pocketpretzels | Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

"You are sweet," Steven replied. Then, "Wait - bugger. Thank you."

Watts didn't mind the original response, but the correction did earn him another kiss.

"Trying," Steven murmured as he kissed back.

"Doing wonderfully," Watts assured him. "I'm proud of you, darling."

"Yeah?" Steven smiled, as the words meant a great deal to him. "I'm glad. Thank you."

"Even those times where you don't say the words, it rarely feels anymore as if you- as if you are trying to deflect or dismiss the compliment," Watts told him.

"Really?" Steven brightened even more. "I'd wondered about that. Thank you. That's very good to hear. I've been trying with that as well."

Watts leaned in to press another kiss to Steven's cheek. "Times like just now, where your response was playful and flirtatious. Not that the thank you wasn't appreciated, because it was."

"Helps that you are sweet," Steven said with a grin. "But thank you. That helps. Still trying to calibrate, I suppose? Sort of like learning a language. All the nuances."

"It really is," Watts said. "I've gone through a lot of- trial and error myself. Figuring out when it's all right to speak up and when- when it is wiser to keep my thoughts to myself."

Steven pressed a kiss to Llewellyn's cheek. "I like your thoughts. I always appreciate you sharing them."

"Thank you," Watts replied, because one ought to practice what they preach and all. "I try not to share the ones I've come to understand are- uncharitable. Not about you," he added. "About others."

Steven was glad for the clarification, as he'd been just about to ask. "To them, I assume?"

"To them," Watts affirmed. "Or- others who might have strong opinions about my opinions."

Steven gave a sympathetic sigh. "I know what that's like. You want to offer suggestions or advice but you know they won't listen. Or want to hear it."

"I didn't always," Watts admitted, turning to take the biscuits out of the oven as the timer went off. "Know that, that is."

Steven gave Raphael a hug before placing him down on the floor. He went to get some treats to help keep Raphael occupied instead of trying to steal biscuits. "But you know not to say certain things?"

"Now, yes," Watts said, as he carefully moved the biscuits on to a rack for cooling.

"It can be hard to judge," Steven said. He leaned against the counter to watch Llewellyn. "Some say they want honesty but what they really mean is only if it's nice."

"Yes, exactly," Watts agreed. "And how am I to know when that is the case and when they genuinely want my insights?"

"Buggered if I know," Steven admitted. "Or they say they want honesty but that only means they get to say cruel things and claim they're only being truthful. Try it in return and they bite your head off."

"Don't care for that sort of hypocrisy," Watts agreed.

"I prefer our truthful," Steven said. "Helpful."

"Even when it hurts," Watts agreed, tentatively touching one of the biscuits to see if it had cooled enough. "You understand that I, at least, am not trying to to be hurtful."

"Worrying is more hurtful to me," Steven said, to confirm Llewellyn was on the right track. "Wondering if you're upset and not saying anything."

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