Recovery II (Marauder Era, 1977)

Remus rolled over in the crisp hospital bed sheets. He... he couldn't remember getting here. Weird. He tried to sit up, but, from the pain in his left arm and the cuts he could feel on his back, he decided against it and settled for lying with his eyes closed.

A small snuffle-y noise came from the end of the bed. Sirius' chin rested on the white sheets, is arms cushioning his head. Wiped out from carrying Remus, watching over him until just past dawn. Madame Pomfrey never seemed to mind Sirius, even as she shoo'd other visitors out.

Remus turned onto his side, and slowly opened his eyes. "Sirius... is that you...?"

Sirius' eyes fluttered open. The silver blue eyes blinked slowly and a tired smile crossed the boy's face. "Oh, you're awake, Moony..." He rubbed the sleep from his face. "How're you feeling?"

Remus sat up, feeling it wasn't as painful to do as three hours ago. "Better... a lot better... Ngh.... have you be here the entire time...?" he asked, concerned.

"That's good." He yawned. "Of course I have. I wouldn't just leave you." He looked so honest, not as guarded as when he was fully awake.

Remus melted a little bit. "Really? Oh... thank you..." He reached out and took Sirius hand, squeezing it. "This is why I love you..."

He smiled. "I thought you just liked me for my body." Sirius laughed quietly. "And you're welcome."

Remus smiled, rubbing his eyes with his good arm. "No... that's just a bonus. Ergh... my head feels funny... did Pomfrey give me a pain potion...?"

"Yeah, right here.". Sirius reached over to the sidetable. He picked up a small bottle and handed it over.

"Gah!" Remus exclaimed. "You know I hate it when she does that. I can't... I can't think straight... and I'm dizzy... all day... nrgh... gah..." he slumped back into the pillows. The world was spinning sideways.

"Then you should just rest today. S'better than going to class with painfully gaping wounds.". Sirius shrugged, not unkindly. He slid himself over so he was sitting upright, pushing hair gently off Remus' forehead. His hand recoiled slightly. "Moony, you're burning up."

Remus whined, eyes closed. "But- But- No! I can't miss classes! Gah... I guess I'll just... get notes from Lily..." He hummed with Sirius' hands on him. "What do you mean? I feel... okay... heat-wise..."

Sirius looked concerned. "You sure? You don't feel normal...".

Remus frowned. "For the most part, yes... Sirius, you should go. You need sleep. And you have classes."

Sirius laughed. "Of course, I could never deny McGoogles my presence. She would never make it through class, too distracted. Wondering where I was. Would I be safe? Would I ever return to her?". He flopped backwards dramatically, in a fake swoon that would have qualified him for Hogwarts' Theater Department, had they had one.

Remus frowned as playfully as he could in his current situation. "Stop that. You know I hate when you do that. It's bad enough when I have to worry about losing you to the entire female... okay, the entire population of Hogwarts, but I have to worry about teachers too?" he huffed

"Oh, come off it, Remmy, I'm only joking. ". He blew a piece of hair out of his face unsuccessfully. It landed back on his nose. "You're too protective sometimes. How you handle a drama queen like me is far beyond my brain capacimawhatsit." Honestly, rabbiting on as if having Sirius were a privelege. As if Sirius would even consider any of the people who wanted him.

Remus did frown. "It's not that hard. When you get dramatic, I just shove you onto a bed and everything's fine. Now aren't you tired?" Remus bit his lip. He worried about Sirius; Sirius did so much for him, and rarely worried about himself.

Sirius pouted. "You make me sound like a slut when you put it that way. And no, I'm not particularly tired.". He wasn't. Taking care of Moony was less draining than class, anyway. He'd stopped noticing tge small bruises and fatigue that accompanied keeping Wolf Remus in control.

Remus snickered, feeling slightly better. "You are," he added with a wink. "But... are you sure?" He reached over with one hand and cupped Sirius' cheek. "You should sleep... I worry about you sometimes..."

"I don't... Need..." he yawned despite himself. "...Sleep.." His eyelids drifted lower of their own accord. "Really. I'm... Fine...". He made an attempt to get up, but just rolled onto his side. "But, you know.,, I think I'll spend a little... Bit... Longer... Here..."

Remus chuckled, the coughed. "You could stay here, if you like. Though I'm not sure Pomfrey would like that..."

"Eh, Pomfrey doesn't care. She never cares about me being here. Because I'm your visitor, probably.". He shut his eyes.

Remus shrugged. "It's true. She does have a soft spot for me. Must be because she sees me injured so often... maybe I should come in here when I'm fine, to show her I'm not always a bleedin' mess..." He trailed off when he saw Sirius drifting off. He smiled a bit, shuffling down to face Sirius on the pillow.