Redemption - Part 7 - Repartee
Feb. 4th, 2006 12:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
innerslytherinRepartee
Prompt: 51 - Books
Pairing: Remus/Severus
Warnings: Preslash
WC: 1,215
Series so far:
1. Reconciliation 2. Rehabilitation 3. Recovery 4. Reply 5. Rediscovery 6. Receiving
7. Repartee 8. Relapse 9. Requisite 10. Retreat 11. Refining 12. Repose 13. Reconsidering
14. Renaissance 15. Retribution 16. Return 17.Rematch 18. Redefining 19. Relishing
20. Recognition 21. Remembering 22. Refrain 23. Reformation 24. Recrimination 25. Reliance
26. Reverting 27. Repercussion 28. Reminder
Severus has always been sarcastic. He gets it from his mother. His father was usually too drunk or too angry to think of effective sarcasm, but Eileen, her face screwed up with anger, her black eyes glinting, always crackled with power. Of course, she rarely got angry with Tobias. Usually her anger was directed at Severus, because Severus had made Tobias angry. Again.
He uses sarcasm as a weapon, but also as a shield. Other people keep their distance from sarcastic people, so they won’t be close enough to be injured. This means that those people are also not close enough to do injury. Sarcasm keeps him safe.
Sarcasm, oddly enough, has never protected him from Remus Lupin. Nothing has ever protected him from Remus Lupin.
Oddly enough, Severus is beginning to believe he may not need it.
Severus stalks into Remus’ hospital room and slaps some parchment on the table. “Your cat destroyed my copy of Potions Most Painful.”
Remus is doing some odd sort of exercise, standing on one foot and bending, then straightening, his knee. He gives Severus a bemused look. “Good morning to you, too,” he says. He straightens a final time and sinks into a chair, wiping sweat off his forehead. He looks exhausted.
“Are you supposed to be doing that with no one around?” Severus asks. He folds his arms across his chest and tries to look imposing.
“Well, but you’re here,” Remus points out, smiling.
Severus frowns. “That was a deliberate misdirection. Just what I would expect from a Gryffindor—complete lack of subtlety.”
Remus looks amused. “You know, it’s spectacularly unkind of you to point out my lack of skill.”
“I point it out so you’ll practice and improve,” Severus retorts.
Remus’ answering smile is suspiciously innocent. “I’m sorry, you were saying something about your book.”
Severus feels a flash of surprise as he realizes Remus has successfully diverted his anger. No, had. He frowns again. “Wolfsbane consumed half of my book.”
Remus raises an eyebrow. “Wolfsbane?”
Severus sits down, scowl deepening. “He’s certainly the bane of my existence,” he mutters.
Remus laughs, a true, unfettered laugh, and Severus’ heart gives a small jump at the sound. He watches the werewolf, liking the small lines at the corners of his eyes, liking that he is responsible for them, even if they are somewhat at his expense. Then Remus lowers his chin to look back at him. Severus feels his face heat suddenly and he scowls and reaches for the teapot.
“Don’t,” Remus says softly, and for an absurd moment Severus thinks Remus wants the same thing he does—for them to laugh together. Then Remus lifts his wand. “That tea’s been there for three hours. Wait.” He scrunches his face in concentration and makes a carefully smooth swish with his wand as he casts the refilling charm.
Severus pours himself a cup and takes a sip. After a moment he gives a nod and Remus’ anxious expression relaxes. It angers Severus to see the werewolf this pleased at such a simple spell.
“I’ve only just regained enough control to do some of the trickier motions,” Remus explains.
Severus pours him a cup of tea.
“I am sorry about your book,” Remus adds. “Of course I’ll replace it.”
Severus finds he no longer really minds about the book, but he scowls so as not to give himself away. “It took me two years hunting through used book lots at estate auctions before I found that,” he says with a sniff. “I doubt you could.”
Remus’ golden gaze turns challenging. “Never question my determination, Severus,” he says in a low voice. Severus cannot tell if the note in it is a promise or a threat. A shiver runs through him.
