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Remus sighed in content as he tidied his class, casting a hand over his spine shaped candles to ignite a gentle flame to each wick. The lighting in the room was fine without these candles though, they were just good markers for time.
As a man whose life was controlled by a monthly count-down to insanity, he felt it best to monitor the time he had left to his free will.
The professor moved on to his books, sorting them neatly on their shelves when an owl with a tiny note in its beak came fluttering in. The bird dropped the note onto his desk and disappeared into the night, leaving Remus in silence once more.
When he recognized who must have sent the owl he nearly leapt at his desk, dropping everything else completely.
‘(Y/N)…’ he thought immediately, he hadn’t heard from you all day and worry was eating at his mind.
‘Remus,
I’m terribly sorry for not announcing my absence,
it’s just that time of the month and I haven’t been able to do much of anything today,
I hope you understand, and I promise I’ll get your book back to you soon,
-(y/n)’
Remus bit his knuckle, his gaze retracing the handwritten words a few times,
As if he could care about a stupid book right now,
In a rush, Remus grabbed his jacket and struggled to pull it on before hurrying from his room.
A gentle knock came to (Y/N)’s door, and for a moment the quarters were quiet until a small “come in…” sounded from inside.
Remus poked his head inside, his eyes falling on your form curled up in bed. His heart dropped to his stomach at the sight of his precious (Y/N) suffering to a different kind of monthly curse than the one he knew too well.
“Remus…. is that you??” (Y/N)’s voice called quietly, Remus taking that as his cue to come over.
“Yes, it’s me dear…” He spoke soft, almost soft enough to soothe your throbbing everything.
He sat on the bed beside you, his gaze catching yours,
“You really wanted that book, didn’t you..?” You chuckled a little too hard and felt your stomach tighten unpleasantly, making you contort a bit in discomfort.
“I couldn’t care less about that right now…” His brow furrowed at your pained form under him, “Right now you’re my first priority…”
“So Moby Dick can wait…?”
“Yes,” Remus swept a bit of hair from your face, “Moby dick can wait.”
“I feel special…~” you hummed playfully, rising a soft chuckle from him
“Well you are,” He retorted, a smile perking the ends of his lips, “Now just try and relax, I think I can find something in here to help…”
“That’s.. a little hard to do Moony…” sweat covered your forehead, *merlin* It was hot in your room suddenly.
You tugged the covers from your torso and kicked them off your legs, panting from the heat that covered you.
“Hot?” Remus asked, now searching for a glass in your cupboard,
“Mhm… But I know I’ll be freezing any second now..”
Remus’s expression softened, though he didn’t know exactly how you felt, he could sympathize with feeling like he’d melt one moment and like he’d freeze the next.
You close your eyes and for a moment you doze off a little, until a cramp in your abdomen has you curling into the fetal position with a groan,
“Ah hell… I hate this…”
“I know you do..” Remus sighs, seeing you in so much pain hurt to watch,
He made his way over to your bedside, and as he approached you gathered the strength to pull yourself up enough to sit, your back resting against your pillows.
He hands you an ice cold glass of water, something you didn’t know you needed until you were gulping it down.
Once it was finished, he tenderly took it from your hands and set it on the bedside table. He noticed you shiver a little despite the sheet of sweat that covered your skin,
“Cold now…?” He spoke softly, almost as a little joke but sympathy lay heavy on his tone.
You nodded, a little embarrassed before a yawn came from deep in your chest,
“Tired too, hm..? You must be exhausted… seven days of this and you act like it’s nothing when you’re at work…” he says, bewildered at how strong you are for putting up with seven days of what he viewed as pure torture.
“I must look like a mess…” You responded, gripping the sheets, “but you’re still here to take care of me…”
Tears started to sting your eyes, it was touching Remus wanted to help you out in a time of need like this, you really were lucky to have him.
Remus’s eyes widened at the tears streaming down your cheeks, he wasn’t used to seeing you so emotionally vulnerable like this-
“(y/n)…” he muttered, sitting on the bed beside you, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into a gentle hug, scared he may worsen your condition,
“I’m here because I want to be.. I want to help you..”
The tears only came down harder as you leaned into him, enveloping him in an even tighter hug.
“I don’t ever want to lose you..”
This time of the month always somehow brought your mind back to the idea of losing Remus, for whatever reason your brain fixated on it and it ate at you. It felt silly to admit it but it felt like a weight lifted from you when you did.
Remus rubbed soothing circles into your back, muttering in your ear to calm you,
“I don’t want to lose you either, (y/n)…”
Once you calmed, you relaxed against Remus’s inviting chest and closed your eyes, even more exhausted than before
“Let’s get cleaned up before bed.. you’ll feel better…”
A groan escaped you when Remus moved off the bed to help you get up, reluctantly reaching your arm out for him to tug you onto your feet.
“Is it really that bad..?” He spoke soft with concern, to which you shook your head,
“No.. I was just.. Really comfy,” You give him an embarrassed smile, “you’re warm..”
His lips curl up into a small smile,
“Well, we can lay together again after you’re in something more comfortable, yes?” He watched as you nodded your head yes, before leading you to the bathroom and starting up a bath.
You don’t remember how long it was you soaked your aching body in the steaming water, maybe ten or twenty minutes before Remus came in to check on you. He stepped in holding a change of comfy clothes and a towel, setting them on the counter when noticing a small stereo set on said counter.
