Auction - Sci-fi

Pinata - Sci-Fi

Couple Appreciation - WolfStar

Film Festival - Red Scarf

Gobstones - Yellow-survival, accuracy-(word) starry, (word) monitor, (word) exile

Character Appreciation - Trait: Making light of a situation

Amber's Attic - It is untrue that bravery can be measured by lack of fear. It takes guts to tremble. It takes tremble to love.

Liza's Loves - Dystopian and gang

Showtime - Write a fic involving time skips

Count Your Buttons - "That hurt."

Lyric Alley - Full of pity now, but I don't know why

AAA - Write about someone avoiding another person

Assignment 9 - Charity - Write about someone performing a good deed because it's the right thing to do.

Guess the name - Gremlin: Exile

A Fresh Start

It was hard withstanding the wastelands for long periods of time, but Sirius was getting used to it. He was starting to get good at recognising the places that were safe to hide. He was good at noticing the bunkers that were abandoned, the ones that had been attacked and the ones that were lived in.

The abandoned ones were the best. Either the people had moved on - perhaps the population in the bunker had decreased and the remaining occupants had managed to contact another bunker and travel to them - or died out. Though word was that less bunkers were dying off now.

That gave Sirius hope. After his exile from his own bunker after he had turned sixteen, he had been searching and he wasn't really sure what for. Somewhere safe from the people who were after him. Somewhere to start a new life. Times were lonely now that he was wandering the wastelands. He had met a handful of people, some good and some bad but nothing had made him stop for more than a night.

He came to a stop, looking around and trying to get his bearings. From the information from the last person he met, there was supposed to be a cabin not far from where he was. In fact, he should have already walked past it, but there was nothing in sight.

"Sirius Black," a voice said. "We've been looking for you for a long time."

Sirius froze at the sound of the voice before considering his options. In his rush to leave home, he hadn't managed to get his hands on anything more than a gun and some ammo in which to defend himself. He had a knife but pulling these wouldn't help him. Perhaps Lucius and the others could be reasoned with.

He turned, his fingers already poised near where his gun was - after all he wasn't going down without a fight - and met the gaze of Lucius.

"I thought the gang had more important things to do than hunt me down," he said.

Lucius smirked. "We can do both," he said. "I've orders to bring you back or make sure you get no further."

"I'm not going back," Sirius said. "No-one will know if you don't complete your orders. For all they know, I'm dead." He took a step closer. "Please, Lucius."

Lucius shook his head. "Orders are orders. Come and join the Death Eaters. I loathe to kill you. We can be together you like you always wanted."

Sirius shook his head, suddenly aware that men in masks were coming out from the trees. He looked around, but there was nowhere to run.

"Consider this your warning. You'll see us in twenty-four hours," Lucius said, as Sirius felt himself falling unconscious. "Feel lucky that I care for you still otherwise you'd be another life wasted. Tomorrow you'll understand that you belong with that."

...oOo...

He drifted in and out of consciousness, the pain in his body too much. He was sure that his ribs were bruised, if not broken, and perhaps his wrist was broken too.

Voices drew him back into the world somewhat briefly and for a moment, he opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was amber. The most beautiful shade of amber he had seen in his life and he marveled at the colour for a long moment before realising he was staring into someone's eyes.

"We're going to help you," came a soft voice. The person with the beautiful eyes reached out, pushing the blood-streaked hair from Sirius' face. "We were nearby and heard what the man said about returning in a day."

"You can't help. They'll hurt you too."

A gentle laugh followed his words. "We're hunters. We know all about tracks. A fake trail will be left and we'll get you to safety."

"You must be an angel like in the books from my old bunker," Sirius said, not tearing his gaze from the beauty that filled his vision. "Here to save me, protect me."

"I'm all for saving and protecting but I can't live up to the angel thing. For a start, I don't have wings."

Sirius moved to stand up but gasped in pain.

Hands pushed him back down. "Don't. You're hurt - my father will be back soon with help and I'll get you to safety."

Sirius smiled and let his eyes close again. "I'm going to lift your head. I don't like the bleeding." Sirius felt hands gently lift his head and wrap something around it as a makeshift bandage. His gaze shifted and he looked up into the starry sky, but when his head was lowered again, cushioned by something, he found his saviour's eyes again and their gazes locked.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of safe and calm and protected, feelings that he hadn't experienced in so long, Sirius let himself drift out of consciousness.

...oOo...

Sirius fought against the hands on him, thrashing to get up, but shouting out in agony.

"No, stop - it's me," came the voice of his angel. Sirius froze, his left hand coming up to his right, hoping to somehow stop the pain shooting through it.

"My mum is a doctor - she'll give you medicine and she'll treat and wrap your wounds. You need to stay still. Let go of your broken wrist." A hand took his and carefully pulled it away, and Sirius grabbed the hand tightly, holding onto it.

"My friend has gone out to set the tracks in a different direction, but I said I'd stay here in case you needed me."

Sirius tightened his grip. A stranger chose to stay with him. A stranger cared about him more than those in his family or those he once considered friends. A stranger chose to save his life when the man he thought he was falling in love with had come so close to taking it.

"Don't let go," he begged, hating that his voice sounded so needy.

"I'm not going anywhere."

...oOo...

When Sirius' eyes opened again, it was day. Light was streaming through the small windows and the pain had eased to something almost bearable.

He shifted on the bed, feeling stiff and sore, but before he could get up, he heard the door open.

"You're awake! I've been monitoring you but had to grab something to eat. It's typical that you woke up in the five minutes I was gone."

Sirius lifted his head, reaching up with his good hand. "Is this what you wrapped around my head out there?" he asked, touching the bandages wound tightly around his head.

"I'm Remus, and no - it was my scarf," came the reply. "How did you end up out there?"

"I've been on the run," Sirius said as Remus came into focus. "I was in love and supposed to join the group that leaves the bunker. But I found out that they were bad people. I was told I had to join anyway so I left. I've been travelling since I turned sixteen. The leader… I was in love with him. Or I thought I was until I realised that he was a monster."

"He looked quite a bit older," Remus replied.

"Yeah. He just treated me like a kid, ignored me and stuff. He was quick to use it to get me to join them though. My mother is in charge back at our bunker so… she knew what was happening. Don't make me go back."

Remus crossed the room and helped Sirius into a sitting position. "I promise you won't have to. You can stay here."

Sirius smiled, finally getting a proper look at Remus. "Wonderful. This couldn't be more perfect. Well, unless you were single. Are you single?"

"Me? You're… you're beautiful. Why would you want me?" Remus asked, clearly confused. "There are many more attractive people here—"

"Because for the first time in my whole life, someone cares about me. Plus, the only thing that's been on my mind is your eyes," Sirius said, quickly interrupting Remus. "I started to fall for you the moment I heard your voice and saw your eyes. I don't want anyone else!"

Remus blushed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm single."

Sirius smiled. "I'm going to like it here!" he decided. His hand reached out, clasping Remus'. "Tell me all about this place… please!"