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]

"Thank you for that, by the way," Watts said. "Looking forward to it."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course." Steven wrapped his arms around Llewellyn's shoulders to give him a hug. "I like making dinner for us. Especially if it's something you can look forward to when you're done working or the like."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts burrowed in to that hug. "It means a great deal to me."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven happily cuddled Llewellyn close. "Does to me as well. Part of making this place a home, isn't it? Taking care of each other?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes," Watts nodded. "And- to be the kind of man who gets to come home to such things..."

Not that he'd come home to dinner tonight, since Steven had started it when they'd both been present. But in principle.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven understood. He pressed a kiss to the side of Llewellyn's head. "You very much are. You're my beau. My love. You get to come home to all the care I can give."

[pocketpretzels]

Maybe it was the advent of Pride month and the accompanying festival and parade that had him ruminating on such things.

"No sneaking about. Worrying about what the neighbours might see. Or the landlord."

[hasaknightjob]

"Can even be open about it with everyone at our synagogue," Steven said, since he could understand where Llewellyn was coming from even if those specific concerns had never been his own. "Everyone there knows we're together. Supports us."

[pocketpretzels]

"They're all so kind," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"We chose well," Steven said. "Also were fortunate to have so many options. Could find a place not only accepting but welcoming."

[pocketpretzels]

"Something else I wouldn't have had in Toronto," Watts pointed out. "And perhaps- not without you, either. Encouraging me to celebrate with you. Answering what questions you could."

[hasaknightjob]

"I was happy to. Still am." Steven lightly rubbed his hand over Llewellyn's chest. "Best as I'm able. I'm pleased I could give you enough to think about to decide if you wanted to do more."

[pocketpretzels]

"I belong somewhere. I mean, of course with you, always with you- but- I. We. Have- a community."

[hasaknightjob]

"Always with me," Steven agreed, hugging him around the shoulders again. "But yes. I like how there's things we can do after to contribute. Be part of the community in some small way."

[pocketpretzels]

"It doesn't even feel like a dream, because I never could have imagined this life," Watts admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

"I can understand that a little," Steven said. "Not to the extent that it is for you, of course. But after learning about Marc and me. Thinking anything like this was lost to me as a possibility. So I know how amazing it is. Can only imagine how much more for you."

[pocketpretzels]

"You got your dream back," Watts smiled softly at him. "Perhaps not in the way you anticipated, but- it is good, isn't it?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Not just good. Wonderful," Steven said. "Better than I could have imagined. Better than I thought I could have. All thanks to you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm glad," Watts said. "That I could give that back to you."

[hasaknightjob]

"So am I," Steven said. He kissed Llewellyn behind his ear. "That you could convince me to be foolish. None of what we have now would be possible without you."

[pocketpretzels]

"You either," Watts pointed out. "I needed- the right person to make me think it was worth the risk."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven moved his hand down to rest over Llewellyn's heart. "I do like that. That we were brave for each other. Maybe in ways we couldn't be for ourselves."

[pocketpretzels]

"I was- so determined. To never fall in love again. And you just- breezed past all that without even knowing that is what you were doing," Watts said. "How lucky am I, to have you."

[hasaknightjob]

"Absolutely had no idea," Steven agreed. "Probably would've mucked it up if I had, to be honest. Made a mess of it."

[pocketpretzels]

"I can't imagine that," Watts said. Of course, he'd be the first to say he had a poor imagination to start with.