Shadows and firewhiskey (RP for professor_snark)

[patchdandshabby]

As promised Remus had a bottle of firewhiskey and two glass tumblers ready in the library for Severus.  It had been hard to leave him, knowing the very few things he did (but guessing at more) and feeling how tightly wound his lover was.  But Snape had asked and he'd come home

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[professor_snark]

When Severus finally got home, he was mentally and emotionally spent. This was not what he'd expected for his day, but seeing Ryan...he had to talk to him.

He went straight to Remus and wrapped his arm around him, holding him tightly in his arms.

[patchdandshabby]

It was a relief to be able to do something, at least. He touched his cheek to Snape's, syncing their breathing, and remained silent as they stood there. Snape would talk when he was ready.

[professor_snark]

When Severus spoke, his face was buried in Remus' neck. "That boy's father and his friends not only beat him, but routinely sodomized him. He's just a child, Remus! How can people do that to an innocent child?"

His voice cracked throughout speaking, memories of his own childhood at the forefront of his mind.

[patchdandshabby]

Oh gods. He knew it was bad, but he hadn't realized...

"I don't know. I can't understand it, and I don't want to be able to." Understanding seemed too much like condoning.

"I can only hope they burn for all eternity. Somewhere."

[professor_snark]

"I'm afraid you'll find, I often talk to myself. I'm not accustomed to having anyone to talk to, with the exception of Albus, and those conversations tend to go round in circles. I complain, he tries to feed me a lemon drop and changes the subject to the beautiful sky outside. Even if it's a blaring thunderstorm."

He put his hand over Remus'. "It's reciprocal, Remus. If we're in this together, then I want to lighten the weights on your heart as well. I do hope you know that you can always talk to me, even if I am in a foul mood. I'll listen. I promise to always listen. I know how miserable it is when you've nobody to talk to and you feel as though the weight of the world is bearing down on you. We don't have to live like that anymore."

"Not that it won't take some getting used to, of course."

[patchdandshabby]

"I think he prefers the blazing thunderstorms, honestly." Remus had his own fair share of headaches from conversations with Dumbledore.

"If I didn't understand before then I certainly did after... after Greyback." The last time anyone had helped him carry such an enormous weight had been decades ago, when three boys had taught themselves to become animals for him.

[professor_snark]

Severus was tempted to ask him about what it was like, his first full moon, how horrible had it been. But he wouldn't ask Remus to relive that time. If he ever wanted to talk about it, he'd listen, but he wouldn't push.

"I want to find those men, Remus. I want to make sure this can't happen again. But I've basically been 'forbidden' to do so."

[patchdandshabby]

"What, exactly, have you been forbidden to do and by who?"

[professor_snark]

Severus smiled. "Our own, dysfunctional little family. Speaking of, how is Teddy doing? I haven't seen him much lately. Is he handling things alright? The scarring?"

He missed the boy's normally ever present smile, and the music he used to play all the time.

[patchdandshabby]

"When I asked him last he was joking about how they gave him a rakish air, and should help him get a date or two if he plays his cards right." His more lighthearted nature must come from his mother, though the sense of humour seemed somewhat like his own.

"It scared Andromeda, I'm sure. I think he's been spending more time with her lately."

[professor_snark]

"Good, I'm glad it hasn't changed his nature. Someone around here needs to be happy so the rest of us don't slide into depression." Severus grinned, nudging Remus with his shoulder.

"Oh, did I tell you that I gave Ryan permission to use our library any time he needed to get away, provided he told Lupin first."

[patchdandshabby]

"He seems to be very much like his grandfather. Ted always was a happy chap." The fact that Snape could speak of depression but grin amused Remus, and he chuckled.

"Did you?" He looked around the room. "Do you think he might want a chair of his own? Or a bean bag?"