marauders western au scribbles bc i need y'all to see my vision
. . . . .
“Well, fancy seeing you around here.”
It takes Remus perhaps a touch too long to look up at the bartender, pausing a moment to compose his face under the guise of adjusting the bandana around his neck. Being recognized is seldom a good thing in his case, and it was best not to let the bartender see the cold dread his playful words sent slipping down Remus's spine.
He dragged his gaze from his glass, meeting bartender’s steely blue eyes. He’s quite certain he’s never seen this man in his life—a relief—so he raised an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
He hadn't paid the bartender much attention when ordering, but now that he was properly looking, he could admit the other man was… not bad looking. Quite attractive actually, with his dark hair tied back loosely and sharp, aristocratic features. The bartender crossed his arms, mouth quirking with what one might dare call a mischievous smile. “Ah, so not one of my-“
“Black! Get out from behind my bar or I’ll have you banned.”
The bartender was interrupted by a damp rag being hurled at his face, which he ducked, nose wrinkling in disgust. Remus craned his neck to see a young woman with fiery red hair entering from an adjoining room, chewing out the bartender all the while.
“I leave for 10 minutes, and you just have to cause trouble. I’m trying to run a respectable establishment here, y’know.”
“But Lils-“
“Ah- don’t wanna hear it. Get out or you'll be having to visit the next town over for a drink. I mean it Sirius.”
Sirius groaned dramatically, but Remus was slowly picking up that there was no real malice between either of them. “James’ll never allow it, y’know. He’d sooner marry me and have us open a bed and breakfast together than let you kick me out.”
The redhead (Lils?) rolled her eyes, finally stepping behind the bar and shooing Sirius out. “Don’t I know it. Heaven knows why I put up with either of y’all.”
Sirius plopped himself down next to Remus at the bar. “Because you loveeee us,” he said, sickly sweet.
“Shut up, Black.” She leaned over, squinting at Remus’s drink, then snapped her head toward Sirius. “What’d you serve him?”
“Water.”
She turned to Remus. “What’d you order?”
Remus glanced quickly between Sirius and the real bartender. This town was going to be a headache, he could already tell. “A water,” he answered evenly.
The redhead clicked her tongue. “What d’you actually want? Free drink on the house for having to put up with his nonsense.”
“Mm, then I’ll take a cider if that’s alright, ma’am.”
The bartender snorted, “Lily, if you please. I won’t have anyone, 'specially anyone my age, calling me ma’am.”
“Lily, then,” Remus amended, “Thank you.”
Sirius bumped his shoulder against Remus’s, a bit too friendly for his liking considering they were still very much strangers. “Should be thanking me, seeing as my ‘nonsense’ got you that free drink. You have a name I can call you by?”
They sure were generous with the names here, Remus mused. Not terribly odd though; he’d visited towns that'd all but chased him out, and towns that seemed like they might hold him hostage if it meant him moving in permanently.
“Remus,” he replied. Not that you need to be too fussed about remembering it. He’d be on his way to the next town in a month’s time.
“A man of few words,” Sirius grinned, “I like it. We’ve got too many chatterboxes around here.” Remus hummed politely. That fact was readily apparent.
Lily set down Remus’s cider in front of him, the drink still fizzing. “Sirius, leave the poor man alone. No one wants to hear your blabbering.”
Sirius opened his mouth, presumably to rebuke that sentiment, but was interrupted by a loud creak as the saloon’s door swung open.
It was another young man, this one with round spectacles sliding haphazardly down his nose. He ran a hand through his unruly hair. “Sirius, I think you need to head home. Your mother’s out on her porch screeching at folks again about you again.”
Sirius sighed heavily. “Reggie isn’t dealing with her?”
The man shook his head. “Nope. Haven’t seen ‘em today.”
“Right then.” Sirius smacked his hands on the bar and slid off his chair. “Suppose I need to go handle that.” He made his way to the door, turning to look over his shoulder. “See you ‘round, Remus!”
He was wrong, this town wasn’t going to be a headache. That man with the cold blue eyes was going to be a headache.
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