the_debt_of_time

Sirius turned his attention right back to her, clearly offended by the accusation. "Of
course not," he snarled. "We've all got scars." He reached his left forearm up where an old
faded burn scar rested from when Lucius Malfoy had tried and failed to place the Dark
Mark on him. He glowered, comparing their arms as they lay side by side. "Fucking Death
Eaters. So, this is why you haven't let me touch you all month?"
"I didn't want you to accidentally see it like you did the other one." She
subconsciously touched her ribs. "I wanted to figure out how to tell you first. Thought it
would be easier telling everyone at once. Didn't think you'd snap and go on a rampage."
"What the hell did you expect me to do?" he asked calmly, and Mia was incredibly
grateful to Mary for procuring the draught for him. "While I might not have been conscious
for it, Prongs told me that when I got attacked by Death Eaters, you put up security wards
around my hospital room that a Curse-Breaker couldn't even get through. When Remus was
threatened at St Mungo's, we all drew our wands on Aurors. Of course I would react violently
to seeing that word on your skin."
"Well, we all need to get a grip then." Mia smiled and then let it fade away all too
quickly. She brushed some of the hair from Sirius's face, letting the tips of her fingers linger
on his cheek. "I need you to promise me that you're not going to go after Regulus again."
Sirius scoffed at the request and looked away from her.
"I mean it, Sirius. Please. We're leaving Hogwarts in less than a month, and I don't
want to start our lives with you being arrested for attacking your own brother."
"If I challenge him to a wizard's duel, it's perfectly legal," he pointed out.
Mia growled reproachfully. "Sirius."
"Fine," he relented. "Bloody witch making me not hex Regulus," he complained
under his breath as he closed his eyes. He tugged her up against him, nuzzling his face into
her hair as his body relaxed.
"Yes, poor Sirius can't hex Slytherins," Mia retorted sarcastically.
"I know," he agreed, ignoring her tone. "You've just got that kind of power over
me, kitten. No hexing," he promised, still looking put out by it. "I must really love you."
Mia gasped at the words but said nothing in return, not wanting to make a big deal
out of it in case he had said them by accident. She held him tighter against her and buried
her face against his chest before eventually drifting off to sleep in his arms.