#fully furnished flat means

[kenzieluvsnanami]

kenzieluvssuguru :: ☆*:.｡.o the roommate (18+) o.｡.:*☆

You were sure you hated him. From the crown of his silky, jet black hair to the bottom of his bunny-slipper clad feet. Everything he did pissed you off. Whether it’s finishing your very expensive shampoo or sneaking bites of your carefully hidden sweet treats, one thing was for certain: Geto Suguru knew how to get and STAY on your last nerve. (f!reader x suguru)

cw *:･ﾟ✧ roommate/no curses/college au, reader is overworked and underpaid 😭, auditory voyeurism? (by reader).. readers basically a cuck (unknown to suguru, sooo dubcon kinda), cheeky suguru/slight humour (cant help myself), dirty talk, OF references, description of the devils tango (but not w reader) and mastúrbation *:･ﾟ✧♡ 3.2k words // part 1 , part 2

He had become your roommate at the beginning of second year. Having an egregiously rich grandmother who liked her grandkids to earn their keep had its perks at times, one of those being the inheritance of a beautifully furnished townhouse that was only a half hour commute from your university.

However, the downside was the substantial cost of maintaining the house. Bills pilled up fast and whilst your grandmother was lounging in Turks and Caicos, you were working multiple jobs: the campus coffee shop on off-days, a drum and bass club on the weekend and tutoring whenever time allowed.

It was

Wearing.

You.

Down.

By the end of the second semester you had enough. Physically and emotionally drained, you sat down and pondered over all the possible avenues of making money - ASAP since energy companies were not necessarily known for their patience and generosity. Whilst starting an OF was firmly out of the equation, it did give you an idea. Instead of selling yourself, you could sell your home! Ok, not the whole house - but there was a spare room adjoined to yours, fully furnished with its own small terrace. A charming, spacious place where many students living on campus dorms would love to be. However, who did you know that was willing to move out this late in second year? Most had already settled into their new homes and were already accustomed to the people they lived with. You tried asking around but unfortunately it was all rejection.

Dejected, you slinked into your critical analysis class that evening, eye bags so heavy they were almost pulling your eyes shut. The tiredness must have put you you some sort of delirious state because when you sat in your usual seat as you pondered over your situation... aloud?!

"you want someone move in with you?" echoed the mild-mannered man beside you.

Confused and slightly taken aback, he asked you to repeat yourself, to make sure he heard you clearly. Rather frustrated, you grumbled out the question not even meaning to ask him about your situation and to your surprise - he actually said yes. Eyes widening and back moderately straighter, you exchanged contact information and asked him to meet tomorrow so you can discuss more.

You had left the lecture shaken out of your fatigued stupor and felt a tinge of regret already. You barely know this man. All you knew was that his name was Geto Suguru, he’s in your class and will be your new roommate in the next couple of weeks. From what you had gathered from your brief interactions, he seemed like a normal person… at least you hoped so.

You knew he was well mannered. Remembering from the time you tripped over his foot, limbs flailing awkwardly - and how he’d lunged out, firmly grasping you by the waist to stop you from falling flat onto your face. As soon as you had steadied, he apologised profusely with slightly flushed cheeks and averted eyes.

He seemed well kept, his full, shoulder-length hair was never greasy or out of place. Either in a half-up bun or flowing freely, it was definitely a cause for envy. He dressed neatly, loose jeans or joggers with a plain tee or sweatshirt seemed to be his staples. Fingernails were slender - elegant, your sideways glances during lectures providing a view of his graceful, willowy hands. Long and dainty fingers gently tapping on the laptop in front of him.

All known factors considered, when it comes to roommates you seemed to have won the lottery. A quiet and respectful man seemed like a few in a dozen in this generation. How lucky were you!

The first few weeks were like a sort of honeymoon period. Sharing a space with someone you didn’t know was as awkward as you would think it would be. Small smiles when you ran into each other in the hallway and if you were feeling bold, some small talk over breakfast before your shared class.

The ice was breaking between the two of you as you slowly adapted around each others routines. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. You were getting more sleep due to the fact that you didn’t have to work as hard to pay your bills (thanks to your dual income) and actually felt like a human being for once.

Feeling human meant that a lot of additional needs had been forgone and most importantly your dormant libido had jumped back alive. That itself was nothing to write home about but it was more so how you came to this realisation which was.

It was 3 months prior, when you had left your room for a late night snack. Wrapped in your hello kitty throw, you softly pattered down the hall into the kitchen. Treats successfully acquired, you walked back into the hall and was greeted with a mass of steam flowing out from the bathroom, a tall figure emerging.

It was your room mate (duh) but in a way you had never had seen him before. His raven hair was deliciously tousled - the messiest you had ever seen it and...

it. was. beautiful.

The towel wrapped around his slight waist exposed his athletic build, deceptively slim but a slight flex allowed you to see the unbridled power hidden within. His ab definition was exemplified by the drops of water falling from the light smattering of hair trailing down to his deep cut V line.

He was absolutely stunning.

You were frozen for more than a few seconds, marvelling at the discovery of this new side to your roommate. He was… heavenly. You didn’t even realise Suguru had fully left the bathroom until you felt a warm gust of air as he swished past you, a drop of water splashing onto your face as he teasingly poked you. You sped back into the safety of your room and slammed the door. He had you salivating like a damn dog by just a flash of his upper body?? Yes, he may have looked good (a bit more than good actually) but it wasn’t anything you hadn’t seen before.

Since that night, the dynamics of your relationship had imperceptibly changed. You couldn’t really describe how in a concise manner but Suguru had definitely changed. He was much more bold - seemingly doing everything in his power to make you flustered.

It first started with him wearing less and less clothes in the common areas of the house. You weren't completely unreasonable, leaving his room in just his red plaid PJ bottoms and those god forsaken bright pink bunny slippers could be excused. After all, this was his new home and you did want him to be comfortable. You just had to be mindful of not staring too long into his plump, juicy pectorals that were practically two small pillows that you could just face plant into. Not to mention the absolute dumptruck he was carrying from behind. During your dinners together (you always ended up cooking way more for yourself than needed), you really had to fight to keep your eyes fixed onto his face as he spoke and even then you’d find yourself being drawn further and further into his deep, purple eyes. Even his voice, calm, even and low was akin to a sirens call, causing you to be further and further enraptured with him.

Why couldn’t you just be normal about your roommate. You know plenty of people who houseshare with the opposite sex and it doesn’t seem to be as hard for them as it is for you. Maybe you just need a quick fuck? Something to get it out of your system so you can stop feeling like so…. lustful during the most regular exchanges.

It was hard to stop thinking thoughts like that when you would come home from a study group or be leaving early for a shift at the cafe to find Suguru slumped over the couch casually watching a telenovela or a 2000s sitcom. This normally would not be any kind of issue if for the fact he wasn’t practically naked par a grey set of loose Calvin Klein boxers.

The first time this happened you were almost late for work, your body physically refusing to move at the sight of his thick thighs, corded muscles tensing as he swung his legs down from resting on the cushion next to him and patted the space beside him - gesturing for you to sit. The soft smile on his face, eyes shut, eyebrows relaxed and seemingly in a state of inexplicable bliss for someone with 12 assignments due that week was all a bit too much for you to handle as you snapped out of your daze and rushed out of the door.

Suguru’s next ‘misstep’ was his use of almost all of your things and general disregard for personal space. He seemed to find joy in watching you put two and two together and realise that the reason why the whole house smells like Shea vanilla is because he “accidentally” used your body wash whilst bathing and so “just had to” grab the matching lotion, body oil and spray from your room - so he didn’t “smell confused”.

To think that this was the same man who was so quiet when he first moved in honestly is beyond human comprehension, his eyes crinkling shut as he laughed with genuine glee about how in the process of looking for the spray he tripped over your charging hitachi wand.

“Is my roommate feeling a bit pent up?” he drawled as he fake pouted, the tips of your ears burning at the fact that the object of your current infatuation knew about what you did in your… free time. “I was wondering what all that buzzing was last night.”

Suguru was comfortable at your shared house. Too comfortable. Which leads us to what happened today, what you considered to be the most egregious misstep by your roommate and would have made you so pissed if it hadn’t made you so wet.

It’s a Friday - nothing too crazy about that fact, it was just the week coming to an end. As your professor informs you of the upcoming assignments for the following week, Suguru leans down to tell you that he might be home a bit later than usual as he wanted to go to a friends houseparty. This isn’t anything too out of the ordinary, you knew that he was quite well known amongst the second years and as a result he was always flitting in and out the house midweek. You didn't really understand why he was specifically informing you of his whereabouts this time but you thanked him and made your way straight to coffee shop to start your shift.

Today was by far the hardest shift you’ve ever had, the sheer volume of people you had to serve and the few staff that were booked in to work. You were absolutely exhausted. You definitely were up for an orgasm or two to destress and your.. personal massager would be fully charged by the time you got home.

Clocked out at 7 and you were currently speed walking back to the house. A warm bath, filling meal and rewatching one of the telenovela’s Suguru had introduced to you sounded like an excellent plan. Just the action of running the bath, pouring the salts and soap and stripping off your stiff uniform silenced all the noise in your mind - you could truly feel the tension rolling off your body as you eased into the bathtub.

After an hour long soak, you made a wholesome pasta dish and binge watched TV until you started to feel your eyelids drooping shut as the day begun to catch up with you. You dragged yourself to your room, the silk sheets and quilted comforter lulling your weary body to a sweet, sweet slumber.

That was until… 1.27am according to your bedside clock. The loud bang of the front door shook you awake but it’s what you heard next that kept you up.

A bang on the hallway wall and what sounded like... kissing? Sloppy and heated, you could hear the mewls and whines of a woman coupled by occasional groans from what had to be… your roommate?

Footsteps got louder and louder until you could hear them through the shared wall between your rooms. The bed creaked as it hit the bedroom wall and you could hear the low murmur of your roommate’s voice. Almost instinctually, you carefully raised yourself up from the bed and pressed your ear to the wall to hear better.

