pocketpretzels | MHA #15, Saturday Evening

Steven had had no plans to see Llewellyn that night. But when he came back from checking the mail and heard the soft sounds of familiar music from the direction of Llewellyn's flat, he was inspired to at least see how Llewellyn was doing.

And if perhaps the memory of their conversation yesterday gave Steven a bit more impetus to find the slimmest excuse to visit - well no harm in that, was there?

Thus, after dropping his things off in his own flat, Steven was at Llewellyn's door. He knocked softly in case he might actually be interrupting something.

Technically speaking, he was. But nothing that Watts actually minded being interrupted, as it was just a chore. He put down his mending, heading towards the door. When he opened it, Steven would be greeted with-

Well, the usual "Hello, you," once Watts saw who it was but also a wholly unfamiliar sight. That is, Watts wearing a particular t-shirt in place of his usual dress shirt, and perhaps more significantly... a pair of denim cut-off shorts.

Because his trousers were all currently thrown over one of the arms of the couch, awaiting their turn to be mended, you see.

Steven, who for his part was wearing a short sleeved, loose button down shirt with a pair of light khakis, also began his usual "Hello, you." greeting.

Until he saw what Llewellyn was wearing.

In response to which he immediately clapped his hand over his mouth and looked at Llewellyn, delighted.

To say Watts had forgotten what he was wearing was not entirely accurate; of course he knew he wasn't wearing his usual suit. Because they were all on the couch awaiting mending!

But that it might be something of note had somehow not occurred to him, and so Steven's reaction merely got a puzzled: "Steven?"

Which got Steven to remove his hand so that he could hastily say, "I'm not laughing at you."

Possibly obvious given that Steven wasn't laughing at all. But it was a large enough smile it could be understood if there was some confusion.

"I haven't done anything particularly amusing that I'm aware of, so I'd hope not," Watts said, now even more puzzled because that assertion raised even more questions than he'd had previously. "Would you care to come in?"

Steven would, actually, because there was something he wanted to do which was not appropriate for the hallway. Specifically to pounce on Llewellyn and kiss him as soon as the door was closed.

Well, what was he supposed to do with that but kiss back, really? Such a hardship. "As greetings go, I've no complaints," Watts managed finally.

Steven smoothed his hands over the front of Llewellyn's shirt, shaking his head as he took it in. Then he looked up at Llewellyn and said, "I love you."

Which, that shouldn't come as such a shock, hearing it.

After all, they'd said it to each other in a thousand little ways over the past month and a half. Just... never those three particular words.

"I- I do too, you ought to know," Watts said. "Love you, that is."

Much like Llewellyn, Steven had known it but it was different to hear it. The bubbly delight inside of Steven became warmer, comfortable, like sunlight on an autumn afternoon.

Steven moved his hands up to rest on the back of Llewellyn's neck. "You are so wonderful, so kind, so utterly ridiculous at times." Because the shirt. Honestly. How was Steven meant to pretend he wasn't completely charmed by the shirt? It wasn't fair. "I do. I love you."

"I like the way you make that third point into a compliment," Watts said shyly.

"I am too though, aren't I?" Steven pointed out. He rubbed his fingers on the back of Llewellyn's neck. "A pair of ridiculous fools, the both of us."

"Well-matched, is what we are," Watts agreed. He found himself fighting the urge to fully relax into that touch and close his eyes, because then- well. He wouldn't be able to look at Steven, obviously.

Steven had to laugh at himself. "I only meant to say hello. The shirt is very unfair, Llew."

"... Unfair?" he echoed, looking down at said shirt. "Oh. Well," he said, trying to figure out a way to put into words the logic that had led to that particular sartorial decision as he wrapped one arm around Steven's waist, intent on guiding him towards the living room.

"It wasn't intentional?" Though as he said that, he did remember the way Steven had reacted that day with the laundry, which was in fact what had led to the circumstances in which he'd acquired this shirt. "But a regular shirt wouldn't have paired well with these," he glanced down at the shorts. Which were a bit childish, perhaps, but he had to admit were comfortable.

Steven was happy to be guided. This also prevented him from asking a silly question like was he interrupting and did Llewellyn want him to leave. Which, being Steven, he had been on the brink of offering.

"I did notice those as well," Steven said. But he'd seen Llewellyn's legs before - hard earned accomplishment there, given Llewellyn's normal amount of layers - so that hadn't been as novel as the shirt was. "Trying out modern garments?"

"Out of necessity," Watts said. "As unfortunately right now everything else is in need of a bit of repair work," he added, with a nod towards the couch, jackets piled on one side, trousers on the other, and his mending kit still on the couch cushion.

That, he picked up and placed on the coffee table (the kit containing too many small, loose bits and bobs to safely just be swept out of the way in his usual manner of clearing a space) so they might sit.

Steven took a seat as close to Llewellyn as possible while still being able to face him. He laid one hand along the back of the couch so that his hand could rest near Llewellyn's neck, close enough to rub it with his fingertips. "All that and you sew as well?"

Watts, perhaps unsurprisingly, carried a lot of tension in his neck and shoulders on a day-to-day basis. So that touch was very, very welcome.

"Calling it sewing might be a bit generous," he said. "I can't create anything. But your basic mending? That I can do."

Considering Llewellyn's posture this was in no way surprising, no.

"Still clever," Steven told him. After all, it wasn't as though Steven did any mending of his own. The process might as well be magic to him. "I recognize the music as well. That's why I knocked. Heard it and knew you might be about. Are you liking it?"

Said posture also being in large part responsible for the need to learn how to mend clothing, because making things last as long as possible was just practical.

"I am," he confirmed, giving Steven an appreciative smile. "Only- it's not too loud, is it?" he asked. "If you could hear it from the hall..." he'd purchased the speaker because the quality of sound was reportedly better than that of his mobile phone- a fact he could now confirm. But if it was too loud... perhaps he'd be better off going back to the latter.

"Not at all," Steven assured him. "Faint as anything, I promise. It's only I was able to recognize it because I knew it is all."

That and really Steven only needed the barest excuse of signs of life in Llewellyn's flat to want to see him that day. Which had worked out pretty well, so Steven was chalking that up as a good instinct to have followed.

"Well then," Watts said, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Steven's lips. "Would you like to hear my thoughts?"

Steven nestled in closer. "If you'd care to share them. Don't mean to put you on the spot."

Certainly not more than blurting out those three little words out of the blue had done.

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