good crimes
also on ao3
//
Lily Evans to Sirius Black: do u think i should get a fringe
Sirius Black: depends if u want james to fuck you again
Lily Evans: harsh
Lily Evans: a fringe wont effect my GREAT boobs
Lily Evans: ive rung mar im doing it anyway get fucked
Sirius Black: have fun becoming a born again virgin just to spite me
//
“Do you think Jane Austen could’ve written more convincingly about love if she’d been married?”
Sirius, lying on his bed scrolling through Twitter and ignoring Remus’ emails, didn’t look up.
“Jane Assrim?”
“Jane Austen,” Lily flopped onto the bed and made Sirius drop his phone down the side of it. “I’ve just read the most infuriating article”
Sirius, phoneless, not quite ready to let the joke go: “Jane Offramp, did you say?”
“- think you have to married to write about love? Is it a fucking prerequisite? And what does ‘write convincingly about love’ even mean? Like Sense and Sensibility isn’t fucking incredible-”
“That was a good movie.”
Lily turned to him, “I know you read the book.” He had, but only because it was cheaper than getting Lily a birthday present last year.
“He said Sense and Sensibility would’ve been more convincing if Jane was married?”
“Yes. I mean, I’m paraphrasing, but yes.”
“She wasn’t?”
“No. Do you listen when I talk?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Pity. Maybe then you’d be better at pub quizzes.”
“One time!” Sirius shoved his hand down the side of the bed, grasping for the phone, “One fucking quiz! I’d had eleven gins!”
“It was seven gins”
“Thirteen gins!”
“Seven, at best.” Lily sat up, “I don’t know what to do about this, I’m thinking about scrapping my entire thesis to exclusively write about why this guy sucks one.”
Sirius finally grasped the phone, “That sounds unwise.”
“We won’t know till I’ve tried it.”
“I think we know now.”
“Buzzkill. Go have another gin.”
//
Sirius Black to Lily Evans: you home for dinner tonight
Lily Evans: ill be in
Sirius Black: im going to combine spaghetti and baked beans in a pot and make spaghetti beans
Lily Evans: im out
Sirius Black: ive bought wine
Lily Evans: back in
//
“You’re not naked in there are you!”
“Why would I be naked?”
Sirius poked his head around the door holding a cup of tea. Lily was sat on the bed, laptop open, fully clothed. He ventured inside. “’Heard Potter and didn’t want to interrupt kinky shit.”
“We’re trying to decide how to email my landlord about mowing the lawn,” James’ voice, crackly, through the laptop, “But if that does it for you Black I’m not judging.” He’s wearing a top that is definitely Remus’ and hasn’t bothered to button it.
“Have you brought me a tea?” Lily asked, sweetly.
“No. I came to ask if you knew where the sieve was and Potter’s out here with his shirt undone like this is a porno.”
“Sorry for turning you on this early.” James said, gleeful.
Lily leant back against her pillows. “Give me the tea and I’ll tell you where the sieve is”
James, the traitor, laughed. Sirius squinted. “Are you kidding.”
Lily held out a hand and after taking a second to weigh his options (leave, sieveless, back at square one or hand over the tea, make a new one, gain sieve). Sirius gave her the mug.
Lily blew on it. “We don’t have a sieve” She said, solemnly, and James howled. Sirius lunged for the tea.
“Kidding!” Lily swooped it out of his reach as James continued to make inhuman noises that were surely annoying at least half of the California population, “Top drawer above the oven!”
//
Unknown to Lily Evans: lill
Unknown: its siriius
Unknown: am out lost phone pls call uber
Lily Evans: where are you
Unknown: nandos on main
Lily Evans: the one where i broke my heel or the one you and james are banned from
Unknown: banned
Lily Evans: number plate is JKY879 u have three minutes
Unknown: thank u lpve u
//
James Potter to Sirius Black: call me
Sirius Black: you call me
Sirius Black: im not paying three pounds a minute for you to tell me to check my email
James Potter: its not abt emails
James Potter: we’ll bill it to the company
Sirius Black: we are the company
Sirius let the phone ring four times before he picked up. “’Bill it to the company’ are you mad?”
“I’ve literally left a meeting to ring you and you can’t even pick up quickly. What was the name of that guy from that 2014, that investor, hated us-”
“All of them.”
“But he liked Remus-”
“Again, all of them.”
“-had that terrible tie, remember? It had birds on it and his last name was, like, ‘brain’ or something and he got really shitty when we wouldn’t stop going on-“
“Harvey Brain. Pronounced Bry-an” Sirius said, instantly, “We nicked those mints they had in reception.”
“Brilliant. ‘Ring you when I’m out of this.”
//
“You look terrible” Sirius said to Lily, who did.
“The fringe does not react well to heat.” She opened the fridge and stuck her head inside it.
Sirius, in a show of great maturity, did not say ‘I told you so’. Lily, who knew he was thinking it, said “Shut up” anyway, so what was the point.
