Phone Call
Sirius heard the coins clunk and put the phone on his ear, with bated breath he waits as it ring from the other line,He cursed as the call drops, he digs another coin from his coat pocket and tries to slot it in again,he hissed as his fingers spasmed and the coin fell, he holds back a frustrated groan as he bends down to pick it up, that's the last of his money and he just hope he still have some of his luck as he risked this last one to dial again
The phone rings …
Then a click and someone picks up
"Hello, Lupin residence" Remus' voice answers
Sirius took a deep breath at first, lips trembling like the rest of his body
"Remus …"
"Sirius?..What do you want?" Remus' voice came out harsh and annoyed , there's silence from both lines and Remus clicked his tongue
"I don't have time for this Sirius"
"W-wait, please Remus, d-don't drop the call please, just … please …. Don't drop the call yet"
Sirius winced at the pathetic desperation in his voice, he knows he shouldn't be calling Remus of all people, with the way his tone changed the moment he knows Sirius was the one on the other line, Sirius knows how this is supposed to be a bad idea and Remus in all his right still is very angry at him
Angry for what happened before the break, angry because he trusted Sirius and because of that Snape now knows all because Sirius can't keep his mouth shut, because he never thinks before he speaks
"I…I know this is bad timing and I know you're still mad, But I don't really know who to call and I don't have my wand with me,and I rode a bus but now I'm in the middle of nowhere and I just don't know what to do anymore, I'm –"
he can feel his legs shaking and he slides down in the cramped phone booth,
" I don't know Remus, I'm sorry I can't remember what happened then and I can't even give you an answer because I don't know and now I'm here calling you again and I know I shouldn't and–"
"Sirius! Sirius, I need you to calm down and slow down, can you do that? Breathe Sirius"
Sirius lets out a shaky breath following Remus' instructions
"Okay?"
"Uh huh"
"Okay you said you don't know where you are, can you tell me what you can see?"
"Uhmm, I think this is a bus stop, there's a shed just by the phonebox I'm using"
"What else?"
"N-not much to see, it's really dark"
He can hear Remus take in a deep breath
"Anything that can actually mark your location"
"Uhmm…I'll try and look"
Sirius tries to make out something but it's really dark he tried to check the shed, he hissed trying to stand up, he can start to feel the immense pain but gritted his teeth and stand up and steady himself, he puts the phone down to hold a bit, then staggers out of the booth to the shed
And it seems that is still on his side as he see a little board with what seemed to be bus schedules and routes on it
Quick to memorize some route names he immediately went back to the phone booth to tell Remus and after telling him the names, he heard his sigh
"Okay, Sirius… I want you to stay there and wait for me, I'm going to get you"
"okay…"
—-----------------------------
Remus went home that break with anger, betrayed trust and a broken heart, bless his mum's heart that she didn't ask much,even when he spent their whole ride home from King's Cross quiet and blankly staring at the window when he would usually run his mother through the things he and his friends got into as it always fascinate her
He hasn't told her what happened yet ,he would not tell his father about it either, especially not his father.
The whole week that passed he tried to immerse himself in everything that he can make him distracted, tend his mother's mini orchard, help his mum pack up some biscuits for the children in the ward she works in, read the books he wasn't able to take at school
All just to clear his head, and yet at nights that he's in the quiet of his room all his thoughts go back to the morning he woke up, worse for wear , James' eyes red rimmed and arm slinged, Peter sniffling and Sirius nowhere to be found.
Then James with a tremble in his voice had narrated what happened the night before and Remus' world shatters
When he came face to face with Sirius that time all he can ask is
Why?
Sirius just shook his head, an apology lost in the sob and all Remus felt was anger
Stay away, never speak to me … just go Sirius, get lost!
