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

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked around them, sort of marveling. "Sometimes a family can be two men who share a body, a man who is friends with one and loves the other, a cat, some fish, and a house."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a strange one, but it's ours," Watts said. "I'd not have it any other way. Well," he amended, after a moment. "That's not entirely true. I certainly wouldn't mind it getting bigger."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's ours... in that we get to define it, I think," Steven said, figuring out the words as he went. "We like how it is now, we've room in our hearts and minds for changes later. Does - does that make sense?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Perfectly," Watts assured him. "There's no piece that's missing, but nor is there lacking space to add another later."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that," Steven said, looking up at him. "No piece missing, but plenty of space. Yes. Agreed. That's our home and family to a T, that is."

[pocketpretzels]

"Rather literally, when it comes to our home," Watts agreed, grinning.

[hasaknightjob]

"Indeed. Among the many nice things about living in Midnight," Steven said. He reached out to the table to pick up his teacup without moving more than strictly necessary. He took a sip and put it back. "More room than we know what to do with at the moment."

[pocketpretzels]

"I try not to think too hard about the fact that we've apparently a whole floor that we haven't- done anything with, that is."

[hasaknightjob]

"Or that it technically doesn't need to exist at all," Steven agreed. He looked around them. "Does your head in, realizing this looks this way because we need it to, not because Midnight's fussed about physics or geometry."

[pocketpretzels]

"Precisely," Watts said. "And yet- wouldn't have it any other way," he said, with a glance upwards at the ceiling and a fond little smile just in case Midnight was inclined to take that as a criticism.

[hasaknightjob]

"Me neither," Steven said. He reached down to lightly pet the floor. "I love our home. It's perfect. It just needed love and understanding."

[pocketpretzels]

"A year next month," Watts pointed out. "That we'll have been here, I mean." Well, a little longer than a month since they'd officially moved in at the end of August, but close enough.

[hasaknightjob]

"How time flies," Steven said. "Feels like only yesterday we moved in. Yet at the same time it feels like years ago, doesn't it? So much has happened."

[pocketpretzels]

"I feel the same way about you and I," Watts said. "I think- that's a good thing, isn't it? Feeling like we're just getting started, but also like- this is where we belong."

[hasaknightjob]

"Very much so," Steven said. "We've been together two years now but I can't imagine my life without you. I - I suppose perhaps that's in part due to where I was in my life when we met. But all the same. I know I'm meant to be with you."

[pocketpretzels]

"As I am with you," Watts said. "Now and always."

[hasaknightjob]

"Now and always," Steven said. He looked up at Llewellyn. His expression was both thoughtful and deeply affectionate.

[pocketpretzels]

"Something on your mind?" Watts asked, because that was a curious expression.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven replied to that by shifting up and giving Llewellyn a soft, somewhat lingering kiss.

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh," Watts murmured in to that kiss, matching Steven's energy as he returned it.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm thinking how grateful I am for you," Steven said. He didn't move far out of kissing range, only enough to talk. "How full my heart is because of you."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a wonderful heart," Watts said, tucking a lock of Steven's hair behind his ear. "And my honour to take care of it. I'm glad you were foolish enough to let me in."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned into the touch. "How could I not? You were so charming when you knocked at the door."

[pocketpretzels]

"I- oh, yes," Watts laughed a little sheepishly as he realised Steven was replying to 'let me in' and wasn't being literal. "Well. I needed to impress you."

[hasaknightjob]

"You were trying?" Steven asked, looking delighted by this. He brushed a fingertip down Llewellyn's cheek. "Tell me more?"