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black-occamy · 7 months

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The Enchanted Cafe - Season of Pumpkin Spice

(Self-indulgent coffee shop AU. Words: 5,492 - I know, long!!!!) tags: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Sirius Black/Reader, Remus Lupin/Reader, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin/Reader, Coffee Shops, Autumn, Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Romantic Fluff, canon characters behaving canonically, with a dash of homebrew to this coffee pot, Gender Neutral Reader - Character, no y/n, alternate happy universe

Out of many obvious perks of working at a coffee shop - like actually being paid and having near unlimited access to coffee - if you had to select one, you would point to the customers you could observe. Of course, you knew all the stories about how working in customer service was a pain, people being basically just people, sure. But it has never been the case in the coffee shop that you worked for now. It was hard to explain why. All kinds of different types of beings would parade in front of the counter on any given day, but either there was some actual magic at work, or the Enchanted Cafe only attracted the polite ones.

Like the constantly smiling owner of the bookshop two streets over, an avid fan of white three-piece suits and vanilla latte. Or the mother, who would come in with twins, a boy and a girl, both of them drawing at the children's table while she drank her Saturday afternoon espresso. The solemn, tall man, who only ever ordered a single cup of the simplest black coffee and for whom you kept a lavish porcelain sugar bowl filled with sugar cubes behind the counter; he would put only one cube in his cup using pair of silver tongs and stir it slowly with left hand, while writing down rows and rows of notes in his small notebook. The older lady who had walked her cat around the neighbourhood every Monday and Thursday, and stepped in for an americano with a cookie on the side.

And then there were those two guys that made your heart skip a beat whenever they entered the shop.

The Star - Sirius x Reader (on AO3) The Moon - Remus x Reader (on AO3) The Celestial Phenomenon - Wolfstar x Reader (on AO3) (you can skip either or read all, makes more sense as a whole) (full story under cut, enjoy!)

The Star

Come to think of it, they actually started coming in for coffee around the same time. Sirius was the first to make an appearance.

You remembered it well; it was the first of the warmer days of late spring, and it was starting to get really sunny. He walked briskly into the coffee shop in full leather jacket, long sleeves and all, and for a good ten seconds you wondered what kind of person would dress like that in a weather like this. Then, when he approached the counter and flashed you a smile, you instantly knew the answer.

Hot. A hot person.

“Double espresso, to go,” he ordered, without even looking at the menu. You overcame the momentary stupor, responding with a practised salesperson grin of your own.

“Right on it! Anything else I can tempt you with? Chocolate chip cookies?”

“Hmmm, tempting indeed,” he hummed, pretending to consider the desserts on display, but you felt his eyes on you. It was quite funny, the way you suddenly felt like a rare piece of highly appreciated art. The man winked at your slightly flustered cheeks. “I'll give it a pass today, thank you very much for the suggestion.”

“Very well,” you picked up the paper cup and a pen. “What should I write on the cup for you?”

“Oh, I'm Sirius.”

“About what?”

There was a second of silence, then another and you cursed yourself internally. That kind of blunder never ever happened to you. It had to be the face of that man, that mischievous smirk pulling the corners of his lips upwards, those silvery-grey eyes that gleamed now that he began to chuckle, that line of carefully trimmed beard which highlighted his sharp cheekbones, that long black hair, falling gracefully on the leather jacket. You blinked.

“I'm extremely sorry for that! Sirius, like the star?” You forced your hand to scribble the name on the side of the cup, letters coming out sharp and uneven.

“Yeah, like the star,” he confirmed, still chuckling quietly. “Nice to meet you, Pumpkin.”

You caught his eyes reading the name tag on your lapel. One of the curious little quirks of the coffee shop was that each worker was expected to pick a name for themselves. It had to be related to coffee in any way, proper - obviously - and it would be used among the staff and towards the customers instead of real names. You liked the idea and you became Pumpkin Spice without a second thought.

