Demus Oneshots

Immortals

Requested by reactiontolife. Sorry this took so long as is going to be so bad. *awkward thumbs up*

Remus didn't bother looking up as the bell over the door jangled, signalling a new customer.

"Actually, um, we're technically closed right now." He said. "Sorry."

"Oh, okay." Someone said. Their voice sounded so broken. "I, um, sorry, I just, um, I just saw the sign on the door. It said this was a safe space so... nevermind, I'll just come back tomorrow."

Remus looked up at the customer. "Hey, you okay?" He asked. They shook their head, wiping their eyes quickly.

"No. I'm really not." They said quietly. Remus sighed, weighing up his option. He could either be a dick and turn this obviously distressed person out on their ear or not be a dick and just let them sit for a while.

"Look, I can't keep this shop open forever," Remus said, "because my boss will kill me but I could keep it open for a few hours, if you need it."

They nodded and tried to smile. "Thank you."

"Go find somewhere to sit and I'll get you a drink." Remus offered. Their small attempt at a smile dropped.

"Oh, but I don't have any money." They said. Remus shrugged.

"New rule." He said. "After hours drinks are on the house." He grinned at them. "Go find a seat, I'll come over to you."

"Tada." Remus said, putting a hot chocolate on the table. The person laughed a little.

"Thanks." They said. "Hot chocolate? Favourite drink, how'd you know?"

Remus shrugged. "Lucky guess. Who doesn't like hot chocolate?" He sat down opposite the person. "You okay? Need to talk about anything?"

They shook their head. "No, it's fine. And I'm not going to spill all my secrets to someone I barely know."

Remus nodded. "Fair point. Anyway, it's about three hours until I have to lock up so you've got three hours if you need to clear your head or cry or whatever. And I'm not gonna judge. Promise." He smiled at them a little. "You seem like you've been through a lot."

They smiled a little. "Thanks." They said.

Remus shrugged. "No problem. I'm gonna go clean up behind the counter but if you need anything, you can just call me." He smiled at them and got up.

"You remind me of someone." They said, making Remus stop. "Only, I knew them years ago." The infliction in their words triggered something at the back of Remus' mind. He knew this person. Where from, though? When from?

"You remind me of someone too." Remus said slowly. "I knew them back in the... 12th century?"

"15th." They corrected automatically. They laughed. "Remus?"

"Janus?" Remus asked. Janus nodded. "Holy shit, I knew it! I fucking knew it! Where'd you go?"

"I went to fight." Janus said. "Second world war, wanted to see what would happen. See if the German's could come up with anything that could kill immortals."

"Well, obviously they didn't." Remus said. He laughed. "I thought you'd look too young to fight? What did you put on your sign-up form?"

Janus laughed. "I obviously I couldn't put 5,280 so I put 18." He said. "I've been 17 ever since."

"What happened? Why come here? Why now?" Remus asked, leaning against the counter. Janus sighed.

"My dad kicked me out for the third time this century." He said.

"I've still got my Morningstar from 1567." Remus said excitedly. "Can I beat him up?"

Janus laughed despite the situation and shook his head. "Rem, no."

"Please?" Remus whined.

"No." Janus said again. "Anyway, what about you? You went off the map in 1940, you didn't reply to my letters or telegrams and all this time you've just been," Janus gestured around, "hiding out in The Strad?"

Remus shrugged, hugging his elbows. "I got scared, if I'm honest."

"Rem, we're both immortals." Janus said. "Why were you scared?"

Remus shrugged. "I don't know, I can't remember." That was one of the problems with being immortal. Things get foggy. "All I know is that I felt really guilty about it."

"But not guilty about to move back?" Janus asked sceptically.

"Jan, I can't honestly remember." Remus said. "I think our house was bombed or something."

"Yeah, it was!" Janus said. "I came home to a house of rubble and nobody there. I thought you'd died! You'd somehow unlocked the key to mortality and died in the bombing!" He ran his hands through his hair. "I was terrified, Rem! I was so scared and so sad and-"

"And I'm sorry." Remus said. "Really, truly, very sorry."

"You'd better be." Janus said. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair again. "Anyway, any place you know where I could stay for the night? Any place at all?"

Remus shrugged and leaned his hands against the counter. "You could stay with me." He said. "My roommate wouldn't mind. And we could catch up. All night." He looked at Janus quickly before looking back at the floor.

Janus laughed a little under his breath. "Sure, Rem. Thanks."

I hate this. Did you like it, Alex?
Bye,
Blaize