Written for:
Task #10 - October, Hunter's Moon: Write about falling (in any sense of the word). AN: I wrote Sirius and Remus falling for each other. Of course.
Living in the Moment
Remus sighs as he looks around him. "Lost," he murmurs to James, keeping his voice down. In the quiet of the city, sound can carry. You never know who or what is listening.
James glances around. Signs have long disappeared from the streets, and it's guesswork based on an old map they managed to procure in the past. But as he walks, he's sure they're heading more and more in the wrong direction.
There's the faint smell of burning and the unsettling scent of raw meat, but neither Remus, James or Frank can see any zombies or hear the groans or shuffles of them. Reports are that London is almost clear of them, though they can't be sure how accurate that information is.
There were too many settlements out in the countryside. Too many people travelling out and drawing the attention of the zombies with them. London cleared quickly, and there were no people for the zombies to attack. It didn't mean that there were none left, it just meant that everyone's assumptions that large cities would be the most unsafe were false.
But these days, zombies weren't the only threat.
"You're the one who grew up here," Remus hisses softly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. When I walked around London, I always observed every single road and imagined it to be like this just in case," James snaps back, raising his voice slightly.
He turns around urgently at the sound of something in the distance. Guns raised, they listen, they watch.
"A rat?" Frank whispers.
Remus nods, though he also shrugs his shoulders. Who even knows anymore. If it were a zombie, they'd already be approaching. That rules out one threat.
They continue on, turning down another road, avoiding the sound.
Eyes follow them.
~x~
It's getting dark and they're completely lost. Turning back is a bad idea - zombies have a good sense of smell and some may have picked up on it, even though they're too stupid to follow it. It'll have some lingering in the street, and that becomes more and more likely as the day turns to night.
"We need to find somewhere to stay," Frank finally murmurs. "We probably have an hour left before it gets unsafe."
The others nod. They don't want to talk too much. Talking draws attention. Voices carry. Something could be just around the corner waiting and could hear them.
James nods to continue on. But as they walk, Remus notices that more and more side-streets seem to be blocked off.
There have been a few sounds, deterring them from going down certain roads, and suddenly he has a bad feeling. With the blockages and the noises, it suddenly feels like they're on a planned path - though not one they've planned themselves.
"We need to get down one of those streets." His voice is barely a whisper.
"Why?" James asks. "The road is clear."
Remus shakes his head. "One road is clear, and I think it's been like that for a couple of streets now. The noises kept making us turn and we've ended up here."
James frowns, but he looks around slowly as though with a new perspective. "You're right. Look for one that could be easy to move. If you're right, then that means we're being followed so we can't risk turning back."
"And we're unsafe going forward," Frank whispers. "Though we run the risk of zombies if we turn back now."
They have no choice but to carry on, though they keep an eye out for a safe way through one of the side-roads. The roads here are narrow and if they try and get through, it'll cause too much noise and draw too much attention.
Remus' fingers are tight around his gun.
~x~
They almost have their guns pointed at the girl before they realise she's not a zombie. She's just darted out in front of them, eyes wide, hair messed. Her clothes are dirty and she looks terrified.
"Who are you?" she asks.
James nudges Remus. Another strange occurrence. Remus silently agrees. He doesn't like this, but Frank is staring at her in concern. Frank has always been the white knight sort, ready to help those in need, and it doesn't surprise Remus that he's rushing to help this woman as he wraps his coat around her.
"I'm scared," she tells him, hazel eyes staring up at him. "I was being followed earlier. Can you… can you get me home safe?"
Remus and James share a look. Home is probably in the direction they're heading. Remus glances around - he can't see anywhere this woman could have come from.
"Frank, perhaps we should take her somewhere safe with us, but maybe the building here?" James suggests, watching her carefully. He's not going to turn his back on someone in need of help, but he's certainly not walking into a trap.
"My home is just here," she says, pointing up the street. "It's safe - I can let you stay for the night if you get me there. We've all got to stick together out here, right?"
"Right," Frank insists. He's already following her, and that leaves Remus and James with no choice. It's getting dark, and by the time they convince Frank of the truth, it'll be dark. They have no choice but to follow.
~x~
Frank is the only one surprised when they reach their destination. The end of the route. A dead-end alley with a boarded up door and a fire-escape. The alley is blocked by two men.
James moves a step towards the men, putting himself between them and Frank and Remus. "I suppose it's a tall order to ask you to allow us to pass?"
"It's getting dark," the shorter of the men points out. "It's be stupid to be walking the streets now. We're… showing kindness to strangers and giving you somewhere safe to stay for the night. See the ladder behind you? Climb it."
