Wildflowers

Hit the Spot

Severus stood outside the café, the night air cool against his skin as he waited for Kat. When she emerged from her shift, her usual light energy seemed momentarily surprised by his presence. She blinked, her eyes widening slightly before a smile curved at her lips.

"You don't have to wait on me," she said, her tone casual but laced with a hint of surprise.

Severus met her gaze, his voice steady and sincere. "I wanted to see you."

That caught her off guard, the simplicity of his words hitting her in a way she hadn't expected. There was something undeniable between them—something that had been growing since the moment they met. Yet, even as her feelings for him deepened, a small part of her knew she needed to slow down. It was a whirlwind, like a force of nature pulling them together, but it had only been a few days.

"You wanted to see me so much that you walked down here just to walk back to the cottage?" Kat teased, trying to lighten the weight of the moment but still feeling that unexpected pull.

"Yes," Severus replied simply, his dark eyes steady on hers. "Would you prefer I didn't?"

Kat paused, feeling the warmth rise in her chest but fighting the urge to dive too quickly into something so intense. "No," she said, shaking her head slightly. "It's fine. I just don't want you to feel obligated, you know?"

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression softening. "People start feeling obligated to do things, to step into roles, and that's when the problems start popping up. I'm sure you know what I mean."

Severus nodded, understanding what she was getting at. "I understand," he said, his voice calm but with a depth that mirrored her own hesitations. "But I assure you, Kat, this is not out of obligation. I simply want to be here."

Kat gave him a long, searching look, her heart torn between the intensity of what she was feeling and the instinct to protect herself from getting too close, too fast. But there was something about Severus that made her feel like she didn't have to keep her walls up—not in the way she had with others. And that was both terrifying and exhilarating.

As they continued walking, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot, Kat finally broke the silence. She looked over at Severus, her expression thoughtful, and with a teasing smile asked, "Did you listen to my messages after I left? I bet it was really tempting."

Severus, caught off guard by her sudden question, glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. For a moment, he considered the idea—how it had crossed his mind earlier, how the blinking light of her answering machine had practically begged for attention. But he shook his head, his voice steady. "No," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "I didn't. It's not my business. Not my place."

Kat raised an eyebrow, studying him for a moment longer before her smile softened, turning into something more genuine. "That's surprising," she said, her voice quieter now. "Most people would've given in."

Severus looked straight ahead, his expression unreadable. "I'm not most people."

Kat chuckled lightly, but there was a warmth in her voice. "No, you're not," she agreed, her shoulders relaxing a bit as they walked side by side. There was something comforting about the fact that he hadn't pried into her private life, something that made her feel even more at ease with him—like she didn't have to keep running.

The air between them shifted, the weight of her past and the blinking messages that had lingered in her mind now momentarily set aside. Severus had given her space, and that gesture meant more to her than she could express.

"You know," Kat started, her voice casual but sincere, "I appreciate that. It's rare to find someone who doesn't feel the need to poke around where they don't belong."