Merlin, that laugh. Sometimes Sirius wondered if everything he'd done in school- the lame jokes, the pranks, the dramatics- were all in effort to hear that laugh. Course, he knew that couldn't be fully the case, as half the time Remus was shaking his head in disapproval rather than smiling at Sirius and James's brand of humour. Still, he knew he'd always loved the sound, and strived to earn it whenever he could. "Don't even bloody think about it," he retorted, gripping Remus's hand tighter in emphasis. "No book gets to lay a grubby little book-finger on you until I've decided to let you go." There was a very clearly implied 'Which will be right around never.' "Not even Finnegans Wake.... especially not Finngegans Wake." He shook his head, temples a little pained just to remember his attempt to read that novel.
Things got a little more solemn a moment later, jokes and smiles fading as they sat beside each other. As Remus tucked into his side, Sirius's arm instinctively raised and wrapped around the other man tightly. He didn't want even a speck of space between them. Resting his face against Remus's hair, he sighed and listened to his words, and tried to believe them. Remus was right. Per usual.
He kissed the top of Remus's head and nodded. "You're right, Moony." He wanted to say so much more, thought he should say so much more, but his throat already felt rubbed raw with emotion and tears he hadn't cried. And if Moony really was right, then nothing else really had to be said right now, did it? Except maybe one thing. "Love you, you great pansy." He kissed his cheek and tugged him closer, and let the silence prevail for a while.