It wasn't long before the locals realized that Severus was back in town and when they did they all decided to send notes requesting he dine with them. Severus declined more of them than not saying that he must stay in as he was told to get rest from his doctor. Upon Viper asking for the well thought-out responses, Severus only replied that he had it known widely that when he was in town it was most likely his doctor telling him to take a holiday so he doesn't overwork himself.

"Well, you're doing your potions all the time, wouldn't that still be considered overworking yourself?" Viper hadn't spoken much since they had gotten to Italy, and Severus was willing to carry out the conversation in any way he could-it was unnerving how much he had gotten used to Viper's chattering on about this or that and even more so that he realized once it was gone, he missed hearing what went on in his mind.

"No, that's not overworking myself. Not when the potions I'm making are the ones that I enjoy making. It's overworking when I'm told someone needs this or that potion by this certain day at the latest, now I can brew what I want when I want and I can take as long as I wish with it. It's a hobby that I love doing, I just didn't expect to be doing it for everyone else when I'm at Hogwarts, which is why I no longer stay the summers. I can't keep up with the demand all the time which is what they all expect from me. So to me this is relaxing, it's something I love to do and I'm doing it a relaxed pace. It suits me more." What came out of his companion's mouth next surprised him so much he almost fell out of his chair.

"I've noticed. The slower pace fits you well. It makes you look younger, more handsome." Severus couldn't help but notice that those words shocked Viper just as much as they had shocked him.

Shortly after the awkward moment that ensued, Severus cleared his throat and excused himself to his potions once again.

Viper just sat and wondered.

Viper decided to take a walk around the mansion to explore his surroundings more thouroughly than he had done withing the time he had been here. It was high time he give himself time to do something for himself while he thought-in other words he needed space to walk while he let his mind wander.

And wander it did. It made him think about a whole load of things he didn't exactly want to think about so soon, but while they were popping up he figured he might as well examine the reasons as to why they were coming to the forefront of his mind so quickly.

The first being why he kept thinking about, and resisting the urge to, giving Severus endless amounts of affection and falling asleep next to him late at night. That wasn't just a friendly gesture to be feeling, it wasn't even like it was a familial thing to do. No, this was something more and it threw him off, especially since he wasn't completely over Tom. Although, he supposed he never would be over him...but he wouldn't go back. He didn't want to have anything to do with an ungrateful golddigger. Of course, if he ever changed...but no. That was perposterous. He had his chance with Viper and he blew it after countless clues and hints and outright screaming matches between him and Severus...Tom knew he was pushing Viper away he just hadn't cared enough to change it.

Which was a damn shame because Viper was getting tired of sleeping by himself.

And that led him to wonder as to why he had caught himself sleepwalking to Severus's rooms late a few nights ago.

He wasn't sure if it was just because he was lonely and wanted someone to be there to comfort him or if it was because he wanted Severus specifically to be there to comfort him or if he wanted him to sweep him off his feet with reciprocated affection like he always wanted from Tom. The fact that he couldn't make up his mind boggled him.

After much deliberation and thinking about things that were way too deep for him to really get any good answers from he ended up in the kitchen again where he mixed himself a drink. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get him to start looking deeper into the emotions and reasonings that he was too reserved to think about when he was sober.