innerslytherin (innerslytherin) wrote in viciousmoon, @ 2007-07-26 12:17:00 |
|
|||
Current mood: | busy |
Entry tags: | remus lupin, remus/severus, severus snape |
Remus has a bad moon and Severus is late
Remus woke alone with a pounding headache, his face pressed against a splintery floorboard in the Shrieking Shack. Sunlight streaming in and hitting his eyelids was what had woken him. He tried to lift his head and look around; almost immediately he felt his skin shiver and then his entire body seize up in a cramp. With a grunt of pain, he dropped his head back, his cheekbone stinging with the impact. Finally the cramp released him and he managed to shift onto his side enough that he could curl into a foetal position. He hurt all over, and from the way the sun came in, it was well into the day. Why was Severus late?
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
The word was on loop in Severus' head, had been for the past hour. The Dark Lord had never Summoned him so late at night before, and he'd never kept Severus overnight either. He was just getting back to Spinner's End at eleven fucking thirty in the morning, and even though he knew, knew, that the potion hadn't been finished before he'd left and he'd had to leave it overnight unattended, his steps were quick with the irrational hope that somehow it would still be salvageable.
He stared down into the cauldron full of cold, congealed black goop, feeling his frustration rise. It was much stronger than it otherwise would have been if he'd ruined a potion - he'd spent so much time on it, and it had a new ingredient, and it was for Remus. It was a very important potion for Remus, and it was ruined. Severus blinked back a sudden stinging feeling in his eyes, wiping a hand over his brow and telling himself that it was the exhaustion from shagging all day and not getting any sleep at night that had him so much more frustrated than he normally would have been.
He immediately set to castigating himself, thinking of what he could have done that might have saved the potion, even though he knew that there was nothing for it. If he'd left the heat on, it would have overcooked, possibly exploded, and potentially burned the lab down. It would have been ruined either way, but he wanted to blame himself, because what was Remus going to do without any day-after potion?
He wanted to stay and figure something out, but he pushed himself to go upstairs, his steps trudging. Severus checked the sofa and their room, and found both empty. Remus hadn't dragged himself home yet, either. He knew that Remus must've done, before Severus had started turning up and bringing him home, but he didn't know when, or even if Remus would. Remus might just stay and wait for Severus. He wondered if Remus would stay if he was angry at Severus for being late, or if that would instead make him want to drag himself home and ignore Severus.
Or maybe it would make him drag himself somewhere else entirely. Nervous and worried, Severus Apparated to the Shrieking Shack.
The sight of his lover, naked, looking like death, and curled up on the floor with his knees to his chest, made Severus feel ill. He rushed to Remus' side, kneeling gingerly on the dirty floorboards, and brushed Remus' hair out of his face. "Remus?" he whispered, almost afraid to be heard.
Remus must have passed out again, because he suddenly became aware of something touching his face. He twitched and that sent another spasm of pain through him, wrenching a whimper out of his throat before he could lock down on it. It passed, and he lay, panting, letting the familiar and reassuring scent of his lover wash over him. He didn't speak, but tears of pain and relief leaked slowly from his tightly shut eyes.
Severus winced as he watched Remus tense and tremor, snatching his hand back and feeling angry at himself and helpless to offer comfort. Guilt ate at him when he noticed the tears escaping Remus' eyes, screwed shut. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he whispered with fervor, raising his wand and gingerly taking Remus' hand. Concentrating, he side-along Apparated them both back to Spinner's End and their bed upstairs.
God, it hurt all over, somehow seeming worse than it had been before Severus had started giving him these potions. Remus' head was pounding, but he told himself nothing was different, it was all the same. But his fingers hurt so badly, curled into his palms and clutched against his chest. And every joint in his body ached. "Sev'rus," he slurred finally, wanting nothing more than to be held tightly in his lover's arms, despite that it would be agony to be touched like that.
Severus began inspecting Remus once they made it home and to bed, his shock growing as the extent of Remus' injuries were revealed. Merlin, it seemed like every moon was worse than the one before it. Was it his fault, somehow? He made a mental note to ask Remus if the moons had been this bad for him before Severus began taking care of him - even though he really did not want to ask that question. He wanted to be helping Remus, and he felt sick to think that perhaps he was actually doing him far greater harm.
Severus clenched his eyes shut after he'd finished his examination, trying to will back the sudden swell of misery at the thought that he was making everything worse. Why did he always make everything worse? "I'll be right back," he managed, his voice thick, and carefully moved off the bed to go get some painkilling potions and healing potions from the bathroom. At least he had plenty of those on hand.
