AN: Written for Liza for Gift-Tag, prompt: Fluffy Stockholm Syndrome. Thanks to Bex for beta-ing :)
Word Count: 595
Sirius paused outside the door to his basement, looking down at the tray in his hands. He was taking a meal down to the prisoner—a ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of strong, sweet tea. He had even accented the tray with a small glass vase, holding a clipped, red rose. Taking a breath, Sirius unbolted the basement door and made his way downstairs.
"Are you ready for your lunch, little wolf?" Sirius cooed into the dim gloom of the basement. He walked down the stairs and placed the tray on a nearby table, then dug into his pocket for a lighter. He lit a pillar candle that also sat on the table, and the candlelight ignited the room with a yellow glow.
The figure who inhabited Sirius's basement crept forwards, the candlelight flickering on his face. He was kneeling at Sirius's feet, peering up at Sirius through his overgrown, mouse-brown hair.
"You brought me food?" asked Remus Lupin in a small voice. He edged a little closer to Sirius.
"I did," Sirius replied. He reached out a hand and stroked Remus's hair, then helped him to his feet. "Come and eat your lunch, my wolf."
Remus scrambled hastily to his feet, and sat at the little table. He looked between the sandwich, the tea and the flower rapidly, his mouth agape. Sirius didn't know why he was so shocked—it wasn't like he hadn't been feeding his prisoner.
"This is so kind," Remus whispered, looking back up at Sirius. The old scars on his face were highlighted by the flickering candlelight. "Thank you."
Sirius dropped his hand to cup Remus's face, gently stroking his thumb across the worst of the scars. In that moment, he wished he knew who had done this to his beautiful face. "Can I ask you something, little wolf?"
"Anything," whispered Remus, reaching for his sandwich. He looked back up at Sirius as he took it in his hands, as if for permission, and Sirius nodded. Gratefully, Remus started eating.
"If I take you out of this basement, will you try and leave me?"
Remus chewed and swallowed the lump of bread and cheese slowly, and spoke once he had swallowed. His deep green eyes bored sincerely into Sirius's. "I'd never leave you."
"Good. Then I have a surprise for you." Sirius waited for Remus to finish eating his sandwich and drinking his tea, before helping him to his feet once again and leading him up the stairs.
Remus covered his eyes as he reached the top of the stairs. The sunlight streaming in through the curtains clearly burnt his eyes, and he didn't know where to tread. He carefully avoided stepping on the living room rug as Sirius led him through to another flight of stairs, as though he was afraid of getting dirt on it.
Sirius took his prisoner up to the second floor of the house and directed him to a nearby bedroom. It had a large, uncovered window and a comfortable double bed with burgundy sheets. "This can be your room, if you'd like it."
The smile that spread across Remus's face made Sirius's stomach burn with pleasure. "Really?"
"Really," Sirius repeated with a grin. The smile on his face flickered a little. "But you have to promise not to try and run away—otherwise, you'll have to stay in the basement again."
Remus fell to his knees in front of his captor, running his fingers through the plush carpet. "I promise," he swore, looking up into Sirius's dark eyes. "I don't ever want to leave you."