On a third thought, however, exactly at this moment, you wished you had picked something else. Something more classy, perhaps.

Like Espresso.

“The pleasure is all mine, Sirius.” The coffee dispenser whirred its happy grinding tune. “That would be 8.50.”

Sirius put a 20 bill on the counter and as he waved dismissively when you reached for the change, you noticed his fingers and wrists were adorned with sharp, black lines of tattoos.

“See you around!”

It was maybe a week later when he paraded in again, the same leather jacket on his shoulders, the same grin on his handsome face. This time there was a small queue in front of the counter and while you talked to other customers, you allowed yourself a few discreet glances in his direction, taxing his silhouette in more detail. He was tall, slender in that subtle way that he could pretend not to work out if he didn't want to. Raven black hair fell loosely on his shoulders, and every now and again he'd run his fingers through it, pushing it back. Under the leather of his jacket, his shirt was nonchalantly unbuttoned on the top, black line of tattoos showing over his clavicles as well.

When Sirius finally approached the counter, he rested his elbow against it casually and you noticed that one of the tattoos on his left palm was a small paw print, like that of a dog.

“Hello, Pumpkin,” he flashed you the same smile as before.

“Good afternoon, Sirius. What can I tempt you with today?”

“Again with the cookies?”

You smiled and performed an exaggerated shrug, pointing with your open arms to the display counters around.

“We at the Enchanted Cafe are dedicated to tempt you with all sorts of sweets,” you recited. “Along with a large selection of assorted coffee, ready to put a spell on your taste buds.”

He laughed - and it was a laughter designed to melt the knees of those affected. Your knees were ready to gleefully oblige.

“Double espresso to go, please! You will find me not easily tempted,” he declared, winking.

You prepared a cup, adorned his name with little stars above both "i's" and accepted the exact same tip as before.

He came in several more times over the following week or two. "Double espresso to go" became a regular order and you found yourself preparing a cup with stars on it every morning if it wasn't already there. Sometimes, if there was no queue, he would chat you up and you would learn something about his taste in music (you shared an interest there) or his motorcycle (that he once parked in view of the cafe window and damn, that machine was gorgeous).

Then, when summer started in full, Sirius ditched his leather for a sleeveless black shirt.

Unsurprisingly, his tattoos extended to his arms and visible portion of the chest. Equally unsurprisingly, you found them extremely attractive. Along with the rest of him, naturally.

“I can see that the weather has forced a change,” you remarked casually when he walked in on that first day of summer, and Sirius grinned widely at you.

“Is it a good change or a bad change in your opinion, Pumpkin?”

“That depends,” you picked up the cup that had waited for him for two full days. “Will I be able to tempt you for a summer special coffee?”

“Let's hear it!” He leaned over the counter, as per his usual manner, and a subtle mixture of sweat, petrol and spicy cologne drifted towards you, somehow discernible among the overwhelming aroma of coffee.

“We have a mint-and-chocolate scented blend, ideal to go on ice or with milk,” you wondered briefly if white coffee was even his thing. “The official name is 'too cool for school', by the way.”

“For real?” Sirius chuckled. “Or are you making it up as you go?”

“You're offending my honour as a barista, good sir.”

“My most heartfelt apologies!” Theatrically, he took a step back and bowed. There was a subtle grace to the movement, something that told you he had been practising etiquette for years. “Although it does sound like my type of coffee, Pumpkin. Consider me tempted.”

“I'll write it down as an achievement in my diary,” you grinned. “On ice? Or do you want to experiment with double espresso? I should warn you, the aroma gets sharp.”

“Do you get to write two achievements if I decide on ice?”

“I get to write three if you order the cookie as well.”

The way he smiled always made you grin in return and that was the most natural grin you ever had - not the polite, trained smile of the barista, but something more… real.

“Not today, Pumpkin, not today... Summer special on ice only, please.”

