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]

"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.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not as though I had a robust dating life to start with," Steven pointed out. "Not much experience winning someone's heart. Lots of experience not doing that, actually."

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes, but you were missing an important piece of the puzzle, then," Watts said. Of course, once he had that puzzle piece he'd also thought romance out of reach, but not Watts's point.

[hasaknightjob]

"Maybe," Steven said, not wholly convinced that was the only problem. "Still. Wasn't the truth of me back then, was it? Probably for the best it didn't work out. They'd have been with a - a wrong version of me. Not the - the one I am now."

Steven was very much avoiding the word real.

[pocketpretzels]

"Selfishly, I am going to have to agree there," Watts said. "I like having you to myself, my rare one."

[hasaknightjob]

That coaxed a smile out of Steven. "Works out nicely, that. I like having you for mine, my dear. See? Goes to show things find a way of righting themselves."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts tilted his head up to press a soft kiss to Steven's jaw. "And you are real. As real as the meal simmering away in the kitchen."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned into the kiss, hugging Llewellyn now as much for his own comfort as anything. "I'm learning. Who and what I am. Makes a difference. Means a lot that you're there with me. Love me anyway and all that."

[pocketpretzels]

"But never in spite, my darling," Watts reminded him gently. "I love all of who you are."

[hasaknightjob]

"Right, right. Sorry," Steven said. He looked sheepish. "Slips, sometimes. Thank you for reminding me. And being patient with me."

[pocketpretzels]

"Of course," Watts said. "That is what we do for each other."

[hasaknightjob]

"But you see?" Steven said. "Shows how much it did work out. Who could be as understanding as you are? About all of it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"You might have found someone here who did," Watts pointed out. He then shook his head slightly. "Why am I arguing for other people falling in love with you? I was downright miserable contemplating the very thought of a competition for your affections back when we first began seeing each other."