Remus

These moments with Florence, with or without Rian here were precious. That moment in the festival- when he shunned me away.. it was horrible.

This entire time I had been here I felt like I was climbing. Climbing an unreliable ladder seemingly to nowhere with the only motivation I had being up. I had to climb until I reached my unknown goal. Whatever it was, it was something I needed to achieve. No matter how high or how long I just knew. I knew in my bones that it was worth it. The ache it gave me to climb was a sign that it was worth it. That this was all worth it.

It was the same ache in my gut that Florence gave me. Whenever I snuck a glance at him and we met halfway, every brush of our shoulders or the occasional smile he'd throw me, it would prove to be worth it. He was worth it.

Florence was like a rung in my ladder. He was there to give me stability. I used to think of absolutely nothing when I thought of whatever was at the top of my ladder, that was until Florence came along. Now I see him sitting there, high up in the sky waiting for me to reach the top.

He was my goal and so far he was proving to be worth it.

Having Florence openly show me his disappointment was a blow to the chest. It was worse than any kind of pain an opponent on the battle field could inflict. What was worse was the radio silence. I wanted to talk to him so badly but Midas constantly advised against it. I trusted him because I didn't want to fuck things up with Florence even more but not being able to see or hear him was driving me insane. Florence was a rung on my ladder, and without him I had lost my footing completely.

"Oi, Remus, pass us the popcorn." Rian's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He had decided to take up half the couch by laying down with his feet splayed over Florence's lap and his feet poking annoyingly at my thigh. I slowly placed my hand into the bowl and brought it to my mouth, making sure to drag out the whole process. I had found that annoying him was fun and that it made me laugh and Florence smile. It was worth it.

Rian looked like he was ready to pop, his face growing an unusual shade of red. Florence snorted and slapped me on the shoulder, the tiny interaction making my brain go fuzzy. "Give the man the popcorn," Florence laughed and I begrudgingly complied, handing Florence the bowl who then stretched to give it to Rian. I did my best to ignore it but the hand Florence placed on Rian's leg as he balanced himself had my eyes glued to them. It was a tiny interaction but it still managed to make my heart jump and not in the good way.

"When do you suppose Eurus will get here?" Florence openly asked. His question was met with silence.

His name alone was enough to ruin my entire mood. It left a sour taste in my mouth even if spoken by a someone else. His name.. it just reminded me of darker times. It poisoned my ambition to climb, my motivation to swipe at whatever was at the top. He was the reason my ladder wasn't stable enough to carry me.

Asking Florence to help was bad and it only worsened with the fact that we needed help with Eurus. I knew what Eurus did to people- how he corrupted them and yet I still asked Florence for his aid. Sending him in his room alone was like watching a clueless animal enter the cave of a bear.

It only soured my mood when Florence announced that Eurus was staying over as well.

"Hm, it's been an hour and a bit. I hope he hasn't changed his mind," Florence continued. I knew he had good intentions but I couldn't help but feel.. slightly off. I would go along with him, whatever his idea was but I guess I wished he'd tell us beforehand.

"This movie is boring as shit." Rian grumbled, effectively changing the subject. I redirected my attention to the movie which I had picked out. It had a bunny on the cover so, naturally, I insisted with my life to have it played. As it turned out it was about bunnies but they talked and moved like us. It took my love for the cute critters and reduced it to something more similar to my love for humans. A little too much hatred for me.

"We could change it if you want?" Florence suggested, picking up the remote which was sitting on my thigh. The brush of his fingertips was.. exhilarating. "If that's okay with you, Remus?"

I nodded feverishly in an attempt to get their eyes off me and towards something less... red.

"Maybe we could watch The Haunting of Bly Manor-"

Before he could finish there was a small knock on the door. I tensed instantly, a mixture of dread and fear took hold of me and I reached out to grab hold of Florence- to stabilise myself. I reached out but he was already moving towards the door. He was already leaving me.

Rian followed after, the bowl now abandoned on the floor. As much as the fear liked to cripple me and as much as I liked to stay silent and yield to it the will power to stand by Florence was ever so much stronger. So, I reluctantly got up and followed the two, making sure to leave a drag in each footstep.

Florence didn't waste a second, skipping to the door and holding it wide open for him.

My heart practically came to a halt as he stepped into the room, wearing an unusual sweater and a cooler bag in hand. From someone unsuspecting they'd probably think nothing of him. They'd see what he'd want them to see, a charming man with seemingly no intent on harming anything. I used to see that, then I saw him for what he truly was; a lonely void. A void that wanted to consume anything and everything just to make itself feel whole.

