Remus slowly opens his eyes, taking in the familiar room around him. His whole body aches as he lifts his head up to search for his belongings. They always leave some clothes and his wand hidden somewhere to stop them from being ruined. As he looks around, he realises something, despite his friends being around with him last night, there is blood on the floor of the room. Then it hits him. He looks down, and the pain hits him. For the first time in months deep scratches litter his torso and legs, a bite mark gushing red from his left calf. Panic starts to cloud Remus’ head. What had happened last night? Did his friends fail to sneak out of the castle? Did they leave him on purpose? No, they would never, especially not Sirius. Then he hears footsteps running up the stairs of the rickety house.
“REMUS” The voice shouts. Remus is too busy staring at the blood to fully comprehend the person calling to him. The door to the room flys open as Remus’ best friend and boyfriend runs into the room, fear adorning his face. He is quickly kneeling in front of Remus cupping his hand in his face.
“Hey Rem, hey you're ok now, I’ve got you ok” Sirius carefully uses one hand to pick up Remus’ wrist and press the hand onto his chest.
“Copy my breathing Rem. Like we always do ok, You’ve got this baby just breathe with me. You’re safe. Once you’ve calmed down we can get you dressed and back to the castle” Sirius just stayed there, holding Remus’ until finally his breath evened out.
“What happened?” Remus broke the silence they fell into to ask the other boy. Sirius looked up to him apologetically. He took a deep breath before explaining very quickly.
“Well you see we were sneaking out and Peter was on look out as usual but he got lazy and started checking multiple corridors at once and so we were going around a corner that Pete had checked but since then fucking Snape had come down on prefect duty and he caught us and wouldn’t let us out of his sight even though we told him it was urgent. We really tried to get out I promise, like me and Prongs took turns trying to distract him while the other ran for it but we kept getting caught again. Pete was out here with you the whole time but there's not really much he can do as a rat you know. But anyway, by the time me and James escaped his slimy grasp you had already got really frustrated because you couldn’t leave the shack and had hurt yourself. We got a few hours in the woods but you were off the whole time and I think Moony was mad at us for being late.”
Sirius gasped once he was finished and they fell back into silence as Remus took in everything. It was then his turn to lift his hand slowly and cup Sirius’ face.
“It’s fine Pads, it wasn’t your fault.” Sirius smiled at him before pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. He left his forehead pressed against Remus’ for a few seconds before pulling back and standing. Remus watched as Sirius walked over to the wardrobe against the wall, opening it and pulling out a jumper, joggers and socks along with his wand.
“Here, we should get you to Poppy to get cleaned up” Sirius offered Remus his jumper, who pulled it over his head, wincing slightly as he lifted his arms. They silently moved around each other as Sirius helped Remus dress and then wrapped his arm carefully round his waist to support him as they walked.
The corridor from the shack to the willow is long and felt even longer to Remus as pain shot up his leg everytime he stepped. He was glad for his boyfriend who took most of the weight off but the big roots that snaked along the floor made it hard to navigate walking next to each other.
Finally after what felt like hours they reached the opening to the willow. Sirius let go of Remus and helped him up to the opening. There is only room for one person through the opening so Sirius just helped support him from behind as Remus crawled up. James always waited on the outside to keep watch and make sure no one saw them leaving the willow. So, when Remus pulled himself up James was there to help pull him.
“Hey man” James looks guilty as he takes in Remus’ state. His face sunken and the clear limp in his left leg.
“Hey” Remus replied, letting James take his weight as they waited for Sirius to climb out.
James held him lightly only barely touching him, as if scared that if he did Remus would crack under his touch.
“I’m ok James, don’t worry about last night, I’ve had worse” Remus laughs but James just looks at him sadly.
Sirius finally climbs out of the willow joining them on the grounds. Together James and Sirius help Remus limp over to the emergency door into the healing ward.
