A/N: Okay, so I'll admit it, I really enjoy writing Snape and Black fighting. The rough and tumble type. It just seems like foreplay for them. XD Anywho…to the next chapter.

…oOo…

Sirius was staring down in to his mostly empty tea cup when Remus returned quietly to the doorway. He stood looking at Sirius, the animagus with his shoulders slumped and long hair dragging on the table. Remus cleared his throat and watched the man sit up and force a smile onto his face.

"'Allo Moony," He kicked a chair out in front of him and waved at it with his mug.

Remus walked carefully around and sat, staring at Sirius and taking the cup of tea he was offered. "Are you alright, Sirius?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" Sirius sounded cheerful enough, but he kept his face turned down to the table.

"Sirius—"

"Do you really want me, Remus?" Sirius blurted, looking up through his hair while his fingers tightened on his mug. "Because you seem to, but you take for Severus so vehemently that I wonder… am I just a replacement?"

"Never," Remus whispered. He stretched across the table and took hold of Sirius' arms. "You've been my best friend my entire life, Sirius. I love you in ways that scare me sometimes, but there could never be anyone to take your place in my life."

"Or anyone to take Snape's?" Sirius added with a shameful smile.

Remus went still and sat down heavily into his chair. He rubbed his face and shook his head. "No, Pads, and no one to take Severus's."

"Maybe I should run off and find someone myself then until you make up your mind?" Sirius snarled, jerking backward.

"No!" Remus roared, slamming his hands into the tabletop. "You're mine." He growled.

Sirius glared at him, angry but feeling a hot flare in his stomach at Remus' vehemence. The wolf lept halfway across the table and snared him by the collar of his t-shirt. Sirius took him by the wrists and tried to pull him off but Lupin only tightened his hold and the stitching popped. "And what about Snape?" Sirius demanded, aware that he was yelling but too shaken to care.

"You can't have him," Remus snarled.

"Because he's yours?" Sirius spat, jerking back again and feeling his shirt collar tear.

"Yesss," Remus hissed, eyes narrow. He scrabbled across the table latched on Sirius' shoulders. Sirius could tell, could see the glow of Lupin's eyes and feel his nails digging into his skin. There was very little of his Remus looking at him.

Lupin pulled himself forward, falling into Sirius' lap with a hard thump. Sirius gasped and startled as Remus snagged hold of his hair in both fists and bent his head back.

"Moony," Sirius warned, but it didn't seem to matter.

The wolf growled softly and bit Sirius' lower lip until it bled. Sirius hissed but didn't dare move for fear his lip would be bitten off.

"Lupin!" The word echoed harshly through the kitchen, making Sirius jump and thankfully Remus released his abused lip.

Severus was in the kitchen door with his wand pointed steadily at Lupin's head.

"Severus," Remus whispered, blood trailing down his lips. He blinked and the haze cleared from his eyes. He frowned and wiped at his mouth, staring in horror at the crimson that stained his palm. "Wha-?"

"Get off of Sirius," Severus muttered, flicking his wand to the left twice.

Remus stood, shaking, and stared down at Sirius. The animagus was sprawled backward in the chair, shirt ruined and blood pumping down his chin and staining his collar.

"Pads?" Remus hiccoughed, reaching down toward the man but Severus took a large step into the kitchen.

"Don't," He growled. "Go to the sink."

Remus stumbled over himself as he went, clutching the porcelain for support.

Severus stood over Black's chair and glanced down at him. "Are you alright?"

Sirius cleared his throat and touched his swollen lip as he sat up. "I—yea," he glanced over at Remus and stood from the chair.

Remus was sobbing at the sink, scrubbing soapy water across his lips and rinsing his mouth. Sirius touched his shoulder and Lupin practically sagged to the floor to avoid his touch.

"Moony," Sirius said carefully, wincing as his lip pulled and throbbed. The lycan curled in on himself, chanting a soft litany of apology.

Sirius sank to the floor next to him and hauled him into his lap, holding tight as Remus struggled to get away, and rocked them both. He glanced up at Severus and motioned him forward with a finger.

