Midnight Manor Private Residence, Sunday Night

[pocketpretzels]

Well, it sure has hell had been a day. There was a lot of bread currently populating both the private residence's and the boarding house's kitchen, let's just put it that way. And we won't even talk about the dough in the freezer.

Eventually, though, Watts had slipped into bed exhausted, falling asleep rather immediately.

The smell of vomit and sweat hit him like a wave as soon as he stepped inside.

It was overwhelming, he was practically choking on it. He wanted to run, be anywhere but here- but at the same time, he knew he needed to be here, this might be the last-

Watts awoke with a gasp, scrambling out of the bed and scribbling a quick note for Steven indicating that he'd be on the balcony. He threw on a pair of trousers and a shirt without checking whose they were- probably Steven's, honestly, judging by the softness of the fabric if nothing else- and all but flung himself out the balcony door and on to the outdoor sofa.

[ooc: details of conversation NFB please!]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"Perhaps it will pass, given some time," Watts sighed.

[hasaknightjob]

"There's no rush to go to bed now anyway," Steven said. "I don't mind sitting out here with you at all."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a pleasant enough night," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"I like our couch," Steven said, taking it in around them. "It was a good choice. Nice and comfortable."

[pocketpretzels]

"Better than chairs," Watts agreed. "Easier to sit together this way."

[hasaknightjob]

"The company makes it very comfortable indeed," Steven agreed. He rubbed Llewellyn's arm in a comforting manner. "It must be bittersweet. Regaining memories of your parents only they're unpleasant ones."

[pocketpretzels]

"I remember- I didn't want to be there. But- I didn't want to leave, either," Watts said slowly.

[hasaknightjob]

"You wanted to be with your parents but it was upsetting to see," Steven said.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. "If I left- they might not be there when I returned. I knew that much. People fell ill, and then- you never saw them again."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shifted so he could try to wrap both arms around Llewellyn to hug him. "Leaving you alone in the dark."

[pocketpretzels]

"They should have taken us off to orphanages after," Watts mused. "I don't- I don't know why they didn't. Certainly would've made it easier on Clarissa, not having me to bother with."

Maybe she'd still loved him, back then?

[hasaknightjob]

"Perhaps because there were so many going through what you did?" Steven guessed. "Particularly if it was the flu."

[pocketpretzels]

"Maybe so," Watts acknowledged. "Just- another couple of bodies."

[hasaknightjob]

"Doesn't mean none of you were important," Steven said, gently. "Only that sometimes things are overwhelming."

[pocketpretzels]

"No use dwelling on it either," Watts said. "What's done is done."

[hasaknightjob]

"You're allowed to have feelings about it though," Steven said, since he suspected that's what Llewellyn really meant. "Being in the past doesn't mean there's no affect on you."

[pocketpretzels]

Steven knew his beau very well indeed. "As much as I'd like the opposite to be true," he sighed.

[hasaknightjob]

"You've a good heart, Llewellyn Watts," Steven said. "Of course it feels things strongly."

[pocketpretzels]

"Hmph," Watts grumped into Steven's shoulder.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven couldn't help but smile a little. "I'm not sorry your heart is wonderful. You can't make me be."

[pocketpretzels]

"Wouldn't care to make you sorry about anything," Watts replied.

[hasaknightjob]

"I know." Steven moved his hand up to rub the back of Llewellyn's neck. "It's like you told me, isn't it? We've the painful and the dark times along with the wonderful and the light? Part of living? That's what you've got now. Some of the harder times. But you're not alone. I'm here."

[pocketpretzels]

"Glad you are," Watts said, rolling his head slightly as Steven started rubbing his neck. "Don't know what I would do without you, if I'm being honest."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm not going anywhere," Steven said. Again he couldn't help a little smile. "You're my partner, remember?"

[pocketpretzels]

"That I do," Watts said, and he couldn't help a small smile of his own in return. "Love of my life."