not the best way to return to this book but oh well hi-

***

"Stay," he whispered, and the night gave way to something darker.

"Stay," he whispered again, searching those grey eyes that looked as open as the sky.

"Stay, please stay." Remus prayed that Sirius would listen, that he would close the door then close the space between them, and they would hold each other as the darkness gave way to grief, which of course is the darkest thing there is.

So Sirius did, and the mattress dipped beneath him, and his back was pressed against Remus' chest, and they held on tight as grief arrived as a flood, its pulsing beat like a heart that kept thrumming, the silence humming with something else.

"I'm here," Sirius murmured, because he was. Remus wasn't alone, because Sirius was here.

When dawn arrived, and the darkness faded again, Remus awoke curled around a pillow, Sirius was still dead, and he whispered over and over until his voice and his tears had dried: "Stay."

But Sirius couldn't stay, because Sirius was gone.