No 3. Sleeping with ghosts sounds intriguing 🤍
This is the fic that resolves the slow burn and sexual tension that took 150k+ words and 17 narrative years to build.
This fic is split into two parts. The first part focuses on the last time Remus and Sirius see each other before the murders of the Potters. The second part is set post-GOF and is my take on "Lie Low at Lupin's". It alternates between Sirius' and Remus' POV.
It includes dark and mature themes but is full of love.
Rating: M/E (I'm not entirely sure yet but defo 18+)
Genre: Drama/Angst. Romance. Violence. Hurt/Comfort. Sex. Mature themes. Reconciliation. Healing.
Title: taken from and inspired by Sleeping with Ghosts by Placebo.
Synopsis: After years of tension, suspicion and betrayal two old friends come to realise that they've wasted too much time.
"You can't hurt me anymore, Sirius," Remus said, his voice breathless and bloodied. Sirius was livid, his eyes wide, his lip trembling as he applied, even more pressure, to Remus' chest. "There's nothing you can do to cause me anymore pain…"
Yet as he had said this Remus' voice had suddenly caught in his throat; restricted by the lack of air and by something he had read in Sirius' eyes. All words of further warning failed him . He blinked and Sirius was still there, stationary, his mind processing the thought that Remus had glimpsed; his eyes unfathomable, his face now becoming unreadable as all was shrouded in emotion and dark.
Eventually, Remus found his words returning; knowing that if he didn't speak now than it would be his last chance to try and stop what was about to happen. Yet the voice that broke the uneasy silence seemed like it was not his own, the words he spoke were clearly uncertain and infused with fear as he said, shaking "If you kiss me now, Sirius, I shall never forgive you."
If he had gotten up, if Sirius had not stopped him, by now the kettle on the stove would be whistling. They would both be dressed and discussing what they were to do in the fight against Voldemort. Only now that didn't seem to matter. For now, it seemed as if the whole world could wait.
Sirius guided Remus' hand, and Remus found himself pushing away the hair to cup the warm curve of Sirius' neck. Had he imagined it, Remus wondered, perhaps a little too late, unable to stop they way his fingertips sought out the downy hairs at the back of Sirius' neck. Had he always wondered what this would be like, to be here, like this, with him?
"You're thinking why," Sirius said, his voice a barely audible whisper.
Outside Remus could hear that more cars were starting as the Muggles left for work.
"Am I?" Remus asked, his voice no-way near as certain sounding as Sirius'.
Sirius nodded.
"Why here? Why now? Why like this?"
Remus said nothing, clinging to the coolness of control, hoping it would be enough to help him see things clearly. To not make this a mistake.
But Sirius smiled and Remus felt his stomach fall away.
After remaining motionless for a long time Sirius moved and placed a hand gently on Remus' cheek. It was so different to touch than to be touched and Remus started at the heat of it, the intimacy of it, as he felt Sirius' rough hand caress his face. Remus fought the urge to incline towards Sirius' palm. But it was impossible. Sirius moved his fingers slowly, softly, tracing a scar that cut close to Remus' mouth. Remus couldn't think, only feel. All that mattered was the feeling of Sirius' hand, and the way his body was responding to Sirius' touch.
"I once told you that some scars weren't on the outside," Sirius said.
Remus remembered that conversation well. He felt Sirius' eyes searching, taking in every scar, every blemish, every line on Remus' face before Sirius lent a little closer and said, "I think we both understand that now."