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

[hasaknightjob]

It wasn't as though Steven minded being snuggled up with his beau. He settled in, sighing contentedly once they both found where they wanted to be.

"Hello, you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Hello, you," Watts replied. "Breakfast in bed, is it?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Something to tide us over at least," Steven said. Perhaps allow them to spend longer in bed than having nothing to eat. Steven caressed Llewellyn's cheek. "Can't have you going hungry."

[pocketpretzels]

"Nor would I want you to," Watts affirmed.

[hasaknightjob]

"You needn't stay if you'd like to go out today," Steven told him. He knew Llewellyn went to the diner on Tuesdays. Marc too but Marc was taking today off for the same reason Steven needed the day for himself. "I mean I love your company but don't feel you've no option to go if you'd care to."

Just maybe not soon.

[pocketpretzels]

"I appreciate the reminder," Watts said. "But I want to be... Right. Here." Those last two words were emphasized first by a gentle poke to Steven's chest, followed by a quick, light kiss.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at him. "Well you're always there, aren't you? Just as I'm here."

Steven gave a light poke to Llewellyn's chest.

[pocketpretzels]

"Always," Watts confirmed, before scooting in to a sitting position. There was tea, after all, and it wouldn't do to let it get cold.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven sat up as well. He got the plate with the muffins on it and put it on the bed between them, complete with napkins for them both.

"Did you get any sleep at all?"

[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.