Frank glances back towards Alice. There's no trace of tears in her eyes now. Just the hint of a smile on her lips.
"What's to guarantee that we come back down?"
"We don't attack unarmed civilians."
"We have guns," Remus murmurs.
"Oh. Haven't we taken them from you yet? Yeah, guns on the floor." The pair don't move their weapons, keeping them both trained on James.
"We don't trust you."
"Seems like there's little choice. If we shoot here, we draw the zombies closer. It's your call, gorgeous. Get shot out here, or come upstairs and last the night. Do you want me to keep you safe and protect you from the nasty creatures?"
James' eyes widen slightly at the compliment. "Good question. Bit sinister. What's the answer to not get us killed?"
There's a noise from a short distance away. For a moment, Remus assumes it's another one of this gang, but as he looks around, the three gang-members look genuinely startled. The woman looks scared.
"Can we just do this upstairs?" she whispers.
Franks takes his gun out carefully, setting it on the floor and he raises his hands, taking a step towards the ladder.
The woman grabs it, her eyes darting to the end of the alley as though a zombie is about to suddenly start sprinting.
James and Remus are less eager to place theirs down.
"If they see us go up this ladder, it'll be a few days before we can come down it," the other man says, speaking for the first time. "We're not going to kill you. If we were, we'd shoot you right here, and be up that ladder in minutes. Or we'd have killed you in the street."
"That's a good point," Remus says. He lowers his gun. "James. We're safer in there, wherever there is."
"I can't believe I'm putting my trust in people that are mugging us," James mutters. He sets his gun down and moves towards the ladder.
Remus notices the other two store their weapons away. He feels the slightest bit more safe than he did.
"So… take us to your leader," he jokes.
The shorter of the men smirks. "We intend to. My brother likes meeting new people."
~x~
No guns were trained on them. Remus was sure it was because this gang didn't expect any of them to run, and the gang were right. They were safer inside.
Remus takes in their surroundings. As they walk quietly up the fire escape, the man who had called James 'gorgeous' pulled up the ladder after them. Darkness is settling and as he climbs, he can see movement in the distance.
He silently nudges James and points. Everyone follows his finger, and the group moves slower, trying to hide the sound of their movements.
The woman reaches the top-most of the building and climbs in through a window. Frank is next to follow, then James and Remus, then finally the other men. The window is shut, locked, and the curtains are drawn before a cupboard is pulled in front of it.
"Very dark—"
"We're not going to turn this light on and draw attention," the man murmurs. "My brother is probably wondering where we are. I'm Reg. This is Benjy and Alice."
"James, Frank and Remus."
He nods. "Not making friends here. It just makes life easier. Alice, lock the weapons away."
"I suppose asking for a sandwich is too much?" James mutters.
"No, let me get that for you," the man retorts. "Would you like it toasted too? Glass of wine? Where on Earth do you think we'll get bread? Unless you like green and mouldy, forget it."
"You don't have a bread maker?" Frank asks.
"We'll just plug it into the outlet," Benjy mutters. "That'll - oh wait, that'll do nothing."
"You don't have a generator," Remus guesses.
"Let's just settle for the night," Alice insists tiredly. "You guys got any food?"
"We were on the look-out for an electrical store," James tells them. "Just a small snack to get us through the night and nothing else."
The rest stare. "Fancy sharing?"
"You're not just going to take it?" Remus mutters, thinking of the chocolate bar in his pack.
"We're not monsters. Just trying to survive, same as you," Alice tells them. "Come on, we'll show you where you're going to sleep."
"I thought we were going to see your leader?"
"My brother's not in here so he's not up for company," Regulus snaps shortly. "Share or don't share - we'll show you where you're staying for the night."
"Are we safe?"
"From us? As long as we don't see you as a threat," Benjy tells him. "From them? We've blocked off the main doors and stairwell downstairs. Every room has been checked and we've boarded up all the ground floor windows so there's no access from the ground floor. We've checked every room - this building is as secure as it can be. We have three escape routes."
James nods, satisfied. "A bit like what we've done."
"But be warned - we've had 'guests' here that have thought they could steal from us, try and attack us." His fingers brush fondly over his weapon. "So don't get any…" he trails off at sounds on the roof above.
"Thought we were safe. Give us our guns, we can defend this place too?" James whispers frantically.
Reg shakes his head. "Benjy, Alice, check on Sirius." He readies his gun, pointing it at the covered window.
Benjy and Alice return a moment later. "He's not here," Benjy says tiredly. "Has he gone walkabouts again?"
"That'll be him on the roof then." He lowers his gun but still seems on edge. They hear footsteps on the fire-escape outside.
