Fic: Darkling I Listen (Prompt 24)
Title: Darkling I Listen
Author: carpe_slytherin
Characters/Pairings: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape
Rating/Warnings: PG. Slash and a touch of angst.
Word Count: 363
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling’s, not mine.
Darkling I listen; and for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
- from Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats
~*~
It wasn't that Remus Lupin was afraid of death. He had seen so much, and lately dealt out enough himself, that it no longer held the terror for him that it had when he was a young, newly-bitten child.
In fact, now he sometimes longed for death's release. It got tiring spying on the werewolves, playing prodigal pup to Greyback and the older wolf's Lord. He tried to kill rather than turn as often as possible. Tried to hold onto the last tattered shreds of humanity. Tried not to let the steadily growing taint on his soul overwhelm him and drive him into despair. That was all he could do to make his position bearable.
No, Remus was not afraid of either giving or receiving death any longer. What he did fear was dying alone, so when he caught Severus staring at him from across the meeting hall with those grave-dark eyes, he did not turn him away.
Who else could understand the razorblade balance of serving so many masters, of having nothing but pride and the press of duty to help maintain sanity for just one more day? Remus would have bet his last Galleon that Severus Snape was in the same dark place, no longer sure which side he was on at all, and even less sure that it even mattered.
Severus knew. He understood. He had lived with it even longer. And from the way he was slowly making his way through the crowd of Death Eaters toward him, Remus thought that perhaps he did not want to die alone either.
There was no conversation between them, only a rapid-fire volley of subtle body language - a glint of interest in the eyes, tilt of the head, lifting of a shoulder and an eyebrow, and they were out the door together.
When Severus held out his arm to Remus, Remus gladly took it and let Severus Apparate the both of them away. It didn't matter to Remus where they went, as long as it was a place where they could get lost in each other. At least for this one night, neither man would have to fear dying alone.
Author: carpe_slytherin
Characters/Pairings: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape
Rating/Warnings: PG. Slash and a touch of angst.
Word Count: 363
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling’s, not mine.
Darkling I listen; and for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
- from Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats
~*~
It wasn't that Remus Lupin was afraid of death. He had seen so much, and lately dealt out enough himself, that it no longer held the terror for him that it had when he was a young, newly-bitten child.
In fact, now he sometimes longed for death's release. It got tiring spying on the werewolves, playing prodigal pup to Greyback and the older wolf's Lord. He tried to kill rather than turn as often as possible. Tried to hold onto the last tattered shreds of humanity. Tried not to let the steadily growing taint on his soul overwhelm him and drive him into despair. That was all he could do to make his position bearable.
No, Remus was not afraid of either giving or receiving death any longer. What he did fear was dying alone, so when he caught Severus staring at him from across the meeting hall with those grave-dark eyes, he did not turn him away.
Who else could understand the razorblade balance of serving so many masters, of having nothing but pride and the press of duty to help maintain sanity for just one more day? Remus would have bet his last Galleon that Severus Snape was in the same dark place, no longer sure which side he was on at all, and even less sure that it even mattered.
Severus knew. He understood. He had lived with it even longer. And from the way he was slowly making his way through the crowd of Death Eaters toward him, Remus thought that perhaps he did not want to die alone either.
There was no conversation between them, only a rapid-fire volley of subtle body language - a glint of interest in the eyes, tilt of the head, lifting of a shoulder and an eyebrow, and they were out the door together.
When Severus held out his arm to Remus, Remus gladly took it and let Severus Apparate the both of them away. It didn't matter to Remus where they went, as long as it was a place where they could get lost in each other. At least for this one night, neither man would have to fear dying alone.