“You know I will keep on trying,” you puffed with pretend offence and he winked at you when you handed him the freezing cup, perspiration in the air already shimmering on the sides. It’s a policy to put the cutlery on the counter or directly on the table, but before you did, Sirius caught it mid-air from your hand and just for a brief second your fingers connected with his tattooed ones.

For some reason you kept thinking about that for a long time and from that moment on, whenever he ordered the summer special on ice, your fingers touched. Again. And again.

You almost didn't want the summer to be over, wondering if the “double espresso to go” will replace this little ritual of yours. Sometimes you pondered if Sirius had ever noticed, or if he just kept picking the cup from your hand and walking out towards his motorcycle oblivious to the spark of joy that he had yet again brought into your day.

The Moon

There was another reason for you to smile widely when you prepared the shop each morning before it opened for the customers. It was reflected in a small collection of neatly stacked receipts that you kept in an envelope at the side of your breakroom drawer. The receipts themselves were as insignificant as they could be - each one for the exact same cappuccino on rice milk, no extras. But each one had a small, pencil drawing at the back. It was always something simple: sometimes a cup on the table, a car visible from the cafe window, or a book that he was reading, but there was something soft and warm in the graphite lines that made you feel equally soft and warm on the inside.

First time Remus paid a visit to the Enchanted Cafe there was no receipt yet, however. You spotted him in the queue of regulars that was attended to by Latte when you came back from your break. It was raining and the coffee shop was packed full of people not entirely ready to go and face the weather. Umbrellas in the stands and several coats were drying on the side, adding a unique scent of moisture to the air full of mingling conversations.

You took the queue over from Latte before Remus had approached the counter and you had just enough time to take a good look at him. He was tall, probably a little bit taller than Sirius (well, you DO have a type), with long, slender limbs. His patched-up coat seemed to be a bit too loose for his body. Brown, curly hair was marked with ashen grey on the sides, even though he didn’t seem old at all - maybe late twenties? Early thirties? When you greeted him and he gave you a small, apologetic smile, you noticed his honey-coloured eyes had tiny wrinkles in the corners.

But what had your curiosity piqued was the scar that cut diagonally through his face. It started above his left brow, arched across the nose and right cheek almost to the corner of his thin lips. You allowed yourself only one stare, as discreet as you could in the circumstances.

“Good morning, what can I tempt you with today?”

“I'd like a cappuccino, please,” his voice was rich and soft, somehow bringing about an image of a warm blanket and a fireplace. “Do you have any vegan options?”

“Absolutely!” you mentally listed the content of the fridge. “We have soy, almond and rice at the moment.”

There was a short moment of hesitation from him, and as you looked at his face expectantly, you noticed that the scar was just a central one of three. Much less prominent, two other long gashes were visible in regular proximity from one another. It sort of looked like a huge claw mark.

“Are any of those options paid extra?” He asked finally and you shook your head.

“Absolutely not. Regardless of the milk type, cappuccino will put you at 6.20,” you explained, then added after a sudden afterthought. “There is no price difference between having coffee in or taking it to go, either.”

“Thank you... Pumpkin Spice?”

“That's me.”

“Unusual,” he smiled softly and his eyes gleamed with golden sparks. “I might take the opportunity to enjoy the coffee inside, but not today. A cappuccino with rice milk to go, please.”

You nodded and picked up a paper cup.

“It's not often this packed,” you remarked, seeing how he kept glancing around with that awkward unease some people displayed when in a crowd. “What should I write on your cup?”

Another slight pause, reluctant and a little wary. You knew that kind of silence - an introvert in the wild. You sympathised.

“Enchanted Cafe believes in a personal approach to customers,” you made your best effort to sound light and encouraging, “but I could swear some of the things I write on those cups are most definitely not the real names. There's this one older guy who always asks for his coffee to be signed 'Real Elvis' and, mind, there's not even a trace of resemblance.”

