Bound by Blood (and Faith)

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long guys. I'm still in the process of moving, and, on top of that, I've hurt my wrist! Typing is torture! Here's to hoping it behaves itself soon.

Chapter 25

As soon as the door closed behind him, Snape hated himself for speaking to Harry like he had. He was the one who had told the boy about Alexander. How could I speak to him like that? He is the single most important thing I have ever had in my life. Trust me to screw up the one good relationship I have had in my entire life. Trust me to be the one who drives away the one man who might actually love me. I am such an idiot...

He slammed the kitchen door open and glared at the dusty cupboards and countertops. His house elf peaked out from behind the stove. “Krumbel, get out here.”

“Yes, Master? What can Krumbel do for Master?”

“Breakfast. For two. Quickly,” Snape ordered. Krumbel scrambled to obey. “And when you're done, do something about the dust in here.”

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Snape waited outside the bedroom, holding a tray with breakfast for both of them, but he hesitated, not quite able to face his mate just yet. He still couldn't help but think of Harry as anything other than his mate. He knew that he would never be able to choose another man if this thing with Harry fell apart, and there was no way he could look at a woman the way he looked at Harry. He jumped when the door swung open.

Harry looked up at him. He was still nude and his arms were wrapped around his waist. “Are you coming in?”

The softness of Harry's voice stabbed at Snape's heart again. “If you'll let me, I'd like to.”

Harry stepped back, making room for Snape and his tray. “Please come in.”

Snape managed a smile at the tenderness in Harry's voice. He walked in and set the tray on the bedside table. After several false starts, he manged to find his voice again. “Why am I always apologizing?”

“Huh?” Harry asked, confused.

“I find myself wanting to apologize to you again. I seem to be doing that more and more since... I should not have yelled at you. Do you forgive me?” Snape asked, studying the food on the tray. Merlin's rutting beard, why can't I look at him?

Harry walked over and reached for Snape's hand. He tried to pull his hand away, but Harry didn't let him. He grabbed his hand and pulled Snape around to face him. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. When he spoke, his voice was stern and almost angry. “Don't talk. Just listen. I shouldn't have mentioned him. But you're right, you shouldn't have yelled. I'm here. And I'm not him. I'm not going to leave you. But you have to trust me. Unlike him, I want to be with you. More than anything, I want you. Do you hear me? I love you.”

Snape stared at the shorter man in amazement. No one had ever spoken to him like that before, especially not someone he had slept with. Not since Alexander had a man looked at him like Harry was looking at him now. He was hurt and he was angry, but he was reaching out for his lover to feel better. He realized with a shock that he was the lover that Harry wanted.

“I- I hear you. I love you too. But I can't promise that I will be able to change overnight. I can't promise that I can learn to trust you immediately. I'm... damaged, Harry, though if you repeat that to anyone, I will deny it unilaterally,” Snape offered. Harry sighed.

“I accept your apology, Sev'rus. And I know that you're... a little bit broken. It's okay. I can be patient. But don't yell at me for something I didn't mean to be upsetting. Just talk to me. I'm not a little kid here,” he asked. Snape pulled his lover into his arms and kissed him. He felt a surge of relief when Harry melted in his arms and returned the kiss.

“I promise, I do not see you as a 'little kid.' You are most definitely a man,” he promised, forgetting for a moment that he had breakfast getting cold beside him. For right now he could only think of savoring the taste of his mate's kisses. For right now, he could only think of Harry, and how much he wanted to trust him.