Work Text:
2019
“Good morning, I’ll take three coffees, two black, and one a caramel macchiato with three pumps of caramel and extra sweet cream cold foam. And for the pastries…what do you recommend?”
Remus looked up from the till where he was plonking in numbers to see the most beautiful man he’d ever laid eyes on waiting expectantly for his response.
He inhaled sharply as he took in the long flowing black curls and piercing light grey eyes against porcelain skin. He wore a fine pressed black suit with a deep maroon tie and an easy grin.
“Do you need me to repeat any of that…Remus,” He looked down at Remus’s name tag politely. Remus snapped out of his trance.
“Erm…the blueberry muffins are to die for,” Remus replied in a strained voice.
“Excellent, then I’ll take one blueberry muffin as well.” The man grinned wider and leaned in slightly as he handed Remus his card.
“Alright coming right up Mr…” The name popped up for the fancy silver-tinted credit card transaction, “Black.”
“Would you like those for here or to go?” Remus asked.
“To go.”
“Coming right up sir.”
The man smiled warmly and made his way to the waiting area.
Remus’s only other coworker on the morning shift, Marlene, had opened and was now on break, so Remus set to work making the coffees and bagging up the blueberry muffin for him. As he worked, he kept sneaking glances at the man, who was rocking back on his toes fiddling absentmindedly with his set of silver rings as he waited. He had a small star tattoo near the knuckle of his left pointer finger.
“Order for Black,” Remus called as he finished the order and made his way back to the till to take the order of a younger girl who had just come in.
“Thank you,” Remus heard quietly in his periphery as he took the new order.
When Remus returned to the counter by the waiting area he found a blueberry muffin sitting atop a note in thin neat cursive.
“I hope it is as to die for as you say. Enjoy(:”
Remus grinned dumbly down at the note before tucking it into his apron and taking a bite of the blueberry muffin he’d heated up, especially for Mr. Black. The day went on as normal, but in his downtime, Remus’s mind strayed to the beautiful stranger, with raven curls.
The next day at exactly 8:35 AM on the dot Remus looked up at the doorbell chime to see the same beautiful man walking through the door. He had on a paisley purple silk dress shirt, slim-fitting black slacks, and his hair was pulled back in a neat bun. Today his expression was cut into a firm line and his grey eyes looked less than pleased to be in the shop.
“Hello again, Mr. Black,” Remus greeted him warmly.
He cast an unimpressed look at Remus and began to order, “Three coffees, two black, and one a caramel macchiato with three pumps of caramel and extra sweet cream cold foam. And…” He paused, giving Remus a rather judgemental once over, “One blueberry muffin.”
Remus rang him up, seeing him flash the same silver-tinted credit card and wait patiently in the waiting area while Remus made up the drinks. He left the muffin again, but no note this time, so Remus waited several minutes to see if he’d come back for it before eating it himself.
The following day was a rainy Wednesday and Mr. black came in at 8:37 AM under a lime green umbrella.
“Good morning Mr. Black, I like your umbrella,” Remus said as Mr. Black entered.
He shot Remus a beaming smile as he shut it and came up to the counter. “Thanks, I borrowed it from my friend Lily, she’s staying home with their tot today, so she didn’t need it.”
“Awesome, what can I get for you?” Remus smiled back warmly, feeling the familiar rush in his heart from seeing the beautiful stranger turned customer.
“I’ll take three coffees, two black, and one a caramel macchiato with three pumps of caramel and extra sweet cream cold foam to go. And a blueberry muffin for here.” Mr. Black recited the same order from the previous two days.
“Coming right up,” As Remus busied himself making the coffees and setting the muffin on a plate he noticed Mr. Black watching him.
When the drinks were ready and he handed them off to Mr. Black Remus chanced asking, “Did you need something else, I noticed you watching me?”
Remus observed as the man’s cheeks pinked slightly in embarrassment, “Oh it was nothing, enjoy the muffin.” Mr. Black slipped a piece of paper on the counter and left in a hurry.
Remus looked down at the slip of paper and saw another note in neat cursive scrawled there.
“You have beautiful hands.” -S
Remus smiled with warm cheeks as he moved the muffin to the back counter to enjoy later.
