Remus ground his teeth, uneasy and frustrated and wrecked, all balled up into an uncomfortable tension. Looking back, Remus had never had to justify his job to others, and having to attempt that conversation now, tonight, with his TA of all people, was almost enough for Remus to quit his doctorate himself.<br/>He looked at Black, sick to his stomach, trying to figure out the shortest possible way through this.<br/>“Sirius, please don’t tell Mulligan,” Remus finally allowed himself to plead, his voice small despite its severity. Remus had no expectations that Black wasn’t smart enough to figure it out, and yet he couldn’t get himself to say it out loud.