Aaron

[mooningremus]

Remus' good spirits had come to a grinding halt after his encounter with Willy. It was the indifference that was the worst part of it. It wasn't just that Willy hadn't loved him. It seemed he thought nothing of him at all. Even if he'd cared about him as a friend, he wouldn't have let him think this whole time that he'd d been the one to ruin it...

His finger felt naked without the ring. And he couldn't face going back to the flat. Not tonight. He almost went to a hostel. But there was one person he could call.

Or rather, he texted: Is there any way I might stay with you tonight?

Comments

[quitollis]

"Yes, of course," Aaron said, happy to help. He poured wine in two glasses first and set one on the counter next to Remus. "There you are."

He took a drink first and then sought out the bread and butter. "You enjoy cooking?" he asked, pleasantly.

[mooningremus]

"I do," said Remus pleasantly. "Especially when I have decent ingredients." He pulled out a cutting board and started to cut a squash into cubes. "I can do a lot of this with magic, but... I like the process."

[quitollis]

"And there's no rush," Aaron said as he sliced the bread. "I've never really taken the time to learn."

[mooningremus]

"Would you like to halve the brussel sprouts when you're done with that?" asked Remus, looking over his shoulder at him and smiling. Finished with a squash, he picked up the wine glass and had a drink.

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded and smiled back. "Are you going to make a cook out of me?" he asked, amused. This was nice. This was almost normal.

[mooningremus]

"Would you like me to?" asked Remus, and then teased, "Because unfortunately I can't teach you magic and I have a very limited skillset beyond that."

[quitollis]

"Might be nice if I could do more than boil an egg," Aaron admitted.

[mooningremus]

"If I give you a knife you're not going to injure yourself are you?" Remus said with a laugh. Then paused. "No wait, I'm guessing you know your way around the knife. But try not to destroy the brussels."

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled. "I will try my best," he joked in return.

"I tried my hand at wood carving for a time," he remarked, conversationally. "Thought it would be nice to teach my hands some finer art." Instead of the blunt instruments they were.

[mooningremus]

"I'm not sure that chopping vegetables really qualifies," Remus chuckled. "But wood carving seems like it might be a nice hobby."

[quitollis]

"There was a shed behind the church. It was perfect for it. I've always built furniture, but it was a nice change to have a go at something more delicate," Aaron mused. "In any case, I'm fairly sure I can manage the vegetables."

[mooningremus]

"Here you are," said Remus, and handed him the knife. Their fingers brushed, and it was completely ludicrous how that touch sent a zing through Remus.

[quitollis]

Was he still under the influence of Julian's poison, Aaron wondered. But no; this was nothing like that. The touch didn't bring about an irresistible urge to take him up against the kitchen counter, right here, right now. There was definitely something, in his gut, but Aaron found he could resist it. This wasn't poison; these were unfortunate natural emotions. Despite better judgement he was forming feelings.

He smiled, as if nothing was amiss, but his eyes locked with Remus' for a moment. God, he had beautiful eyes.

[mooningremus]

Remus smiled at him and then looked away. "Halves," he reminded him as he gathered up the swash he'd chopped into a bowl with some olive oil.

Then perhaps because he too was taken by that lingering moment, he said, "You know, typically when I meet someone new I'm most worried about telling them about the wolf, or worse, them seeing it."

[quitollis]

"I can imagine," Aaron sympathized. "I suppose our first encounter was fortunate in that sense," he added.

[mooningremus]

"Exactly," Remus said. "It's like I can already relax around you, already knowing that it won't frighten or upset you."

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded. "That's good; I'm glad. I've met a werewolf in the past, but he was... a lot more feral than you. He let that side of him take over; I'm deeply impressed at how you manage it. Well, from my perspective, at least, it doesn't seem to consume your life."

[mooningremus]

"Most werewolves I've met are... awful," said Remus quietly. "They sided with Volemort in the war, for the most part." Not to mention Greyback, who was a Death Eater on top of it. And also... well, best not to think about it.

"I wish the wizard community thought more like you. It doesn't seem to matter how well I'm managing it. There's a lot of prejudice."

[quitollis]

"I try not to judge," Aaron said. "I've always valued that side of faith over many other aspects. Not everyone does. So, I'm very familiar with the nastiness of prejudice."

[mooningremus]

Remus hesitated a moment, not sure if this was sensitive or personal to ask, but... well, they were getting close, weren't they? "Have you had problems in the church because of your sexuality?"

[quitollis]

"I was a bit late, finding out," Aaron admitted. "There was always something, but I didn't realize until I was well into my twenties. I got into trouble with the Church first because I fell in love with a woman. I was studying to become a priest and had a future thought out for me as Cardinal. They tried to keep my affair hidden - aparently it was all fine as long as it wasn't in public. So... They didn't like me marrying her. But that's what always has rubbed me wrong; the hypocrisy of it. Showing one face, denouncing some behaviour, and doing whatever the he'll they pleased in the shadows."

[mooningremus]

"You were married?" said Remus, visibly surprised.

[quitollis]

"I still am, technically," Aaron said, a little sheepish. "She's deeply religious so divorce isn't really on the table."

[mooningremus]

Remus' expression went from surprise to alarm. He stopped chopping. "Is that... a problem?" He wasn't entirely sure what to ask here. But 'I'm married' did seem like quite a bomb to drop regardless of the context.

[quitollis]

"There's no love between us anymore. We married very young; I was nineteen. I began working as excorsist when I was twenty-one and I spent less and less time home until I stopped coming home."

A pause. Might as well confess it all in one go. "We have two boys. Well, they're adults by now. They barely know me."