#humid

@wolfstarmicrofic August 22, word count 986

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“Remus!” Sirius yelped as he ran across the drive and yanked the van door open before Barty had even stopped the van. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said sadly once he’d had a quick look at Remus. “Let’s get you inside. I’ve run you a bath, and Effie is making your hot chocolate,” Sirius carefully undid his seatbelt and slid an arm around his back to steady him as Remus climbed out of the van. 

“Pandora gave me a shot; I should be good for a little while. But I need my med box,” Remus told Sirius. If the pain came back like he was sure it would, he needed the right pills next to him. He needed to tell Sirius what pills were for what and when for any future accidents. But right now, that bath was screaming out for him.

“I’ll deal with you two later,” Sirius hissed at Evan and Barty. Who quickly said goodbye to Remus, Barty apologising again before getting into their car and getting out of the Potters' driveway as quickly as possible.

“Oh, are they not staying?” Effie asked when Sirius and Remus came through the front door. 

“Not if they value their lives,” Sirius grumbled. 

“Oh, Sirius, they didn’t mean for Remus to get hurt. I hope,” she added at the end, looking Remus over. 

“Barty was just a bit too enthusiastic about the accelerator. Any other person and everyone would be laughing about it,” Remus said, putting a smile on his face for Effie. 

“But you’re not just anyone. You’re Remus, and I warned them to be careful with you,” Sirius said in exasperation. Remus had had enough. 

“I know I’m more delicate than everyone else, but can you please stop treating me like I’m made of glass. I hurt, but nothing's broken. I’ve been dealing with this since I was five years old, Sirius. Please. I’m so tired of being the broken one,” Tears dripped from his eyes. Today had been so much, and that was without the fresh pain. “Sorry,” he said, feeling even more exhausted. “Can I, can I just go for my bath?” He asked, looking at Sirius with wide, vulnerable eyes. Sirius nodded. He took the hot chocolate from Effie’s hands and helped Remus upstairs. 

He sank into the bath, which was at the perfect temperature, and closed his eyes. The heat from the bath soothed his battered nerves. The hot chocolate was even better. Sirius got the box of Remus’s medications out of the cupboard under the sink and put it on the counter, waiting for Remus to tell him what to get out. Remus told him the names of all the medications he needed, and one by one, Sirius picked out the five medications.

“If you could put them on the table beside my side of the bed, that would be amazing,” Remus said, his voice a bit sleepy. The heat of the bath was making the room very humid, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d be falling asleep in the bath. “Sirius, could you open the window, please?” Sirius returned to the bathroom, put the box of medication away and opened the window for him. 

“Is there anything else?” Sirius asked. He’d been quiet since Remus’s outburst. 

“Sirius, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’ve always loved how careful you are with me, like I’m precious. It was the pain and the meds and everything else going on. I’m so sorry.”

Sirius came over to the side of the bath and swirled his hand through the warm water. He splashed Remus, making him jolt slightly. He winced, but the little flash of pain wasn’t too bad. 

“Sorry,” Sirius said quickly, but closed his mouth when Remus gave him a look. 

By the time the water was turning cool, the warmth from the water had relaxed him enough that he was sure he would fall straight to sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Sirius had stayed in the bathroom with him, playing games quietly on his phone, so Remus could relax. 

It took a bit of effort on Sirius’s side to get Remus up and out of the bath, but once he was standing up, it was a lot easier. Sirius towelled him down, making sure to get every drop of water off his body and then helped him into a fresh pair of soft pyjamas. Remus yawned loudly, and Sirius pulled back the duvet for him. 

“Do you want me to stay?” Sirius asked, eyeing up the other side of the bed once Remus was safely tucked under the heavy quilt. Remus shook his head, yawning. 

“No, I’m just going to sleep,” his words sounded thick even to him as he began to fall asleep. 

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll come and check on you. If you wake up and need anything, just yell. I’ve left your phone beside your meds and a glass of water as well, just in case we end up outside. Monty has an idea for a natural pond that we can swim in or something.” 

Remus wasn’t sure if Sirius had stopped talking or if he’d just fallen asleep because he hadn’t heard any more of what Sirius had been saying.

He woke up a few hours later, pain shooting down his spine to the tips of his fingers and toes. With heavy hands, he managed to get the lids off his medications and took his prescribed doses. They acted quickly and allowed him to fall asleep again.

It was dark by the time he woke up. His stomach was growling, and as though Sirius had known the exact time he would wake, he appeared in the doorway holding a tray filled with Effie’s goodies. 

“Feeling any better?” Sirius asked. Remus nodded and held his hands out for the tray. Sirius laughed and brought it over, balancing it carefully on Remus’s covered knee. 

Rainy day walk in the meadows

Adrien Majewski, France, 1898-99