Obviously it wouldn’t make sense for James and Sirius to have just found Remus in the shack after a full moon so they lead Remus over to Poppy’s door before saying their goodbyes. Sirius gives Remus a quick kiss before the two leave.
Remus knocks on Poppy’s door as soon as the main door closes. Poppy opens it, already awake and dressed. She takes hold of Remus and leads him over to the private room at the back. His injuries aren’t that severe so it doesn’t take her long to quickly perform some healing spells and wrap his leg up in a bandage. She hands him a potion that will help with some of the pain and allows him to go back to his dorm to rest.
On the way back to the dorm he stops off at the great hall to pick up some food. Once he has made it up the stairs and into the dorm he finally relaxes. Before he gets into bed he goes into the bathroom to wash up and change into some comfy clothes. He picks up his book and settles into bed, letting the pain medication lull him into a comforting calm. After a few hours his eyes start to droop and he finds himself having to reread the page he’s on. He gives in and puts his book down before laying down and allowing himself to drift off.
Remus felt the weight of someone sitting on his bed. He opened his eyes and found Sirius looking at him, smiling.
“What's got you so happy?” Remus asks, casually drawing circles on the other boy's hand, a gesture he knows he likes. Sirius flips his hand to hold Remus’ and pulls himself down to lay beside him.
“You.” He replies. Remus smiles and shifts over to allow Sirius to crawl under the covers. Careful not to bother his injuries, Sirius wraps his arms around his boyfriend. Remus presses against Sirius, hiding his face in his chest to inhale the comforting smell of his cologne. No matter what any healer will say about the best way to treat injuries, Remus has yet to find anything better than sleeping curled up in bed with Sirius.
As Remus woke he felt the ache that thrummed under his skin. He settled into the warmth of the dorm room, basking in the quiet tranquillity, then the door creaked open, shattering the peace he had begun to savour. Someone cautiously entered, their attempt at stealth thwarted by the squeaking hinges. Remus, sensing the intruder's hesitance, cracked open one eye, spying Sirius hovering uncertainty above him, as though debating whether Remus was still asleep.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" Remus's voice cut through the air, causing Sirius to jump slightly. Seating himself on the edge of the bed, Sirius brushed a stray lock of hair away from Remus's face.
"Yeah, probably... But then who would take care of you?" A soft smile crept onto Sirius's lips, betraying his concern. Remus sighed, lifting a hand to rub the bridge of his nose wearily.
"Are you hungry? I brought breakfast, and chocolate." Sirius extended two napkins, one holding toast and the other bacon along with a chocolate bar. Slowly, Remus sat up in bed, Sirius adjusting the pillows to support him. He picked up the toast and nibbled on it before indulging in a bite of chocolate.
"Thanks, Pads," Remus said with a grateful smile, watching as Sirius pottered about his own bed.Returning to Remus's side, Sirius lay down between his legs, gazing up at him with a playful grin.
"Sooooo, what do you wanna do today?" Sirius asked, his feet kicking lightly like a girl chatting about her latest crush.
"I was thinking of just laying in bed and reading. My leg still isn't great, so I don't wanna bother it too much," Remus replied, his tone soft. Sirius's smile softened in response.
"Does that mean I get cuddles alllll day?" Remus chuckled and reached for his book on the bedside table.
"Sure, but don't you have practice later? James won't be happy if you skip both class and practice." Sirius groaned dramatically, burying his face into Remus's chest for a moment. After a brief pause, Remus resumed his reading, sinking deeper into the bed for a day filled with cuddles, reading, and chocolate.
As the day wore on, Remus found himself drifting in and out of sleep, the ache in his body gradually subsiding under the warmth of the covers and Sirius’s comforting presence. Despite the lingering pain, there was a sense of peace settling over him, knowing that Sirius was there to care for him, to offer comfort in his time of need. As the hours passed, they talked quietly and shared gentle touches. And as the warm colours of the sun setting painted the room Remus knew that no matter what challenges they faced they could face them together.