“You’re going to take allllll of it, okay?” Suguru said lowly, the woman giggling as he retorted “Don’t get shy with me now. We both know you were begging for it.”

You knew what you were doing was fucked up. How could you keep eavesdropping on your roommate fucking another girl but somehow you were unable to tell your body, warmth pooling in your core.

The soft thud of clothes hitting the ground was accompanied by the rejoining of the pair, the loud kissing and sounds of scattered bedsheets made you ponder. This was the first time you had ever heard Suguru do anything remotely sexual. He made jokes (mainly to your demerit) about the apparent lack of sex and I mean, you appreciated that he respected the space that the two of you shared by not always having people over or at least doing it when you weren’t home but part of you just innately knew that he wasn’t seeing anyone - serious or casual. That’s why this is so unexpected.. but not unwanted.

See, it had interrupted your much needed sleep but you couldn’t deny how horny this was making you. The fact that you could hear what it would be like to fuck your roommate and the added taboo of him not knowing you could hear - you were almost soaked in your own essence, a hand snaking down to your pyjama bottoms so that you could alleviate some of your pent-up tension.

“Open your mouth” Suguru demanded. A slight pause in movements as you heard what must have been a fat, wad of his saliva splash into the woman’s mouth. “Good girl” he cooed, the woman moaning back in pure, unadulterated need.

You stifled your own whine, the delicious pressure of your fingertips on your swollen nub combined with your roommates filthy, sinful words had you so close. The woman gasped at what you can only imagine being Suguru finally pulling down those grey boxers. Another splash and a steady, slick rhythm began - probably Suguru stroking himself, long slender fingers wrapping tight around his base dragging his hand right up to the tip, thumb swirling to collect any pre-cum to lubricate his shaft even more.

“Please..” the woman pleaded. “Please what?” Suguru chided “If you are going to beg at least beg properly”. “Please..please put it in” she mumbled. “You’re still not asking properly but” A loud squelch and the woman’s even louder moan interrupted Suguru’s almost lazy drawl. He seemed so relaxed, responding back as if he himself didn’t want this as bad as she did. “I’m in a good mood so I’ll do as you wish” he punctuated his sentence with a sharp thrust, the already worn bed frame jolting into the wall as he fully buried himself into this woman.

Her mewls seemed to get even higher and higher in pitch as the two established a steady rhythm. Hand firmly placed along your slit, you toyed with oozing entrance and sensitive clit - middle and ring finger prodding into your hole, scissoring and feeling your inner walls. You gathered some more of your essence and spread it onto your thumb, applying more and more pressure as you swirled your bud. It was like you were in a freaked out flow state, your mind purely focused on achieving that high. You tuned out the shrieks of the other woman and honed in on your roommates low grunts, imaging how tense his abs would be from the sheer effort he would be putting, arms caged around you in missionary as he just plowed straight into you until you both came.

The bed creaks became more and more frequent, your hand moving faster and faster as you heard the woman cry out one last time and start sobbing. It seemed your roommate had slowed down slightly, close himself as the thrusts became more slow and tempered not hitting the wall as loudly. You were so so close, focusing on deep breathing to slow it down so that you could come undone at the same time as him.

As he got close himself, you could hear some sort of low rumble… was he.. whining? You could also hear his murmured praises to his partner “You did so good… thank you so much… your so pretty…ngh.. all…urghh….fucked out…mffh.. like this”. He seemed to be speaking through gritted teeth, so close to the edge. Even though you knew he wasn’t talking to you, all the words just melted into your brain adding to your dazed, enraptured state. You couldn’t hold out any longer, fingers moving into overdrive as you reached your peak and fell head first into the mind-numbing pleasure of release as you heard Suguru’s muffled cry as he came.

As the static from your ears started to clear and you were finally able to come back to earth from that earth-shattering orgasm, you could hear a slightly more heated conversation happening in the adjoined room.

“What the fuck was that” the woman whisper shouted while pulling on her clothes. “What the fuck do I know??” puffed your roommate as he seemed to pace around the room. “You just groaned another girls name as you came Suguru. That’s fucked up.. Seriously?” You could practically hear the sheepish look on his face as the door banged for a second that night.

How can he moan another girls name whilst he’s balls deep inside of her? I mean thinking back you may have heard him say your name but that was just because you were in a freaked out flow state, right?… right?

And that’s why at 3.09am you had come to the solid conclusion that you hated Geto Suguru. He was obnoxious, used your stuff AND had the cheek to mock you for what’s in your room but most importantly he fucked a girl and said your name whilst he came. Not only did he hurt this poor girl but he left you even more confused. Where do you even go from here? Did he know you heard the whole thing? Even if he did what does this change? Your hot roommate maybe does want to pipe you? This should be a good thing but for some reason you know it’s going to be more complicated than that...

part 2

a/n *:･ﾟ✧♡ :: credits to @/cafekitsune for the dividers! part 2 shld be done by the 10th (no promises 😭) but i lowk do want to drag it out to a three parter.

likes and reblogs make me squirt!

[moonwoodhollow]

The Crimson Mare & Boulangerie Colmar - a cc lot by moonwoodhollow

It's finally time for another lot! I feel like I've been teasing this one for far too long, but it's here now and that's all that matters!

The Crimson Mare & Boulangerie Colmar is a bar and boulangerie/café that works gameplay-wise as both a bar and a café and is best placed in Britechester. I've wanted a really nice pub feeling for The Crimson Mare and I hope I succeeded in making it ~classy~, yet also cool enough for university students to visit and have a drink with friends. Boulangerie Colmar is partially inspired by some boulangeries I've visited over the years in France and Southern Germany, it has a lot of charm and is the perfect place to meet for a coffee date or with friends to study gossip.

This is also A BIG THANK YOU to all you lovely people on simblr for being the reason I had the best 1st simblr anniversary ❤️

More screenshots, info + download link under the cut!

So what do you get?

The Crimson Mare is a 20x20 lot best placed in Britechester on the Pepper's Pub lot. The building is mostly furnished, meaning only the ground and 1st floors are fully furnished, while the others are empty. It's also been playtested.

The left/corner building is The Crimson Mare - a long-established pub loved by students of Britechester University and residents of the town alike and the building on the right is the Boulangerie Colmar, a café in which your sims feel as if they're in a cute street café in France.

If you want you could add a flat above the café for a sim who'd have it as their own business, or maybe just for storytelling purposes! (just an idea btw)

Uses items from the following packs: Cottage Living, Snowy Escape, Discover University, Get Famous, Seasons, Cats and Dogs, City Living, Get Together, Get to Work, Werewolves, Realm of Magic, Strangerville, Djungle Adventure, Vampires, Dine Out, Home Chef Hustle, Laundry Day, Kids Room, Romantic Garden, Cozy Bistro, Book Nook, Blooming Rooms & Courtyard Oasis

Download: Google Drive (400 MB) | Also up on the gallery: aeromantica (but you’ll need the cc files from the Drive folder!)

Is the CC included? Most is! There’s an Excel file with all CC that you’ll need to download manually, but it’s not many files. Deco Sims are NOT included.

Also a BIG THANK YOU to all the CC-creators, without their creations, I wouldn’t have been able to build this!

@bramblefinch, @syboubou, @surely-sims, @softpine, @softerhaze

@madameriasims4, @lumenniveus, @ccbybudgie, @awingedllama, @myshunosun and many more!!

-> Info: I’ve included a few merged files, BUT! I’ve prepared a little note, about which ones are hard requirements, so it’s up to you whether you’ll include them.

TOU: Please don’t claim as your own or put behind paywalls etc. If you find any issues (wrong/missing files, etc.) please let me know + tag me if you’ll use the building, I’d love to see it in your games.

If you like what I do and want to show your appreciation, I have a ko-fi!

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

The Dark Lord (Part 2)

Summary: The reader's been tasked with devising a way of getting Sam out from under the grasp of Demon King Crowley by The Dark Lord. But Dean isn't exactly what the world thinks he is and his hiring of the reader might not be so simple...

Part 1

Pairing: Dark Lord!Dean x employee!reader

Word Count: 4,200ish

Warnings: language, curses

A/N: Welcome back to this one! There's so much going on in this part that will fill in some gaps. I'm keeping this a two parter mini-series for now but maybe someday there could be more. Please enjoy!

_______

Dean POV

“Why hello, Lord Winchester,” said Donna with a bow and shit eating grinning. I narrowed my eyes as she shut the door to my office. “However may I serve you today oh fearsome one?”

“Fuck off,” I said with a smile, flipping her the bird. She still wore a giddy smile, sliding into the chair opposite my desk. “I believe it was security that came up with the Protocol for when we have a new employee, hm?”

“If I have to call you Lord one more time, I’m jumping off the terrace,” she said, crossing her legs and pulling her laptop from her bag. “Besides, that protocol isn’t a hard and fast rule. She’s not a spy.”

“She could be.” Donna rolled her eyes, clacking away at the keys. “She was stealing from me so she’s not so innocent.”

She scoffed. “She stole some fucking asthma medication for her kid brother cause she got canned from her old job so she lost her health insurance, all because she wouldn’t sleep with her scumbag ex-boss. Yeah. She’s a real hard ass.”

“Did you do what I asked?” I tilted my head, Donna sighing. “I’m not going to kill him. Just ruin his life.”

“An anonymous tip will go out to authorities next week,” she said. “Wasn’t exactly hard to find the tax fraud and payoffs.”

“As I expected. So, how’s she doing?” Donna shrugged, typing again. “Come on. She barely talks to me.”

“Yeah, cause you scared the shit out of her. She’s freaking out trying to come up with a plan to get into Crowley’s place.” I breathed deeply. “Isn’t she moving in today? Why don’t you go drop the charade and help her.”

I pursed my lips, eyes darting to the window. “She only got caught at the warehouse because one of the guards twisted his ankle in the parking lot and she went to help him. We wouldn’t have seen her at all which means that girl is hiding something.”

“Magic,” said Donna. I hummed, a bird flapping by. “There isn’t any in her bloodline from what we saw.”