Remus just grunted his agreement and kept his eyes closed. Severus sounded so miserable. Remus must look pretty bad, if Severus sounded so miserable. He drifted in a haze of misery for a few minutes, then roused slightly when he heard noises that meant Severus must have returned. "Time s'it?"
Severus arranged the potions he'd gathered on the bedside stand, glancing at the clock. "Bit after twelve," he admitted, almost choking on the word. It was so late. Remus would be angry, and rightfully so.
"Why...late?" Remus asked, the word almost a sigh. Had something happened? Had the full moon been bad for Severus? He remembered their argument, when Severus said Remus had changed him.
"I'm sorry," Severus whimpered, hating himself for how pathetic he sounded. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be. I'm sorry." He was aware that wasn't answering Remus' question, but he didn't want to speak of it. "Can you sit up? I have potions to make you feel better..."
Remus didn't think he could. He let out a real sigh and tried to open his eyes. They felt swollen and gritty, though he didn't remember doing anything to injure them. He tried to sit up and winced, collapsing back against the bed. He tried again, but it was just too much work. "Help me," he whispered at last.
Severus nodded quickly and helped Remus into a sitting position with a spell, thinking that might hurt less than having him try to do it himself. He propped all the pillows behind Remus' back and then handed him the first potion. There were three in total; one of his healing potions, one of his ridiculously strong pain potions, and a potion for dreamless sleep, but he was keeping that one back just in case it turned out to be needed.
Remus spilled the healing potion down his chin and shuddered at the feel of it trickling down his neck, but he managed to finally focus on Severus' face. "All right?" he murmured, watching his lover.
Severus cleaned it up, frowning. He sat carefully on the edge of the bed, handing Remus the one for pain. "Just a little swallow of this," he warned, holding it to Remus' lips. "You remember that very strong pain potion I have."
Remus did remember it. He managed a decent-sized gulp of the pain potion, his tongue flickering out to clean his lips. "You angry at me?" he asked, confused by Severus' expression.
"No!" Severus insisted quickly. He ducked his head, afraid to get too near to Remus but feeling the urge to show his submission in some way, so he kept his posture non-threatening and low. He set the potion aside, then helped Remus lie back down and slumped his shoulders. "I'm trying to help," he added miserably, thinking he must be doing a piss-poor job if Remus thought he was angry.
"You do help," Remus murmured. "Love you."
That just made Severus feel more guilty. Remus loved him, and he just bollocksed everything up. He wiped a hand over his eyes, not wanting to look at Remus. "M'sorry," he murmured again. He'd just keep saying it until Remus acknowledged it in some way.
"Why are you sorry?" Remus asked. He lifted a hand, reaching for Severus'.
Severus ducked his head and pushed it lightly against Remus' hand before he realised - a moment too late - what an odd thing that was to do. "I--I was late, I didn't come till late, and I've got no day-after potion for you," he mumbled.
Remus stared at Severus, but caressed his lover's hair. "Doesn't matter," he said softly. "You had a good reason." What it was, Remus had no idea, but he was confident Severus must have a good reason for not showing up earlier. Breathing was beginning to not be an agony, and the pounding in his head was subsiding, though his hands and feet were currently tingling in a very odd fashion.
Startled, Severus tensed, though he felt soothed by the hand in his hair. He wanted to point out that Remus didn't know what his reason was, but he didn't want to have to tell him, either. "It certainly does matter," he insisted. He had an obligation and responsibility to Remus, to care for him on the day after and make him the potion, and this month he'd failed at both.
"I know you wouldn't have been late if you could help it at all," Remus said. He sighed and closed his eyes, his fingers still working through Severus' hair tenderly. "Think the pain potion is setting in. Don't feel like a herd of hippogryffs hit me anymore."
"Oh good," Severus breathed, wanting to curl up next to Remus now he wasn't hurting as bad but not certain he should.
"So tired," Remus said. "Your hair feels sticky."
"What?" Severus asked, pulling away gingerly to feel at his hair. His hand came away bloody, but he knew he wasn't bleeding. "Oh bollocks," he murmured, then decided he'd best go over Remus' wounds with the limited knowledge he'd gained from Poppy. In fact... "Maybe I should take you to Pomfrey."
Remus sighed. "Just want to stay here with you," he muttered. He got so tired of the school infirmary. "Just hold me."
"But you're really hurt," Severus protested, though he didn't think he had the energy to disobey Remus then. He shifted carefully to lie down with Remus without jostling him, and very gingerly put his arms around Remus.