The rest of the week passed much the same with Mr. Black coming in some days acting like seeing Remus was the greatest joy of his week, and other days being cold and aloof and barely speaking to Remus. Regardless of which mood he was in Mr. Black always bought a blueberry muffin and left it for Remus. He left short notes most days, whether or not they talked. Seeing him each day left Remus feeling warm and fuzzy inside. On Monday he finally asked Mr. Black a bit about himself.
“What do you do for work, Mr. Black?” Remus asked as he was finishing up plonking in his usual order. Mr. Black already had his shiny silver credit card read at the reader.
“I’m a lawyer at a firm with my brothers,” He responded easily.
“Well that explains the suits,” Remus smiled as he tapped his card. Mr. Black was in a navy ensemble today that paired well with his fair skin. His hair was back in an elegant ponytail, so his sharp cheekbones were out on full display.
Mr. Black laughed easily and tucked a stray hair behind his ear. Remus noticed a plethora of piercings there.
“I like your piercings,” Remus said automatically. There were at least four silver studs lining the lobe and a chain with stars dangling down from a helix piercing.
“Thanks,” Mr. Black perked up. Remus had come to realize, they were probably around the same age, “I just got this one done, so it’s still healing.” Mr. Black pointed to a silver hoop daith piercing. “Surprisingly it didn't hurt much. Have you got any piercings, Remus?”
Mr. Black began to look up at Remus like he was examining his face for any piercings. Remus was several inches taller than the other man, so Mr. Black had to crane his neck a little.
“I’ve just got these two studs,” Remus tucked his short tawny curls behind his ears to reveal the singular piercing on each, decorated with small aquamarine studs. “The studs are my birthstone.”
Mr. Black leaned in slightly to examine them and Remus’s cheeks heated up.
“Fascinating, aquamarine for March?” Mr. Black asked.
Remus nodded dumbly, feeling hot under his black long-sleeve's collar. He ended up taking an awkward step back, “I’ll go make your drinks.”
Turning away, Remus missed Mr. Black’s rather put-out smile.
“Here are your drinks Mr. Black,” Remus said a few minutes later.
“It’s Sirius,” Mr. Black replied, taking the coffee holder in one hand and passing off a note to Remus with his left.
“What is?” Remus asked, still a bit shaken from their close encounter earlier.
Mr. Black let out a beautiful surprised laugh, “No, my name is Sirius, like the Dog Star.”
“Ah…” Remus blushed again, “My apologies, have a nice day Sirius.”
Sirius grinned walking backwards towards the door to look at Remus longer, “You as well Remus.”
When Sirius left Remus looked down at the neat cursive note in his hand.
“Men with pierced ears are hot” -S
It would be several minutes before Remus fully removed the deep red blush from his face and was able to get on with his day like normal.
The next day Sirius came in in a many buttoned all-black suit with his hair down. The long curls fell about his shoulders and neatly styled bangs obscured his forehead. From a distance the hair made him look a bit like Conan Gray. He looked unhappy.
“Morning Sirius,” Remus smiled at him, and Sirius all but scowled back.
“The usual?” Remus asked. But Sirius cut him off to recite the same order as always as if Remus hadn’t even spoken.
“Coming right up,” Remus tried to maintain his air of easy nonchalant, but he felt uncomfortable and a bit sad in the face of Sirius’s obvious bad mood.
As he handed off the coffees to him, Remus asked, “How’s the new piercing?”
Sirius looked a bit surprised he’d remembered, but replied, “It’s fine.”
“That’s good, I’m glad, and I hope you have a nice day.” Remus replied.
Sirius headed for the door, turning back to give Remus one more odd look, and then he was off back onto the busy street, leaving behind only a blueberry muffin. The rest of the week that followed Sirius was in a much better mood and chatted Remus up for as long as possible before he had to attend to other customers.
The next week on Tuesday Sirius came into the shop at 8:32 AM and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a spunky-looking blonde behind the counter instead of Remus.
“Where’s Remus?” He asked immediately upon reaching the till.
“Out sick,” The girl, whose name tag said ‘Marlene’ replied simply. “What can I get for you?”
Sirius stood there dumbfounded for a few moments before asking through a clenched jaw, “When will he be back?”
