“Remus.”
Sirius clutches his towel in both fists, glancing at Remus’ hand, which trembles as he holds his wand between them.
“What did I tell you the morning you died?” Remus croaks. “What did I say to you?”
It takes less than a second for Sirius to remember that morning. It’s burned into his memory now.
“We’ll go away, you and I. Just as soon as this is over, we’ll make ourselves a life together anywhere that we can.” Sirius recites, and a tear rolls down Remus’ cheek. “It’s really me, Moony.”
Before Remus’ wand hits the floor with a clatter, he’s on Sirius, clutching his face in both hands, hips pressing Sirius against the vanity, shaking breaths hot on Sirius’ lips.
“Moony.” Sirius whispers again.
As his eyes search Sirius’ face, about a thousand expressions flit over his features.
“Is Harry back?” Remus gasps. “Did he find-”
“Yeah. He went to find his people.” Sirius says, abandoning the towel in favour of pulling Remus ever closer. “He’ll come back to see you too.”
Remus’ face finds the crook of Sirius’ neck, still damp from the shower, and Remus exhales heavily, sending a shiver down Sirius’ spine.
“Fuck.” Sirius breathes. “ Fuck , I missed you.”
“This can’t keep happening.” Remus murmurs. “I keep losing you, over and over again.”
“Last time. I promise.” Sirius says, though he has no idea if it will be the last time. He’s still wanted, after all.
“Okay.” Remus says anyway.
They stand there, clinging to each other for too long. So long that Sirius’ feet grow achy and numb from the bathroom tiles. So long, his hair is nearly dry.
“Can we-”
“Yeah.”
Stumbling along without fully releasing each other, Remus and Sirius make their way back to the bedroom they used to occupy together. Sirius had scouted it out before his shower. It’s mostly the same as when Sirius lived in the house as well, except most of Remus’ things had been packed and taken away when he moved to the Tonks’.
With a gentle push, Remus sends Sirius sprawling on the bed, towel falling away. Sparkling brown eyes roam Sirius’ body like he’s seeing it for the first time. Sirius settles back against the pillows, beckoning Remus closer.
“Death is freezing. Warm me up?”
Remus laughs once, wet and tender, and shucks his clothes before joining Sirius in bed.
“What’s the date?” Sirius asks, squinting at the fading tattoo on his wrist.
“Nearly Christmas.” Remus answers, pushing the arm away and curling up half on top of Sirius. “Moon isn’t for a week. We can do whatever we want.”
“I like the sound of that.”
And what they want - what they both want, without even having to discuss it - is to hold each other close, faces tucked together, skin on skin, limbs tangled. Sirius hasn’t slept in a year and a half, and now slipping toward it feels foreign and vulnerable.
“I have a kid now.” Remus says after a long silence. “Draco, your cousin. He’s adopted me.”
“Harry said he was staying with you.” Sirius says into Remus’ soft hair. It’s greyer now than it was last year.
