(F) Tissues - Complete

Title: Tissues
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All credit to JKR.
Author's Note: From the prompt 'Tissues' given by a friend.

Moony,
I'm at James'. Please come?
I'll explain then.

Miss you.
Padfoot.

-

It was the summer they had left their home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, and now it seemed it was the summer Sirius left his other home too. Not that Sirius had ever felt remotely fond of it, so if home is where the heart is, Grimmauld Place was by no means home. Either way, Sirius had been disowned for running away, escaping to James'.

James worried about Sirius. He was the closest thing to a brother and family Sirius had ever had. Sirius had hardly said a word about what had happened, he was just calm, seemingly, since he'd got there. James knew he wasn't close to his “family”, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, but Sirius seemed entirely devoid of a reaction.

Remus was there in a matter of hours. Sirius was sat by the front window. James watched his best friend, knowing why Sirius was sitting there, and knowing Sirius knew Remus would come to the door, not by Floo powder or apparating into the house itself.

Sirius leapt from his seat and rushed to open the door at the sight of who he really wanted to see out of all the people in the world.

“What happened, Sirius?” Remus asked tenderly, taking his hand in his, standing in the pouring rain but not caring.

“They disowned me,” Sirius tried to shake it off with a shrug and a laugh, but it came out hollow.

“Pads...” Remus began, but Sirius waved a dismissive hand, “I'm okay.” Sirius' eyes swam with tears, and he looked away.

“Evidence to the contrary.” Remus moved closer, “You're not alright.” He curved a hand around Sirius' neck, and that was the last straw as Sirius' downplayed emotions overflowed his emotions.

Remus gently moved Sirius to him, a hand still curving his neck, and gathered him into an understanding hug. They stood together, drenched in the rain, Sirius' tears and their love.

That summer marked the time they both could truly say they felt a love they would have willingly substituted breathing, food and firewhiskey just to keep.

Sirius casually gave a note to Remus at the end of that long hard summer that together they'd made easier. Remus unfolded it and began to read.

-

When I'm a famous auror, and people want me to write a book on my life, the foreword will say,

“For Moony,
The person I need more than the ability to breathe;
for his endless supply of tissues in the hardest times of my life, and his incessant warmth and support, and his love.

For without these, I would be nothing.
My strength is his, my heart is his, and my life is his, always.”

-

Remus wrapped his arms round Sirius from behind soon after. A tissue emerged in front of Sirius' face, and on it, in usual beautiful calligraphy from Remus' own hand, the words imprinted in both of their hearts stood out black on white.

I love you. Always.