Arabian Nights

Chapter 2

WARNING: Mention of food

"Here's my plan." Remus leaned further over the stall as he spoke, grinning and tucking his hands over the edge of the counter. "You ever hear how New Year's Eve's meant to be magic an' all? Supposedly, a kiss at New Year's gives you good luck for the rest of the year." He glanced the boy up and down quickly, his smile growing a little more suggestive. "You wanna test the legend out?"

The boy laughed and blushed rather prettily, looking down at the accounts book he was meant to be writing in. He dipped his quill in the inkwell by him, a move he'd pulled exactly 5 times since Remus had sauntered up to him. He hesitated, bit the end of his quill lightly, glanced up at Remus and chuckled again.

"C'mon," Remus pestered. "Don't mind what answer I get, hey, I gotta shoot my shot somehow, huh?"

The boy laughed and shook his head. Remus laughed with him.

This boy really was easy on the eyes. Pretty much exactly Remus' type too. Tall. Pretty pale eyes. Some of his hair was tied up in a topknot that made something liquid and hot stir in Remus' gut. Long hair Remus was able to run his fingers through- Remus liked nothing better.

A heavy hand descended on Remus' shoulder, bringing him out of some very pleasant fantasies. Remus' smile dropped and he turned to glare and a very tall man.

Shit.

"If you're not buying," the man growled, "stop pestering my son."

Remus stood up straighter - still not even coming up to the man's shoulder - and glanced between the man and the boy. "Your son?" He repeated. He looked between them again. Then, he cupped a hand around his mouth and said in a stage whisper, "You sure he ain't adopted?"

"What?"

"Hey, I'm- I'm just saying," Remus said, raising his hands and backing into the crowded streets, "I find it hard to believe someone as hot as him could grow into... well, you."

The man's glare turned positively furious and he balled his hands into fists. Remus spread his hands wider, trying to convey as much innocence as possible.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't get so mad," he said. "Honest assessment, honest judgement. He looks pretty smart too." He glanced over the man's shoulder. "Why you got 'im doing the books, anyway?" He glanced back at the man. "Can you not read?"

If possible, the man drew himself up even taller. He reached for Remus. "You little-"

"Woah, no need for name-calling." Remus ducked away from the man's grasp very easily. "God's honour, I'm bein' truthful."

He paused, thinking up something else to say. "You ever tried a different diet?" He asked innocently.

"What?!" The man looked about ready to punch Remus through a wall. He reached for Remus again, balling his other hand into a fist.

"No offense, no offense." Remus ducked out of the way. "I'm just saying," duck, "I got this friend," dodge, "well, we ain't really friends," weave, lead him further away from the stall, "and he's a big fella like you. And I'm just thinkin'," dodge, dodge, "if you got on a different diet, built up some stamina an' all," duck, "you might be able to catch a weasel like me."

"You aren't a weasel," the man growled. He managed to grab Remus by the scruff of his neck. "You're a filthy street rat."

Remus crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side. "Now, that's just hurtful." He brought his knee swiftly up into the man's balls and ducked away quickly. "Let's go, Ro, let's go!"

He managed to catch the flash of red that was his brother disappearing over a roof and sighed. Always leave Remus to do the dramatic escape, yeah, yeah.

Remus took a running leap and landed on a stack of crates. They wobbled under his weight but he was already grabbing familiar hand-holds in the dry wall and pulling himself up onto a ledge. A small crowd had gathered around the poor man, still collapsed on the floor. Remus sent a kiss and a wink towards the boy at the stall.

"Don't forget, darlin'," he called. "We've got a date!"

Remus caught up with his brother with a hoot of laughter.

"Honestly, Ro," he said, "you should've seen his face!"

Roman smiled. "I'll see it next time. C'mon, catch." He threw Remus a loaf of bread he'd stolen from the stall. "Let's eat."

The bread was soft and warm and Remus practically wolfed it down. Roman - being the big brother as always - had to pat him on the back and remind him not to choke a few times.

"So," Roman said when they'd finished eating and had started back home, "I was thinking for New Year's-"

"I can't wait for New Year's!" Remus interrupted. "Biggest haul of the year. Plus, I got that New Year's kiss that guy promised me."

"Did he actually promise?" Roman asked, monotonal. "Or did you just talk at him?"

"Ha, you-" Remus stopped. The finger he'd been pointing at Roman in triumph dropped. "Dammit."

Roman laughed. Remus considered giving him a shove but, seeing as they were walking along the edge of a roof, decided against it.

"Whatever. C'mon, you were thinking 'bout New Year's?"

Roman shook his head. "Nah, doesn't matter. It can wait til we get home. Speaking of," Roman slapped him on the arm, "your it!"

He took off toward home with a whoop of excited laughter.

"Bastard!" Remus cried after him. Laughing, he picked his feet up and tore off after his brother.

*clap* Healthy creativity twins, let's go!
Bye,
Blaize