i wrote this while listening to don't worry be happy and stacy's mom so here's hoping that the mood's right! also, so i don't feel like i'm shouting into the void, does anyone think maybe they can review pls?
The first thing Sirius could even comprehend was the smoke. There was too much smoke, and he almost rolled off the couch coughing, but he wobbily pushed himself to his feet, covering his mouth with his shirt like he was taught to. Stay calm and find the nearest exit. The rules for a fire drill were starting to echo in his head.
The alarms weren't going off. He would have woken up if the alarms went off. Something was very, very wrong. And then, it was hot, so hot he felt like the flames must have been licking right at his back, but they weren't. And then everything flew into clarity and his first thought went to Remus. Remus. Sirius didn't know how long he'd slept. Remus could've gone home hours ago. But he still called his name, risking breathing smoke in. No response.
The smoke was thick but not too thick that he couldn't see, and though his body was screaming at him to get out he ran through the apartment, just in case. Just when he thought Remus had already gone, he found him in his bedroom, at Sirius' desk, slumped over a textbook. He must have fallen asleep. How late was it? Sirius thought. He pushed it out of his mind. He had bigger things to worry about. He ran to Remus and shook him violently, because it was getting hotter. Sirius could feel sweat forming at the nape of his neck.
Remus didn't move. Sirius' insides constricted with terror. He shook him harder. Nothing. The last of Sirius' breath seemed to run out, and then his breath seemed to come back in full force just a moment later, quick, too quick. Sirius scolded himself, slipping Remus' arm over his shoulders so he could carry him out. Panicking was for later. The smoke was stinging his eyes, but he managed to get them to the door. He flung it open. The hall was full of people, but it was better than his apartment, and Sirius took a small but refreshing gasp of air. The smoke was less thick, but not much better, and the heat was worse.
Remus gave a few loose coughs and Sirius felt more relief than he had thought was possible. He shifted Remus, whose closed eyes had started twitching. After what seemed like an eternity of time, they opened, but Sirius could tell he wasn't quite with it yet. And then his body was wracked with violent coughs, but no one was paying Remus attention.
Sirius grabbed Remus tighter, still supporting most of his weight, and pulled him through the crowds. He pulled him through the second floor. By the time they reached the fire escape, Remus was much more alert, though still coughing, and Sirius knew his own lungs couldn't hold out too much longer. And though the smoke wasn't too much better, being so close to the building, he wanted to cry out of relief for the fresh air. Together, they half-stumbled down the stairs and then tumbled to the ground, hands and knees, panting. The sweet-tasting air filled Sirius' lungs, but Remus was still coughing and wheezing.
After only a moment, Sirius pushed himself to his feet and looked around. Whoever hadn't been running with he and Remus had already made it out. Sirius dragged Remus to his feet and got him farther from the building.
"Sirius…" Remus rasped out.
"Stop, just catch your breath," Sirius said, surprised to hear how hoarse his own voice sounded. And then someone came barrelling into him, almost taking him to the ground. He pulled back. It was Marlene McKinnon, who lived just down the hall. She had Anatomy with him, her and Lily were close. He hadn't even thought. He pulled away from her, and saw she was crying. "Stop, it's okay, we're out, Marlene."
"No. James and Lily are still in there," she squeaked out. "I can't - they're -"
He didn't wait to hear what she was going to say. He didn't pause to make a choice; there wasn't a choice to make. He was going back inside, even though he felt clammy at the thought of the smoke-filled hall that must be even worse, even after only a few minutes. Sirius felt a feeble hand on his arm.
"Please," Remus whispered, catching him halfway to the fire escape. "Don't go back in there." He was pale, and his eyes were wide as dinner plates, and even though Sirius wanted nothing more than to stay with him, he held out his hand.
"Stay put. I'll be back before you know it." Remus' face contorted with a mixture of what looked like terror and anger, but when he looked up at Sirius there was tears in his eyes. "I'll be back, Remus, okay?" And then Sirius ripped his arm away - there wasn't much time. Taking one final breath, Sirius tore up the fire escape quick as he could. The heat was near unbearable, and instantly, Sirius dropped to his stomach. Easier to avoid the smoke when you're low to the ground. He had no clue where he'd heard that, but he hoped it was true.
He also didn't know where to look for James and Lily, and it was only now occurring to him that it may be a problem. It was no longer just smoke. Flames were almost surrounding him. He made it to the hallway, and oh thank god. There was a loud banging coming from just a ways down the hall. He crawled there, holding his breath, and finally, he found the source - he stopped outside the storage closet, the one that locked from the outside. They must have been inside and the door was pushed closed.
"James?" Sirius tried to call, but his voice was too weak. "James?" He tried, and, though wobbly, his voice was loud enough to make the banging stop.
"Sirius?" He could just barely make out James' voice, and in spite of himself, he felt tears of relief spring up in his eyes. The handle was blazing hot, but Sirius didn't care. He unlocked it and ripped the door open, spotting James and Lily nestled on the ground. James' large jacket was covering both their faces, and Lily was leaning against James, dazed-looking. James' eyes were wide with fear. "She's been in and out."
"C'mon," Sirius said, pushing himself to his feet, though he knew it was dumb, and extending a hand to James. "Fire escape."
But as soon as he turned around, he saw the flames licking at the door he'd entered from. There was no way to the fire escape. There was no way out. Everything was orange-looking, and white-hot, and painful, but if they could just get out. Remus was down there waiting for him. He'd promised he'd come back - and just like that, Sirius found his second wind.
"Stairwell!"
"That's dangerous!" Lily said, and Sirius bit back a smile. She might be dazed, but she was still Lily.
"Hate to break it to you, love, but this whole place is a death trap. And we don't exactly have other options." He pushed the door open and held it open for James and Lily. Now that Lily was on her feet, she seemed far more alert. Maybe she'd found her second wind, too. He bustled them ahead of him, making sure he could see them. And then, he started to head down them, too.
He heard the fire ripping the stairs apart before he felt it, and he felt it before he saw it. As soon as his foot hit the fifth step, the stairs gave way. Sirius' foot lurched beneath him, and instantly the pain was nearly unbearable. He felt hot blood rushing down his leg, staining his sock. He heard himself howling in pain, almost unearthly sounding, but could barely register that it was coming from him. The only thing in the whole world that existed was the pain. No Remus, no fire, no James, no Lily, no Sirius, no college, no parents, only his throbbing leg, pulsing with pain so strong it felt like it was tearing his entire skin open.
He was only brought back to his senses when James and Lily pulled him out and the pain was even worse, worse than Sirius thought possible to feel. And, oh god, Sirius really didn't think his leg was meant to be bent that way. He held his hand in front of him and he really didn't think skin was meant to look so deathly white. His entire leg was stained with red. That was his blood? No, blood didn't exist, only pain existed. Only the pain.
He didn't even notice James and Lily carrying him, but he felt his fingers digging into their skin. "Sirius!" James was shouting now. "Sirius, say something!" He felt like he might throw up. The fire was all around them now, and James wasn't shouting anything anymore. They were working steadily towards the exit, but the potted plant in front had been lit on fire. How long had they been in there? An eternity, it seemed. Nothing existed before his leg fell through, and nothing would exist after, only the pain, the pain was going to last forever. He wanted it to go away.
He saw a flash of the trees blowing, and the full moon lit behind them - and anticipating the outside, the blessed cool of the wind, and Remus - oh yes, Remus existed again - he took a huge gulp of air, only to find smoke filling his lungs. And whether it was the smoke, the panic, the blood loss, or the pain, Sirius didn't know, for only a second after his world smashed to black.
