Summer was practically here and Remus was packing for the three long months away from Hogwarts. He carefully folded his socks as James was rummaging under his bed for something he had probably lost months ago. Peter was off with some of his other friends. He was starting to act kind of strange lately, befriending a few Slytherins but, Remus thought, they can't all possibly be bad.
As he was placing his last couple of books into his trunk, he heard heavy breaths coming from Sirius' bed. He was pulled away from the task at hand and quickly pulled open the curtains to his boyfriend's bed.
Sirius sat with his knees pulled to his chest, bloodshot eyes and crumpled parchment in his hands. His black hair was pulled into a loose bun that had started to fall out, obviously because he had been tugging.
"What's wrong, Pads?" Remus asked, concerned. He made a move to comfort Sirius but he flinched away.
"I can't go back." That was all Sirius said.
"Back where?" Remus was now confused.
"Home." Sirius' eyes started to let tears fall again.
"You're never going back there, love." Remus cast a quick silencing charm on the bed. "Sirius, can I touch you? I just want to hold you?"
Sirius nodded. His body visibly untensed as Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius' shoulders and pulled him into a tight hug.
They sat there like that until Sirius' breathing evened out and he was no longer clutching his fists.
"Are you okay now?" Remus asked tenderly after a while. "Do you want to talk about it?" Remus assumed the answer would be no. Sirius never wanted to talk about his family and after sitting in a moment's silence he figured now would be just the same. But to his surprise, Sirius began to open up.
"I feel like I'll never be free." He said. "Every time I tried to break away, they found me. It wasn't until the Potters helped, that I was able to get away almost completely. But they still know where I am, they can still send owls."
Remus hummed in acknowledgment and began to run his figures through Sirius' Hair.
"Anytime I come across something that triggers a particular memory, I panic. I thought I could push it away and not have you find out. Because you don't need to add me having panic attacks to your list."
"Sirius I-"
"No Remus, you're better off not trying to help me. I'm not good enough for you." Sirius buried his head back into his knees. "you already have so much on your plate that being with me just makes it worse." Sirius' breath started to quicken again and Remus reached out to comfort him. This time Sirius didn't flinch. It was so obvious that he needed Remus' touch.
"Sirius, Padfoot, I love you."
Sirius looked up at that. "You what?"
"I bloody love you," Remus placed a kiss on his temple. "Do I need to repeat it for a third time you prat."
"No, it's just, you've never said that before."
"And you still haven't," Sirius smirked back at him
"Well, Remus John Lupin, I do solemnly swear that I love you too." At that Remus moved the rest of the way to connect their lips. The kiss was soft and so full of love. Like none of their problems could break them apart.
They slowly pulled away from each other only to lay back on Sirius' bed. They lay on their backs, fingers intertwined and eyes connected.
"Thank you, Remus."
"It's just what you do for the people you love."