Aaron (hospital AU)

[mooningremus]

Remus woke up laying in a bed in the emergency room. "Where... am I?" he asked, his voice a croak.

"Ah, welcome back," said a woman standing by his bed. She was wearing a nurse's uniform. "You're in the hospital. A helpful bystander found you passed out on the sidewalk. You don't have any ID on you. What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin." He rubbed his head, and realized he was connected to an IV.

"It's saline," the nurse said. "You're severely dehydrated. Malnourished too from the looks of it though we're waiting for more bloodwork. Any medical conditions we should know about?"

"I'm HIV positive," Remus said with a sigh. "I... I'm so sorry about all this trouble. I'm fine, I probably just... haven't been taking care of myself..." Or more accurately, couldn't afford food.

"Well you should feel better once you're hydrated, and I'll send a doctor in to do a workup," the nurse said. "Rest."

Remus nodded, feeling like a complete idiot. Or maybe burden to society. Or something. And a few hours later he had a diagnosis of nothing worse than what the nurse had said. Though at least confirmation that his HIV status hadn't transformed into something worse. Sometimes he had trouble with food when the shelters were full, but he went to the HIV clinic to get his meds.

The nurse also kindly brought him some fresh clothes. He did feel better as he prepared to leave.

Comments

[quitollis]

"It's more about what level of betrayal I can live with," Aaron admitted quietly.

[mooningremus]

"And you believe love is more of a betrayal than sex?" Remus said, sounding a bit sad.

[quitollis]

"Well... sex is just the moment, isn't it?" Aaron said. And he could ignore how much he enjoyed holding them afterwards.

[mooningremus]

Remus decided not to point out that the way Aaron had sex required planning.

"What are the boundaries of your vows?" he asked. "Could you be with someone without sex?"

[quitollis]

"No," Aaron said, and hoped that didn't sound too sad. Then... "Well... I mean... I'm in a strange position right now. I don't really have a church any more. But as a priest, no, I'm not supposed to. Everything in the service of God."

[mooningremus]

"I don't think God would want you to be lonely," Remus said quietly. "I mean. If you are. You're just, you're a really wonderful person and you deserve to be happy and I can see how... someone would want to be with you."

[quitollis]

Aaron looked at Remus then, and smiled. "You're very kind," he said. So very kind. And rather lovely.

[quitollis]

Aaron too went a bit red and took a generous gulp from his wine. He looked to the coffee table. He really didn't know what to say.

[mooningremus]

Remus looked down at his hands. "I really am sorry that your evening didn't go as planned, though."

[quitollis]

"I don't mind," Aaron said. And then, with some guilt and a lot of anxiet and still looking to the floor, he added. "I prefer your company."

[mooningremus]

Remus blushed again. "Well, I'm not as pretty as Cade, but that's very kind, thank you. I enjoy your company more than nearly anyone else at the moment."

Maybe he was saying too much, but it was true.

[quitollis]

"Stay here then," Aaron blurted out. "I mean... if you want."

[mooningremus]

Remus blinked at him. "You mean... tonight, or...?"

[quitollis]

"Until you find a place of your own," Aaron said. "It'll look good on your applications too; a real address."

[mooningremus]

"Oh... oh Aaron, that's so kind of you. But I don't want to be an imposition, I can't contribute anything..."

[quitollis]

Intimacy. The word didn't leave his mind. It circled, in Remus' voice, and he couldn't shake it off.

"The pleasure of your company," he said instead. "You're not an imposition at all."

[mooningremus]

"Well, if... my good fortune means that someone else can have my spot," Remus said. And the bed there wasn't much more comfortable than this couch. "Thank you, Aaron."

[quitollis]

"We can look for a bed," Aaron suggested. "Doesn't have to be expensive. Second hand. It'll be better than the couch."

[mooningremus]

Remus hesitated, and then nodded. "If you're sure. I think I would like this very much."

Though even as he said it, he knew the real problem. That he was almost certainly developing some kind of... feelings, and he might very well be setting himself up for a sad heart. But that wouldn't be the worst thing he'dd endured.

[quitollis]

Aaron thought it would be really nice to have the company of someone he really liked. There were feelings, yes, and he was certain he shouldn't, but the thought of not being alone was louder.

"It's settled then. I have a spare key too, so you can come and go as you please."

[mooningremus]

"I really don't know what to say," said Remus quietly. "Can I... may I hug you?"

[quitollis]

Best not, probably. "Sure," Aaron said instead and smiled.

[mooningremus]

Remus looked at him for a second, and then approached and wrapped his arms around him. "Thank you, my friend," he said softly.

[mooningremus]

Remus blushed. "I just - it's true." And he didn't know what else to say. Afraid he might say or do something really stupid.