//
Lily Evans to Sirius Black: so help me god. if the dishwasher isnt empty when i get home. i will murder you. actual and full death will come your way
Lily Evans: this is not a joke i will actually kill you sirius
Sirius Black: mark zuckerdick if ur reading these she rlly is threating me
Sirius Black: call mi6
Lily Evans: ill happily go to jail if people empty the dishwasher there
//
“I need you to come get me-“
Lily sat up, “Who is this?”
“Fuck off” Sirius’ voice, annoyed, vaguely drunk but mostly not, “I know you know”
“I was asleep.”
“You don’t sleep.”
She avoided that. “What happened?”
“Bar. Fight. He started it.”
“Oh really.”
“Believe me, would you?”
“I try but it’s hard seeing as I know you.”
“Don’t tell the boys. I’m in Croydon.”
“Croydon?”
“Don’t start. I’ll pay your cab fare.”
“You won’t”
“I will. Be quick.”
Lily, already with shoes on, “I’m not even out of bed”
“Liar.”
“Do I need bail money?”
“I’m at the hospital”
“What?” Lily’s heart, suddenly in her knees.
“Bruised ribs. It’s nothing. They won’t let me walk out alone.”
“Hospital?-“
“Some snitches. Black eye. It’s nothing. You should-“
“Don’t say ‘see the other guy’-“
“I was going to say ‘see me’ by which I mean hurry up-“
“Ungrateful!” Lily pulled on a fresh shirt, hands reaching for her house keys, “Watch yourself or I won’t come.”
“You bloody will.”
“Yeah.” Reaching for the door handle, “hey-“
“Yeah?”
“No murders?” their dumb code meaning, you good? Meaning: do I have to kill for you? Meaning: I would, just say.
“No murders.”
“See you in forty, don’t say-“
“Speed.”
“Asshole. I hope I get every light.”
//
Lily Evans to we’re not calling the company massivesoft: remus tell potter anytime he wants to talk to me and not my boss i am available
Remus Lupin: isn’t he talking to you??
Lily Evans: he always rings me on the work phone hes been talking to narelle for fifteen minutes
James Potter: dont be jealous that narelle and i have a special relationship
Lily Evans: didnt think my greatest threat would be my 57 year old boss and yet
Remus Lupin: yeah i had bets on sirius
Sirius Black: honestly me too fuck up narelle
//
“Would it fucking kill you to remember anything-“
“Moony, hold on-“
“I’m serious-“
“Actually I’m-“
“Fucking don’t I swear to Christ-“
Sirius grinned, rubbing sleep out of his eyes, “I forgot, shit- I forgot about the call, I’m sorry.”
Remus sighed, bone-deep and familiar, “I need you on those things. Otherwise I just get-“
“- Walked over.”
“Out-negotiated-“ He sighed again.
Sirius bit his lip, “Did it go well?”
“I rescheduled. I can’t do that shit without you.”
He smiled. “World’s worst lawyer.”
“This is business. It requires a blind confidence and ability to bullshit which-“
“- I contain in multitudes.”
“Look at you, quoting me.”
“If you were any good at business you’d bill me for that.”
Remus snorted. Sirius could picture it, Remus, exhausted, rubbing his face over his computer, almost laughing. “I am sorry about missing the call.”
“I know.” Remus, leaning back against his office chair, head to the ceiling, phone to his ear. Sirius could feel it like a toothache. “It’s bullshit that you’re not here. If you were here I could force you onto the phone.”
“Oh Moony, it’s almost like you miss me.”
“It’s this heat, it’s making me fucking crazy. How are you, anyway? Lil said she’s growing out the fringe due to your bullying.”
//
Sirius Black to Lily Evans: what the fuck is in the fridge
Lily Evans: is this about the bird
Lily Evans: the neighbours cat was eating it!! i had to bring it inside
Lily Evans: the bin was full and we’re out of bags i didn’t know where else to put it
Lily Evans: i thought if i left it out it would start to smell
Lily Evans: I wrapped it up!! i couldn’t just leave it!!
Lily Evans: can’t believe im getting roasted for caring about nature
Sirius Black: was actually talking about the skim milk but glad we got the bird thing out of the way
//
“Mar’s coming round,” Lily said, “She’s bringing wine.”
“I thought you had that test thing.” Sirius was eating sour cream with a spoon right out of the pot.
“That was today, it went fine. But Nathan sent Mar a follow request on Instagram, then messaged her on Facebook to ask if she’d gotten it.”
“Hence the wine.”
“Yeah, he’s not blessed with your moves.” Two years ago, drunk on New Year’s Eve, Marlene and Sirius had fucked in Remus’ bed. This was a source of constant amusement for everyone, except briefly for Remus while it was occurring.
“What I have can’t be taught.”
“But it can be caught,” Lily took the sour cream out of his hands, “You’re foul. We’re making popcorn.”
//
Lily Evans to Sirius Black: remus just told me what him and james call us
Sirius Black: is it not our names
Lily Evans: the lady and the tramp
Sirius Black: HA
Sirius Black: found my next tattoo
//
“Your party sucks.” Lily said, shutting the sliding door. Inside, she hears a glass break.
