pocketpretzels | Queen's Park, Toronto, Wednesday Afternoon

It was good that Llewellyn did, since Steven did need both hands to brace himself as he got in. Not that it was particularly difficult to get in, just that it was Steven.

Once he was in and seated, however, he held his hands out. "Right. My turn."

Watts handed the coffee cups over, and then stepped up into the carriage with the practiced ease of someone who had done such a thing hundreds if not thousands of times.

He nestled in close to Steven (all the better to ward off that chill in the air), and let their driver know they were good to go.

"I've always enjoyed this park," he told Steven. "A lovely place to take a book and spend an afternoon."

Steven handed Llewellyn's cup over once he was settled, making sure to sit closely as well. For warmth. "It looks lovely. What did you like about it?"

Watts took a long sip of his drink. “I’ve always preferred the life of the city streets over the sterility of an office,” he admitted. “But sometimes even the streets are too much. This was- an escape. Still full of life, but- a different sort than you’d find strolling down Jarvis. And I’m not just speaking of the greenery.”

"Somewhere you can find a, erm, friend?" Steven asked, mindful of their carriage driver.

“A- oh. Well. Occasionally,” Watts stammered. “But that wasn’t- I didn’t mean to imply that was what drew me here.”

"I see," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn an understanding look. "It's all right. I was only trying to wrap my head around it is all. Was there somewhere in particular you liked to read?"

“In the shade of a tree, usually,” Watts said. “I had a few particular favourites.”

"Sounds lovely," Steven said. "Nice escape from your day to day, and your work."

“Sometimes work would bring me out here, of course,” Watts admitted. “That was- less pleasant.”

"Understandable," Steven said. "Hopefully you had more good days than bad? Nice weather, good reading? Pretzels?"

Steven glanced around, on the odd chance him saying that might have made a pretzel vendor appear along their route.

“On average, yes,” Watts smiled at Steven.

Then a thought occurred to him. “I have not seen a single pretzel cart since we arrived,” he pointed out, sounding slightly disappointed.

"We'll keep an eye out," Steven said. "Perhaps they're not allowed in certain places. Or they're not carts but food trucks now."

“Good points all around,” Watts acknowledged with a gentle bump of Steven’s shoulder with his own.

"They've had to do things like that in London," Steven explained. "Too much tourist traffic or pigeons loitering about. That sort of thing."

Then, in case that had come off as Steven dismissing the compliment, he added, "Thank you."

It hadn’t, but the amendment got a fond smile all the same.

“Love you,” Watts murmured just loud enough for Steven to hear.

"Love you too," Steven whispered back. "My Llew."

It was handy having a way to say "I love you" twice without simply repeating the words.

It was awfully nice hearing it twice, too.

“Now and always,” Watts agreed.

"Suppose this didn't stand out to you as much as to me," Steven said, indicating the carriage. "Special for me still. Different."

“Somewhat more extravagant of a carriage than I’m accustomed to,” Watts said. “So this is still special enough. Particularly since it’s with you,” he added. “You make- anything special.”

A pleased blush touched Steven's cheeks. He lowered his voice to whisper, "Poet. So do you. Even the ordinary."

“Like flying in an aeroplane?” Watts pointed out. Sure, it wasn’t something Steven did as often as Watts had ridden in a carriage, but it was similar enough.

"Like riding in an airplane," Steven confirmed. "Even if it hadn't been your first time, it still would've been nicer because you were there."

Watts beamed at him. “I’m glad,” he said. “That’s- what I want. The extraordinary ordinary. Along with the occasional dose of truly extraordinary,” he added with a wink.

"Like tea and symphonies and flowers in our hotel room?" Steven asked, smiling fondly at the memories.

Well, the flowers were still there but the memory of the surprise of it.

“Exactly like that,” Watts agreed.

"And someone who's thoughtful enough to plan such things," Steven said. "That's rather extraordinary, you ask me. Someone doing that for me."

“It’s easy when it’s you,” Watts said with a grin.

