Work Text:
This traffic jam kills James. Very slowly.
He and Harry left the house an hour ago, and spent almost forty minutes in this traffic jam, moving only a hundred meters forward.
In addition, the scorching summer sun makes being in a stuffy car interior almost unbearable. The air conditioner doesn't help cope with the rising temperature, and James ends up rolling down the windows on the sides of the front seats, even if it means that exhaust fumes will enter the salon.
The only thing that pleases him in this whole situation is that his seven-year-old son Harry isn't moody, although he could be, given that they're driving, or rather slowly moving, to the amusement park, which he has been talking about for the past week.
Harry isn't nervous about the delay, instead he enthusiastically discusses the cars, which he sees from the open window.
- Dad, look! There're the Bumblebee! - the boy shouts, pointing in the direction of a bright yellow car driven by a young man with an unhappy look.
James looks closely and realises that this car is really styled like an autobot mobile from the movie. It looks spectacular.
- We could paint your car bright yellow, - Harry offers.
- Unlikely, Haz, - James chuckles. He can only imagine his snow-white land rover as yellow or green in a nightmare. He's not fanatically concerned about his car, but he still wouldn't repaint it, given that Harry's desires change very quickly when it comes to things like this. After watching Barbie, he insisted that he needed a pink car.
Harry purses his lips for a second, but his eyes light up at the sight of a purple cabriolet that pulls into the lane next to them.
- I wanna see the batmobile, - Harry sighs dreamily. - If there's an accident, will he show up? - he asks with childish naivety.
James blinks, and then he softly smiles to his son.
- Baby, an accident is not a good thing.
- I know, daddy, - Harry grins. - But could it attract Batman?
- I don't think so, - James shakes his head. - Batman doesn't appear during the day, and at night you sleep in your bed.
Harry nods, agreeing with his father's logical statement, and looks at the window again.
James hopes that his words haven't given Harry the idea that he needs to stay up at night and hope that the batmobile will pass by their house someday.
James notices that the car in front of him has driven a few more meters and he steps on the gas pedal to shorten the distance. He looks at the app on his phone for tracking traffic and realises the traffic jam will end soon, because there is more free movement after the intersection.
- Daaady!
- Yes, Harry? - James asks absently, continuing to look at the satellite map.
- There is a very handsome man, - out of the corner of his eye, James notices that his son is waving at someone. It makes him tense up.
- Harry, I told you not to communicate with strangers, even if they...
James turns his head to see what's the matter.
... are so damn handsome, - a quick thought flashes through his mind.
In the next lane next to them is a motorcycle with a motorcyclist on it. He is obviously the one Harry was talking about, because the man on the motorcycle smiles and waves back at Harry.
Because of the helmet, it's hard to tell how old he is, but he's probably James' age. The helmet doesn't hide his beautiful intelligent eyes, stunning cheekbones and thin lips curved in a friendly smile.
He's wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, and the sunlight reflects beautifully off his light, slightly damp skin, covered with a lot of tattoos that look so beautiful on his muscular arms.
Involuntarily, James looks down and feels saliva pooling in his mouth, because this man has amazing hips that fit snugly in the saddle of a motorcycle.
James quickly looks up and notices that the man is no longer looking at Harry, but is looking at him. His smile turns sly and he winks at James.
James had never seen someone so hot with such a kind smile on his face.
- Hi! - the man says, looking at Harry again.
James knows that he must raise the window and limit the stranger's communication with his young son, but something on an instinctive level tells him that the motorcyclist isn't dangerous.
At least, to Harry.
And intuition rarely fails James, who works as a detective.
So he doesn't raise the window giving Harry a chance to respond.
Obviously, his son is completely fascinated by the man on the motorcycle. He just hopes that Harry won't insist on buying a motorcycle. There're already two cars in their garage that James has to service.
- Hello! I'm Harry! - his son says, smiling broadly to the stranger.
- I'm Sirius.
Of course, the name of this handsome man should be no less beautiful. It's probably real. James would have tensed up if the man had introduced himself as someone like John.
- Like a star? - Harry whispers admiringly, and James feels proud of his son, who still remembers the knowledge gained from their trip to the Hayden Planetarium six months ago. But then his son says: - This's beaitiful name! - and James has to admit that his son is more successful, considering how brightly Sirius' eyes sparkled after this compliment.
- Thank you, Harry. What's your daddy's name? - Sirius asks and looks at James again.
James catches his gaze, which glides so openly from his face to his neck, chest, and then to his hands that rest on the steering wheel.
- James.
- James, - Sirius repeats with smile without taking his eyes off James. His name sounds special on Sirius' lips. Perhaps it's because of his deep, pleasant voice. - It's a great place to meet, isn't it?
James grins.
- You won't believe it, but my son manages to get acquainted anywhere, even with detained drunks at the police station.
Sirius laughs, and James realises that he really likes that sound.
- But they looked so unhappy, - Harry frowns.
- They did, because they drank too much, Haz. Not because I locked them in a cage.
- Cop? - Sirius raises his eyebrow, and James likes his calm reaction. Very often, potential partners ran away when they found out who he's working for... Stop! This isn't a blind date! He doesn't have to worry about this man's reactions to his job.