There's a knock. Two quick taps in succession and then a pause before three more.
Regulus sighs. He gives his gun to Alice and him and Benjy start forward. Alice watches Remus, James and Frank, but the trio have no intentions of fighting. Noise attracts attention. The same reason James hopes the others won't shoot them - it'll draw attention.
"I think we'll get out of this alive at least," he whispers. They watch as Reg and Benjy move the cupboard and unlock the window.
A handsome man with an arm in a sling climbs in and Remus can only stare.
"That's wrapped wrong," Frank is quick to point out, moving a little closer. Regulus and Benjy relock the window, pulling the curtains closed again and pushing the furniture in front of it.
"You're a doctor?" There's hope in Alice' voice.
"Med student. What happened?"
"It got dislocated when we were ambushed a couple of days ago," Sirius says. "Regulus had to push it back into place. So… who are you?"
"James, and this—"
"No, I was asking your sexy friend." His gaze shifts to Remus. "I wasn't in the mood for company tonight, but I feel my mind is changing. You can sleep in the guest room with your friends, but I have a double all to myself and you're more than welcome to join me."
"He's not joining you," James snaps as Remus finds himself considering the offer. "Look, why us?"
"Your people always have food. The rest of your gang were happy to take it from us." Sirius glances down at his arm, and the calm, bordering on flirty tone shifts to something more angry. "We didn't start this, you did."
"Our people?" James turns to look between Remus and Frank.
"Death Eaters," Sirius snarls. "Only reason we don't retaliate in kind is because we're not murderers."
"Death Eaters?" Remus repeats, confused. "I'm sorry, but I think you have us mixed up with someone else. We're out here because one of our people knows about a shop where we could get our hands on some generators."
"Who are you?" Sirius asks, a little doubtfully. The anger fades slightly from his voice, though he's still regarding the group with suspicion.
"Order of the Phoenix," Remus replies. "Look, we have walkie talkies in our bags. Let us turn them on and you can ask all the questions you want. But whoever you think we are, we're not."
Sirius shakes his head. "You could give away our location." He ponders the information. "Show me your arms."
"What? Why?"
"Just do it."
James crosses his arms, but Remus slips his pack from his back and sets it down. He removes his coat, aware that James has moved closer, protective of him.
"We've had run-ins too," Remus murmurs. "The marks you see aren't zombie bites."
Under Sirius' watchful gaze, He removes his jumper and begins pulling up the sleeves on his long-sleeved t-shirt.
"Remus, you don't have to," James finally says.
"If it keeps us alive, it's fine," Remus insists. He finishes rolling one sleeve and then another. "You're not the only one to encounter a dangerous gang. I got attacked when this all broke out."
He presents both arms, littered with scars. Sirius moves closer, grasping one arm and turning it over before doing the same to the other.
"What happened to…" he trails off. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. The world is dark and selfish and cruel. You're not one of those people, so when you leave, you'll get your weapons back. I can't take risks with what remains of our group." As Remus rolls down his sleeves, Sirius reaches down and grabs the jumper, offering it to him.
"And you continue your war with those Death Eaters?" Remus asks.
"We have to do what we do to survive," Sirius insists. "And I'll do what it takes to keep my friends and brother safe. They attacked, zombies appeared and I got the fuck out of there somehow."
"That's how you ended up with a dislocated shoulder," Regulus points out. He glances towards the group once more. "Do you know why he's still alive? Because zombies eat brains, and he ain't got any!"
"Hush you," Sirius mutters, chuckling softly. "Prat."
Regulus shoots him a tired grin. "I told you not to provoke the Death Eaters," he says with a shrug. "Sirius was a dick to them and they reacted badly. He said: 'I don't want to be rude, but you losers should go suck somewhere else.' They didn't like that."
"That guy said it's bandaged wrong. Do we trust them enough to let him look?" Alice interrupts.
Sirius glances at Remus again. It's a long, assessing look and in the past, Remus would have loved to be on the other side of such an intense stare by someone so gorgeous. But he's just trying to survive.
"I trust this one," he says. "I get the impression that he couldn't lie to save his life." Remus isn't sure if that's an insult, and he glares at Sirius, ready to defend himself.
Sirius' lips curve upwards and Remus bites his tongue.
"We don't have a lot of food, but you're welcome to some," Remus replies instead. "As much as we need this, I can't bring myself to let someone else go hungry."
Sirius' eyebrows raise in surprise. He glances at Frank. "We don't turn on the lights in here. Don't want to risk even the tiniest bit of light. The other rooms have windows boarded up and every measure to hide the light. It'll be better in there."
"You have working lights?"
"Battery powered. We've no shortage of batteries."
