Wildflowers

Transparency

They sat on the back steps, the cool night air brushing over them as the moonlight spilled across the yard. Kat lit a joint, the soft crackle of burning paper filling the comfortable silence. She took a drag, passing it to Severus, who accepted it without hesitation, though he had never indulged much in the past.

As they exhaled, the smoke drifted lazily into the night sky, the world around them feeling more distant, more peaceful.

Kat leaned her head back, staring up at the stars. "So... how hard did you judge me when you realized I'm a pothead?" she asked with a teasing smirk, though there was a hint of seriousness beneath her light tone.

Severus glanced at her, his dark eyes thoughtful. "At first, I felt it wasn't my business," he admitted, his voice low. "But now, I suspect it's something you might need."

Kat gave a small, appreciative smile, nodding slowly. "It is. It helps me in a lot of ways. My crippling anxiety, for one," she laughed lightly, though there was no real humor in it. "It helps with my appetite, my pain... I don't just get high for the sake of it. It's actually medicine for me."

Severus remained quiet for a moment, absorbing her words. He had never fully understood it before, but hearing her now, seeing how much relief it brought her, made him look at it differently. "If it helps you, then that's what matters," he said softly, handing the joint back to her.

Kat smiled, leaning against him, her shoulder pressing into his as they sat together in the quiet of the night. "You surprise me, you know," she murmured, taking another hit. "You're not as rigid as I thought you'd be."

Severus smirked, his voice low and teasing. "Let's finish this," he said, taking the joint from her fingers. "And I'll show you how rigid I really am." His eyes glinted with desire as he added, more softly, "I missed you... I've been thinking about you all day."

Kat's lips curved into a mischievous smile, her pulse quickening at his words. "Is that right?" she murmured, leaning into him more as she exhaled a slow stream of smoke. "I thought you were being all serious, lost in your potions... and here you were, thinking about me."

He didn't answer immediately, but his hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer. "I'm not as good at pretending as you might think," he said, his voice deepening. "Especially when it comes to you."

Kat's heart skipped a beat, her playful demeanor softening for just a moment. She handed the joint back to him, her fingers brushing his hand. "Then don't pretend," she whispered, her eyes locking with his. "I want all of you, Severus. Not just the parts you think are acceptable."

He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "All of me, then," he agreed quietly, his eyes dark with promise. "But just know... I want the same from you."

Her breath caught, the intensity in his gaze making her heart race. Without another word, she leaned in, her lips meeting his in a kiss that quickly grew more heated.

Severus responded, his grip tightening on her waist as the world around them faded away. The joint forgotten, their only focus was on each other, the quiet night serving as the backdrop to their growing desire.

Severus stood, pulling her up with him, their lips never parting as they stumbled their way back into the cottage. Kat's hands were all over him, tugging at his jacket, eager to strip him of every barrier between them. He returned the urgency, his hands sliding under her shirt, fingers brushing against her warm skin as he backed her toward the bedroom.

By the time they reached the bed, it was a mess of heated kisses, breathless gasps, and frantic hands. Kat tugged his shirt off, her fingers tracing the lines of his torso, while Severus made quick work of her blouse, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside without a second thought.