Work Text:
The sun is setting down painting the surroundings with its golden rays. It is an early spring afternoon. Cool pleasant breeze is shaking the trees. Children's laughter can be heard from a distance.
Severus Snape is going to the nearby park to spend the afternoon at his favorite spot. He is an artist, not by profession but he loves to paint. He goes to the park whenever he gets time and tries to sketch anything he watches in front of him.
Today as soon as he sits down on the bench and takes out his sketchbook, his eyes fall on a pair in front of him. It is probably a father and his son. They are chasing each other. The man is wearing a suit and trying his best to catch his son who is sticking his tongue at him. It's a ridiculous sight but Severus finds himself watching them.
He is a little envious of people who are in love or have loving family. Don't get him wrong. He is 30, busy with his corporate work under an irritating boss. He doesn't have time or desire to go on dates anymore. As a hopeless romantic person he wants a healthy loving relationship that will lead to marriage but nowadays it is rare to find someone with same mentality as him. Also he is gay which makes the options more limited.
He sighs and takes out the pencils to start sketching. The father son duo is still playing. Other kids and their parents have joined them.
Severus loves kids. He imagines a life where he meets the love of his life and adopts a child. It is the happiest version of himself he can imagine. But not everyone is lucky enough. He sighs again and averts his eyes when he thinks he is staring for a long time. Unconsciously he starts to sketch with a heavy heart.
He doesn't know how much time has passed when someone sits beside him.
"You are an artist?" the deep voice startles him.
He looks up from his sketchbook only to be surprised again. It is the dad from earlier. He is sitting beside him and staring at him expectantly. Up close he looks much younger and handsome too.
Severus tries to control his expression and says, "not an artist, I just like to paint sometimes".
The man smiles and looks ahead where his son is still playing.
Severus finds himself staring at his side profile. The man looks hardly in his late 20s. He is wearing round glasses which is giving him a nerd vibe. With messy hair (like a bird's nest, he muses) and sharp jawline he doesn't look like a dad to be very honest.
Severus mentally scolds himself to stop ogling a man who is clearly married and has a son. 'But he doesn't have a wedding ring', his heart points out while beating too loudly to be appropriate. He looks away and starts to sketch again to divert his mind.
"I have seen you two three times before today but this is the first time I have got the courage to approach you", says the man after a long pause.
Severus's pencil halts in mid step as he whips his head towards the man in disbelief. He really hasn't expected this. "I haven't noticed you before though", he tells the man and gets a breathy chuckle in response. If Severus's heart flutters a bit no one has to know.
"Please don't think I am a creep or something. You are always so focused on your drawing, I can't help but notice you", he says awkwardly, a soft blush is spreading in his neck.
Severus finds him cute. He smiles and says, "don't worry I am not thinking anything bad. Actually I have to thank you for approaching me, it is refreshing to talk to someone. I'm Severus Snape by the way", he extends his hand towards the man.
The man eagerly takes his hand, previous awkwardness is gone in a second.
"I am James Potter, part time CEO of a company and full time single dad of my one and only brat, Harry", he grins widely.
Severus's traitor heart gives a lurch and a tiny hope sprouts and spreads its wings.
"Your son is cute", he comments just to keep the conversation going.
"Harry is a handful but he is my everything", James replies with a dreamy sigh. Then he turns towards Severus and asks, "what about you?"
Severus catches the hidden meaning behind the question so he answers honestly, "I am a corporate office worker and still very much single".
Hope is clear in James's eyes but there's hesitation too. Severus thinks maybe he is afraid to start something because he doesn't know how his son will react.
They break eye contact when Harry runs towards them. James catches him instantly and makes him sit on his lap.
Little Harry starts whining to go back home but stops when his eyes land on Severus. He tries to hide his face in his dad's chest.
Severus smiles at him making his eyes widen. Then he smiles back shyly.
Severus tilts his head and waves at him, "hi Harry! I'm Severus. You are soo cute".
Harry smiles widely at him. He has round glasses identical to his dad and messy hair too. A cute copy of his father. He hugs his father around the neck and James peck his forehead affectionately.
Within a minute it becomes clear Harry likes Severus as he starts rambling about his favorite plushies at home.
Severus looks at James to see only hope in his eyes as slides his card in Severus's hand and squeezes it. Severus takes it and squeezes back making a promise to contact as soon as possible.
"Love always finds you when you least expect it"
Severus heard this cliche line numerous times in his 30 years of life. He never believed it.
Now as he stares at the father son duo with identical round glasses and hopeful smiles in their faces, he thinks that line is true after all.
They share goodbyes and leaves as street lights start illuminating the park.
Severus sits there and watches their fading silhouettes in the distance with a smile is his lips. When he can't see them anymore he looks down at his sketchbook. And to no ones surprise it's a sketch of a particular father son duo playing with biggest smile in their faces. Severus thinks maybe destiny has brought them together today and maybe love always finds its way afterall.