Severus scowled and tucked his wand away as he came forward. He stopped as his robes brushed against Sirius' side and waited.

The animagus took a handful of the dark material and pulled sharply downward until Severus sat on the floor with a thump. Sirius pulled him toward them with another tug and curled his hand around the potions master's shoulder.

Remus seemed completely oblivious to what was happening. He was having a breakdown like no other.

"What do you want?" Severus grumbled, highly annoyed that he was dirtying his clean robes with the floor.

"Not me," Sirius muttered. He pawed Severus forward until he was snugged up against Lupin's back and he couldn't escape once Sirius locked his arms around both men and continued to rock. Squished together as they were, Sirius stared at Severus with his chin on Lupin's shoulder. "He needs you too."

Severus grumbled quietly and frowned as Remus shifted between them, one arm wrapping around Sirius' waist, and the other about his. The wolf hugged them both, drawing the three of them together and Snape nearly had his head cracked against Sirius' skull.

The animagus continued to stare at him, tonguing the split in his lip idly now and then as Remus sobbed dryly between them.

Snape loosed an arm where it was trapped beneath Sirius' tight hold and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together until warmth spread in his fingertip. He touched Sirius' lip and slowly ran his finger across and back, ignoring the surprise on Sirius' face.

Better, he thought, dropping his hand back to his lap as Sirius ran his tongue where the gash had been. Severus had healed it with just a touch.

"Thank you," Sirius mumbled, awed at the odd show of concern and bit of wandless magic.

"Better than watching you milk it," Severus sneered.

"I'm sorry," Remus whispered, straightening up between them. His eyes were puffy and he finally seemed to realize that he was sandwiched between Sirius and Snape.

"I don't know how many times I have to remind you," Severus drawled, "but it seems your head is too thick for the information to sink in." He cocked an eyebrow and attempted to dislodge himself from the uncomfortable contact.

Sirius didn't appear to think it a good idea and tightened his hold until the bones of his wrists dug into Severus' spine.

"Being ill is not an excuse," Remus grumbled, scrubbing at his eyes.

"Then do something about it," Severus huffed, glaring at Sirius and silently demanding to be let go.

Sirius grinned cheekily and steadfastly refused. "Now that we're all better, eh, it's time to start up your therapy again."

"Therapy," Remus sighed heavily, "you make it sound like I'm crazy."

Severus opened his mouth to say something smart and Sirius drove his finger into the man's back to shut him up. The potions master glared and threatened to bite him with a gnash of his teeth. "Let me up off of this bloody floor!"

Sirius released him with a sharp look and Severus stood and stepped backward immediately putting distance between them. He shook his robes and sneered at the dirt that had imbedded into his seat.

"Does anyone mind if I go lay down?" Remus asked softly, standing up himself and stretching out his cramping legs.

"Of course not," Sirius smiled easily at him, levering himself up and dusting off the back of his pants.

Remus nodded, unable to look at either man and walked awkwardly to the stairs.

"Moony," Sirius called to him, quick stepping to catch up as the wolf paused. "Sweet sleep, alright? No worries." Remus nodded and started up the stairs. Sirius snagged a hold of his worn shirt cuff and spun him about. He smiled and kissed Remus quickly, licked his lips and did it again. Remus was blushing and smiling at his feet. "There, see? That's a better way to do it," Sirius joked lamely.

"I'll remember that," Remus laughed and turned back up the stairs.

Sirius practically glided into the kitchen, running face-first into Snape's chest.

"Watch where you're going mutt," Severus growled.

"Wait a minute," Sirius snagged hold of his robe. "I've got to speak to you."

Severus narrowed his eyes but reluctantly turned around, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. "Then speak."

"Remus, he's…" Sirius sat down heavily into his chair and took a sip of his tea, grimacing at how bitter and cold it had gotten.

"He's what, Black? Got the mange? Has a tick? Is an idiot? Do tell…"

"No," Sirius snapped. "He thinks he's in love with me."

A cold stone dropped into Severus' stomach. He nodded stiffly. "What does that have to do with me?" He asked a little huskier than he wanted.

