Apt #14, MHA, Tuesday Morning

[hasaknightjob]

The children had been sent back to their real parents, safe and sound. After which Steven and Llewellyn went back home to clean up the detritus that had accumulated over a three day weekend with little ones. Amazing how much of it there could be considering there were no toys or other child specific things. But snacks, reading books, drawing pictures, playing tag, building a blanket fort - it all added up.

There'd been no real plans for the day. Normally Steven and Llewellyn did their own things on Mondays, but the children had taken priority. Likewise normally Tuesday was Marc's day, with him getting up early to go to the gym. But once the children were gone Steven felt an ache at their lack that, while no where near the pain Marc would have felt at being around their presence, was still enough that Steven asked Llewellyn to stay the night and be there in the morning.

Which was why come Tuesday morning Steven was in bed with his beau, awake far earlier than he usually was but that was also because he'd slept very little to begin with thanks to all the thoughts and feelings running through him.

Llewellyn hadn't gotten much sleep either. Whether from his own emotions about having children over the weekend or from Steven not getting much rest Steven wasn't sure. Regardless they'd both been quiet, most likely both with the urge to let the other rest even if they couldn't.

Thus there was Steven Tuesday morning, staring up at the ceiling again, and debating if he should risk getting up and putting the kettle on for tea or if he should keep still on the odd chance Llewellyn wasn't awake right now.

[for the beau]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"Dozed, a little, here and there," Watts answered. "I'm more concerned about you," he admitted, tucking a stray lock of Steven's hair back behind his ear.

[hasaknightjob]

"Me?" Steven looked puzzled. "I'm used to not sleeping. I'll be fine."

It was one night! Not even enough to get him falling asleep on people while he was standing next to them!

[pocketpretzels]

"Darling," Watts said softly, "it's not just the not sleeping." Although yes, the I'm used to it, I'm fine refrain didn't exactly sit well with him. "It's the reason for it."

[hasaknightjob]

"Oh," Steven said. He took a sip of his tea, not delaying a reply but taking time to get his thoughts in order. "I mean are you all right? Big surprise, this weekend."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm- trying to make sense of it all, I suppose," Watts admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

"Same world as the you from the reunion, I think," Steven said, if that helped. "Or close enough to it."

[pocketpretzels]

He’d meant more in the sense of trying to figure out his own feelings about it.

“Yes,” he nodded. “Some things did sound- similar- to what I remember .”

[hasaknightjob]

"It wasn't too bad, was it?" Steven asked, hoping Llewellyn hadn't been too inconvenienced by it all. "Only a few days?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Not bad at all,” Watts assured him. “They were sweet children. I rather liked them.”

Again: he liked children in general, had just never pictured himself with any.

[hasaknightjob]

"They were sweet," Steven agreed. "Rather well behaved. Wonder if that's because they were visiting. Hope their fathers weren't too worried about them."

[pocketpretzels]

“Best case scenario they anticipated this sort of thing happening and where they’d end up,” Watts said thoughtfully.

[hasaknightjob]

"Suppose there's some advantage there," Steven said. "You coming here for the reunion."

[pocketpretzels]

“Suppose so,” Watts said. “Even as I don’t like how much it- upset you, at the time.”

Nor had his future self particularly cared for the fact that future-Steven hadn’t followed him back in time.

[hasaknightjob]

"Twenty years is a lot to lose," Steven said, looking down into his tea. "Though I guess it wouldn't be so bad now? I mean I'd more likely know I hadn't lost that much?"

Maybe? Hopefully.

[pocketpretzels]

“You’re steadier now,” Watts agreed. “And- more accustomed to Fandom’s idea of whimsy.”

[hasaknightjob]

"At least I didn't lose you this time?" Steven said. He reached over to give Llewellyn's arm a squeeze. "I don't like the ones where I lose you."

Technically only the one so far but it counted for a lot in Steven's opinion.

[pocketpretzels]

“Shan’t happen again so long as I can help it,” Watts promised.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not if I can help it either," Steven said with a wry grimace. Not that either of them tended to actually have any say in such things. "But - I'm glad it didn't bother you much. The children being here."

[pocketpretzels]

“Whyever would it have?” Watts asked. And then: “Did it bother you?”

[hasaknightjob]

"Because you don't want children?" Steven said.

Yes, he was continuing to avoid talking about himself on this subject.

[pocketpretzels]

"I never envisioned myself raising children," Watts said. "And- I built a life around that expectation, that is true. But that does not mean their presence bothers me. I find children that young rather refreshing, actually. Their needs are uncomplicated and their thoughts are unfiltered."

[hasaknightjob]

"You were brilliant with them," Steven said. "Like a duck to water far as taking care of them and all."

[pocketpretzels]

"You were rather a natural at it yourself, I'd say," Watts replied.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven's smile turned bittersweet. "I like children. They're curious and learning about everything. I don't mean facts and figures. I mean, yeah, facts and figures. But about themselves. The world. People. That's amazing, isn't it?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. "Their enthusiasm and energy seemed never-ending," he recalled with a slight smile. "Well," he said, also recalling how they'd needed to be carried home after the walk in the Preserve on Saturday. "Nearly never-ending."