“Do you remember why everyone calls me the Dark Lord?” I asked. Donna’s lips parted, her gaze averting. “There’s ways of having magic without being born with it and we both know it.”

“Can…can you do what she did? Sneak in and out of places without being seen?” I shook my head, Donna closing her computer, narrowing her eyes. “Oh, Dean.”

I turned my attention back to her, Donna frowning. “What?”

“You want her to sneak in and get Sam, don’t you? You’re going to risk some poor woman that worked in accounts payable her whole life just so-” I held up a hand, Donna still pouting.

“I want her to teach me how to do that. However she got in, I need to understand it and once I do, I alone will get Sam back.”

“How do you know you can do what she did?” Donna asked. I frowned, standing up. “Dean.”

“I just do, okay? I need to go. Can you handle the latest shipments?” She nodded, her eyes far too concerned. I tried to smile but it came out flat. “Just…trust that I know what I’m doing?”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” she said. 

I gave her a curt nod before I was gone, swallowing thickly as I walked the halls towards the far end of the grounds where personal quarters were.

Nothing stupid. Right.

Y/N POV

“Careful!” you said as Kyle rushed around your new townhouse that afternoon. It was modern, yet cozy, warm and inviting. It was by far the nicest place either of you had ever lived. Coming fully furnished didn’t hurt either.

A knock at the door made you jump, Kyle rushing past you to open it. “Kyle-”

He ripped it open, Dean standing there dressed in a red flannel and dark wash jeans. 

“Hello, I’m Dean,” he said, Kyle holding out a hand.

“Kyle Y/L/N,” he said back, Dean smiling as he shook it, his gaze oh so briefly finding yours in the background and god, your heart leapt at the sight. That man was hot when he was brooding but he looked downright sinful when he was grinning ear to ear.

“Allow me to properly introduce myself then. Dean Winchester although you probably know me in town as The Dark Lord.” Kyle dropped it immediately, Dean clasping his hands behind his back. “Really? Do I seem that scary?”

“Y/N says not to talk to strangers.” 

And he proceeded to shut the door in Dean’s face.

 “Kyle! That’s my boss!” You rushed over and ripped the door open, Dean chuckling when you did so. “I am so sorry.”

“It’s alright,” said Dean, Kyle tucked away behind your back now. He peered around you, giving Kyle a small wave. “That is good advice your sister gave you about strangers. You know, I wish I had a big sister when I was growing up. My life would have turned out very differently if I had someone watching my back.”

“Don’t you like being The Dark Lord?” he asked, coming around your side. You nodded and let Dean inside. He took a few steps before squatting down, letting Kyle tower over him. Dean tilted his head, looking boyish for a moment.

“Not really,” said Dean, Kyle’s eyes going wide. You kept your face expressionless but were surprised by that admission. “Outside this place, people think I’m the bad guy. I’m sure you’ve heard all the stories about how I’m a monster in a skull mask and cloak, running around killing anything that moves.”

Kyle nodded, Dean resting his elbows against his knees, sinking back into his heels.

“I used to live in town with my parents and brother. We were normal. We didn’t even have any magic in our family. When I was four though, a bad man came to my house.” Dean’s gaze fell down to the hardwoods, his jaw twitching. “He hurt my mom and tried to hurt my brother who was only a baby. It was King Crowley.”

“What happened?” he asked. Dean looked up at you though, your eyes following the thin trail of black that rose up from between his shoulder blades, curling all around the room, your eyes darting after it. Kyle looked at you strangely. “What are you looking at?”

“You don’t see…” Dean rose to his feet, the black trail curling all around your body, swirling and pulling away, stopping with a pointed look at your chest. “What are you doing?”

“King Crowley turns out was there looking for me. He knew of a curse, a powerful one. He placed it on myself and intended to place it in my brother. But my dad stopped him before he could touch Sam. Then, well then we left town.”

The smoky mist curled around Kyle, ruffling his hair without him noticing. 

“See Kyle, this curse? It only works if put on soulmates. Sam is one of mine but people have lots of soulmates. So Crowley cursed another one of mine eventually and that day, I got my powers. Incredible power, power that when working with my soulmate would be unstoppable. King Crowley isn’t happy though. I was too strong when he tried to capture me, control me. So he went after my brother to try and place the curse on him too to control us. To have power.”

Dean’s trail moved from Kyle to tuck under your chin, yours lifting on instinct. His eyes followed the movement, lip quirking.

“I never wanted to be scary but it’s the only thing that keeps Crowley from coming here and trying to hurt the people I care about again. Reputation is powerful,” said Dean, clasping Kyle on the shoulder. “There’s a few kids playing a game of soccer down past the housing quarters on the greens. Maybe you want to go check it out while I help your sister finish unpacking?”

Kyle looked at you, optimism in his eyes. 

“Alright,” you said, grabbing your phone off the front table and handing it to him. “I want you home by six at the latest, understand? And no leaving the grounds. And Kyle?”

“What?” he groaned, already rushing to put on his sneakers. 

“Have fun,” you said, Kyle scooting outside not five seconds later. Dean watched him take off, humming before he stepped back inside the townhouse.

“Cute kid,” said Dean, his smoke trail spinning all around you. “Reminds me of Sam.”

“What the hell is that?” you said, nodding to where the trail stopped, pointing at you. Dean shrugged. “Is that because I’m magic?”

“You’re not magic, Y/N. I just told you. Crowley put a curse on me.” 

“You said that already.” Dean’s black misty trail pushed forward, pressing forward, stopping at your chest. You stared down, breath hitching. “What are you doing?”

“You don’t use your powers often. You’d be more in tune with sensing others if you did,” he said, gently resting the tip against your skin. You glanced up, Dean cocking his head. “Do you remember the part where I said he cursed another, Y/N? A soulmate of mine. It’s not hard for a man dealing with demon magic like him to find out those sorts of things. So. If you don’t have magic in your blood yet you have powers…powers that allow you to see my also non-magical powers…that makes us…”

You blinked, holding up your hands. “Wait. No. No there’s not way you and me are…”

“So you didn’t eye fuck me the first time we met?” Your cheeks flushed, eyes darting away. “Y/N. Come on. Let’s stop pretending and be realistic.”

Your eyebrows shot up. “What exactly does that mean?” 

Dean ran a hand through his hair, letting his hand drop slowly. “It means…it means teach me how you broke into my warehouse so I can get Sam back. After that…we’ll figure that out if Crowley doesn’t catch me.”

You took a few steps away, putting your back to him. 

“Why does Crowley want our power? He’s never come near me. Something doesn’t add up.” There was a presence behind you, causing you to turn and face Dean who had come closer. “Unless he found out after the fact our powers aren’t that same and decided he only needs yours.”

Dean held up a finger pointing it in your face. “You…have good points. He really never came after you ever?”

“Not that I know of.” You hesitated, Dean tilting his head. “Your powers…what do they do?”

Dean took his turn to move away now, slipping past you into your kitchen. He splayed his palms on your kitchen island, shoulders sagging.

“Think of them as…being like the offense on a sports team. They can attack, control, move things.”

“I can’t do that,” you said quietly. You went to the kitchen sink, turning the water to hot, too hot. Meanwhile, Dean eyed you, steam billowing against the cold metal basin. “Just…watch.”

After a beat, you placed your hand under the water, Dean rushing around the island. You held up a hand, his gaze drifting down to where the water rippled over your skin. “It doesn’t hurt me, Dean. Your powers are like offsene? Well, mine are defense I’m pretty sure. It’s like I get a bubble around me.”

Dean reached around you, turning off the water before handing you a hand towel from the counter. He tilted his head, biting his bottom lip.

“You don’t think you can show me how you do that?” he asked. You sighed. He took the towel back when you finished wiping your hand off, one of his black smoky tendrils wrapping around it, holding it up. “Maybe you can try one of my powers first. Can you take the towel?”

With a frown, you concentrated on trying to pluck it away from him but all you managed was to make the bubble around your hand larger, wrapping it around the two of you. Dean looked up and over his shoulder, pouting when he glanced at the misty dome encompassing you.

“You may have a point about us having different powers,” said Dean, touching a finger to the barrier. “Why would Crowley take Sam then?”

“Same reason as always. To get to you. If he kept Sam, he could make you use your powers for whatever he wants. Mine aren’t all that useful to a guy like that. It’s probably why he’s never bothered me.”

“Why curse you then?” he asked. You shrugged, pulling the bubble away and swallowing.

“Maybe the powers don’t work unless both people are cursed? But I guess that doesn’t make sense. I’m younger than you quite a bit,” you said. He scoffed.

“Quite a bit? I’m barely forty, little shit,” he said, breathing deeply. “...Although I don’t remember doing anything with my powers until I was older. Maybe eight, seven?”

“So you couldn’t actually do anything until I was cursed as a baby too.” You leaned back against the counter, Dean settling back against the island with crossed arms. “I’m sorry, Dean. I don’t think I can teach you how to do what I do. I don’t even think about it. It just happens.”

“I understand that feeling,” he said, closing his eyes. “I’ll figure out another way to get Sammy out.” 

“Setting aside the fact we are…soulmates for now,” you said slowly, Dean cautiously meeting your gaze, “I don’t think this plan stops at getting Sam back. Crowley will just come after him again.”

“You sound like you have an idea.” You pressed your lips into a thin line. “Let’s hear it. I hired you to brainstorm this stuff so I’ll take anything at this point.”

“Well, I think we need to figure out what Crowley wants. He’s all powerful so why does he need your power specifically? Crowly rules The Dark Lands. He’s eons old and doesn’t bother humans. So what on earth could he need you for and why now? He had plenty of opportunities to grab Sam over the years. He must be on some kind of deadline. What’s that tell us?” Dean straightened, eyes wide.

“Holy shit. I can’t believe I’ve never thought of that,” he said, reaching out and cupping your cheeks in his hands, planting a fast kiss on your lips. You barely felt it before he pulled back, licking his lips. “You’re a genius, little thief.”