“Most of them are your friends.” Sirius, chain-smoking over the balcony, didn’t look over. Lily walked over to stand next to him.
“It’s the music that’s the problem.” Mary’s voice, mixed in with thumping drum and base, seeped under the door, apologising about the glass. The balcony was littered with cigarette butts. “Twenty-three, Black. You’re proper old now.”
“Tell me about it.”
“We need some Springsteen.” She said, which actually meant we need James. “Whose playlist is this? Where’s Born to Run?” Sirius doesn’t say anything.
The horrible thing was, when James had first told her about the Visa issue she’d thought it was funny. It was funny, to everyone, at the time. Sirius, on some USA Visa watchlist because of some prank he’d pulled on this mother at fourteen that grounded two planes and killed four seagulls. Now, in the dark, in this year, it seemed entirely less funny. James and Remus in Silicon Valley, setting up the company for real and Sirius, left behind. Eleven again, still.
He flicked his cigarette to the floor and crushed it with his foot, still hunched over the railing. Lily put her head on his shoulder and hummed the chorus of ‘Hungry Heart’ quietly, and Sirius is pulled back to this year, twenty-three, with broken glass inside the flat, grounded again.
//
James Potter to exclusively business: god this accountant smells like cheese
Sirius Black to exclusively business: that’s not very businessesy
James Potter: ur right
James Potter created the group cheesy accountant
James Potter added Sirius Black, Remus Lupin
Sirius Black: are you seeing the accountant for the business though??
James Potter: god right again
James Potter created the group exclusively cheesy accountant business
James Potter added Sirius Black, Remus Lupin
Remus Lupin: is this why ur in the goddamn bathroom james get back here
Sirius Black: does he smell like cheese moons
Remus Lupin: it is pungent yes
//
“The service here is terrible.” Sirius said, slumping on the counter and looking awful.
“He means can we please have some fries.” Marlene said, looking marginally better, wearing Sirius’ jacket.
“Funny,” Lily skated over, “Didn’t sound like it.”
Marlene grinned, “Rollerblades day?” Sirius’ head jerked up.
“Jay’s here so Narelle is making us.” Lily said, flatly, and pretended to charge them, “Swipe your card, or something.”
“Every day should be rollerblades day.” Sirius was recovering quickly, “No one rocks The Blades like you do-“
Lily ignored him. “At least pretend to swipe a debt card Mar, what is that?”
Marlene held it up, “My library card.”
“I’m going to start calling you ‘Blades’, recognise your talent-“
“Go away.” Marlene and Lily said, nearly in unison. Sirius held his hands up and slunk off.
“He was basically in a coma this morning,” Marlene swiped her library card, pretended to type a pin, “I had to drag him here, this is giving me an error notice by the way.”
“Stop pressing buttons, was it a good night?”
“It was alright. I lost him” she jerked her thumb to Sirius, collapsed against a table, “But ended up seeing him later. Wish you were there- I think I’ve broken this machine. It won’t give me my card back-“
“Christ, how have you done this-“
“Me? It’s your machine-“
“When are you even at the library-“
“Are you saying I can’t read-“
“What? When did I say that-“
“I’ll pull this side, you pull the other-“
“That is a terrible idea-“
“Ready?”
Sirius, appearing from nowhere, yanked the card out in one swift motion and presented it to Marlene. “McKinnon, I didn’t know you couldn’t read.”
//
Lily Evans to James Potter: you awake
James Potter: its two over there go to bed
Lily Evans: yeah yeah
Lily Evans: wanna hear my voice
James Potter: god yeah
James Potter: give me two minutes im about to go through a tunnel ill ring you
Lily Evans: see you on the other side
Lily Evans: ‘god yeah’
Lily Evans: you wont get this till ur out of the tunnel but shit im mad for you
//
Lily hit Sirius in the face with her bag strap, “Wake up.”
He didn’t flinch or open his eyes, “What?”
“Jesus, you’re not even asleep.”
“Yes I am.”
“Liar. Get up, you said you’d come with me to this thing.”
“The Masters mixer?”
Lily rolled her eyes, “It’s a mixer-“
“- a Masters mixer-“
“- for Masters students. There is no need to give it a name.”
“But ’Master’s mixer’ rolls right off the tongue.”
“Get up-“ Lily hit him with her bag this time, “You said you’d come-“
“Ow-“ eyes open now, “Those things suck, everyone always thinks we’re dating.”
“I’ll tell them you’re my brother.”
“That’ll never work, I’m way better looking than you.”
Lily turned away, “Right, you’re uninvited-“
“Hey!” Sirius’ arm shot out, grabbed her wrist.
“I’m Masters Mixing without you-“
“You said I could go!”
“Invitation rescinded.”
“Come on! I’ll wear a tie!”
Lily looked smug, “You are so predictable.”
“Please,” Sirius sat up, “You’d be so bored without me there.”
Lily, who would be, said: “I’ll say you’re my step-brother”
“You can still date your step-brother.”
