Alright Friend, you've convinced me. C:
Prologue: Aftermath
After hogging the back booth for nearly three hours, the group finally, reluctantly, got up to leave. Touches had been exchanged frequently, reminding themselves and each other yes I'm still alive, I'm still here. Sirius lost count of how many hugs he'd received from Dick, or Benny, or Emmet, or Unikitty. Even Lucy had given him two, and Alastar never once left his side.
It made him feel weak, pathetic, that he needed the other nearby so badly, but the thought of Alastar leaving him alone sent his heartrate skyrocketing, the thought of he'll catch me he'll kill me racing through his head, even knowing they were safe now.
It made him feel even worse that he couldn't look at sweet, innocent Keelan without flinching.
As they filed through the door, he caught Alastar's sleeve, halting him in his tracks. "Sir?" Sirius felt his throat suddenly constrict; he couldn't get the words out. His face must have shown something though, as the cop's gaze softened. "I'll stop by later," he promised. "We want to get Keelan settled first."
He relaxed slightly, and nodded. Right; they'd talked about that. Cary was moving in with Benny, and Keelan would be staying with their parents until he got himself sorted out again, and figured out what he wanted to do with himself. He let go of Alastar's sleeve. "I'll, uh. See you later then." He could survive until then.
…Painkillers and a nap seemed like a pretty good plan in the meantime.