The Forbidden Fruit

𝕱𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝕱𝖔𝖚𝖗

As days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, Severus and Lucius have remained separated for nearly four months to the date. Despite exchanging unintentional glances here or there at meetings, Lucius has remained cold and stubborn leaving Severus feeling truly unwanted and alone. Which wasn't an uncommon feeling, but something about this was different from before and he knew why, he wasn't in control. The misery Severus had previously put himself through was on his own accord but this time, the power over his emotions was in Lucius's hands and it bothered him far more than he would ever admit. Despite steeping for nearly as long as their separation has lasted, Severus couldn't ignore the changes he observed throughout their separation. 

..Four months prior..

Soaking in the silence left behind in Severus's departure, Lucius lets out a long and soft sigh, rubbing his temples. "You made the right choice.. now it is time to make another.." he mutters under his breath like a pep-talk before leaving the room. Whisking his way through the Manor, Lucius snags a fresh rose from a vase set on a narrow table along one of the walls before arriving at the doors of a room he was once familiar with. "Come in.." beckons a gentler voice as Lucius steps inside, shutting the door behind him with a gentle push. "Lucius, you are aware this is my room.." Narcissa reminds as she sits in her vanity, touching up her appearance. Letting a soft chuckle fall from his lips, Lucius nods as he approaches "I am well aware, dear, but I wanted to speak with you" he hums in a more relaxed tone than he had moments ago with Severus as he sets down the rose in front of her. Looking down at the rose, a small smile forms across her lips but it fades just as fast as it came "Lucius.. before you utter another word, I need to ask you something and I want you to be undoubtedly honest with me" Narcissa says as she rises from her seat, turning around to face him, looking up into his eyes due to their close proximity.

Feeling the shift in the room, Lucius nods softly, taking her hands into his before bringing them up to his lips "You have my word, darling" he says in a gentle tone. Letting out a deep sigh, Narcissa hold's their gaze "Have you been involved with another woman since we've drifted apart?.." feeling his stomach drop as the words leave her lips, Lucius involuntarily grips her hands as if to remind himself that this moment is real. As an unnerving amount of silence settles between them, Narcissa looks down at their hands, feeling Lucius's pulse growing faster through the tips of his fingers, her eyes trail up his arms, chest and neck, finding his gaze once again, hoping for an answer soon. Seeing the anticipation rooted deep in her eyes, Lucius lets out a sigh "I have not, Narcissa.. I promise you, despite the distance we have created between each other, you will be the only woman to have my heart" Lucius speaks poetically as he pulls her close, his hands finding her waist.

Looking deeply into his eyes, really looking this time, for anything that could be misleading or untruthful, Narcissa's expression softens as she leans into his embrace. "I haven't a clue why I doubted you my dear.. I suppose I missed you far more than I thought" she admits as she rests her head against his chest, fitting right under his chin like she always has. Smiling as his arms wrap around her waist in a better hold, Lucius stares out, trying to ignore his guilt "We just needed some time apart to truly yearn for each other again, my dear" Lucius says softly as he presses a kiss to the top of her head. After a gentler silence, free of tension of the previous one, Lucius speaks up "A new beginning is budding, are we ready to nurture it?.." he asks aloud, feeling every beat of his heart in his chest. Hesitantly, Narcissa nods, pulling away just enough to meet his gaze "It has been a long and cold winter, Lucius.. I've missed you" Narcissa says symbolically before they share a kiss.

After that very day, Lucius made it his top priority to mend and shape a new relationship with Narcissa, knowing full well that he was leaving Severus suspended in the background. After about a month of becoming used to one another again, both Narcissa and Lucius have relearned old habits from one another and even some new ones. "I see that you leave your hair down to sleep now.. I quite like it, my love" Lucius compliments as he comes up behind her wearing his own robe, brushing back her hair gently with his hand before leaning down to kiss along her neck affectionately. Smiling as she sets aside her night cream, Narcissa looks into his eyes through the mirror "It feels as though we are young again, doesn't it, Lucius.. spending nights together once again, sharing an intimate space, finding that fire that once burned brighter than a thousand suns.." nodding with a nostalgic smile, Lucius steps aside as Narcissa rises from her seat. "Ah yes, I remember, our first few nights after our honeymoon, finally domesticating our lives together and enjoying newly married bliss" letting out a gentle laugh, Narcissa nods as she steps into his hold.  "Such valued memories, to think I had almost forgotten them.." Narcissa says with melancholy, seeing Lucius nod. "As did I, Narcissa, but we have opened an endless array of possibilities for our rekindled love for each other and I couldn't be happier" he exclaims with deep affection, pulling her into a kiss, one that would turn passionate and erupt into one of the most passionate, love-overdosing nights of their entire relationship. 

..Present Day..

While this new found love between Narcissa and Lucius was shaping into something grander, Severus was sulking- really sulking this time. Since the first month that had passed without being close to Lucius, his sorrow had only grown. Previously, his endless solemn was his own making, his own guilt, but this time, it was far different. Part of him knew growing such strong feelings for Lucius was going to cause him a great deal of trouble, but he also knew it was inevitable. He hadn't felt such rich, deeply rooted emotions in decades, feeling seen by Lucius was something knew, something that wasn't from his past apart from Lily of course, but this felt real, the hope for something more with such an arrangement was strong- perhaps too strong. Eventually, after months had passed, Severus hardened back into his old life, brewing late at night to avoid dreaming, stoic expressions towards strangers and quiet moments of reflection under moonlit nights, an existence he never realized was oh so lonely. 

To Be Continued...