“Not with a clear conscience, you can’t. Get up, I’ve rung a cab.”
//
Sirius Black to Lily Evans: sleep nutty professor
Lily Evans: just had major breakthrough with The Thesis i cant
Lily Evans: also tell the girl/guy/person ur with to not drink all the milk tmrw theres barely any
//
Sirius, stationed outside the Lily’s room, banged on the door again. “C’mon Evans!”
James, distantly, from the phone hung by Sirius’s leg. “Maybe she’s not in”
Sirius put the phone back to his ear, “I know she’s in,” He continued to bang but returned to James, “Does this mean you guys are going to be meeting Bill Gates?”
“Dunno. I guess it’s his money so, like, maybe? Oh God-“
“If you met Bill Gates without me I’m going to be so fucking pissed-“
“How could we met him with you you’re in London-“
“EVANS! OPEN UP! WE HAVE MONEY NEWS!” Sirius returned to the phone, “You’ll probably get a picture with the ghost of Steve Jobs or something, God, I’m already annoyed about it.”
“If we met Steve Jobs’ ghost I promise to put him in a jar and send him home.”
“You had better-“ Sirius, who had paused in his banging to finish the Steve-Jobs-ghost threat, could hear something coming from the other side of the door. Music, played just low enough for someone who didn’t want people outside to be able to hear. “She’s playing the Sense and Sensibility Soundtrack.”
“What?” James’ whole tone changed, “Is she alright?”
Sirius banged again, “Evans!” Nothing. She turned the volume down.
“Are you sure its Sense and Sensibility?” James, insistent.
“Of-course it is.” Sirius banged on the door again, “Evans, What’s wrong?” No answer.
“Do you think there’s any chance it’s because I look a little bit like Hugh Grant and she hasn’t seen me in eight months?” He sounded a little desperate.
Sirius snorted. “You do not look like Hugh Grant.”
“Sirius-“
“Honest to God, do you actually think you look like Hugh Grant?”
“Would you-“
“Total opposites, honestly, never looked less like a person-”
“Sirius,” James cut him off, “Something might be really wrong, you have to let me talk to her.”
“Oi, Lil!” Sirius called, “Do you think James looks like Hugh Grant?”
A voice, thick, from behind the door: “Fuck no.”
Sirius knocked again, politely, letting the phone drop to his side (James, distantly: “I said a little, put Lil on, Christ-“). Lily opened the door, face red, puffy eyes, hand gripping the door edge.
Sirius stared, James forgotten. “What happened.”
“Petunia is engaged.” Lily’s voice, raw and wrong, “To Vernon. Eliza Hunt told me at the supermarket.”
Sudden flashes of Petunia, the only time he’d ever met her, sat in the back of Lily’s twenty-first, pinched and whispering. “Whose Eliza Hunt?” This seems as good a thing to say as any.
“Our old neighbour. She got an invite to their engagement party last week.” She sniffed, rubbed a hand over her face. Sirius couldn’t think of anything to say, except that he wanted to throw Petunia into a very deep ocean.
“What’s the news?” Lily asked. She looked so tired. He cannot remember the last time she’d slept.
“Bill Gates’ foundation is giving us a ton of money and James is going to post me Steve Jobs’ ghost.”
Faintly, Lily smiled. “Is the money to buy the ghost?”
“Nah he’s going to steal that, moneys for the business.” She smiled again, stronger. Jackpot. Sirius handed the phone to her, James’ voice barely audible. She reached for it, and he gripped it tightly, only for a minute. “Hey.” She looked at him, red eyes, hand out-stretched. He can read her backwards.
“I’m good.” she said. He kept looking.
“No murders?”
“Yeah,” half-smile, “No murders.”
//
Remus Lupin to Lily Evans: tell him to check his fucking emails im going fucking feral
Lily Evans: will do
Lily Evans: he says so be it
//
“Keira Knightley’s in it.”
“Is it Pirates of the Caribbean?”
“No-“
“Why isn’t it? Let’s watch Pirates of the Caribbean” Sirius, lying across the couch, kept throwing remote in the air.
“Just because you think you look like Orlando Bloom-“
“I do look like him-“
“Only if you shut your eyes and drop acid-“
“Hey-“
“We are not watching Pirates of the Caribbean again. You’ll like Atonement, I promise, it’s like an epic war love story-“
“So like Pirates of the Caribbean but without-“
“- He’s not your twin-“
“My twin-“
Lily rolled her eyes, considered pushing his legs off her lap, didn’t: “You can’t only watch films because you look a little like one of the actors.”
“So you do think I look like him!”
“No I said think you look like-“
“You said ‘look a little like’! Ha!”
Lily pushed his legs off her lap. “If you look like Orlando Bloom then I look like Molly Ringwald.”
“Nah, you know who you look like,” Sirius tilted his head, “The kid from Finding Nemo with the braces. The one who holds the fish in a bag.”
“Oh my God-“
“Only a little-“
“You suck. You fully suck.” Lily was laughing.
