No one objects to Remus staying the night with Sirius. If anything, it's the complete opposite.

And that's how Remus ends up sitting next to Sirius. The nurse sneaked and extra pillow in for Remus, which he's tucked behind his back.  It's probably around three in the morning, but Sirius isn't sleeping.

"Remus," Sirius says. Softly.

"Hmm?" Remus turns his head to look at Sirius.

"You're really cute," Sirius gives a sleepy half-smile. It makes Remus feel like he's melting.

"Thank you," Remus mumbles, leaning forward to rest his elbow on the mattress. He puts his cheek in his palm. He can feel the scars on his cheek under his fingers. "You're really cute, too,"

"Really?" Sirius widens his eyes.

"Yeah," Remus whispers, carefully brushing Sirius' hair back, exposing the bandage wrapped around his head.

"Thanks," Sirius whispers back.

Remus hums, and they fall into a sleepy silence.

"Remus," Sirius says again.

"Yeah?" Remus replies.

"Say something," Sirius mumbles. "Please," he adds.

"Say something?" Remus repeats, a little confused. "Like what?"

"Don't know," Sirius replies, "Don't like it when it's quiet."

It's not easy to hear those words, knowing the weight they carry. Remus has no idea what to say.

"Would you like me to turn the lights off?" He asks.

"No," Sirius sighs, "Actually... Can you please dim them?"

"Yeah, hold on," Remus quickly dims the light and returns to his seat.

"Thanks," Sirius sighs again. Remus sits still, biting his lip as he wonders what he can say.

"I..." he sighs, disappointed in himself. Sirius asked for one simple thing and he can't even do that? He looks at Sirius, who's watching him with hazy eyes.

God, he looks so beautiful. Hurt, but beautiful.

"Why don't you tell me a joke?" He asks, his voice as weak as his knees. Even looking at Sirius makes him feel so much.

"Really?" Sirius lights up.

"Yeah," Remus can't help smiling as he looks at Sirius' grin. "Why not?"

"Everyone hates them," Sirius says, "Except James,"

"It's just pretend," Remus leans his elbows on the mattress again, leaning a bit closer, "It's pun etiquette to act like you hate them,"

Sirius chokes out a laugh. "Is it, now?"

"Yeah," Remus smiles a bit wider. "It is. Quit stalling and tell me one, now," he tilts his head, "Unless you don't have any..."

Sirius' mouth drops open. "I'm... Get the nurse," he gasps, "Press that damned button and get the nurse. My ribs and my wrist are no longer all that's broken,"

Remus bursts out laughing.

"See? I've got you laughing and I haven't even told my joke yet," Sirius wiggles his eyebrows, making Remus laugh again.

"Go on, then," Remus challenges, "Let's see what you've got."

Sirius hums a little as he tries to think. "Oh, oh, I've got a great one," he grins. "Why do you measure snakes in inches?"

Remus frowns. He doesn't even know if snakes are measure in inches. "Don't know," he finally says, "Why?"

"More enthusiasm," Sirius demands.

"Why do you measure snakes in inches, Sirius?" Remus asks, genuinely curious.

Sirius grins at him, taking his sweet, sweet time. "God, can you just tell me?"

"God isn't gonna do shit," Sirius says, "But I'll tell you. Wait, does that make me God? Because—"

"Will you just tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Sirius smiles teasingly.

"Why you measure snakes in inches," Remus replies impatiently.

Sirius gives him a cheeky smile. "Because they don't have feet."

Remus almost snorts. "What the hell was that?" He laughs, putting his face down in his palms.

"A joke," Sirius replies, "Which you asked me for,"

"That was actually good," Remus wipes at the corners of his eyes.

"You sound surprised," Sirius narrows his eyes, "Like you expected any less,"

"Oh, I wouldn't have dared,"

"Good," Sirius sighs. "Is it weird that I could fall asleep like, this very second?"

"Not at all," Remus smiles at him reassuringly. He wants to touch Sirius' cheek so bad. "You need rest."

"And you won't... you won't leave, will you?" It's like a switch inside Sirius has been turned, because his voice now sounds so small and so sad. The whole room bends to its will, and the room that felt warm and comfortable a moment ago now feels cold and suffocating.

"I won't leave," Remus promises, "I'm staying the night."

"And then?"

"And then I'll go home... I mean, I'll go to your place and I'll be back after lunch,"

"And then?" Sirius asks again.