~x~
"Er, Sirius? Is there a reason you're waiting here in the dark?"
Sirius jumps at the sound of Remus' voice and spins around in his chair. He hisses in pain at the way his arm moves.
"Guarding. I can't be on the streets like this. Reg'll get sloppy if he has to protect me. At least I can be of some use."
Remus hesitates for a moment, before taking a seat in the other chair. "Nice furniture."
"The building evacuated. We chose this particular flat based on the fire-escape and escape routes, but took what we needed from the other rooms. We blocked up the entire ground floor. It was hard work - we had to be on lookout to make sure nothing was in the vicinity before hammering the nails. We blocked the staircase. There's no way up except the way we came."
"And the way out?"
"Two ways up to the roof. We chose this building for a reason too." It's not our only base though. We thought we'd attack the Death Eaters and get our hands on their supplies. They steal from everyone else - we'd get some food and other bits and then drop them somewhere and circle back around. We've spent this year building up quite a few bases of operations. Never know when one stops being safe."
"And if they're as bad as you've made them out to be, they'd probably find their way back here. You'd have wasted all this time getting this place sorted for nothing."
Sirius shrugs. "All of our days are numbered. It's just seeing how long we manage."
"Very optimistic of you," Remus comments.
"In my old life, I'd have seduced you the moment I laid eyes on you. That or… well, actually, I'd have pretended not to be interested. Family." He shrugs. "I'd have thought about what it'd be like to seduce you though. I have snogged a bloke before though - though he was ashamed of our relationship. Not a nice feeling."
"I like your honesty," Remus admits. "Shit family?"
"The worst. Is it bad that whilst I don't know where they are, I don't care? I have my brother and he's all that matters. I always imagined what life would be like if I ran away, could be gay without… without them telling me how disgusted they were. I got the freedom, and of course it'd happen in an apocalypse. Of course it'd be the end of the world, me being happy."
"One day life will be normal again," Remus says. "Probably. But like you said, it's just seeing how long we last. But this isn't living."
"It's better than death. Wait, even death is better than becoming a zombie. It's better than becoming one of them."
Remus is silent for a long time. "My dad freaked out," he admits. "In the days before this zombie thing began, he still didn't quite accept that about me. Our relationship was strained. We've not really talked about it since. In the grand scheme of things, that's something that isn't as important. What matters is keeping safe, keeping well. But I do live in hope that one day maybe I'll meet someone."
"Good luck to you," Sirius murmurs softly.
"We don't just go out looking for supplies. We look to help others. You guys can stay here and keep on with your war with the Death Eaters. You can risk walking the streets as you do. But we have somewhere of our own, and the extra manpower would allow us to get an additional generator."
"If you're asking us to go with you back to your camp, we're not interested. It's not the first offer we've had," Sirius mutters.
"Then come with us to the shop," Remus insists. "At the least, you can get a generator for yourself. Maybe we can set up a… I think people do radio channels, we can check in from time to time?"
"You want to be penpals?" Sirius snorts.
"When we part ways, I'm going to worry about this group and worry about you all being safe. You didn't turn out so bad in the end. Life has just screwed all of us over."
Sirius shrugs his shoulders. "What I wouldn't do for a fag right now," he murmurs. "I used to smoke when stressed, but getting my hands on cigarettes hasn't been a priority."
Remus reaches into his pocket. "Maybe you can't partake in your bad habit, but you can share mine." Sirius watches intently and he raises his eyebrows at the sight of the chocolate bar.
"Chocolate?"
"I live on the stuff," Remus admits. "Not as 'cool' as yours," he adds, dropping the bar onto his lap so he can exaggerate the air-quotations, "but it helps me get through all of this."
Sirius reaches out for the bar. "You really rely on chocolate?"
Remus nods his head. "I really do."
"That's kind of adorable," Sirius comments. He unwraps the large bar and breaks about a third off, handing the larger part to Remus. They nibble at the chocolate and neither speak until there's just a wrapper sitting on the arm of the chair.
"I was thinking," Sirius said, breaking the silence, "about you actually. Your outlook on life. I don't think they really differ as much. I'm just less optimistic of the time-frame we have. But you had me thinking - we're at a point in life where we don't know if we're going to last the year - hell, we may not last the week. Life is unpredictable..."
"There's a question coming," Remus murmurs.
Sirius ponders this for a long moment. "Ever had sex, Remus?"
Certainly not what Remus was expecting at all. "I always thought I'd wait till marriage," he admits. "But in this world, I don't see me getting married. Like you said… today could be my last day." He waits hopefully. Is Sirius actually offering?
