I initially wrote this Remus and Sirius for my sci-fi fest fic, Professor R. J. Lupin and the Time Machine, which is a tragic and wild tale, and does not have a happily-ever-after ending. But I fell so in love with them that I had to give them a proper story filled with fluff and smut (and a happily ever after!), and that became Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon.
Remus stopped and turned to Sirius, who looked back at him expectantly with those warm, grey eyes. Remus's heart pounded out of his chest. There was no going back now.
“I can't take your money anymore,” he said.
Sirius’s face fell. “What?”
“It's been eighteen months since we started. Eighteen months of testing, and searching, and scouring the pages of medical journals. Countless hours in the lab, and I’m no closer to a cure than I was eighteen months ago.”
Remus was stalling. But he couldn't just come out and say I've fallen madly in love with you to his business partner. His best friend. Another man. If Sirius didn't feel the same way, their friendship would be ruined, or worse – he could have Remus arrested. Remus didn't really think Sirius would do that, but that didn’t make him any less terrified.
“These things take time,” Sirius said gently. “I know that.”
“And you’ve been so patient,” said Remus. “Too patient. Too accommodating.”
“I’ll keep being patient and accommodating until you find a cure,” Sirius insisted. “And after that, I’ll fund your next project. Researching… why pigs can’t fly,” he laughed, “or whatever suits your fancy.”
“No, Sirius, I can’t let you do that.” Remus sighed. “But it’s alright! I’m ready to give it up. It's time.”
“But, why?”
“I just think…” Remus took a deep breath. “It feels like an ethical problem, if I keep taking money from you.”
Remus let himself hope for just a moment that that would be enough of a clue for Sirius to catch his meaning. But, of course, it wasn’t, and Sirius just furrowed his brow in confusion. Remus had to stop stalling. He had to take the risk.
“Because I’ve come to think of you as more than a patron.”
Sirius could have pointed out the obviousness of that fact. They became friends so quickly after they met, their relationship was never strictly professional. Sirius could have said, Of course, old chum! and patted Remus on the shoulder.
But he didn’t. He gave Remus a small smile, the twinkle returning to his eye. He stepped a little closer. Close enough that Remus could smell the vanilla-scented oil in his beard.
It was quiet. Remus could hear his own heartbeat.
He took off his hat, focused on the reflection of the bandstand lights in Sirius's eyes, took in a breath of vanilla, and said, “Much more.”
He felt like he'd stepped off a cliff. The only things keeping him from plummeting to his death were Sirius's growing smile and the ringed fingers that were slowly intertwining with his own.
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