But at this very moment all I could see was my past. My past with him that I wouldn't mind forgetting- in fact I wanted to forget it. I could see myself and him, much more younger. More naive. More stupid.

"Hey. Sorry I'm a bit late." He brushed off with a small smile. His voice- it didn't sound right. He didn't sound pompous.

"That's all good! We were just talking about you, weren't we Rian?" Florence beamed, turning his head towards Rian who gave him a look of apprehension. "Sure we were.."

Eurus hummed curiously. "Well.. you can carry on with whatever you guys were doing." He said dismissively but I couldn't quite help but catch the slight awkwardness in his tone. It comforted me just knowing he was uncomfortable.

We all just stood there, I myself waiting purely on Florence. It seemed he was the dictator in this very moment and we were his obedient followers. If he walked we followed. If he talked we listened. If he told Rian to shut up he shut up. It was actually funny to watch.

"Well, we were just watching a movie! Since it's getting late I figured we'd start watching something scary!" He informed with the most excited smile. The kind of smile that warmed my insides. As Florence turned, so did we. He skipped his way towards the couch and we followed closely behind. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I guess.

"I- uh.." Eurus started, all heads swivelling in his direction instantly, stopping us dead in our tracks. "I brought beverages. I've never had a sleep-in, so I have no idea what the bring to one." He quickly uttered before pulling out various drinks from his cooler bag. All of which I instantly recognised as alcoholic. It was nice to know some habitats died hard with him.

I couldn't help but notice two completely opposite reactions to the beer and wine, Rian immediately going for the drinks while Florence have them an apprehensive look. I instinctively shuffled closer to Florence and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Something wrong?" I asked. There was a split second where his eyes glared a certain sadness but it was instantly dried up with a small smile.

He hummed his answer, but I didn't take it as a definite answer. "You can tell me. I'll listen." I pressed further. My words seemed to catch him off guard. "I-I just.."

He pressed his lips into a thin line, most likely trying to find the right words. With all his stammering I did what felt right and I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The small but valuable moment of contact seemed to correct whatever felt wrong with him. "I figured you guys wanted to stay sober for tonight. M-Most of my plans aren't exactly going to work if we pass out drunk."

I could practically feel the disappointment in his words. Whenever his tone lowered because he was sad or he lowered his head in silent awkwardness it made my skin crawl. That weird chest ache came back and the urge to comfort him pushed itself to the forefront of my mind. This feeling.. it was strange but not unwanted.

"I'll stay sober. For you." I claimed. I could go without alcohol, as much as I liked the comfort of it's influence, just for Florence. "Y-You don't have to do that. I've seen you drunk, I wouldn't mind seeing it again-"

"Trust me, Florence. I'll stay sober for you." I said with finality. His eyes were like windows into his mind as I could almost see the cogs working, trying to figure out if I was serious or not. Eventually, like an bulb lighting up, his eyes brightened and the sight alone made whatever worries my body felt melt away.

"Right, well, let's go watch that show." He smiled one last time, my core warming up. "Sober." He added, followed my a quick giggle.

And just like that, I was climbing my way to the top again.

**

"Did you enjoy it?" Florence asked eagerly as we finished the first episode of this show he picked out. "Y-Yeah.." I whispered, still shaken up by it. I had never watched a 'scary show' but based of the one I had just watched I did not enjoy them. The suspense, the dread and the fear- it did not sit right with me.

"I need to know what happens!" Eurus said loudly from his place on the floor. The silence he had held since his arrival and all throughout the viewing was a gift, a gift he had to ruin by talking.

"Why are they sooo long?! I swear we were here for an hour!" Rian groaned, grasping his bottle from the ground and taking a swig.

"Episodes nowadays- are usually that long now. I think it's better like this." Florence sighed, using the remote to flick between episodes. I had promised to stay sober for him but I did allow myself one drink. He did the same, picking his off the floor and taking a quick sip. "Ugh, this taste like piss."

I breathed out and amused chuckle as I did the same with my drink. I think I've become desensitised to alcohol. This didn't taste like anything.

Florence gazed up at the clock, then outside. Although the sun was just about out of our view he insisted we keep the curtains open. He had been waiting for the rain since this morning yet it hadn't come. I could sense his growing disappointment with each hour as the dark skies failed to produce a drop of rain. I was disappointed too, I was somewhat excited to see this rain.

"Well.." Florence groaned as he stood up, stretching. "I think it's time to get ready for bed."

