Four

The Order lost contact with Lupin for a week in November. Dumbledore relayed the news and Snape felt an unexpected pull in his stomach. When Lupin limped into the next meeting, his face a mess of bruises, Snape pretended not to notice that the first face Lupin looked for was his. Snape didn't smile, he didn't nod, and when the meeting concluded, he exited the dining room of Grimmauld Place and apparated away.

Lupin came to his rooms hours later, his face mended and his eyes weary. Snape sat sprawled in his chair, a bottle at his fingertips. He looked up at the man he wanted so much to feel nothing for.

Lupin lowered his body onto the ottoman in front of his chair. He leaned in closely and lingered for a moment in the smell of Snape, in the security of whatever the hell this thing was. Then, he pressed a kiss onto the other man's mouth.

"Are you going to share that bottle?"

Snape passed the whiskey to the other man. Lupin sat up and took a long drink. Snape worked his way from the chair to his feet. Unsteady, he righted himself and then extended his hand to Lupin. He pulled the other man up to his feet. He turned and Lupin followed.

Lupin left before the light and Snape pretended not to feel the ghost of kiss on his skin.