Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Steven hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary on his way into work that morning. Perhaps because he'd been so focused on getting there.

It wasn't until he arrived that he tripped over a suitcase in the front doorway. He bit back a curse as he glared at it.

There on the suitcase was the word: Lesser.

That didn't help Steven's desire to glare, actually. He grabbed the suitcase and hauled it behind the Welcome Desk. On his way there he spotted others: Unwanted and Uninteresting.

A memory of a few years back came to Steven. He clamped down on any feelings of Marc he could possibly put a hold on so that whatever this was didn't manifest something for him too.

"You're not getting him," Steven said aloud to... whatever this was. "You can't have him."

Behind the Welcome Desk was another suitcase.

Unreal.

Steven shoved that one under the desk as hard as he could. He then stood there, his eyes closed, and tried his best to breathe slowly and calmly.

"It's fine," he said. "Absolutely fine. I can handle this."

Behind him, near the staircase to the second floor, was a battered and worn trunk. The word on that was ANGER.

Steven didn't see the trunk. Which was fine. It wasn't his anyway.

[open!]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"Not today," Steven said. "Think an entire day of treats wouldn't go amiss right now."

[pocketpretzels]

"Well then you are in luck," Watts declared, unpacking the various muffins and other pastries.

[hasaknightjob]

"Cheers," Steven said, looking at Llewellyn with pure gratitude. He reached for a blueberry muffin. "May I?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I brought them for you," Watts pointed out. "You may have whatever you'd like."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'd still like to share," Steven said. But he selected the muffin and started to undo the wrapper so he could take a bite. He sighed contentedly once he did.

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm happy to share," Watts agreed. "But rights of first pick are yours."

[hasaknightjob]

"Thank you," Steven said, even as a small lunch sack which said never know what to do flickered on the desk.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts swung an arm out, accidentally knocking that bag off the desk. And into the trash.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven turned to see what happened, then smiled when he realized. "Thank you. See? You protect me."

[pocketpretzels]

"I like that I can in some way, given how useless I am in a physical confrontation."

And right on cue, there was a rumpled-looking duffel with 'WEAK' emblazoned on it.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven glared at the bag and threw a pencil at it. "He's not weak. He helps me when I'm scared and lost. Besides, I have Marc if I need someone good at fighting. You take good care of my heart."

[pocketpretzels]

"Sometimes I do wish I could be- useful backup. In an altercation."

[hasaknightjob]

"Do you?" Steven asked. "Marc could always teach you if that was the case."

[pocketpretzels]

"I'll take that under advisement."

Would he follow up on it? Unlikely.

[hasaknightjob]

"You don't have to though," Steven said. "I love you as you are. You protect me in ways no one else does."

Marc might feel a little guilty about that but he wouldn't dispute the truth of the statement.

[pocketpretzels]

"It doesn't bother you?" Watts said. "That I'm not- that I can't- hold up my own, in a fight?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I only can because of Marc and the suit," Steven pointed out. "Why would I judge you for skills I don't have either?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Plenty of people judge me for plenty of things," Watts said. "Though- you've never been among them, that much is true."

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't care for fighting anyway," Steven said. "Only do it myself as a last resort. Much prefer that you do what you can to get to safety."

[pocketpretzels]

"Oh, we are aligned in that respect," Watts said. "It's the sort of skill I would make use of for defense only."

[hasaknightjob]

"Good." Steven reached over to rub Llewellyn's arm, taking care around the scar tissue. "I'd rather you get no more of these, thank you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Also aligned in that," Watts agreed. "Twice was two too many."

Even if one of those had been self-inflicted.

[hasaknightjob]

"Glad we're in agreement there," Steven said. He leaned over to place a very gentle kiss on top of where the scar tissue was.

[pocketpretzels]

Watt shivered, although not unpleasantly. "If you could also avoid being hurt, please," he added.

[hasaknightjob]

"I'll do my best," Steven promised as he sat back up. "Don't look to leap into danger or fights if I can help it."