It is 1:34 am and I need to sleep but I promised this and it was not proof read but IT’S HERE non the less. I apologize for the wait, I hope this doesn’t disappoint?

As always, all the credit to the lovely @lumosinlove!

CW: Injuries, hospital

Everything hurt. His chest, his head, his face. Why? Why does it hurt? Sirius struggled to open his eyes but could only get his right eye open a little ways. There wasn’t much light and everything seemed to be shaking.

“Re?” he rasped out, causing a painful coughing fit. Fuck. That really hurts.

“Shh, baby, I’m right here.” Came Remus’ quiet voice, holding Sirius’ left hand tighter. When had he grabbed it?

“Wha-” Sirius tried to get anything out but it took far too much effort.

“It’s alright. You’re gonna be okay.”

There was a jolt and then an unfamiliar voice spoke up, “We have to get him inside.” There was a sound like doors opening a then a rush of commotion as he was jostled about and into a bright building. Hospital?

“We need x-rays and an MRI stat! Check for internal bleeding, run concussion procedure.”

In the commotion, Sirius noticed Remus’ hand had slipped from his. “Re-” he tried to call out.

A nurse was by his side, “Stop trying to talk honey, we’ll take good care of you.”

Sirius tried to lift his head and he caught a glimpse of Remus getting handed a clipboard and talking to a nurse before he was hit with another wave of pain and again everything went black.

***

“Nnngh.” A dull pain everywhere. Why does it hurt? What happened? Sirius tried to open his eyes, but his left one was swollen shut. He felt a pressure envelope his left hand and he squeezed back. “Re?” He rasped out.

“Hey, baby. I’m right here.” He could hear Remus lean in and feel his hand reach out and rake it through Sirius’ hair. “You’ve got a concussion, a few bruised ribs, a dozen or so stitches, and one hell of a busted face. But you’re gonna be fine.”

“Re.”

“Shh. It’s alright. I only told you so you won’t try to ask. Just rest.”

Sirius let out a sigh and settled into the bed, wincing as he shifted. After a few minutes, he drifted off again.

When he woke again, it was to quiet voices in the room. Remus was still clutching his hand so Sirius gave it a squeeze before opening his eye to look over at him. I love you.

“Hey, mon fils,” came Dumo’s soft voice from next to Remus.

Sirius just groaned in response. He could tell he had taken a few hits to the face, his jaw was nearly impossible to move, the left side must look pretty rough. I must look terrible. I feel terrible. The pain had faded some, but probably only due to the pain meds he must be on through the IV he could feel in his right arm.

Dumo let out a small chuckle as James piped up from the other side of the bed, “You gave us quite a scare there, Cap.”

Sirius tried to squint at him with a look but the bruised face really put a damper on the effect as James only laughed him off.

“They said you’ll be back on the ice in no time. At least nothing’s broken. Four, maybe five weeks tops. You’ll be back with plenty of time before pre-season training.”

“Don’t remind me.” Sirius managed to grumble out.

“Pots. I’m sure the last thing he wants to think about right now is training, non?” Dumo laughed. “Let’s give them some space, d’accord?”

James got up and followed Dumo out and Sirius turned his attention back to Remus.

“Baby. I’m so sorry.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. I shouldn’t’ve-”

“’S not your fault.”

“But-”

“No. Not your fault.”

Remus gently rested his forehead to Sirius’. “I love you. You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay.”

Sirius winced as he tipped his head up to place a gentle kiss on Remus’ lips.

***

Two days later, Sirius was released from the hospital and finally allowed his phone back. He saw the team and fans rallying around him after the press got ahold of what happened. Marlene had helped Coach release a statement that “hate will not be appreciated or tolerated in this Pride. Stay strong Lions, stay proud!”

After spending a bit too much time on social media, he dropped a message in the team group chat to thank them and let them know he was back home and that, “Re is taking good care of me 😉”.

He spent the first few night on the couch, too tired to make it up the stairs until he couldn’t take it anymore and wanted a shower. Those night, Remus slept on the floor right next to him, never straying far during the day either. When he finally made it upstairs to their bathroom, Remus helped him shower and get him in sweats before finally tucking him into bed and climbing in next to him.

Remus stayed by his side for a week straight, making sure he was comfortable as could be with bruised everything. Giving him water and medications, making him eat. At the end of the first week home, they laid in bed together, holding hands in place of their typical cuddling for the time being. Remus rolled onto his side to face Sirius and Sirius turned his head to look over at his boyfriend.

“I’m going to be okay, Re. We’re okay, d’accord? I love you, mon loup.”

On nights Shiro can’t sleep, but doesn’t want to wander the Castle, he counts the stars twinkling from his ceiling.

On other nights when he wakes disoriented in a cold sweat, the artifial stars help ground him again. He’s safe in his room. Not the Arena, not on a laboratory table.

The stars keep him company while his Lion rumbles gently until he’s finally lulled back to sleep, or at least a restful doze.

-

After he’s pulled back out from the BlackLion’s quintessence, the projector’s less soothing. The Lion tried creating stars within their shared astral plane once she had the strength to do so, but the “visual” stimulation became only a small comfort compared to being alone in the dark.

But it’s still better than a completely pitch black room.

He tinkers with the projector, intentionally cheapening their quality—not even Allura’s planetarium can match the beauty of the Astral Plane. But it’s a beauty he can no longer bear, at least for a time. (He hopes.) Shiro hunts for a laundry detergent with a stronger scent. (This took several failed attempts—too strong a scent and Jiro’s migraines flare up. The witch left her mark, even after those implants were safely removed. Too weak a scent and Shiro sometimes struggles to ground himself at all. For that matter, so does Jiro, especially on nights when his Visions are their strongest.) He swaps out his sheets for something slightly rougher.

Because Shiro couldn’t see for a time.

Couldn’t smell. Couldn’t feel.

And when his thoughts were at their loudest while trapped within the Lion, it became difficult to tell if he could even hear.

I don't know what to do anymore UUUUGH.

Do not use it to make money, pls give credits UwU!