"Right. Well, I haven't either. So… I'm single and I've got a sofa."
"Wow, you really know what does it for me," Remus deadpans. "I'm extremely turned on right now."
Sirius laughs as he stands, reaching out his hand, and Remus takes it. The moment he's up, Sirius pushes him back towards the wall, though he only has one hand to do so. "You'll be extremely turned on in a minute," he promises. "So… yes or no?"
"Is it cliche to say that I don't want to die a virgin?" Remus asks. It's more than that - he wants this with Sirius. In the short time he's known the man, he's become captivated.
"The most cliche. But we're in a zombie apocalypse. I think we're past cliche at this point."
His fingers find Remus' hips, slipping under his t-shirt. "You're going to be shattered in the morning."
"Worth it."
~x~
Sirius is lazing across the sofa the next morning as the group have their guns given back to them.
Remus doesn't know what to say. The previous night had been tiring sure, and there was a bit of an ache to his body, but Sirius had been gentle, loving, sweet. But now… he's never going to see him again and he doesn't like this. He wasn't thinking last night about things like attachment and feelings and maybe even love. He was living in the moment. He has no regrets, except for the fact that he's about to walk away.
"So, your neck looks good," Frank says, chuckling. "Busy night? I did notice you leave the room and… well… I had to get up and close the door."
Remus blushes and there's a mischievous smile on Sirius' lips. "Best night of my life," he says. Though Sirius' tone is a little flippant, casual even, the way he's looking at Remus is anything but. "So… how do we connect our radios in case I want to check in from time to time?"
"You want to call me?" Remus asks shyly.
Sirius grins, nodding. "If you're ever around this way again, you can give me a call or something. Or… or if I head your way, then… yeah."
"I'll sort it," James murmurs. "So, first time. How was it?"
Remus' cheeks redden more. "Amazing," he admits in barely more than a whisper. He hands his radio to James and James takes a seat at the table, grabbing the one there and begins fiddling around with it.
"So… where are you based?"
"West. Look, I'll write down the address for you just in case." Frank starts noting the address down. "It's safe there." He looks between Sirius and Remus for a moment, before his gaze moves to Alice. "That's where you can find us."
Alice takes the address, slipping it into her pocket.
"Right. I've been on the roof and I don't see anything," Benjy says, climbing back through the window. "Good time to leave - the sun's just come up so the zombies will be rushing away."
"So, this is goodbye." Sirius quickly gets up. "In any other circumstance, I'd offer to walk you home. Offer to get you some breakfast. Meet your parents and such, or make plans for another date."
"Was last night a date?"
"We kinda had dinner, and then I suck—"
"Can we all just agree it was a date before I get a detailed account as to what my brother did last night on this very sofa?"
Sirius grins. "You're just jealous because I got the hot one."
Regulus' eyes move to James. "I beg to differ. The 'hot' one, to coin your term, is mine."
James' eyes widen. "Right. So… you're all going to come and visit. It's agreed. But we have to get going. We want to get to the shop and make our way back to base. According to the map, we're not actually that far so it's a good goal."
"Aren't generators big?" Alice asks, doubtfully.
"Some are small. We'll just take turns carrying it, whilst the other two guard," James says. "If there's a few, we'll store them somewhere and come back for them."
"Maybe leave one out for us though, yeah?" Sirius asks.
Remus smiles shyly at him. He doesn't know how to act in this situation - what they experienced through the night, he doesn't want it to end. But he knows that in this world, it has to. Sirius has his gang and he's not taken Remus up on his offer to come. He hasn't offered for Remus to stay - not that Remus could of course, he has his parents and friends - but even an offer would tell Remus that Sirius saw this as something.
He shares a smile with Sirius, and picks up his walkie-talkie. He turns the sound down on it. "I'll wait for your call," he says, before climbing out of the window.
"You really like him, don't you?" James murmurs quietly as they sneak down the fire-escape. Sirius climbs up to the roof, not looking down at them.
"Yeah, I really do," Remus admits. "Another life, right?"
James nods. "Another life. Any regrets?"
"Just walking away," Remus admits. "Stupid time to fall in love right?"
They reach the ground, Regulus pulling the ladder up after they climb down. James looks up at Regulus for a long moment. "Yeah, we really shouldn't be falling for anyone right now."
Regulus blows him a kiss.
~x~
"We need to get a truck for this," James says, looking at the large machine.
"Two. One to drive from the base and head past here, drawing all the zombies away, so when we drive back, there are less to hear the truck."
"Get everyone out as back-up. It'll be a big journey, lots of attention. So we'll need the troops. Let's take a small one for now."
