MHA #15 to MHA #14, Tuesday Morning

[pocketpretzels]

Over the past few weeks, Watts had become quite accustomed to being awakened by the sound of a rather energetic cat who liked to make it known that he needed to be fed right now immediately. A desire that was often expressed by running around the apartment at top speed.

Today was no different. Or at least, it had been, up until the first muffled thump sounded from the living room. A few minutes later, there was another. Then another.

With a resigned grumble, Watts got out of bed to see what had Raphael making such a commotion, only to find his cat perched on the edge of the couch, staring intently at something that was whizzing around in the air. The reason for the thump noises soon became evident, as the cat launched himself up off the arm of the couch in an attempt to catch the flying whatever-it-was. Which was now zooming around Watts's head in an increasingly agitated circle. Watts swatted at it. It darted out of the way, and then back towards him. Watts glanced over at Raphael, who was, tail twitching, clearly ready to attempt to catch the thing again. "Don't you dare," Watts said, as if he had a chance in hell of the cat actually listening to him.

Raphael jumped. The flying thing zipped out of the way. Watts also managed to move out of the way, narrowly avoiding a faceful of cat. The flying thing moved closer again, resuming the agitated circling of Watts's head.

"Go away!" he swatted at it, and it darted out of the way of his hand. Watts took the opportunity to dash back into his bedroom, shutting the door before the flying nuisance could follow him in. Grabbing a shirt and a pair of trousers, he got dressed- well, sort of- in the interest of expediency he skipped the waistcoat.

He made sure Raphael was fed, all the while attempting to fend off the irritating flying thing, and then few minutes later and he was across the hall, knocking on Steven's door. Unbeknownst to him, of course, the flying thing (yes, you absolutely guessed it, it's totally the mistletoe) was sneakily hovering juuuuuuust behind him. Waiting. Lurking.

[ooc: for the guy who lives there. no, not that one. the other one.]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"He's not nearly as quick with a pun," Watts said solemnly.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven settled back down to once more use Llewellyn's chest as a pillow. "That's all right. He's his own talents. Trying to save you from that mistletoe, for a start. Hunting it and all."

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmmm," Watts hummed in agreement. "Though even there, it was you who saved me in the end. But I will admit he put forth an admirable effort."

[hasaknightjob]

"He's a good lad," Steven said. "I like how he takes care of you. That's an important feature, for me. Making sure you're all right."

[pocketpretzels]

"I prefer to think of it as us taking care of each other," Watts countered. He wasn't just talking about himself in relation to Raphael, no.

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said. "It's a partnership, isn't it? Taking care of each other. Can't just be one of you doing it all himself. Wouldn't be fair. Both for the person doing it and the person sat there doing nothing with the other carried all the weight."

Steven was very much not just talking about the cat.

[pocketpretzels]

“Your troubles are my own,” Watts murmured. “As- mine are yours,” he added.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven pressed a kiss to Llewellyn's chest for adding that last bit. "They are. You don't have to carry them alone. I'll gladly hold them for you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I am- doing my best to remember that." By doing things like acknowledging that he could use the company next week during the longest night of the year.

[hasaknightjob]

"Doing a good job of it," Steven told him. "Showed up here this morning, didn't you? Didn't try dealing with it alone."

Well, alone and with Raphael. But mistletoe was poisonous to cats so it was just as well Llewellyn left his flat.

[pocketpretzels]

"I didn't really have much of a plan, just knew I needed to get out of there," Watts said. "So of course I ended up in the safest place I could imagine."

[hasaknightjob]

Well that was getting him another kiss. One that lingered for a bit. "I'm glad you feel safe with me."

[pocketpretzels]

"Of course. You are my Gentleman Knight, after all," Watts reminded him.

[hasaknightjob]

"Always," Steven said, looking Llewellyn in the eyes. "I'd never let anything happen to you. Not if I could help it."

A clause which might be particularly relevant as the week went on, though of course neither of them knew that.

[pocketpretzels]

"I know you wouldn't," Watts said fondly.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven shifted up so that he was now resting his head next to Llewellyn's shoulder, though he kept his arm around Llewellyn's waist. "Part of you being mine, isn't it? Making sure you're all right. Don't care for things that make you unhappy."

[pocketpretzels]

"I only wish I could offer you the same," Watts admitted. "Physically, I mean. I'm- not much good in a fight, I'm afraid." Which wouldn't stop him trying if it came down to it, of course.

[hasaknightjob]

"Nonsense," Steven said. He moved his hand up to caress Llewellyn's cheek. "I don't need that. I need someone who's there for me all the other times. When the world goes pear shaped, or my memories - well. You know it all with that. I need that sort of safety more than anything else, Llew. You give me that. Thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'll always find you, darling," Watts promised.

[hasaknightjob]

Don't mind Steven's eyes shining a little bit there. It was nothing. The kiss he gave Llewellyn, on the other hand, was something. Grateful, for a start.