“Uh, thank you?” He started to jog away for the front door, your throat clearing. “We’re not going to talk about the whole kissing thing just then?”

He froze, spinning around with a smile. “Couldn’t help myself. I uh, I know what Crowley wants I’m pretty sure. I’ll stop over tonight.”

“Dean-” But he was already out the door, jogging towards the main building. “Be careful, ya big idiot.”

Two AM

You jumped awake from your chair on the porch when you heard a car door shut. Dean’s muscle car was in front of the townhouse, his long legs carrying him up the front steps into the light. His eyes were dark, tired, but you saw no injuries on him.

“You worried about me or something?” he teased, sitting down slowly in the seat next to you. A long breath left his lips, his eyes closing. “You back to being terrified of me? Or is it just the nerves of being next to your soulmate?”

“I don’t like cocky guys,” you huffed, Dean chuckling, peeling his eyes open to smirk at you. “I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do.” He tilted his head. “It’s flattering really. You’re fated to be with The Dark Lord. You like a bad boy, don’t you.”

“You’re insufferable,” you said. You got up, taking the blanket wrapped around your shoulders with you. “Did you come here to flirt or what?”

“Always so serious,” he said, looking you up and down. “You have anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“Don’t you have your own home?” He hummed. “Why are you here?”

He stood, cupping the back of your neck, pulling you into a deep kiss. You rose up on your tiptoes, black smoke curling around your body and holding you in a tight embrace. God he was so…gentle? His large hands were holding you, grasping, tugging, yet his lips were slow, soft, teasingly playful.

He grinned when you broke off, nose touching as your hot breath mixed together. “I recall you wanting to revisit that kiss, hm?”

“How do you know we’re romantic soulmates, hm?” you said, Dean chuckling. “God, you’re annoying. I liked you better when I thought you were scary.”

“Oh, I’m terrifying, sweetheart. Just not to the people on my side. Especially not the woman that thinks I’m hot. Or would you like me to show you the security tape from when they brought you in and you couldn’t keep your eyes off me?”

“I was afraid for my life,” you deadpanned. Dean shrugged. “I was!”

“Yet here you are, kissing me twice in one day.” 

“You kissed me-” He pressed a finger to your lips, shushing you.

“Details, sweetheart. Now, I really am starving and I would love to answer all of your questions but I don’t want to disturb Kyle. We can chat in the morning.” He pecked a kiss to your temple before striding off back towards his car.

“What? Why’d you come here then?” He spun around, a tinge of pink on his upper cheeks.

“I realize I left…abruptly. I didn’t want you to worry. I could say it’s because you’re head over heels for me because of the soulmate thing but really, you’re just kind. Kind people tend to worry about other people, even when they don’t quite deserve it yet.”

You crossed your arms, glancing down at your slippers. “Why do you pretend to be this scary bad guy when you’re clearly not him?”

“Because I can do a lot more good behind a mask. Good guy Dean wouldn’t have the connections I do to let me know your former boss wasn’t paying his taxes and has a history of sexual harassment. Good guy Dean certainly wouldn’t know how to get proof of that and how to relay it to authorities.” Your head snapped up, Dean pursing his lips. “You never thought it was curious why police never went after The Dark Lord with all his evil crimes?”

“Your whole thing is…a facade?” He shrugged. “So you don’t torture and kill people who wrong you?”

“I never said that. Stories get embellished is all.” You bit the inside of your cheek, Dean taking a step back. “I’ll see you in the-”

“Kyle’s not home. He made a few friends today. He’s at a sleepover.” Dean took a step forward, looking you up and down. “If you want to...talk now. Only talk.”

“Only talk. I’m good with that.” 

You were hot when you stirred the next morning. Your pillow felt hard as your eyes fluttered open to find a very bare chested Dean under your head. 

“Well good morning,” he whispered, kissing your temple. You narrowed your eyes, Dean breaking out into a laugh. “And they call me the scary one. They ought to see you first thing. Look ready to stab some eyes out.”

“Why are you in my bed shirtless? I do not hookup,” you growled. He shushed you, his large arm curling around your back. 

“Because you invited me to stay? I got ketchup on my shirt after our snack so it’s in the wash…you only have a two bedroom and we had a few beers…so you told me we could share…do you really not remember this?” Okay, maybe once your sleep deprived brain had a moment to think, you did recall inviting him into your bed, even if that had been a somewhat drunken ask. “You good?”

“Yeah,” you said, laying back in bed, closing your eyes. “Just thought for a second we…”

“No. We didn’t do anything. But maybe I can cook you dinner sometime.” 

“Maybe,” you said, Dean shifting in bed, feeling his chin rest on your shoulder. “You’re like a puppy aren’t you? Now that I let you in the house you think you can stay.”

“I let you in my house first,” he said, nuzzling his cheek against your arm. “Sam would like to meet you if that’s cool, say thanks in person. He should be up for visitors later.”

“I’ll make sure to stop by. I’m glad he’s safe again.” Dean let out a heavy breath. “You were fuzzy on the details. What exactly did you give to Crowley to get Sam back?”

“It’s funny how much you can get done when you just talk to each other,” said Dean, letting him use your arm as a pillow, your fingers toying with his strands. “It’s well known Crowley’s queen was imprisoned eons ago. Well, turns out the wizard who did it died about fifty years ago after some freak accident.”

“So his magic would start to fade.”

“Exactly. Which meant the queen would die when it did fade on the spell he cast without some intervention. The wizard cursed it so only a soulmate with the curse could open the box. Crowley was running out of time and grabbed Sam as a last resort so to speak. He’s not my favorite person in the world but we came to an agreement to put all this behind us.”

“Sam for the queen,” you said.

“And Crowley sticks to the Darks Lands for the next thousand years. Figured that should keep things quiet for awhile.” You turned your head, Dean looking up through his lashes. “I never would have thought to just talk to the guy without you.”

“Nobody’s perfect.” You reached your free hand around to rest on his bicep. “You’re offense, I’m defense, remember?”

“You know, I don’t actually know if we’re romantic soulmates. Crowley wouldn’t spill on that. We might just be meant to be best friends.” You raised your eyebrows, offering a sleepy smile. “Hey, you asked earlier. I just don’t know if-”

You pressed a finger to his lips, Dean’s eyes darkening. “Why don’t we start with you making me dinner tonight and we’ll go from there?”

“What about Kyle?” he asked.

“While your concern for my little brother is extremely appealing, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t mind a night at one of his new friends again. Anymore excuses?” Dean pursed his lips, thinking hard. 

“You don’t feel obligated to do this because I’m your boss, right?” You rolled your eyes, Dean batting your hand away to roll on top of you. “Had to check. So. Dinner at seven?”

“Sounds great,” you said, staring up at him, Dean licking his lips. “Better run along, Mr. Dark Lord. Lots of terrorizing on the agenda for today I’m sure.”

“Between the torture and the maiming I mean I’m packed solid,” he teased, bending down, brushing his lips over yours. “Come by the mess hall at noon with Kyle. We have family lunch there on the weekends.”

“Sure thing Mr. Fluffy Lord.” Dean pecked a hard kiss to your lips, pointing a finger at you when he pulled back. “You’re so soft and you know it.”

“Yeah, yeah. Keep it up, little thief.”

“One time!” you said, Dean smirking, your eyes widening. “How…how’d you know it was more than once?”

“My stock’s been short for the past year. No harm, no foul. Oh,” he said, climbing out of bed, ruffling his hair. “Remind me to talk to Michael about Kyle. He’s been researching it for the past few months and might have a magical fix for his asthma.”

“Months? But you didn’t know-”

“I knew someone was stealing the medicine and while we can’t cure everything, between magic and science, I figured he could solve it and we could put it out there.” You smirked, Dean pointing a finger again. “Do not call me Fluffy Lord.”

“Yes. You’re truly so evil.” 

“Damn right I am,” said Dean. “I got a skull mask and cloak even. Evil incarnate over here.”

“Whatever you say, Fluffy Lord.” You propped yourself up on your elbow, Dean narrowing his eyes playfully. “I hope you enjoyed this because you’re not getting back in my bed until you’ve earned it.”

“Already dreaming about the next time we share a bed, are we?” he teased. You flipped him off, pointing at the door. “Alright. I better get out of here before we have to explain this situation to a twelve year old.”

“Yes, please,” you said, Dean bending down, cupping your chin in his hand. Your heart caught in your throat, Dean smiling softly. 

“Thank you for giving me back Sam, beautiful.” He pressed a linger kiss against you, lifting his head and kissing your forehead. “I’ll see you soon, little thief.”

“Yes you will, Dark Lord.”

_____________

[aneurinallday]

Green Eyes

Chapter 5: Sugar

When the knock on the door came, Alec took only a moment to answer - he’d been waiting for Thomas’s arrival. He opened the door a crack to peer cautiously out, then smiled and opened it fully.

“Mister Shelby,” he said, “I wasn’t sure if you’d actually come. You look nice.”

Thomas snorted - he looked the same as he always did.

Alec backed away from the door, making way for him to step through. Wearing a plain set of under-clothes, mended socks, and a weary expression, he was a far cry from the giggling, dolled-up beauty Thomas remembered him as. Somehow, he looked more exposed and vulnerable than he had while naked at the Arcadia.

But he was still beautiful.

Thomas Shelby entered the flat - a single room, sparsely furnished. A narrow bed with an iron frame was pushed against the wall, with a small rug at its foot, and beside it was an old metal tub for bathing in. There was damp mould creeping across the ceiling, no wallpaper to hide the cracks in the plaster, and only a broken radiator to keep away the chill.

As the door shut behind him, Thomas glanced around. His eyes fell upon a small cot in the corner, and a baby sitting in it, staring at him with dark green eyes. For a moment, all he could do was stand there and stare back in surprise.

“...You’ve got a kid?”

“Yes, as you can see,” Alec gently teased him. He walked to the cot and lifted out the infant, rocking her in his arms. “I suppose I don’t seem like the sort?”

“Not particularly.”

“Too silly?”

“Too young.”

“There have been younger fathers. Please, sit down.”

