Apt #14, MHA, Saturday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

Another Saturday, another tryout of a Temple on the mainland to see if it felt like a good fit for Steven, Llewellyn, and perhaps even Marc when he felt more comfortable with it again.

This had involved waking up early on a Saturday morning (i.e. waking up at all in the morning on a Saturday) so between that and the chilly weather the plan for the afternoon was staying inside and snuggling.

Yes, the heating in the flat was perfectly fine. But shush.

Lunch was also on the agenda. Which was why, after they returned home, Steven and Llewellyn briefly separated into their separate flats to prepare. Steven had the pizza they'd picked up along the way (a heart shaped vegan pizza). He put that down on the coffee table as soon as he got in, then busied himself with changing into comfortable and warm sweats, putting a spare comforter on the couch, putting out Raphael's water dish and toys, and then getting the kettle on for warm drinks of some kind.

Then, on impulse, he put on a video of a crackling fireplace on the TV.

Now all he needed was the beau and his small companion.

[for the beau and his small companion]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"Don't give him any ideas," Watts stage-whispered.

[hasaknightjob]

"Perhaps he's already had then and was wondering if we noticed he's not gone anywhere," Steven stage whispered back.

[pocketpretzels]

Well, now Watts was squinting suspiciously at the pizza on the coffee table.

"If you've stolen anything, you'd best confess now," he told the cat solemnly. That he punctuated this statement with ear-skritches surely made it terribly threatening.

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't see anything missing," Steven said. He looked down towards where Raphael was curled up. "Except your lap."

[pocketpretzels]

"Which was surrendered voluntarily," Watts said with a nod. Well, technically, he'd picked Raphael up and placed him there, so not even surrendered so much as given freely.

[hasaknightjob]

"It's generous of you," Steven said. "Your lap is very comfortable."

Steven knew from personal experience.

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't mind sharing, so long as it's the right... feline, of course." Maybe also a single specific person.

[hasaknightjob]

"See? Generous," Steven said. "Being so kind to a cat. Offering love. Comfort."

[pocketpretzels]

"To be entirely fair I think I needed him in the moment more than he needed me," Watts pointed out.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at Llewellyn. "Your troubles are his own?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I suppose so, in a way," Watts said. "He's a very comforting presence, wouldn't you agree?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Much like his dad that way," Steven said. "Comforting and kind."

[pocketpretzels]

“I would’ve said like you,” Watts said. “Listening to me ramble on as I attempt to get my thoughts in order.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Not rambling at all," Steven said. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it? No shame in needing to think about it."

[pocketpretzels]

“Felt a bit like rambling, my thoughts bouncing around every which way,” Watts confessed.

[hasaknightjob]

"Wasn't rambling to me," Steven said, for whatever that might be worth to Llewellyn. He lightly stroked Llewellyn's hair. "It's thinking out loud, isn't it? Thoughts go where they will."

[pocketpretzels]

“Mmm,” Watts hummed. “Still, nice of you to listen and help with that.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Happy to listen to you any time you need," Steven said. "I'm glad you find it helpful. Reminds me a bit of Crawley, that way. Me talking to him. Sometimes you just need to say things out loud to figure out what you feel."

[pocketpretzels]

"Liked having you talk me through it, as well," Watts shared. "It's as I said. You see me."

[hasaknightjob]

"Hear you as well," Steven said, giving him a grin. "It's nice. Being trusted with your thoughts. Especially when you're not sure of them. Means you know I'll take care of them. Which I will. Do my best, anyway."

[pocketpretzels]

"You've done very well with them so far," Watts said fondly. "There's no one else I trust more."

[hasaknightjob]

"Raphael comes out equal then?" Steven asked, still smiling. After all, the cat was a good listener.

[pocketpretzels]

"His advice at times is a little suspect," Watts said. "But then again, there are times when eating or sleeping has in fact been the solution."

[hasaknightjob]

"Also petting him," Steven agreed, as he did just that under Raphael's chin. "Few situations haven't been improved by giving him a cuddle."

[pocketpretzels]

"That's true, but I have to say you have a slight edge over him there." Watts told Steven.