He chuckled softly in response, visibly disarmed.

“My name is Remus, thank you for this... insightful piece of trivia.”

“Humour is completely free of charge, Remus,” you grinned and the coffee machine whirred gleefully. “That will be 6.20.”

He meticulously counted the coins and picked the cup into his hand. You noticed that his wrist also carried thin lines of three diagonal scars, almost completely faded against the skin.

“It was an absolute delight to chat with you, Pumpkin, thank you.”

“Pleasure was all mine. Until next time!”

As it were, the next time happened on one of the following mornings. Remus came into the cafe looking quite exhausted, his face pale with bags under his gentle eyes. You were familiar with the look. After all, it was a coffee shop and people worked all kinds of hours.

“Good morning, Remus. You look like you could use a solid espresso today,” you remarked lightly and smiled at the look on his face.

“Good morning, Pumpkin. I'm surprised you remembered my name.”

“It's a very nice name,” you reached for the paper cup. “Plus, my memory is insanely good when it comes to my customers. Cappuccino with rice milk to go?”

You watched his eyebrows rise in an incredulous expression.

“Insanely good indeed... However, I was actually looking forward to spending some time here, I have about an hour to spare.”

You beamed at him gleefully. “Splendid! Would you like the same coffee or can I tempt you with a seasonal special?”

“Same, please.”

“Cookie? Cupcake? We have vegan options too.”

Remus smiled softly and shook his head.

“Thank you for this consideration, but I will pass.”

“Sure thing! It will be 6.20, please take a seat wherever you like and I'll bring your coffee momentarily,” you smiled widely at him, some part of you sensing that he needed the positive vibes.

Keeping that in mind, you selected a cup with celestial motifs on the side and when you put it on the table next to Remus, you rotated it so that the yellow drawing of the sun was facing him.

“For a good day,” you said and he gave you one more tired smile from above the book he was reading.

Remus left some time later and while you were cleaning the table, you found the receipt tucked under the saucer, with a pencil drawing of the sun and the words 'Here's to hoping'.

He became a regular after that, usually visiting on mornings, reading a different book every week. Most of the time you only exchanged a few sentences and you would leave him in the corner next to bookshelves in peace. On occasion, when the coffee shop was less crowded, you discreetly watched him read from behind the counter. Remus, while reserved and collected when you talked, was what you referred to as 'an emotional reader'. By far, he was not the only one you saw - people would often bring their books or pick up any of those you had on the shelves. But there was something both vulnerable and exhilarating in the way a range of emotions crossed his handsome, scarred face when he read. You watched him smile to the pages, knit his brows, pick on his moustache and drum his fingers on the surface of the table. You imagined the stories he saw in his head and, for some reason, you also envisioned a comfortable sofa next to a fireplace and his long arm wrapped around your shoulder as you were reading the same book together.

The softness and warmth of that imaginary scene lingered with you throughout the summer, as you collected his drawings on the back of each receipt. You never did anything to act upon it. It was a pleasure that you enjoyed silently in your mind, a small cosy thought that made your heart flutter whenever Remus entered the cafe. You tried to reflect that through the selection of cups you picked for him every time - especially on those mornings when he came in looking twice as tired as anyone else. The sun was there often, so was the moon, and your personal favourite - a set of cups adorned with quills and ink pots. Somehow, you made it a sort of a challenge to bring a smile to his face on those days and each time you accomplished one, it was worth more to you than almost anything else in the world.

The Celestial Phenomenon

The summer ended in a string of warm days that slowly gave way to cool mornings and evenings. You knew it was over one late afternoon when a deep roar of the motorcycle announced Sirius’ arrival and you watched him saunter into the near-empty coffee shop in his regular leather jacket. On the inside you sighed with regret. On the outside you smiled, waiting for him to approach the counter. Uncharacteristically of him, he was looking around the place, as if searching for someone.

Whoever that was, however, they weren’t inside yet.

