mooningremus

Willy

Remus was feeling like shit, as he did after every full moon. At least Willy had found a place to lock him up, and it hadn't been so bad. He'd woken up feeling sore as usual, but at least he hadn't gotten loose. And now he was just letting Willy lead him back. They had to go briefly back into the real world, he knew, on their way back to the cabin.

They stepped out of a mirror and into what appeared to be an antiques shop. And maybe, when it came down to it, Remus shouldn't have been surprised to see what was there waiting for them.

The wizard who'd been following him. Standing there with his wand out and a smirk plastered on his face.

"Found a body this morning," Rory said. "Not far from here. Ripped to shreds. I'm taking you in."

Remus just leaned against Willy, feeling too exhausted to even respond.

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"You know it wasn't him. You're not taking him anywhere," Willy said firmly.

In the alcove under the stairs there were three mirrors, and four more hung on the opposite wall. Every one of them offered glimpses of different places in the fae realms. Willy spied movement, but said nothing.

"I was sent here to find proof that a werewolf is on the loose, and to bring back a werewolf to lock in Azkaban," Rory said with a shrug. "This seems like an optimal outcome. Don't worry, I'm sure you can find a new pet. Just run down to the pound."

Rory pointed his wand at Willy. "Petrificus totalus!"

"Wizard magic," he scoffed, waving his hand lazily. The spell shimmered in the air like the sun sparkling on water. He could feel Remus weak against him, but he did try to keep himself between the wizards.

"I haven't killed a mortal in so long," he said, then grinned maliciously. "Let's see if it's as easy as I recall."

One of the mirrors behind them broke into dozens of pieces, all of them flying at Rory.

Rory threw up a shield with remarkable speed, and Remus managed to get with it enough to reach for his own wand. But as soon as he heard the first syllable out of Rory's mouth - "Sep-" he knew what spell he was casting. And almost without thinking, he shoved Willy and caught the brunt of the spell himself. Pain lanced through his neck and chest, and he crumpled.

The movement in the mirrors suddenly sprang to life.

"Children," came a growled call and four gangly children dressed in gossamer and leaves leapt on Rory and dragged him down. The wizard kicked and flailed, tried to use his magic, but they were not fae and they had no fear.

As they dragged him through a mirror that promptly silvered over, Willy bent to cradle Remus.

"So much blood," he marvelled, the reality of the situation not quite hitting him yet.

Remus' eyes were slightly unfocused as he looked up at Willy. "Is he gone? Are you safe?" It hadn't quite occurred to him yet that he was probably dying. Everything seemed slightly far away as blood streamed from the wound on his neck.

For a long moment, he was paralyzed. Remus was going to...die. But that's what they did. Mortals died. A fae got used to it after some time.

He'd let Charlotte go. And Edie. And so, so many others.

But he found he wasn't ready to say goodbye to his little mouse just yet. Selfish, probably, but he'd never felt shame about being selfish.

"You're going to be fine," he said as he covered the entirety of the gash with the span of his hand. There, in the dark corner of a dusty old shop, surrounded by shards of glass and lit only by the sunlight streaming through the remaining mirrors. "Do you believe me, Remus? Have I ever lied? You're going to be fine."

Warmth spread from his hand and the pain stopped. He held it in place and began to hum a soft, gentle song.

"Sure, love, of course I believe you," Remus mumbled as he closed his eyes, sure that the fleeting pain must mean it was almost over. He was more okay with it than he might have thought.

Magic coursed through him and he poured all of it into Remus. The wound healed and the bleeding stopped. Every drop spilled vanished.

He finished his song, then petted Remus's hair.

"Come back to me, pet," he said softly.

Suddenly realizing that he was still alive, Remus opened his eyes and looked at Willy.

"I..." he croaked, and then cleared his throat. "Willy? What happened? Where is he?"

"He's gone," he assured him. It was dim and dusty and cramped. Willy waved a hand and the mirror reassembled itself, then he moved to help Remus up.

Had it been this dark in the cramped hall before? Surely it had.

Remus brought his hand to his neck, looking dazed. "I... I was bleeding..."

