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sivanswolftstar · 3 years ago

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In short: Wolfstar And They Were Roommates Coffee Shop AU Idiots in Love

Marlene meets Remus, who's looking for a new place to live, as he can't deal with his feelings for his roommate anymore. So when Marlene’s coworker Sirius tells her that his roommate is moving out, it seems like a good idea to bring him into contact with Remus. Marlene may have missed something, though.

And They Were/Are/Will Be Roommates

Remus had been nervous for this moment. He’s usually not very good at talking to strangers, but he knows that if he wants to be considered for the room, he’s going to have to get along with the other tenants. Remus had responded to an add from the girls living in the house, looking for a new roommate now that one of them has moved in with her boyfriend. Miraculously, they’ve invited Remus over for an initial meeting.

His nerves only increased when he saw the girls.

They’re the cool, confident kind of girls whom Remus would’ve admired from afar, but never would’ve dared to talk to. The redhead with her captivating emerald eyes, the tall blond with her edgy style, the petit brunette with her feisty attitude. It triggered a lot of Remus’ old insecurities. He was half expecting these beautiful girls to laugh in his face upon realizing this awkward, weird guy thought he could be their new roommate.

But to his surprise, they seem to be hitting it off.

The conversation flows easily, and before Remus knows it, they’re all talking animatedly. Remus is drawn to Lily’s kindness, Marlene’s sarcasm, and Mary’s cheerful energy. They, in return, seem to appreciate Remus’ dry wit. They chat about their degrees, jobs, hometowns, favourite books, and whatnot.

“So, Remus,” Marlene says at some point. “Why are you actually looking for a new place to live?”

“Oh, it’s just...” Remus averts his eyes and shrugs. “Roommate issues.”

Mary scrunches up her nose. “Bad roommates are the worst. What do they do? Leave their dishes in the sink?”

“Sing in the shower?”

“Leave their hair in the drain?”

“Or dirty socks in the living room?”

“Play loud music late at night?”

“Let you do all the cooking?”

“Leave mouldy food in the fridge?”

“Sneak into your room late at night and watch you sleep?”

“What? No! No, none of that.” Remus runs a hand through his hair. “I mean, yeah, he does sing in the shower, but I kinda really like that about him? He sounds so happy and carefree when he’s singing just for himself. We actually put on this terribly corny music while doing the dishes together, and sing along really loudly. It almost makes doing the dishes the best part of the day! True, he’s not the best cook, so I usually take it up, but he’ll make me my favourite tea every morning, exactly the way I like it. And on Sunday, he’ll get up early to go to the bakery and get me fresh cinnamon buns for breakfast. He’s just so kind, and he always knows how to make me smile, and that’s... Well, and that’s just the fucking problem, innit?” Remus let’s out a deep sigh. “You see, I’ve gone and fallen head over heels in love with him.”

Mary looks thoughtful. “So the problem actually is that he doesn’t sneak into your room late at night?”

Remus chuckles, but then shakes his head. “I’ve never been very good at self-care, but I can’t keep living in the same apartment as him, being around him all the time, while he’s just there being this stupidly amazing person.”

Lily gives him a sympathetic smile. “That does sound like a mental health liability.”

The girls exchange a look. Then turn back to Remus.

“Shite, we were hoping you’d be an arse,” Mary sighs.

“You see,” Marlene says. “This girl we know, Dorcas, she’s just gotten out of an abusive relationship, and she’ll be kicked out on the street. She has nowhere to go, so we have actually just decided she can have the room...”

“We’re very sorry,” Lily adds.

“Not at all!” Remus quickly says. “I understand. Sounds like she needs it more than me.”

“We do really like you,” Mary assures him. “We totally should hang out again!”

“Yes,” Lily agrees. “We may not be able to give you a new place to live, but we can give you new friendships!” She cringes. “Oh god, did that sound as lame to you as it did to me?”

Remus laughs. “It kinda did, but I agree! It would be great if we ‘can still be friends’.”