Remus heaved a deep sigh and relaxed into Severus' arms. He curled his hands against his chest, cradling them between them and trying not to bleed on Severus any more. "Need you."
"Need you, too," Severus murmured. "Need you to be well," he added.
Remus buried his face against Severus skin and sighed again.
Severus stroked Remus' hair lightly, whimpering again.
"Shh," Remus breathed, soothingly. "Love you so much." He thought it was funny that he was the injured one, but he was comforting Severus. He decided not to point that out, though. He felt like he might float up to the ceiling.
"M'glad you're not angry with me," Severus said. Well, apparently Remus wasn't, if he was telling Severus he loved him.
"Course I'm not," Remus said. Most of the pain had faded to a dull ache, which was a comfort. He shifted a little closer to Severus. "Are you all right?" he whispered.
Why wasn't he, though? "No--I mean, yeah, I'm fine," Severus said, enjoying their closeness.
"What happened, Severus?" Remus asked. Severus hadn't answered him earlier. Had he? Maybe he had and Remus had just forgotten.
"Got Summoned." Severus winced a little, eyes closed.
"Oh," Remus said, and licked Severus' throat. "Poor Severus."
Severus was relieved for Remus' sympathy and the feel of his tongue, but he still felt bad. "Couldn't get away, and then I ran to check on things here, and then I went to find you right away," Severus assured him. "Sorry I didn't get there sooner."
Remus sighed. "It wasn't any different to how it used to be," he mumbled. "Just lonely for you, that's all." He was beginning to feel drowsy. The pain potion, he thought.
"Doesn't matter," Severus protested. "I have a responsibility now. Supposed to come get you at the right time."
Remus hummed at the rush of warmth those words sent through him. "God, I love you so much."
"Love you too." That was why he felt so bad, after all. "Just want to make things better for you, and it doesn't ever seem to work out right."
Remus didn't know how to convince Severus that he did make things better, and that just knowing Severus wanted to make things better, made things better. He made a soft noise and buried his face against Severus' chest, his eyes stinging with happy tears. Merlin, pain potions were dead useful, but they did horrible things to his inhibitions.
Severus stroked Remus' hair, glad he wasn't angry. "Anything else you want just now?"
"Just you, to be here." Remus let out a sigh. "M so tired."
"I'm here," Severus said. "Sleep."
Remus fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
When it had been a while, and Severus could tell Remus was sleeping deeply, he carefully extricated himself. He watched Remus, and when his lover showed no signs of waking, decided a plan was in order. He needed to start by talking to Pomfrey. With a deep sigh at the final glance he gave his lover, Severus made his way to the fireplace. He would talk to Poppy, perhaps bring back some potions, run some ideas by her, and hopefully come up with a solution that would keep these full moons from becoming worse.
When Remus woke again, it was dark. He let out a noise that was half-groan and half-whimper, angry at himself for sleeping the entire day. He hated that he'd had a day to spend with Severus and it was over. He rolled over, whimpering at the aches and pains that told him the potions had worn off, and stared at the window. It was just dusk, he realised, but the room seemed much darker. Perhaps Severus had done a darkening charm.
Severus made a noise at being jostled, rolling over and fumbling for Remus. He wasn't dead asleep, but he couldn't have been called 'awake' by any definition just then; he was acting more on instinct than anything. "Rem's," he uttered softly, wanting his lover securely in his arms again.
Remus burrowed against Severus. "Hurts," he whimpered. He breathed in Severus' scent, comforted by it.
That woke Severus up a bit. "Have potion," he murmured, reaching back for his wand and groping for it on the table with as little movement as possible. His fingers closed on a skinny bottle instead, and he pulled that over to him. It was a potion Poppy had given him, a better healing potion than he usually kept around (since when he was hurt badly he went to her anyway). "For healing, and one for pain."
Remus clung to Severus, unwilling to let go of him long enough to take anything. He let out a soft growl at the sudden flash of his mate was gone again, where was his mate, he missed his mate, needed-- Merlin, of course. They'd shagged themselves rotten the day before, and he'd spent the night chewing his paws because he couldn't find his mate and he was lonely. God, I'm an idiot, he thought. He released his death-grip on Severus and looked sheepishly at him for the potion.
Once he was allowed to breathe again, Severus handed Remus the potion, gaze a little wary.
"Sorry," Remus muttered, taking the bottle. "How much?"
"S'ok," Severus said quietly. "Whole thing."
