Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

After their usual jaunt over to the mainland, Watts had headed to the kitchen to do a bit of baking, and then to the library for some piano practice.

And as he'd told Steven the other day at lunch, he was close to mastering the piece he was currently working on. Maddeningly close, in fact. So absorbed was he in getting to the point where he could play it through without a stumble that he did not notice as the hour ticked over past that where he usually stopped for the evening so he and Steven could have dinner together. Instead, he kept playing, and playing, single-minded in his determination to finally master the piece.

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"G- Grateful," Watts echoed, his voice stumbling over the word, realising its accuracy as he said it aloud. "Relieved."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven moved to hug Llewellyn as best as he was able in their current position. "We found each other. Our hearts needed one another, and here we are."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts brought his knees up to his chest, curling in and making himself as small as possible. "Here we are," he agreed, breath hitching.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven adjusted his position so he could hold Llewellyn nice and tight. "Here. At home. A family."

[pocketpretzels]

"That's all- that's all I've ever wanted," Watts gasped out. "A family of my own. A place I- somewhere I was wanted."

[hasaknightjob]

"You're wanted, Llewellyn," Steven told him. "By me. By Marc. By our pets and our home. We're all family."

[pocketpretzels]

"Strange and beautiful and ours," Watts sniffled.

[hasaknightjob]

"Much like ourselves," Steven said with a soft smile. "Strange but beautiful and loved."

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes," Watts murmured. "Yes, exactly."

[hasaknightjob]

"Perfect for us," Steven said. "A family of our own. Where we belong. No struggling to be something we're not."

[pocketpretzels]

"Not in spite," Watts said, watery smile forming. "Never in spite."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven felt a warmth bloom in his chest upon hearing that.

"Loved exactly as we are. Not in spite. Not too much."

[pocketpretzels]

"Even if I appear to be getting your trousers... somewhat soggy?" Watts said, an attempt at humour.

[hasaknightjob]

"Neither too much soggy nor in spite of that," Steven told him in kind, with a smile to make the humor more obvious. "That's what love is, you see."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts moved to shift himself up into a sitting position, albeit still staying as cocooned as possible within Steven's arms.

"It is at that," he said, breathing deeply, trying to get himself back under control.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven moved as well so that he could keep hugging Llewellyn. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

[pocketpretzels]

"Be a mite difficult, me clinging to you like this," Watts pointed out.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven kissed Llewellyn's cheek. "I'm not complaining. I like being held by you."

[pocketpretzels]

"As I do you by you," Watts said. "I only- I wish that- I had not lost control like that," he said, now more embarrassed than anything else.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked at him curiously. "Why?"

[pocketpretzels]

Aside from generally disliking not being in control of himself?

"We were having a pleasant evening," he told Steven's shoulder.

[hasaknightjob]

"Your troubles are my own," Steven reminded him. "And it was good tears besides, you said."

[pocketpretzels]

"They were," Watts said. "But-" they'd still left him feeling a little wrung-out in the way that tears brought on by, say, excessive laughter, would not.

[hasaknightjob]

"You're still feeling vulnerable?" Steven guessed.

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmm," Watts hummed in assent to Steven's statement.