Steven smiled back. "Has it gone well so far for you? Anything you'd like to change about our plans?"

“I’m having a grand time,” Watts assured Steven. “I can’t think of anything I would care to change.”

"All right, good," Steven said. "Looking forward to tomorrow? The big game?"

Steven didn't actually know if that was the right way to describe it but it felt like it should be.

Well, it was an opening day game! Those were a big deal! So big game felt apt.

“I am,” he said. “Though I hope they’ve snacks other than hot dogs available.” Because of course that would be a concern.

"Don't feel you've need to miss out on hot dogs on my account," Steven said. "Marc certainly won't."

Assuming beef hot dogs, of course.

“Oh no, trust me, this is- an aversion that existed long before we met,” Watts assured him. “I was very nearly poisoned with one. Haven’t been able to look at them without my stomach roiling since.”

"Ah," Steven said. He leaned in a little closer to Llewellyn, feeling a touch more protective. "That I can't help with, I'm afraid. But you needn't worry on other counts. They've plenty of options, I'm sure."

“Crackerjacks, I suppose,” Watts said with a smile. “At least, I’d hope.”

Because of the song and all.

Steven smiled, because he was familiar with it as well. "Peanuts too?"

“Peanuts too,” Watts agreed. “Though unlike Miss Katie Casey, I wouldn’t want to remain at the ball game forever.”

"I hope not," Steven said with a smile. He bumped their shoulders together. "I'd miss you."

"And I you," Watts said. "All the snacks in the world couldn't replace you."

A pleased blush touched Steven's cheeks again. "Is that so? High praise, coming from you. Not even a soft pretzel?"

"Any day of the week. It is not even close to being a contest, my darling," Watts told him.

Steven was very much looking at Llewellyn with heart eyes now. It was easy to remember to start with, "Thank you, Llew. That's a wonderful thing to say. Nothing else is a contest for me either."

"Not even some fantastic Ancient Egyptian treasure?" he couldn't resist asking.

"Not in the slightest," Steven said. "A treasure couldn't take care of me like you do."

"Oh," and now Watts was blushing. "It is my pleasure to do so."

"You do so very well," Steven said. "There's no treasure of any kind in any world that could replace you. I promise you that."

"Thank you," Watts said. "That- means a great deal to me." Just in case that wasn't already clear.

"No person either," Steven said, since it didn't hurt to make that clear as well. "You are unique, Llewellyn Watts, and I want no other."

"I think," Watts said slowly. "That I am going to have to kiss you now, Steven Grant."

"I will absolutely let you, if that's something you would like to do," Steven said, as he'd been wanting to kiss Llewellyn for a while now.

"Very much so," Watts said, leaning in to do just that.

It wasn't a long, drawn-out sort of kiss. But nor was it a quick peck on the lips. It was something comfortably in-between.

Steven bumped their noses together before Llewellyn moved away. He whispered, "Love you dearly, my dear."

"Hmm," Watts hummed happily. "That's me. All yours."

"Bloody right you are," Steven said. They were already sitting close together, but even so Steven shifted closer. "I'd have strong words if that changed."

"It shall not," Watts said. "As there is none other for me but you."

"Good." Steven very much wanted to rest his head on Llewellyn's shoulder right now, but not being sure Llewellyn would like that he went for giving his arm a quick squeeze instead. "I want no other. There's no one like you. No one who could be so understanding. About me and Marc."

“If such a person were any place, Fandom would be it,” Watts pointed out. “Not,” he added, a note of possessiveness creeping in to his tone, “that I am encouraging you to find out.”

Steven didn't mind that note of possessiveness at all. Rather the opposite, in fact. "I'm not interested in finding out. I found you. No need to keep looking when you've found the perfect answer now, is there?"

And then, because sometimes the caveat didn't always go without saying, "Well, perfect for me I suppose."

“Be nice if our Marc could find someone understanding of his own, hm?” Watts said, brushing away a bit of a leaf that had fallen on to Steven’s shoulder.

