A/N: I saw this title on LJ (in another fandom) and thought it looked perfect for Snupin. So I'm officially taking it as a fic prompt.

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His feet pounded the empty earth, crunched the dead leaves. His wand whipped harshly through the air as he swung his arms wildly, propelling himself forward. Trees closed around him in the dark.

The wolves were closing in.

It had been a fool's errand to come out here. Not just a lone wolf, a whole pack were on the run tonight, transformed by the full moon. Remus was among them. But so were the likes of Fenrir Greyback.

Severus stopped, looking around him. He held his wand up, on alert, listening for the pack. Doubt simmered; how would he differentiate Remus from his packmates? How would he protect himself if the worst should happen?

Albus had sent him here as his personal messenger. Severus had resented the implications, but had come anyway. Isolated as Remus was, there was little else Severus could do.

Running footsteps rustled around him. Severus set off again, cursing that old fool Albus Dumbledore.

Two wolves, one on either side of him, began to emerge through the trees. On his left was a deep brown hulking creature; on his right, a scar-riddled brown wolf with mournful eyes. This, he instantly recognised, was Lupin.

And the other wolf must be Greyback.

So it came down to this. Remus, of course he could already see, didn't recognise him. It was he that was the first to attack.

Severus knocked him back with a quick jinx, sending him flying to the side. Greyback attacked Severus now from behind, biting his neck before he was able to throw him off.

And that was it. Throwing his wand to the ground, knowing it would be useless now, he quickly tried to memorise his surroundings, knowing he had to return if he was ever to recover his wand.

He began to transform. Contorting, ripping, expanding…

Soon, a third wolf stood between the two other wolves. Black eyes met honey, and finally there was the kindling of recognition.

Well, if this is what it took for Remus Lupin to look at him like he was worth a damn, it was somehow worth it.

They ran.

~~

In the morning they woke up naked and spooning in the werewolves camp. Severus was holding Remus, with his cock pressed into Remus's cleft.

Remus woke with a start, turning fully around to see…

"Severus?" he said. "What are you doing here?"

Severus showed him the scar on his neck.

"Oh god," said Remus. "I didn't…?"

"Greyback," said Severus.

Remus fell to the dirt in relief, sighing. "Thank Merlin…" he said. "But wait, what were you even doing here? Surely you knew…?"

"I didn't, like a fool. Neither did the Order. And Dumbledore sent me here on urgent business."

"Yes?"

"A message," said Severus. "You are to rally the wolves. Your wolves are getting too close to sniffing out an important mission. It was imperative that I give you this information, despite any personal risk to myself."

"What mission?"

"He felt it best you not know."

"Of course not. Well, I suppose he knows best…"

"You look upon him as a god," Severus remarked. "Culpable to no one. He didn't care about what happened to me. Because it was me, the ally who disgusts him so."

"I'm sure that isn't true," said Remus. "He has done things for you before. He has tried to include you ―"

"It would've been to his benefit as much as mine. Meetings would go a lot smoother if Black wasn't snarling at me throughout them."

"You should give him more credit than that ―"

"Why?"

Remus sighed. "Why are you always like this? So determined to see the worst in people?"

"People have always been determined to see the worst in me. I'm returning the favour. Besides, rarely has anyone failed to live up to even these meager expectations."

"Does that include me?" sighed Remus.

"Unfortunately, yes. You are not the exception to the rule."

"I should be."

"Why?"

"You know why."

Severus glared at Remus for a moment. "I know why you think it should be. That doesn't make it true."

"Why is that, Severus?"

"Because you love me; you want me to love you back to such extremes that I should except you from everything I ever believed. But despite your wishes, I have not changed. Nor shall I."

"You have changed in one way," said Remus, eyeing Severus's naked body.

"Touche," he said.

"Do you love me?" Remus asked now.

Severus hesitated a moment, not wanting to admit it. Yet, he said, "Yes. That makes no difference."

"Severus, it makes all the difference in the world! How can you say that?"

"I have changed a lot since we were children. But still, I will not abandon my principles for you. I didn't then and I won't now. I am not so easily swayed as you were."

"I apologised, didn't I?"

"No, actually. You never did."

"Then I apologise now. I'm sorry, Severus."

"It makes no difference."

"Why not?"

"Because you cannot change what happened."

"So you don't forgive me." 

"I didn't say that."

"Then what are you saying, Severus?" asked Remus exasperated. "I cannot change what I did, it's true. But I can change what I do now…" He ran a hand up Severus's bare chest longingly. "Tell me what you want me to do, please."

Severus paused before answering. "Keep doing that."

Remus stilled his hand, uncertain. "This?" he said, and started to caress the skin.

Severus hummed.

"Surely I can do more than that for you."

"I'll tell you what you can do. Be with me. Keep me company. Choose me, for once in your life. Make me your first choice. Even if that means I join your pack, and share your wolfish habits. Make me yours."

Remus smiled. "It's a deal."