Perceptions [TM Challenge]

[.livejournal.com]

Perception: Generally speaking, how do you think others perceive you?

Angry, sallow, scowling, cruel, vindictive, petty, greasy, sneering, gaunt, loathing, ugly, cold, intelligent, sneaky, slippery, dark, insane, selfish, callous, intolerant, unhappy, evil, spiteful...

Death Eater ... cold blooded murdered and traitor.

Oh, Severus knew all the words attached to his person. Only too well, in fact. Most had been said directly to his face, many had been evident in the eyes of people, when they looked at him, and some he had gleaned from their minds. They were right, for the most part. He was the majority of those things.

He just didn't care anymore.

Because he knew a few people who perceived him differently. Who bothered to look past the facade and dared to challenge him to be a different man. A man who actually was able to smile, to love, to care... and those people were the only ones that mattered.

True, he had killed one of them. In cold blood even, at least in the exact moment the curse had left his wand. But even in killing Albus, where he'd confirmed - once more - all those negative traits people believed him made up of, he had acted out of loyalty and love. And he would do it again.

So yes, peoples' perceptions about him were mostly correct, but they had in no way the full picture. And they never would have.

Wordcount: 225

Comments

Re: locked

[kirill-72.livejournal.com]

"Wait." Kirill smirks, "he's learned if he does not, he will see that which he does not wish to see."

Re: locked

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

A tiny twinge of jealousy goes through Severus, over what Kirill has that Severus cannot have. A daily life with Remus, falling asleep with the man and waking up with him. Eating with him, spending lazy afternoons (although that is still an alien concept to Severus) simply talking ... or doing nothing at all... just knowing that Remus is there, lives there.

But it is gone as quickly again, removed by his rational mind that tells him there is nothing to gain from such feelings. It is, how it is and more precisely, how it can be.

The smirk on his lips doesn't falter. He is still a master of masking his inner thoughts and feelings after all. In that he can take pride.

"I have always known the boy has little to no appreciation of the ... finer things in life."

Re: locked

[kirill-72.livejournal.com]

Kirill stares at Severus's lips for a long moment, then smiles into the man's eyes.

"I do not mind privacy.....from him."

Severus, now that's another story, as Kirill's look makes perfectly clear.

Yes, he's back to flirting.

Re: locked

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

"I didn't think you would." Severus is very aware of Kirill's feelings in this matter, and the heat in the man's eyes only confirms it.

In a strange place inside him, he can understand what Remus sees in Kirill, what has made Remus fall in love with him.

You are really not that different, are you Severus?

With slight surprise, he realises his hand has not move away from where it's resting against Kirill's face. It's warm from the contact, comfortable.

You are a strange man, Severus. But he lived in a strange world, so it was all ... good?

"You and Remus are of course welcome to visit my home as well. At any time." He held weird hours and more often than not simply forgot sleeping.

Re: locked

[kirill-72.livejournal.com]

Kirill smiles in delighted surprise at Severus's offer.

"May I ask where you live?"

Re: locked

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus doesn't know why he's thought Kirill already knows the address. From Remus.

Remus would never tell anybody at all, unless Severus had permitted it. Severus knows that.

"Cortelyou Road 145, Brooklyn." It's a small and fairly secluded house, but to keep suspicious gazes away from it without active and constant use of magic, he's delved into something he's never thought he would... Magical house maintenance. Too make the house seem in order and lived in. At least on the outside.

Of course, since he's spent more and more time there, it is actually inhabited most of the time now. The cellar mostly, though. His laboratory.

"Remus can Apparate in directly."

Re: locked

[kirill-72.livejournal.com]

"Okay."

Kirill gives Severus a small, almost loving smile. He knows the magnitude of the information, the degree of trust that Severus has gifted him, by telling him his home address.

"Thank you."

For so many things. Kirill doesn't need to specify. The other man knows.

Re: locked

[sev-ensnared.livejournal.com]

Severus inclines his head slightly. He's aware of the multitude of risks he's exposing himself to, by revealing that address to anybody but Remus.

But Kirill has also known of his identity and presence here in the US for a long while. And Remus' presence even longer.

And the look in the man's eyes leaves no doubt that this specific morsel of fact won't go any further.

Unless they take him... But that's never going to happen, of that he will make sure. For many reasons, not all of them concerning his own security.

"You're welcome." It has been a long, strange journey, getting here.