"He's doing so well though!" Steven said. And no, this was not the first time the topic had come up. Steven's enthusiasm had not dampened by much in the meanwhile. "Two whole people he's not minded having a chat with!"

Imagine how much Steven's reaction would differ if he knew Marc had had what might be called a slightly longer conversation with Harley last week than Marc had had with Dean. Still, it was Marc. Any conversation which didn't involve basic grunting was enough to get Steven's hopes up.

“The fact that he and Doctor Quinn were still conversing when I left the coffee shop,” Watts said. “That’s- rather impressive.”

"That's what? Three times now they've spoken?" Steven said, looking at Llewellyn for confirmation in case he was remembering incorrectly. "Of his own volition? That's amazing for him. I mean Perk was a bit of a happenstance. But still! As you say, still there when you left!"

"She's very- forthright," Watts said, nodding to confirm Steven's count. "Doesn't let his manner deter her from saying what she wants to say."

Edited 2024-03-28 02:58 (UTC)

"Good for her," Steven said. It was strange needing to rely so much on Llewellyn to know what happened. But that was Marc, for you. If he didn't feel the need to pass on details it could be impossible to find them. Sometimes the way their collective memory worked was needing to know how to ask the right question to get the information. Steven didn't know what he didn't know.

(Well, he knew "She's fine" since that's what Marc considered a perfectly acceptable summary of most conversations with people. Because he was the worst.)

"He needs that," Steven said. "Someone who won't take his rubbish."

Now Steven looked worried. "Hopefully she's got the right idea of him. I mean that's three times she's spoken to him as well. If she's rose colored glasses on - "

Steven perhaps still did not fully understand Harley's background as a person.

Harley probably owned a pair of literal rose-coloured glasses though?

"I really don't think that is the case here," Watts said.

"Fingers crossed," Steven said. "And Dean. You liked him as well. Good resident. Lives right there. That's helpful."

Yes, Marc had only met Dean long enough to approve him as a resident. Even so, Dean was close to their age, lived in the house, and Marc did not currently actively hate the man. That was a lot for Steven go to on.

"Amiable fellow," Watts agreed. "And not too terribly thrown by all the talk of how strange this place is."

"Maybe not too thrown by Marc and me then?" Steven said, since Marc had passed on that he hadn't given Dean that much information yet. "I mean if Midnight's not thrown him surely we can't be too strange for him?"

"I told him the best thing he could do in regards to this island is keep an open mind," Watts told Steven, reaching over to give Steven's hand a reassuring squeeze. "He seemed to take that to heart. I do not think he would react poorly."

Assuming he didn't jump to some possession-related conclusion or something, but in Watts's defense he didn't know that was a possibility.

In fairness to Dean so had Steven. So it wouldn't be held against Dean for jumping to that conclusion so long as they could get it cleared up in short order.

"And surely Marc and you and Midnight wouldn't have approved if he was horrible," Steven said. He pressed his hand back into Llewellyn's touch. "Can't imagine any of you allowing someone to rent a room if they had a hateful heart."

"Even if he were clever enough to hide it from human perception, Midnight would have seen right through to the core of him," Watts agreed.

"Probably wouldn't have agreed to allow it if he'd something to hide as well," Steven said.

Of course there was always the chance that someone could have an ability to hide their true self from Midnight, especially if they were like Illyana, but Steven preferred to think and assume the best of people.

"Still, hopeful, yeah?" Steven said. "Someone Marc can run into in the day. Strike up a conversation. Forge a connection in spite of himself."

Or possibly because Steven might forget he wasn't supposed to force anything and he shoved Marc out into the common areas if others were around. One of those.

"Precisely," Watts agreed. "Nothing against the young ladies, and Mr. Gonzo, of course, but- "

"Age appropriate," Steven said, by way of agreeing with him. Of course who knew Gonzo's real age but Gonzo was special in a great deal of ways. "Which... I think that's best for Marc for a lot of reasons. More likely to see him as he is for a start. Or put up with his bollocks."

