IMAGINE ｡ SIRIUS BLACK

18. APOLOGY SPEECH

chapter eighteen; apology speech

"SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLING YOU?" SIRIUS ASKED, ANXIOUSLY TWIDDLING HIS FINGERS. His back was perched against one of the crumbling walls of the Shrieking Shack and his eyes refused to meet Tempest's.  This was something that hadn't changed since they had begun to reconnect, and they were yet to have a proper conversation eye to eye. It did frustrate Tempest, but she didn't want to say anything just yet. "The traitor's fiancée?"

Tempest nodded, pursing her lips. Her arms were wrapped around her upper body in attempt to gain some more warmth, as she had rejected Sirius' offer of a blanket. Her pants were still slightly damp from the lake despite her efforts to dry them, but her stomach was full thanks to her counterpart's surprisingly good (despite having a limited flavour palette) cooking. "Ever since the day you went away."

"I'm sorry," Sirius' bottom lip trembled and he looked up at the ceiling in attempt to keep his tears hidden from her. Tempest averted her eyes as well, focusing on the worn out ground. "You've faced so much hatred because of me."

"It's in the past now, Sirius," she mumbled, shaking her head. She wasn't going to deny the hurt she had experienced since the deaths of Lily and James, but she had learned to move past it, no matter how harrowing it had been. "There's nothing we can do to change it."

"Yes, but--" Sirius' voice trailed off as he yet again wiped his teary eyes. "It was all because of me. I never stopped thinking about you in Azkaban. I hoped you were safe, regardless of whether or not you saw me as a monster. It was you who got me through, Remus as well. The guards wondered why I never went mad, but it was because I knew that I was innocent, and I was hoping you would know that as well."

"I'm sorry for not believing you, Sirius," Tempest mumbled, bowing her head slightly shamefully. Sirius pushed himself up where he stood and dragged himself over to her. He hunched over slightly and hesitantly placed his thumb under the woman's chin, pushing it up a little so that she was looking at her. Tempest felt her heart stop a little bit, as this was something he did when they were younger, when he knew she was upset. Tears threatened to fall from Tempest's eyes, but she knew she couldn't let them fall.

She was strong.

Strong people can't cry.

"I know it must have been hard for you, Onyx. Often the harsh words of the people who once loved us hurt more than anything else in the world. You're the bravest person I know, and it was worth waiting twelve years to see your beautiful face again," Sirius' voice was low and serene, and Tempest felt her bottom lip begin to tremble. Many people had said similar things to her over the years, but it seemed to mean the most coming from him. "It's alright to cry, because I've seen it before and it doesn't scare me anymore, not like how it did the first time it happened anyway. It's okay if you don't feel the same, but I still love you, no matter what life has thrown our way."