He offered the one chair, which Thomas accepted. Thomas instinctively reached for the cigarettes in his pockets, then remembered whose company he was in and stopped.

“How old is she?” he asked.

“Six months. Would you like to hold her?”

Before Thomas could reply, Alec handed the baby over. After a split-second of silent panic, Thomas’s muscle memory kicked in. He’d done this countless times before with Charles. An unfamiliar child was no different, surely. With excessive care, he began to bounce her in his arms.

“What’s her name?”

“Clara. You know, like the actress, Clara Bow? I want her to be a film star when she grows up. She’ll be rich and famous - I know she will.”

“…Clara, eh?” Thomas looked down at the baby in his arms. She looked back at him with curiosity. Her wispy blonde hair couldn’t look any different from Alec’s, but he thought he could see some similarity in the shape of her features. “Must be hard. Just you and her.”

“It is. But I get by. I always do. I’ve spent my whole life getting by.”

“Who looked after her while you were working at the club?”

“The neighbour, sometimes. Or I would bring her with me and the girls at the club would look after her, while they weren’t busy.” From the way Alec avoided his gaze, Thomas deduced that he’d had to leave the baby alone at least once.

“Do you bring customers back here, with her around?”

Alec didn’t answer.

Tiring of being in Thomas’s arms, the infant began to fuss. He quickly returned her to her father.

“She doesn’t like my face,” Thomas remarked.

“Well, you are a terrifying sight. Don’t worry, she’ll get used to you.”

Alec returned the baby to the cot, where she lay babbling and waving her tiny fists.

“Would you like some tea? I just boiled the kettle.”

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t have any sugar.”

“That’s fine.”

Thomas watched him move about the tiny kitchen, taking two cups from an overhead cupboard. They were mismatched and chipped.

“It’s not exactly the Arcadia in here. I hope you don’t mind,” Alec said as he fetched a jar of tea bags, “I’ve been meaning to get the place fixed up, but…other things keep getting in the way. ”

“I gave you ten pounds,” said Thomas. “I thought you’d use it to make a fresh start. Didn’t you put any aside?”

“I did. But the money…it goes fast.”

“Because of the kid?”

“Yes. She grows bigger all the time and it’s hard to keep up. She’s a good girl, but sometimes she gets sick. It’s criminal how much they charge for a few drops of medicine.”

Alec poured hot water into two cups. Thomas noticed how he only used one teabag - letting it steep in one cup before transferring it to another, squeezing out what little colour and flavour was left.

“Here you go, Mister Shelby.” Alec handed the stronger cup to Thomas, keeping the weak cup for himself. He perched on the edge of the bed, wincing as he did so. Unconsciously, he put his hand to his side.

“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked.

“Nothing.”

“You’re hurt. What happened?”

“It’s nothing,” the young man repeated, “Just a client got a bit carried away, that’s all. Kicked me in the ribs.”

“Who was he?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. Tell me, who was he? What was his name?”

“I don’t know their names - I never ask them anything about themselves. In my line of work, discretion is key.”

“You must know something about the people you invite back here. Give me something. I’ll send my boys to teach him a lesson.”

“Please, don’t start any trouble,” Alec said wearily, “I’ve had plenty of clients like him. I’ll be fine. I knew he was going to hit me…I just didn’t know how badly. Besides, I told you about Mister Cobb beating me, and you didn’t send anyone after him. You let it slide because he pays you a fat cut of his profits, right? So why the sudden concern about my safety?”

Thomas was silenced.

“Anyway, let’s not argue again. You’re my guest.”

For a while, they sat in silence and sipped their tea.

“...Do you get hurt often?” Thomas asked.

Alec sighed at his persistence, but answered nonetheless.

“It depends. Sometimes they start but then stop, because they realise it’s not the same as what they fantasised. Sometimes they keep going and…and going. I’m never sure what to expect, so I just hope for the best.”

“How do you keep them in check?”

“I don’t. I need the money,” Alec said bluntly, “I get so few customers now, I can’t afford to disappoint them.”

He took another sip of his weak, watered-down tea.

“When I was at the Arcadia, Mister Cobb protected me. He would throw out any customers who went too far, and ban them from coming back.”

“So he does have scruples?”

“…Well, no. Sort of. He didn’t mind if we got hurt, but he hated when they left marks on us. He said it was property damage and it was harmful to his business. He has very high - ”

“Very high standards, I know. So I keep hearing.”

“...That’s right. Mister Cobb is very protective of his revenue.”

The silence returned. In the street outside, a glass bottle smashed and a large dog barked. Alec shifted position, and winced again as his ribs reminded him of what they’d been through.

“Mister Shelby, I’d…I’d…Please don’t take offence, but I’d like you to go now.”

“Have I upset you?”

“No, no. I’ve had a long day and I’m tired.”

“Alright.” Thomas stood. “Thanks for the tea.”

Alec looked up at him, taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected Thomas to respect his wishes with so little pressure.

“You don’t mind, do you?” he asked.

“No. Why would I?”

Belatedly, Alec put his cup aside and jumped to his feet. As if Thomas needed to be shown out of a one-room flat, he walked his guest the few feet to the door, and let him out. On the landing, Thomas turned to face him.

“Can I come and see you again?”

“As a client?”

“No. Just to check on you. You and the kid.”

“Are you sure that’s all you want?” Alec smiled awkwardly, and leaned against the door-frame. For a moment, he almost seemed like his old flirtatious self again. But his tone was self-deprecating, almost sheepish, as if he didn’t believe Thomas could possibly find him attractive in this state.

“Yes, it is,” said Thomas firmly.

“I’m free on Wednesday if you are.”

“I’ll be busy.”

“How about Thursday then?”

“Thursday it is.”

For a moment, Thomas had the odd feeling that their farewell was missing something - that he should kiss Alec goodbye or at least hug him - but the sentiment quickly passed. Thomas Shelby wasn’t a man who believed in open affection.

Before he could find words to fill the silence, Alec filled it for him.

“Are we friends again, Mister Shelby?”

“Would you like us to be?”

“Yes. I think I would.”

“Then we are.”

“I don’t know why, but that makes me happy,” Alec said, “Goodnight, Mister Shelby.”

He softly closed the door.

“Goodnight,” Thomas thought, but didn’t reply.

[sorenphelps]

Marauders x interior designs, reference boards and a long post below with explanations on the style selection and living conditions! (1.6K words)

Sirius

Interior design style: Industrial

Style rationale: cool, dark tones with a stylish mixture of rough materials: bricks, concrete, metals, and a great view. The ambiguity of the manmade hardware meeting all the natural light from the large windows; the grand spaces suitable of hosting a lot of people paired with an arrogant, unwelcoming (scary even) atmosphere. Overall powerful masculine energy with edgy, rebellious vibes. Effortlessly stylish, oozes confidence, creative and commands authority. Not everyone’s cup of tea, only a few can see the appeal and the endless possibilities of this multipurpose factory building, which is capable of way more than originally intended for.

Residence characteristics: Penthouse, 4 bedrooms, 4 other purpose rooms, 2.5 bathrooms, rooftop terrace. Renovated/repurposed old factory building in the city, with a pub/night club downstairs, and the middle part of the building leased as office area. Sirius is the only one who actually lives in the building, which he also owns. (Meaning no neighbours!) The building has a cargo lift, which Sirius uses to park his motorbike on the rooftop garage area. A separated part of the rooftop area is used by the pub/nightclub as a warehouse/storage, the other open-air part of it is used solely by Sirius, that he can access directly from his apartment too.

Remus

Interior design style: Eclectic (unintentional)

Style rationale: cramped with books and various interesting artifacts, second-hand mismatched furniture, light academia aesthetic, overall nerdy hipster energy. Warm earth tones, once vibrant but now faded colour palette. Budget and function over style attitude. Cozy and welcoming vibes (people pleaser much?). Plant enthusiasm.

Residence characteristics: tiny 1 bedroom apartment, 1 bathroom, small French balcony (used as a herb garden). Remus is on a very tight budget, when he managed to buy the flat, he only had a mattress, two makeshift bookshelves and a table with two chairs the previous tenant had left there. He saved up for years to get a nice and fully functioning modern kitchen, but other than that, the apartment is furnished with antiques he inherited from or was gifted by old relatives. He has way too many books, and he treasures everything he gets as a gift from others, however useless the item is. He is a moderately successful plant dad, because his neighbour's cat somehow always manages to destroy his little balcony garden. All but one of his neighbours are elderly citizens, who all find Remus a very polite and kind man – completely unaware that he is the one who loudly plays the guitar/cello and not the only other younger person in the building. Remus feels no obligation to dispel their misconceptions.

James

Interior design style: Eclectic (intentional)

Style rationale: Big personality, vibrant, bold colours. Proudly presents their identity and personal accomplishments. Extroverted, creative, chaotic, but fun energy. Warm and welcoming atmosphere with rustic wood elements paired with the collection of random objects. Overall very lively and artsy vibe. Can easily labelled as too much and pompous. It takes some time to see through the flashiness to discover the deep devotion to honoring (ethnic) heritage, familial ties and loved ones behind all the showcased extravaganzas.

Residence characteristics: Large family house in the suburbs, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 other purpose rooms, terrace, pool, 1 barn, 1 garage, 2 acres of land. James has never really moved out from Potter Manor, as he went to boarding school and inherited the property from his parents a little after graduation. He deeply loves his home and respects his heritage and memories a lot, but he is too much of a character to resist tailoring parts of the house and the interior to his taste. He has a collection of unconventional things (street signs, vinyls, tire rims, Liverpool sports memorabilia, cold war era propaganda posters, maps, festival tickets, foreign label beer cans, etc.), proudly presented alongside his sports trophies, medals, and musical awards. He thrives for the company of others, therefore the house could easily serve as an entertainment centre: he has the biggest of TVs, all gaming consoles, the widest variety of board games, a pool & foosball table, a pool in the garden alongside professional grill and cocktail bar equipment. He also has a fully functioning, soundproofed professional level studio in his basement with a lot of musical instruments and sound engineering & recording equipment. He has a treehouse and an old VW minivan repurposed as a summer guestroom in the garden. Sirius has his own dedicated bedroom, which is left untouched (just as the room of James’ parents).

