Survivors - a wolfstar microfic
March 8 - Pepperup Potion - 739 word
Sirius came home, left his things in a heap on the hall floor, and went straight to the kitchen cabinet.
Remus leaned against the doorframe with crossed arms. “Hello? Welcome home.”
“Where’s my Pepperup?”
“Didn’t know we had one.”
“It was right here!”
“You can’t keep potions in unmarked bottles. That’s flat-out dangerous.”
“Not if you don’t move them around!”
“Stop being a child!”
“Stop screaming at me!”
“You’re the one who’s screaming.”
Sirius slammed the cabinet door shut so hard Remus could hear several bottles fall over inside it. He stomped straight to the bedroom and slammed that door shut after him as well. Damn it! Why did Sirius have to be so moody?
Remus sat down on the living room sofa, rubbing his face and sighing deeply. He was no better himself, to be honest. Maybe even worse at times.
It had been going on for months. At work he was bored, waiting to get home. At home, he was waiting for Sirius to come brighten his day. And almost without fail, Sirius would come home tired and on edge, leaving Remus both worried and irritated. The quiet life they once dreamed of now seemed mundane.
Who would have thought it was this hard living together? They loved each other, for Merlin’s sake! Or, Remus still loved Sirius, that was. Some days he found himself doubting it was still being reciprocated. Days like this.
The suspicion hit him like a pang in the chest. Maybe he was seeing someone else?
He heard Sirius roaming about in the kitchen but decided to leave him be. Doubt still tormenting him.
Maybe he should just ask? Get it over with? He poured two glasses of whiskey. There was no way he was having that conversation without a strong drink at hand.
Sirius came out in the living room with two cups of tea. He snorted when he saw the two glasses already on the coffee table. “Yeah. We need that, don’t we?”
He put the tea down but kept standing. As if he hesitated to even sit close to Remus.
“How are you?” Remus asked in what he hoped was a level enough voice. “Catching a cold?”
“I’ve not been feeling great today. But it's better now. I found it, the Pepperup. I… eh… put it on my nightstand yesterday and forgot.”
He was still standing. Still not looking at Remus.
“Are you seeing someone else?”
Sirius stared at him. Then pressed a hand to his eyes and started sobbing. Remus suspected the worst. A confession or something.
“How bad did I mess up for you to ever think that,” Sirius let out between sobs, “You mean so much to me, I… Remus, I would never.”
That broken voice was all the reassurance he needed. Remus sprung to his feet and hugged him tight. “I’m sorry. I know. I’m so sorry. I love you.” They slowly rocked back and forth together.
“How can it be so hard, Moony?” Sirius complained into Remus' shoulder. “We’ve been through bloody war. I’ve been to bloody prison. I thought everything else would be easy after that and it’s just… not.”
They collapsed on the sofa, still clinging to each other.
“Maybe we’re just not trying hard enough?” Sirius suggested. “Everyone else seems to do it just fine.”
“Maybe we’re trying too hard?” Remus countered. “Just because the war is over doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Maybe we need to scream and cry and throw things sometimes?”
Sirius smiled with one corner of his mouth. “Yeah. Or maybe we need to go to therapy?”
Remus smiled, too. “What? You’re going to be the reasonable one now?”
Sirius cupped his hand around Remus' neck and inched closer. “Maybe I need you to hold me like you’re not sure I’ll be there tomorrow again?” Then he quickly shut his eyes, “I mean, don’t think for a second I miss that time, but –“
Remus kissed him, shutting him up. “I get what you mean.”
In fact, that particular desire he understood perfectly. He climbed into Sirius' lap and painfully easily fell into the pretence. Tasted Sirius lips as if he might not get the chance again. Reverently unbuttoned his shirt. Trailed his finger down his chest, heaving with each shaky breath, and into his trousers, as if it might be the last time.
After all, if they didn’t quit the idiocy of lately, it might just be.
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