Wands and Wheels

Beach House, Rio De Janeiro

The world around her blurred and twisted, and in an instant, she found herself standing in the middle of a quiet alleyway, far from the warehouse and the shocked faces of her teammates. She leaned against the brick wall, trying to steady her breathing and calm the storm of emotions raging inside her.

Her mind raced with thoughts of what had just happened. She had revealed her secret, her magic, something she had kept hidden for so long. And to Dom, of all people. What would he think? What would the team think?

Severa slid down the wall, sitting on the cold ground as the reality of the situation sank in. She had no idea what to do next. The team needed her, but how could she face them now? How could she face Dom?

A soft rustling sound broke through her thoughts, and she looked up to see a stray puppy watching her curiously. The simple, mundane sight grounded her a little, bringing her back to the present. With a deep breath, she got up off the ground and turned to make her way home.

She stopped at the edge of the alley and glanced back at the puppy before sighing. "Screw it..." She turned back around and picked up the puppy before heading back to the beach house.

The puppy squirmed slightly in her arms but quickly settled, snuggling against her. Severa couldn't help but smile at the small, warm bundle. The walk back to the beach house was quiet, the sun setting and casting a warm glow over the city. She found comfort in the puppy's presence, a reminder that even in chaos, there were moments of simplicity and innocence.

When she arrived at the beach house, she found Edith and Theodosia sitting on the couch watching a movie while Narcissa was nowhere to be found. Edith glanced up, raising an eyebrow at the puppy in Severa's arms.

"What's with the puppy?" Edith asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Severa set the puppy down, allowing it to explore its new surroundings. "Found him in an alley. Figured he could use a home."

Theodosia reached out to pet the puppy, a smile spreading across her face. "He's adorable. What's his name?"

"Lucky," Severa replied, watching as the puppy wagged its tail enthusiastically.

The puppy trotted over to Edith, sniffing her feet before plopping down beside her. Edith chuckled, giving the puppy a gentle pat. "Well, Lucky, welcome to the chaos."

Severa sank into a nearby chair, exhaustion finally catching up with her. "Where's Narcissa?"

Theodosia shrugged, her eyes still on the puppy. "Lucius popped up and they've been upstairs all day."

Severa raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Typical. Those two can't keep away from each other."

Edith chuckled, her attention momentarily diverted from the movie. "They have a knack for disappearing when we need them the most."

Severa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well, hopefully, they'll reappear soon."

The puppy, now named Lucky, seemed to sense Severa's stress and trotted over to her, nuzzling her leg. She picked him up, feeling a bit of comfort from the small, warm bundle in her arms.

An hour passed, and just as Severa was starting to wonder if Narcissa and Lucius would ever come downstairs, a door opened upstairs. Narcissa and Lucius emerged, looking slightly disheveled but otherwise pleased.

Narcissa's eyes immediately went to the puppy in Severa's arms. "Who's this little one?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"This is Lucky," Severa replied, a small smile forming. "Found him on my way back. Figured he could use a home."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "A stray, huh? Seems fitting."

Narcissa shot him a look before pointing towards the fireplace. "You're no longer needed, Lucius. You can go now."

Lucius stuttered for a moment before grabbing her hand to plead. "Cissa, dear, you know you don't want me to go..." he tried to flutter his eyelashes but she was having none of it. Behind her, Severa smirked and waved at Lucius. "Bye-bye, Lu-Lu."

Lucius narrowed his eyes at Severa but knew better than to argue further. He sighed dramatically, releasing Narcissa's hand. "Fine, but don't say I didn't offer my help."

As Lucius disappeared through the fireplace, Narcissa shook her head, exasperation mingling with affection. "Honestly, that man..."

Severa chuckled, the tension from earlier dissipating. "He means well, in his own infuriating way."

Narcissa nodded before grabbing Lucky from Severa's arms. "This little love-bug needs food," she said, giving the puppy a gentle pat. She glanced back at Severa with a knowing smile. "And you need a nice, long bath."

Severa chuckled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah, I suppose I do."

Severa smiled gratefully, then headed towards the bathroom, already feeling the promise of the hot water working its magic on her tired muscles. As the door clicked shut behind her, she let out a long sigh of relief.

She turned on the faucet, the sound of rushing water soothing her frayed nerves. Stripping off her clothes, she stepped into the tub, the heat enveloping her in a comforting embrace. For a moment, all the worries and fears melted away, leaving only the serene sensation of the bath.

As she soaked, her mind wandered back to the plan, running through the details over and over again. They had a solid strategy, but the risks were enormous. The thought of Dom in danger made her heart clench. She couldn't let anything happen to him or the rest of the team.

She was brought out of her thoughts by a sharp knocking on the door. Getting out of the tub and wrapping herself in a towel, she opened the door to find Narcissa. "Narcissa? what is it?"

Narcissa stared at her before she hurriedly started to talk. "You should put on some clothes and come downstairs, now!" and with that, she ran off leaving a very confused Severa. She walked over to her room and pulled on a plain T-shirt and some leggings before making her way downstairs.

She found Edith and Theodosia peeping out the blinds, giggling like schoolgirls while Narcissa looked out the peephole. "What's going on?" They all jumped and Narcissa quickly moved away from the door.

Shrugging, Severa walked over to the door at the same time the girls ran upstairs. Rolling her eyes, she opened the door before quickly slamming it, Dom was at the door. 

Severa's heart raced as she pressed her back against the closed door, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She could hear Dom's voice muffled through the wood, calling her name. "Sev, open the door. We need to talk."