“Let’s watch Finding Nemo! See your twin for a change-“
“You’re pushing it now.”
“Fine, maybe twin is a little strong. Cousin.”
“Second cousin. And you and Orlando could be, like, half-brothers if I have two beers and squint.”
“I’ll take it.”
//
Sirius Black to Lily Evans: what the fuck
Sirius Black: evans its three
Lily Evans: sorry i dropped a tray promise ill b quieter
Lily Evans: dont worry im not making brownies again
Sirius Black: thank god those were shit
Lily Evans: fuck you
Sirius Black: you were the one that put them in the bin
Lily Evans: go to bed judas
//
“We’re trying to stay positive.”
“I’m not trying that hard.” Sirius confessed, and Lily punched him on the arm before going back to the phone.
“We’re just waiting for the locksmith. If we still had a spare this wouldn’t be happening, but-“
“If you took your keys!-“
Lily punched him again, and Sirius groaned and fell back against the grass.
Over the phone, Marlene finally composed herself. “You two are tragic. Come ‘round and sleep here.”
“Can’t, we said we’d wait around. You could come here though.”
“And lie on the lawn in the middle of the night with you and Mr Positive? I’ll pass.”
“Hey, Sirius,” Lily held the phone away from her ear, “I think that’s an ant’s nest.”
Sirius leapt up so quickly he almost hovered in the air. He stared at the empty ground, wide eyed, before turning back to Lily, who was laughing so hard she’d dropped the phone.
“Oh, very funny, you’re hilarious. McKinnon,” he picked up the phone, “You’ve got to get over here, I’m going to kill Evans and I need you to call the cab to move the body.”
//
Sirius Black to Lily Evans: ive bought eggs and cheese
Lily Evans: ur cooking tonight so looking forward to the meal of cheesy eggs
Lily Evans: sirius im kidding please dont make that
Lily Evans: sirius
//
Lily took the phone and didn’t even say hello, “You’ve got to stop ringing,” she said, meaning none of it, “Narelle really thinks you’re on the verge of investing. It’s not on.”
“Hey, I always say I’m ‘thinking about’ investing,” James pointed out, “I could be thinking about anything. I’m thinking about finishing my engineering degree, I’m thinking about ringing my mother, I’m thinking about investing in your diner-”
“it’s not my diner-“
“it will be when I invest in it. One of my stipulations.”
“Wouldn’t that be buying the diner?”
“Don’t get all technical on me, Evans.”
“Apologises. You were saying you were going to give me the diner.”
“Yes, what a great boyfriend I am.”
“You’d be even better if you just gave me the money.” Lily spun the phone cord around her finger, grinning as James laughed.
“C’mon, I’d let you rename it and everything. ‘Lily’s’ has a ring to it.”
“Unoriginal.”
“What would you call it?”
“I dunno. ‘Star Wars’ or something. Get some publicity off the lawsuit.”
“Moony would defend you.”
“Ah yes, with his degree in financial law.”
“I didn’t say he’d be any good at it.”
Lily smiled. “How’s California?”
“Boring without you guys.”
“Don’t let Remus hear you say that.”
“Eh, he’d say the same.” James paused, “Sirius alright?”
Flashes of Sirius, flushed, spread on the carpet, What if everyone was right? Head lolling, party over, I don’t know where I’m going. I thought I’d know.
“Yeah. Last night he tried to make you guys a Wikipedia page.”
James snorted, “He’s been trying to do that since high school.”
“Don’t say ‘he’ like you weren’t also trying.”
James, again, grinning. She can tell from an ocean away. “You sleeping?”
“With other people? No.”
“Thank god for that, but really. My sources say you’re even more awake than usual.”
“Sirius doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“My sources are actually highly knowledgeable.”
“But still can’t make a Wikipedia page.” He doesn’t say anything, and Sirius is such a traitor. He has him worried. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit of a weird one. I’m going to sort it out.” She meant it.
“Okay. Don’t be pissed off at my sources, Marlene also ratted you out.”
“Terrible mates.” Lily lied.
“Yeah, worse luck, having people give a shit about you. Just wait till you own the diner, then they’ll only want you for your money.”
“Tell me about it, why do you think I’m with you?” And again, miles away, he laughed.
//
Lily Evans to crab on the cob: sirius just started doing karaoke
Remus Lupin: I didn’t know byo’s did karaoke
Lily Evans: neither did the owner
Lily Evans: the whole byo is now singing take on me
Lily Evans: we’re doing mamma mia next
//
Lily tapped on the window and Sirius, smoking outside, swung around. She pointed to other side of the bar, past the people, where Marlene and Nathan were grossly making out against the pinball machine. Sirius made a face, stamped out his cigarette, and went inside.
“Christ, you can see the tongue from here.” He took the beer out of Lily’s hand and drank some, “No respect for the festivities.”
“At least someone is getting some.”
“Aw, Lil,” he nudged her arm, “I’ll hook up with you if you want.”
“I’d rather eat glass, but thanks though.”
“Anytime.”
