Song: California King Bed

Artist: Rihanna


The room was dark, the only light coming from the moon shining through the half-open window. The sweet smell of summer wafted into the room, filling it.

Remus was awake, staring blankly up at the ceiling. In the silence he could hear Sirius in the bed next to him. He tried to time his breathing so that they were in sync. This was a game he often found himself playing when he couldn't sleep.

He rolled over onto his side so that he was nose to nose with the man he had shared his bed with for the past three years. He slowly studied the features that he had long ago memorized. He took in Sirius' high cheekbones and his long elegant nose. Even in the dark he could make out the curves of Sirius' soft mouth. Remus yearned to reach out and kiss those perfect lips, but he didn't.

Instead he rolled onto his other side, sighing sadly. How could it be that he was this close to Sirius, yet it felt as if they were a million miles apart? This rough patch that they seemed to be trapped in was suffocating, and Remus wasn't sure if he could stand it much longer. He loved Sirius more than anyone else in the world, and couldn't imagine his life without him. But the stress of the war drove a stake between even the most solid of relationships, and theirs was far from.

There was a rustling of fabric and the bed shifted slightly as Sirius scooted closer to Remus. He wrapped an arm around Remus and nestled his face into his boyfriend's neck. His breath was hot against Remus' skin.

Remus felt peace fall over them. Maybe they could make it. He closed his eyes and let sleep take over.

In the dark their breathing was in perfect sync.