Midnight Manor Private Residence, Sunday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

Watts couldn't pinpoint when, exactly, Steven came to bed during the night- only that he woke up in the morning clinging to Steven like a human octopus.

After waking there had been the promised breakfast in bed- French toast with syrup and fruit, of course. What followed that was- well, it may have been Steven's birthday but he had something of a gift for Watts of the variety that would normally go behind a cut tag or in the comments because NSFW.

Next up had been the part that Watts was the most apprehensive about- he'd put together a little concert of sorts of a few piano pieces he felt he'd especially mastered. But Steven had enjoyed it, so it was a success.

Late afternoon rolled around and Watts excused himself to go prepare dinner- he'd done as much of the prep work as possible yesterday but despite it not being quite as elaborate as last year's, it still did require some work day of.

Eventually, though, dinner was laid out in the dining room: A soup and salad, along with the main course (which Watts had cooked indoors, with Midnight's help, thank you). There was a cake as well, that would be brought out later. For now, there was music playing softly in the background, and all Watts needed was the birthday boy himself.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"Precisely," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn a kiss for playing along.

[pocketpretzels]

Which was also perfect, as Watts had been planning to do just that before he pulled away to go fetch Steven's present.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven snuggled into Llewellyn's arms and kept kissing. No harm in getting some extra kisses in on his birthday, right?

[pocketpretzels]

Anytime, really, but particularly on one's birthday, yes. And present or not, there was no rush, so Watts was just going to take his sweet time.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven made a happy noise as the kiss kept going. He snuggled in close in Llewellyn's arms, enjoying the warmth of the moment and the gesture.

[pocketpretzels]

"Love you." A statement that had been made more than a few times throughout the evening. But like the kissing, it bore repeating.

[hasaknightjob]

"Love you," Steven said, because he agreed with both the stated sentiment and the narrative one. "So much."

[pocketpretzels]

"I should fetch your present." Please note how he was not yet moving to do so.

[hasaknightjob]

"Promise to come back quickly?" Steven asked, because he could see the dilemma as well.

[pocketpretzels]

"Absolutely," Watts said, pulling away and leaving the dining room. As promised, he was not gone long, returning quickly with a small, and somewhat awkwardly wrapped, box.

[hasaknightjob]

"May I?" Steven asked, his face lighting up when he took the present. Awkwardly wrapped or no, it was from Llewellyn and that's what made his heart feel warm.

Steven carefully unwrapped the present, then carefully took out the pen. It was an antique brass style, with Steven Grant written on it in a handwritten font.

"A pen?" Steven asked, to be sure he had the right of it. He was smiling regardless. "I've not seen one like this before."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'd hoped that would be the case," Watts admitted. "As I've gotten you writing implements before." He smiled, a little sheepish. "The ink is supposed to flow nice and smoothly?" he added. "So I thought that might be nice."

[hasaknightjob]

A smile started to spread across Steven's face. "For my writing. My stories."

[pocketpretzels]

"Yes," Watts smiled back. "I do love them so. And even more, I love that you enjoy creating them."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven hugged the pen to his chest, then gave Llewellyn a kiss. "Thank you, Llew. I know what I do isn't as fancy as a concert, but it means so much to me that you like it."

[pocketpretzels]

"Fancy or not, you regularly indulge me when I make a request for one of your stories," Watts pointed out. "That is- a wonderful gift."

[hasaknightjob]

"It means so much to me that you enjoy them," Steven ask. "That you even ask me to tell them. Makes me feel - not as silly. To come up with them."

[pocketpretzels]

"Steven Grant," Watts said. "You know my feelings regarding you using that word to describe yourself or your desires."

[hasaknightjob]

"I do, I do," Steven said. "But I thought in this case it might be all right? Because I was saying you help me not to feel that way?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts softened a little at Steven's explanation. "I'm sorry, darling," he said. "I suppose I'm a little- defensive."

[hasaknightjob]

"No, you're wonderful," Steven said. He quickly pulled Llewellyn into a hug. "I was asking you, actually. If what I said counted or not?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Since you put it that way, I do approve of anything that helps you feel less silly," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"All right. Good." Steven relaxed, but still kept hugging. "You're my touchstone, Llew. Help steer me right. Including when I'm not being kind to myself."

[pocketpretzels]

"You can count on me," Watts promised.

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that you're defensive about such things," Steven admitted. "That you're so good about protecting me, even from me."