You often used that stereo when you had extra time, listening to smooth jazz while you soaked your stress of the week away. You nearly forgot about it until you heard the sound of the old thing suddenly starting up, a mechanical hum filling the room before static as Remus fiddled with the dial, finally finding a station.
The smooth beginning melody of Careless Whisper began to play from the small machine, bringing a smile to Remus’s face as he rolled up the sleeves of his button up shirt,
This was his favorite song, if you remember correctly.
He approached the tub and got on one knee, leaning over the edge to face you, causing your eyebrow to quirk up in curiosity.
“Remus John Lupin.. What exactly are you doing..?”
“Well, (Y/N)(Y/M/N)(Y/L/N)... I’m lending you a hand.. Sit up,” He smirked playfully as you complied, your noses nearly touching once you did.
He lowered his hands into the tub and cupped them to catch the water, slowly raising his cupped hands and pouring the water over your head, soaking your hair. Some of your soaked locks fall in your face, splashing your cheeks with water in the process.
“Hey!”
“Sorry,” He chuckled low in his throat, reaching to push your bangs back out of your face and running his hands carefully through your hair.
Next he searched for your shampoo, grabbing the bottle and pouring some in his hands, rubbing them together, a small hum coming from his chest as he listened to the song’s tune in the background.
His hands met your hair again, running his fingers through your locks and massaging his digits into your scalp.
“I feel so unsure.. As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor..” He mutters the lyrics under his breath,
His knuckles glided through your hair once more as bubbles rose from his shampooed hands, his eyes focused on his work,
“As the music dies.. Something in your eyes-...” He caught your eyes staring up at him and stared back, a blush crossing his face. The next lyrics he ended up skipping as the embarrassment set in, dipping his hands in the water once more to rinse your hair of the shampoo while the stereo continued on,
‘Calls to mind a silver screen,
And all its sad goodbyes..’
You couldn’t help but chuckle, now continuing for him to cure the professor of his embarrassment.
“I’m never gonna dance again~ Guilty feet have got no rhythm,”
“Though it’s easy to pretend, I know you’re not a fool..~” Remus chimed in once again, this time singing more proudly with you before the both of you erupt into contagious laughter.
It’s been a while since you’ve seen Remus laugh like this, he seemed to be enjoying himself so much that he lost his balance and found himself slipping halfway into the tub, catching himself on his hands as the water splashed up and soaked his torso and face.
“Awe biscuits..” He muttered, causing the both of you to look up at each other in unison, another laughing fit ensuing,
“Awe biscuits?!” You cackled,
“I-” Remus’s own laughter cut him off, “I try not to swear in front of the students during the day so I--” He looked away to hide his face as he practically snorted,
“Yes I..I suppose I’m still in professor mode,” He calmed a bit and grinned, turning back to look at you as you gripped his tie in your hand, pulling him closer.
“Well, Professor,” You whispered, “You’re adorable..”
You smile as the distance between you and your boyfriend has closed, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. It wasn’t long before you pulled away, still trying to get over your giggles.
“We should get dried off, don’t you think?”
Remus nodded, looking down at his soaked form.
“A brilliant idea, starlight..” His lips twitch up into an embarrassed smile, “I’ll go take care of this..”
You smiled in response, “Alright, I’ll be just a minute,”
And with that you were left to dry off.
Now dressed, you stepped out into your room to see Remus’s shirtless form sitting on the bed. His torso covered in old scars from a past he didn’t enjoy sharing much, they were reminders of what he is, and what he would always be.
“You know.. I have robes you could use..” You tilted your head playfully and he turned to look at you,
“Oh you do? Well… that’s alright,” He smiled, “I don’t need to hide anymore.. Not from you.”
Your heart swelled at his words as you sat beside him, wrapping your arms around his chest and resting your head on his shoulder. Tears pricked your eyes as your lips curled up into a smile.
“(y/n)..?” Remus raised his brows in surprise, “You’re crying.. Was it something I said??”
He felt dread fill his chest, he didn’t want to make you cry, he would never. Before panic took him over, you laughed a little,
“No, Moony, I’m okay..” You grinned, tears rolling down your cheeks, “I’m really happy, actually.. You really trust me..”
“I do.. I really do, (y/n)..” He wiped away at your face to dry your cheeks with his thumbs, “I love you, and I don’t want to hide anymore from the one I love…”
More tears fell, you hated how sensitive this time of the month made you but there was no stopping it. You shared an embrace with him for a few silent moments, the sound of your sniffles filling the room, and soon that too quieted.
“Thank you..” Your eyes drift closed as you relax into Remus, listening to his steadying heartbeat.
“Of course..” He whispered, pulling you close and helping you under the covers of your bed, laying beside you.
Your head rested on his chest, using him as a pillow while his arms wrapped around you. In return, your arms snaked around his torso and you held him close under the covers, letting out a sigh.
He looked down at you and smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead,
“Goodnight..” He whispered, his breath tickling your skin.
He closed his eyes, feeling you shift in his arms to look down at him.
“Awe biscuits? Really?” You chuckled a bit, and so did he, his finger finding your lips to quiet you,
“Hush..” He smiled, watching as you settled back down onto his chest.
“Goodnight, Moony..” You let your eyes flutter closed once again and drift off.