Brilliance 14

Afterglow never lasts, of course, and the two boys were forced to rush and ready for class.
"Hurry, or we'll be late, then they'll be onto us," Remus warned, doing up his tie.
Sirius gave a very dog-like whine, pulling on his clothing. "I'm trying." Rather then prattle on, Remus did not wait for him, but dashed off to his class.

Naturally, Sirius was late and received a detention. (Remus didn't look up at him as he entered, too busy opening his book to chapter 12.) He said down with a wince, leaning against the table. In seconds, he fell asleep, snoozing quietly.

"Mister Black!" scolded the professor, looking mad as he rapped the boy across the back of the head with his wand. "This is a classroom, not a dormitory!"
Sirius shot up with wide eyes, holding his hand to his chest. "Ow-'
"Sleep in someone else's class, Mister Black," he scolded, looking cross as he stepped back up to the board.
"Ow." He continued to complain, rubbing his hand. "That was mean, I'm going to cry now."

The teacher ignored him, returning to the lesson. Remus glanced over and winced sympathetically. Sirius sunk down in his seat, glancing over to Remus with tired eyes, staying silent.
The nerd turned back to the lesson, taking notes enough for the both of them.
Sirius managed to stay awake most of the class… sort of.

The entire lesson, Remus kept glancing over to check on him. Even when the rest of the class got up to leave at the end, he held still, making sure that Sirius was awake and getting up.

Sirius stood up with a frown, knees a bit weak, having to grab onto the desk when his knees had buckled. "..."

A strong arm slipped under to support him.
"Easy there!" Remus said.
"I hurt," Sirius grumbled, giving a slow frown and leaning against him.
"I know," his lover said slowly, then added in a whisper, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." He murmured, frowning. "Not as strong as I thought I was."
"No, you are strong," Remus assured him, helping him along out of the classroom and into the hall.

"...I'm not going to the next class," Sirius murmured quietly.
Worry crossed Remus's face. "Are you ok?"
"I'm just gonna sleep." He murmured, shaking his head with a sigh.
"...if you want to stop, well," Remus murmured as he helped him towards the common room.

Sirius pulled himself from Remus's arms. "Go to your class, you're going to be late."

"No," he said firmly. No? Did Remus the nerd really just refuse to get to class? "I want to make sure you're ok."
Sirius started up the stairs, limping. "Go."

But he still hesitated. "I want to make sure..."
Padfoot gave a wave of his hand. "Go. I'm serious."

With a quick check to make sure that nobody was looking, Remus pressed a quick kiss to Sirius's cheek. "I'll come check up on you after class," he said before dashing off.

Sirius Black sighed, going up to his dormitory and cleaning himself up.

† † †

Remus took double notes during History of Magic, as well as brought Sirius his homework. He used his free period to check up on the boy.

Sirius was half asleep on the bed, bloodied tissues around him.

Panic hit the other boy.
"Sirius?" he asked, dropping his bookbag with a THUD and rushing to his bedside. The groggy boy groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Shush, too loud."

Moony went into a whisper. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
"Fine." He murmured, closing his eyes and trying to go back to sleep.

"That's it, I'm taking you to the hospital wing," Remus said, reaching down to scoop him up.
Sirius pushed the other away. "Rubbish, I'm not bleeding anymore."
"But you were," Remus protested, going back in.
He whined, shaking his head. "I'm fine, let me sleep!"

"..." Remus gave up with a sigh of worry.
Sirius curled back up, closing his eyes. "...Shit." He murmured suddenly, sitting up.

"What is it?" the werewolf asked worriedly, "You ok?"
"Got Quiditch practice!" the animagus exclaimed, shifting with a wince.
"Don't you even think about it," he said, pushing him back down, "You can't go when you're like this."
He whined quietly. "I've gotta' go soon..."

"You won't go at all." There was no argument allowed.
The boy whined again, crawling back into the sheets. "Fine...You arse."

"You're sick," Remus said firmly, "So don't even think about it." Sirius grumbled a bit, curling up.

There was a moment of silence Remus spent watching Sirius worriedly. He took in his body, the mussed hair and sheets, and all the bloody tissues. He sighed.
"Here," he said, going to pick up his bag, "I brought you your homework assignment and all the notes you need."
The black haired boy glanced over the offered parchment. "You should do my homework for me." He said, giving a hopeful smile.

Moony rolled his eyes, slightly calmed. "You shouldn't try to ask me that again," he said sarcastically, showing just a hint of sharp tooth in his smirk.
"Why do you hate me?" Sirius questioned, flipping through the notes.
"I don't," he replied, "but you know how fine the line is between love and hate..."
"And you've been dancing on that line." Sirius smiled lightly, continuing to glance over at his boy.

"You know you like it," he said calmly, piling the homework onto Sirius's bed. "The sooner you finish it, the less you'll have to worry," chided Remus.
The dog rolled his eyes, putting away the paper. "Yeah, but I don't feel like it."."
"Fine," the wolf said, shaking his head, "You're only screwing yourself."

Sirius rolled his eyes, opening the covers up for the other to crawl in with him. Remus looked reproving for a moment, but then consented to climb in with him. Sirius instantly gripped the other by the waist, dragging him to his chest. "better."

Remus laughed, "Hey!"
Sirius yawned and closed his eyes. "It was boring laying here all myself."

"And you're ill," he sternly reminded his juvenile friend.
"Not ill…" he protested, shaking his head, "just a bit cut up."
"You still couldn't make it to class," Remus continued disapprovingly.
"But I feel better now!" exclaimed Sirius, nodding. "..So...Can I please go to the practice?" He asked hopefully.

It didn't work at all. "No," Remus said firmly

Sirius sighed, rolling over. "Fine. Arsehole."

Lupin smirked, just a bit.
"You're so cute when you're upset."

Sirius glared at the wall. "Don't try and flatter me with your sweet nothings!"

"Ok," he said, shrugging and laying back with him, "Then I won't."
He leaned in for a kiss.
Sirius rolled over, flat out rejecting the kiss.
"Now don't be frigid, Sirius," Remus said reproachfully. Sirius just scooted away , grumbling.

"Fine," he sighed, "If you're going to be that way," he got up off of the bed and began to walk away.
That did it, and Sirius sighed and rolled over, catching the other by the wrist.

Remus looked back slowly. "Can I help you?" he asked coolly.
"Don't go." He murmured with a pout.
"Are you going to behave yourself?" he raised an eyebrow.
He nodded his head quickly.
"Ok," he softened, sitting on the edge of the bed, "Fine."
He moved closer and leaned against him, sighing.

Remus stroked Sirius's head absent mindedly. This felt good. Sirius felt good. They felt good as a unit. This was… good. Everything here was just good.

Sirius looked over to Remus, concern written on his face. "Remus..."
"Yes, love?" he asked, still toying with the other's hair.

Sirius paused, the oddest expression on his handsome face. He looked worried, and nervous, as if something was bothering him, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. He opened his mouth and then shut it a few times, as if trying to figure out just what it was that he wanted to say.

"No matter what happens..." he starred, murmuring quietly, reaching up to gently grip Remus's hand, "You'll always love me, right? You'll always be there for me?"
He wasn't sure where this sudden urge to know came from, he felt like his heart was heavy, dread raining down on him.

Remus was caught completely off guard. He blinked with surprise.
"...Yes," he said, brows knitting as he searched for what was disquieting his lover. "Of course I will."

Sirius rolled over, giving him a tight hug, tears in the corners of his eyes. "Good..." He whispered.

Remus didn't know what it was, either, but he knew Sirius needed him at that moment, needed him more than anything. "I'll always love you," he promised, kissing his neck gently.