“Hiya, Pumpkin!” Sirius leaned over the counter and flashed you one of his grins.

“Good afternoon to you too, Sirius!” In a way you had been dreading this moment for weeks now, but it was time. “I’m sorry to inform you that our summer special is no longer on the menu.”

“Figures, what with the weather changing, and all,” he patted the side of his jacket, winking as if the two of you were real co-conspirators. “I suppose it’s back to my favourite double kick then?”

“Unless…” your throat tightened for a second. “I could tempt you with our replacement autumn special, perhaps?”

You saw it. Sirius’ eyes flashed towards the menu over your head, reading the words in a fraction of a second.

“Oh?” He locked his silver eyes with you, a mischievous smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “Please tell me what that is. I’m extremely invested in hearing you say it.”

“There is no doubt in my heart that you are,” you replied, sighing. You were a seasoned salesperson, dammit. You could say it to this gorgeous man without fainting, for sure. “Can I tempt you with our very own, magical pumpkin spice scented coffee blend? Goes really well with milk and gets really spicy as an espresso.”

“I thought you’d never ask, Pumpkin.”

You almost choked on the next sentence, “To go, I presume?”

His laughter was doing something really weird to your knees.

“To leave and not have the pleasure of watching this delightful fluster?” Sirius teased and you rolled your eyes theatrically. “In fact, I’m meeting with someone here today. It seems I got here first, though.”

“I suppose I’m an architect of my own anguish,” you said with mock self-pity, even though your heart sank somewhat at his words and the dreamy, far-off look that crossed his face for a moment. “Milk, no milk? Cookies and such?”

Sirius shook his head. “Double spicy espresso sounds amazing enough.”

“Coming right up. Please take a seat wherever you like and I’ll be there with your order momentarily.”

When you fumbled to pick a cup for him, your gaze fell on the paper one that you prepared earlier, stars and everything. For a second you pondered whether Sirius meeting with someone would be an end to something for you. Something less tangible than a cup of frosty summer special. Something like a wistful daydream of the black-haired man on his motorcycle, smiling at you. For you.

The coffee machine buzzed comfortingly as the aroma of cinnamon filled you with its familiar sense of calm. What will be, will be. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed that Sirius took a table for two next to the window. It gave him a good view both at the counter and the entrance door.

“Double espresso pumpkin spice for you.”

You placed the cup on the table in front of him right when the doorbell rang, announcing another customer. A spark appeared in Sirius’ eyes when he spotted the person coming in and for a split second you didn’t want to turn around. You did, of course.

It was Remus.

“Oi, Moony!” Sirius called and Remus' head snapped in the direction immediately. He noticed you and you smiled lightly as Sirius passed by, catching the other man in a quick embrace.

“Really, Padfoot...” Remus sighed under his breath, loud enough for you to hear. His face, visible from an angle, was a mixture of joy and fluster.

You tried to casually edge back behind the counter, distancing yourself from their exchange of greetings. There was something distinctly intimate in the way Sirius rested his tattooed hand on his companion's arm and in the way Remus' head leaned in his direction. You could tell those two knew each other for a long time.

Long and close enough to become familiar and aware of each other's bodies. You’ve rarely seen this kind of connection and it was something that deep in your heart you kept dreaming about.

“Did you wait?”

“Just came in,” Sirius glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “Pumpkin has been telling me about their autumn special, I'm pretty sure you're going to love it.”

“I am?” Remus smiled at you, and you returned the grin.

“Please don't mind me and good afternoon, Remus! I'll be at the counter whenever you are ready to place your order.”

“No time like the present,” Sirius clapped his hands together, pushing the other man gently towards you. “My treat, so… anything you want, Moony.”

“Sirius, honestly…” There was something reticent in Remus’ voice and in your mind you recalled his receipts, each one exactly the same, no extras.

