Midnight Manor Private Residence, Sunday afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

The plus side was that Steven wasn't having the usual trouble sleeping. No lost days. No waking up in places where he didn't know where he was - well, that still happened from time to time but typically very small things like being in one room when he could've sworn he was just in another. Nothing worth worrying about.

He was still having trouble sleeping though. Much as he tried to fight it, the time of year weighed his thoughts down. Holiday made him think of family made him think of -

Well, it was a lot. Which meant of late when night time came he was wide awake and staring at the ceiling of his and Llewellyn's bedroom. Ironic for that to be a problem considering how once the only thing he ever wanted was to not fall asleep.

Llewellyn of course was wonderful, which was why he'd offered to get Steven a coffee as a treat. Steven had sworn he would be all right while he was gone and pointed out he had Raphael to keep an eye on him.

Of course cats did have powers of their own. Which was why it did not take too long for sitting on the couch in the living room with Raphael to turn into lying down on the couch with Raphael curled up on his chest, to turn into Steven fast asleep as the kitty nap field took over.

At least he was getting some rest?

[for the beau]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

And while Watts knew Steven wouldn’t mind him taking some time to be social whilst on that coffee run, Watts was doubly glad when he returned home and found Steven napping on the couch.

As quietly as possible, he went to the kitchen and found the thermoses, pouring the mochas he’d picked up from the Perk into them to keep them warm in case Steven’s nap lasted a while, and then got out some plates for the maple oat scones Raiden had recommended (which had, it turned out, been available as both vegan and non—vegan selections).

That done, he made his way to the the living room, taking care to be as quiet as possible as he set the drinks and snacks down on the coffee table, and then perch on the arm of the couch while he waited for Steven to wake.

[hasaknightjob]

Raphael was the first to notice Llewellyn's arrival, lifting his head up in a sort of greeting. Between that and the movement in the room, Steven stirred but did not yet fully awake. He did seem to be on his way though.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts gave the cat a little nod of thanks for what had clearly been his deliberate assistance in getting Steven to get some rest, but otherwise didn’t move.

[hasaknightjob]

The sensation of someone nearby did filter through and get Steven to open his eyes just a bit. He looked up at Llewellyn and murmured a, "'lo" which was the type that suggested he might not yet be awake enough to realize he'd done that.

[pocketpretzels]

“Hello, you,” Watts replied softly, reaching down with one hand to run his fingers through Steven’s hair.

[hasaknightjob]

There was a contented sigh when Llewellyn did that. Steven's eyes drifted closed as sleep pulled him in for a few more moments.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts was all too happy to keep that up, particularly if it helped Steven get a few more moments of rest.

[hasaknightjob]

Eventually Steven's eyes opened again. He was still not yet fully awake but he seemed closer to it than he had before. He squinted as Llewellyn came into view. "'s a nice dream."

[pocketpretzels]

“What’s that, darling?” Watts asked, keeping his voice soft.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shifted in place to wake up a little more, moving carefully when he realized the weight on his chest was a curled up Raphael. "Thought you were a dream. You're a nice one."

[pocketpretzels]

“Oh, I am entirely real,” Watts said, and now he was shifting position too, sliding off the arm of the couch to press a kiss to Steven’s forehead. “I have retrieved our coffees,” he informed him. “But they’ll keep if you’d rather rest some more.”

[hasaknightjob]

"No, no, I'm awake," Steven said. He rubbed his eyes. "Much rather be with you anyway."

He was not sitting up however. Possibly he could work up to this in a few moments.

[pocketpretzels]

That’s all right, Watts was perfectly content to sit on the floor, side against the couch and hand reaching up to resume carding through Steven’s hair.

“I’m flattered, though I’m also glad you managed to get a little rest in.”

[hasaknightjob]

"Raphael took good care of me," Steven said. He gave the cat a gentle pet in thanks. "Here, though, you can't be comfortable. I could get up?"

The question was because he did still have a cat on his chest. Obviously that posed some difficulties with movement.

[pocketpretzels]

“You’ll disturb the cat,” Watts pointed out.

[hasaknightjob]

"That's true," Steven admitted. Obviously disturbing the cat was completely unacceptable. Steven thought about it. "I could use you as a pillow? Wouldn't be too much movement to do that?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I am amenable to that,” Watts said, standing up. “That we can probably manage without disturbing him overmuch.”

[hasaknightjob]

"You'll allow it to get your dad closer, right?" Steven asked the sleeping Raphael. Steven braced the cat with one hand while he sat up enough to let Llewellyn sit where Steven's head had been resting. "That work? Do you have enough room to get in?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts slid carefully in to the space Steven created. "Perfect."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven put his head back down so that now he was using Llewellyn's lap as a pillow. He checked to be sure Raphael was all right before saying, "Also perfect. Good way to wake up, you ask me."

[pocketpretzels]

“I’m just glad you were able to get a little rest in at all,” Watts said, one hand in Steven’s hair and the other stretching out to offer Raphael a pat.

[hasaknightjob]

It was possible that Steven was leaning in to Llewellyn's touch in a similar manner to the way Raphael did. His eyes certainly drifted closed, but only to enjoy the sensation and not fall back asleep again.

"Turns out the couch and Raphael are both comfortable," Steven said. He frowned, realizing he had no sense of what time it was. "How long has it been? It's still Sunday, right?"

He was sort of joking but there was a hint of wanting to be sure all the same.

[pocketpretzels]

“Sunday, early afternoon,” Watts affirmed. “I went to get us coffees, and lingered to chat a bit with Raiden.” Even as he’d been sure Steven wouldn’t have minded, and in fact it had worked out for the best as it meant he got a longer nap in, there was still a note of apology in his tone for not heading straight back.

[hasaknightjob]

Apology not needed, if the note of approval in Steven's voice was anything to go by. "Oh that's nice. He doing well?"

[pocketpretzels]

"He is, yes," Watts said. "Did you know there were seasons for different types of cooking? I knew- obviously, there are dishes where the ingredients are dependent on season, but not so much with methods."