Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

After Steven and Llewellyn's usual trip over to the mainland they came home for an easy Saturday afternoon. Llewellyn went to the library to practice his piano. Steven, for his part, set up dinner in the slow cooker.

Once that was done and the house began to be filled with delicious smells, Steven set himself up in the living room. He curled up on the couch with a book, happily losing track of the time. Raphael kept him company by sitting on the back of the couch and watching the fish swimming in their tank.

On the whole, Steven had no complaints. Other than the lack of his beau, of course, but that could be fixed later when Llewellyn was free.

[for the beau when he is free]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

And lo, eventually said beau decided he was, in fact, finished with his piano practice and headed in to the living room.

Leaning over the back of the couch, he braced his hands on Steven's shoulders as he pressed a kiss to Steven's cheek. "Hello, you."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled up at him. "Hello, you. Done already?"

[pocketpretzels]

"For today," Watts said, reaching over to give Raphael a pat. "The smell of dinner cooking grew far too irresistible to continue," he admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven marked where he was in his book, then put it and his glasses on the coffee table. "It'll be a while before it's done. But I'm glad you think the smell is good. That's a good sign for the taste. Would you like to join me?"

Steven patted the spot beside him on the couch.

[pocketpretzels]

"Would I," Watts scoffed. "Of course I would."

He came around the couch, settling in to the indicated spot and leaning his head against Steven's shoulder.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shifted position so that Llewellyn could tuck up against him as much as he liked. Once Llewellyn seemed settled, Steven put his arms around him to hold him close. "There. How's that?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Cozy," Watts informed him. "Perfect."

[hasaknightjob]

"Much like yourself?" Steven said, giving him a grin.

[pocketpretzels]

"Flirt," Watts poked him in the ribs playfully.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven chuckled. "I've no shame when it's you."

[pocketpretzels]

"So long as it's just me," Watts said, only mostly joking.

[hasaknightjob]

"Only ever you," Steven promised. He held out his hand and motioned for Llewellyn to give him one of his. "Here. Let me have your hand, please."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts obligingly held his hand out for Steven to do as he wished.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven pulled Llewellyn's hand up for a kiss, then started to give it a light massage, paying particular attention to each finger. "How did practice go then?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm," Watts hummed as he realised what Steven was doing. "Well. It gets smoother with each repetition."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's good," Steven said as he kept up the massage. "How are you feeling about it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Enjoying myself," Watts said. "Glad I decided to pick it up. There is just something about filling a space with music..."

Something that a recording couldn't quite manage, in his opinion.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm glad." Steven put Llewellyn's hand down and motioned for the other one. "It's not something that you feel weighed down by, like you have to do it because we bought the piano. You like doing it."

[pocketpretzels]

"I do," Watts said, holding out his other hand. "Nearly ready to try teaching you how to play that duet, I think."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven began to massage that hand just as he'd done the first. "That'll be exciting. Looking forward to it, to be certain. Nervous, but looking forward."

[pocketpretzels]

"I think you'll do just fine," Watts said. "And you know I would never poke fun."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's why I feel brave enough to try it," Steven said. "Don't know that I ever would on my own."

[pocketpretzels]

"A little something just for you and I," Watts smiled at him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. "Yes, I like that. Even if it's only the one song, it's still something for us. And lets me get a feel for what this is like for you. Playing."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts would happily show Steven more if he decided he enjoyed it, but he also wasn't about to put the cart before the horse here.

"It feels a little like baking, in a way?" Watts said hesitantly. "Creating something, but- by following a set of instructions."