“Enough!” Sirius laughed. “I told you we’re here to celebrate and celebrate we shall. Pumpkin, don’t let him wiggle out of it. We will take cake and coffee, and anything else you can tempt us with.”

“Fine by me,” you grinned. “But only if Remus is okay with it as well. I would not want to force any sort of sweets on anyone.”

“Oh, for… Fine!” Remus took a long inhale, closing his eyes for a moment. Small smile appeared on his lips. “But please remember, vegan options only and…”

“...no cocoa, because of allergies,” Sirius finished smoothly. “Any recommendations, Pumpkin?”

You took a quick glance at the treats on display, a little cleaned out now at the end of the day.

“There are fruit tarts, muffins and a carrot cake that I can readily suggest.”

“All of it.”

“Padfoot!” Remus gasped and Sirius grinned at him with that disarming smile of his.

“All of it! Pumpkin, don’t listen to him.”

“That’s quite a celebration you two are having,” you noted, trying to discern whether Remus was actually on board with the plethora of sweets that was just ordered. You noted his brown eyes shooting you a look that was both slightly embarrassed and secretly pleased.

“I… I have a new job,” he said in an apologetic tone. Sirius threw his arm around his companion’s shoulders.

“Way to downplay achieving your dream, Moony!”

“Oh, please…”

“Either way,” you decided to gently interrupt, “I understand that congratulations are in order, Remus. Please accept mine as well.”

“Thank you, Pumpkin,” he replied with a smile, as Sirius rubbed his shoulder gleefully. “So… about that autumn special…”

“Absolutely,” you caught a wink that Sirius made explicitly at you and fought the urge to wink back. “Would you be tempted by your regular cappuccino on rice milk, but with a dash of pumpkin spice?”

You saw him stiffen a little, confusion flashing across his face for a moment, until Sirius leaned in.

“The coffee is scented, Moony,” he announced in a conspiratorial whisper and Remus shuddered visibly, as if waking up from a thought. You watched it, trying to understand what was going on. “Like I said, I knew you’d love the idea.”

“Of course, pumpkin spice, autumn, makes sense,” Remus said quickly. “Such a wonderful seasonal tradition, isn’t it?”

“Are you a fan of autumn, Pumpkin?” Sirius turned his silver eyes on you and something deep in your soul made an unhealthy squeal.

“I thought it was obvious, I did choose the name myself,” you smiled, watching Remus absent-mindedly rub the back of his neck. “If you two could take a seat at the table, I will go about preparing your celebration feast. Two of each dessert, I assume?”

“You know it! Go on, Moony, I’ll take care of the rest…”

Remus opened his mouth as if ready to comment on it somehow, but gave up and shook his head with a sigh. Sirius gave him a gentle slap on the shoulder and leaned over the counter towards you.

“Care to tell me what was that about?” You asked in a low whisper through the unchanged smile on your face.

“Whatever do you mean, Pumpkin?” His eyebrows rose in a surprised expression that you couldn’t decide was genuine or not. It made you hesitate. You could have been imagining something that wasn’t there and asking a question would make an idiot out of yourself. Was it even possible…

Something glimmered in Sirius’ eyes and you decided to withdraw.

“You could have told me that you wanted to throw a feast,” you chided quietly. “I would have prepared it before Remus arrived. But, no worries!” You added, when he straightened up. “I’ll get it done in no time.”

“I’m sorry, Pumpkin, I didn’t really…”

“It’s fine, completely fine! Forget I even mewled about it,” you said with a grin, pulling a cup from the cupboard. The sun-and-moon celestial cup that you usually picked for Remus on his visits. “I’ll bring everything to the table in a moment, don’t you worry.”

For a second or two Sirius stared at you thoughtfully, his eyes narrowed, as if he was considering saying something. Or maybe you imagined it. You definitely did.

“You’re right, I could have warned you,” he said finally with a rueful grin. “Will do it next time, promise.”

