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]

"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."

[hasaknightjob]

"Love of mine," Steven said. He reached for Llewellyn's hand so he could thread their fingers together. "Your troubles are my own. Remember that too. You don't have to squash your feelings down simply because they're unhappy ones."

[pocketpretzels]

"Even if it means you get little sleep as well?" Watts asked with a grimace.

[hasaknightjob]

"It's not the first time," Steven reminded him. "And it's my choice besides. Same as yours."

[pocketpretzels]

"If you're certain."

[hasaknightjob]

"Without doubt," Steven said. He squeezed Llewellyn's hand. "I promise you that. I'd tell you if it was otherwise."

[pocketpretzels]

"Could we make some coffee, then?" Watts asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"Would you like me to make some and bring it back up?" Steven asked. "Or would you rather make it together?"

Not that making coffee was complicated, but company could be important.

[pocketpretzels]

"Let's go down together," Watts decided.

Company, and also the fact that he feared he might drift off if left to his own devices.

[hasaknightjob]

"Would you like to come back here to drink it or should we take the blanket in with us?" Steven asked. Not that it would be difficult to take the blanket back out again if they needed. It just wasn't a blanket suitable for leaving outside all the time.

[pocketpretzels]

"I am enjoying the fresh air," Watts said. He didn't need it in the same capacity that Arden did, but the bedroom felt too closed-in at the moment.

[hasaknightjob]

"We can come back then," Steven said.

There was also the outdoor space on the ground floor, but even at this hour it ran the risk of perhaps seeing other people. Steven suspected Llewellyn might prefer the privacy of their balcony.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded, unfolding himself into a standing position and holding a hand out for Steven to take.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took the hand, threading their fingers together. "Perhaps we can have some of your wonderful baking as well."

Since Llewellyn had done a great deal of it that day.

[pocketpretzels]

Look, he stress-baked, it was a whole thing.

"Too bad I did not have the foresight to make biscotti," Watts mused as they headed inside. There were cookies, though, that he'd made in between all the batches of bread.