Work Text:
The clock showed 5:30 AM when the door creaked open and woke you from your slumber. You jumped awake and got up from your boyfriend’s bed in an instant, helping James and Sirius to gently lay a half unconscious Remus Lupin on it, mindful of the pain he is in.
Fresh cuts and bruises cover his skin and break your heart piece by piece as you inspect each and every one. You hated that he had to go through this every month and you couldn’t do a darn thing about it.
Sighing softly, you move to his nightstand and grab the bowl of warm water and the cloth you prepared earlier, and sat carefully on the bed next to him, taking in his tired features and the dark circles under his eyes.
It’s been a rough moon by the looks of it.
“Hello, my love” he mumbles with the brightest smile he could manage and your heart skipped a beat. Even in pain, your lover refused to worry you.
You return his smile and move closer to him, settling the bowl in your lap as to not drop it by accident.
“Hello, my darling” your left hand cups his face as softly as possible, lifting and turning it to get a better look at the nasty cut on the underside of his jaw.
He winces for a moment, but obeys and leans in your touch. He hates worrying you so much. If he could, he would hide every wound he gets, but you wouldn’t let him hear the end of it. So he lets you work, a faint smile lifting the corners of his lips at your gentleness. He’s still awed by the love and care you show him every second. He’s still unsure he deserves it…
You move the cloth over the injury, cleaning the dried blood and dirt and extend a hand for the essence of Dittany, placed on his nightstand. He chuckles fondly at your blind attempts to reach it and turns slightly, getting it for you.
A blush spreads rapidly over your cheeks and you move to take it, but he catches your hand and brings it up to his lips, placing a kiss on the back of it, your blush now redder than his curtains.
“Thank you, my sweet love, but you should rest now, s’been a long night” you whisper with the gentlest smile on your face, but Remus shakes his head; he didn’t want to sleep, he wanted to watch you work, hold you, kiss you, feel you close to him after hours of pain.
“M’not tired” he mumbles, but the yawn that follows says otherwise.
You shake your head fondly, an amused smile lifting the corners of your lips now and your boyfriend blushes faintly.
“Well, not too tired more like” he adds sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
You cover each scratch and bruise with the healing essence, watching the mildest of them close and turn to faint scars and speeding the process as much as you could without hurting him. By the time you were done, Remus was already nodding off, against his wishes to stay awake, bathed in the first rays of the morning sun.
The sight took your breath away and you take him in, capping the potion with clumsy fingers. Tousled chestnut hair, a face so beautiful it would make painters cry trying to capture it perfectly onto their canvas, all lines and angles…even tired, he was the most beautiful man you’ve seen.
The corners of Remus’ soft lips raise along with his left brow, opening one eye to peek at you, gesture that has your cheeks flaming up again. You look down and put the Dittany away as your lover’s smile turned to a slight smirk.
“I can feel your eyes on me, my love. Am I all that pretty to look at?” he asks smug, yet there was a hint of shyness in the pink dusting the apples of his cheeks.
You nod with a sweet smile, before an idea comes to mind. You bite your lip seductively and look him up and down through your lashes, humming pleased when your eyes land on his beautiful emerald ones again. This time his cheeks are a deeper shade of pink.
“You’re not just pretty, my sweetest one, you are breathtaking. I’m still wondering, every single day, how come I’m so lucky to get to love you” you finish with the most loving expression on your face.
Remus is melted hearing your words and moves to sit up, ignoring your protests and wincing just a tad. His smile though, it is radiant. Pain be damned, his girl matters more.
He cups your cheeks so gently, you thought you could cry, and brings you closer to him. You lean in his touch and, to make it easier for him, move to straddle his thighs, but keep your weight on your knees, refusing to put even an ounce of pressure on him. You couldn’t forgive yourself if you hurt him, even by mere accident.
When you are close enough for his liking, he smiles cheeky and pecks your nose, watching the blush paint your cheeks his favorite color as you scrunch your nose adorably. His heart nearly bursts with all the love he has for you stored in it.
“Cuddles?” he whispers so soft that you are convinced you wouldn’t have heard if you weren’t so close.
You bite your lip in thought, watching his charming smile turn into a cute little pout. Of course you want to stay with him and snuggle, if it were after you, you’d never leave again. But he is hurt right now, and staying could do more damage than good.
He seems to read the worry in your eyes, for he smiles gently and caresses your cheeks with his thumbs in a reassuring gesture.
“My love, what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?” he asks softly, watching you through his lashes, blinking slow.
You sigh and give him a tired smile in return.
“Of course I want to stay, my love. But I’m worried I’ll hurt you more if I do. I move a lot in my sleep and I don’t want to open any cuts or press on any bruise…”
His smile doesn’t falter for a second before bringing you into the sweetest kiss he ever gave you. His lips move slow on yours, a tired kiss, but overflowing with all the love he has for you. You kiss him back sweet and gentle, your hands enveloping his on your face and squeezing them gently.
You feel him smile in the kiss and deepen it, the passion growing by the second. It was a painful effort to pull away for air, but when you do, the both of you panting messes, Remus leans his forehead on yours, eyes closed and sighing content.
“My darling love, you could never hurt me, never. I know that in my heart and with every fibre of my body. I know I can trust you, I know I can leave myself in your hands and that I will be safe. So” he lifts your face gently so he could meet your eyes “I also know that I can sleep and cuddle the love of my life and she won’t hurt me, not one bit” he smiles soft and holds your gaze, assuring you that he means it.
You take a moment, processing and turning his words on every angle possible until you are satisfied. He trusts you won’t hurt him. He is sure you won’t. And so should you be.
You nod, and his face breaks into the biggest smile he put on tonight.
“Yes, my love, I will stay with you and cuddle. But” you add before he can say anything else “I have one condition” you wait for his nod to continue “I don’t care if I’m sleeping or what I’m doing. If I hurt you, you tell me right away. I don’t care if you wake me up to do it, you do. Please” you bite your lip and add softer “please, to ease my mind?”
His arms move and wrap around your waist, bringing you closer. You maintain your weight on your knees and place your hands on his chest, watching his eyes as he makes his decision.
“I promise you, my love” he says finally and you let out a relieved breath, smiling.
“Thank you, Remus” you mumble leaning down and pecking his lips.
He smiles on your lips and hums “no need to thank me, Y/N.”
Returning his smile, you move and lay down next to your boyfriend, carefully snuggling into his side and draping an arm around his torso, bringing him as close as you thought wise. He sighs content and holds you tight, sleep taking over the both of you in seconds.