A/N: Hey, y'all! So… have some angsty RemusLucius, with a smattering of Wolfstar. Royalty!AU

Word Count: 518

WARNINGS: Arranged marriage and its angst.

Enjoy!

"Time's almost up."

Remus didn't look up from his tightly clasped hands, nor did he turn towards the doorway, where he knew Lucius would be standing. "...I know."

He expected his fiance to leave after that, but to Remus' surprise, Lucius didn't budge. A moment of silence passed, and then Lucius spoke once more. "You know, most people would be glad to marry me."

Something hot and horrible boiled Remus' blood at those words, but he forced his anger down. "I'm not most people," he said stiffly. "Now, could you leave? I'd like to enjoy my last few minutes of freedom."

Another brief silence. "I promise that you'll be safe."

Remus closed his eyes. He knew that. He knew that this was the entire reason behind the marriage: a union of kingdoms. A way to unite two nations against a common enemy. Knowing this didn't make the marriage any easier.

But he couldn't say all of that to Lucius. "It's not my safety I was questioning," he bit out, some of his venom creeping into his voice. "It was my happiness."

Footsteps sounded, and then Lucius Malfoy himself was kneeling in front of Remus, who stayed stubbornly on the bed. Lucius' blue eyes were unreadable, and that, perhaps, was what Remus hated about him most of all. Lucius reached out and covered Remus' clasped hands with his own.

"It doesn't have to be like that," he murmured. "We can find happiness. We're both powerful, successful men, beloved by our people… We could work well together."

Remus ripped his hands from Lucius' grasp and stood abruptly, moving away from the bed. Tears pricked at his amber eyes, and his voice was a low growl when he spoke. "I may stand by your side and wear your ring, but you will never have my heart."

That particular item, Remus thought with a pang, belonged to someone back home. A man with shoulder-length black hair instead of blond, a man with grey eyes instead of blue. A man full of mischief, not power.

What Remus wouldn't give to be back home with him.

Lucius came up from behind him and grasped each of Remus' shoulders. "We'll see about that, Remus."

Remus looked around the room with hate-filled eyes; he felt like he was just another thing to be added to Lucius' collection here in the manor. But, with defeat, he recognized that this was his kingdom's best chance.

As much as he missed Sirius—as much as he would always love Sirius—his head had always been stronger than his heart.

"You'll learn to like it here," Lucius murmured. "Life will be so much better here."

Remus closed his eyes. He was about to retort, but then a voice called from the hallway and his mouth went dry. It was time to sign his life away.

Lucius removed his hands from Remus' shoulders and held out one for Remus to take. Bracing himself, Remus gingerly placed his hand in Lucius'.

The older man tugged him out of the room, and Remus couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just locked himself in a cage.

A/N:

Godric Says: 4. "Time's almost up." / "...I know."

Fortnightly: Pride Booth: 1. Write about a masc character who is gay.

Fortnightly: Unfortunate Escapes: Reptile Room: (word) venom

Capture the Flag: 6. (setting) Malfoy Manor

Herbology: Plot 2: 7. "I promise that you'll be safe."

Triple Threat: "It doesn't have to be like that."

366: 66. Defeat

Insane: 797. (trope) arranged marriage