The big bad and the wolf *Completed*

This is going to be bloody hard turned out to be an understatement.

Two weeks after they settled into the house, Lupin was on the verge of committing a murder. He had forgotten, oh boy how he had forgotten! Severus had a nature that could annoy a rock, sending it into a fit of rage. And the only reason why Severus was still breathing was due to Lupin’s life-long practice to swallow his temper.

Severus refused to change the wall colour in the room, but he didn’t pass every given opportunity to spill venom and scratching remarks about it.

He complained about the light but refused to put dark drapes.

He grumbled about the food, and Lupin could admit he wasn’t very skilful cook, but he wasn’t that bad. A poisoning wasn’t what one might expect from eating his food.

The man was a monster before his second cup of coffee in the morning. He would grumble and growl, frowning. One small blessing was that Severus avoided conversation until he had his coffee.

Peeling the skin off carrots, Remus sighed, remembering...

... Severus was out of his room early in the following morning the day after they arrived. His hair was tied at the nape of his neck, the black blood stained robes on him once more. Snape looked gruff and unfriendly, with a grunt instead of the greeting. He handed Snape a mug.

Severus took the mug, took a sip and spit it back. “Tea? I know you have a death wish, Lupin but I refuse to be your weapon of choice.”

“Is tea not to your preference?” he asked sipping his own tea, it was too early in the morning for arguments by his account.

“Coffee, black, strong.” Snape barked out. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

“I am not your House-elf, Severus.” He pointed out but turned to make a coffee...

And that was just one part of his problems now. The smaller part at that.

When he thought about everything he knew about Snape, in his wildest dreams he didn’t imagine him as so - well not skittish about his looks or nudity. Severus refused to wear beige robes again, in fact, he refused to wear any of Remus' robes. And given that he had only one set of robes, fast Severus adopted a habit of wandering around in his boxer shorts or on a few occasions towel wrapped around his hips.

Severus was skinny, too skinny and too bony for his frame. He wasn’t particularly tall, certainly not compared to Remus, but he wasn’t short and his thin frame gave him much taller appearance.

Severus' skin was parchment yellow and thin, with a net of blue-green veins mapping it. He was, unusually hairless over his chest. But his legs were covered with a thick layer of jet black hairs. Unlike his arms that were almost hairless as well.

A few scars here and there were surprising. He expected much more visible signs on Voldemort followers. Werewolves were full of them, then again - that came with the territory. The biggest and most prominent scar was an ugly, burned-like, blotch on Snape’s left forearm, where the dark mark used to be.

“Your house is too bright, Lupin. One can’t find refuge from the sun.” grumbled a scratchy voice behind him, snapping him from his thoughts.

Remus stifled the growl, refusing to turn his head around. Judging by the sounds, Snape was just out of the shower, which meant that he was covered only with a towel. He sighed.

I have to do something about his habit to walk around naked. “If you refused to put dark drapes in your room then don’t complain.” He replied, half in annoyance - half in frustration.

After a huff, he heard a patter of bare feet going in the direction of his old room. Once the door clicked he released a sharp exhale, putting down carrots and the knife.

Maybe I should warn him that I’m gay?

The issue wasn't that he was attracted to men. He wasn't attracted to all men in any case--in fact, he was rather picky. The issue was that he was

attracted to Severus.  

He hoped that his school days crush was just that, a fleeting hormone induced crush. Apparently, he was wrong. The things he felt during that year he was a teacher at Hogwarts wasn’t the residue of his teenage days.

But more to the point...  considering everything he knew not just about Death Eaters but also wizarding elite - and especially when it concerned someone as shrewd as Severus. Severus was too clever not to figure out what was the true problem behind Remus’ complaint. And Remus was more than a little reluctant to tip off his hand.   

Merlin, he does not need more ammunition added to his arsenal.

The St.Mungo’s owl flew to the window and landed on the table, eyeing the carrots with contempt. Remus took an owl treat and exchanged it for the letter. Reading the letter he growled.

“Are they insane? How am I supposed to do this?” He twitched, not aware that he was talking aloud until his own voice startled him.

Atonement indeed. This is not atonement, this is punishment.

~ S ~ S ~ S ~

He could hear Lupin talking in the kitchen. Lying on the bed, he pulled the parts of the old tartan house robe closer. At this moment Severus truly hated his life.

Being trapped here with Lupin was less than bearable.

He did his best to show his displeasure. But even he couldn’t deny that almost any activity caused him to feel weak and vulnerable. A more pressing matter was the severe lack in his clothing options. At this point, he couldn’t decide what he hated more - his old robes or the robes Lupin tried to force him into.

The only bit of amusement he found was in the fact that Lupin was uncomfortable around him when he was in a severe state of undress. Even if his own anxiety went through the roof in those moments, he could rein it in - but Severus continued to parade the flat, scantily clothed.

He found the old housecoat, however,  in the closet of his room. The robe was a bit big for him but he didn’t mind that; the tightly wrapped layers gave him comfort.

If I could only walk away, the way I was planning. Maybe if I keep pushing… Lupin does seem a touch too homophobic for his own good. I can use that.