"We have to pass Sirius' place on the way back. Well… sort of. Maybe we can divert a little and leave the generator near his?" Remus suggests.
They all hesitate. "We leave it and then put a message on the walkie-talkie to them to collect it," Frank says. "We've got a trip with ours and we can't go too far."
"Right, yeah," Remus murmurs. James' hand rests on his shoulder for a moment.
"He… he didn't lead you on or something?"
"We both had no expectations," Remus assures him. "My fault, I got attached."
James sighs before moving his hand. "It's a shame he's not from our camp. It's nice to see you happy. Well, this morning when I woke up and saw how happy you were."
"I'm happy now. Sad because… well… but happy because no regrets. Last night was perfect, and I knew that it was only for the night. But I'm glad I took that chance, because we might last another thirty years in this world, or we might die today, and I want these experiences."
"So you're going to go back and give Andy a chance?"
"What? No. I'm not ready to… shut up."
James chuckles. "This journey might need a stop," he admits. "We'll be moving slower. How about we risk it?"
"Risk what?"
"Well, they need food, right? I'm sure they're laying in wait to ambush someone." He shrugs. "Maybe they've got food because we've got nothing." He glances around before pulling the walkie talkie out. "We've got generators. Put us up for the night and we'll bring you one. If you've got food, that'd be awesome. Over."
There's a moment of silence. "Walk back the way you came and we'll find you," Regulus replies. Remus is slightly disappointed for not hearing Sirius' voice, but doesn't miss how James' smile widens slightly. Clearly Remus isn't the only one who felt a connection with someone.
They move slowly. Remus clutches the gun as Frank and James clutch the generators. They move slowly, quietly.
~x~
"Behind you."
Remus almost jumps at the crackle and the voice coming from the walkie-talkie. He spins around, gun out, only to find Sirius there.
"Sirius." He lowers the gun quickly and suddenly Sirius' good arm is around him, lips eagerly finding his. He allows himself to sink into the kiss for a long moment before pulling away. "We didn't expect to see you for at least half an hour. We're quite a distance away still."
"I was eager to see you," Sirius tells him softly. "So, which way is home?"
"Uh, we were hoping to stop in with you guys for the night. We've picked up a generator for you and—"
"Oh, didn't we tell you - we've decided to take you up on that offer. We'll just go back with you."
"What changed your mind?" Frank asks.
Sirius reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind Remus' ear. "I suspect our base has been compromised," he says, sounding convincing enough until Regulus lets out a loud snort. "Yeah, when we got you guys, I really think that the Death Eaters followed us back. So we can go to one of our other places, but sounds like your place is closer, so maybe we'll just escort you back. Is it far? Do we have to have a few more sleepovers on the way back?"
"With your help, we'll get there today. But you're welcome to stay for the night - as long as you haven't been bitten of course - or stay a few nights…" James says.
"Or if you're tired of trying to make it out here, we're trying to make a community," Remus murmurs. "And you're welcome to be a part of that."
"We'll think about it," Sirius replies casually, but his hold on Remus tightens. "But it's very tempting, luv."
His lips find Remus' again and Benjy coughs loudly. "Don't want to interrupt this 'little' reunion, but we should leave. Remember the rules - don't stay out in the open for too long, no loud noises, pay attention. I could go on, but if you want any chance to repeat last night, we better get a move on."
"Onwards," Sirius murmurs. "Come on luv, I'll protect you."
Remus glances down at Sirius' bandaged arm and then at the leather jacket draped over his shoulders. "Or I'll protect you," he replies with a smile.
"My hero," Sirius teases. "I'll be sure to repay you later…" he trails off, but the expression on his face is enough to leave Remus almost speechless.
"I look forward to it."
"And let's go!" Alice hisses at the sound nearby. "Too careless a sound to be human."
Regulus and Benjy take the generators and the others draw their guns, ready. "Let's go this way," Regulus whispers, taking the lead.
Remus glances at James. James is often the self-designated leader - but he's good at it so no-one complains when he takes over. He half-expects him to argue, but James says nothing.
Remus moves forward to walk next to him, and Sirius and James follow them. Benjy is next, with Frank and Alice bringing up the rear.
"So, tell me everything about Remus," Sirius whispers.
"When we get back to base," James promises. "We've got to be quiet."
~x~
The first gunshot went through Benjy. They were all startled at the sound, and Alice screamed as the body hit the floor.
Sirius turns back, wanting to check him, but Remus is dragging him away. Regulus has a grip on Alice, and James and Frank are at Benjy's side.
He runs, almost stumbling, but Remus is there, steadying him, stopping him from falling, and they find a building and yank the door open, rushing inside.