Lily

Interior design style: Boho Chic

Style rationale: Girly, playful, kind. Plants, plants, plants everywhere, embracing the closeness to nature, fun textures, floral patterns, personally significant items. Non-conformist, free-spirited energy. Quirky, yet tasteful décor with an overall earth toned and pastel colour palette. Pretty and functional furniture, lot of pillows and soft blankets. Sweet and floral scents, calm, cultured and cozy vibes.

Residence characteristics: studio apartment in the city, 1.5 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, balcony. Lily’s flat is located in a fast-paced, busy and a little unpleasant part of the city, but it is near her workplace and has easy access to several public transport options. Her balcony is facing the inner yard of the building, which she managed to bloom up with conscious effort for years against all odds and resistance of obnoxious landlords. She is friendly towards all of her neighbours - even that weird loner guy in that dark basement apartment, who somehow always have the perfect anti-bug compounds at hand and seems to be very fond of Lily only. She has shared the flat with her sister until Petunia moved in with her fiancé, Vernon. Her bedroom was transformed into a study room. Lily has a soft spot for vintage furniture and interiors, but in certain areas she values function over style. She keeps her apartment tidy and organized. She is the most successful plant mom, who dreams about having her own garden.

Peter

Interior design style: Contemporary

Style rationale: Beige and gray color palette, designed to be average enough to appeal to the widest possible range of people. The go-to style of every home stager or AirBnB property owner. Clean, basic, convenient, a little boring even. Interior design lacks personality, the selection of the decor elements is usually driven by fitting the general aesthetic and looking luxurious and not by personal preference. Bland and plain vibes. Looks functional and comfortable and can easily hide structural or other problems with the apartment with clever selection and placement of often built-in furniture that the new owner won’t notice the issues until it’s too late.

Residence characteristics: newly built apartment, 1 bedroom with large walk-in wardrobe, 1 bathroom, dedicated underground parking space. Peter made a great deal with his apartment: he could buy the flat at the best and most early bird discount price after he was informed about the planned real estate construction project by overhearing a conversation regarding the status of obtaining the necessary building permits. He paid in advance the full amount determined in the planning phase of the project, and by the time the construction was finished, the apartment has tripled in value due to inflation rates skyrocketing. He moved into the turnkey property and hasn’t changed a thing ever since. The only pop of colour and testament of his real personality is his walk-in wardrobe and collection of quirky ties.

Snape

Interior design style: (Dark) Minimalist, partly gothic

Style rationale: dark, organized, focused. Basic shapes and textures, simple materials, little to no decoration to ensure lack of stimulation and distractions. Less is more attitude. Can be frustrating to others, but held in high regards by likeminded people. Monochrome, desaturated, mostly black colour palette. Unpleasant, unsettling, overwhelming, bleak, well-structured and functional.  Unparalleled practicality. A vibrant colour or boho item would look very out of place, and would eventually lose its brightness and liveliness because the minimalist environment will slowly oppress it with its own defining features. Unwelcoming, not interested in others (and a little depressing) vibe.

Residence characteristics: small 1 bedroom basement apartment, 1 bathroom, exclusive access to cellar area of the building. Snape is overly organized, values function over design. He finds the brutal simplicity of his interior soothing and calming, and prefers practicality over flashiness. He is comfortable in his gloomy flat, which is tailored to his needs only. No guests are expected ever. He utilizes the full cellar area of the building for his own purposes, (probably) rent free. No one knows exactly what he does there, but as he has a repelling enough aura around him, they rather don't bother him. He hates all his neighbours with burning passion, except that nice redhaired girl adamantly trying to make a pretty indoor garden in the building's yard. The only actual colour and decoration in his apartment is a peace lily in a bright green pot, that was gifted to him by Lily. He secretly likes the magnitude of gothic buildings and started to admire their aesthetic value as he spends a large amount of time in a gothic environment (dark academia vibes!) for his day job.

Regulus

Interior design style: Art Deco

Style rationale: expensive, luxurious, fancy. A more modern and trendier take on the traditional, 18th- and 19th-century European interior design style of Grimmauld Place.

Residence characteristics: large apartment in The City, 2 bedrooms, 4 other purpose rooms, 3 bathrooms, balcony. Regulus got the flat as a graduation present from his parents, neither the location or the interior design was his choice, but was happy to move there (the assumptions regarding his style preferences were spot on). However, he spends more time at his family home than his own, as he likes the company of their family's butler, Kreatcher too much.

Some links: more thoughts about Sirius and Remus' interior preference; lineart and coloured art of Sirius in his flat.

Bonus: basic floorplan of Sirius' flat I made in Paint. It's probably not scaled right, and I'm not sure if it's plausible in an architectural point of view, but I imagine it to be something like this:

If any of you is an actual architect or is more skilled in 3D rendition, I'd be forever grateful if you could pick up my design!😘

[jessicaloons]

Chapter 26:

I swear I don’t love the drama, it loves me…

Masterlist - Previous - Next

"This is so exciting!" I exclaimed and unlocked the door "Ready?"

"Ready when you are." Charles smiled at me and I took a deep breath "Are you nervous?" he chuckled a little.

"I mean… it was all so fast. One day I signed the contract, Rita took care of the payment. The next day we did all the measurements, ordered furniture and painted the walls. I packed last week all my belongings in boxes and yeah now they’re here and I will see my fully renovated and furnished flat for the first time ever…" I said it all so fast that Charles laughed.

"It always baffles me how fast you can talk, cara mia. But come on! It will be amazing! Open up!" he squeezed my hand and I nodded, pushing the door open.

We walked inside. I mustered everything. The colours on the walls. The furniture. After we went into every single room, we came back to the living room and Charles looked at me.

"What’s the verdict?" he asked and I sat down on the sofa, it was just as comfy as I imagined it to be.

"What do you think?" I patted the space next to me and he sat down.

"Honestly? Can you do my flat next? This is amazing! It’s so you! The colours, the furniture, it all looks super cozy but modern and clean… you did an amazing job, cara mia!" he leaned over, kissing my cheek.

"So you like it?"

"100%! But it’s important what you think! It’s your home from now on!"

"I love it. Everything is exactly how I pictured it in my mind." I couldn’t stop smiling. It was perfect and it was all mine "I can’t believe it. I have my own flat. In Monaco. And it looks amazing!"

"Yes, you have your first flat in Monaco and it looks perfect. It looks like you." he pulled me to his side and kissed my cheek "Let’s unpack your stuff." he got up and pulled me with him "I follow your lead!"

After little over an hour I opened up the last of the boxes, getting out a pile of work out clothes, stowing it away in one of the drawers.

"I really thought it would take us longer…" Charles folded the empty box together.

"I mean. It was only my clothes and my personal stuff, books, games and so on. I didn’t have more. Our mums bought all the kitchen stuff, or better they told me what I needed, I showed them some examples of what I liked and they took care of it." I shrugged my shoulders.

"That’s how they did it for me as well." Charles chuckled "You have a lot of space left in your closet. And even more empty drawers. We should take a big shopping trip to fill them up."

"Or…" I turned around, looking at him "… you could bring some of your clothes over… so you always have something here… in case of an emergency."

"That sounds actually like a good idea… I mean emergencies happen all the time, right?" he put his hands on my waist, pulling me closer "We still should go shopping. You deserve it." he kissed me softly.

"Hmm, you know I’m more of an online shopping person…" I whispered against his lips and he smiled.

"But online shopping doesn’t give me the opportunity to see you trying on new stuff and then happily hand over my credit card and say we take everything." he chuckled.

"Bold of you to assume that I let you pay."

"I want to spoil my girlfriend every once in a while." Charles nipped at my bottom lip and I gasped. His hands began roaming my body, pushing up my sweater "I want to spoil my girlfriend now…" he kissed me, with such urgency, my back colliding with the wall behind me "How about we inaugurate your flat… starting with a nice shower…" he then started peppering tiny kisses along my jaw, down my throat "…have a little stop-over in your bed…" he sucked on my collarbone "…and then maybe we figure out some more…" the doorbell rang, loud banging on the door and he groaned loudly "What now?"

"Fuck! Our mums!" I hastily looked into the mirror, pulling my sweater back in place, smoothing my hair down. I left to open the door.

"Awesome…" I could hear Charles mumble underneath his breath as he followed me.

"Lizzie! First qualifying done in Singapore, how do you like it so far?" Will Buxton wiped his sweaty forehead and I chuckled.

"Hot. Humid. Exhausting? No, honestly, I really like the track, but yeah, it’s really hot, I never had so many ice baths on a race weekend, but pretty cool still. It was a tough quali, but I think a P7 and P9 was all we could do and now I’m excited for the race tomorrow."

"The last weeks were a real whirlwind for you! You moved to Monaco, filming for your documentary began, care to share a little about it?"

"Yeah, it’s been busy weeks, that’s for sure. The moving went smoothly, I already feel so at home in my place. I really love it. Then of course the whole Netflix thing is just… it’s still so mind blowing that they are really interested in my life. We did some shoots of my work out routine, talked about my recovery after my accident. They’re here this weekend as well."

"Will we see now two Netflix crews at every race? Or is it the same one?"

"No, it’s actually a second crew, but a smaller one. Who’s solely focused on me, which is weird because I will still be filmed by the OG crew. My crew won’t be at every race tho. They will be in Mexico and Brazil, that’s it for this season."

"We are all really excited for what’s to come! Good luck tomorrow!"

"Thanks Will!"

The race was exhausting. Long. Hot. But I could make up two positions and crossed the line in P6, but due to a penalty I finished in P5. Not too bad for racing the first time around here.

"How do you feel?" Charles handed me a bottle of water and I looked up.

"Good?" I answered slowly and he looked around.

"It’s the beginning of the month…" he whispered and I smiled a little.

