Their date was going surprisingly well.
Severus guessed that he shouldn't have been too surprised by this but considering the bad feeling he had prior to coming on this date, he remained wary. Lucius had gotten them a reservation at a high-end restaurant that had just opened up in Ireland's magical shopping district. The food and the wine were amazing. Spending time with Lucius was never hard if Severus was honest with himself. It was all too easy to lose track of time while talking with Lucius. It was this distraction that caused Severus momentary lapse in paying attention to his surroundings. In particular one specific person's entrance into the restaurant.
"Snivellus!" a grating voice said loud enough over the quiet chatter of the restaurant that many went silent. Looking to see who would dare shout in such a vulgar fashion in the middle of a restaurant.
"Lucius, remember to take care of my son if I end up in Azkaban," Severus growled through gritted teeth, turning to face James Potter. That statement set Lucius on edge but he wasn't sure how to defuse the incoming confrontation.
"Potter, weren't you taught that it is rude to shout like a monkey in a restaurant? I know you might not go out in civilized public often but really, children know how to behave better." Severus tutted in a disappointed tone. Most of the patrons in the restaurant were of the same mind. Why was Lord Potter behaving in such a manner?
"I am amazed you can afford to eat in such a place Snivellus. But I see you are still acting like a whore for Lord Malfoy, so maybe not that surprising." James taunted with a nasty grin.
"I'm not sure you should be throwing stones in glass houses, Potter," Severus murmured with a dark smile, looking over to the pretty woman that had approached to pull James away and go back to their date. "Lily hasn't even been dead a week and you are already out dating? For shame Lord Potter."
Several people reacted to that comment. It was traditional to enact a mourning period of at least 6 months before going out to date again. Sometimes longer in cases of such violent or mysterious deaths such as what had happened with Lillian. It made Potter look suspicious in a whole new way.
Lucius knew this was going to turn nasty quite quickly. He quickly paid the waitstaff not only for their unfinished meal but also to put in floo calls to the Auror department and the Daily Prophet, maybe they could spin this into something positive. If there was anything that Lucius Malfoy was good at, it was making other Lords look pathetic.
Just as the argument was starting to get louder, and Lucius saw James raise his fist to hit Severus, a loud voice boomed across the restaurant.
"Lord Potter! I do believe you are supposed to be on house arrest and not picking fights with Lord Prince while interrupting other patron's meals!" Auror Max Dixon said through a sonorous. His red auror robes flared behind him with every precise but angry step into the restaurant.
"You summoned the Aurors on me Snivellus?!" James Potter all but shrieked.
"If you had but an ounce of intelligence Potter, you would realize that Severus was busy arguing with you and couldn't have summoned the Aurors. I, on the other hand, had plenty of time to do so. I will not have you slander my significant other in front of all these people because you decided to break your house arrest to go on a date." Lucius sneered hotly. James' face was slowly turning red and before he could open his mouth to say anything else, Auror Dixon stood in front of James. Staring down at him intimidatingly with ease since Max was easily at least 6 inches taller than Potter.
"Potter, I suggest you report to the auror office immediately before I get the joy of arresting you in front of all these good people for disturbing the peace and harassment of a fellow Lord," Dixon said with a sadistic grin, he wanted Potter to give him an excuse to arrest him.
"But-" Potter started before being interrupted again.
"Leave Now Lord Potter. I will not say it again." Auror Dixon ordered in a deeper voice. Scowling at everyone, Potter walked out of the restaurant in such a way it reminded him of a toddler that did not get his way.
"I am sorry he disturbed your night Ladies and Gentlemen, please excuse me." Auror Dixon said with a deep bow before taking his leave as well.
"Come on Severus, let's get out of here. We can stop by your favorite muggle ice cream shop." Lucius murmured, wrapping his arms around Severus' tense body. Severus nodded, still gritting his teeth in irritation. Lucius apparated them both to an empty alleyway not far from the ice cream shop that Lucius spent too much time at buying ice cream for the dark man beside him.
"Sev, don't let him ruin our night out together, okay?" Lucius said quietly, still holding Severus.
"Okay, Lucius. Thank you." Severus murmured with a small smile. Lucius kissed him softly.
"I love you, I would do anything for you. Including fighting James Potter or going to gross muggle establishments for subpar desserts." Lucius teased.
"Mario's is superior ice cream. You are just a ponce." Severus sneered in his direction. Already making his way out of the alleyway so he could get his favorite ice cream and calm down.
"Severus, I know this isn't how I wanted to do this, but I need to ask before we are distracted by anything else. Severus Tobias Prince, will you marry me?" Lucius asked hopefully.
"…I am telling Tom and Cissa you proposed to me in a dirty muggle alleyway."
"What- Severus!" Lucius huffed pouting. Severus grinned at him and apparated away. Lucius knew he was in for hell when he got home.
"You didn't answer me you dick!" Lucius said to the empty alleyway before bitterly apparating home.
*SC*
"So you still haven't answered Lucius," Tom said with a drawl, leaning on the doorframe to Severus' potion's room.
"I already told him I wasn't going to answer him until he proposed to me properly. I am not answering to that pathetic excuse of a proposal he tried in the alleyway." Severus sneered, "He didn't even pull out a ring or get down on one knee."
"I didn't know you had such high standards for proposals, Severus. Maybe you have spent too long around Cissa."
"If he is truly and honestly considering tying himself to me for the rest of his life, I require him to treat this as seriously as he would if he was pursuing some other pureblood woman," Severus spoke with a scowl.
"Do you doubt his feelings?"
"No, I doubt his ability to treat this as a continued serious relationship and not just a long-term fling. I will be treated with respect or I will break it off."
"Did you consider he was so overcome with emotion he proposed without thinking? He believes you won't answer him because rejection would hurt the boys." Tom pointed out.
"Well, now he has plenty of time to think and do it properly, if he has the balls to do so that is."
"At least explain to Draco and Hadrian what is going on. They too are worried the two of you are going to break up. Especially after the prophet published that article of your argument with the Potter Lord."
Severus sighed but nodded. "I will tell them tonight during dinner. They shouldn't suffer through the faults of the adults surrounding them."
"You better." Tom threatened before leaving Severus to brood over Lucius alone. Severus and Lucius were perfect examples of why Tom never wanted to fall in love. Severus was normally so stoic and reserved. This emotional side of him made everyone but Hadrian uncomfortable. Love made everyone a fool, and Tom refused to ever be a fool.
If only Tom knew what a fool he would become when he admitted to actually falling in love.