She took her beer back from him. Mary, a few feet in front of them, was drinking a ghastly pink thing that James used to call flamingo piss, and talking to Diner Natalie (as Sirius called her) about Love Island. Narelle, who had gotten wind of the party, was standing by the counter arguing with the bartender about the peanuts on offer.
“Twenty-three Evans,” Sirius said, echoing her, “You’re proper old now.”
“Still younger than you though.”
“Funny how that works.” He took her beer again. She couldn’t remember when they had started drinking the same brand. It had been such a long year, but next month the boys would be home for three weeks and this morning James had sent flowers and Remus a vase, and Sirius said he’d pay the water bill so technically it was a three-way gift. You could practically hear Remus’ eyeroll through the phone. They were too good to be believed.
“’Glad I live with you.” Sirius said, suddenly, holding her now finished beer. “You’re- I’m just glad. I’m glad it’s you.”
Lily looked at him, “Me too.” She said, and squeezed his wrist. He knocked a hand against her thigh. This was the real gift.
“Offer to hook up still stands.”
Lily laughed, “You know, if you think about it you’re one hook up removed from Nathan.”
“What?”
“You fucked Mar, Mar is now getting felt up by Nathan. That’s, like, one degree of separation. I’m not getting with anyone whose gotten with Nathan-“
“Okay, wow, I have not gotten with- wow, this is low, I’m being nice and you’re out here saying I’ve fucked Nathan-“
“Hey, no judgement and no murders and all that, but I have ground rules-“
Sirius, laughing, “I hate you. That’s my ground rule.”
Lily, singing: “And happy birthday to meee-“
“God, get away from me. I can’t believe I’ve accidentally hooked up with Nathan.”
“Maybe getting me another beer would make you feel better.”
“Wow, you’re always looking out for me huh?”
“You know it. Make sure it’s chilled, would you?”
//
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Sounds of Silence pt1
A/N: Modern AU with Mitsunari! This is loosely tied to Everything comes with a price, set over a year after it. Unlike before, there won’t be a set release schedule bc this fic isn’t completely finished yet. (I just need some validation and motivation oTL). A big thank you to @dear-mrs-otome for telling me this idea doesn’t completely suck <3
Also spoilers for Mitsunari’s route!
When he opened the door all he could do was stare.
Behind it stood a young woman. And not just any young woman but the one he had seen at the library countless times reading books to kids in sign language. The woman he secretly always hoped he’d see when he went to the library, whose smile he couldn’t stop thinking about.
***
At first, Mitsunari was annoyed by the voices coming somewhere out of sight. Libraries were supposed to be where you could study in peace, he had no idea what could cause such a ruckus.
The sound of laughter guided him to the children’s section of the library, but what he saw wasn’t what he expected.
A young woman was standing in front of a group of kids, a book open in front of her, animatedly reading the book in sign language. The kids were excited, laughing and giggling at the what he assumed were the exciting parts of the story.
Mitsunari felt enamoured, his annoyance long forgotten. He didn’t even realise he had stared until the story was over and all the kids were circling her, trying to talk to her all at once. Her smile brightened her face and she looked so natural and happy amongst the kids Mitsunari felt almost jealous.
Just then, she caught him staring. He felt his face heat up and he turned around sharply, stomping back to the table he had reserved for himself. He planted his face firmly on the book open in front of him.
Gods, that was embarrassing. Who goes around staring random women, when they were supposed to study. Ughh…
*****
He saw her walk towards the children's section from the corner of his eye and somehow his head turned to look after her. She stopped to wait for a boy in his teens to bounce all excited to her a book in his hands. They shared a greeting but Mitsunari couldn't follow the signs they spoke with. It didn't stop him from staring after them when they continued on their way towards the room where he had seen her read to the kids.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?"
Mitsunari turned to look at Sakon who looked at him a wide smile on his face.
"Or are you too busy staring after women to tutor me?"
"If you have time to lazy around and comment on everything I do, you must be ready for a quiz about all the important battles post-Honno-ji?"
"Ack! No! Don't you have any mercy, we just went through them 30 minutes ago?"
"Then what are you doing fooling around, you incorrigible dimwit. Get back to studying."
"I'm sure no one would have made me work this hard in the Sengoku period..." Sakon mumbled with a sigh.
"What was that?"
"I'm studying!"
When he was finally free of Sakon, he made his way to the children's section. But it was quiet, the children long gone. He was just about to turn around when he noticed a schedule on the wall. She would be back in an hour.
He could wait for that long.
Wait, maybe he shouldn't? Would that be weird? But he really did want to see her read again.
He didn't see her until he got up to get some coffee from a vending machine. She was sitting on the sofas next to it with the same boy as before, lost in an animated discussion he could only guess the topic off.
A part of him wanted to loiter so he could watch them talk, but the reasonable part of his brain forced him to return to his table.
As soon as he saw her followed by the silver-haired boy he stuffed his things to his bag and stood up to follow her. A group of excited kids were already waiting for her but he stayed behind until everyone had sat down. Then he stepped behind the parents by the door, his eyes following the movements of her hands taking in every sign.
