Queen's Park, Toronto, Wednesday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

Monday, Steven and Watts had indulged in a lie-in followed by a late breakfast. Then, they'd gotten dressed up and headed down to the lounge for high tea followed by an evening outing to the symphony. Yesterday, they'd gone to a wine-tasting, from which Watts had come back with several interesting vintages, some of them even local. Canadian wines really had improved over the last century.

Today was- well, traditionally it would be date night, but they'd actually headed out in the afternoon, for a carriage ride tour of Queen's Park.

The weather was a little chilly, though, so Watts had insisted on picking up a couple of mochas at a nearby coffee shop before they headed in to the park, and now he was holding on to both cups so that Steven could step up into the carriage, after which he would follow.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"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."

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

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?"

[pocketpretzels]

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

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

[hasaknightjob]

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."

[pocketpretzels]

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."

[hasaknightjob]

"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."

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

"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.

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

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.

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

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

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

"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."

[pocketpretzels]

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

[hasaknightjob]

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