"He's dead," James says, as they catch up. "Bullet straight through the head." His voice is shaking. "I've never seen… I mean, I've seen bodies but not… who would shoot him?"
"Death Eaters," Sirius snarls. He looks like he's about to run back out. His hand is clenched so tightly that his knuckles are white. "We've got to—" They hear the gun going off again and the bullet flies through the window causing the glass to shatter a few feet away.
Remus clings to his arm. "Don't do anything. He's dead, I'm sorry, but there's nothing that can be done about that. If you go out there, you'll be next."
"So?"
"Thought you had plans for us?" Remus murmurs, forcing a smile onto his lips. "Plus your brother needs you."
Sirius' hand shakes slightly.
"United, maybe there's a chance that we survive this," Remus adds. "If we let them pick us off one by one, we have no chance. That gunfire will draw the attention of zombies, so I suggest we make sure this building is safe, barricade the doors and lay low." He glances towards the nearby stairs, assessing how much work it'll take to barricade them.
"Good plan but this has a back exit," Alice says, glancing around, and noticing an almost hidden door behind the stairs. "We should get out now before the Death Eaters realise." Tears slide down her face and Frank's hand rests on her shoulder. "We can mourn later."
"Team up," Sirius orders. He looks longingly at Remus, but shakes his head. "Reg, you and Remus. James and Alice."
"Maybe I should…" Frank begins.
James shakes his head. "Sirius is right. We should pair with someone we're not massively attached to. But you've got one good hand, and I'm the best shot, so let's rethink teams. Alice and Remus, Frank and Regulus."
Sirius glances around, assessing, before nodding. He glances at the generator that Frank is still holding, slightly amazed that Frank didn't drop it when Benjy was shot. "Generators don't matter right now. We can get more for your camp at a later date. So… a future, Remus?"
"Get us back safe, and I'm all yours," Remus promises. "Let's get out of here."
Sirius nods. "Alice, you and Remus take the lead. Me and Regulus are great at shooting. We should go now before they cover the entire building and we have no escape." Should we leave the generator here?"
The sound of another shot rings out.
"They're not shooting at us. Zombies out front I'm guessing, they're distracted. Let's not waste anymore time. We'll bring the generator, but drop it if needs be." Frank starts to move towards the back exit of the flats, slowly opening the door and looking out. Sirius picks up the generator and carefully unwraps his bad arm, wincing as he straightens it out. He tucks the sling into Remus' backpack along with his jacket. "We've got this."
The rest of the group move slowly. They stick close to the building, listening for any noises that could indicate that something is there. They hear sounds in the distance. More gunfire.
It didn't mean they were safe - zombies could come towards the noise, finding their group instead.
~x~
"Your base is a hospital?" Sirius asks, surprised as they approach. It's starting to get dark now.
"Yeah. Medicines, a cafeteria, open space in the middle that we've turned into gardening facilities, and wards. There are so many rooms here."
"And there's space for us?" Sirius checks.
Remus nods. "Me, James and Peter share a room, but I'm sure we can find a room to ourselves…" He trails off as Sirius' lips press against his. The others keep their weapons up and Regulus lets out a loud sigh. "Can't you hold it for five fucking minutes," he mutters.
"I could do this all day," Sirius whispers to Remus, ignoring Regulus.
As the gates open, Remus drops his pack from his shoulders and gets the sling back out for Sirius. As the guards come out, guns raised in case of any sudden zombies, the group head inside.
"We'll put this on in a minute. Rules of camp - you've got to strip down and be checked for bites. Someone came in near the start of this, and they hid a bite. We're not going to take risks again."
"Makes sense," Sirius says. They walk over to the small hut just outside of the hospital. "One at a time," a man says. "You first." He gestures to Alice.
When she enters the hut, they hear the murmur of a woman's voice. Two guards stand outside, their backs to the hut, their guns at the ready.
"Scary," Sirius whispers.
Remus shakes his head. "They won't shoot you if they see a bite. There was actually a big discussion. We've set up a building. Comfortable and stuff. Any infected go in there. We shoot when they've turned. The guards are cautious about newcomers. Just a precaution."
The checks are done quickly, though Poppy takes a bit of time to check over Sirius' shoulder. Poppy, the doctor, leads the group back to the hospital. "You'll be checked in, asked what you're good at and stuff. You'll be expected to pull your weight around here - jobs and stuff, but we're also trying to make life normal so we have time to ourselves."
"What counts as normal around here?" Sirius asks. "Because we've not had normal for a long time."
