Title: Over the Moon
Rating: PG-13 (or thereabouts)
Author: plotbunniesrxs
Pairings: R/S
Warnings: More hope than angst. This one's got a happier ending guys, I promise! The prompt made me think of Shakespeare, which always makes me think of the pups, and also of Rent for some reason, so there's a little bit of that in there as well.
Summary: Sirius remembers the moon and happier times. Prompt from scarvesnhats, Day Six. 1,169 words.

Over the Moon

For ohsiriusly
Who made my deep love for Romeo, Juliet, and Rent blossom and grow…

"O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable."

"What shall I swear by?"

"Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by your gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

He peered out of the thicket of the harboring wood to gaze upon the vast plain of whispering grass laid out before him. The youth in him, the one that was never allowed a chance to grow into the mangled form his physical form he had taken chided him incessantly that he should have been at his destination now, that he was taking too long to remember the trivial past. The adult mind that had suffered long torment within the confines of a stone prison had learned the patience he needed to assure himself that he would be there soon.

The great black dog crept out into the field cloaked in darkness. The gentle breeze had warmed considerably with the humidity the rain had brought. He looked to the heavens, seeing the last remnants of the past days' clouds being chased by the stars to reveal a clear night. The moon, still waning and hanging low in the sky, had begun to show the slightest traces of a yellow hue tinting her virgin white face.

He kept the passing of time by watching the moon in her various phases. In only a few weeks time, it would rise and glow a luminous gold, summoning the true arrival of autumn and a prayer of the brisk cold weather soon to come.

He remembered the October nights at the castle all those years ago, when the moon cut nothing more but a sliver in the blackest of nights. He remembered lying under their favourite tree with his familiar as he was told tales of the different aspects of it. Remus always knew of the superstitions, the stories that the inconstant moon held. A ring around the moon was a sign that trouble not far behind. He remembered, in an off hand way at the time, that there had been a bright halo had burned around the orb for at least four nights prior to the Incident They Did Not Speak Of. He should have seen it, should have been more aware. But he wasn't.

He remembered laying out in Hagrid's vegetable patch with him, pointing out stars and constellations on Lupercalia.

"And that one, right there? That's me."

"And that's next to Orion?"

"Yeah. Sirius the Dog Star. I'm the nose. And you see that? That's you!"

"That's the moon, Sirius."

"Exactly. You're the Moon, Moony."

"You're insane. And stop pointing to the stars, you'll get warts."

"Pish. That's just an old wive's tale."

"If you say so, Sirius."

"Moony?"

"Hm?"

"What was that part about the moon again? You know, from Shakespeare?"

""O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,

That monthly changes in her circled orb,

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.'"

"I'd never swear by the moon."

"I believe thee."

He smiled at himself as he heard the voices of their youth echo in the recesses of his mind. How he longed for Remus to be beside him on a night like tonight, running free and wild on the year's dying green. He turned and looked to the thicket he had just stepped away from. His breath hitched for a moment as he saw a proud stag staring deep into his eyes. He knew that it wasn't James, but he couldn't help but yearn for one of his own, even if it wasn't Remus. He could hear the sounds of their nightly escapades, untamed and foolish as they had been. He could hear it in the deafening silence between him and the deer.

CRACK!

His head snapped to his left where he had heard the noise. Coming just into the moonlight stood a brilliant silver wolf, his eyes glowing a sparkling honey amber. Moony's eyes, he thought to himself. He turned back to the stag, who was now accompanied by a graceful doe. The stag nodded curtly to him as it turned and walked back into the thicket, the doe gazing after her at the great dog as she followed. The wolf remained still, paying no mind. He was focused on the dog.

The great dog glanced at the sky. The moon was still just a shard in his perfect darkness. It was not his Moony, no matter how much he wanted it to be. The wolf finally turned away from him and made his own retreat.

He bowed his head, panting considerably. He felt as though the madness he had escaped had finally caught up with him. He transformed, only for a minute he told himself, and fell to his knees, burying his face in his hands.

"Only thing to do is jump over the moon."

He remembered their last night at the castle, just after NEWTs. He had escaped the lavish Common Room party and found his way upstairs with a bottle of Ogden's. He sat on the edge of his bed, fully aware that he was an adult, homeless and alone.

Remus had come searching for him. He placed a warm arm around his familiar's shoulder as he took the bottle away from him with his free hand.

"What is it? Why are you so upset? There's a party downstairs, and you, of all people, are missing it."

"I have nothing, Moony."

"Don't say that! You have everything! You'll have a flat, job prospects, friends all around you who love you to pieces…"

"That's just it! You're going back to Latvia, or whatever shithole country your mum takes you to during the summers, Prongs'll be with Evans. Hell! Even Peter's going away on holiday! What in all of sodding hell am I supposed to do?"

"Well, the only thing you can do."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Jump over the moon."

He could feel Remus' grip tighten, and his soft lips gently press against his. He closed his eyes and sighed as he imagined Remus turning his head slightly to lock the kiss, opening his mouth just so to slip his tongue out to lick his bottom lip. He felt a jolt of electricity shoot to his stomach as he remembered what it felt like to jump over the moon.

He transformed once more into the great black dog and took off across the field. He had to get to the school. He had to finish what he set out to do, and then, he'd jump once more.

And as a harvest moon rose over Cyberland,
We reared back and sprang into a gallop.
Leaping out of orbit!
I awoke singing
Leap of Faith, Leap of Faith
Only thing to do is jump
Over the Moon
-Maureen, RENT

FIN