"He thinks he's in love with you too," Sirius smiled grimly at him.

Severus snorted and rolled his eyes heavenward.

"I mean it," Sirius told him. "That's what we were spatting about before… before he bit me." The animagus furrowed his brow in thought.

"Don't be an idiot," Severus sneered. He didn't want to hear any of this. Things did not need complication when they were already fucked up beyond repair.

"Listen, I asked him if I was some kind of replacement because you didn't want him," Severus nearly choked and managed to keep himself composed as Black continued, "But he assured me that I wasn't. That's kind of when he started getting pulled into his wolf. He was serious, deadly serious. Then when I asked him about you he growled at me and said I couldn't have you. That you were his." Sirius stopped and looked up at Severus.

The blood had drained from Snape's face and he glared at Sirius as though the man were lying. "He's confused. He's confusing comfort with something deeper. He'll get over it once he's past his illness."

Sirius didn't appear convinced, and there was a knowing glint in his eye that made Severus increasingly uncomfortable.

"You told me last night that you didn't understand why… You've known for some time, haven't you? Known that he's wanted you and me. Why didn't you say something sooner?"

Severus dragged his hands through his hair and sat down heavily at the end of the table. "It'll pass, it's bound to."

"That isn't what I asked," Sirius scowled.

Snape sneered at him and set his curled fists onto the tabletop. "I could smell it."

"I beg your pardon," Sirius stuttered.

"You heard me," Severus spat. "I could smell the desire he has for you, rolling off of him like heat."

"Well that's—I – That could just be physical," Sirius sputtered. He narrowed his gaze at Severus, trying to catch the sarcasm or humor he must have missed. Severus looked too disgusted to be joking. "Then explain to me why he's been mooning over you these last couple of weeks?"

"Obligation," Severus spat, standing abruptly and stalking out.

Sirius huffed and jerked out of his seat to follow, swearing as he knocked over his chair and tripped over it. Snape was nowhere to be seen when he hit the hallway. "Snape?! I'm not done with you!"

There was a growl from the second floor and the slam of a door. Sirius grinned to himself and took the stairs two at a time to reach the landing.

He reached for Snape's doorknob and jerked his hand back as a crack of electricity rippled up his arm. "Dammit Snape! You could have killed me!"

"I'm not that lucky," Severus yelled from the other side of the door, the bang of a chair accenting his point.

Sirius groped in his pocket for several minutes before finally getting his wand out and ripping a hole in his favorite lounge jeans. He pointed his wand at the door and snarled a counter-curse strong enough to melt the door handle.

He kicked the door open and stormed into Snape's room, kicking it shut again for good measure.

Severus had his wand pointed at him, lips curled into the start of a hex just as Sirius came to a skidding halt in the room.

The animagus feinted to the right and dove at the dark wizard, taking him at the stomach and knocking Severus onto his ass. Both of their wands flew in separate directions; Sirius cracked his elbow on the stand and knocked the wind out of Severus when he landed on his chest.

Sirius sat up on Snape's stomach, rubbing at his elbow with a hiss and glared down at the man he sat on.

Severus was struggling for breath, face pale and eyes on fire. He curled one fist into Sirius' hair, a great ball of black silk clenched tight. Sirius grunted, and tried to pry his fingers free, but Snape had an iron grip.

"Leggo," he whimpered, scrunching up his face as Snape gave a stern jerk.

"You," Severus gasped, scowling up at the animagus. He struggled to sit up and Sirius grinned and held him down. "Get off!"

Sirius yelped as Snape gave a vicious yank to his hair. He bent sideways but refused to budge. "Ow! Dammit Snape, just listen to me! Remus has more than a fleeting fancy for you, I know it. I've seen it."

"I wouldn't trust your sight," Severus spat, "since most of the time you see in monochrome."

"Even as students," Sirius spoke over him, grunting as Snape shook his fist in irritation, "he saw your humanity. Even then. Of course he didn't exactly want to nibble on you then… but maybe he did, I don't know for sure…" Sirius trailed off, eyes vacant and tilting his head as far as Snape's hold would allow.