The girl looked slightly annoyed as she spoke, “I don’t know, maybe tomorrow. I’m not his keeper.”
Sirius softened his jaw slightly, “Right, sorry. I’ll take three coffees to go, two black, and one a caramel macchiato with three pumps of caramel and extra sweet cream cold foam.”
Remus returned the next day feeling a bit better. He had rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes had flare-ups that made him feel like shit, and caused him to be unable to do much more than lay in bed all day waiting for them to pass. When he entered the shop for his shift, Marlene was waiting with a smug expression on her face.
“A customer was asking about you yesterday. He seemed quite put out that you were out sick.” Marlene said as Remus tied on his light blue apron.
“Pretty boy with Conan Gray-looking hair and a fancy suit. You know him well?” Marlene went on.
“Oh that’s Sirius, he started coming in every day during your usual break a couple weeks ago. I guess we’re friends, we talk a lot when he’s here.”
“Mhmm,” Marlene gave him a searching look before turning to the cold press. “He’s your type,” She muttered loud enough for him to hear.
Remus cast her an unimpressed glare, “Shut it, it’s not like that, he’s probably straight. And besides, half the time he comes in pissed off and will barely speak to me, then the next day he acts like nothing happened and we’re best mates. His moods are totally unpredictable.” Remus argued.
Marlene shrugged and leaned against the counter, they were in a lull anyway, “Maybe he’s bipolar.”
Remus shrugged evasively, “Who knows, I’m not going to make assumptions about a customer's mental health conditions just because I think they’re cute.”
“So you admit he’s your type,” Marlene smirked knowingly.
“Oh shut it,” Remus huffed.
Marlene cackled and shoved him playfully.
“Come on Lupin best get on that horse before someone else does because he’s a beaut.”
“‘He’s a beaut?’ What are you a cowboy now?”
Marlene just grinned as she went back towards the back room, “Yeehaw! How does it go? Save a horse, ride cowboy?”
Remus pointedly ignored his traitorous blushing cheeks as he took to ignoring Marlene.
Sirius came in that day quiet and in a charcoal grey suit with a dark green tie. He didn’t mention yesterday and Remus only knew he had any concern when he left another note with the blueberry muffin.
“I hope you’re feeling better.” -S
A month went by of Sirius coming in varying moods, chatting up Remus in the better ones, and leaving notes with blueberry muffins. Remus liked their little routine, he even told Sirius about his rheumatoid arthritis after another sick day where a sad Sirius bemoaned to Marlene about not getting to see Remus’s “adorable face”.
“His words!” Marlene has claimed triumphantly. And Remus couldn’t lie, seeing Sirius had become a part of his day he greatly looked forward to. Even in his foul moods, Remus still enjoyed taking in the beautiful sight that was Sirius. As the month went on though, these sour moods became less and less frequent.
On a particularly sunny Wednesday morning in late April, Sirius came in at his usual time and ordered the same three coffees, he paused after and looked up at Remus intently.
“Do you want a coffee, Remus?” He asked.
“No, I don’t actually like coffee,” Remus replied, staring back into those beautiful grey orbs.
“What?!” Sirius put a hand over his heart like he’d been wounded, “How can you work at a coffee shop and not like coffee?! That’s heresy!”
Remus felt a laugh bubble out of him, “You’re probably right, but I like working here because it’s reliable hours and close to my university.”
Sirius snapped to attention, “Oh, so you’re a student?” He asked.
“Yes, somewhat, I’m finishing up my PhD in Children’s Literature.”
“Wow, a PhD, you’ll be more educated than me with my silly little law degree,” Sirius quirked a smile, and Remus found himself grinning back.
“I think you’re doing quite well with your ‘silly little law degree’ all things considered, Mr. Moneybags.” Sirius’s cheeks pinked slightly at Remus’s words.
“Well, alright then, soon-to-be Dr. Remus, no coffee for you, what about tea? Do you like tea?” Sirius asked.
“I do, but…” Remus leaned into Sirius like he had a juicy secret to tell, “The tea here is arse. I just make my tea at home.”
“Sirius burst into laughter, eyes shining at Remus, “Duly noted,” He got out between chuckles. “I guess I’ll just get the blueberry muffin for you then, I know it’s your favorite.”
