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Good weather Sundays always ended up being Stud's favorite days. Especially when he didn’t have to work at the studio. Not that he didn’t like seeing everyone, but these were the days when he could actually try bonding with Willy. The kid really acted more agreeable when he was fishing.
But now the sun had long since set and Willy retired to his room after eating the newly available fish dinner. He, on the other hand, was still sipping his coffee and pacing the living room while he waited for Meryl to come home.
With Meryl becoming a bigger star at the studio it was becoming harder to predict when he would be home; he could be out partying, rehearsing a new role, instructing a new actor, or even just hanging out with Hildy or Robert. Stud always ended up wishing he would come back sooner than he would, though that was especially true this time. Usually these nights were the only ones where they could get away with some cuddling without Willy giving them a knowing stink-eye in the morning (how he always knew was beyond him). But leave it to Meryl to not tell him what time he would be back.
When he saw Meryl getting dressed with little care this morning, he invited him to join the fishing trip. Meryl politely declined saying that he had some obligations throughout the day and had to miss out on the adventure. Which, while that might be true, Stud suspected the shorter man couldn’t stand the idea of being at a lake’s edge for hours on end. Now he wondered what could possibly still be holding Meryl’s attention (mostly because he called Robert and Hildy earlier and neither of them had seen him all day).
As he began another lap around the coffee table he heard the tell-tale signs of someone trying to open the front door. After setting down his coffee, he rushed to the entry hallway. Before even getting to the door he could hear Meryl’s muffled complaints and curses from the other side and the jingling of keys.
Stud undid the deadbolt from his side.
He expected Meryl to give him an annoyed glance followed by one of his mumbled thank yous–and maybe a chase kiss as he pushed past him. Instead, he was greeted by Meryl stumbling past the threshold (having apparently been bracing himself against the door). He rushed to catch him before he ended up toppling over.
In the hallway’s light Stud could see how Meryl’s usually pristine suit was wrinkled, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top button undone. His ascot was nowhere to be seen and he smelled not so faintly of alcohol.
"Sir, what the blazes happened?” Stud pulled him further into the house so he could close the door.
Meryl looked up to his face with unseeing eyes. He squinted and seemed to search for answers as to who was holding him up. Upon realizing, he gave a lopsided but genuine grin, “Stud! Well where did you come from? Hey, is anyone around?”
“I believe I asked you where you came from first. And not unless you count Willy, but he’s in his room,” Stud began searching for the nearest place to make the other man take a seat.
Meryl paused for a while again as he processed Stud’s words, “Well I was just at R.L Stine’s going away party! Good riddance and all.” He swung his arm out as he said ‘riddance’ which sent him off balance again and tumbling into Stud’s chest.
“Oh goodness. You surely didn’t drive yourself home like this?” Stud couldn’t bear the thought.
“I don’t think so?” Merely let himself be moved to the living room until a thought apparently set him off, “Wait! I know I didn’t! One of those makeup girls wouldn’t let me near my car! How dare she!”
He sighed in relief that someone kept him safe. She probably paid for a cab too. He would have to thank whoever they were when he got the chance, “You might think different in the mornin’, Sir. But for now, let's get you settled on the couch, alright?”
“The couch?” He gave him an offended look, “Why aren’t we going to your room?”
Stud chuckled at his pouting, “We will, but you need some food and water first. And don’t start fightin’ me, you’ll thank me in the mornin’.”
Trying to walk Maryl all the way to the couch proved to be a hard ask as it was an obvious miracle he even made it to the door. So, to Meryl’s loud complaints, Stud picked him up and carried him from the end of the hall all the way to the sofa. Upon reaching it, however, Meryl refused to let go of him, keeping his arms slung around the back of his neck. Before Stud could convince him to let go, the odd angle created when trying to set him down caused Stud to fall forward–leading to him landing above Meryl on the couch.
Still without letting go of Stud, the actor began to drunkenly chuckle, “Ha, looks like-ha-falling from heaven-ha-doesn’t hurt.”
“Sigh, if you say so, Sir.” Stud tugged the shorter man’s arms off of him, “Can I trust you to stay here while I get you some water and crackers?”
“Noo, just stay here~ I want to hold you.” Meryl whined, “What if your nephew attacks me while you’re gone?”
“He won’t attack you,” Meryl may be too suspicious of his nephew, but the statement brought a problem to the forefront of Stud’s mind.
Willy couldn’t see Meryl like this. Not after what his stupid brother did. He needed to get Meryl to the privacy of their bedroom before too long to make sure Willy wouldn’t see him if he came down, “How about this. You let me grab everythin’ without anymore complainin’, and you can eat upstairs.”
Meryl gave him a scrutinizing look, “Alright, but I don’t want crackers.”