"Liar," Severus muttered, but the venom of his voice and the set of his face had both softened—unfortunately for Sirius, his grasp did not. "I've never had humanity."

"Now who's lying," Sirius whispered. He frowned at Snape's, masked, closed-off face. It was last night, only a few hours ago, that he'd seen the man being open and awed, feeling his mortality, probably for the first time in many years.

"Stop that," Severus mumbled, trying suddenly to disentangle his fingers from Black's hair.

"What?" Sirius muttered, helping Snape with his chore and flailing as the potions master bucked beneath him, renewing his struggle to get up. Sirius clamped his knees and grabbed hold of Severus' hair and leaned over him to keep balance.

Snape's eyes widened a fraction at the proximity of Sirius' face. "Stop acting like a child and let me up."

"I don't think so," Sirius grinned. He leaned further, pinning Severus completely to the floor. "I've finally got you where I want you."

For a reason Sirius could never fathom, Snape paled further until his skin was nearly transparent. The potions master shuddered and he lunged.

"Get off! Get off of me! Don't touch me!" Severus shrieked. A layer of magic crackled on Snape's skin and Sirius was thrown backward, left to gape as Snape pushed himself upright and staggered to the far corner where he shook and wretched dryly.

"Snape, calm down alright?" Sirius kept his hands up and palms flat. Severus was hyperventilating against the wall, eyes distant and hands griping his robes tightly shut.

Sirius tip-toed forward and flinched whenever Snape snarled and lashed at him. "Easy," he muttered as though shushing an irritable hippogriff.

Severus twitched and cast a cold eye at him. "Stay away from me," he hissed.

"Snape," Sirius coaxed, "just calm down. It's me, I know you don't like me, but I'm not about to hurt you alright? Right." Sirius muttered. He inched forward again, fingers just brushing against Snape's robes. Severus jerked backward, but with nowhere to go he knocked his head against the wall and hissed as he sank down to the floor. "You alright?"

Severus stiffened and looked up through his hair to see Sirius hovering, torn between crouching and jumping backward. "Black?"

The animagus let out a deep sigh of relief and sank to the floor beside him. "What the hell was that?"

Severus didn't say a word, but stared at the animagus with obvious relief.

Sirius was worried for that reason alone. And as he continued to watch, the man's face pinched in pain… a look he remembered from the night. Sweet Merlin, Snape isn't about to—

The potions master pushed him away, standing up too quickly and nearly falling on his ass again, but managed to stay upright and run into his bathroom in time to fall to his knees and vomit.

The man heaved and coughed, forehead resting on his forearms. When he finally fell silent, and still did not move, Sirius dared to walk into the bathroom and leaned on his hip against the sink. He filled the cup on the counter with water and held it out toward the sitting wizard on the floor.

Severus held his hand out for it without looking. Sirius snuffed and passed it to him. Snape gargled and spat twice before tossing the cup back toward the sink and Sirius. The animagus juggled the cup a moment before it fell to the sink with a clatter.

The potions master shifted and leaned against the tub, glaring up at Sirius for his gall to see him in a moment of weakness. "Why can't you just leave it be?"

"Because it's Remus," Sirius shrugged and smiled slightly. "I could never refuse him anything."

"Even if that anything is me?" Severus sneered.

"Even that," Sirius bit back. He crossed his arms over his chest in defiance.

"Liar…" Severus smirked. "You want him, and you would sooner kill me than let him have me."

"Of course I wouldn't! I'm the one that told him to go to you!" Sirius barked.

Severus' face shuttered and his teeth clacked as he snapped his jaws tight.

Sirius slapped himself in the forehead and ran his hand down his face. "I didn't mean it like that for Christ's sake."

The potions master climbed to his feet and jerked his robes straight. "I don't care what you believe you meant!"

Sirius growled and stepped forward until he bumped Severus with his chest. "Don't tell me what I think, Snape!"

"Stop acting like a child," Severus hissed. He snarled as Sirius bumped him again and gripped him by his shirt.

