UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

lviii.

WAKE UP AND MAKE UP
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Remus woke up from his depression nap by urgent and loud banging on his door. It was followed by Alice's shaky voice, yelling at him to let her in. Did she have something else to accuse him of? Remus tried not to think like that. After taking a moment to collect himself, he stood up and made his way to the door.

The second he opened the door, he was being locked into a hug, completely undertaken by Alice. Her arms were tightly compressing his waist, her head resting against his chest. "I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry! I love you, I can't lose you, and I should've never accused you of something so cruel! I'm so sorry, Wolfie."

Maybe it was something about the nickname. Or maybe it was just that he loved her, and she loved him. Remus clutched her tenderly and kicked the door shut. "It's okay. I love you too, Wonderland."

"No," Alice whined. "It's not okay!" She pulled away from him with tears staining her cheeks and red eyes. "It was so unfair, you don't deserve that! I need to make it up to you..."

Remus' ears pricked like a dog hearing the treat bag open. "Oh, no... it's okay, love. I understand it was a dream influencing your thoughts. I know you love me. That's enough."

"I'll do anything!" Alice exclaimed, her pointer finger in the air. "Please? I'll even... rub your feet if I must. And feet are disgusting."

Oh, this girl. She killed him. She left him breathless. She was the reason his heart beat fast and slow at the same time. Funny, gorgeous, smart, curious. Alice was a curiosity herself, and Remus couldn't get enough of her. "Just... stay here. And never leave again." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently.

"Not even for classes?" Alice teased him, grinning and biting her lip.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You know what I mean."

Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, quickly locking her lips with his. 24 hours she'd gone without his kiss, the flavours of a sanguinary dessert. And the intensity of a sour treat, rough, exciting, nippy. It felt so good to have him in her arms again. One day was one day too long.

"Miss me, did you?" Remus chuckled, noticing how needy her kiss was. It was a familiar neediness, but not the kind of feeling she portrayed every time they kissed. Every kiss was filled with love, promise, and longing. They were each important in their own way. But the most important... those were the needy ones.

"What makes you say that?" Alice smiled at him.

Remus placed a kiss on her bottom lip. "I can taste the sweet chocolate on your sweeter lips."

"Tsk, still?" Alice leaned in to kiss him again. Her eyes stared avidly at his lips. "Then I guess you're not kissing me hard enough."

He took that challenge. Remus roughly brought Alice to his lips, fingers tangled in her hair. Pulling her head back, Remus sucked desperately on her lower lip until he was sure it was bruised. And the hint chocolate was completely gone. For now. Alice and Remus still had a habit of drinking hot chocolate together and making out afterward.

"Hard enough?" Remus asked lowly, trailing a row of kisses along her jawline.

"I don't know. Are you?" Alice whispered. Her hand delicately slid down his abdomen and brushed against the growing bulge in his pants. "Remus, darling. All for me?"

Remus inhaled sharply and groaned as she softly rubbed her fingertips against his pants. Sometimes Remus thought he was the one in control. And then Alice went and pulled a stunt like this. Leaving him an absolute mess at her disposal. Alice suddenly pulled her hand away and grinned playfully at Remus. Such a tease.