He began clearing the floor of bottles and told both Rian and Eurus to get up and help him push the couch back. The plan was to push the couch out of the way to fit a mattress by the TV so while Florence and Eurus dealt with the couch Rian and I struggled to get the surprisingly heavy mattress away from its frame. "Fuck- this is heavy.." Rian groaned as we maneuvered ourselves to fit it through the door. Eventually we got it on the floor and started collecting pillows and blankets.

As Florence got ready in another room we sat in a heavy silence. It was the kind of silence that ate away at you, little by little. Without Florence here to instigate any sort of conversation it felt like I was being digested by this eerie silence. Slowly sinking further and further into it's jaws, I felt myself being consumed into it. If it weren't for Florence showing up not a moment later I probably would've had a freak out and left, or started screaming just to make some noise.

"All done!" He declared, putting me at ease of my inevitable freak out. I say inevitable because the minute my eyes landed on him and I lowered them to view his bare thighs my mind went on high alert. There was silence again, this time it was more than just awkward.

"W-What! I had nothing else to wear and I certainly was not sleeping in jeans." He stammered out before taking the bottles he had left on the night stand and distracting himself by disposing of them.

"I-I'm going to stay up, have a couple drinks." Eurus stated, shooting up fast and making his way over to the kitchen. Rian had a red glow on his face when he nodded and followed after Eurus, presumably to have another drink.

I stayed by the mattress and waited for Florence. I didn't feel tired in the slightest- nothing out of the ordinary with that- but I wanted to lay next to Florence and watch him drift off.

Would he even be okay with that? Maybe he'd find it creepy..

Florence returned, saving me from my pit of thoughts. He still had a few shades of red to him but we ignored it and he crawled onto the mattress with a content sigh. "Can I sit next to you?" I whispered. My breath caught itself in my throat as anticipation rode it's way up my spine. He looked up at me with soft eyes and nodded sheepishly.

Relief pooled into my chest as I lowered myself and sat down. He slid under the blankets and covered half his face, presumably to try and cover the blush growing on his cheeks.

"Are you going to sleep?" He asked with a wavering voice. I hummed my thinking.

"Not yet, but I'll stay by your side. If that's what you want." I insisted. Of course, just like last time, his eyes brightened and the corners of his eyes creased in a sign of a smile.

"That would be great. Thank you." He said softly, his voice like a beam of sunlight directly onto my chest. It was warm and soothing.

I didn't exactly know what to do other than sit there and wait for him to doze off. However, Florence seemed to have other ideas as he wriggled under the covers and huffed restlessly.

Suddenly he snorted and began laughing. "This is so awkward." He huffed, sliding up from the covers and placing a hand over mine. "Tell me about these rings. I've been ever so curious about them,"

I jumped as he began sliding his soft fingers over mine and tracing my black bands. My heart jumped, then stopped and the numbness I normally felt in my hand faded for a bit. I felt his warmth, the soothing touch of his slender fingers and my mind screamed for me to reject it.

I instinctively jerked my hand back and held it down with my other hand. "P-Please don't touch them." I whispered as I looked down. He didn't need to know that part of me. Not now, not ever.

"S-Sorry. I-I didn't mean to." He quickly said, ghosting his hand over my arm. The thing with humans was that they were naturally touchy beings. They communicated so much through just touch and Florence was no exception. Normally I wouldn't oppose his caress but I couldn't deal with it. Not while my hand still buzzed with feeling.

"It's fine. I just had a small freak out. Go to sleep." I insisted. Words left unspoken as he reluctantly slid back under and let out a small breath of air. "I didn't mean anything by it." He said softly, looking up at me with big, apologetic green eyes. I smiled softly as my hand numbed again and I settled.

"I know you didn't. Go to sleep," I both assured and ordered. He gave one last apprehensive look before finally settling in. Before he shut his eyes he looked up at me one last time.

"Promise me something, before I sleep?" He asked.

"Of course," I smiled.

"If it rains, you will wake me up, okay? I don't want to miss it. I can't." He uttered, both fatigue and the need for sleep affecting his tone. His infatuation with the rain was strange but I couldn't judge him based off that. I had.. stranger things I could atone to.

"I promise I'll wake you up. I'll even stay up for you-"

"No, Remus. I don't want you tired tomorrow. Just- if, if it rains I want you to wake me. That's all," he restated. I would stay up no matter what and make sure he'd see the rain, although I nodded anyway.

Seemingly content enough he shut his eyes and fell asleep within moments. I found it so peaceful to watch him sleep and even more so that he let sit by him. I would've stayed by him for the rest of the night but I felt myself slipping, my eyelids suddenly becoming heavy. So, I grabbed my half empty bottle and made my way into the kitchen where Rian and Eurus sat quietly, drinking.

