Twilight {-Remus Lupin x Reader-}

17: Just Me and You

{-19th DECEMBER 1975-}
{-REMUS LUPIN-}

When I transform, my mind is...
lost.
Lost in a tunnel.
A dark and foggy tunnel.
It's ice cold, the chill seeping down to my bones.

I hear the echoes of reality.
The wolf howling, snarling, whining.
Prongs groaning, Wormtail squeaking, Padfoot barking.
I hear Vixen: shrieking, coughing, whimpering.

I always hear footsteps, running towards me.
I think I run too.
I run down the tunnel, away from something.
The wolf, or the pain it might cause while I'm lost?

I run until the light seeps in.
Far in the distance I'll see the sunrise.
I run faster, and faster, and when I reach the light...

Everything fucking hurts.

I'm still cold, but the bite is lesser, the feeling of cooling sweat rather than the raw winter's air.

I can feel short, coarse hair on my face, my chest, my arms and my legs. I'm laid, face down, on Prongs's back. He's walking, slow and steady.

The remains of my school trousers offer me an uncommon shred of dignity, as well as the soft cardigan that's been draped across my back.

The light of the sun, bright and orange, pierces through my closed eyelids, although I'm occasionally relieved by a tree in the way.

I hear Prongs groan in complaint.

"Oh, shut up, James," Y/n says with an audible roll of her eyes. "If we could help, we would but we can't, so hush!"

Her hand lands carefully on my bare shoulder. Her fingertips hover over what must be a fresh cut.

"It's not nearly as bad since you joined us," Wormtail admits. "He's almost a bit lucid. Like a bit of him's still in there."

"And he's been in less pain," Sirius added. "You remember the days before you found out."

She probably nodded, and he continued.

"Then, he could barely open his eyes the day before, and now he's- almost chatty."

She laughs, and the sun shines brighter.

"I'm glad I can help."

She reaches up to my forehead, brushing the hair out of my face.

I want to open my eyes, let her know how much I need her, like I need oxygen.
Let her know how much I love her.

But the dull, painful ache from my body catches up to my mind, and all my energy goes towards a small hum before I fall into a dreamless sleep.

{----}

I woke up to the sun in my eyes once more - this time the yellow light of the afternoon. Poppy came over in a far better mood than usual.

"Good morning, Remus."

I smiled tiredly. "Morning, Poppy. What's the damage?"