Fandom Island Museum, Tuesday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was on time today, which he was rather proud of. After some debate, he decided to take the succulent that Nell had provided and put it on one of the tables in the fish exhibit so it could have a change of scenery. He wasn't entirely certain if Nell would know the difference when she came back and checked on the plant, but he wanted to give it a go all the same.

Besides, it might make a nice decoration for later. Perhaps during lunch, if that's where he happened to eat lunch today.

That done, he settled into his usual position behind the Welcome Desk, ready to help anyone who stopped by.

[open!]

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[pocketpretzels]

As chance would have it, he had been reaching to pluck one of the leaves off the little plant as they spoke. Only his hand was met with empty air due to Steven moving the plant out of the way, so he settled for drumming his fingers lightly on the edge of the table instead, as if that was what he’d meant to do all along.

“I can’t imagine plants being all that complicated to maintain,” Watts mused.

[hasaknightjob]

"Water and sunlight mainly," Steven agreed. He noticed Llewellyn reaching and used it as an excuse to brush his hand over Llewellyn's affectionately. "Though don't know if Nell made it simple for me since she's not gone long. Especially since she hates asking for favors, that one. Still amazed she took us up on the offer."

[pocketpretzels]

“Mmm,” Watts hummed. “The idea that you might be able to depend on others can- take some getting used to.”

Not that he knew from personal experience or anything.

[hasaknightjob]

Of course Steven knew Llewellyn, so he was able to guess. "Especially if you worry they might leave?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Or worse,” Watts agreed.

Better left than dead, after all.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven moved to put his hand over Llewellyn's. "I'm not going anywhere, Llew. I love you."

[pocketpretzels]

"I know," he said, looking down at their hands. Steven wouldn't leave, not of his own volition. It was something Watts reminded himself of regularly.

And yet.

At least the 'dead' wasn't something he had to worry about with Steven?

[hasaknightjob]

Really wasn't. However annoying it was to be grateful to Konshu for something.

Steven threaded their fingers together. "Anything in particular bothering you?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Not... in particular, no," Watts said, giving Steven's hand a squeeze. Just the usual anxieties, really.

[hasaknightjob]

"You know I'll listen even if it's not particular, right?" Steven said. Since they did just mention how hard it was for some people to ask for things. Steven figured better to offer just in case.

[pocketpretzels]

"I do," Watts nodded. But being able to let himself be... vulnerable; that too, was new and a little scary and he wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

[hasaknightjob]

"Right." Steven wasn't going to push anymore, then, since he trusted that Llewellyn would be honest if he needed to talk. He did lean over to press a kiss to Llewellyn's cheek, though. "Still love you. If you're wondering."

[pocketpretzels]

“Of that I had no doubts, but I have yet to tire of hearing it,” he admitted with a smile.

[hasaknightjob]

"Not tired of repeating it either, Llew," Steven said, just so all options were in the rotation. Perhaps shamelessly but Steven didn't care. He'd never had something like this before.

He gave Llewellyn's hand a squeeze then let go so he could resume eating. "You know Marc made a good point the other day. About us."

Because when your boyfriend said he loved you, you did chat about it with the person you were closest to. In every sense of "close."

[pocketpretzels]

“… He did?” Watts said, giving Steven a curious look. It’s not that he didn’t realize Marc and Steven talked to each other, because of course they did, he’d even bore witness to it (though that was more of an argument than a chat, technically), but somehow the fact that he might be a topic worth conversation was… well, he hadn’t considered it.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven misunderstood the part that Llewellyn found surprising. "I know. Amazed it happened myself. You know what he's like. Honestly assumed I'd get the same speech as usual from him. 'Don't need to be here' and all that."

[pocketpretzels]

“Should I be concerned over the fact that I’ve inspired more than his usual desire for non-involvement?” Watts asked. He was assuming whatever Marc had said wasn’t something terrible, but…

[hasaknightjob]

Some day Steven would remember to give all the context in one go. Today was obviously not that day. "What? Oh, no! No. It's fine. I was telling him about us, you see."

Steven nudged Llewellyn's elbow with his own. "Darling."

[pocketpretzels]

It was a good thing he loved you dearly, Steven. Because that cleared up exactly nothing.

“Has he opinions on terms of endearment, then?” Watts guessed.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked puzzled. "What? Oh! No. No, sorry. I meant that's what started the conversation, you see. You calling me that. Me saying how much I liked it. Which sort of raises the question about the future, doesn't it? Like if you and me are saying such things we - we sort of want one, yeah? Together?"

[pocketpretzels]

"No 'sort of' about it, as far as I'm concerned," Watts told him seriously.

[hasaknightjob]

"Right," Steven said. He put his fork down so he could give Llewellyn his full attention. "But you know how I've been saying it's not fair to you? You only having half a partner? Marc - he pointed out he was with Layla for years and she didn't know anything about me. But here's the thing, Llew, I still had a life. I was doing all those things Marc wanted for me. And Layla didn't mind it. She had the wrong idea about why he wasn't about, but the not being about - that's not why they aren't together."

[pocketpretzels]

And that's... more or less what Watts had been trying to impress upon Steven every time he refuted those claims that it 'wasn't fair'. Well, maybe not the things about Layla specifically, as he of course didn't know all of those details. But the general concept.

Still, his heart soared now that Steven seemed to be on that path as well. Thank you, Marc. "That's precisely what I've been trying to impress upon you this entire time," he said, with a soft, fond smile. "As I've said, you're here," he picked up Steven's hand, and brought it to his chest, just over his heart. "Even when Mr. Spector is living his own life."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled. He stretched his hand out flat against Llewellyn's chest so he could feel Llewellyn's heart beating. "I didn't see how it could work. Be fair. But other people have done it. Maybe not this, exactly. But, you know, people who travel. That sort of thing. And you and me, we're honest. That's the other thing, isn't it? You know the real reason why."

Unlike Layla, who assured Steven the breakup with Marc hadn't been because of Steven, but rather Marc's overall lack of honesty.

[pocketpretzels]

"That is a significant factor, yes," Watts did have to admit. He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Steven's hand over his heart, imagining that warmth spreading through him, all the way down to fingers and toes.