"It's not so bad," Remus says. "We're doing all we can to keep the place running. We've taken all of the books from the two libraries within distance and also found a few bookshops. We've got a handful of rooms with tvs and game systems, which we've developed a system for usage of. We've also got one of those pull down screens and we've set chairs up like a cinema. Kids movies run early evening and then it goes to a vote for the evenings. We've managed to get stuff from music shops, from arts and craft shops and so on. When we go out and collect stuff, it's a big risk, but we try and hit every shop just in case there's something we can make use of."
"Sounds amazing," Sirius admits. "I can't wait to feel normal. I've always wanted to play music."
"Remus!" As they walk into the main building, Remus' parents come running, closely followed by James'. Due to the state of them - Hope Lupin in a set of coral pyjamas - they can tell that the parents were all called when the group appeared at the gate.
Sirius shifts away from Remus, and when Remus glances at him, Sirius is looking nervous. Remus remembers the comments from before - about Sirius feeling that someone had been ashamed of him. Of how he's had to hide who he is.
"I'm not ashamed of this," Remus tells him softly, reaching for Sirius' good hand.
"But you said about your dad…" Sirius gently tries to pull his hand away.
"I did. That means he's had time to understand who I am. I'm with you, so best we have it out in the open now, than sneak around like we should be embarrassed about this." He glances to where James is talking to his father. "After this, we'll meet with Charlus, have food and then I'll show you around."
"Our room?" Sirius asks.
"Yeah. We'll finish there," Remus says with a grin. "But right now, we've got to let Charlus know about the Death Eaters. Work first…"
"Play later," Sirius finishes. "I'll hold you to that." They turn their attention back to Hope and Lyall as the pair reach them.
"You're late!" Hope says, clearly relieved to see him. "I've been avoiding going to bed - I was so worried!"
"I'm fine," Remus assures her. "I want you to meet Sirius. We met his group yesterday and… well, he makes me happy."
Lyall nods slightly and puts his hand out towards Sirius. "Nice to meet you."
As Sirius shakes it, Hope beams between them. "I'm so glad. We need to find happiness in these dark times," she tells him. "I'm going to head to bed now, but I'll see you both for breakfast." She pulls them both into a hug, before leaving.
"They seem nice," Sirius comments. "So… I'm meeting the parents already. That means this is all official, right?"
Remus nods. It might be fast, but life is short and they both need this, need each other. "Very official," he agrees. "So… did Death Eaters really find your base earlier? Or did you just miss me?"
Sirius grins. "Maybe I wasn't really able to admit that I didn't want to let you go. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'm not giving that up."
7270 words
Also Written for:
Writing Club:
Character Appreciation - 23 - "Good question. Bit sinister. What's the answer to not get us killed?"
Disney - Character 1 - Pinocchio: Write about someone telling lies.
Bingo - [5.B. Title: (must contain one of the following words): Make, Impress, Moment] - Living in the Moment
Comics - 11. (restriction) no under the age of 18
Book Club - Chuck: (relationship) siblings, (word) mischievous, (trait) innocent
Showtime - Maria - (word) Unpredictable
Amber's Attic - 28. "Take a step to freedom. You and her against this cruel world."- Lagwagon, "May 16"
Elizabeth's Empire - 2. AU: Apocalypse
Liza's Loves - Find the Path - Write about someone who is lost/stops being lost
Bex's Basement - "I don't want to be rude, but you losers should go suck somewhere else."
Lizzy's Loft - Word: Late
Scamander's Case - (dialogue) "Er, [Name]? Is there a reason you're waiting here in the dark?"
Film Festival - (dialogue) "Do you know why she's still alive? Because zombies eat brains, and she ain't got any!"
Marvel - Weapon - Epic Dialogue: "I can do this all day."
Lyric Alley - I wanna know where we go
Geen Pride - Zombie AU or Apocalypse!AU
Camp Mini Event - Cleaning - Apocalypse!AU
Mini Golf - Hole 7 - (color) Coral
Supernatural Fanclub - Mother Gothel, Rapunzel: (dialogue) "The world is dark and selfish and cruel."
Gobstones - Blue Stone - Exploration / Accuracy: (word) shatter / Power: (word) company / Technique: (dialogue) "You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'm not giving that up."
Game of Life - Trait: Cocky
Fortnightly - Crissie's Favourites - [Pairing] Slash
Ultimate Battle - Gryffindor's Sword [Weapon] (How brave are you? Equip Effect: Doubles opponent's dmg if you only write about Gryffindors.) - Price: 3k, (trait) Courageous
Say it with Flowers: Sunflower: Zombie AU
Seasonal:
Days of the Year - April 1st - National Walking Day: Write about walking away from someone/something.
Colour Prompts - 3. Coral
Hufflepuff Challenge - 8. Loyal