Remus smiled softly as he began plonking the order into the till keys, “I actually prefer the chocolate chip one.”
“What?!” Sirius burst out again, “But you said the blueberry is to die for and I’ve been getting it for you for a month!”
Remus nodded solemnly giving Sirius a sheepish look, “It is to die for according to other customers, I just happen to be a sucker for all things chocolate myself.”
“Why didn’t you correct me weeks ago?” Sirius gaped.
“I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, you were already being so sweet to always order me a muffin.” Remus replied with a shrug.
“You think I’m sweet?” Sirius asked quietly.
Remus’s cheeks instantly pinked as he realized what he’d said, but he doubled down, “The sweetest.”
Sirius grinned like sunshine, “One chocolate muffin then.”
“Coming right up,” Remus grinned back feeling intoxicated by Sirius’s beaming smile.
The next day Sirius came in in a stunning dark green suit with a black undershirt and tie. His hair was up to reveal several good piercings instead of his usual silver, and he had on a large snake ring on his right hand.
“Good morning, I love your suit, it’s exquisite,” Remus beamed at him.
Sirius gave him a half smile through furrowed brows, “Thanks, are you this nice to all your customers?” He asked.
Remus was feeling bold today, so he said, “Only the pretty ones.”
Sirius gave him a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Alright. I’ll take three coffees—“
“Sirius, I know your order by now, you get the same thing every day.” Remus laughed as he plonked in the man’s usual.
Sirius gave him an irritated look as he placed his silver credit card down on the table. Remus noticed he was using his right hand, the one with the snake ring and on the pointer finger he saw the familiar star tattoo.
“I thought your tattoo was on your left hand?” Remus wondered out loud.
Sirius looked up sharply, “No, it’s always been on my right hand. God, you are a nosy barista.” He snapped.
Remus reeked back slightly, hurt by his tone.
“My apologies, I just…I could have sworn you had the star tattoo on your left.”
“Whatever,” Sirius glared at him and stalked off to the waiting area.
Sirius walked out later with his coffees without a word. He left the chocolate chip muffin and a crumpled-up note.
“You are beautiful.” -S
The next day Sirius rushed through the doors at 8:36 AM grinning.
“Hi Remus!” He exclaimed, skidding up to the counter. “It’s a beautiful day, Prongs lost a bet, so three black coffees and your muffin please.”
“Prongs?” Remus asked, not stopping himself from grinning back.
“My brother James’s nickname, he’s got hair so wild it looks like prongs of deer antlers in the morning, and he is the culprit behind the heinous caramel macchiato I order every day, but not today!” Sirius kept grinning leaning over the counter to be closer to Remus as he worked on the drinks.
“Classic,” Remus looked into his shining grey eyes and felt his heart flutter. “Listen, I know you were in no mood yesterday, but I wanted to say again I really did love your green suit. It’s my favorite color, and it looked amazing with your eyes, brought out their darker tones.”
Sirius stopped his grinning and cocked his head in confusion, “I wasn’t here yesterday, do you mean Wednesday?”
“No yesterday, you came in in a terrible mood, but you had on this stunning emerald green suit with gold jewelry.” Remus insisted.
“I don’t own a green suit,” Sirius’s brows furrowed, “And I always wear silver jewelry.” He ran his left hand through his raven curls and Remus saw the tattoo.
“Now you’re having me on, that tattoo was on your right hand yesterday and I said I thought it was on your left, but you insisted it’d always been on your right.”
Comprehension dawned on Sirius and he let out a barking laugh at Remus’s confusion.
“Oh my God, you’re talking about my twin brother Regulus. He’s been coming in whenever I can’t make it to get our coffees, since we started coming here.”
“What?” Remus gaped.
Sirius smiled wide and leaned back on the counter, “I have an identical twin with a stormy attitude problem. We trade off who comes here to get coffee, but I’ve started coming most of the time because I like talking to you. He’s got darker eyes than me, and a matching star tattoo, but it’s on his right hand because I’m left-handed and he’s not.”
Remus’s jaw dropped as he stared at Sirius in disbelief, “So you’re telling me for over a month I’ve been serving you and your brother, thinking you’re the same person? Even though he answered my question about your piercing, and left me notes, and even answered to your name often?”