She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly peeked her head out the door, revealing Dom standing there with a concerned look on his face. "Dom, How did you find where I was?"

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I needed to see you. After everything that happened, we can't leave things like this."

Severa crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "What's there to say? You have a job to do, and you can't let personal issues get in the way."

Dom took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. "It's more than that, Sev." he took another step closer. "You...why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Tell you what? That I'm a witch only for you to be scared of me?" Dom's expression softened, his intense gaze never leaving her face. "Scared of you? Sev, I've faced down armed men, survived car chases, and gone toe-to-toe with the craziest people out there. You think knowing you got some powers would scare me?"

Severa looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not just that, Dom. It's everything that comes with it. The danger, the secrets, the way people might look at me differently."

Dom gently reached out, lifting her chin so their eyes met again. "Sev, I already know you're extraordinary. This... this just makes you more so. I'm not afraid of who you are. I'm afraid of losing you because you think I can't handle the truth."

Tears welled up in Severa's eyes as she let out a shaky breath. "You have no idea what you're asking for, Dom. My world is dangerous. It's full of things you can't even begin to understand."

Dom's grip tightened slightly, his eyes filled with determination. "Then show me. Let me in. We'll face it together."

Severa searched his face, seeing nothing but sincerity and resolve. She took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Okay, Dom. But you have to promise me one thing."

"Anything," Dom said without hesitation.

"No matter what happens, no matter how crazy things get, you have to trust me. Can you do that?"

Dom smiled, his eyes warm with reassurance. "I already do."

Severa felt a mix of relief and apprehension. She took a step back, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "And I'm sorry for interrupting your shower." She paused, giving him a playful glare as he pointed to her wet hair.

Chuckling, she shook her head and pulled him into a hug. "Thanks, Dom," she whispered, feeling a sense of calm wash over her.

He hugged her back, his voice soft. "Anytime, Sev. I've got your back, remember?"

Severa nodded against his shoulder, the weight of the day's events feeling a little lighter. "Yeah, I remember."

They stayed like that for a moment, finding comfort in each other's presence, when Severa suddenly heard the sound of Edith's loud voice. "Oh, I can't hold it anymore!" Turning, she saw Edith standing there as Thea and Narcissa tried to pull her back upstairs.

"Edith, not now!" Thea hissed, her eyes wide with urgency.

Narcissa rolled her eyes, giving up on trying to restrain her. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Edith."

Edith wiggled free, her excitement bubbling over. "I knew the reason you kept disappearing was because of a man!" She clapped her hands, beaming at them. "Severa, is he your secret husband?!"

Severa felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, but Dom just laughed, his warm eyes sparkling. "Not quite," he said, a teasing tone in his voice.

"Edith, it's not like that," Severa managed to say, though her voice was still tinged with amusement. "Dom is... an old friend."

Edith pouted playfully. "An old friend, huh? Well, you two sure look cozy for 'old friends.'"

Dom winked at Severa, his smile widening. "Maybe there's hope for us yet," he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers.

Severa's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly shook her head, trying to regain her composure. "Alright, enough with the soap opera. Dom, I'll see you later ok?" Dom nodded, a hint of a smile still lingering on his lips. "Yeah, see you later, Sev." He turned to leave, giving her a final look that made her heart flutter.

As Dom walked out, Severa felt the weight of Edith, Thea, and Narcissa's gazes on her. She turned around, trying to play it cool. "Alright, ladies, show's over. Go back to whatever you were doing!"

She picked up Lucky and tried to head upstairs only to be pushed onto the couch. The lights suddenly turned off, and a bright "Lumos" from Narcissa's wand shone in her face. "Tell us everything about this 'Dom' and we'll let you go."

Severa squinted against the light, her irritation bubbling up. "Really, guys? This is what we're doing now?"

Edith crossed her arms, grinning mischievously. "Oh, absolutely. Spill the beans, Sev."

Theodosia nodded eagerly. "We want details. Who is he? How do you know him? And why does he look at you like that?"

Severa sighed, realizing there was no escaping this interrogation. She placed Lucky on the floor and leaned back against the couch. "Fine. Dom and I go way back. We grew up together. He was... well, he was my best friend."

Narcissa lowered her wand slightly, her expression softening. "Best friend, huh? Before Lily Evans?"

Severa nodded, a nostalgic smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah, before Lily. Dom was there for me when I needed someone. He understood me in a way few people ever have."

Edith's eyes widened with interest. "So what happened? Why did you two drift apart?"

Severa sighed again, the memories flooding back. "Life happened. We both had different paths to follow. He got caught up in some rough stuff, and I had my own issues to deal with. We lost touch, but now... well, here we are."

Theodosia leaned in, her curiosity still burning. "And how do you feel about him now?"

Severa paused, the question hanging heavy in the air. She picked up Lucky, using the small puppy as a shield against the probing eyes of her friends. 

Before they could press her further, Severa made her way upstairs, ignoring the shouts and questions that followed her. She slammed her door shut, the sound echoing through the house. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

She placed Lucky on the bed and sat down beside him, running her fingers through his soft fur. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Severa's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, memories of the past colliding with the uncertainties of the future.

Why had Dom come back into her life now? What did it mean for her life, for their future? She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She couldn't afford to get lost in her feelings, not when so much was at stake.

Lucky whimpered softly, nuzzling against her hand. Severa smiled faintly, grateful for the small comfort. "What do you think, Lucky? Can we pull this off?" The puppy looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes, and Severa felt a flicker of hope.

She needed to focus on the mission, to stay strong for Dom's team. But deep down, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for her and Dom. 

A chance to reclaim the bond they once had...