When Worlds Collide: Take Two

“Remember you two promised to be out of here by 6pm!”  Haldir shouted to his brothers.  He stood in front of the stove stirring a pot.  After the debacle that was their first proper date, Haldir had invited Severus over to enjoy a home cooked meal.  His cooking skills were legendary and he was sure he could win Severus’ heart with good food and good company.  He put the lid on the pot and set the table.  “Smells alright.  What is it?  You’re going to an awful lot of effort…”  Orophin leaned on the doorframe.  “Are you not away yet?  Where are you going anyway?”  Orophin pouted.  “Legolas has some new playmate – a pirate or something.  He wants us to go over to meet him.  If he’s half as conceited as Legolas, we’ll be home in twenty minutes.”  “You’d bloody better not!  I don’t want to see you back here before midnight.  This is a special night, and you’re not going to ruin it.  Rumil’s manners are bad enough, but Severus is positively terrified by you.”  “He was a total stranger, asleep in our living room!  My bow and arrow were under the coffee table and I wasn’t going to take any chances.  You hear of all sorts happening these days.  I didn’t know he was your boyfriend.”  “Would it have made a difference if you had?  And he’s not my boyfriend.”  Haldir scowled.  Orophin shrugged, “Probably not.  I rarely get to use my bow these days so I take all the opportunities I get.”

The doorbell rang.  Haldir had just finished lighting the last candle.  He wiped his hands on his apron then almost as an afterthought, removed the apron.  He checked his appearance in the hall mirror and threw open the door.  “Severus…”  He gushed.  “Good to see you.  C’mon in.”  Haldir stood back and let Severus into his flat.  He took the man’s cloak and hung it up.  “Come through, dinner is almost ready.  You’ll be glad to know I’ve steered clear of prawns.”  Severus smiled, “I should hope so.”  Severus followed Haldir into the kitchen.  “After your –cough - thoughtful gift the last time, I have brought you a present.”  Severus held out a small box.  Haldir blushed and took the box.  He carefully lifted the lid and peered inside.  “An eraser…thanks.”  “Not an eraser – a revealer.  Very handy if you wish to read something in invisible ink.”  “I’m sure find a use for it.”  Haldir put the box on the kitchen counter.  “Would you like some wine?”  Severus sat down at the table and passed Haldir his glass.  “Ah, red.  Definitely not seafood, then?”  Severus chucked as Haldir passed him the glass.  He took a sip and nodded his approval.  “Dinner is almost ready.  Help yourself to some bread.”  Haldir opened the oven door and pulled out an oblong dish.  “I’ve made my speciality – lasagne.”  Haldir plonked the dish onto the table with a flourish.  “Most imaginative,” Severus drawled.  Haldir frowned.  “I’m sure it will be delicious, thank you Haldir.” 

Both dinner plates were wiped clean with bread.  The chat had been cordial and the humour began to flow easily between them.  “Tell me about your childhood, Severus.”  Severus almost knocked his wine over.  “It’s not something I like to talk about.”  Haldir raised his eyebrows.  “Maybe some other time.  Tell me about yours instead.”  “I actually don’t know much about my childhood.”  It was Severus’ turn to raise his eyebrows.  “My writer didn’t go into much detail about me and my brothers.  The director was a bit more imaginative – he had me turning up at Helms Deep…”  Haldir broke off and muttered, “Less said about that the better.”  Severus laughed.  “That’s a pity.  My back-story is a bit sad, really.  That’s why I don’t like to talk about it.  How do you know what you like and don’t like then?”  “Ah, that’s where fan fiction writers come in!  Everything I know about myself has been written by some female at a computer.  It gets a little confusing at times, but boy!  I’ve had some adventures!  And at least they don’t kill me off – most of the time, anyway.”  “Yes, you mentioned fan fiction before.  You read a lot of it?”  Haldir blushed.  “Only the juicy stuff.”

Dessert was served, strawberries and cream.  Haldir dipped a strawberry into the cream and licked it.  Severus looked away, shyly.  Haldir wondered if he should reign himself in.  He slid his hand over the tabletop and touched Severus’ fingers.    Severus immediately withdrew his hand.  “I’m sorry.  I’m not very good with affection – lack of practice.”  Haldir gently smiled.  “That’s okay, we have plenty of time.  I just wanted to hold your hand.”  Severus looked pensive for a moment, considering his options.  He quickly brought his hand back up and grasped Haldir’s.  “I can hold hands.”  Severus stuck his nose in the air.  “If that’s all you’re ready for then that’s all we’ll do.  Although, I hope to progress beyond this at some point…”  Haldir grinned and Severus relaxed, slightly.  “C’mon, shall we go through to the living room to have our coffees?”  Still holding hands, the pair took their mugs and sat on the big, comfy sofa.  Haldir let go of Severus and curled his arm around Severus’ shoulders, pulling him close.  “I don’t want to pressure you in any way, but I want you to know that I really like you, Severus.”  He moved to press a kiss to Severus’ forehead, but stopped when the man flinched.  “Sorry – impulse reaction.  Try again.”  Severus settled back into position.  Haldir leaned forward again and this time his lips made contact.  “There…that wasn’t so bad, was it?”  Severus blushed once more and snuggled closer to Haldir.  “It was actually quite pleasant,” he murmured.

Crash!  Severus and Haldir were jolted awake by the front door slamming.  Haldir disentangled himself and wiped away a trail of saliva from his chin.  “What’s going on?”  He shouted.  He could hear footsteps, stomping up the hall.  Rumil and Orophin burst into the room, arguing.  “Of all the things to say, though!  I mean you might as well have called him a criminal to his face!”  Orophin hissed.  “Last time I checked, piracy is a crime!”  Rumil spat back.  Haldir loomed over them.  “Just what exactly is going on?  What have you gone and done now, Rumil?”  “Me?  Why do I always get the blame?  Orophin started it.  He was the one who brought up the pirate business in the first place.”  “That’s a lie!  I did not…”  “Orophin, stop your shrieking!  What happened?”  “All I did was ask Will where his parrot was – everyone knows that pirates have parrots.  Next thing we know, Will’s shouting about how he’s not a pirate, he’s a blacksmith and twatted Rumil over the head with a tube of Pringles.  The tube burst open and bits went everywhere!”  Rumil nodded and continued, “Legolas started crying, saying we always spoil things.  By this point, Orophin had Will in a headlock and…”  “I can see you’ve got your hands full, Haldir.  I’ll just see myself out.”  Severus made for the door.  “Wait,” Haldir cried.  “I’ll deal with you two later.”  He wagged his finger at his brothers and caught up with Severus.  “So, still interested in me?”  Haldir tucked a lock of hair behind his ear and looked down at Severus.  Severus reached up and stroked Haldir’s cheek.  He took a deep breath and kissed Haldir fully on the lips.  “Does that answer your question?”  Haldir was too stunned to answer as he watched Severus scurry down the stairs.  He allowed himself a moment of joy then turned back towards the living room.  “You two had better get working on your apologies – Legolas isn’t going to forgive you easily this time!”

The end