Sirius sighed good-naturedly, “Yeah, he got a nipple piercing the same day as me, and probably assumed I told you about it because I have minimal boundaries. I gave him notes to leave you on the days I couldn’t make it, and yeah that little prick never corrects people who call him the wrong name. It gets me into trouble more than I’d like.”
“I’ve been hitting on you and your brother for over a month…” Remus breathed still in disbelief.
Sirius grew serious (no pun intended), “You were hitting on us?”
“Of course, you’re like the most beautiful men I’ve ever met…well man up until I just learned now you’re two people.”
“Oh…erm would you like me to get your number for Reggie?”
“Why would I want to give my number to Regulus?” Remus asked.
“I mean, you said it yourself. He’s the put-together, impeccably dressed one of us. Now that you know, he’s obviously your first choice.” Sirius replied in a small voice.
Remus gaped at him, “Sirius, are you mad? Regulus would barely speak to me, you’re the one I’ve been chatting up all month. I thought both of you were you and you were just bipolar or something. Obviously, you’re the one I’m interested in!”
“Really?” Sirius's eyes were tentative and hopeful.
“Yes!” Remus huffed dramatically, “Blimey, Sirius you’re incredible, funny, and so charming. I’d be over the moon if I could get your phone number.”
Sirius’s face split open with a grin, and he was already pulling out his phone to hand over.
“Put your number in mine and I’ll put mine in yours.” Remus nodded fervently, handing Sirius his phone.
“Remus, can I take you on a date? Maybe dinner tonight?” Sirius asked.
“That’d be wonderful,” Remus absolutely beamed.
“Pick you up at seven?”
Remus continued to nod, in awe at this turn of events.
“Ahem,” An irritated customer at the till tapped their foot impatiently. Remus’s head shot up in surprise.
“I’ve got to get back to work, Sirius.” Remus said sheepishly.
“Seven tonight?” Sirius asked again.
“Yes,”
“It’s a date,” Sirius gave him a smile brighter than the sun and Remus’s heart soared like an eagle.
Present Day (4 ½ Years Later)
“And that kids, is how I met your father,” Remus finished the story with a flourish of his hands, and their group of friends all stared at him. Remus and Sirius let out a laugh in near unison.
“I’m just kidding, clearly none of you are my children, except Mr. Bump,” Remus patted Tonks’s tummy lovingly, and she swatted at him playfully. “Although we did find out about a month after our first date that Lily was pregnant with her second, so there’s that.”
The child in question, Daphne Lily Potter was sleeping soundly against her mother’s shoulder. Meanwhile nine year old Harry was actively distracting his godfather, Sirius, with his action figures in hopes he’d forget it was definitely past his bedtime.
Life was good, Remus and Sirius just fit. They’d dated for many moons before Sirius finally popped the question, and they’d been married since last spring. They’d recently bought a townhouse on the outskirts of London, and now they got to spend their time surrounded by friends, waiting for their own bundle of joy, who Sirius’s cousin Tonks was their surrogate for. It was going to be a boy, and Remus and Sirius were both over the moon. Tonight they had all their friends over to celebrate: Tonks, Lily and James plus their two children, Remus’s fellow professor Frank and his wife Alice, Remus’s former coworker Marlene and her new tattoo artist girlfriend Dorcas, and of course Sirius’s biological brother Regulus. They had all gathered in the living room after their barbecue was interrupted by a rainstorm. Only their dog, Padfoot, had stayed outside, frolicking about like it was the greatest day of his life.
Yeah, life was good, pretty freaking incredible honestly. Four and a half years ago Remus never would have believed how much light and joy working at a shitty cafe and flirting with a cute stranger into his life. But now, Remus couldn’t imagine a life without Sirius. It didn’t sound like much of a life at all.
The man in question came beside Remus and put his arm around his shoulders, “What are you thinking about Moony?” Sirius asked, “You got how quiet.”
Remus smiled up at the man of his dreams and let a low chuckle escape his mouth, “I was just thinking about how lucky we are to have this life. We are pretty lucky.”
Sirius smiled back with so much understanding in his eyes, “Yeah, yeah we are.”