Chapter Text
By the time the sun broke weakly through the clouds, just as Remus turned the corner to get on the next train to Soho, he was feeling rather like backing out. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go… And he wasn’t afraid, with everything else he’d been through in his life, a few bigots making appearances were the least of his worries. He shook his head as he passed the turnstile, pausing beside the old-fashioned tiled sign proclaiming TO TRAINS to inspect himself in the warped reflection of an overhead reflector. He had a collared shirt beneath a grubby sweater, simple trousers rolled up at the cuff and some scuffed trainers with mismatched socks.
Bugger, he knew he shouldn’t have gotten dressed so quickly after waking up, but he’d nearly overslept after revising well into the night. Who did he fancy himself? He looked like a cross between a bloody mod, what with his poofy hair, and a bumpkin. The hair was unruly because he’d neglected to trim his curls since moving, so his fringe flopped into his eyes, but to the outside eye all he needed to complete the look was to ride in on a Vespa. Or maybe a tractor… much more in line with his country roots. He’d only been in London for short time and he didn’t feel ready to go exposing himself as an implant. Remus didn’t do origin stories and all that.
His period of self-loathing was interrupted by a shabby looking man checking him with a shoulder as he tried to get to the train.
“Oi, piss off, you’re blocking the way!” He scoffed in a strong Northern accent, and Remus held up his hands in apology as stumbled after him... inside the nearest car as the polite voice advised him to “Mind the Gap.” Too late now, he was on his way… might as well finish what he’d started.
Arriving in Soho, he took one last second to fix the hem of his shirt, try to rub a scuff from the top of his shoe, comb his fingers through his hair, eyes wide at all the people he could hear beyond him in the park shouting things like “Gay is Good!” and “Out and Proud!” For a few moments, the cacophony held him spellbound.
“Alright, then, mate?” A lighter clicked on with a spark.
Remus jumped, whipping his head to the side of the alley, spotting the owner of the voice: a shorter man with long hair leaning against the bricks and cupping a cigarette between his fingers.
“Of course. W-why wouldn’t I be?”
The man breathed out an amused chuckle and some smoke through his nostrils. “Your eyes… they’ve gone all ‘moony,’ like… You’re terrified.”
“I’m not!” Remus bristled, looking the lounging bloke over.
Ripped jeans with so many holes they practically hung off him, one leg almost entirely exposed. A faded Buzzcocks tee shirt beneath a heavy looking leather jacket. The chain of what curiously looked like… a pocketwatch… trailing into the recesses of his trousers. Dark hair tumbled nearly to his shoulders.
“Of what? You’re the only person here, and do forgive me if I’m not wetting my pants at the sight of some wannabe punk rocker lurking about for a quick puff on a fag.”
A wannabe punk with gorgeous eyes, his brain offered up as the man lifted his head, silver stare regarding Remus cooly.
He exhaled a soft chuckle, before pushing off the wall with one heavy boot (God, was he really wearing Dr. Marten’s too?) and stepping closer. “So you aren’t standing out here trying to avoid going over into that bloody mass of poofters down that way?” He asked pointedly with a jerk of his head in the direction of the park. Remus grit his teeth.
“Actually, I was just on my way to join them. Though I’m sure I could think of a good many more appropriate monikers if you’re strapped for one.” He shot back raising himself up to his full height and glaring down at the boy with a challenge. Something in his grey eyes flashed in a way that made Remus’ mouth dry before he broke out into a wide grin of-of course- dazzling white teeth.
“Brilliant! Was just heading back out myself, in a crowd like that I’d’ve never been able to get a decent light. Got any mates with you, or would you like to join me and mine?”
“Wh-what? You? You’re at the pride march?” Remus narrowed his eyes.
The man barked out a brusque, throaty laugh. Remus cursed the sound, and himself, for being one he wanted to hear over and over again.
“Yea, I’m there. Been going every summer since they started.” He said, holding up one of the lapels of his jacket, which Remus now saw sported a few colorful badges making proclamations such as: “Average Oscar Wilde,” “Assume Nothing,” a pink triangle, a safety pin with a beaded red and green ribbon, and strangely enough, “I’ve seen the pretty policeman’s balls.” “Though I’d have figured my shirt just screamed ‘Here I am: Sirius Black, Flaming Man-Lover.’” He added, gesturing with a smirk at the word “cock.” Remus actually rolled his eyes.
“Pardon me if your fine attire didn’t immediately tip me off. And no, I came alone. Just moved to London.”
“Oi, you‘re one to talk! What, is that jumper some pining queer librarian mating call, then...?” He hesitated, directing an expectant stare Remus’ way.
“Remus. Lupin” He said, a mite terse. “But that’s queer, pining librarian Remus Lupin to you.”
Black shrugged noncommittally. “Just honest. Won’t attract too many blokes that way, mate.” This man, Sirius, shot back, before his fingers fumbled at his jacket, unclipping a badge and drifting over to Remus’ chest. He shrunk back for a minute before he relaxed and met Sirius’ eyes. The shorter man held his hands up, before gently reaching out to pin the badge against the brown wool of the sweater.
“Hey now, just giving you a little bit more identifying accessorization. So you’ll blend in.” He whispered kindly, and Remus released the breath that had hitched in his throat. He locked gazes with Sirius, seeing his own amber eyes reflected in the punk’s metallic ones, a strong tug within his chest causing him to take a step closer. Suddenly coming to his senses, he shook his head and averted his eyes, spotting the badge near his collar, dark words on a white background reading, “Nobody knows I’m gay.” He chuckled lightly, before realizing his hands were pressing against Sirius’ chest and dropped his grip on the man’s shirt.
Sirius arched one sleek brow at him but didn’t say anything about it, before slinging one arm around his shoulders. Remus’ mouth dropped open, but he promptly shut it, determined to go along with the antics of the gorgeous man who already thought he was a wuss. Due to the height difference, that arm quickly slipped, torturously, around his waist instead. Heat rose to Lupin’s freckled cheeks.
“Still don’t think your mod schoolboy outfit is going to win you the favor of any chaps, duckie. Sure you don’t want to wear the jacket too?” Sirius teased, oblivious to Remus’ suffering, it seemed.
“Seems to be working just fine to me.” He choked out, gold eyes dropping to the leather-clad limb encircling him. Sirius merely laughed again, tightening his grip for a moment before pulling them down the alleyway.
“C’mon then, Lupey, our people await!”