Fandom Island Museum, Tuesday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was running late. It was on purpose this time, and he'd cleared it with Blathers. Still, once he was done keeping Liz company he raced over to the museum, not even stopping back at the flat to get changed.

So it was a Steven wearing a dark grey suit, tie, and white shirt who was behind the welcome counter at the museum today. Name tag was the same though. Priorities, after all.

[open!]

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[pocketpretzels]

Watts, meanwhile, was right on time for lunchtime.

“Hello, you,” he greeted as he came up to the welcome desk. “Time to take a break.”

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was glad for the distraction, particularly given the form it came in. "Hello, you. Gladly."

[pocketpretzels]

“All right then,” Watts said. His hat got set down in its usual spot on the welcome desk. “Off we go.” And he was holding out his arm for Steven to take.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled at the gesture. Possibly it was only due to them being alone but it was still a public place.

He put out the sign he was taking lunch then in turn took Llewellyn's arm in his. "Lead on."

[pocketpretzels]

That was exactly his reasoning, yes. Small steps.

Metaphorically. Regular steps were taking them to their usual spot in the fish exhibit.

Once they reached the table, Watts unpacked some jollof rice, vegetable kebabs, and moin moin.

"I don't know if you've had any of this before, it's from Nigeria?" he asked.

[hasaknightjob]

"Kebabs yes, the rest no," Steven said. "It looks wonderful, Llew."

Steven wasn't sure if a hug would be too much so he kept himself to giving a light squeeze to Llewellyn's arm when he had to let go.

[pocketpretzels]

Much like yesterday, the look Steven got in return was very much a promise for later.

“Well, let’s hope it lives up to expectations.” As if they’d been disappointed by any of these lunches yet.

[hasaknightjob]

"Even if the food is bad the company won't be," Steven said. Not that he thought the food would be bad.

[pocketpretzels]

“Perhaps I- woke on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and am as a result exceedingly grumpy,” Watts countered. The smile he had to bite back at being called good company probably gave lie to that statement though.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was about to ask what was wrong when he saw Llewellyn's expression. "I see. And which side is the wrong one?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Before nine in the morning,” Watts replied. Truthfully, he preferred to sleep in later than that (as Steven well knew), but nine was about as early as he ever got up if given a choice.

[hasaknightjob]

That got a laugh out of Steven. "Can understand that. Especially today."

Getting up extra early to be there for Liz was worth it, but it wasn't something Steven would do for fun if he had the choice.

[pocketpretzels]

"Is everything all r- did-," and now Watts was grimacing as he tried to find the right way to ask the question- "How did that go, this morning?"

[hasaknightjob]

"As well as it could, I suppose," Steven said. "Not easy, doing the anniversary. Isn't under the best of circumstances, I'd imagine."

Steven knew Liz had shared some of her past with Llewellyn but he figured it was better to err on the side of saying less so that he didn't accidentally reveal more than she wanted other people to know.

[pocketpretzels]

"Never is," Watts agreed. He didn't remember the how or when of his own parents' deaths, of course, but Danny and Hubert? Those were seared into his mind forever. So he could sympathise.

[hasaknightjob]

"And when you've not had a chance to do it properly the first time," Steven said. He looked down at his food, trying not to think too hard about why he and Liz had that in common.

[pocketpretzels]

"Mmhmm," Watts made a noise of agreement, reaching out to brush his hand briefly across Steven's. "But as you've been saying, hopefully the worst is over for her."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven lifted his fingers up into the touch, taking some comfort from it for as long as it lasted. "Maybe if she can get some sleep as well. I know what that does, going too long without. Can't be easier when there's a baby taking up your energy as well."

[pocketpretzels]

"No," Watts agreed. "I can't imagine so."

[hasaknightjob]

"I told her Marc and I were available for whatever she needs today," Steven said. He indicated the pocket where his phones were. "She seemed all right enough for me to come to work but comes and goes, I imagine."

[pocketpretzels]

"Good of you. Both of you." Watts had mostly conquered a certain irrational fear where Steven and Liz were concerned. Mostly. But he couldn't quite banish it completely, which was quite honestly frustrating.

[hasaknightjob]

"She'd do the same for us," Steven said, because Liz was a friend and he'd no doubt she'd be there if they needed her. But then he realized the likelihood of either him or Marc asking for this particular favor was very small. "You know. For whatever. What friends do."

[pocketpretzels]

"I am- starting to see that," Watts nodded. "What friends will do for each other."

[hasaknightjob]

"Not just bring each other lunch?" Steven asked with a smile to show it was a little bit joking. Obviously he and Llewellyn were much more than friends now.

[pocketpretzels]

“Not just that,” replied Watts with an answering smile of his own. Of course, he still had no idea that those early lunches were because Steven worried he couldn’t afford to eat properly. “Though sharing lunches with a friend,” with a particular emphasis on ‘friend’, yes, “remains a favourite part of my own routine.”