Remus downed the potion and then shuddered slightly. It wasn't the worst he'd ever tasted, though. He sighed and held the bottle back out to Severus. "Thanks," he said. He wanted Severus to hold him again. That would make him feel better than any potion.
Severus smiled as he took away the empty bottle, feeling better at the thought that Remus' pains would be eased. "And now some more of that strong pain potion I have," he said, feeling more awake as he fumbled and grabbed that one off the table and held it to Remus. "Just a swallow," he reminded him.
Remus nodded and took a careful swallow, then handed that bottle back to Severus, too. "I love you," he said, smiling at him.
Severus' smile grew at Remus' declaration, and he set the bottle aside so he could gently pull Remus back into his arms. "I love you, too. How do you feel? You slept a long time."
"Not sleepy anymore, but definitely content to be right here," Remus said. He snuggled against Severus, ignoring the various aches and pains that protested. "Need to be near you."
Severus stroked his hair and held him close, content. "Need you," he mumbled.
Remus breathed in Severus' scent again, letting it fill his senses. After a moment he realised he was licking Severus' neck. He felt a hot flash of embarrassment, though he decided to act as if nothing were strange about this.
Severus rumbled contentedly in his chest, his eyes slitting as he arched his neck. He didn't care that it was wolfish and odd for humans; he knew what it meant.
Oh, good. Remus relaxed again and melted against Severus' chest, moaning a little in relief when the pain suddenly began receding.
Severus stroked Remus' back soothingly. "I talked to Pomfrey a bit yesterday about how the moons have been worse for you lately, and she's given me some ideas on potions I can try. I also talked to her about a potion I've been thinking about for a while now, one that you'd take before your transformation, hopefully to ease it a bit."
"Yesterday?" Remus muttered, not quite following. Then he caught up to the rest of what Severus was saying. "You think you could do something like that?"
"Yeah, I said you slept a long time," Severus pointed out. "I aim to try to do something like that. I don't see why I couldn't. After all, I am a genius."
"I slept all bloody day?" Remus yelped. Merlin, he'd lose his job!
"Mm hmm," Severus said, not nearly as concerned as Remus was. "You obviously needed it. It's very early morning, actually," he added, glancing at the bedside clock. "Six nineteen."
"I didn't miss work?" Remus felt weak with relief. He couldn't afford to lose this job.
"No," Severus said. "But the moon was so bad I thought I might call in for you today. You're still a wreck."
Remus shifted to sit up. "I have to be at work at nine," he said. "I'll just--" He broke off as a wave of dizziness hit him.
"You'll lie back down with me," Severus finished for him sternly.
Remus let out a sigh that was partly defeat and partly relief, and sank back down into Severus' arms.
Severus tightened his arms in approval. "I'll call a little later."
"I've never called off there before, at least," Remus murmured. "Maybe it'll be all right." He nuzzled Severus' chest, grateful for the comfort his lover gave.
"Of course it will," Severus murmured. "People get sick. Relax." It felt so good to have Remus in his arms. He smiled.
Remus blinked his heavy eyelids and exhaled slowly. "You make me feel better."
"I'm glad," Severus said. At least something he did could.
"Mmmhmm. You're kind to me. And smell good."
Severus couldn't help it; he sniggered into Remus' hair. "Thanks."
Remus made a muffled noise and snaked an arm around Severus' waist.
Severus brushed his hand over Remus' hair. "Sleep if you want. I'll stay here."
"M'not sleepy, just...fuzzy," Remus said. "Keep doing that, feels nice."
"Okay." Severus chuckled a little, and kept stroking Remus' hair. He let his thumb occasionally brush Remus' ear, enjoying the contact.
"'ve you seen Dumbledore lately?" Remus asked. He wanted to listen to Severus' voice.
"No," Severus said, voice hushed. "I should have gone to him by now, but I didn't want to spend any more time away from you than I had to when you were so bad off."
Remus smiled and made a pleased noise. He shifted his head, rubbing his cheek against Severus' skin. He had opened his mouth to speak when his stomach growled. Oh, Merlin, he couldn't even stand up this morning, he wasn't going to be able to make breakfast. Perhaps Severus would bring something from a bakery. "Feels so good here."
"Hungry?" Severus asked, wondering what sort of breakfasty foods they had.
"Mmhmm." Remus sighed and nuzzled him.
"Well, if you'll let me up long enough, I'll make you something," Severus uttered, though he was watching his hands as he played with Remus' hair.