"Rinse and repeat," Remus tries to smile wide.

"What about..." Sirius frowns, "What about when I go home? Will you leave?"

Remus looks at him. What's he supposed to say now? It's not even up to him. Or maybe it is. And even if it isn't, he doesn't need to tax Sirius with this right now. "I'm staying," he says, and it surprises him how firm he sounds.

Sirius smiles softly. He slowly moves his hand towards Remus, tugging at the sleeve of his jumper. Remus removes one hand from under his chin and lets Sirius wrap his fingers around it. It makes Remus feel weak again.

"Good." Sirius says. Remus waits for him to say more, but he doesn't. He just falls asleep just like that, smiling and holding Remus' hand.

***

Despite having woken up only a few hours prior, Remus manages to fall asleep again. When he jerks awake, his neck is stiff and his hand has fallen asleep. He wants to move it, but then he sees that Sirius is still holding it, so he doesn't move.

The sun has risen, and the white curtains have turned a gold yellow because of it. Remus looks at Sirius, who looks to be in deep sleep. Remus moves his eyes back to Sirius' hand holding his. The pale fingers, the thin wrist. And the black nail polish, chipped.

This is when he remembers.

He Accio-s his coat over, only barely avoiding getting hit in the face. He gently moves his hand out of Sirius', and fishes around in the pocket of his coat. After a bit of a struggle, he pulls a little bag of cotton balls out along with a pink plastic bottle.

Nail Polish Remover, the label reads. And under that in small letters, Enriched with vitamin E for beautiful, healthy nails.

Sirius' nails are always beautiful, with vitamin E or not.

Remus bought these on the way to St. Mungo's yesterday, from a convenience shop they passed. Neither James nor Auguste questioned him.

Remus holds the bottle away from Sirius as he pours some of the intense-smelling liquid on to a cotton ball and sets it down on his knee. He picks Sirius' hand up carefully. It's so warm. Resisting the strong—and rather strange—desire to kiss Sirius' palm, Remus sets to work cleaning Sirius' nails.

And good God, it's so damned difficult. Remus wonders if there's a spell for this. Maybe he should ask Miss Hall.

"Last time I checked, I was in hospital, not at the nail salon," Sirius' voice makes Remus drop the ball of cotton he's holding. He's done two nails, and is now on his third.

"Sorry," Remus feels his cheeks flare up. "I just... your nails were chipped... Not the nails," he cringes inwardly, "The... colour. So I—"

"Thank you," Sirius cuts him off, smiling like Remus is the cutest thing he's ever seen. It makes Remus feel like he's a small child. Blushing, he picks the ball of cotton up off his lap.

"You're welcome," he mumbles, grateful that he has something to do. The only downside being that he has to stare at Sirius' hand, and it's so pretty and the veins on the back of his hand are so delicate and his fingers are so long and... Remus closes his eyes for a second. God.

Sirius waits patiently for Remus to finish the first hand before speaking up. "Remus?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you..." Sirius hesitates.

"What is it?" Remus prompts.

"Can you help me sit up, please?"

"Of course," Remus stands up. He puts an arm around Sirius to support him, and moves the pillow against the headboard. "Wait," he mutters, twisting to get the pillow on his chair as well. He puts it on top of Sirius' one for better support, and eases Sirius against it.

"There," he smiles, "all done."

"Thank you," Sirius looks down.

"Hey," Remus leans a bit closer, "What is It?"

"You smell really nice," Sirius mumbles, and Remus catches the pale rose on his cheeks. He can't help laughing.

"Don't laugh," Sirius makes an exaggerated pout, "I'm not joking."

"I know," Remus smiles.

"Okay," Sirius says, raising his head again. He's no longer blushing. "You can do my other hand now,"

"Your... wrist?"

"Are you cleaning my nails or my wrist?"

"Your nails..."

"Then get to work,"

"Now you're just abusing my kindness," Remus throws him a look.

"Maybe... But you can't blame me," Sirius smiles sweetly, his eyes still a bit hazy from whatever he's on. "I just really like it when you hold my hand."

***

Author's Note

I can never be arsed checking for typos, guys. Tell me if you see any xx

Wait I should probably have said that at the beginning... Nvm

P.S. I'm screaming I think my brother opened my door to let my cat in and i didn't hear cause I had my earphones in and dude I just saw my cat slam herself on the ground and ask for belly rubs and i thought she apparated through my door what the FUCK