A/N-had to rewrite this because I clicked 'cut' instead of 'copy' when transferring this from my notes, so this is going to be a bit shoddy out of my own self loathing and general bitterness. Enjoy.

Sirius was..bored. Just bored. Don't get him wrong-he loved the musty smell of old music and time gone by, he loved the electricity pumping through his veins when he listened to his music, but today, the record shop had been completely dead.

None of the regular old dears came in, usually buying forgotten one hit wonders from their youth. Generally, they seemed rather intimidated by the leather-wearing, tattooed punk-rock young man behind the till. Well, all except Babs, who expressed that she thought- "They're fucking badass, dear."

Sirius liked Babs.

But Babs wasn't here today. He was completely alone, save for the crackling sound of a finished song imprinted onto a vinyl. Some Cheap Trick song that would have cheered him up, had he not been so starved of human interaction.

But then, the annoying buzzer hummed, introducing perhaps the most pretty boy Sirius has ever seen-light eyes that glinted brightly, honeysuckle hair and star-speckled cheeks, riddled with scratches and imperfections that added to the tall stranger's charm. Sirius clutched the counter as though it were a lifeline to stop himself swooning.

"Um, hiya. I was wondering if you had any stuff by Aerosmith, The Police, Fleetwood Mac or Led Zeppelin?" The boy asked shyly, fiddling with the floppy sleeves of his knitted maroon jumper.

"Y-Yeah sure..follow me." Sirius said, though the shop was only moderately sized, and easily navigated.

"You know, you seem to have good taste-by good, I mean similar to mine," the pierced boy began, "Have you ever listed to Bat Out of Hell?"

"Of course, who do you think I am, some uncultured swine?" The cute boy scoffed jokingly, "Yeah, I like Two out of Three Ain't Bad and For Crying Out Loud best."

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light and All Revved up with No Place to Go are my favourites."

"Of course the ones about sex are your favourites." The jumper boy smirked, folding his arms and cocking a brow.

"Of course the ones about heartbreak are your's," Sirius' brows creased in concern and confusion, though the stranger's eyes held relative amusement.

"Can't help it if I'm a hopeless romantic, can I? Anyway, the melancholy songs have some of the best lyrics, I reckon. Besides, For Crying Out Loud isn't about heartbreak, not really, it's about love, plain and simple." then, as an after thought, the boy added- "Remus Lupin, by the way."

"Sirius Black. Now, how do you feel about the Beatles?"

"Old or new?"

"Wheres the cut off point?"

"1967, I'd say. I like their psychedelic shit, but their experimental songs, like A Day in the Life, are the best ones."

"Really? I get it, but I like the energetic ones, you know, the instrumental ones, where the lyrics take a backseat to the actual music, like Lady Madonna or Revolution."

And they talked. For an hour and fifty-two minutes. Or at least, that's how long Sirius calculated (though he could have been talking for years). That's when Remus exclaimed that he had to hurry back home to do some revision for his final exams in uni. He asked Sirius to save him an album he recommended for after his exam in two days.

~*~

There was a sense of anticipation a few days later. Sirius has set aside 'Hunky Dory' for Remus, and he hoped beyond hope that he'd approve. Of course, he'd thought a more melancholy sound would have been appropriate, like the Smiths, (he'd been tempted with 'How Soon is Now?') but he wanted Remus to think of him, and Sirius loved louder music so...Hunky Dory it was.

Mildred (or Millie, as she insisted she was to be addressed) walked in. She was Babs' daughter, and quite possibly the only regular (besides her mum) that had let Sirius open up a bit.

"Wotcha, Sirius... Ma's in a home now," she stated, sadness riddling her dark eyes, "The kids are devastated. I don't suppose you have any AC/DC? Would liven things up a bit."

"'Course, send Babs my best, would you? Here, take it, on me." Sirius offered, genuinely saddened by the news. Millie smiled weakly, mouthing a 'thanks' as tears glistened in her eyes. Though he wasn't particularly a fan of physical contact, Sirius had no idea what else to do that give the woman a hug; her shaking frame delicate in Sirius' arms.

