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]

"Good," Watts said. "I mean- I do want you to hear it again. Eventually. Perhaps another week or two? And then I can show you that duet."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said. He dipped some bread into his stew and then took an approving bite. Luckily he remembered to chew and swallow before continuing. "When you're comfortable, not before. Of course I look forward to hearing it, but only when you're ready."

[pocketpretzels]

"I want to make sure I know both parts as well as possible," Watts said. "So I don't make it difficult for you to learn."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at Llewellyn, affection obvious in his expression. "Look at you. Taking care of me. See? Wonderful."

[pocketpretzels]

"I do my very best," Watts beamed back at him. "You deserve love and care. And- you agreed to try learning the duet with me. Of course I would want that to be an enjoyable experience for you."

[hasaknightjob]

Truly the only response to that was to give Llewellyn a kiss. A careful one, so that neither of them risked spilling what they were holding, but a kiss all the same.

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm, normally I'd say you taste sweet, but right now you've got a bit of spice to you, my darling," Watts noted.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven grinned. "Was hoping to save that for later."

Sometimes he could be bold.

[pocketpretzels]

"A preview, then," Watts decided, his own grin turning playful.

[hasaknightjob]

"Precisely," Steven said. He put his stew back on the table so that he could start enjoying his salad. "Something to tide you over."

[pocketpretzels]

"There you go, making sure I'm taken care of," Watts said fondly.

[hasaknightjob]

"We do it for each other," Steven said. He speared a forkful of salad and then realized, "Oh bugger. Thank you. I meant thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"What you said was not untrue," Watts pointed out, leaning over to press a kiss to Steven's cheek before digging in to his own salad.

[hasaknightjob]

"It was all right then?" Steven asked. "I wasn't trying to dismiss. More be happy that we're a team that way. Each looking out for each other."

[pocketpretzels]

"It was, it was," Watts assured him. "I understood what you were attempting to convey."

[hasaknightjob]

"Good." Steven relaxed and tucked in to his salad again. "See? I'm learning. Getting the hang of it. Be a natural in no time."

[pocketpretzels]

"You are and I am very proud of you for it," Watts told Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"Helps you being so patient with me." Steven pointed at Llewellyn with his fork. "Encouraging me. Explaining it. Couldn't do it without you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Well, you're welcome there," Watts told him. "You're a wonderful man, Steven Grant, I just- want you to be able to see that as easily as I do."

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't think I'm horrible?" Steven said, as long as they were on the topic. "Try to do the right thing. Take care of people. But things like handsome. Charming. Good romantic prospect. I know you think of me that way. I'm grateful for it, I am. Only hard to believe sometimes. So used to it not being the case. Have it blow up in my face. Or be someone taking the piss."

[pocketpretzels]

"I understand that," Watts said. "I struggle to believe similar things of myself. But when you tell me that is how you see me- a compliment is a little gift, and I would never turn down a gift from you."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that image," Steven said. He held up his hands to indicate something the size of a small box. "Little present, all wrapped up from you."

Granted coming from Llewellyn the wrapping might be considered creative but even so.

"Think I'll keep that in mind next time," Steven said. "Each compliment a tiny present. Or big present, depending on what the compliment is."

[pocketpretzels]

Hey now. He did is best with that wrapping paper!

"I wish I had shared that metaphor earlier," Watts mused. "But there you go."

[hasaknightjob]

Which was why Steven loved it and it was considered creative and not horrible!

"Could almost be a story in that," Steven said, looking thoughtful. "Compliments as actual gifts. Something you could keep. Maybe hold off on opening until you were having a bad day and needed to hear something nice."

[pocketpretzels]

"I would read such a tale," Watts said. "Or listen to you tell it."