"I’m okay. A slight icky feeling here and there. One or two tiny cramps, but overall not like the last time… or I hope so? Did I turn into a monster again?"

"No, you didn’t." he chuckled "You were a little grumpy, but that could also be because of the heat."

"Yeah, that was really a lot… and then after a freaking exhausting race, when I wanted nothing more but a good, full fat ice cream someone brought me vanilla…" I winked at him and he pinched my side.

"What’s wrong with vanilla? It’s universal! It’s perfect to everything!" Charles asked dramatically.

"It’s boring. Bring me coconut, strawberry, mango, lemon, pistachio! Keep your bland vanilla to yourself!"

"Maybe you are a little monster again." he sighed and I slapped his arm "Just kidding… I’m just glad that it’s better this time. Seriously."

"Yeah, I guess my body adjusted to the new pills, maybe next time I’m completely fine again." I smiled and Charles put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him, kissing my head.

A comfortable silence fell over us as the jet brought us closer and closer to our destination. I was more than happy that Charles went with my team instead of his. I didn’t want him to fly alone, not when Japan was our next race.

As soon as we arrived in our hotel, Charles plugged my phone in, that had died on the way from the airport and looked at me.

"Seb tried to call you several times. He also texted you." he said.

"Huh? Seb?" I walked over and grabbed my phone.

"Did something happen?" Charles asked and I read the texts.

"Umm- no, nothing. He just wanted to check in on us. We hadn’t had the chance to talk in Singapore." I said and he nodded, rummaging through his suitcase.

"Andrea wants to go for a run, wanna join?"

"I’m a little tired. I’m going to lay down for a bit, before JK will torture me later on." I kissed his cheek and sat down on the sofa.

"Alright. If you need anything, just call me." he changed into shorts and a hoodie and put his running shoes on "Do you want to go out tonight for dinner, or order room service?"

"Umm…" I shrugged my shoulders.

"We decide spontaneously. See you later, cara mia." he kissed my head and left.

As soon as the door was closed I took my phone out and called Seb.

"Hey Lizzie, how are you?"

"I’m good, thanks. How are you?"

"Oh, you know me. All good." he chuckled a little.

"Yeah, as good as it could be coming out of the heat into the rain."

"That was a drastic change, not gonna lie. The reason why I wanted to talk to you is that I spoke with the FIA and Liberty Media in Singapore about your request. They officially lift the ban, on probation. Starting this weekend." he explained and my heart was racing.

"Okay. That’s good news! Thank you Seb, really!"

"It’s okay, kiddo. But Lizzie, if he crosses the line just slightly he will be out. Forever. There won’t be any complaint needed. The FIA and LM will state it exactly like this. It won’t fall back onto you." for him it would.

"Alright. Thank you! I knew I could count on you!"

"Always, kiddo. And now I gotta go, Britta looks like I forgot something and you know her." he laughed.

"Don’t let her wait then, say hi from me! I see you on Thursday!"

"Take care!" he hung up and I took a deep breath.

Was it over now? He got what he wanted. He could come back. I sent him a DM. The ban is lifted, on probation. Starting from this weekend. Only a moment later he answered and I swallowed hard. See you on Thursday.

To say I was a nervous wreck, would be an understatement. Charles was getting worried, I could tell by the way he looked at me, but I always waved his concerns off. When I saw that I was at the press conference together with Charles, Max, Seb and Lewis my heart sank in my stomach. Press conference meant he would be there. According to Seb he had gotten a mail, that stated if he crossed the line ever again, he would be banned for life. But I had a bad feeling. As soon as Tom Clarkson opened up the floor for questions and I made eye contact with Diaz, I knew he would find a way around the set conditions. I didn’t listen to any of the questions, just as Charles patted my arm a little I looked up.

"Sorry? Can you- umm can you repeat the question, I was a little out of it." I apologised, not even knowing who I should look at. Charles was watching me, knowing that something was off. I had to calm down and focus. Don’t be suspicious.

"Sure. You tested here in F2 for Ferrari and Sauber in the past, now it’s your first race in Suzuka. Knowing that we might have a race in the rain and the Audi seemed to struggle a little under these conditions, what do you think is possible for you this weekend?" a woman in the front row asked.

"First off, I’m really excited about racing here. It’s an amazing track. Tricky but fun. As for the struggles with the car, I wouldn’t say it’s the rain, that created the problems, it was rather me who struggled a little, as Valtteri was doing just fine. But I worked on my issues and I think we have good chances for double points this weekend."

"Mike Gellner, Danskesport. Lizzie, we all know of course about your Netflix deal, which sparked a lot of uproar, people saying that a rookie who didn’t achieve anything shouldn’t be given a platform like that. Drivers like Max, Lewis, Seb or Fernando would be more deserving. What do you say about that?"

"It wasn’t my idea. Netflix approached me, asking if I would like to do it. I saw it as an opportunity to promote girls in motorsports. That’s it. Max, Lewis, Seb or Fernando sure as hell would deserve their own spin-off each, but that’s not my decision to make. Whoever has a problem, talk to Netflix."

"Alright, another question? Yes." Clarkson nodded at him and I immediately tensed up.

"Salva Diaz, ESPN Spain, Question for Lizzie." my heart almost jumped out of my chest, when I looked at him, sinister smile on his lips.

In the corner of my eye I could clearly see how Charles next to me clenched his jaw, shoulders tense, he knew who Diaz was. He stared at him with cold eyes, hands clenched into fists. I felt a pressure on my chest, breathing constricted, I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. My ears began to ring as I watched how Diaz opened his mouth and asked his question, my mind didn’t even register the words he was saying. No matter how hard I tried to calm myself down, to listen to him, not show him, anyone in here, that I had a full on panic attack, it was to no avail. And then it happened all too fast. My brain couldn’t even fully process it. I blinked once, twice and then I saw Max holding back a furious Charles. Salva Diaz with a bloody nose and lip on the floor. Empty chairs scattered around him on the floor. Charles voice making it through the brain fog.

"Let go of me, Max!" he was fighting with everything he had and a seemingly struggling Max tried to reason with him.

"He’s not worth it, okay? Think of your goddamn hands. You can’t risk an injury. Calm down man!"

"I don’t care." Charles almost made it out of Max’ hold as two security guards stormed in. One helping Max, holding Charles back and the other pulling Diaz up off the floor, leading him outside. Charles looked after him and his eyes fell on me, he pushed Max and the security guard off and walked over to me.

"Get her out of here." Seb whispered and Charles nodded, pulling me up off the sofa, leading me outside. He was awfully quiet and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything so I followed him quietly. My mind was reeling. Heart racing. What the fuck just happened.

Charles POV:

She was shaking. Pale face, lips bitten raw. Her breathing ragged. I held her hand tight in mine and lead her back to the Audi hospitality. There was an eerie silence in the paddock when we made our way through it. Everyone was staring at us. But no one said a single word. JK and Julie stood outside, looking at us, waving us inside and I pulled Lizzie with me, up the stairs. I pushed her down on a sofa and crouched down in front of her, cupping her cheeks.

"Lizzie?" I asked softly and her eyes, looking frantically around before, focused on me "Can you take a few deep breaths for me, please?" she nodded slightly and took a deep breath, but she scrunched up her face in pain immediately "Come on, you can do it. Let’s start with little ones, okay? Inhale 1,2,3. Hold it. Exhale. And again." within the next minutes she was able to breathe normally again and JK handed her a glass of water, which she jugged down in one go "Are you okay?"

"What happened?" her voice was barely a whisper when she looked around.

"What do you mean?" I took her hands in mine and she looked down, her eyes widening in horror.

"Charles! Your hand!" she panicked and I cupped her cheek with my other hand.

"Hey! Hey! Look at me. I’m okay! What do you mean, what happened?" I tried to calm her down.

"He was asking me a question and you… you launched at him! Why?" Lizzie sounded genuinely confused.

"Didn’t you hear what he was asking?"

"Honestly? No. I think… I spaced out." she mumbled and I sighed, happy that she didn’t hear his question.

"You’re a little out of it the last days, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a lot in my mind… but Charles, no matter what he said, what the hell were you thinking?" she was upset, I could tell, maybe even more than just upset.

"I honestly don’t know. I saw how you tensed up as soon as he began to speak, you were trembling and then what he said. I just lost it. And he deserved it!" I sat down next to her and she leaned in, resting her head on my shoulder.

"What did he say?" she whispered but I shook my head.

"You didn’t hear it, it’s better like this." I said and she sighed.

"Do you think you’ll get in trouble for punching him?"

"I don’t know and I don’t care. I stand by my word, he deserved it." my phone vibrated and I knew without looking who it was "Cara mia, I hate to leave you now, but Sylvia and Mattia are blowing up my phone…"

"It’s okay! Really! I don’t want you to be in even more trouble! Go!" Lizzie sat up and kissed my cheek "And please put a cool pack on your hand…"

"I will, I promise. I call you later." I got up and kissed her head, when I walked out I signalled JK to follow me "Make sure that she doesn’t watch the press conference, okay?"

"I got you, don’t worry. I’ll take care of her." he patted my back and I nodded.

"Thank you."

I sat down, Mattia looked like he wanted to be everywhere but here, Sylvia was seething.

"Charles. The FIA made it clear, that they need you to apolo-…" Sylvia began.

"Not gonna happen." I interrupted her and she shook her head.

"You don’t understand, this isn’t just about the FIA fining you, this could have serious consequences if you don’t show any kind of remorse!" she said.

"I don’t care. They can fine me, punish me in any way. I won’t apologise to him. You heard what he said! He was banned for 10 races, he shouldn’t even be here, but the FIA broke their promise to Lizzie! If someone should apologise then it’s them!" I was furious.

"Charles, think about yourself for a moment. He can sue you! And if that doesn’t matter to you, then… then think about the Scuderia!" Mattia said and I looked at him.

"We should stand with Lizzie! Support her! Protect her! That would look better on us than allowing this asshole his constant verbal attacks on Lizzie!" I slammed my fist on the table "I won’t apologise. And that’s my final answer!" I got up and left, Mia already waiting for me.