“I wouldn’t,” he replies dryly. “Not the man who hunted down and killed Fenrir Greyback.” He holds Remus’ gaze. He was in Azkaban when it happened, of course, but he knows. They all know, all the Death Eaters still living. They are afraid of Remus Lupin. Severus is the only one who understands that Remus had reasons to hunt down Greyback that had nothing to do with the war.
Just as Severus had had reasons to hunt down Rodolphus Lestrange.
Lost in his memories, he doesn’t realize at first that Remus has gone still. Severus scans his face and doesn’t like what he sees. “Remus—“
“Don’t, please,” the werewolf says, his quiet, hoarse voice tight.
Severus blinks. “Remus, it’s all right.”
“No,” Remus says. “It isn’t.”
And Severus understands. He doesn’t agree, not in Remus’ case, but he understands. Merlin knows he has felt it enough himself. He sighs and takes a sip of his tea. He wants to change the topic, think of something to put Remus at ease. But he’s never been good at conversation that wasn’t intended to wound or misdirect. Finally he says, “Would you like a game of chess?”
Remus glances at the board that has been set up, awaiting a game, for so long that it is dusty. An odd expression crosses his face. “Thank you, no,” he says after a long moment. “I only keep it set up because it gives Harry something to look at besides me.”
“Oh, good,” Severus says without meaning to. “I don’t care for chess; I’ve spent far too many years as a pawn to not feel for them.”
Remus cocks his head. “A pawn?” he repeats. “Do you really think so, Severus?”
Severus frowns and looks down at his hands, curled around his teacup. His knuckles are white, and he wonders when he tensed up. “What did you mean, it gives Potter something to look at?”
Remus’ eyes shutter, and Severus expects another rebuff. He’s surprised when the other man speaks. “He feels guilty.” He takes a long drink of his tea and when he lowers the cup to the table, his hand is shaking and the cup rattles against the saucer. “He looks at me and sees a failure. He thinks it’s his fault that I’m in here. That I’m crippled.”
“Don’t say that,” Severus says, the words flying from his mouth before he can stop himself. He stares at Remus, horrified that he has spoken in such an unguarded way.
Remus frowns. “Say what? That I’m crippled? There’s no use beating around the bush. I am crippled.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your mind!” Severus snaps. “As long as you have that, you’re no more crippled than I am.” The instant he says it he realizes he has made a mistake, because he is crippled, isn’t he? Socially and emotionally, if not mentally or magically.
Remus stares at him for a very long time, and though Severus feels his face heating, he doesn’t look away. If he looks away, Remus will realize that he is bluffing. But a strange thing happens. Instead of calling his bluff, instead of shouting at him, Remus…accepts it. His expression relaxes, his golden eyes warm, and the corners of his mouth curve ever-so-slightly upwards. He looks at Severus this way for a long time, until the heat fades from Severus’ face and he finds himself unable to speak, but unable to look away.
At last Remus nods. “Very well,” he says. “But I’m still going to replace your book.”
Prompt: 51 - Books
Pairing: Remus/Severus
Warnings: Preslash
WC: 1,215
Series so far:
1. Reconciliation 2. Rehabilitation 3. Recovery 4. Reply 5. Rediscovery 6. Receiving
7. Repartee 8. Relapse 9. Requisite 10. Retreat 11. Refining 12. Repose 13. Reconsidering
14. Renaissance 15. Retribution 16. Return 17.Rematch 18. Redefining 19. Relishing
20. Recognition 21. Remembering 22. Refrain 23. Reformation 24. Recrimination 25. Reliance
26. Reverting 27. Repercussion 28. Reminder
Severus has always been sarcastic. He gets it from his mother. His father was usually too drunk or too angry to think of effective sarcasm, but Eileen, her face screwed up with anger, her black eyes glinting, always crackled with power. Of course, she rarely got angry with Tobias. Usually her anger was directed at Severus, because Severus had made Tobias angry. Again.