"I do feel a little guilty for whisking us away practically the moment the man arrived," Watts admitted.

"Timing couldn't be helped," Steven said. "Besides, it's as if not more important that Marc's spending time with you tomorrow. Something fun at that. It'd take a lot for something to have greater priority there, you ask me."

Besides, what were the odds that anything strange would happen back on the island while they were gone? Pretty small, right?

No reason to think it would be anything but an ordinary week, really.

"That's a very good point," Watts said. "I'm certainly glad he agreed to go in the first place."

"I'm glad you got the tickets and knew how to invite him," Steven said. He let out a breath of some of the nervous energy that had built in the past few moments. "You're brilliant with him. That's something I'm forever grateful for, Llew. Don't know what I'd do without it."

"You shan't have to find out," Watts said. "You have me, both of you."

Steven squeezed Llewellyn's hand, holding more tightly than he might normally do. "I just don't want to ruin anything is all. I know it goes badly when I interfere. But what if not interfering is interfering? If I choose to stay out if it isn't that the same as choosing to get in it? What if things go poorly because I didn't help? What if - "

Steven might go on like this for a while if not interrupted.

"Shhh," Watts said gently, and then leaned over to interrupt Steven in the most effective way he knew.

It was a very effective method, since it both stopped Steven from talking and interrupted his racing thoughts. Steven leaned into it, forcing himself to focus on Llewellyn - the kiss, the sensation of him nearby, filling his senses with Llewellyn's calming presence.

"Thank you. I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Watts said. "You may be borrowing trouble, but your concern stems from the right place. Your wonderful heart."

Steven nodded, acknowledging that Llewellyn was right about borrowing trouble. "It's so hard sometimes. I only want to help him. Still learning how. At least, how to do it now that I'm aware I'm doing it."

"I know it's likely hard, but you have to- let things happen as they will," Watts said gently.

"I know." Steven sighed. "Thank you. Being patient with me. I'm trying, I am. Least I can talk to you about it. Let out some of my frustrations. Makes it a little easier to... try to be patient."

"Little bit of patience all around, hm?" Watts said with a hint of a smile.

That started to coax a smile out of Steven. It wasn't fully there yet, but the worry was being chased away. "That's true. Lucky for me yours is limitless?"

"When it comes to you," Watts said. "Others aren't so lucky."

He was well aware of his own flaws, after all.

Steven misunderstood what Llewellyn was getting at. He looked him in the eye and said, "I've all the patience in the multiverse for you, Llewellyn. I promise."

Well, it was still nice to hear given that Watts was well aware another of his flaws was that he regularly tested people's patience.

"And that means a great deal to me, Steven Grant," Watts told him. "And was, in effect, what I was trying to say in regards to you. You have patience from me in spades. Making you something of an exception to the rule."

"Oh, I - the part where it's me." Steven smiled sheepishly. "Got it. Thank you. My part about you is still true though. Lucky us both then."

"The part where it's you carries a great deal of weight as far as I'm concerned," Watts told him. "In all things."

"I need to hug you now," Steven said. "If that's all right?"

Because the urge was strong, but not if it would make Llewellyn uncomfortable.

"It is," Watts said, even turning slightly for optimum hugging angle access.

Steven pounced on him, hugging him tightly. He let the remainder of his nerves come out in the hold, breathing deep and slowly so that he could ground himself on the feeling of Llewellyn in his arms.

Watts rubbed gentle circles across Steven's back with one hand, clinging tight with the other. "I've got you, darling."

"Thank you," Steven murmured. "Don't know what I'd do without you. Don't ever want to find out."

"Won't need to, so long as I have any say in it," Watts told him. "I can promise you that."

"I like the sound of that," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn a brief, tighter squeeze. "Likewise. Won't let anything take you from me. Promise you that."

“Good,” Watts said, pushing away any thoughts of particular outside forces that might want to forcibly separate them.

Steven gave one last tighter squeeze then let go. "Thank you. Feeling better now, I promise."

Queen's Park, Toronto, Wednesday Afternoon

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