A/N: I read the Snape/Dumbledore shipper's manifesto at Livejournal (username: ship underscore manifesto, go to the Harry Potter category and I think it's on the second page) and then I read the first fic on the recs list. Only writings that compelling could make me emerge from my reading-only shell of safety and actually write something. To all my imaginary fans, I hope you like the change of fandom, and sorry you had to wait so long for something new.
Feedback of ANY kind is EXTREMELY appreciated. I value your opinion! Yes, you!

Popcorn Peace

Two wizards sat in silence save for the sounds of munching. Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore relaxed in the latter's quarters, sitting on a sofa, eating popcorn. Severus had lost a bet, requiring him to eat whatever Muggle food Albus chose. He wouldn't have admitted it, but he was rather enjoying the buttered and salted snack food.

Albus bore a pleased, far-away smile, as he placed another un-popped kernel into his mouth and crunched. Snape shuddered. "I don't see how you could enjoy chewing those things. The noise will drive me mad. Please cease and desist." Albus raised an eyebrow and swallowed the remnants of the kernel. "Thank you."

"Indeed." There was a pause, and then Albus turned in his seat and gestured to the handful of popcorn in Snape's left hand, which he was transferring to his mouth with his right hand, methodically and evenly spaced. Snape turned his head to sneer waspishly at the headmaster.

"What?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth and tilted his head side to side. Snape looked down at his handful and back at Albus. "You can't be serious." But, through long experience, Severus knew that he was. Or rather, wasn't. He was being seriously unserious.

Rolling his eyes, he chose the most aerodynamic piece from his handful and aimed at Dumbledore's mouth, flicking his wrist and curling his mouth down in an effort not to smile when the popcorn bounced off Albus' forehead between his eyes and landed on the floor. "You're a wretched shot, you know."

"Oh yes? Well, pardon me if my wand-eye coordination doesn't lend itself to popcorn tossing. You couldn't do better, I'm sure."

"Try me." Dumbledore grabbed some popcorn from the bowl and threw it all in the direction of Snape's head. His victim made a noise of disgust and brushed the bits out of his hair.

"This is just silly, Albus," he said as he stood, "I tried your foolish Muggle snack, now I'm going to my office. I have lesson plans to write."

Dumbledore leaned forward on his elbows, long beard dangling between his knees. "Is that really necessary, Severus? Isn't this much more enjoyable than brooding alone in your dungeon?"

Snape's nostrils flared as he looked down. "No, actually." Nevertheless, he sighed and reached out long bony fingers to brush against Albus' chin. "You have popcorn in your beard."

"Do I?" As Dumbledore looked down at his beard, his half-moon specs slipped off his nose and clinked against the hardwood floor. Severus kneeled and picked them up.

"Yes. All over." He set the glasses on Dumbledore's knee and started working on the beard from the tip up, collecting fragments of popcorn and dropping them in the bowl, as Dumbledore worked down. Their hands met somewhere in the middle, and Dumbledore held Severus' and squeezed them.

"Stay."

Snape's eyes met Dumbledore's as he gazed up through heavy lids. He leaned forward and kissed the older man's cheek. "Fine." He resumed his position on the sofa and curled up against Albus' side, resting his head on his companion's shoulder, too weary and in love to resist. Albus' left arm went around Severus' shoulders, and his hand stroked the straight, black, and slightly oily locks. "Your hands are warm."

"Your hands are cold." They both smiled at the old joke, and their eyes shut in unison as they enjoyed each other's closeness.