A Cabin in South Tyrol, Italy, Friday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

A day spent indoors had been followed by one where Watts and Steven had visited the nearby town for lunch, as well as a bit of shopping (wine, of course, and a souvenir for Raphael, among other things), and then today?

Well, it had started with a lie-in, followed by French toast for a late (very late) breakfast, and then there had been a knock at the door with some flower deliveries - truly impressive, really, how the Student Council had known to deliver them here despite neither Steven nor Watts providing anyone explicit details regarding their destination.

There had been at least one other delivery as well, thankfully when Steven had been occupied in a manner that meant he hadn't seen who was at the door, which allowed Watts to stash said delivery in the sleeping area with one of his suit jackets to cover it.

And that wasn't even the last of it! Dinner had been dropped off from a not-quite-local restaurant, and having just poured their wine glasses, Watts pulled out Steven's chair with a flourish. "Here we are," he declared.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"Thank you for always being there," Steven said. "Not in spite."

[pocketpretzels]

"Never in spite," Watts agreed, bumping his nose against Steven's. "I think you're wonderful just as you are. Perfect for me."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven started to ask something but then made himself stop and say, "Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts raised an eyebrow, curious about what had almost been said, but just leaned in to offer a kiss for that thank you.

[hasaknightjob]

"Was going to ask even as I am?" Steven said, seeing the questioning look. "Fractured and all."

[pocketpretzels]

"There is a Japanese art form called kintsugi," Watts began, using a finger to trace a line from Steven's forehead to his temple, and then down his cheek to the middle of his chin. "Where they take broken pottery and repair it, using gold. That's- that's you," Watts said. "There will always be evidence of those fractures. You can't hide that. You don't need to hide that. You can be something fractured and beautiful, wonderful, all at once, they're not mutually exclusive."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven's eyes felt wet again. "Even fools gold? Could it be made of that?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded, having anticipated the question. "Far as I am concerned, yes," he said without hesitation.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven pounced on Llewellyn with the tightest hug he could manage.

"Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"You are very welcome, my darling," Watts told him, hugging back tightly.

[hasaknightjob]

"See?" Steven said. "You always find the best in me. Never make me feel lesser. To you I'm valuable. Wanted."

[pocketpretzels]

"Treasured above all else," Watts added, expression full of love.

[hasaknightjob]

"Is it any wonder I find you, well, a wonder?" Steven asked, his own expression very similar. "That you not only see me that way, but make me believe it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm glad that I do so," Watts replied. "My rare one."

[hasaknightjob]

"You're amazing," Steven told him. "You truly are. No wonder you're such a clever detective. You see things others don't."

[pocketpretzels]

Well, now he was just going to blush. "I see the truth."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shook his head in amazement. "You say that as though it somehow makes it lesser."

[pocketpretzels]

"Not- lesser," Watts shook his head. "More that I do not understand how others could possibly not see it. See you."

[hasaknightjob]

"I see," Steven said. Then chuckled at the unplanned wordplay. "Still wonderful though. You doing it and you in general."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts blushed. "Thank you. For finding me so. That- that too, is a rarity."

[hasaknightjob]

"I can see what you mean by truth now," Steven said. "That's what it feels like to me. As obvious as your beautiful eyes. Feels impossible others wouldn't see it."

[pocketpretzels]

"You- you think my eyes are beautiful?" Watts asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"I do," Steven said. "I know you don't care for eye contact, so I try not to stare. But I do notice, I promise."

[pocketpretzels]

"I had no idea," Watts said wonderingly. "And that- does it bother you? That I- that I dislike looking others in the eye?"

[hasaknightjob]

"No?" Steven said, the questioning tone more because he couldn't see why it would be a question. "You've let me do it the times I need to. I'm happy to respect your preferences otherwise."