The silence wasn't like Florence when he slept but it wasn't nearly as frightening as the silence held when he left. I knew the drinks played a factor in this as without them I'd doubt we'd all be sitting this close to each other. In our own free will, that was.

Some time passed, some minimalist conversation between Rian and I. I made a few promises to Florence and I planned to keep them all. Even with him asleep now I still only limited myself to one bottle and I listened in constantly for the sound of rain, whatever that sounded like.

Florence groaned, alerting all of us. The soft clinking of drinks quieted as we did our best to settle. "He's a lightweight." Rian grunted as he swirled his beer bottle and took another sip.

"A heavy sleeper too. We're fine." Eurus noted as he followed Rian in his pursuit to finish the bottle. Whereas they were drinking themselves into a stupor I was trying my best to stay somewhat sober so I could wake Florence, just like we promised.

"Tell me, Remus, are you a lightweight as well?" Eurus asked lazily and I tensed. Every time he'd look my way, the constant condescending mask he held- it always made me tense up. "You've barely touched your beer."

I looked at my barely half empty bottle and gave him a sideways glance. "No. Just keeping a promise." I grunted out. He have me an apprehensive looking before downing the rest of his bottle.

"You think he's got a thing for the rain?" Rian snickered, taking a quick peak outside. "Don't be mean, Rian." I grumbled while looking at the clock. It was already midnight.

"I'm not! I'm just saying no one should be this obsessed with the rain! I personally don't think it'll be pretty." He argued. I frowned but couldn't blame him. From what I heard, rain didn't seem all too convenient. It was just something to get annoyed at. But if Florence seemed to like it then I would put aside my own stigma.

As we made our rounds, bottles were emptied and conversations were kept to a minimum. Every now and then we'd talk about Florence and his soft snoring. Although we were still careful around each other the combination of the fact that Florence was right there and the alcohol made us ease up a bit.

We spent an hour like this, drinking and making small talk about a boy that brought us here. It made me think how I'd never imagine sitting at a table, drinking booze with my worst enemies. Sharing a hotel room with them for a night. All because of one person. Florence wielded something much more powerful than just words and I was trying to figure what exactly he had. He couldn't have been just human, surely.

I had finished my first bottle and was halfway down my second when a soft, pattering noise filled the entire room. That, along with Florence's peaceful snoring was enough to completely wrap me in a blanket of comfort.

"What the hell is that?!" Rian exclaimed as Eurus covered his ears with a wince. I frowned at him. "It's rain, dumbass. I'll wake Florence."

I hurriedly got up and made my way to Florence who lay on his stomach, limbs stretched out in an awkward looking manor. I gently shook his shoulder and he snored loudly in response. I did it a few more times and all I got was his loud, almost obnoxious, snoring.

As much as I didn't want to I gripped both of his shoulder and shook a little harder than the rest. This time he did more than snore, shooting up and causing a fuss. He was a little disoriented from his nap but his senses slowly came back to him and he groaned lowly, rubbing his eyes. "It's raining.." I muttered softly. His eyes widened a bit at the sudden realisation and his head turned to the windows. It was dark out, dark enough to limit our view but not dark enough to hide the tiny droplets of water wizzing past.

"It's so.. beautiful." He whispered. "And calming, and soothing and.. reassuring. Basically all of the above. Absolutely beautiful." He continued, gripping onto my hand, the one without the rings. "Don't you think?"

He turned, and suddenly I was caught off guard. It might've been the sound of the rain or the sudden tiredness I felt but viewing him in this very moment.. it was alarming.

A warm sensation that often was a sign of chest ache filled my chest but this time it wasn't a slight ache. It was comforting me. Like a blanket of warmth that bundled me up.

In that very moment I felt vulnerable. Vulnerable with Florence, afraid of him- of what he could do. Of what he made me feel. Maybe afraid wasn't the right word.. perhaps excited by him? Something I hadn't felt in a long time. These feeling I originally thought I'd never want to experience again.

In the moment, deep in his eyes I felt.

I felt like I was at the top of my ladder.

"I agree. Absolutely beautiful."

Aaaaaah, it's positivity splendid! I've been wanting to write a semi intimate scene for awhile now and I hope that got across well!

This chapter was certainly longer than the last and I'm sorry if it felt a bit... scattered I just really wanted to get something out for you guys!

What do you think Remus will do next? Or will the other guys decide to have moment like his?

Thoughts and predictions are always welcomed!