Remus was finishing up washing his hands in one of the emergency room sinks after a call when Debbie, one of the desk clerks approached him, his phone and keys in hand.
“Hey Remus.” She sounded a bit nervous. “James called up front a couple minutes ago.” He frowned slightly as he turned off the water and grabbed a few paper towels to dry his hands off.
“For what? He knows I'm working until four.” She pursed her lips and nodded slightly.
“He said he texted you and it was urgent. I've bent policy and given you the rest of the day off, I have a feeling you'll need it. He sounded quite distressed.” She handed over his phone and keys before hurrying off.
Opening his phone he saw several messages from “Prongs” in his notification bar. Stepping out of the way of another EMT with a polite smile, receiving a tired nod in return, he opened them.
someone from sirius’s family came in today
i didnt realize who they were until they started yelling
brought up a bunch of bullshit
by time I got them out of the shop sirius was looking pretty rough so i sent him home
i cant leave but you should go check on him
He quickly made his way out of the building, giving Debbie a small thankful nod as he slipped out the front doors, and to his car. He was seething as he climbed in his car. It had been twelve years since Sirius had run away and cut ties, why couldn't they just get over it already? He swore they spent their days tracking him down and planning new ways to torment him.
He pulled out, speeding down the road hoping everything would end up okay.
- - -
They were his second cousin he thought. On his mother's side? He wasn't really sure. They'd hardly finished introducing themselves before they'd torn into him. By time James, with the help of a regular customer, had dragged them out the shop and sent them running down the street he'd just been standing there, staring after them. His world was tilting dangerously and all the walls he'd built had crumbled, sending him back to his teenage years. He was hurt, angry, and oh so scared.
He hadn't even registered all of what James said, just allowed himself to be led to the back room. He was wrapped in a tight hug as James murmured quiet reassurances.
“Go ahead and go home. I can handle everything here. Curl up in bed and watch a movie. I'll text Remus and then come over after close. Does that sound good?” He nodded, what else could he do, and let James herd him out the back door.
He got in his car and tried his hardest not to cry on the way home. James had kicked him out. He was a stupid, broken, excuse of a man. Just a dumb whore. Still no better than the useless child that his parents had done their best to raise the right way.
- - -
Remus had seen his fair share of horrifying and terrible things in his life. He'd seen more bodies than he could count, small children broken beyond belief, car crashes where he couldn't tell were one car began and the other ended, held dying people in his arms as they begged him to save their life when he couldn't, and those that had cried for him to let them end it. None of those had prepared him to see his husband, and best friend of 17 years, sitting on their bed with a gun in his mouth.
He had opened the door and registered the situation in a split second. Sirius was sitting cross legged on the edge of the bed, an open gun case next to him, and their emergency handgun resting in his open mouth. He hadn't flinched when the door opened, thank God, but was trembling slightly. He looked alert enough to be reasoned with and Remus's training kicked in.
“Hey, Sirius, it's going to be okay.” He shook his head. “It is, I promise. I know it doesn't feel like it right now.” While he talked his mind raced for a plan. Since Siriys hadn't flinched at the door flinging open there was a possibility Remus could lunge at him and pull away the gun before he reacted. Unfortunately Sirius seemed to understand what his thought process was, he had helped him pass all his classes after all, and tightened his grip on the handle. Remus’s heart stopped momentarily but thankfully it wasn't enough to make the weapon fire.
“Siri, baby, I need you to take the gun out of your mouth.” Sirius shook his head again slightly. “Listen, there are going to be so many people that will be devastated if you pull that trigger.” He felt bad for going for a guilt trip but he was committed now. “James, Peter, Lily, Effie, me.” His voice cracked slightly. “And how do you expect me to tell Reggie that his big brother shot himself?” He saw a change behind Sirius’s eyes. Not regret, not shame or horror either. It was clarity.
Slowly and shakily Sirius pulled the gun out of his mouth and set it back in the case. The moment his finger left the trigger Remus was on him, pulling him as close as humanly possible and pressing kisses to the top of his head.
“Fuck Siri. Oh god.” He felt the smaller man begin to cry. “Please don't ever do that again, fuck.” Still holding Sirius to his chest with one arm he reached over and put the safety back on the gun. Then he scooped him up and carried him out to the living room. He settled on the couch, Sirius on his lap, and held him while he sobbed into his chest.
“Shh, baby it'll be okay. I've got you.” He pressed a soft kiss to his head. “It'll be alright. I promise.”