Unlike before, this time when she was finished she kept glancing at the clock and hurried away as soon as possible, almost colliding with him. The silver-haired boy tried to stop her but after some hurried signs let her go. The look on the boys face looked a bit like a lost puppy and for some reason seeing her hurry away like that made Mitsunari feel a bit same.
He was brushing his teeth in the evening when he felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket.
[23:12:45] <<bookshy>> do u evr feel like ur stuck in ur life?
[23:12:52] <<bookshy>> like u shld hve accomplishd so much mor in ur life tn u hve?
He stared at the screen for a while before he typed a reply. He didn't know who bookshy was, not really. They had been talking with each other for years, but always with nicknames, always through messages in the internet. It felt more comfortable that way somehow. Knowing there was always a person willing to listen to you without judging.
[23:13:05] <<ManjuDreamer>> Are you feeling like that right now?
[23:13:07] <<bookshy>> ya
[23:13:11] <<bookshy>> i dunno wht ill do w/ my life
[23:13:19] <<bookshy>> i thght id do so mch more u know?
[23:13:22] <<bookshy>> and now i jst feel liek im stuck nd see no way out
[23:13:23] <<bookshy>> is ths my life now?
[23:14:50] <<bookshy>> evry1 says i shld b happy w/ wht i hve
[23:14:59] <<bookshy>> i hve so much im feeling ungrateful whn i feel like ths
[24:15:46] <<ManjuDreamer>> You still have plenty of time to accomplish your dreams. It's not for others to decide when you can be happy.
[23:16:02] <<bookshy>> guess ur rite
He heard a knock on the bathroom door and quickly finished brushing his teeth. When he opened the door Hideyoshi was standing behind it already in his pyjamas.
"I thought you'd never come out," he commented with a yawn and pushed past him to the bathroom.
"Good night," Mitsunari wished to the closed door before he retreated back to his room.
[23:18:30] <<bookshy>> how was ur day
[23:18:49] <<bookshy>> i saw the prettiest person today like hot damn
[23:19:13] <<ManjuDreamer>> I saw an interesting person today too, I wish I get to see them again. Other than that, it was mostly my student being an idiot, so nothing new.
[23:19:53] <<ManjuDreamer>> I tried to do some research on a paper I'm writing, but it didn't progress much. I was just about to go to bed so I have energy to study more tomorrow.
[23:19:56] <<bookshy>> srry to keep u up
[23:19:57] <<bookshy>> night!
[23:20:10] <<ManjuDreamer>> Night.
***
Mitsunari tossed the wig from his head frustrated, running his hand over his face. He glanced at the mirror of the bathroom, at the perfectly drawn eyeliner, the perfect shade of blush, the perfectly applied foundation. The perfect set of lies, painted on his face.
[13:33:14] <<ManjuDreamer>> I went to see my mother.
He hesitated a bit before he sent the message. It didn't take long for his phone to bling with a reply.
[13:34:29] <<bookshy>> how did it go?
[13:34:48] <<ManjuDreamer>> As well as you would expect.
[13:34:51] <<bookshy>> u wanna t alk about it?
His fingers ghosted over the screen of his phone before he put it down and looked at the mirror again. He reached for the makeup removal wipes from his bag and scrubbed furiously at his skin until the last remains of the makeup were gone.
[13:36:18] <<ManjuDreamer>> She's there but I feel like I'm losing her.
[13:37:01] <<ManjuDreamer>> Every time I visit she seems further and further away.
[13:37:15]<<ManjuDreamer>> Sometimes I wonder if the mother I used to know is there at all.
He started to type his next message, but stopped, gripping his phone tight in his hand.
[13:38:34] <<ManjuDreamer>> She's my mother, but it's so hard.
[13:38:42] <<ManjuDreamer>> I don't know what to do.
He glanced at the mirror to make sure his eyes weren't red before he pulled his shirt over his head and replaced it with one from his bag.
[13:38:47] <<bookshy>> ur doing plenty already
[13:38:49] <<bookshy>> u dont have to push urself so hard
[13:38:50] <<bookshy>> im sure shed understand
[13:38:59] <<ManjuDreamer>> But I'm all she has.
[13:39:02] <<bookshy>> i know
[13:39:06] <<bookshy>> but u hhave 2 thnk abt urself frst
[13:39:15] <<bookshy>> if u feel its too much u can keep a brek. ur not prfect. u dnt have 2 b
[13:39:50] <<bookshy>> im alws hr 2 tlk if u need me
[13:40:20] <<ManjuDreamer>> Thank you. It means a lot.
He put his phone on the side of the sink and wiggled out of his skirt. He really should buy a new one next time he got paid for tutoring. The zipper didn't work properly anymore and the hem was starting to fray. He kicked the flats from his feet and looked at the kneehigh socks on his feet. They wouldn't be visible under his pants anyway so he let them be and took his pants and shoes from his bag before showing the skirt and shirt in their place. He considered showing the wig in after them but realised making the wig presentable after that would be too much of a hassle. So he gently combed the wig with his fingers to sort out biggest tangles and folded it neatly in a mesh bag. Flats into a plastic bag, then into the bag.