"T-thanks, Sirius. See you around then, Darl." She patted him on the back in thanks, before leaving swiftly.

Just as the boy's lips parted to let out a sigh, the annoying buzzer sounded again, alerting Sirius of Remus' reentrance.

"Hiya, Sirius. Have y- not to sound rude, but are you alright?" Remus asked, quickly turning from excitement to concern, "You just look a bit under the weather-not that you don't look good, you look amazing, as per usual-well I don't know about usual, I've only seen you once before, but-oh dear me, I'm rambling, aren't I? Are you okay?"

Sirius found the whole display incredibly adorable-down to the way Remus kept fumbling with his navy sleeves and focusing down at his feet.

"Yeah, it's just, um, one of my regulars is in a home now..and her daughter doesn't seem too hopeful..I know it's silly but I think I'll miss her, you know?" Sirius glanced up, teeth fiddling with his lip ring absentmindedly, painfully unaware that Remus Lupin was pretty sure he'd suffer a cardiac arrest if Sirius carried on.

"No, of course! Honestly, love, it's compeltely justified. I work in an animal shelter and honestly, i miss every animal that comes into our care and gets adopted. I know it's not the same, but I get that if something or someone becomes a part of your routine then once they leave, there's sort of a hole.."

"I hope you become a part of my routine," Sirius said honestly, making direct eye contact, "Providing you don't leave in a hurry."

While we're on the topic: Remus' eyes. Sirius hadn't quite taken them in before, just knowing they were light and sparkling; upon closer inspection, they were hazel-no-gold. Flecks and speckles of glinting greens and browns decorated the rim around his iris, like what Sirius imagined wolf eyes to look like.

"Promise I won't. I'll come by for a record every week, yeah?" Remus replied, placing a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder, who grinned happily in return.

"Speaking of which-here's the recommended record; my favourite song on there is either 'Andy Warhol' or 'Life on Mars', for reference."

