Sirius pinches the bridge of his nose when Antonin appears, unannounced, in his living room. "I told you I'm done," he says curtly.

"I told you that you're done when I tell you you're done," Antonin remarks, a wicked smirk on his lips as he strides across the room, brushing his thumb across Sirius' cheek. "Or have you forgotten our little arrangement? You belong to me."

Sirius clenches his jaw and pulls away from the other man's touch. "Haven't I done enough?" he demands. "I have more than repaid my debt."

Antonin pulls out a folder, and the dark twinkle in his eyes puts Sirius on edge. "Last job. This one is a rather… delicate… matter," he says, slipping the file into Sirius' hands. "A ghost from your past."

Sirius opens it, his heart sinking as he reads the name. Remus John Lupin. Sirius throws it on the floor, the papers inside spilling out in a chaotic mess. "I cannot do this job."

"Then you will never have your freedom," Antonin laughs. "Don't be so sentimental, Sirius. The death of an old flame, someone who abandoned you, in exchange for your freedom. Are you really willing to pass that up?"

Sirius hesitates. "I-"

"You have a week. If you don't do it, someone else will, and you will stuck in this life forever," he says. "Think about it."

…

"Thought you were in Greece," Remus says, brows raised.

Sirius grins. "I see you've been keeping tabs on me," he laughs.

"Someone has to. God only knows what you would do if they didn't. You aren't exactly a stranger to a cell," Remus says simply.

Sirius' grin drops to a frown. "Fair enough," he says. "Can I come in?"

"Now really isn't a good time."

"I just missed you, Remus. I missed us."

"You didn't miss us enough to keep it in your trousers," Remus says flatly, starting to close the door.

Sirius wedges his foot, pushing the door open easily. "I've changed, you know. Just… My number is still the same. Give me a ring sometime."

…

Sirius looks at the old photographs, his heart heavy. He and Remus had been so happy once.

He pulls out his favorite. They had been seventeen at the carnival. Sirius had spent nearly all his money playing one of those stupid rigged games to earn Remus a prize.

Frozen forever in that moment, Remus smiles up at him, proudly holding the giant dog that Sirius had won him.

Sirius tosses the photo aside, letting out a sigh. He had really screwed things up.

His mobile rings, and his heart leaps when he sees the unfamiliar number. "Hello?"

"You were there, and Remus Lupin is still alive," Antonin says, his tone bored. "Care to explain that, Sirius?"

"I- I'm working on it," Sirius sighs. "You said it yourself. This job is rather delicate."

"Remember your deadline," Antonin warns.

Sirius touches his fingers once again to the photo of Remus and the giant stuffed dog. "I will," he says softly.

"Is that nostalgia I hear in your voice?" Antonin laughs. "Fucking hell, Sirius. He's your ex. Do you know how many exes I have that I'd love to put a bullet in? Get over it. Take care of it."

"I will."

…

"You can't just keep showing up at my house whenever you want," Remus says darkly as he sets his bag of groceries down to fit the key in the lock.

"Let me help you," Sirius offers, reaching for the bag, but Remus kicks his hand away.

"I'm not interested in your help, Sirius," Remus sighs. "I left you for a reason. You seemed fine with that fact for three years. Why are you so determined now?"

"I was never fine with it," Sirius says. "You still love me. We both know it. And I messed up, but you can't honestly think that I don't love you. I've had time to think, and it killed me being away from you, Remus. I want us to be together again. Please."

"I really think you should go, Sirius."

…

"That's twice now."

Sirius drops his plate of takeaway chicken in surprise. "Ever heard of knocking?"

Antonin smirks. "Where's the fun in that?" he laughs, leaning against the counter. "You've seen Remus twice, and he's still alive. Cold feet?"

"I can hardly assassinate him in broad daylight for his neighbors to see, can I?" Sirius growls. "Who ordered his death, anyway?"

"That information is classified. But your little friend is an activist. I'm sure you can imagine the enemies he's made with those protests he's lead," Antonin says simply. "You have five days, Sirius. You can be free."

Sirius shakes his head before dropping to his knees and cleaning up the spilled food. "That was my dinner, you know," he says darkly.

Antonin throws a bill on the floor. "Get yourself something better. Five days."

…

"Sirius," Remus groans.

"I brought wine. Red Moscato, your favorite," Sirius says, holding up the bottle. "And chocolates. You always loved chocolate."

Remus sighs. "Come in."

Sirius follows him inside. "This place hasn't changed," he says.

"Neither have you. Still as stubborn as ever," Remus notes. "Set the wine on the table. I'll fetch glasses."

"I'd rather just have a soda, if you've got one," Sirius says, popping the cork, his nose wrinkling at the smell. "You know I hate wine."

"I know. You always suffered through the bottles for me," Remus laughs, and Sirius feels his heart flutter.

"I never had a problem suffering for you," he says softly.

Remus appears again with a soda and a wine glass. Sirius feels his mind racing. It could be so easy. He feels the weight of his dagger in his pocket.

"I'm returning to Greece soon," he says. "It's beautiful there. You'd love it. So much history."

"It sounds lovely," Remus says, smiling as he sits down in his favorite armchair.

"You could come with me," Sirius suggests, taking Remus' glass. "We used to talk about running away together when we were younger. Why shouldn't we now?"

"We aren't kids anymore. We hardly have things to run away from," Remus chuckles.

"Speak for yourself," Sirius says, but it's quiet enough that Remus cannot hear him. He pours a generous helping of wine in the glass and hands it to Remus. "I wish you would have said yes."

"You could stay," Remus suggests. "I wouldn't- I mean, maybe we could try again."

"I can't stay," Sirius sighs. "I wish I could. I wish you would go with me."

Remus presses the glass to his lips, sipping the wine. "This is different," he says. "Sweeter than usual."

"I'll take your word for it. It all tastes like rotten grapes to me," Sirius laughs, opening his soda and watching Remus.

"You're staring."

"Just taking in what I was stupid enough to lose."

"Sirius-"

"Shh. Drink. We can make drunken love tonight like we used to."

"That only works if we're both drinking," Remus teases, but he takes a deeper drinking. "When do you leave for Greece?"

Sirius checks his watch and sighs. "Tonight."

"Tonight? But you just said-"

His words cut off, and Sirius looks away. "I chose the fastest acting poison I could find. I didn't want you to suffer."

"Si- Siri-"

"Don't speak. It only hurts more if you speak."

"Si-"

Sirius chances a look at him, and his heart sinks. Remus' face pale and beaded with sweat. His eyes are bloodshot.

"I do love you," he whispers. "But this was my only chance to get out. Please understand that."

Remus falls slack suddenly, his eyes rolling back. Sirius climbs to his feet and checks his pulse. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

He pulls out the suicide note from his pocket, laying it on the table beside the wine, then he places the small vial of poison beside the bottle.

…

"Who ordered the hit?"

"I figured you would be in Greece by now," Antonin says, brows raised.

"I asked you a question."

"Will it help you sleep at night?" Antonin laughs. "Fine. No one did. This was purely for my own amusement. Happy?"

In a flash, Sirius presses his dagger into Antonin's jugular. Antonin gasps, his hand clasping over the blood that flows rapidly from the opened vein.

"Now I am," Sirius says before walking away.