"I have half a mind to—" Sirius barked, he jerked back away from Snape and felt his shirt finally tear. Between Remus' earlier manhandling and their wrestling match only minutes ago the stitching couldn't take any more.

The release of resistance made Severus stumble and he flailed with a chunk of tee shirt clenched in his fist as he fell toward the floor.

Sirius lunged forward and snagged him by the arm before he could hit and the potions master glared at him and snatched his arm back as soon as he was back on his feet. He huffed through his nose and pursed his lips. "Thank you," he muttered with no little sarcasm as he passed the swath of cloth back.

The animagus held the patch up where the hole was and sighed before yanking the whole ruined thing from his back and threw it errantly into the garbage can by the toilet. "There goes another… at this rate I'll have to borrow money from Remus to get some shirts."

He grinned at Snape but the man wasn't smiling. Severus was staring intently at Sirius' chest with a strange look of anger and muted awe.

"Like what you see?" Sirius smirked, hoping to get a rise out of Snape and break the hanging uncomfortable air between them.

Severus didn't bite but he did look up at Sirius' face and frowned gently. "How did you manage it?"

Sirius' eyes widened and he looked down at himself, curious. "What are you talking about?"

"Turn around," Severus demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

Too perplexed by Snape to do otherwise, Sirius turned around and looked at the wizard over his shoulder. "What is it?!"

Snape lowered his arms and reached forward, stopping himself and forcing his hand to his side to still.

"Snape?"

"You've survived one war with Voldemort, spent 12 years in Azkaban and who knows how long running with the wolf… how could you survive without a single scar?" Severus asked softly.

Sirius ran his hands across his stomach and frowned. He had never realized. It didn't really make sense that he had no scars, but hell, even if he had one or two, compared to Snape and Remus it would still seem as if he hadn't. Those two were riddled from head to foot.

"I don't know," Sirius answered honestly. "I wasn't beaten in Azkaban, just left to myself mostly." The animagus' eyes drew distant and clouded over.

Severus grunted, he could probably imagine the hell of it. He had seen enough hell—and survived it—to believe the worst. But Sirius' flawless back was inspired. Maybe it had just been too long since he had seen anyone in a state of undress without the telltale marks of war. Even Potter, young as the poor fool was, had more than his fair share.

Snape was irritated that it had to be Sirius Black of all people to be left unmarred. He had wished ungainly hell on the man, and he had received it, but without any physical scars to show. Quite honestly, he had only ever wanted the beautiful man beat brainless and ugly, at least then he could be vindicated for being called greasy and ugly from the, then boy, for calling him every form of derogatory phrase he could think of.

And he had survived his hell unscathed.

"It's not fair," Severus snarled to himself. He pressed his fingertips to Sirius' back and drew them across the warm, tanned flesh there, irritated and envious. Sirius came out of his memories with the cold fingertips drawing strange patters on his back. Gooseflesh rippled across his arms and he turned his head slowly so he could stare in disbelief at his once hated enemy.

Severus was apparently in his own head and didn't notice.

"You could mark it if it would make you feel better," Sirius quipped, unsettled and joking hoping to draw Snape back out of his head. "I know you must want to."

"No," Snape gaped, half in horror. He drew his hand back as if burned when he realized he was still stroking across Sirius' skin. "It should never be marred. Least of all by the hand of an ally."

"An ally," Sirius grinned, backing away and turning, feeling suddenly naked in Snape's bathroom.

Severus frowned and pushed past Sirius into the main room. He sat down at his desk and began to thumb through a tome and tapped excess ink from his quill.

"If you're quite through, Black, I have things to settle before my return to Hogwart's." Snape's voice was back to being cold, his gaze like daggers. Sirius realized that he had overstepped his bounds again. Obviously Snape did not take to his kidding very well.

"Alright," Sirius nodded, making his way to the busted door. "Think about what I said, Severus, Remus cares for you, don't make him regret it."

The potions master glared at him until he finally frowned and shut the door behind him.

Snape set his quill down and drew his robes tightly about him. He was far more confused since Black had chased him down than he was before. And the damned animagus had used his given name. It had sounded almost… nice.