**SNAPE CROSSOVER WEEK**
c r o s s o v e r . d r a b b l e . four . o f . five
[!] Warning: contains slash [!]
Since Lord Riddle had arrived at Downton Abbey, Thomas found himself utterly distracted by the valet Lord Riddle had brought with him. The valet in question, Mr Snape was his name, had dark eyes and pale face framed by a curtain of black hair. Unhandsome, some had whispered, especially Mrs Patmore and Daisy. Utterly fascinating, thought Thomas. During the introduction, Lord Riddle might have looked bored, but Mr Snape had looked more so looking down at the servants at the Abbey over his Roman nose, barely disguising a disgusted sneer. During dinner with the rest of the staff, Thomas had watched Mr Snape sit stiffly, avoiding small talk and poking at the food. He had only had a few bites, something that as far Thomas could tell, upset Mrs Patmore to no end. From the other end of the table, Thomas tried to discreetly count those long black eyelashes, tried to map that sullen face and trace his eyes over those long fingers. A couple of times, when the dinner was done, their eyes met. The intensity of the gaze Thomas made something tightened in his chest. Mr Snape's presence did seem to dampen the entire conversation in the dining hall. After a while, he stood up and just simply made a move to leave. "Where you going?" inquired Daisy. "Fresh air." How two words could contain that much contempt was beyond Thomas, but if given the chance he would gladly bask in that low silken voice that the other valet possessed. Counting silently in his head to twenty, Thomas stood up as well. "I believe I'll have some fresh air as well", he accounted and followed Mr Snape. "Can you believe it", Daisy muttered. He took a deep breath of the fresh cool air and reached for a cigarette as he reached the outside. His hands trembling slightly as he noticed that Mr Snape was watching him. He offered one to the other man. Mr Snape shook his head slightly, bringing out his own cigarette case and gave Thomas an almost shy crooked smile. "So tell me, Mr Burrow", the deep baritone voice said, sending a shiver through Thomas' spine. Automatically he took a step towards the other man, those dark eyes widened in surprise at the action. "Are you a friend of Mr Wilde by any chance?" The dark voice, barely a whisper, as the Mr Snape also took a step forward, closing the last distance between them. Thomas took a deep drag of his cigarette and fiddled with it a little bit before he looked up, head tilted, and a little smirk. "Indeed I am. I believe I'm a friend of Mrs King as well, I know them both very well." He hadn't meant for his voice to quiver, but at least he held his gaze steady. Mr Snape took a deep sigh as if he had been holding his breath. "Thank the lord for that", he mumbled as he leaned down and covered Thomas lips with his own.