A cheeky grin, an exchange of money, a number given on a sticky note, a pair of content hearts.

~~~

Remus kept coming, every week as he promised; he sat down with Sirius for hours when business was slow, and made sure to help Sirius choose the perfect record to bring Babs when he went to visit her in the home.

Sirius introduced Remus to James, his best mate who'd moved out to the countryside with his wife and newborn, Harry.

Lily and Remus became best friends in the span of about 15 minutes, after Remus made a comment about Sirius and James-("Ah, to be young and in love.. I suppose the wife and baby was a good cover, eh? Nah, I'm kidding, sorry." "No! That's hilarious, mate, I've been onto them since we were at school!"). James took two visits to become a friend, considering he and Sirius were chatting and teasing so much, but eventually, the 'specky git' Stood on his tip-toes and ruffled Remus' hair, and let him hold his son. In short, everything was going great.

But then one week, Remus didn't show up.

No texts, no calls, no explanation.

Nothing.

In the absence of his common sense, Sirius tried to rationalise why Remus hadn't come this week; could it be he forgot? Or perhaps he had a date and didn't want to text Sirius because it would make his date suspicious and he didn't want to compromise this date for Sirius, who had become worthless to him and this was then Remus' way of telling Sirius to bigger on out of his life, as he'd found a replacement that was 10x better than he ever could be?

Stop, he thought, That last one got a bit dark?

And so he ignored any feelings of jealously or concern or confusion and carried on doing his job, saying hi to some younger kids being dragged around by their dad and giving Millie a discount in exchange for an update on Babs.

But no Remus. For three weeks.

Three already dusty records lay abandoned underneath the counter top, much like the grey-eyed boy's concerned texts and calls. He hadn't realised how much the lanky, jumper-wearing boy had affected his routine..

And then the anger came-Remus had promised, promised to not leave, and he had promised Sirius that he'd come by every week to buy another record and he promised that he'd stay. But he hadn't.

And then the sadness came-the realisation that the nerd with constellation cheeks was probably never coming back, had found another record shop, or worse-another boy-to have in his life.

And then the annoying buzzer sounded-Remus came in, tufts of honeysuckle hair bouncing over his freckle-littered, scar-ridden forehead, a small dent appearing in between his eyebrows with concern once he saw Sirius' tear-streaked cheeks.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong, Siri, love? Are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" Sirius laughed bitterly, "Could have asked me that over the phone, couldn't you?"

"Sirius, I know I've not come over the past few weeks, and I'm sorry it's j-"

"It's just you've been seeing this lad, and he's really fucking fit, and he's got really nice eyes and hair, and likes exactly what you like and you're made for each other so you didn't want to drop by in case he ever found out you were friends with a delinquent like me..it's fine, don't worry, I'm used to it."

"I'm sorry, what?" Remus was completely baffled,

"Or a lass then, what do I know, eh?"

"Sirius, what are-"

"Oh, yeah, I bet she has really nice eyelashes,"

"Sirius, l-"

"Probably has cute freckles like you,"

"What on Eart-"

"Probably pretty without makeup but is still really good at it,"

"Sirius-"

"Thats probably why you've not-"

"Sirius my dad's died!" Remus shouted, tears glazing his eyes.

The weight of shouting it out in a record shop made the reality of the situation almost bring him to the floor, but he needed to just accept it-he'd known this would happen, for Christ sake! He was in uni, he was grown up; kids at the age of eleven were loosing their parents, and they usually seemed fine once they leave school..but they hadn't known their parents for 21 years, he supposed.

"Remus. I am so sorry, if I'd have known-"

"You didn't. If I'd have texted you then you would have known, wouldn't you? But I didn't. I just came to..um..ask you something."

"Hey, before you do that, I've got some tea in the back for my breaks, so we're going to sit down with a cup of tea, review the records I recommended you and then we'll talk for a bit, yeah?" Sirius responded, firmly but kindly.

"Alright, it can wait anyway, what I was going to ask." Remus shrugged. Sirius nodded gently, running to the back to put the kettle on and grabbing the dusty records.

After an hour, there were two empty tea cups, three reviewed records ('Bookends' by Simon and Garfunkel, 'My Generation' by the Who and 'Strangeways Here we Come' by the Clash) and a sudden silence.

"Rem, what were you going to ask me earlier?" Sirius asked after a few minutes silence.

Taking a shaky breath, Remus turned to look at Sirius, an earnest expression plastered on his face.

"Look. I know it's been, what; 5, 6 months since I met you? And I know we've not really been together at all this month, but..well, I've really really missed you, and, truth is, Sirius...I think I might be falling in love with you. Sure, you're a flirt as it is, but you're a softy really, passionate and, while obnoxious at times, you always know how to make me laugh. So I guess, what I'm trying to ask is-will you go out with me, Sirius?"

Immediately, the boy (who's jumper was black and yellow today) diverted his eyes to the ground, chewing the inside of his cheek with anxiety. His cheeks became crimson, and the heat reached the tips of his ears and the name of his neck.

"You..you want me? You, Remus Lupin, the jumper-wearing, old song appreciating, beautiful faced Greek god of an individual wants to go out with me? Who could refuse?" Sirius beamed, smiling so wide he feared he'd give himself wrinkles.

"So you're free this Saturday?"

"If it's for you, then always~"

"It's a date then, I'll pick you up at 6, then?"

"It's a date!" Sirius repeated giddily, giving Remus a quick kiss on the cheek as he stood up from the floor.

"Oof, my arse went numb!" Remus whined as he stood up with help from Sirius' hand.

"The floors not the only thing that can do that to ya~" Sirius smirked, wiggling his eyebrows flirtatiously.

"Fuck off you minging bastard!" Remus cursed, wrinkling his nose in disgust, as a layer of pink dusted his cheeks (questioning if it really was that disgusting).

A/N- As I said earlier, this was a bit shoddy due to me having to rewrite it so maybe there'll be another's update soon? Who knows? Update schedule is non-existant so I'm just going to try and aim for once every week/every other week (probably won't last but I'll try!) feedback is appreciated, cheers xx