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]

"I know," Watts said, taking the seat to Steven's left and immediately pulling him in close.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven likewise immediately cuddled in. He took a deep breath, savoring how Llewellyn was near.

"I love you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Love you too," Watts said, rubbing gentle circles on Steven's back.

[hasaknightjob]

"That feels nice," Steven told him. He took another breath, this time deliberately focusing on the scent of Llewellyn and the biscuits on the table. "Smells nice too."

[pocketpretzels]

That breath felt deliberate, and so making a guess regarding what Steven was trying to do, Watts stretched his free hand out and managed to grab a cookie off the plate on the coffee table. "Tell me how that tastes?" he asked, holding it out to Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven nodded to show Llewellyn had guessed right - at least if Steven in turn had guessed right about Llewellyn trying to help him in this matter.

He took a bite and chewed.

"'s nice," he said, mouth full. Then, after swallowing, "Raspberry? Chocolate? Sugar?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Correct on all counts," Watts told him, continuing to rub gently at his back. "I've got you, darling. You're right here with me."

[hasaknightjob]

"I can hear your wonderful voice," Steven added, as he took another bite.

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you for the compliment," Watts said, pressing a kiss to Steven's temple. "And what do you see?" he asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"The raspberries in the biscuit," Steven said, holding up the last bite so Llewellyn could see as well. Steven then put it in his mouth and looked ahead of them. "The plate on the table. The cup of tea you made for me, just how I like it."

[pocketpretzels]

Any other time, Watts would have been tempted to snag that last bite.

"Good," he said. "All that means you're here with me. Stay here, please," he said gently. "Stay with me."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven hugged him now that his hands were once again free. "I will. I'm not going anywhere. Marc popped his head in to assure me the time hadn't gone. But it's me. I'm managing it. Thanks to you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you, darling," Watts said. "I'm immensely relieved to hear that."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven rubbed his hand against Llewellyn's shirt. "I can feel you as well. Your shirt. Your arms around me."

[pocketpretzels]

"If you feel yourself start to drift, remind yourself of all that," Watts said. "Say it out loud."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven nodded, to show he'd heard. "I can feel and hear your heart as well. Beating away in your chest."

[pocketpretzels]

"And my heart is yours," Watts reminded him. "Yours to take care of. Just as I am trying to take care of your heart."

[hasaknightjob]

"You're doing a wonderful job," Steven said, looking up at him. "Couldn't ask for better. At all or right now. Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"You're very welcome," Watts said, leaning down to kiss him gently. "I'm not glad you're in distress, but I am glad I can help you."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven snuggled in against Llewellyn. "At least it's not as bad as last time? Sussed out fairly quick I hadn't lost two decades. That would've been a nightmare."

[pocketpretzels]

"You know that this particular trick is possible," Watts said. "It caught you by surprise, but not as badly as last time."

[hasaknightjob]

"Helped having my mobile and my pocket watch," Steven said. He rubbed his cheek against Llewellyn's chest. "And you looking the same. Would've been a bad day for you to cut your hair, tell you that much."

[pocketpretzels]

"It is starting to look a bit... unkempt, now that you mention it, actually," Watts noted. "But I am glad I did not go anywhere. I do wonder if this happens every time the island holds one of these reunion events."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven frowned. "Did they have one last year? I feel as though the first was still early days, you and me. I know we were still back at the flats."

[pocketpretzels]

"They did not," Watts said. "You are correct in that the first time was- well. It was shortly before you... spent the night, at my place. For the first time."