Marlene snorts, but then she notices the time. “Oh shite.” She jumps to her feet. “It’s that late already? I’ve got to go! I said I’d jump in with the midday shift. It was lovely to meet you, Remus. I’ll keep an eye out for anyone having a room available. And of course, I hope to see you again soon,” she says, while already rushing out the door.

“It is indeed later than I thought,” Lily says, turning to Remus. “Would you like to stay for lunch, or is your roommate expecting you?”

“No, he’s at work,” Remus replies. “So I’d love to stay!”

“And how’d you like your coffee?”

Sirius’ voice sounds flat, monotone.

The customer leans on the counter. “I’d like it hot, please.” He eyes Sirius up and down. “Quite like my barista.”

“One hot coffee coming up,” Sirius says, giving no reaction to the customer’s obvious flirting, his face an impassive mask.

Sirius makes the coffee like a robot. “Here you go.” He sounds like a robot too. “Would you like anything to eat with that?”

“No thank you, darling. The eye-candy is more than enough for me.”

“That’ll be one pound seventy-five, please.”

The customer blinks. He pays, and walks away, looking rather dejected.

“Sirius!” Marlene hisses, dragging Sirius to the side as the lunch rush dies down a little. “Even if you’re not into it, can you at least be kind to the customers flirting with you? You know that eighty percent of our tip jar depends on you being cute!”

“I’m sorry, Marls,” Sirius sighs. “I’m just... really not feeling it today.”

Marlene eyes him. “What is with you?

“It’s my roommate,” Sirius mumbles, looking at the floor.

“Ah,” Marlene sits down on the counter. “Another instalment of Pining Sirius and the Cute Roommate. How did he turn your brain into mush this time? Sweaterpaws? Giggling the whole time while trying to tell a joke? Biting his lip while thinking? Ranting about his favourite book for an hour? Wearing your jacket?”

“He’s moving out.”

“Shite.”

“Shite, indeed,” Sirius wholeheartedly agrees.

“Are you gonna be in trouble with rent?” Marlene asks, concerned. “You know that Alice just moved in with Frank, and we’ve actually been interviewing potential new roommates. There were some great people that we couldn’t pick. I can give you their contact information so you can-”

“Rent’s fine,” Sirius interrupts. “It’s just... I really liked living with him, y’know?”

“Yeah,” Marlene says softly. “I know.”

“I know we’re only roommates,” Sirius says. “And it was always going to be temporary, but... Fuck, Marlene. He just felt like home.”

“Do you know why he’s moving out?” Marlene asks.

Sirius shakes his head. “He won’t tell me. Which just confirms my suspicion that it must be something I did.”

A customer just walked up to the counter. “Excuse me, you’ve made my coffee wrong, it’s-”

Sirius puts his head in his hands and exclaims “Why do I always have to ruin everything?”

The customer gives a start. “I mean, it’s not that bad. I just... never tasted coffee with salt instead of sugar before. It’s... an acquired taste, that’s all.” He puts five pounds into the tip jar before slowly backing away.

Marlene makes a mental note that she should really remember that for next time a customer comes to complain, before she grabs Sirius’ arm and drags him to the back. She sits Sirius down on a chair and notices to her horror there are tears glistening in his eyes.

“None of this!” Marlene says firmly, placing her hands on her hips. “You listen to me. If he doesn’t tell you what the fuck his problem is, then it’s nothing you can fix, and then it’s not your fucking fault! Besides, you are much too cute to be crying over some guy.”

Sirius gives her a weak smile, that looks all but convincing.

Marlene pinches the bridge of her nose. “You know what, no. I’m not going to let you wallow in self-pity, so here’s what were going to do. The girls and I just interviewed this super nice guy today. Unfortunately, our free room had just been taken, but that’s good news for you! He can be your new roommate, and help you get over the old roommate. Sirius, this guy is super cute, like, you won’t believe.”