"And you're not anymore. Up, now. We should go before the children come back," he said quietly, ushering Remus away from the mirrors and out of the shop. The sun was unbelievably bright. He patted his pockets and put on some sunglasses.

"We'll go home," he said. "I won't call off the children until we know the ministry is off your scent."

"Do you mean the flat or the cottage?" Remus asked. His head felt fuzzy. He wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, it had been so fast...

"The cottage," he said. "You seem happier there."

The antique shop was only a short way to the hidden treasure, but willy couldn't stand it. The autumn sun was awful.

He hailed a taxi.

Willy...hated taxis.

And Remus knew how much Willy hated taxis.

When it came and they sat in the backseat, he reached over and took Willy's hand.

"You don't need to live in fear anymore," he said, keeping Remus close. "We'll just go home."

He gave the driver the address of the bank across the street- the only address he actually knew.

Remus didn't say anything, not wanting to have that conversation in front of the driver. But when he looked at Willy his expression was questioning and concerned, and he kept a tight hold on his hand.

Willy kept his head down in the cab, and then on the sidewalk. He only really looked up when they were in the dark alley that led to the cottage.

"Inside. There's chocolate."

And there was. On the table was a heaping bowl of candy of all kinds.

Remus made a beeline for the bowl, and unwrapped a bar of chocolate with caramel inside. He was actually ravenously hungry, as he often was after a full moon, but this would do for now.

After he'd eaten a bite he looked at Willy for a long moment.

"Willy, was I.. was I dying? For um. For a moment?"

"Probably," he replied. "But you didn't, and that's all I care about."

It took him a moment to select a sweet and it seemed he was choosy. In fact, he couldn't guess which one was black currant. He finally chose the blackest.

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"Perhaps. I tried," he replied with the sweet clacking against his teeth.

"But how?" asked Remus. "I know your magic is powerful, but I thought it had to have a cost... deals, bargains."

"No deal," he smiled softly. A cost, yes, but Remus didn't need to get so he withheld that.

"Rejoice," he told him.

Remus waited for a beat and the threw his arms around Willy. "Thank you," he whispered. "I love you, Willy Silver."

Willy held him a long moment before pulling back to look into his eyes.

"Oh Remus," he said affectionately and kissed him.

It was hard for Remus to believe that it was just... over. But kissing Willy, it seemed like everything might be okay. All he wanted now was to be with him, and for both of them to be safe.

He smiled when the kiss broke and he caressed his cheek and pushed his fingers into his hair.

"Do you want me to make you sausages?" Willy asked. It was a bit of a post moon tradition mow.

"Yes please," Remus said immediately. "I'm exhausted but ravenous."

Willy smiled at him, but behind him things began to move. The stove grew hotter, and a pan appeared. It began to sizzle, packed full of sausages. The whole cottage soon smelled delicious.

"You will eat, then sleep. You'll be better by the night."

"And are you all right?" Remus asked. "He didn't hurt you?"

"He didn't hurt me a bit," he promised. "Stop fussing."

"You saved my life," said Remus. "I think I'm entitled to fuss a little."

"Not today. Fuss tomorrow when you feel stronger," he said firmly.

"You take such good care of me," Remus said fondly, and sat down at the table.

"You need cared for," he replied simply.

"Even when James and Sirius helped me... no one's ever cared for me before like you do," Remus said softly.

"I do little but treat you with kindness, Remus," he told him softly. The sausages flew from the pan to a plate that landed in front of the hungry werewolf.

"You take care of me," Remus repeated. Then smiled. "I take care of you too. At least, I try."

"You take very good care of me," he nodded. "My life has neve been easier."

"Mmmm." Remmus closed his eyes, looking tired, but there was a little smile on his lips when he teased, "I guess that explains why you saved me."

"I promised you I would. And I did," he said. "Now eat and eat and then sleep and sleep, pet. Tomorrow will be a nicer day."

"Could we... go out tomorrow?" Remus asked. "Do something nice? I've felt so cooped up."

"We can be a brash and as bold as you like. London lays at our feet now," he said. "Now that you're safe, we can do anything you like."

Remus looked at him for a moment, and then said quietly, "You saved me, didn't you?"

It didn't occur to him that he'd saved Remus first, by pushing him out of the way.

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Willy

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