Ficlet: Shadow and Spy (PG)
Title: Shadow and Spy Author: westernredcedar Pairing: Remus/Severus Prompt: spy Summary: Remus knows what day it is... Word count: 404 Rated: PG A/N: Well, he won't want me to say it, but…Happy Birthday, Severus! Have a ficlet. :)
"How did you find me?" The voice from out of the darkness was thin, like a cord stretched too tight.
Remus laughed, as much in relief as good humor. He was here. Remus pulled himself up from where he had leaned back against the wall, and ran a hand through his messy hair. He hoped the man in the shadows did not notice he was shaking. "You really don't want to know."
"How?"
"No one else knows I'm here. You're safe. Calm down."
The inky dark shape in the shadows shifted with a whisper of wool. "I am calm," the shadow hissed.
Remus knew it was exactly the wrong thing to do, but he laughed again. "Your preference for the murky underbelly is in danger here, Severus. This place is positively resplendent." Remus gazed up at the stone arch above them. "Not to mention crawling with tourists."
"Do not change the subject. How?" Remus caught a flicker of light against the pale skin of his companion's cheek, and his heart thumped.
"How did I find you? Please. Do you really think I'd reveal all of my best secrets to you, simply because you asked? I wouldn't be able to hold my head up at the next spy social." Remus started across the small walkway in slow, steady steps. "Besides, perhaps I just happened upon you. People do just come to Westminster for fun, I understand." He leaned against the archway hiding the shadowy figure, a light disillusionment charm shielding them from casual view. There were few visitors here by the Chapter House, but Remus had not lived this long by being careless.
"You are not amusing, Lupin," the voice in the shadows said.
"And you are not fooling anyone, Severus," Remus replied, holding out one hand. "It's January ninth."
There was no sound from the dark alcove.
"I didn't forget."
Remus was nothing if not patient, so he stood, still and calm, gaze dropped to the stone floor, his hand outstretched. He could almost hear the whirring gears of Severus's mind in that dark alcove.
"And you were bloody difficult to find," he added after a minute.
There was a hard breath, as if the hidden figure had forgotten to inhale for too long, and then a whispered word ("right"? "late"? "fuck"?) sneaked out into the chill air.
When Severus finally reached out of the darkness, his fingers were cool and soft on Remus's palm.