Like countless times before.
He got dressed and made one final glance at the mirror before he put the bag on his shoulder and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Oh, Mitsunari! Here to see your mother?" a nurse greeted him when he tried to slip past the nurses' office without being noticed. What a nosy bunch of quidnuncs insistent of mothering him.
“Yes. I was just leaving.” He replied with a stiff bow.
“Come and have some tea with us! How did the test go you told me last time?” Another nurse poked her head from the office. Mitsunari resisted the urge to roll his eyes and offered another bow.
“I believe it went well. I still haven’t received the results.”
Half an hour later he was still stuck at the nurses' office surrounded by what felt like a flock of mother hens, all determined to squeeze every bit of information out of him they could. He was just getting up from his chair when a voice behind him froze him on the spot.
"Did my darling Saki leave already? She was just here... Such a dutiful daughter, coming to see her mother so often..."
His knuckles turned white as he squeezed the edge of the table, his head down. He wanted to turn around. He wanted to see his mother as himself. He wanted... needed to see if she'd recognise him this time.
"We saw her leave a while ago, Mrs Ishida. She's such a nice girl."
He heard a nurse walk his mother away and the sighs of relief from the remaining nurses.
"Are you alright, Mitsunari? You know we'll listen to you if you need to talk. Or we can help you find someone-"
"I need to go now. Goodbye," Mitsunari interrupted the nurse who had put her hand on his shoulder to calm him. He got up in such haste his chair fell to the floor with a rattle, but he just offered a quick bow before he fled the office.
He didn't stop until he arrived at the bus stop. There he sank on the bench, burying his face on his hands.
He took the bus to the library, staring idly out of the window.
[14:36:09] <<bookshy>> did u make it home
[14:36:35] <<ManjuDreamer>> No. I'm heading to the library. The nurses got me again.
[14:36:37] <<bookshy>> lol how did u mnage 2 escpe
[18:36:56] <<ManjuDreamer>> Mother came to the office.
[14:37:09] <<bookshy>> oh no
[14:37:10] <<bookshy>> im so sorry
[14:37:21] <<bookshy>> how r u feeling rn?
[14:38:29] <<ManjuDreamer>> I don't know. I'll try to find some reading to distract myself with.
At the library, he searched for materials for his upcoming paper but when he sat down and tried to read, the words didn't make any sense.
When he had read the same page several times over and still remembered absolutely nothing he was interrupted from his reading by a book shoved on top of the one he was just reading.
"Can't you see I'm-!" the sharp words died on his lips when he saw the same woman who had read to the kids in front of him. She tapped on the note on top of the book and he looked down to read it.
'This is the book I was reading. You seemed interested'
She handed him a second book, a note on top of it too.
'I'll read this next'
When she shifted her weight from one foot to another clearly uncomfortable, he realised he was staring. He offered her a curt nod as a thank you and she bowed at him a small relieved smile on her lips. She seemed to hesitate before she signed something but he had to shake his head.
There was a slight shift on her smile, on her posture, and she took a step back.
'I'm sorry' she mouthed and offered him a bow before she all but fled, leaving him to sit alone, feeling like an idiot.
[16:19:20] <<ManjuDreamer>> I think I just made a complete fool out of myself.
[16:29:59] <<bookshy>> lol rly?
[16:30:00] <<bookshy>> wht did u do?
[16:30:02] <<bookshy>> i thght fool wasnt in ur dicktionary
[16:31:18] <<ManjuDreamer>> And for that terrible joke, I tell you nothing.
[16:31:47] <<bookshy>> noooo hw wll i evr know how embarassng u can be if u don tell me?
[16:32:32] <<ManjuDreamer>> You'll survive.
***
"She's not here today."
Mitsunari was startled from his thoughts by a familiar voice behind him. He turned around, vaguely aware of the frown his irritation had brought on his face.
"Who?" he asked as if he didn't know exactly who was the 'she' in question.
"I got this for you, I'm sure it holds some useful information." Mr Otani handed him a flyer for the children's activities in the local libraries. Mitsunari stared at the flyer blankly before he looked at Mr Otani, letting his irritation show.
"And what am I supposed to do with this?"
Mr Otani just smiled and pushed a book towards him as well.
"I'm sure you'll find this useful as well. Come find me if you need anything else."
Before he had time to protest Mr Otani left him with a wave, a wide smile on his face. He considered running or yelling after him, but changed his mind when he looked at the book in his hand.
'Sign language for beginners'
He tucked the children's program leaflet securely at the back of his calendar and checked the book out.
Something about the sign language intrigued him. She looked so graceful when signing. And so comfortable and she seemed genuinely love reading to the children.
At first, he thought he’d look up a few signs. Just in case some of the children needed help in the library. Just so he could talk to her. No, he meant the kids. So he could talk to the kids. But few turned into a few hundred. A few thousand. He was so lost.
***
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