Midnight Manor Private Residence, So Late Saturday Night It's Basically Sunday Morning

[pocketpretzels]

It was another one of those nights where Watts was having trouble- well, not so much falling asleep but staying asleep as nightmares played out in his mind.

Gasping awake for at least the second time that night, Watts reached over to wake Steven and- stopped. His beau was sleeping so peacefully, he just couldn't bring himself to wake him up. Not again.

Instead, he slipped out from under the covers, threw on the sweats he'd 'borrowed' so long ago, and used the light of his mobile telephone to scrawl a quick note letting Steven know where he'd be in case he did wake.

At the foot of the bed, Raphael let out an inquiring 'mrr?' as Watts walked past, and he paused to skritch between the cat's ears. "Stay with him," he murmured, glancing back over Steven before he quietly padded downstairs.

It wasn't long before he had a bowl of bread dough rising on the counter, and though it was tempting to just keep going with that, nice and simple and repetitive, they didn't need that much bread. And thus, he was peeling and slicing apples for a pie, letting himself get lost in the repetitive task and very much not dwell on his dreams.

[ooc: for the beau and NFB please.]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven didn't wake up right away. Llewellyn had been quiet enough when leaving. Plus Raphael had moved up to create a warm presence next to Steven which of course wasn't Llewellyn sized but which was still enough of something to ease Steven's sleeping mind.

Until eventually Steven reached out to snuggle closer and came up empty. Which in and of itself might not have woken him except for how Llewellyn's side of the bed was cold, which meant he'd been gone for a while. That got Steven to blink awake and look around.

The note was easy enough to find since Llewellyn was always good about leaving those. It was also enough to get Steven out of bed and heading downstairs, Raphael at his heels, to see what was going on.

"Llew?" Steven asked when he came into the kitchen. "What's going on? Are you all right?"

[pocketpretzels]

It took a moment for Steven's words to register, absorbed as Watts was in the task of slicing those apples.

"I'm-" fine, he almost said, before stopping himself from uttering an untruth. "I couldn't sleep," he said instead.

[hasaknightjob]

"My poor love," Steven said. He came over to give Llewellyn a hug, assuming Llewellyn didn't mind it.

[pocketpretzels]

He certainly wasn't going to resist, letting himself be pulled in to that hug.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven held him tight. "You could have woken me. I wouldn't have minded."

Not a rebuke, just a reminder. Steven knew it was difficult for Llewellyn to ask for help when he needed it.

[pocketpretzels]

"You looked so peaceful," Watts said. "I couldn't bear to disturb you. Not again."

[hasaknightjob]

"I wouldn't have minded," Steven said. He kissed Llewellyn on the cheek. "Thank you for the note. When I saw you were gone I knew exactly where to look."

[pocketpretzels]

"I wanted to worry you even less than I wanted to wake you," Watts said. So of course he'd left a note. There would always be a note, unless he was somehow unable. And then in that case they likely had bigger problems.

[hasaknightjob]

"Thank you," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn another kiss. "Do you mind me keeping you company?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I would never object to your company," Watts said firmly.

[hasaknightjob]

"I could make us some hot chocolate?" Steven suggested. Since something without caffeine sounded best.

[pocketpretzels]

"That sounds lovely," Watts decided. "Thank you, darling."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn another kiss before letting go and setting about getting the hot chocolate ready. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I don't know if there's much to talk about," Watts said. "Just- unpleasant dreams."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gently rubbed Llewellyn's back as he passed by him to get some mugs. "Because of the time of year?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Essentially." Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"I wish I could have a dream self come and keep you company when that happens," Steven said. "Show you you're not alone even when you're asleep. Not if you don't want to be."

[pocketpretzels]

"That- would be- as I said, I never object to your company. Even in a dream."

Although sometimes the Steven in his dreams- nightmares- was leaving him behind. He could do without those, thanks.

[hasaknightjob]

"You might want to be alone sometimes," Steven pointed out. "But if your fear is being left alone, I would always be happy to show that you're not. Awake or dreaming."

[pocketpretzels]

"Even when I do wish to be by myself, I like knowing that you're- nearby. Within reach. Whether that be by telephone or in person," Watts admitted.

[hasaknightjob]

"I can understand that," Steven said. "It's comforting to know I can get you quickly if I need you. You're never far from contact even if you might not be physically nearby."

[pocketpretzels]

"A modern convenience I have grown to find invaluable," Watts said with a nod as he finished slicing apples.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm always happy to be there if you need me," Steven said. "Even if I don't like that you're ever unhappy, like tonight. Have you been awake long?"

Steven could make a fair guess, given the evidence of baking around them, but that assumed Llewellyn started baking as soon as he woke up.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts, on the other hand, hadn't really taken notice of the time when he'd first woken, and then he'd gotten absorbed in the rhythm of what he was doing.

"... A while?" he guessed, glancing over at the bowl of dough that would be finished the first round of proofing- fairly soon, actually.

[hasaknightjob]

"My poor love." Steven finished preparing the hot chocolate and handed one of the mugs over to Llewellyn. "I'm sorry I didn't wake sooner. You were very quiet leaving, it seems."