When Wikeni woke the next morning, it was to a loud crash and a curse coming from the living room. She rushed quickly out of her bedroom, not bothering to cover her nightshirt as she ran towards the commotion. She arrived, slightly out of breath, to find Severus sprawled on the floor holding his knee. Wikeni's eyes traveled over the scene, taking in the spilled clothes and boots spread all over the floor, and, finally, the overturned hat stand.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I didn't want to be a bother."
"So, what, you tried to sneak out early?"
"I didn't want to wake you, I wasn't sure how late you slept, so I decided I didn't want to wait, is that a crime?"
"No," she said carefully. She didn't want to start another fight with him.
"I'll just be going now, then," he said, getting up to leave.
"Wait!"
Severus turned.
"I'll be back...," he said. "If you don't mind, of course."
"Tonight?"
"I look forward to it."