Rating:
15
House:
Astronomy Tower
Ships:
Remus Lupin/Sirius Black
Characters:
Remus Lupin Sirius Black
Genres:
Slash
Era:
The First War Against Voldemort (Cir. 1970-1981)
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 05/06/2007
Updated: 05/06/2007
Words: 1,574
Chapters: 1
Hits: 602

Sunday Morning Coming Down

NoScrubs12345

Story Summary:
Everyone loves a Sunday--the difficult crossword in the paper, sleeping late and lounging all day around doing absolutely nothing. Remus and Sirius plan to exemplify this cliché until a shocking and unwelcome letter arrives by owl post.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Posted:
05/06/2007
Hits:
602
Author's Note:
Betaed by Phantom of Delight. Title respectufully borrowed from the Johnny Cash song of the same name. Written for the 50scenes livejournal community (Prompt 42--"Loss"). Part of the Wanton Moonlight series.


"Morning, Moony," Sirius said over the Prophet's crossword as Remus entered their small kitchen.

Remus muttered something indistinguishable under his breath as he stumbled to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee on autopilot. He downed half the steaming liquid where he stood in his pyjama bottoms before finishing it off and stumbling towards the table. Remus plopped down into the chair by Sirius none-too-gracefully and took the customary box of corn flakes sitting on the table and shook it. He frowned and made a mental note to pick up a new box next time they stopped by the market before he dumped what little was left into his waiting bowl.

"Anything new?" he asked as he poured milk over the cereal.

Sirius sighed and looked out the window disdainfully. "Same old shite: a few Muggles dead here and there, some Ministry officials 'disappearing' from their beds in the middle of the night, another family from Kent slaughtered."

"Anyone we know?" Remus dared.

"No, thank Merlin." Sirius sighed again and went back to his crossword as Remus slowly ate.

"Ugh!" Sirius said and looked up. "Moony, you remember the bloke's name who invented that ruddy American Quidditch? I can't think of it--starts with a 'P' though."

Remus picked up his cereal bowl and drained the milk left at the bottom. He furrowed his brow, thinking hard. "Peasegood, I think. Does that fit?"

Sirius carefully filled in the only remaining squares with his Muggle Biro. He slid the paper away once finished and smiled at Remus.

"Thanks, love," he said and leaned forward to kiss Remus. Remus smiled when they parted and kissed Sirius again, sliding nonchalantly into Sirius' lap and slowly started to trail kisses along Sirius' jaw.

"What do you say we go back upstairs?" Sirius said, trailing a hand down Remus' side.

Remus shivered and nipped at his ear. "I'd like that."

Sirius kissed him, wrapping an arm around his waist and cupping his cheek with his free hand. Sirius moaned into the kiss as Remus' cool hands slid beneath the hem of his shirt and he ran his tongue along Remus' lower lip. Remus opened his mouth into the kiss, allowing their tongues to lazily duel for control. Sirius jumped and suddenly broke the kiss as a sharp rapping came at the window.

Remus turned his head and swore when he saw the waiting owls. He made to get up but Sirius tightened his hold on him.

"Leave it, Moony. Please?"

Remus shot him an apologetic look before wriggling free of his grip and crossing to the window. The owls gratefully flew in from the morning chill and landed gracefully on the worn table top. Remus' barn owl hooted at Sirius and he gently stroked her before taking the letter from her proffered leg. He smiled as Remus sat back down at the table.

"Prongs says he and Lily are enjoying Paris." Sirius looked up from the letter and frowned. "We should go to Paris sometime. Just sneak away for a weekend or so and never even leave the hotel."

It was Remus' turn to frown. "Paris isn't cheap, Padfoot."

"Scrooge. I'll pay."

"Sirius, I am not--ouch!" Remus said as the second owl bit him. "Bloody bird!"

Remus swatted at the bird and hastily took the letter it held. Once relieved of its burden, the owl hooted haughtily and flew out the open window. Sirius watched as Remus read the letter and narrowed his eyes.

"Anything wrong, Moony?"

"Paris'll have to wait," Remus said with a sigh. "Dumbledore wants me to work with the werewolves. Again."

"I don't see why you have to do this. You're as human as I am, you just happen to have a--"

"Furry little problem," they said in tandem.

Remus smiled wanly. "You know that's not true."

Sirius started to say something, but Remus looked up at him and the words died on his lips. Their eyes met and Sirius stared imploringly into his amber ones. Remus looked away, not sure what he felt, as a giant horned owl gracefully landed on the table.