He uses sarcasm as a weapon, but also as a shield. Other people keep their distance from sarcastic people, so they won’t be close enough to be injured. This means that those people are also not close enough to do injury. Sarcasm keeps him safe.
Sarcasm, oddly enough, has never protected him from Remus Lupin. Nothing has ever protected him from Remus Lupin.
Oddly enough, Severus is beginning to believe he may not need it.
Severus stalks into Remus’ hospital room and slaps some parchment on the table. “Your cat destroyed my copy of Potions Most Painful.”
Remus is doing some odd sort of exercise, standing on one foot and bending, then straightening, his knee. He gives Severus a bemused look. “Good morning to you, too,” he says. He straightens a final time and sinks into a chair, wiping sweat off his forehead. He looks exhausted.
“Are you supposed to be doing that with no one around?” Severus asks. He folds his arms across his chest and tries to look imposing.
“Well, but you’re here,” Remus points out, smiling.
Severus frowns. “That was a deliberate misdirection. Just what I would expect from a Gryffindor—complete lack of subtlety.”
Remus looks amused. “You know, it’s spectacularly unkind of you to point out my lack of skill.”
“I point it out so you’ll practice and improve,” Severus retorts.
Remus’ answering smile is suspiciously innocent. “I’m sorry, you were saying something about your book.”
Severus feels a flash of surprise as he realizes Remus has successfully diverted his anger. No, had. He frowns again. “Wolfsbane consumed half of my book.”
Remus raises an eyebrow. “Wolfsbane?”
Severus sits down, scowl deepening. “He’s certainly the bane of my existence,” he mutters.
Remus laughs, a true, unfettered laugh, and Severus’ heart gives a small jump at the sound. He watches the werewolf, liking the small lines at the corners of his eyes, liking that he is responsible for them, even if they are somewhat at his expense. Then Remus lowers his chin to look back at him. Severus feels his face heat suddenly and he scowls and reaches for the teapot.
“Don’t,” Remus says softly, and for an absurd moment Severus thinks Remus wants the same thing he does—for them to laugh together. Then Remus lifts his wand. “That tea’s been there for three hours. Wait.” He scrunches his face in concentration and makes a carefully smooth swish with his wand as he casts the refilling charm.
Severus pours himself a cup and takes a sip. After a moment he gives a nod and Remus’ anxious expression relaxes. It angers Severus to see the werewolf this pleased at such a simple spell.
“I’ve only just regained enough control to do some of the trickier motions,” Remus explains.
Severus pours him a cup of tea.
“I am sorry about your book,” Remus adds. “Of course I’ll replace it.”
Severus finds he no longer really minds about the book, but he scowls so as not to give himself away. “It took me two years hunting through used book lots at estate auctions before I found that,” he says with a sniff. “I doubt you could.”
Remus’ golden gaze turns challenging. “Never question my determination, Severus,” he says in a low voice. Severus cannot tell if the note in it is a promise or a threat. A shiver runs through him.
“I wouldn’t,” he replies dryly. “Not the man who hunted down and killed Fenrir Greyback.” He holds Remus’ gaze. He was in Azkaban when it happened, of course, but he knows. They all know, all the Death Eaters still living. They are afraid of Remus Lupin. Severus is the only one who understands that Remus had reasons to hunt down Greyback that had nothing to do with the war.
Just as Severus had had reasons to hunt down Rodolphus Lestrange.
Lost in his memories, he doesn’t realize at first that Remus has gone still. Severus scans his face and doesn’t like what he sees. “Remus—“
“Don’t, please,” the werewolf says, his quiet, hoarse voice tight.
Severus blinks. “Remus, it’s all right.”
“No,” Remus says. “It isn’t.”
And Severus understands. He doesn’t agree, not in Remus’ case, but he understands. Merlin knows he has felt it enough himself. He sighs and takes a sip of his tea. He wants to change the topic, think of something to put Remus at ease. But he’s never been good at conversation that wasn’t intended to wound or misdirect. Finally he says, “Would you like a game of chess?”
