Mini-series on the 5 love languages, with Wolfstar. Enjoy fellas!

Stay safe & drink some water :))

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The moment Sirius walked into the Common Room, Remus knew something was up. Even from a distance, his hands were visibly shaking, his face far too pale. He knew, he knew. They'd taken Slytherin down on the Quidditch pitch yesterday, and the revel in the Gryffindor's common hadn't slowed. Butter beer was passed freely around, dramatic declarations of love were made, James glanced wistfully at Lily who determinedly ignored him--it was the normal.

Sirius was often one of Gryffindor's most raucous celebrators, hopping wildly onto the table with a mug of butterbeer and making toasts to Gryffindor's glory. He pulled James out onto the floor to dance, which even made Remus start cackling outright when they twirled each other around like besotted partners. 

But no, not today. He walked in quietly, slipping through the door and keeping to the darker corners of the room. He'd been acting strange since the morning, when he'd gotten an owl from someone and shut down completely. His face was blank, eyes always slightly unfocused on something in the distance. It was killing Remus inside to see him this way. 

When he forced a grin as James came up to him, howling excitedly about how Lily had whapped him over the head with a newspaper. Remus winced at how forced it looked, with Sirius twitching oddly as he nodded robotically at James's excited, hand-waving rant. 

Remus unfolded himself from the comfy beanbag he'd been resting on, taking his half-full cup of Butterbeer with him. His bones cracked in protest as he shuffled up to them, but he resolutely ignored them.

"Oi, Prongs?"

"And her hair mate, her--oh? Moony! You ready to finally join us on the dance floor?" James tilted his head to where some Gryffindor students were forming some sort of line dance, excited chatter over the slosh of pumpkin juice.

"I think not, but Evans might be looking for a dance partner. Even a dunderhead like you, Jamsie." James pressed a hand over his heart in mock betrayal, and slapped Remus on the arm softly.

"My hair look alright?" 

"It looks fine, Prongs. Go get 'em." He grinned and flashed Remus finger guns, then headed onto the mass of students. Remus watched him go with fond exasperation. His gaze snapped back to the shuffling figure in front of him. He resisted the urge to cluck his tongue at the sorry state Sirius was in. His eyes were dull, empty of the mischievous but sometimes frenetic energy that filled them. Usually moving hands were still and limp by his side. Mouth always curved in some fashion of a smile was set softly in a frown. God his mouth--Remus had had countless thoughts of that mouth on his. And on other places, too.

"Thanks," he offered, looking at Remus with a wavering smile he saw right through. 

"Dorms?" He tilted his head in the direction of the staircase, and Sirius nodded without hesitation. 

They made their way up the stairs with little disturbance, though it ached Remus to see the fake smile Sirius had plastered onto his face. None of the other Gryffindors seemed to notice, though, which caused a brief spark of anger. How could they not see something was wrong with him? Sirius Black, one of the most popular Gryffindor members, and no one batted an eye to help? 

They made their way up the stairs and into the dorm room, Remus closing the door softly behind him. Sirius had sat on his bed, staring at the distance. Remus walked over to him, settling down on the bed in front of him. (It was Peter's. The boy really needed to learn how to pick his things up.)

And he waited. When Sirius got like this (times few and far between, but they existed), what he needed was to wait. For Sirius to marshal his thoughts, and for him to feel comfortable enough to speak them. He leaned forward and placed a hand over one of Sirius' shaking ones, squeezing lightly.

"Moony, I--" his voice came out hoarse, though he hadn't said a word. 

"It's okay, Pads. Take your time." The hand that was on Sirius's rubbed a thumb over his knuckles, making the other boys breath go shakier. 

"I'm already not enough for them, Rem. I'll never be enough. I'm their messed up Gryffindor child who brings shame to the Black family. I'm a failure, Remus. I'm a failure to them, to all of you, to my--" at that his voice cut out with barely controlled tears. 

Remus surged forward and captured the shaking boy in a hug. Sirius choked back a sob and flung his arms tightly around Remus, as if he were afraid he'd vanish into the night. But he wouldn't. Not ever would he let Sirius feel like he was alone. His hands tightened subconsciously on Sirius's shirt as his fellow Marauder let loose a sob.

"Th-they used a cruciatus on Regulus. Because of me. Because of me, Remus! I got in front of him and took it myself but I--I don't care what they do to me," he buried his face in the crook of Remus's neck. "But they can't hurt my brother."

His body shook with all the emotion he'd been holding back. Remus slowly and methodically rubbed his hand over the bumps of Sirius's spine, doing his best to comfort the other.

"Pads. Padfoot. Sirius." At that, Sirius's blotchy face reappeared from Remus's shirt. 

"I want you to listen to me, okay?" Sirius nodded, keeping his eyes on Remus's.

"You aren't a failure." At that he opened his mouth, but Remus pressed a finger over his lips. "Shh. Listen to me, Pads. You aren't a failure. Just because your dim witted parents say you are, doesn't mean you are." He winced internally at how that sounded, but Sirius latched into his gaze again. 

"Your parents are a mess. And I'm so sorry for that love. Because you deserve the world, Pads. You deserve so much more than the crap family you got. You're a brilliant, smart, handsome," at that Sirius'a mouth tilted up at the corners. 

"And incredibly person. Don't ever believe that you're not enough. We love you, Sirius. Everyone does. I mean this. You have me, Prongs, Wormtail, and so many others who believe in you. You're an amazing person, Pads. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise." One of his hands had tangled into the hair at Sirius's nape, and began stroking it gently.

Sirius, on his part, had gone a little misty eyed. 

"Moony that--that was the best thing anyone's every said to me. Thank you. Thank you, Moony." He pressed back into Remus's body, and his hands came to twine at the small of his back. Remus placed his cheek on the mane of dark hair that was Sirius black. 

"Of course, Pads. I'll always be here for you."