Sirius doesn’t look very enthusiastic. “I highly doubt a new roommate who isn’t him is going to help me much, no matter how cute he is. But I suppose I am going to need someone to chip in with the rent, so I might as well give your guy a chance.”

“I’ll set up a meeting,” Marlene promises, before pulling Sirius into a hug. “I know it sucks right now, but you’ll be okay.”

A few days later, Marlene has the closing shift together with Sirius, and after they’ve locked up the coffee shop, they go to Marlene’s place together. Mary’s got a date, and Lily will be in the library studying until late, so Marlene has invited Remus over to meet Sirius.

Sirius is still down and uncharacteristically quiet. From what Marlene has heard, things have been rough between Sirius and his roommate these last few days. His roommate hasn’t found a new place yet, but while still living with Sirius, he seems to be trying to avoid him. It hurts Sirius, and the atmosphere between them has gotten tense.

Looking at Sirius now, Marlene starts to doubt whether this was such a good idea. She was hoping Sirius and Remus would distract each other from their love-sickness, and find support in each other as fellow-sufferers, but now she fears they’ll just bring each other down to wallow in their shared misery. She really hopes she’s not accidentally creating the most depressing household ever.

“He should be here soon,” Marlene says, once she has sat Sirius down on the couch with a drink.

“Mmm,” is Sirius’ only response.

“Could you... try to look a little pleased to meet him once he gets here?”

Before Sirius can answer her though, the doorbell rings.

“Ah, there he is. Be friendly,” Marlene reminds Sirius, before walking into the hallway to open the door.

“Hi! Glad you could make it!”

“Of course,” Remus smiles. “I’m glad you thought about me.” He sighs, and Marlene notices that he looks tired, like he’s had a rough few days. “I really do need to get out of that apartment.”

“Well, come on!” Marlene says, taking his arm and dragging him towards the living room, where Sirius gets to his feet the moment they enter.

“So this is him,” Marlene tells Remus. “The guy who needs a new roommate, as his current one will be moving out. He’s been pining after that guy long enough anyhow, so I’d say time to move on,” she adds with a chuckle. Then she turns to Sirius, who’s staring at Remus wide-eyed. “And this is the guy I’ve been telling you about! The one who needs a new place to live, because he might have accidentally caught feelings for his current roommate, and it’s starting to mess with his head.”

“Sirius!”

“Remus?”

“You two know each other?”

“Yeah,” Sirius says slowly, not taking his eyes off Remus. “He’s my roommate.”

“Well, that was decided quickly! I thought you would’ve needed some more time to get to know each other and-”

“No,” Sirius interrupts. “He’s my current roommate.”

“Oh. Oh.” Marlene looks from Sirius to Remus and back. “Please tell me you don’t have a third roommate you’re now finding out you’re both desperately in love with?”

“No,” Sirius says slowly, still only looking at Remus. “It’s just the two of us.”

“You’re in love with me,” Remus suddenly says.

“You’re in love with me,” Sirius says.

“You’re in love with each other!” Marlene says, clapping her hands in delight. “This is perfect! You were both pining! After each other! And now you can stop! And even better, now no one has to move! Let’s be honest, moving is the worst. Really, it seems like you’re-” She looks at Sirius and Remus again. “-like you’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?”

Sirius and Remus are looking at each intently, their gazes locked, Remus’ mouth slightly opened, Sirius’ pupils blown wide.

“I... should probably give you a moment,” Marlene says, slowly moving back towards the door. Right before she closes the door, she sees how they practically pounce at each other, Remus wrapping his arms around Sirius’ neck, Sirius wrapping his arms around Remus’ waist, their bodies pressed flush against each other, and their lips crashing together, which they’ve probably both been waiting a very long time to do.

“And as it turned out, they were roommates!” Marlene concludes the story, before pouring herself another glass.

She and Mary are sitting on the couch drinking wine, while Marlene has been recounting the whole story.

Mary gasps. “Oh my god, they were roommates!”

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