"Don't want to let you go," Remus mumbled. "No, no, don't make anything. Corner bakery."
Severus kept his arms around Remus, though he frowned. "It's really not an inconvenience, Remus, I'll make you breakfast."
Remus coughed. "Last time you killed my toaster."
"Oh nice! You don't want me to make you breakfast!" Severus realised, outraged.
"Unless you can keep from destroying everything," Remus said, kissing Severus' chest.
"You're the one who wants me to cook so bad! And now you don't want me to! I see." Severus scowled at the wall over Remus' head.
Remus sighed. "Doesn't matter," he said finally, feeling too tired to argue. "Do what you want."
Oh bugger, that just made Severus feel bad. He stared sorrowfully at the wall. "Just tell me when you want breakfast and I'll go to the bakery," he said quietly.
A pang of regret hit Remus. "M'sorry," he mumbled, pressing against Severus. "Really. Didn't mean it."
"No, it's fine," Severus insisted, because he didn't understand why he felt so hurt over it. It was stupid. He was the one who'd refused to learn to cook.
"Love you," Remus muttered, wishing he hadn't said anything.
"Love you too," Severus said, stroking Remus' hair again.
"Just want you to be happy. 'preciate how you take care of me."
"I just want to take good care of you," Severus admitted miserably. "I always cock it up."
"No," Remus said. He kissed Severus' neck and clung to him. "You make me happy."
Severus blinked hard and clung back. "You make me happy, too."
Remus' stomach growled again. "D'you want to make me something?" he asked.
"No," Severus said, trying to sit up and extricate himself carefully. "I'll get you something from the bakery."
Remus pulled weakly to get Severus to kiss him.
Severus went with the motion, kissing Remus, which did make him feel a bit better. Kissing Remus was always brilliant.
"Mmmm," Remus said. He pulled his fingers through Severus' hair and tugged affectionately, smiling at Severus. "You're sexy."
Severus' eyes slitted in pleasure and he smiled. "You too. Mmm, must get up and go to bakery." He didn't, however, move.
"Yes, in just a mo," Remus murmured, and kissed him again. This was nice, so warm and slow and comfortable.
Severus chuckled, returning the kiss. He loved kissing Remus, so he did some more.
When Remus' stomach growled a third time, he sighed and reluctantly released his grip on Severus' hair. "S'pose we should eat."
"What do you want from the bakery?" Severus asked, sitting up again.
"Something with chocolate," Remus said. Not at all healthy, but he wasn't sure he had the appetite for bangers and eggs, anyway.
Severus smirked and nodded. "Right then. I'll be back soon." He gave Remus one last quick kiss and got up, then got dressed.
Remus held his eyes open long enough to watch Severus dress, but as soon as his lover had left the room, he let his eyelids fall closed. The bed was so soft and comfortable. He dozed off.
Severus made it to the corner bakery and picked out two very chocolaty things for the both of them, then nipped home, not wanting to be gone too long. It was actually a bit of a walk to the 'corner' bakery, since his own neighbourhood was almost dead, but there was one a few away that still turned a profit, so he Apparated back and forth when he was certain no one was looking.
He climbed the stairs to the bedroom quickly, dropping back into bed with the sack from the bakery in his lap and watched his sleeping lover. Typical.
The pitching of the bed woke Remus, and he snorted in an undignified manner, then yawned and stretched. "H'lo."
"Hi. I brought you something chocolate. I confess, I don't know what it is, but it looks good."
Remus smiled and sat up. It was easier than it had been last time. He took the chocolate eagerly, snuggling up against Severus while he ate.
Severus ate his with one arm around Remus, enjoying their closeness (though it had been better before when Severus wasn't dressed either).
"This is excellent," Remus said, smiling at Severus. "Thank you."
"Welcome," Severus said. He was glad Remus was pleased. He nuzzled Remus' temple.
Remus closed his eyes contentedly and pressed closer. It was such a comfort to be in Severus' arms. Especially after last night. "Did I look really horrid this morning?" he asked. "Er, yesterday morning."
"Yeah," Severus admitted. "I was really worried."
"I slept too late to have a shower the night before," Remus said. "I think I missed you again all night. That was my fault."
Severus frowned. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fallen asleep. I could have woken you up in time."
"No, it's not your fault," Remus insisted. "I just wondered, from the way you were acting..."
"Yeah, you bled in my hair," Severus admitted.
"Oh. Forgot about that." Though he did remember, now, he'd found Severus' hair to be sticky. He peered at his hands.
