Remus
“You can take the armchair.” Remus quickly ripped the RENT IS DUE— ASAP, REMUS, ASAP! -ANDREW note off the front door and gestured to the living room.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Sirius said coldly, dropping his meager backpack of belongings onto the chair.
“What was that?” Remus quipped.
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
Remus ignored him, making his way towards the bedroom and slamming the door with unnecessary force.
Fuck. Having Sirius Black in his flat once was uncomfortable enough, it didn’t need to happen twice.
Having him there brought up all the old memories, the ones he tried to repress with every molecule in his body. The Friday nights and the Sunday morning music and the sound of the motorbike’s engine from the street below and the two cups of tea at the kitchen table—
It was over. Over. And Sirius being back was torture, just a reminder of how truly lonely he was, in his bedroom by himself.
Remus’ head hit the closed door as he leaned his head back. If he cleared his mind, he could pretend Sirius was back at James’, acting like the clingy younger brother that he was. Sirius was gone. Sirius was across town. Sirius was nonexistent.
“Hey, do you have a blanket?”
Remus almost tore his eyes out. “No!”
There was a pause outside the door. “You don’t have any extra blankets?”
Remus eyed the stack of blankets in the closet, then the blanket Mary had knitted for them that lay neatly folded at the end of the bed. “I don’t have any.”
“Not even that one from Mary?”
“I must’ve gotten rid of it.”
“Am I just supposed to freeze to death?”
“I’m counting on it,” Remus said through the door. He paused. “It’s summer. You won’t freeze.”
There was a grumble from the hallway, then the sound of socked feet padding back into the living room.
Remus crawled to the edge of the bed and grabbed Mary’s blanket, slipping it over his shoulders.
Fuck.
***
Remus Lupin did not hate Sirius Black.
In fact, he actually liked a couple things about Sirius. His eyes, for example. His hair, his tattoos, the way he could diffuse the tension in any situation with a mix of pureblood manners and rebellious humor.
But Remus hated everything Sirius did.
The glaring example, at the moment, was Sirius’ lack of housing.
What sort of adult didn’t have a place to call home? What sane adult would move out after a breakup and then never even attempt to find a permanent place to live?
Remus stared up at the dark ceiling. The moonshadows danced and bowed in the wind, pointing towards the living room as if to say, He’s here he’s here he’s here.
Remus could almost feel Sirius’ presence. It felt like eyes on him, like if he opened the door, Sirius would be there, standing and waiting for him.
You’re loony, Lupin.
He rolled off the bed and cracked the door slowly. No Sirius. He shuffled to the bathroom, filling up a small cup of water.
Suddenly, the lights flashed on and Remus jumped, spilling the water down the front of his shirt.
“Sorry!” Sirius shouted, flicking the lights back off.
Remus placed a hand over his beating heart, looking warily at the doorway even though he knew Sirius couldn’t see him.
Sirius cleared his throat. “I get thirsty at night.”
“I know.” Remus took a few deep breaths. “It's my fault. I don't need the lights, I can see in the dark.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Remus placed the cup on the counter. He made a step to walk out of the bathroom, but Sirius hadn’t moved from the doorway. He paused awkwardly, and Sirius stepped to the side. “I’ll just get by you. I have to change my shirt.”
Sirius squinted and nodded. “Okay… I’m gonna have a quick sip from the tap.”
“Okay, well. Good.”
“Alright. Uh… No offense, but it feels a little too affectionate to say goodnight.”
Remus bristled. “I didn’t say goodnight to you!”
Sirius kept the door open so just a sliver of light escaped into the hallway. “Well, I’m not going to say it back even if you do.”
“Good thing I didn’t say it. And I’m not going to.”
“Okay, so let me drink my water.”
“Fine.”
The door clicked shut.
Remus pressed his forehead against the hallway wall and let out a long sigh.
Coworkers. Okay.