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Nighttime ficlet for jacito; remus/sirius, candlelight.

For one gifted with the ability to move in silence, Sirius is possibly the loudest creature Remus has ever had known, and considering—well, that’s saying something. Sirius crashes into things, shouts in laughter and rage, and sings along wildly to music he alone hears. He cannot stand the quiet, even—perhaps especially—when he is not invited to enjoy it.

Tonight is no exception. Remus has been in his room for hours, bathed in the warmth of candlelight and the words of older, wiser men. He’s waited all week for this respite from the noise of the others, but still, he wonders where Sirius has been since dinner, what has brought him back to Remus when there are still so many hours left before dawn—

What, if anything, Remus could or should do to make him stay.

“Too dark, Moony,” Sirius huffs, his knee bumping the side of the desk. “Too quiet in here.”

“Suppose so, yes.”

Sirius smiles in the darkness. “Lu—“

“No,” Remus says quickly. “Really, Sirius, I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Mmm.”

“The candles are enough. I’m just reading.”

“Of course.”

Remus can see him, hands shoved back into his pockets, the smile thinning but not disappearing entirely.

“You can stay,” Remus says, very gently. “I just think—“

“There something I’m not meant to see?”

Sirius’ voice is amused, and Remus takes a breath to keep himself from rising to fight, from rising to the bait.

“Moony.”

“Why are you here?” Remus sighs. “What do you want?”

“Company,” Sirius smiles. “Chat. A smoke—“

“None of which you’re going to find here.”

“A friend.”

It’s not surrender if you both want it, Remus thinks as he tosses his book away. A wand, a wave and half a whisper, and the candles around the room gutter out. Remus listens for the sound of leather creaking, of Sirius settling onto the couch beside him.

“There we are,” Sirius laughs, resting his head on Remus’s shoulder. “You’ve had all the light you can bear tonight.”

Yes, Remus thinks, closing his eyes. And more than enough of the heat.


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