Enterprise Center, St Louis, Missouri, Saturday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

After they'd found their seats- nothing extravagant, though also not high up in the nosebleeds, but something reasonable in the lower bowl- Watts had almost immediately sprung back up to head to the concessions, coming back several minutes later with popcorn, nachos, a pretzel, a beer, a glass cup of wine, and two hot dogs (all beef, he'd checked). How was he managing to carry all that? Good question, don't worry about it.

"I wasn't certain what sort of fixings you'd care for," Watts said, as he handed the beer and one of the hot dogs to Marc. "So I brought some of everything." From a pocket, he produced ketchup and mustard packets, as well as several condiment cups with things like onions, hot peppers, and whatever else one might put on a hot dog.

Had Marc requested any of that? Possibly not, but he was getting it anyway.

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"I see," Watts said, feeling both relieved and a little guilty simultaneously. "Understood."

[hasaknightjob]

"Me and Steven are a package deal," Marc said, mainly because he felt Watts would be able to put faith in that over anything else as a start point. "That means you're part of it. If things with me, Harley, or anybody else start getting serious, getting along with you two is a requirement."

Frankly a higher requirement than Marc placed on someone getting along with him but nobody needed to get into Marc's intimacy issues right now.

[pocketpretzels]

"That's- oh." The insistence that he too was a part of that package deal hit home with Marc's words.

[hasaknightjob]

"There's a lot I don't give a shit about," Marc told him. "That I do."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's nice, you know," Watts muttered. "Belonging. With the two of you."

Skirting dangerously close to the f-word there, but not actually saying it out loud.

[hasaknightjob]

"You do," Marc told him. "You're one of mine. Got it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I- Yes." Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not like you and Steven," Marc said. "Obviously. But, yanno. You're under my protection."

[pocketpretzels]

"Thank you," Watts said. "That- means a great deal to me."

[hasaknightjob]

"You're my highest priority after Steven," Marc said. Just so that was clear.

[pocketpretzels]

"You do know that is true in reverse as well," Watts told him.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc rubbed his eyes, tiredly. "Doesn't have to, you know."

[pocketpretzels]

"And yet," Watts said. "It is true."

[hasaknightjob]

"Your choice," Marc said, disclaiming any responsibility for it.

[pocketpretzels]

"Made freely," Watts agreed. "I've no skill at fisticuffs, but whatever I can offer, it's yours."

Beyond certain things that were just for Steven, obviously, but hopefully that much was understood.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc still wanted to protest. But something - maybe a ghost of a Steven-like urge whapping him over the metaphorical head - made him change his mind.

"Thanks," he went with instead.

[pocketpretzels]

"You're welcome," Watts said, around a bite of nacho.

[hasaknightjob]

"Anyway," Marc added. "There's more than just what Steven's already told you. It - he's stuck on something he doesn't need to be stuck on. He's gotta tell you himself, though. Not my place to say."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. "I will keep that in mind," he said. "Though- if it never becomes an option, I won't- it's not going to change anything about how I feel," he said.

[hasaknightjob]

"It can be an option," Marc said. "He's being a dumbass."

But Marc did recognize that Watts had said something important there so he added, "Good, though. He'll appreciate that."

[pocketpretzels]

"I've said as much, that I don't need a marriage to be content, but- perhaps it bears repeating."

[hasaknightjob]

"I think he gets that part" Marc offered, since that wasn't breaking any secrecy. "He's good, too. Not - I dunno. Miserable that it's not official. But he'd like it to be."

[pocketpretzels]

"Should I ask him about it, then?" Watts asked. "The other reasons for his- reticence?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Nudge him about it, yeah," Marc said. "It's a dumb thing for him to get caught on. I promise, nothing you guys wanna do is gonna hurt me."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. "Good. That is the last thing either he or I want."