Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

After their usual trip to the mainland, Steven and Llewellyn came back home for their other usual Saturday activities. Which was Llewellyn taking over the kitchen to get some baking done before his piano practice, and Steven occupying himself with other things.

In today's case those other things had been cuddling Raphael (Steven still wanted to make it up to him for being away last weekend, even if Raphael had long since forgiven them) and picking something out of the library to read while Llewellyn was practicing.

While doing that, though, Steven also thought to catch up on radio. Which was when he heard the mention of the reunion and - twenty years??

Steven checked his mobile. Then he checked his pocketwatch. Then he checked them both again.

We didn't lose time, Steven, Marc assured him from one of the reflections.

Which was all well and good but that didn't rule out -

Steven ran back to the kitchen to check on Llewellyn.

[for the beau, NFB please]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

It did, actually, since the way these things worked was you either woke up affected or it missed you entirely. Though given his particular anxieties regarding this bit of weirdness specifically, Steven could be forgiven for worrying.

In any case, it was a present-day Watts taking cookies from the oven and setting them on a rack to cool.

"You're a little- " early, Watts had been about to say, when he caught sight of Steven's expression. "What's wrong, darling?"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven searched Llewellyn's face. No glasses. No mustache. Still looking much as he was when Steven had left him in the kitchen earlier.

Steven immediately pounced on Llewellyn with a tight hug.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts didn't have the slightest clue what had prompted this, but that was hardly going to stop him from hugging back tightly.

[hasaknightjob]

"You're still you?" Steven asked. "My Llew? You've not changed?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I- Yes? Always. No?" Watts said, answering those questions in sequence. "What's going on?"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven still clung to him, but pulled back just enough to study Llewellyn's face. "Radio. Said it's the reunion. 20 years. I - I didn't want to lose you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, darling," Watts said sympathetically as understanding dawned. He brought one hand up to gently cup Steven's cheek. "You would have known already, if I had," he reminded him gently. "I would have woken up this morning an older version of myself." He couldn't blame Steven for forgetting that detail in his distress, but hopefully reminding of it would ease any anxiety about it happening when Steven wasn't looking.

[hasaknightjob]

"I didn't know if I'd lost time again," Steven said. He leaned into Llewellyn's touch, letting the warmth of Llewellyn's hand sink into his skin. "Marc said we hadn't, and I checked your watch and all. But - I needed to see you. To be certain."

[pocketpretzels]

"Still the man you woke up with," Watts assured him. "I am not going anywhere."

[hasaknightjob]

"Not that the other you isn't nice," Steven said, still clinging to Llewellyn. "But he's not you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't much care for the fact that him being here means I am not," Watts said.

Even if he had been left with glimpses of a very nice future after that other him had left.

[hasaknightjob]

"You are mine," Steven said, because he felt that needed to be stressed. "None other. I don't any other. Just you."

[pocketpretzels]

"All yours, darling," Watts agreed. "And going nowhere except perhaps the couch? With you?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I'd like that," Steve admitted. He stepped back, then for the first time registered what was around them. "Oh you've made biscuits. They smell wonderful."

[pocketpretzels]

"If you don't mind waiting a minute or two, they should be cooled enough to take some with us?" Watts said, guessing that Steven wouldn't be interested in going on without him. "I can put some tea on too."

[hasaknightjob]

"Don't mind at all," Steven said, because being near Llewellyn was the primary concern, yes. "Oh - have I interrupted? You're not in the middle of it all, are you?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Not at all," Watts assured him, "I've not just taken them from the oven."

[hasaknightjob]

"All right. Good." Steven's worry about interrupting was eased. He still wanted to stay as close to Llewellyn as possible, however. "Because I could wait if you needed. Sit at the counter. It would've been no problem."

[pocketpretzels]

"I always welcome your company," Watts said. The minor exception being a preference for solitude while practicing piano, but he'd gladly give that up any time Steven needed him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was slowly remembering these things as he was getting oriented again. "Oh - your practice. I'm interrupting that as well, aren't I?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts pressed a kiss to Steven's forehead. "You're more important. I'll make up for it tomorrow." Or Monday, possibly.

[hasaknightjob]

"Or later today?" Steven suggested, looking uncertain. "I - I'd just like your company for now, if that's all right?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Or later today," Watts agreed. "And of course it's all right," he added, putting the kettle on.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven relaxed again now that he knew Llewellyn wasn't ruling out later as an option. "Thank you. I know I'm being silly. Island's having a laugh. We've been spared. Everything's fine. I just - it helps. Seeing you."

And holding on to Llewellyn, which Steven would be resuming as soon as circumstances allowed.

[pocketpretzels]

"Steven Grant, I am going to ban that word from your vocabulary," Watts said mock-sternly.