Midnight Manor Private Residence, Sunday Evening

[pocketpretzels]

After being dragged out of bed at an ungodly hour for, of all things, a kraken drill, Steven and Watts had collapsed back into bed to get what scant sleep they could before heading out to their synagogue yesterday, where as soon as someone's keen eye had spotted the matching rings on their fingers, there had been much catching up and congratulations, even though all Watts personally wanted to do was go home and sleep. Which did happen eventually, but it meant that his usual Saturday routine was something of a wash.

So he was doing it today, instead. After coming home from a thoroughly enjoyable brunch, Watts headed to the kitchen to bake some cookies, and then the library to sit down at his piano and get some practice in before dinner.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

It was a summer day and they'd had a wonderful brunch, so something light for dinner felt like just the thing. Steven put together a pasta salad, timing it to be ready when Llewellyn would usually be done with practice.

When it was said time, Steven went to the library. But rather than knock, he took a moment to stand in the doorway and listen.

[pocketpretzels]

Perhaps predictably, Watts did not hear Steven approach, still focused as he was on the music. Steven might even recognize the piece Watts was working on as one they'd danced to before.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven did. He found himself humming along as Llewellyn played. After a few moments he came into the room properly.

"Love? Dinner."

[pocketpretzels]

Again with some level of predictability, Watts did not hear Steven speak, either, and kept playing.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven didn't think Llewellyn would, but he preferred doing small announcements on the chance they were picked up on by Llewellyn subconsciously and thus made it less of a surprise when Steven was standing beside him and saying, "Love?"

[pocketpretzels]

And still, it took a minute, until Watts had finished the last note and was getting ready to start again, for him to actually register Steven's presence.

"Darling," he said, turning to face Steven with a smile. "Have you been there long?"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. "Not long. I was listening to you play. Lovely song, that."

[pocketpretzels]

"Tchaikovsky. We've danced to it a few times, you and I," Watts told Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"Part of what makes it lovely," Steven said. "That and listening to you play it."

[pocketpretzels]

A pleased blush coloured Watts's cheeks. "Thank you. I'm pleased you're enjoying it."

[hasaknightjob]

"Very much so," Steven said. "I missed hearing you play while we were gone."

[pocketpretzels]

"You did?" Watts asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"I did," Steven said. "Not that our wedding wasn't more than adequate as a replacement."

[pocketpretzels]

"We did have music," Watts recalled. "And dancing." Though the former hadn't been live and the latter had been back in their hotel room.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven leaned in to kiss Llewellyn's cheek. "Which I enjoyed very much. Perhaps we can do more later. I've dinner ready, if you're hungry?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Famished," Watts admitted, probably unsurprisingly. "Wonderful man," he added, voice full of fondness.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven reached for Llewellyn's hand. "Come along then. I made pasta salad."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts stood up, threading their fingers together as he did so. "Sounds wonderful," he told Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven swung their hands together as they walked. "Very special pasta salad. Made it for my husband."

[pocketpretzels]

"How appropriately domestic," Watts said, hearts in his eyes as he looked at Steven.

[hasaknightjob]

"Kitchen or dining room?" Steven asked. "I didn't set up yet because it could keep if you'd wanted to practice longer."

[pocketpretzels]

"Hm, dining room, if you don't mind?" Watts replied.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not at all," Steven said. "Would you like to help me carry things in?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Love to," Watts told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Did you select a wine?" he asked, curious.

[hasaknightjob]

"I picked one of the rosés?" Steven said, pointing to it. He hoped he'd gotten it right. "Because there's balsamic in the dressing?"