“Fine, I’ll get you somethin’ with the crackers,” he made his way into the kitchen before Meryl could try getting his way. Because he knew the lanky man would win.
~~
Trying to carry Meryl up the stairs with a glass of water and a plate of crackers and toast was more of a challenge than trying to get him to the couch. Not only was it a balancing act, he also had to keep Meryl silent as they passed Willy’s room (let this be the one time he’s grateful the kid refused to keep his door open). Once he safely made it to his bedroom and let out a breath of relief, he refocused on the man draped across his arms.
“Alright, Sir, I need you to hold still while I set this down.” With a bit of luck it seemed Meryl listened to him as he only leaned into his chest while he put the glass and plate onto the nightstand, “Okay, time to let you go now.”
Meryl went easier this time, actually willingly being set on the carpeted floor. With a nod of satisfaction, Stud went to their shared dresser and pulled out one of Meryl’s less used sets of pajamas.
When he presented them to the man, he turned his nose up at them, “Mr. Stampler, you know I would prefer my silk night wear.”
Leave it to Meryl Streep to keep his high standards while drunk off his ass, “In the mornin’ you won’t,” Lord knows he’s going to be throwing up the moment he wakes.
Streep grumbled as he took them from Stud, who refused to let him stumble towards the dresser, “In the morning this, in the morning that.”
“Yes. And in the mornin’, you’ll thank me,” or punch me, either one.
Stud watched just long enough to be sure he could get into the clothes alone before turning his attention to getting himself dressed for the night.
Meryl got ready for bed almost perfectly, only needing help buttoning the shirt. Something Stud had no qualms helping with. Getting him into bed was similarly simple with the man happily sinking into the warmth of the comforter.
He handed him the glass of water, keeping a light hold on it to make sure Meryl wouldn’t drop it. Meryl tried batting him away, but his defiance was short lived and he downed half the glass before pushing the glass away. The moment he tried offering him a piece of toast though, Meryl regained plenty of energy to try fending him off, “No. Keep that bland brick of bread away from me.”
A migraine was quickly forming now. I just want to go to bed, “Mr. Streep. You need to eat and it’s either this, or the crackers. Also it’s not a brick and it’s perfectly un-bland.”
“Lies. All you put on there was butter,” Meryl continued to complain but Stud could see he was at least half listening to him; debating which item he wanted less.
“You cannot handle much else right now, Sir. So it’s buttered bread or salted toast for you,” Maybe, just maybe, if he used the same tone he uses when convincing Willy to go to school or to not work at the animal shelter, then maybe the man would listen.
“You’re so mean to me,” Meryl held out a shaky hand for the bread.
He handed it over, not doubting that Meryl would eat it, “If you say so.”
Meryl grumbled throughout the entire process of eating the slice of bread. Once finished though, he seemed to forget his reason for complaining, “Stud, why did you not bring more toast?”
His emotions were obviously still under the sway of whatever he had been drinking as Stud could see tears pricking his eyes, “Hey, there’s still more–plus the crackers darn it–and if you want me to go make more–”
“No! Stay here. I want to cuddle once I’m done eating,” Meryl ordered him as he was handed the second slice of toast.
Stud shook his head while a smile creeped to his face, “Very well, Sir.”
From there Stud gave up on the idea of convincing Meryl to eat the crackers. If he got hungry enough, he would eat them anyway. He had Meryl finish off the rest of the water once he was done and persuaded him to let leave and fill up the glass. Though he was given a strict two minute window, it allowed him just enough time to also grab a bowl for the likely morning hangover.
He barely got the new glass and the bowl onto the night stand before Meryl began trying to pull him into the bed. Though he usually let him pull him about, he fended him off now in order to get to his own side of the bed. Once under the covers, Meryl moved into the middle of the bed and laid against Stud’s chest.
With a content sigh he buried his face in Stud’s neck, “Mhm, you feel like a furnace.”
“Ha, well you seem to need me then,” Meryl always ran cold, Stud actually could feel his icy hands through his sleep shirt.
“Thank you,” Meryl muttered, quieter than anything else he said all night.
With the simple phrase not fully fitting in the conversation, Stud inquired, “For what, Sir?”
Meryl’s eyes fluttered as he fought to stay awake, “You said I would thank you in the morning. I’m saving myself the embarrassment.”
Stud barked out a laugh that he quickly tried to stifle, “I see. Well then, I suppose I won’t ask you in the mornin’.” When he looked down at Meryl, he had completely fallen asleep. His face relaxed and peaceful, “Good night, Meryl.”
He would end up waking before Meryl in the morning to get some food ready. Meryl would wake with a nasty hangover and a few curses for the sun. While Stud tried to help him, Willy would sneak out of the house to gain some peace and quiet.