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The Diplomacy on the Divan

They had curled up on the settee before a late night fire. It might be summer, but an unexpected storm had blown across Wolden, turning the sky pewter and lashing the windows with torrents of rain.

"We should talk about our renegotiation," she sighed against his collarbone.

He stroked Nimue's dark head as she curled on his leg. "Nothing should change," he muttered.

Elaine buried her fingers into his hair that was so long it was nearing his elbows. "Darling, please."

She felt him relax under her, turning his face so he could rest his cheek on her head. "I can't keep you in Wolden without paying you; that seems criminal."

"You pay me an obscene amount anyway," Elaine teased. "Don't forget that I was a professional woman in my own right before I came here. I have plenty of money." She pulled back to look at him.

He wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Severus, what's really the matter?"

He huffed and she touched his cheek, running fingertips over his high well-defined cheekbones.

"Please tell me," she whispered. She had known it would be a fight. He doled out personal confessions like they were being torn from him inch by bloody inch.

"I think you should allow me to do what I can for you," he finally said tightly.

Elaine was silent for a long moment, returning her head to his chest. They both were quiet for a time, staring into the fire. "Severus, do you think that I won't stay if you don't—provide for me?" She was careful not to look at him, knowing that privacy was a screen that protected him.

"I—" he took a deep breath, she could feel him gathering himself, tensing up, ready to move away from her.

She tightened her arms and clung to him.

"My nightmares are so violent I can't even sleep next to you," he finally hissed. "Rather a sad excuse for a partner."

After that revelation they lay silent again as he slowly relaxed and resumed petting the cat.

"Are there things you can't tell me about the past?" she finally whispered.

He stiffened again, and Nimue jumped down with a disgruntled meow.

"Yes, someday maybe," he whispered.

She smoothed his rumpled collar and started playing with his hair again. "Alright." She let it go then, the desire to 'pull her own weight' or make things go 'her way'. There were deeper issues behind these half conversations.

"You know I care for you deeply, Severus?"

He let out a long breath, "Yes."

"Show me how to do it best, please." She pressed a kiss to his cheek and he turned to meet her lips.

"You are doing marvelously now." He smiled against her mouth, the corners of his lips curling. "I, however, can't seem to properly navigate this delicate relationship."

"I have no complaints," Elaine murmured, settling herself comfortably in his arms.

The fire had burned low long before they left the couch to go to their separate rooms.

Pewter, #47