You waved your hand, regretting that you even started the subject. It was a lousy attempt to redirect the conspiratorial whisper you led with and now you were quite angry with yourself. It wasn’t Sirius’ fault. You watched as he placed a considerable amount of money on the counter, far more than the order's cost, and shook his head when you turned to the cash register.

“Really, Sirius…”

“Not you too!” He laughed. “Please, Pumpkin, you deserve it. You have never been anything less but a delight to either of us.”

You froze. Sirius was still smiling, knowingly. You suddenly realised that they must have talked about you sometime earlier. They knew each other. They must have. It was difficult to decide at this moment if the realisation was more of a surprise or…

A delight.

Next hour or so passed in a dreamlike haze. You bid goodbye to a few passing customers and began to slowly clean up the shop, while the two men you grew so fond of were chatting quietly at the table, slowly going through the desserts. Afternoon turned into evening and you realised that closing time was getting nearer. You didn’t want it to happen. There was something exciting that filled the air in your lungs, as if simply being in proximity to both of them together made the world a slightly better place.

Eventually, you approached their table. “I am really sorry, but it’s getting late,” they both looked up, silver and brown eyes locking at your face. “It’s been a pleasure to host you in Enchanted Cafe. I hope everything was to your liking?”

The words felt insincere, maybe for the first time since you have been working here. You wanted to keep watching them. The golden gleam in Remus’ eyes when Sirius was telling him something quietly. The movement of Sirius’ hand, just lightly touching the fingers of the other man. There was something enthralling in the connection that you witnessed. You wished that you were a part of it, even as a spectator, for the rest of your life.

“Pumpkin…” Remus began, but his voice trailed off. Sirius smiled at you.

“Could you sit with us for a moment?” He asked and you found it difficult to respond with your suddenly tightened throat.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand…”

“Please,” Sirius stood up, offering you his chair. “Just for a moment. We hope that you could settle one debate for us.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Pads, you’re making it awkward,” Remus complained, and you noticed his cheeks were reddening slightly.

“I’m not!” Sirius scoffed. “I just wanted to show some manners, for once. Don’t you always grumble about that?”

Remus rolled his eyes but said nothing. You couldn’t help but smile, even though you were rapidly losing your train of thought.

“What debate?”

Sirius grinned at you. “A hypothetical question, Pumpkin. If you were to go to dinner with one of us, which one would it be?”

You didn’t hear that right.

“Wait, what?”

“If you were to…”

“Both,” you blurted out before Sirius had the chance to finish the sentence. For a long moment they stared at you in complete silence. Remus’ brows rose up while Sirius’ smile widened. “I don’t see why I would want to choose between the two of you. It’s both or none.”

“Wow,” was all Sirius replied with. Remus didn’t say a word.

“Not what you expected?” You grinned. “As far as hypotheticals go, I suppose the debate remains unsolved. Sorry to disappoint. Now, I really, really need to start closing, so if I could kindly ask you to…”

Your voice trailed off into silence when neither of them moved. They exchanged glances again and Remus laughed. It was a warm laughter, pouring over the silence like honey. You realised that you never heard it before.

“Dearest Pumpkin, what if it was not a hypothetical?” He asked finally, getting up and reaching out towards you with his hand. On your other side Sirius mirrored that gesture, his silver eyes regarding you with intensity you have not seen before. You hesitated just for a fraction of a second, before reaching out to both of them, feeling their fingers close around your palms. It was most likely not a dream.

“Both,” you repeated, a little hoarsely. “But there will be no dinner until the cafe is closed, so you two either help me with the dishes or… Dunno, wait here? Is that even an offer for tonight or…”

“If you agree, yeah,” Sirius smiled, leaning just a tiny bit closer to you. You felt your heart flutter in your chest, threatening to stop or explode, you weren’t sure. Their hands were warm and amazingly real, sharing that warmth of their connection that you watched all afternoon.

Autumn was off to a surprising start, it seemed.

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