- Not really, - James replies, preferring not to disclose too much personal information. After all, he doesn't know anything about this guy.
Sirius nods understandingly.
- I'm a mechanic, - he says. - In an auto repair shop "Starway" in the south of the city. So you don't think I'm a creepy stalker. And just in case you want to check the suspension or something. I'm really good at mechanics.
James leers. Maybe he'll stop by there. He hasn't been to a car service for a long time.
- Can you build the batmobile? - Harry asks enthusiastically.
Sirius smiles to the boy.
- Hmm, it'd be difficult 'cause the parts for it aren't sold in stores, but I could, I was involved in automotive engineering.
- Wow! - Harry sighs, seeming to admire their new acquaintance even more.
- By the way, if you love cars, baby, then next week an exhibition of cars of the next generation will open in the city, - Sirius says. - I'm sure it'll be interesting there.
- I wanna go there! - Harry immediatelly turns to James, looking at him with his huge sparkling emerald eyes.
James sighs resignedly with a slightly tired smile on his lips. He loves spending time with his son, and he likes to see that his child is so active and inquisitive. But sometimes it's very exhausting, especially when he knows that his son will ask him a million questions at the exhibition that James doesn't know the answers to.
- Of course, but keep in mind, I won't be able to answer a million of your questions, I'll just buy you a book at the local gift shop.
- Er..., - Sirius intervenes, looking hesitant for the first time during their conversation. - I'm well versed in the cars, if you don't mind, James, then I could be your guide.
- Yes! - Harry nods joyfully. - Let's invite Sirius to join us!
James absolutely doesn't want to resist Sirius' offer and Harry's wish. It's obvious that James is interested in Sirius, just as it's obvious that Sirius is clearly interested in him.
Perhaps a joint walk through the exhibition will allow them to get to know each other better.
- That would be great, Sirius, - James answers. - Harry and I would be happy to use your guide services.
Indecision disappears from Sirius' eyes, and he smiles broadly.
That smile draws James' gaze to Sirius' face. This man is very charming. James isn't a naive, romantic teenager, but he's definitely touched by the fact that Sirius was so pleased with his agreement.
God, James hadn't met anyone this way in a long time. And he hadn't felt such interest in a long time. It's not that easy considering his job and fatherhood. Because of his professional habits, it's difficult for him to find a one-night stand, and finding someone for a permanent relationship involves having to take Harry's opinion into account.
- Yes! We need to exchange business cards! - Harry says happily, which makes James and Sirius laugh. Obviously, Harry spends a lot of time with his uncle Peter, who works as a lawyer and whose briefcase is full of his own and other people's business cards. Peter keeps waiting for when he can watch a series about doctor Lecter with Harry in an attempt to convince him of the true purpose of the business cards. Although they both know that the day James lets his son watch such series, the Harry will already know exactly why people need business cards.
- I'm sorry, I don't have the cards, - Sirius spreads his arms, demonstrating that his body, clad in a T-shirt exposing his arms and ribs and skinny jeans, really has no place for business cards. - I don't carry them with me.
James shamelessly slides his gaze over Sirius' body once more. It doesn't escape him how his eyes sparkle behind the helmet glass.
- The same, - James nods at him with a grin on his lips.
Sirius bites his lower lip thoughtfully, but immediately his gaze brightens.
- Then type the name of the auto repair shop "Starway" on the Internet later. There're two landline and mobile numbers on the website. Last one is mine. You can text me or call me.
- I'll do that, - James promises, and something in his voice makes Sirius look at him for the first time with something like hope that he will actually do it.
- It's nice meeting you, Harry, and your daddy, - Sirius smiles to Harry again, and while boy responds in kind, he gets back on his bike completely.
- Well, then I'll take advantage of the motorcycle, - he grins. - See you soon!
And the motorcycle starts moving and drives forward, sliding between the cars in the traffic.
As soon as the sound of the motorcycle engine fades in the distance, Harry turns sharply to James, looking at him curiously.
- Will you call Sirius?
- I'll text him, - James answers. He really wants to do it. And it's not like he has much choice when Harry obviously has a new fix idea in the form of going to an exhibition with Sirius as a guide.
- When?
James laughs and shakes his head.
- As soon as we arrive at the park.
- Can I have your phone now? - Harry asks suddenly.
- Why? - James raises his eyebrow, but hands his son the phone, having previously unlocked the screen.
Harry takes the phone and looks slyly at James.
- I must call uncle Moony and tell him you have a crash!
- Harry!
Peter and Remus really teach his son things that James would prefer to leave until later times. On the other hand, thanks to their love and care, Harry grew up to be such an active, intelligent and positive child, and James didn't go crazy in the routine of a single father.
Harry giggles.
- But uncle Moony said he'd give me a chocolate cake if I helped daddy find a date.
James leans his head back and laughs.
- Tell your uncle Moony that he has to bring a big cake, otherwise I'll beat him.
***
The art by TeFa*'s for this story (ac: @tefa_art_ (on X))
Please don't repost this art without artist's credits and without indicating that it's drawn for this story