John

[mooningremus]

The full moon wasn't until the next night, but Remus was already feeling edgy. Mostly he wanted to eat a rare steak and go home and fuck Willy. Except Willy... hadn't been home, even though he'd told Remus he would be. And Remus had baked a pie in anticipation. He'd texted, asking when he'd be home. And he got a response, hours later: probably not home tonight. And then he'd thought... where he probably was... which was with someone else...

Remus left the pie on the counter, put on the new scarf and coat he'd gotten for Christmas, and walked down the street to the nearest bar.

He ordered a rare steak and ate it quickly, and then just sat at the bar sipping bottom shelf whiskey.

Comments

[mooningremus]

"It's not his fault," Remus said, shaking his head. "He's always been very clear. What our relationship is not."

[petty_dabbler]

"But you're sprung," he sighed with a shake of his head. "My friend, you need to run away from that mess. You do realize how dangerous he is, right?"

[mooningremus]

"So am I," Remus pointed out.

[petty_dabbler]

"Maybe you are, but he's a million times worse, Remus," he said. He truly wondered why no one saw that. Part of him was sure Willy used magic to charm all these poor sods.

[mooningremus]

"Even if that's true, haven't you ever loved someone you shouldn't?" Remus sighed. Then added absently, "Besides, it's not like anyone else wants me."

[petty_dabbler]

"I've loved a lot of people I shouldn't," he replied. "That doesn't mean you stick with toxic people."

[mooningremus]

Remus noted that John didn't argue with him about the second part.

"I don't want to talk about Willy," he said. "I came here because I wanted to not think about him." Well, and also he'd wanted a steak.

Then he sighed.

"I made a pie."

[petty_dabbler]

"Fair enough," he said. "But I still think it'd be a good new year's resolution to drop him and run."

He took a sip of beer and put the topic to bed.

[mooningremus]

"Run to where?" Remus asked. And then - "Do you like apple pie?"

[petty_dabbler]

"I do," he nodded. Run to where was a good question. One John couldn't answer.

[mooningremus]

"I'm a very good baker," Remus said, "and there's currently a pie cooling with no one to eat it. Why don't you come have a slice. Willy isn't home."

[petty_dabbler]

John wondered which home, knowing Willy frequented several places. He assumed it was the shitty flat he'd followed remus to.

"That actually sounds nice," he said, draining half his beer.

As far as pick up lines went, 'come eat my pie' was one of the weirder ones.

[mooningremus]

It honestly had not occurred to Remus that he was picking him up. It hadn't occurred to him that he could.

"Good," he said. "It's not far." He pulled out his wallet.

[petty_dabbler]

John laid a few notes on the bar too and got up.

"I'm up for a bit of exercise," he assured him.

[mooningremus]

Remus was definitely a bit more tipsy now, but not so much that it showed.

"Just down the block," he said, as they walked outside. Then - "Wait! You know that!"

[petty_dabbler]

"Of course I know that," he chuckled softly, fishing out a cigarette for the walk.

[mooningremus]

"Because you followed me home that one time," Remus supplied.

[petty_dabbler]

"That's right," he nodded, thinking he might actually just stay for pie. He wasn't going to take advantage of a man with who knew how much whiskey in him.

[mooningremus]

Remus wasn't that drunk, but he still had no idea that John thought he was trying to pick him up.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"North Chelsea," he said. "Shitty little flat, but it keeps me warm. It's alright."

[mooningremus]

"You should see some of the shitholes I've lived in," Remus snorted as he pulled out a key and let them into the flat.

[petty_dabbler]

"You pay the rent? Or Silver?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Remus had asked where he would run to. John realized if Remus had no job and no money, he'd never afford a flat, not even with mates. Which John knew he didn't have.

[mooningremus]

"I'm ah, between jobs," said Remus, which wasn't really an answer he knew, but he thought it was probably obvious.

He let them in and walked to the kitchen, where the pie was covered by a towel on the counter. He'd cast a spell on it to keep it warm.

[petty_dabbler]

"You are aware it's nearly 2021 and you could work online from home," he said as he followed Remus into the kitchen.

[mooningremus]

"I went to Hogwarts," said Remus. "I don't have many marketable skills. But..." He looked a bit embarrassed. "I've been learning to use a computer. Some of how I'm spending my time."

He pulled two plates down, and then pulled the towel off of the pie. It smelled divine.