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Thomas had a secret.
A big, terrible secret that made him feel terrible, even before taking the guilt of keeping the secret from his boyfriend into account. He wanted to tell him: really, really wanted to tell him.
But the secret was big. The secret was terrible. The secret was bad enough that it could break a relationship.
He loved Remus. He also wondered if maybe Remus would be okay if he found out the truth.
Remus was unique. He was funny and not afraid of anything.
And maybe, if he found out Thomas's deep, dark secret, he wouldn't be afraid of Thomas, either.
But Thomas wasn't ready to risk that.
Not yet.
"Baby," Remus whined, leaning against Thomas's side and pouting at him. "Why are you leaving me?"
"I'm not leaving you," Thomas explained, feeling overwhelmingly guilty but doing his best to hide it. "I just... can't be here tonight. I have somewhere to be."
"But it's Halloween! You can't leave me alone on Halloween."
Remus continued to pout. He did his best impression of puppy-dog eyes, which only ever worked on Thomas.
"I'm sorry. I really wish I could stay."
"You won't even tell me where you're going! Very rude."
"Sorry."
Remus frowned. "I don't want you to apologise. I want you to stay!"
"I wish I could," Thomas sighed. "But I really don't have a choice here."
"You won't even tell me what's going on!"
Thomas frowned. "I... I know... I'm sorry."
"Thomas," Remus frowned, too. "Come on. Please, why can't you tell me?"
"I just... I don't know if you'll believe me-"
"C'mon, I'll believe anything you tell me."
"And- and I really don't know how you'll react. You might... you might be scared of me."
Remus gave Thomas a look that was halfway between a startled confusion and amusement.
"Me?" Remus half-laughed. "Scared of you? C'mon, Thomas, you're adorable!"
"Not always..." Thomas mumbled under his breath.
(He certainly wasn't adorable in his monster form. At least, he didn't think he was. Too tall and fuzzy and with more sharp teeth and claws than he knew what to do with.)
Remus tilted his head.
"It's just..." Thomas sighed. "I can't tell you, I'm sorry. And I... I really have to go."
Remus frowned, but didn't do anything to stop Thomas when he got up off the couch. He looked... disappointed, and made an uncomfortable ball of guilt and anxiety form in the pit of his stomach.
He still left, though, and did his best to ignore his discomfort.