started. Remus was looking at him with big, clueless eyes. Bless him really, Sirius would miss that look if things went wrong. "You could see me outside the store. Would you like that?"
Remus didn't answer immediately, and his voice was unreadable. "In the parking lot?"
Sirius let out a breathy laugh. "No, I mean, outside outside. Not anywhere near Tesco. Like, coffee, maybe?"
"Oh," his smile faltered and he pursed his lips. Sirius' insides contracted. "Like... a date?"
"If you want to, yeah. I mean that's what I was thinking. Because I kinda like you, y'know?" said Sirius, without even thinking about it. His mouth had simply opened and pressed auto-pilot. "And I have fun here. We have fun, don't we? Am I pressing too much? I just thought that–"
"Sirius," interrupted Remus. Sirius shut his mouth instantly. Remus was smiling nervously, looking down. Sirius felt something in his throat, seeing the rejection from a mile away. "I'm sorry, I'm not- I don't... fuck. I- I feel horrible, I do. But I don't... I'm sorry."
Sirius nodded like a five-year-old and started talking fast. The sooner he got out of there, the better. "It's fine. Don't worry, you're fine. It was a silly thing to ask, I don't like you that much. You're straight, I get it," he was babbling now, and his chest felt so heavy. He barely knew Remus, but the rejection hurt like lemon on an open wound. He had been so sure, so sure, but no, he apparently hadn't. "Or taken. You're probably not interested in me, I get it. I have to go anyway."
"Sirius, I didn't mean to sound harsh. I'm not stra-"
"Don't," interrupted Sirius. He looked at him now, earnest eyes. The last time he would see them. James was going to do the buying from now on because there was no way in hell Sirius was coming back. "I'll go. Bye Remus," and he walked away.
His strides were long, fast and trembling. It really shouldn't hurt that much, he told himself. But it did, for a reason. He stepped out to the parking lot and took a deep breath. He groaned to himself and pressed the heels of his palms in his eyes. This was what happened when Sirius met someone that was his type, someone that he was actually interested in knowing and spending more than one night with.
He walked over to where his motorcycle was parked and grabbed his helmet. It took a lot of time to unhook the straps of it, and Sirius yelled in desperation. "You fucking... useless... thing..." he murmured as he tried. Finally, he unhooked it and placed it on his head. He straddled his bike, turning the engine and feeling it thrum beneath him. It grounded him, made him feel better. He started to go backwards carelessly and didn't see the bin behind him, only felt it when he hit it and it felt to the floor with a thump. Sirius stopped short. "Fucking hell," he whispered as he got off.
"Fucking hell!" he yelled as he took his helmet off. That was no bin, it was a man. It was Remus, on the floor, clutching his wrist. "SHIT, REMUS!" Sirius panicked and hurried over him.
"Hey," giggled Remus with a goofy smile. Sirius panicked even more, perhaps he hit his head a little too hard.
"Are you okay? Jesus," he helped him up, pulling him by his good arm and back. "Remus, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you! How many fingers am I holding up?" he questioned, holding three fingers up very close to his face.
"I'm fine," snickered Remus, his eyes a little blurry, and smacked his hand away, "three."
"Oh, good," he took his wrist with his hand and examined it. Nothing in his arm was out of place. He grabbed him by the shoulder and scanned his whole figure.
"Are you checking me out?"
Sirius blushed profusely. "I just ran over you and that's all you're going to say?" he demanded, but Remus only smirked. "You came out of nowhere!"
Remus continued to grin. "Sirius, I'm fine. It was just a little push."
"What were you thinking!?"
"I wanted to stop you from leaving! Honestly, I wasn't thinking at all, that happens a lot when you're around."
Sirius blushed again, with his mouth hanging open. After four days and one rejection, he had the audacity to start flirting just now. Right after he gave Sirius the fright of his life. "Well? What's so important you had to stand right behind a moving bike?"
The tiniest bit of hope lit up in his chest, but he didn't let it consume him entirely.
Remus smiled shyly, looking down and still clutching his wrist. "Well, I'm not straight, for one."
"You're not?" asked Sirius incredulously. "Then why did you...?" then it was even worse, he thought. He wasn't interested in the slightest.
Remus laughed lightly. "You're really handsome, do you think I'm not interested in you?"
Ah, well, that answered Sirius' question. "Where is this going?" he asked, though he had the faintest idea. His heart started to speed up.
"I wasn't sure if you were into me and I panicked, so-"
"What? Are you blind? I've been shamelessly flirting with you since day one, how did you not realize?"
"Was it obvious?" he asked, genuinely confused. Sirius' eyes widened.
"Yes, so obvious it was embarrassing!"
Remus laughed, throwing his head back. His Adam's apple bobbed against his throat and Sirius had to swallow. "I didn't notice. Listen, I said no because I don't know... I find it weird to go on a date with someone I barely know, no matter how attracted I am to them. That's all."
Sirius stared, dumbfounded, at both revelations; Remus didn't consider him a friend, and Remus was attracted to him. The best looking man in the whole world liked him. Shit. "Oh."
"I know. But, after you walked away, I was left thinking that it would be nice to get to know you better outside this place. And that's when I ran after you and you almost ran over me."
"Sorry about that," mumbled Sirius. "Is your wrist still hurting?" he asked, and automatically moved close to him and grabbed it again.
"I told you it's fine. Just a little sore," whispered Remus. They were closer than they'd ever been, and Sirius didn't dare to raise his head. When Remus spoke again he could feel his words in his neck and cheeks. "So, would you still like coffee? You kinda owe it to me now for nearly killing me."
Sirius laughed and looked up at his eyes. He swallowed and took a step back, knowing nothing good would come out at that short distance and Remus' piercing eyes on him. "Would it be a date?"
"How about just a get together between friends. I know it's stupid but I would like to be closer to you, not just the employee. And then, you could ask me on a date and we'll see what might happen."
Sirius melted right there. All his defences went down and he grinned, too hard he had to bite his lip to stop himself from looking like The Joker. Remus mirrored it, looking devastatingly handsome as he looked to the floor. Sirius knew, now with the explanation, that Remus might just be as crazy for Sirius as he was for him. But Sirius was going to respect his boundaries, and if that meant going on thirty dates as "friends" before going as a couple, then Sirius would do just that.
"Okay, I'd love that. Are you free tomorrow?" asked Sirius.
"At night. You?"
"I'll bail if I do," breathed Sirius. He could die happy right now. Just staring at Remus and his smile, knowing that Remus felt the same way. It was everything. For the first time in so long, he could see a future with a man in front of him. And it was a great future.
"Great. I have to go, but I can't wait," grinned Remus.
"Me either," Sirius grabbed his helmet and turned it in his hands, still staring. None of them made any movement to go. "You should put some ice on it," he gestured to Remus' wrist, "to stop the pain."
"I'll do that, then," said Remus, and walked close to him. "Bye, Sirius."
There was a beat of hesitation, Remus' eyes dancing between Sirius' face before he placed his long, cold hand right between his cheek and his neck. He bent down and kissed Sirius' other cheek, very quick and brief. Sirius' limbs turned to jelly and failed to function as his body went numb and his eyelids fluttered close. If Remus could do that to him with just a touch of lips to his cheek, he couldn't even fathom what it would feel to kiss him on the lips, deep and passionate.
Remus stepped back with a smile on his face, his lips still pouted from the kiss. Sirius smiled up at him, "that's supposed to be after a date," he said.
Remus smirked. "Couldn't wait that long," he said with a shrug, and it sent shivers down Sirius' spine. He couldn't pray enough for tomorrow to come sooner.