Remus glances at the board that has been set up, awaiting a game, for so long that it is dusty. An odd expression crosses his face. “Thank you, no,” he says after a long moment. “I only keep it set up because it gives Harry something to look at besides me.”
“Oh, good,” Severus says without meaning to. “I don’t care for chess; I’ve spent far too many years as a pawn to not feel for them.”
Remus cocks his head. “A pawn?” he repeats. “Do you really think so, Severus?”
Severus frowns and looks down at his hands, curled around his teacup. His knuckles are white, and he wonders when he tensed up. “What did you mean, it gives Potter something to look at?”
Remus’ eyes shutter, and Severus expects another rebuff. He’s surprised when the other man speaks. “He feels guilty.” He takes a long drink of his tea and when he lowers the cup to the table, his hand is shaking and the cup rattles against the saucer. “He looks at me and sees a failure. He thinks it’s his fault that I’m in here. That I’m crippled.”
“Don’t say that,” Severus says, the words flying from his mouth before he can stop himself. He stares at Remus, horrified that he has spoken in such an unguarded way.
Remus frowns. “Say what? That I’m crippled? There’s no use beating around the bush. I am crippled.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your mind!” Severus snaps. “As long as you have that, you’re no more crippled than I am.” The instant he says it he realizes he has made a mistake, because he is crippled, isn’t he? Socially and emotionally, if not mentally or magically.
Remus stares at him for a very long time, and though Severus feels his face heating, he doesn’t look away. If he looks away, Remus will realize that he is bluffing. But a strange thing happens. Instead of calling his bluff, instead of shouting at him, Remus…accepts it. His expression relaxes, his golden eyes warm, and the corners of his mouth curve ever-so-slightly upwards. He looks at Severus this way for a long time, until the heat fades from Severus’ face and he finds himself unable to speak, but unable to look away.
At last Remus nods. “Very well,” he says. “But I’m still going to replace your book.”
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 06:16 am (UTC)I love their interaction, but I especially love the beginning where it talks about Severus's sarcasm. Wow!
You do their interaction so well - so subtle!
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Date: 2006-02-04 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2006-02-04 12:56 pm (UTC)Was Rodolphus LeStrange the oe who harmed Remus ? I don't remember if you mentionned it...
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Date: 2006-02-04 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 03:16 pm (UTC)"Don’t," Remus says softly, and for an absurd moment Severus thinks Remus wants the same thing he does—for them to laugh together. Then Remus lifts his wand. "That tea’s been there for three hours.
I really love the series so very, very much!
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Date: 2006-02-04 07:46 pm (UTC)Thanks!
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Date: 2006-02-05 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 04:24 pm (UTC)I'm intrigued about that background story you've revealed. Remus killed Greyback? Good, I never agreed with those views where Remus is physically frail or doesn't have the guts to kill the more aggressive Greyback. Snape hunted down Rodolphus Lestrange? What's the deal?
no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 07:47 pm (UTC)And yes, I'm with you on the physically frail thing. For one thing, he does an awful lot of dashing about in the books, when people are threatened, and he also jumped between Harry and Lucius in the Department of Mysteries. I'm pretty sure he might be tired and run-down by the transformation sometimes, but he's not frail. ^__^
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Date: 2006-02-05 03:51 am (UTC)But it's a sexual thing and they aren't ready for that yet, are they? I think Severus must have very sexxxxy feet.
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Date: 2006-02-07 05:19 am (UTC)Also, I'm working on the next installment, which is entitled "Relapse" thanks to you. ^_^
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Date: 2006-02-07 06:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-07 09:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-10 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-02 03:20 am (UTC)I want to cause shivers in Snape! I want Remus to cause shivers in Snape, I want shivers! MOre shivers!
Also, perfect name for the cat. And this story is just getting better. You are a very insightful writer.
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Date: 2006-03-05 03:24 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2006-05-26 09:04 pm (UTC)Wow, something I never expected. But I love it. *shivers*
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Date: 2006-05-31 02:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-24 07:54 pm (UTC):DD
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Date: 2006-06-24 11:37 pm (UTC)