Entry tags:

my snarrys, rating: pg, slash, snarry_ldws

FIC: Stating the Obvious
Title: Stating the Obvious (written for Week Seven /snarry_ldws on LJ)
Author: joanwilder (RaeWhit)
Pairing: Harry/Snape
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Word Count: 300
Genre/Cliché: Romance
Word: disfavor
Summary: Knowing the truth is important, but hearing the words, priceless.
A/N: ♥ to jadzialove for beta reading. I owe drabbles to accioslash (who clearly has my M.O.), and lemondropseven for correctly guessing my entry! I'm working on 'em.

Stating the Obvious

A 'no-frills' relationship. Solid commitment, fierce loyalty, easy companionship, and a sexual intensity that ten years hadn't diminished a whit.

But no foolish endearments or playing footsies under the table, although Harry cherished the vulnerability in Severus' eyes on the rare occasion when Harry said he loved him.

Harry knew, though.

Severus said it without, well, actually saying it. How he fixed Harry's tea to perfection, held him through nightmares, attended Quidditch matches. The way his eyes radiated warmth from across a room. How he pressed his hand at the small of Harry's back. Cleaning Harry with a warm, wet flannel after sex. These all spoke volumes, in Harry's estimation.

But sometimes Harry couldn't help but tease him.

Severus was reading aloud, Harry entranced by the rich, gravelly voice that wrapped his heart and soul in a cocoon of comfort and well-being.

Severus stopped suddenly and accused, "You're not listening. What're you thinking?"

Harry smiled. "That I love you."

"Ah."

"Ah? The normal thing would be to say it back."

"I know," Severus smiled slightly.

"Don't you love me?"

"I do."

"There. See, you've said it."

Severus disagreed, "No, I answered a question."

"So why not say it?"

"Because love isn't a matter of words, Harry. Because I won't do you the disfavor of letting you manipulate me into saying it."

"Ah yes, Severus Snape, man of scruples."

That night, Severus was almost asleep, as Harry lay and remembered how many variations of this conversation they'd had over the years.

It wasn't important, he thought, as he rolled over and nudged his knee between Severus' thighs, then buried his face in the hair at his neck.

Severus lifted his head, then murmured softly over his shoulder, "I do love you."

Harry felt as if his heart would overflow. "I know."

fin