"I did a few cleaning charms on you while you were sleeping," Severus admitted. "I thought you might have dirt in some of your injuries. And you know, you didn't need to be sleeping with blood on you."
"Mm." Remus wrapped his arms around Severus again. "Thank you."
"Welcome." Severus kissed Remus' hair. "Sorry, though. Sorry you had another bad moon. Next time...no falling asleep. Or we'll set an alarm or something." He held Remus close. "I've been thinking about a new potion idea. And maybe...maybe if you took something with you that smelled like me, that would help the wolf."
"You're so clever," Remus said. "I'll try that, then." He couldn't help but feel content, surrounded in Severus' embrace. He was safe here.
Severus got an image of the wolf wearing one of his shirts and smirked, then nuzzled the side of Remus' head. "Just hope it helps."
"Yeah." Remus closed his eyes. He was such boring company, but all he wanted to do was be held by Severus.
"D'you need anything?" Severus asked. "Tea or pain potion or anything?"
Remus nuzzled him. "Mmm. Tea..."
Severus chuckled a little. "Oh, where did I leave the tea?" he asked, then waved his wand, and a service appeared on his lap. He pulled away just enough to pour a cup for Remus and sweeten it the way he liked.
Remus beamed at him, a little sleepily, and took the tea. Merlin, he was so exhausted. He didn't remember ever being this exhausted after a transformation before. "Ta," he murmured, and took a long drink of tea.
Careful not to disturb the tray, Severus put his arms gingerly around Remus again and held him while he drank. He couldn't stop touching Remus today.
Remus hummed and leaned into the embrace, smiling. "Talk to me?"
"Okay. Um." Severus thought to himself, wondering what he should say. "I'm going to try something that you take before moonrise. Something that maybe will sedate the wolf, so he's not so violent. I don't even know if that's possible, but it's worth a try. I think I might give up on my day-after potion, though. Just keep some healing and pain potions handy."
"Give up on it?" Remus said. "Oh, don't. You made one that worked all right. We'll keep experimenting. And you can try the other one, too. That would make the day-after potion work better, wouldn't it?"
"Well, it might give the day-after potion less to do," Severus said, "which I guess would be like making it work better. I guess I can keep making it, provided I don't get called away at a crucial stage and have to leave it to congeal."
"If you get called away, you get called away," Remus murmured. He buried his face against Severus' neck. "It isn't your fault."
Severus nodded slightly. He held a hand to the back of Remus' head and closed his eyes.
"Mmm. Want you to touch me," Remus said. "I love it when you touch my back and my arms and things." He was going all muzzy from the pain potion again.
"Your back and arms and things?" Severus repeated, amused. He opened his eyes and watched Remus, thinking the pain potion must be affecting him. Severus experimentally stroked a hand down Remus' arm. "Like that?"
"Mmmhmm," Remus said. "Just meant I didn't mean sex," he clarified. "I jus' like you touching me."
Severus blinked. "Oh gee, you mean, we can't have sex?" he asked in mock-upset. "I really thought the pain potion would have made it okay."
Remus blinked back at him. "Did you want to?" he asked. "God, I'd like that, I just...'m so tired." A moment later he realised Severus had been taking the piss. "Oh. Sorry."
Feeling bad when Remus didn't realise he was joking right away, Severus frowned and stroked Remus' hair. "Sorry. Sorry." He nuzzled Remus' temple.
"No, S'alright," Remus sighed. "Just all muddled in my head. That potion." He pressed into Severus' touch.
Severus brushed his hair, his arm, his abdomen. He let his hand rest on Remus' stomach, liking it there. "Tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow?" Remus canted his hips a little to lift his stomach against Severus' touch. His lover's hand was warm and heavy and comforting.
Severus stroked low on Remus' stomach, enjoying the feel of Remus' warm skin.
"Feels nice," Remus murmured, turning his head to kiss Severus. "Love how you touch me."
Severus returned the kiss and gave a few more, stroking his hand up Remus' stomach and chest.
Remus supposed it was an indication of how exhausted he was that, while he felt the pleasant heat of arousal in his belly, his cock wasn't doing more than giving a half-hearted twitch. He sighed and curled his fingers against Severus' skin.
Severus stroked his hand over Remus' collar bone, his neck, his touch tender. When Remus looked about to fall asleep again, he shifted them both so they were lying down, and held Remus against his chest.
Remus had rarely felt so contented in his entire life. He let his eyes fall mostly closed and relaxed limply against Severus. He felt so safe, so taken-care-of. His lips curled in a smile.