Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria, Friday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

Thursday had been spent enjoying themselves as much as possible, including the couples massage which had proven a great way to wind down after some sight seeing.

Friday... Friday was quieter.

Steven sat outside by their pool. He was dressed in his swimsuit but he was currently sitting cross legged by the edge of the pool looking into the water.

Looking at his reflection. Which was his reflection.

Which was fine. Good. What Steven was for, of course. Handling things that were too much or too painful for Marc to deal with.

Still. It wasn't as though Steven liked dealing with it either.

Steven sighed and kept looking down towards the water, not sure what to do.

[for the beau. warning for discussion of parent death and child abuse]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"There's your kind heart again, to worry about me when you've got so much on your mind already," Watts said, starting to move towards the stairs.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven held on to Llewellyn's hand to keep contact between them.

"I feel guilty," Steven admitted. "You've lost your parents. Both of them. Here I am taking all the energy."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's not a competition, darling," Watts reminded him, giving Steven's hand a squeeze.

[hasaknightjob]

"Am I making you feel - I don't know," Steven said. He tried to think of how to put it. "Overlooked?"

[pocketpretzels]

"No," Watts shook his head. "Not in the least."

[hasaknightjob]

"Or like your grief doesn't matter?" Steven checked.

[pocketpretzels]

"The other night, when you were sleepwalking and I confessed to having been woken by a nightmare, you asked me what I needed," Watts pointed out. "As I've said, even when you're feeling overwhelmed by your own grief, you take the time to check in on me, worry about how I feel."

[hasaknightjob]

Without thinking about it, Steven picked up a couple of towels near the pool and handed one to Llewellyn. "All right. Long as I'm not making you feel forgotten. Unimportant. You're neither to me."

[pocketpretzels]

"You have never made me feel such things," Watts said. Steven was no Jack Walker, after all. Watts stripped off his wet t-shirt and wrapped one of the towels around himself.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven watched Llewellyn with interest, his own towel forgotten.

[pocketpretzels]

"What is it?" Watts asked, catching that look.

[hasaknightjob]

"You're very handsome," Steven said.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts chuckled, reaching out to pull Steven in close. "You see, how could I feel forgotten when you're saying such things?"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven let himself be pulled closer. "You looked good in your wet shirt as well. If you wondered."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm glad you approve," Watts declared, pressing a kiss to Steven's jaw.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven tilted his head to give Llewellyn more room. "Could have more of that when we sit?"

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"All the kisses you'd care for," Watts said by way of agreement.

[hasaknightjob]

"Even better than I imagined," Steven said. He took Llewellyn's hand. "Here, let's go."

[pocketpretzels]

Twining his fingers with Steven's, Watts walked them over to the loungers, selecting the one best positioned in relation to the afternoon sunshine.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven followed. Then quickly squeezed Llewellyn's hand and let go. "Wait - "

Steven went back to where their drinks were and tried to pick them all up so he could bring them over to the lounge. "In case we get thirsty."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, good thinking!" Watts exclaimed, spinning around and doing much the same with the tray of fruit and cheese.

[hasaknightjob]

"That was going to be my next suggestion," Steven said, smiling at him proudly. Once the drinks were settled, he swiped a grape from the fruit tray. "Thank you, love."

[pocketpretzels]

And there was that shyly pleased smile that appeared every time Steven called him love.

"I know we're to order dinner eventually, but- until then."

[hasaknightjob]

"And no point it going to waste," Steven said. He looked at the lounge chair thoughtfully. "How would you like to do this? Me first, so you get more of the sunlight?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Seems logical," Watts agreed.