He spit those words like venom, as his heart shatters…
Remus ignored the very existence of Sirius Black and yet here he is, on his bed under the stars that resembles those silver grey eyes
Then the phone rings which he wasn't able to answer on first, then it rings again and as if the world is playing a joke on him , it's Sirius' voice he hears on the other line
"What do you want?" He asked Harshly and for a moment all he hears is a couple of breaths and he clicked his tongue and is about to drop the call
"I don't have time for this Sirius"
"W-wait, please Remus, d-don't drop the call please, just … please …. Don't drop the call yet"
There's a desperation in Sirius' voice that made Remus' stomach drop, then Sirius starts to ramble, something he usually does when his emotions are all over and
"I don't really know who to call and I don't have my wand with me,and I rode a bus but now I'm in the middle of nowhere"
He can feel the shaking of his voice through the phone and Remus almost wants to kick himself and his blood runs cold
Something happened and Remus has a guess he wished isn't true, he immediately composes himself as Sirius is nearly hysterical on the other line
"Sirius! Sirius, I need you to calm down and slow down, can you do that? Breathe Sirius" He instructs the boy who just followed his instructions, his labored breathing can be heard
"Okay?" Remus asks
"Uh huh"
"Okay you said you don't know where you are, can you tell me what you can see?"
"Uhmm, I think this is a bus stop, there's a shed just by the phonebox I'm using"
"What else?"
"N-not much to see, it's really dark"
Remus inhaled in worried frustration, running his hand on his hair as he asks again
"Anything that can actually mark your location?"
"Uhmm…I'll try and look"
There's a little static from the other line and Remus anxiously waits, a little relieved when Sirius picks up the phone again and thank Godric's luck that Sirius was able to find information about the bus routes and that he's not that far away …
"Okay, Sirius, I want you to stay there and wait for me, I'm going to get you"
"okay…"
That small confirmation, Remus hangs up the phone and ran down stairs, he races down the stairs that caught his mum's attention who's having her evening tea
"Remus, what did I tell you about running those stairs"
"Sorry mum, but I have no time, I…can I please borrow the truck?"
"What why?"
"It's Sirius"
"What's serious?"
"No! I mean Sirius, my friend, you know him… He's… he's in trouble"
His mother swipe him a look and with one knowing glance goes to her bag and took out the keys
"It's dangerous to drive this late, I'll come with you"
Remus didn't even argue and just ran outside to the truck
He was tethering in his seat, his eyes scanning every bus stop on the road, as Sirius should be somewhere
"Darling, I know you're worried but don't rattle the car" his mum gave him a pointed look and he exhaled and tries not to move around too much but still anxious
"I'm sorry mum, I'm just worried, he's in trouble and he …he might be hurt"!
"I understand darling, and don't worry love, we'll find him and patch him up if he is"
They were on the road for some time when it started raining, it's a little hard but not to the point of no visibility, but this just adds to Remus' concern
A number of stops and still no sign of Sirius and he's already a mix of emotions, his mother's also already had a worried frown on her face, the same expression she has when one of her child patients relapses
A few more minutes and Remus sees a shed and phone booth, and a person curled up inside the booth,
It's Sirius …
"Mum! There he is"
His mum hits the break and they stop by the shed, she passes Remus an umbrella and they both hurriedly stepped out of the truck
"Sirius!" Remus runs to boy shivering in the booth
Sirius looks at him and Remus stands there, the sight of Sirius' condition makes him almost sick
Sirius' shoulder length hair was chopped short, small scabbing wounds can be seen on his scalp as if the one who cut his hair used a blunt butter knife and drunk, his cheeks had gashes on them and turning a blotchy purple and blue , his whole body shaking
"Sirius" he calls, voice gentle
"Remus, you came" the boy mumbles as if he can't believe it
"Yes, I'm here… let's get you up yeah?"
He bends a bit and lend out his hand as if he's taming a puppy, Sirius takes the hand and Remus pulls him up, immediately supporting him as the boy trips on his feet
"Okay… you're okay" he assures as Sirius let out a pained whimper
"Hurry up and get him in Remus" his mum instructs and Remus doesn't need to be told twice , he's hauling Sirius up in the truck a little shock at how light he is
When Remus had made sure Sirius is comfortably tucked in they drove back home
Sirius head lolled to the side his eyes blinks slowly as he fights unconsciousness
"Re…it hurts"
"Shhh… I know, stay awake yeah? Were almost there"
"I'm glad you found me" he mumbles
" I told I'd get you"
"Hmmm"
"Sirius, keep your eyes open"
"Hmmm"
"Mum, he's losing consciousness "
"It's okay Moony…"
Sirius fell silent and Remus haven't feel so terrified ….