Morbid – 5/50 for the OTP Boot Camp Challenge
"What do you think happens after death?" asked Remus into Sirius' chest. His voice was muffled but the nervousness at breaching the subject was there and easy to discern.
Sirius tensed, "Hopefully, we don't see my mum," he teased, though his voice had an edge of anxiety to it as well. He tightened his hold on Remus, and asked, "Why?"
"Well, with the war and all-"
"You're feeling a bit… morbid, eh?" Sirius asked, pulling away to look fully at Remus. He looked his fill, trying not to see the way Remus was practically quaking in fear.
"Well," Remus tried to explain, twiddling his finger and playing with the hangnail on one thumb. "I've had to deal with life-threatening transformations all of my life, and it's no secret that I'm probably not going to live to be very old-"
Sirius put a finger up against Remus' lips to silence him, "Don't say such things!" Sirius scolded, though in the back of his mind he had known that. Why did Remus have to bring up such... terrifying topics? Sirius' heart tried valiantly not to ache with the reminder of the danger Remus was in, but it failed.
"Well, anyway, I've always been aware of my mortality. But… I was thinking that… sooner or later, everyone we know will be dead."
Sirius was silent.
"And," Remus' voice was quiet. "I don't want you to die. Or James. Or Lily. Or even Peter."
Suddenly, Remus burrowed his face into Sirius' arm, and wet, hot tears moistened the skin there. He shook once again, but that time it was with tears.
"Silly Remus," Sirius said, stroking his friend and lover's scraggly hair. "We'll all be fine. We're the Marauders, after all, and an old man in a black cloak who calls himself a Dark Lord is no threat after we've dealt with Snivelly and the Snakes all of our lives."
The words were hollow to both of their ears, and they held each other tighter. The words Remus had spoken had reminded them both of things they never acknowledged out loud - didn't dare to. In an unspoken agreement, Sirius stayed the night in Remus' bed. They needed all the comfort they could get.