the_debt_of_time

"I haven't taken anything away from you." A part of her wanted to tell him she saved
his life and the bond was the result. Shove it in his stupid, smug, pretty face.
"You deserve Remus." Sirius heaved a deep sigh. "You love Remus."
"I'm not arguing that, but, what if... what if, I love you too?"
Silence fell between them. Instead of a stubborn, angry standoff, each was trying to
read the other. Mia wondered if he believed her—that she did love him. She knew he
struggled with emotions like that, especially when it came to her.
Sirius finally broke the silence in frustration, muttering, "Then you should figure
that out before you just accept a Soul Bond. It's not fair to either of us or to Remus. The
two of you were happy and in love. Then the whole werewolf mate thing happened, and
you both gave up. Am I wrong in assuming that our bond had a hand in it too?"
"No."
"Then go back. Fix it, and be with Remus."
She groaned, pushing her fingers through her hair in frustration. Why couldn't any
of them just learn Occlumency? She knew she could not tell them about the war or the
deaths or Azkaban, but she would be able to tell them about Tonks at the very least—even
if it was not by name—and the whole werewolf mate issue would be over with.
"I can't do that. Sirius, I've accepted that you and I―"
"I haven't! I've had my whole life decided for me, and the fucking Sorting Hat was
the first time I've ever been given a choice in anything!" His grey eyes turned the dark
colour of slate, speckled with silver. "I barely escaped my own family trying to force me
into servitude to a Dark wizard, and I'm pretty sure they're not just going to let that go. I'm
not going to put you in danger now, and I refuse to accept another thing in my life without
having a choice, Mia. I will never allow our bond to be sealed without you knowing for
certain that it's me and not Remus. Him thinking he has a mate out there somewhere isn't
good enough proof for me."
Mia glared at him. "So what? You expect me to date someone just to placate you?"
He had a point, of course, and she felt guilty. Just a month after being attacked by
his own family, who tried to force his hand in something so life altering, Dorea had let him
in on the Soul Bond secret and made him believe something else was pushing him without
his permission. She understood. Still, it was difficult to tell Sirius Black he was right,
especially when he used that pissy tone of voice with her.