I've decided to switch back and forth between Remus's and Sirius's points of view. The (x-x-x-x-x) either denotes a change in point of view or a passage of time.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to JKR.
Sirius smiled to himself, his face hidden in Remus's soft hair. He was leaning against his friend for more than just comfort now—Sirius lacked the strength to straighten himself. Without warning, his knees suddenly buckled, and he fell onto his friend. Remus staggered back under the sudden weight.
"Sirius? Sirius! What's wrong?" Remus's voice was laced with concern.
It took all the strength Sirius had to look up at his friend. His vision spun and a swift nausea was threatening to engulf him.
"Are you all right, Sirius?"
"Fine," Sirius managed to mutter. "Just a little tired. I haven't slept since I left Hogwarts yesterday."
"Sirius, you're a mess. Come on inside. You need rest."
Remus half-dragged him into the house. Sitting Sirius down on a couch, Remus pressed the untouched tea into his hands before leaving to tie up Buckbeak. When he returned five minutes later, Sirius was already hovering between sleep and consciousness, the lack of sleep finally catching up with him. Just before he drifted off, he heard Remus's tired chuckle and felt someone take the cup of tea dangling haphazardly from his hand. Sirius didn't know if it was because of his severe fatigue or the presence of Remus beside him, but for the first time in a long series of nights, his sleep was peacefully dreamless.
x-x-x-x-x
Sirius stirred, grunting in his sleep. Remus watched his friend, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"Padfoot," he whispered.
Sirius abruptly jumped into a sitting position, alert and wary. He blinked his eyes groggily. He seemed confused before he realized where he was. Looking over to where Remus was curled up on the other end of the sofa, he smiled the first true smile Remus had seen on his face in twelve years.
"You're awake…finally." Remus put away the book he had been reading, a large, leather-bound copy entitled Potion Making for Morons. "I was starting to think you had died."
Sirius barked out a laugh, pushing aside the blanket that Remus had covered him with. But then his face was suddenly serious and he looked almost pleadingly into his friend's eyes. "Moony, listen. I—I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For—everything. For switching with Peter. For suspecting that you were the spy. For playing that joke on Snape at your expense. For—" Sirius's voice cracked. He swallowed audibly before continuing. "For hurting you. For not being able to give you what you needed—"
Remus raised a hand to cut him off. Lupin could see the tears swimming under the surface of his friend's eyes, and he didn't think he'd be able to bear seeing his Sirius cry. "Padfoot, you don't need to apologize. It's not your fault… not entirely. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry."
"What d'you—?"
"I believed you were a traitor for twelve years." Remus shook his head lightly. He looked up at his friend, grimacing in a joking manner. "Look at us. Sacrificing our masculinity by having a sensitive moment. Like a couple of school girls."
Sirius's mouth curled in a smirk, but it passed quickly. Sliding towards his friend, he grasped Remus's shoulders and gazed deeply into the man's eyes. "Moony, please. I need to know. I need to know that you forgive me." He hesitated before adding, "You're all I have left."
"I—I forgave you a long time ago, Sirius. I told you so in the Shrieking Shack." Sirius didn't look convinced. "Believe me, Padfoot. I've forgiven you." Sirius finally relaxed visibly, releasing Remus's shoulders.
"Have—have you forgiven me?" Remus asked.
Sirius scrunched up his face comically, pretending to think hard. "Well…I suppose I could possibly consider it," he drawled, earning himself a sharp slap across his arm.
"Bad dog," Remus said, laughing. "Oh, come on. Are you pouting, Padfoot?" He playfully threw his arms over his friend, but immediately pulled back, scowling. "Ugh! First things first. You need a shower, Sirius. Seriously."
"But I'm bloody tired," Sirius whined. He quirked his eyebrow suggestively at his friend. "Fancy giving me a sponge bath?"
"Uh…no."
"Not even if I turn into Padfoot?"
"No."
"Aw, Moony!"
Remus couldn't hold in his laughter any longer. The pathetically affronted look on Sirius's face just made him laugh harder.
Yes, it was definitely good to have Sirius home.
TBC…
I liked writing this part. There's more interaction between the two pups. I hope nothing's confusing. It's all clear as crystal to me, but then again I'm weird, so…
Anyway, reviews would be much appreciated. :)
I'd also like to say thanks to my first reviewer, kiki1290!
'Till next time, peeps…