"Shit," Sirius said and jumped up. "What's that bird doing here?"

"Looks like he's got a letter for you," Remus said dryly.

"I can see that, Sherlock," Sirius said and snatched the letter from the bird's beak.

The bird squawked indignantly and angrily took flight. He circled the kitchen twice, swooping ominously at Sirius' head before flying out the open window. Sirius huffed and slammed it shut behind the owl.

"Fucking bird!"

Remus sighed. "Who's it from?"

"Who do you think?" Sirius threw the letter on the table and sat, crossing his arms and staring at the parchment.

Remus rolled his eyes, stood and took his cereal bowl to the sink. As the sponge by the faucet sprang to life, he turned and leaned against the cold metal basin. Sirius looked up at him before warily taking the letter and opening it.

Remus watched Sirius as he read the letter, his back rigid and face blank. The fact that Sirius' hands were shaking as he folded the letter back up and drew his wand didn't escape his notice either.

"Incendio!" Sirius said dully and stood. Tucking his wand back into his pocket, he turned to Remus. "I need some fresh air."

Remus nodded and watched Sirius leave the kitchen. The front door creaked on its old hinges and Remus gave him a few minutes alone before following him outside. He found Sirius sitting on the top of the stoop slumping against the banister.

Remus wrinkled his noise as he smelled smoke. "I thought you quit."

"Old habits die hard," Sirius quipped and coughed.

Remus waved to Mrs Across-the-Street as he moved towards the stoop. She smiled and waved back before shouting at her sons playing Robin Hood in her azaleas. Remus sighed, dismissing the scene, and sat down next to Sirius.

He stole Sirius' fag and took a drag. "So, what did it say?"

Sirius snorted and took the cigarette back. "Mother says hello in her special way and, apparently, I'm the reason for her--and I quote--'ailing health.' Father sends his 'love.' Oh, and Reg's dead."

"What?" Remus said, taken aback. "How?"

"All Mother hinted at was that he was in too deep, chickened out, and Voldemort killed him." Sirius started rummaging around for his pack of cigarettes. "Bloody fucking idiot."

Remus took the package once Sirius had found it, crumpled it, and threw it across the porch. He dismissed Sirius' frown and said, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sirius watched the cat from next door sidle across the lawn. "No."

"Okay then," Remus said. Standing, he kissed the top of Sirius's head and started to go back inside.

Before he could take little more than a step, Sirius grabbed his wrist and stared up at him. "He's my brother, Remus. I hate his guts, but he's still my little brother. He's the only person who knew just how horrible my parents were first hand."

"But he still sided with them," Remus said coldly.

Sirius stood up. "He was a good kid, though. He believed all their brainwashing because it was easy to just accept that crap and move on instead of doing what was right. It's not really his fault he's dead, is it? It's theirs."

Remus walked over to the porch swing and sat down. He deadpanned, "She blamed you, didn't she?"

Sirius slumped down into the seat next to him. His nod was almost imperceptible.

"Fuck, Sirius!" Remus said and the other man winced. "Why do you keep thinking things will ever change with them? They can't see past the ends of their inbred noses and they don't want to." He sighed. "It's just that I love you and I hate when you feel like this. It's just not fair, Padfoot."

"They're still my family, Moony," Sirius said quietly. "I can't quote all that psychology crap--all I know is that no matter how much I hate them and try to just forget all their shite, I can't. And every fucking time they try to blame me for being a bad egg, it hurts. It hurts like hell, Remus." He took a breath. "And then I hate them for making me feel so worthless that way too."

Remus was at a loss for words. He shifted, tucked one leg under himself and brushed a strand of Sirius' hair behind his ear.

Sirius whispered, "I never even got to say goodbye to the little wanker."

Remus took one of Sirius' hands in his and kissed it.

"Did dear old Walburga mention anything about a funeral?"

Sirius squeezed Remus' hand. "I'm not going. Pointless, anyway. I'll mourn my own way."

A pregnant silence fell over them as they swung back and forth as it started to rain. Down the street, a dog barked and a car drove by with the radio cranked up to full blast. After a while, Sirius scooted closer to Remus and kissed him before snuggling against his chest.

Remus placed a gentle kiss on Sirius' head and smiled. "How about I tell Dumbledore I can't make it this time; he'll get over it sooner or later. How does Paris sound? I have it on good authority it's quite nice this time of year."

Sirius smiled up at him, said "Paris it is then," and kissed Remus before settling in for a grey, overcast Sunday.