"You know that I usually don’t agree with Sylvia… but she’s right this time Charles." she said and I groaned.

"Not you as well! Does anybody care for Lizzie? She had a panic attack when she spotted him in the crowd!"

"I didn’t say that he didn’t deserve it. And in my opinion you could’ve hit him a bit more as well. But you should apologise nonetheless." she looked at me but I shook my head.

"Sorry, but I can’t." my answer was final.

The whole Friday and Saturday was spent between practices, quali and meetings with a whole bunch of different people, all trying to make me apologise. The last attempt was on Sunday morning, when I arrived at the paddock with Lizzie and Stefano Domenicali himself passed us up, asking for a word. Lizzie looked confused between him and I.

"What’s going on?" she asked.

"Umm- it’s between Charles and…" he began but I interrupted him.

"My answer is still no. Not gonna happen." I sighed but he was persistent.

"Charles this isn’t about you alone. As this was an official Formula 1 event, he can’t only sue us as operator, but also the FIA as the governing organisation." he was running out of patience, I could tell.

"Who can sue you? What is this about?" Lizzie looked at him.

"The reporter, Salva Diaz, he threatens to sue us."

"Maybe if he wouldn’t be there, like you promised Lizzie, it wouldn’t have happened. He was banned for 10 races, not 4, if I remember correctly…" I was getting mad.

"Charles…" Lizzie began, grabbing my arm.

"No, Lizzie, they had one job and one job only. Protecting you. And he still found a way in here. Still found a way to attack you like that! So no. If he sues me. Fine. If he sues them. Not my problem." I said in French but she only shook her head and looked away. The way Domenicali looked at her and the way she avoided looking at me felt like they knew something I didn’t.

"I guess you take care of it from here on." he said to Lizzie and walked away.

"Take care of what? What does he mean?" I asked her and she sighed.

"I asked them to lift the ban." she mumbled.

"You did what?" I couldn’t believe my ears.

"You didn’t see what they all were writing after he posted that he was banned from the races because of me! They were saying all kinds of things like they wouldn’t do something like that for any other driver, but because I’m a girl and hypersensitive… it was getting all too much! So I thought that if I just show that I don’t care, be the bigger person, then maybe it would stop them from writing all these things about me." she sounded exhausted.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" I asked her.

"Because I have to be strong enough to go through these kinda things alone… I can’t always rely on you, or anyone else…" she almost whispered it and I took her hand and pulled her behind a container.

"You are the strongest person I know, cara mia! And I know that you can handle all of this alone! But you don’t have to! Please let me help you! Tell me these kinda things!" I pleaded and she nodded slowly.

"Can you please apologise? For me?" she asked and I sighed.

"I honestly don’t know why I should do it."

"Charles please! I don’t want you to be punished by them! I don’t want you to be in trouble because of me! Please! Just say you’re sorry, film it and post it!" she pulled me closer, our lips almost touching "Please Charlie, for me?"

"Fine." I gave in and pulled my phone out "Here. Record it." she took it and I closed my eyes for a moment, then I gave her the thumbs up and she nodded, pressing record. I knew that Sylvia would be mad as hell when she would see the video, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to use a fabricated statement. I said what I had to say. I shouldn’t resort to violence. It was wrong. I’m sorry.

"Thank you. Really." Lizzie kissed me softly and we walked towards the hospitalities and as predicted a seething Sylvia waited for me.

"Oh. That doesn’t look good, see you later!" Lizzie whispered and walked off.

"Charles. Can we talk?" Sylvia pressed out as soon as I was close enough.

"I apologised. I used my words. I posted it. I apologised to Diaz, the FIA, F1, the team and the Tifosi. That’s enough. I won’t say more. And now I prepare for the race. Thank you." I said and walked inside, not waiting for an answer.

It wasn’t raining as much as before and the race could finally start. I wiped my visor for the last time, before I focused on the lights. As much as I loved this track, I also loathed it. Especially under these conditions. The lights went out and I was fully focused on racing. Nothing else in my mind than chasing Max. I had a good start, almost passing Max. The track was slippery, traction more or less given, the sight as well. It felt like we just started the race as the double yellow flags were waved.

"Double yellow. Safety car deployed." I heard Xavi say.

"What happened?"

"Sainz lost the car into turn 11."

"Is he okay?"

"He is okay."

"Good." my voice was slightly shaking. As I looked up I saw on one of the screens what happened. Thank god Carlos was okay. I kept on driving. Just to see an Audi spinning off track on another screen. My insides started churning, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on on the next screen, but my heart clenched when I saw a recovery vehicle on the track. And several cars breezing past it. The first thing I thought of was Jules. Then Lizzie. Fear creeping down my spine. Was the tractor because of Carlos? Or the Audi? Who was it? Lizzie or Valtteri? Where did the Audi spin out? Close to the tractor? My fear turned into anger. Why was there a recovery vehicle on track. With cars still driving on track. Why was there no red flag? I swallowed hard, trying to focus on the track ahead, pushing my fear and anger back.

"Red flag. Red flag. Return to the pit lane."

I drove back into the pits and got out of the car, running back to find Lizzie. With every step that I took without seeing her, the pit in my stomach got heavier and heavier. I had to find her, but my knees started to buckle and I couldn’t breathe. I felt a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it.

"Charles? Hey! Take your helmet off." the faint voice of Sebastian fought its way through the ringing in my ears and I turned around "Your shaking and I can hear you heaving through your helmet. Take it off."

"Lizzie…" barely a whisper and Seb turned me slightly to the side, relieve flooding me. She climbed out of her car, taking her gloves off. She looked at our direction and I felt tears streaming down my face, running towards her. I almost crushed her body into mine, holding her tight. Shaking.

"I’m okay. All good." she said and I shook my head "I spun out but I’m fine. Nothing happened. A bruised ego maybe. But that’s okay."

"The tractor… you… I didn’t… I only saw… Jules…" my voice hoarse and broken.

"I know. It’s okay." I didn’t let go of her. I didn’t care if we would be filmed or photographed. I couldn’t let go of her. Not yet "Mon cœur? I’m okay! Really!" she whispered in French and just then I let go of her, still reluctantly.

"You’re really okay?" I asked and she nodded, taking her helmet off, when she saw my trembling hands she unclasped mine as well and helped me pulling it off. When I pulled the balaclava off I tried to wipe away the tears but the rain kept pouring down on us, it didn’t matter.

"Let’s go find Pierre…" she said and I looked at her "Look." I followed her look and saw Pierre breezing past the tractor dangerously close "He was really close to it. And still pretty fast."

"Why was there a tractor on track? While we were still racing? What the fuck? Didn’t they learn anything? Do they really need another Ju-" I stopped and she cupped my cheek.

"Let’s go, Charlie." she took my hand and pulled me towards the Alpha Tauri garage where a pale Pierre stood at the side. Eyes almost dead "Pierre?" Lizzie approached him carefully and he looked up, as soon as Lizzie was close enough she pulled him into a tight hug.

"They let it on track. While we were racing." he mumbled and I nodded, he was right.

"I know." Lizzie whispered.

"Haven’t they learned anything? Especially here?"

"I know." she repeated, rubbing soothing circles on his back.

"Are you okay? I saw you off track." Pierre pulled away and she nodded.

"I spun out, there was no traction and I lost it. I’m okay."

"You?" he looked at me and I nodded, patting his back.

"I’m just glad you are okay, I had the worst images in my head." I mumbled and Lizzie squeezed my arm.

"We’re all good, okay? What happened out there wasn’t okay. But we are!" she looked at us and I slowly nodded.

"Yeah… we’re ok." Pierre said as someone called him over and he looked at them.

"It’s okay, go. We’ll see you after the race." I said and Lizzie and I left.

"I want this race to be over. This day to be over." I mumbled as we walked back to our teams.

"Same." we stopped in front of the Audi garage "Go check on your team mate. I’ll check on my car."

"If I don’t see you before the restart, please drive careful! Drive safe. Take care, okay?" I hugged her tight "I’m serious! Please be careful, cara mia."

"I will, I promise! The same goes for you! And I want to see you on that podium!" she whispered back and I had to smile.

"I’ll try my best."

I sat on a container, scrolling through my phone, the reactions were all the same. The FIA had fucked up. They knew it. We knew it. And they did what they did the best, blame everyone but themselves. Pierre their newest victim. I scoffed and locked my phone, when Andrea approached.

"Ciao bella, how are you?" he asked and hugged me.

"I’m doing okay. I mean yeah, it was scary but luckily nothing happened… how is he?" I asked looking over his shoulder at Charles, head down, making his way to us.

But before he could answer Charles was already in front of us.

"Can we go? Please?" he almost whispered and I nodded, jumping of the container. He looked pale. Disheveled. Exhausted.

"Let’s go." I took his hand in mine and he looked up "It’s late. Almost no one’s here anymore."

"Thank you." he pulled me close to his side. We walked fast through the paddock to the car park where JK waited for us with my bag.

"Thanks!" I said and he just nodded "Okay… umm JK? Andrea? Why don’t you guys go ahead back to the hotel? Here…" I said and handed JK my car key. Charles looked up and Andrea nodded and followed JK.

"Come on. Let’s drive." I said and we walked to Charles car.

"Where are we going?" he asked as he opened the door for me.

"You’ll see!" I said and kissed his cheek, then got into the car. I pulled my phone out of my bag and googled our first stop, as Charles got in the car "Alright, let’s go."

Apart from me giving directions, we drove in silence, Charles hand on my thigh, rubbing slow circles with his thumb. As we arrived at the first stop I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"I’ll be right back." I got out of the car and walked into the little convenient store. I picked up a basket and walked through the different aisles. I grabbed a variety of different chips, chocolate bars and picked out our two favourite flavours of Ben&Jerry’s and put them in the basket as well, along with some wooden spoons. At the counter the young cashier looked at me intently and I smiled at him as he packed everything into a paper bag. I handed him my credit card and when he gave it back with my receipt he looked at me nervously.

"Can I maybe take a picture?" he asked a little shy and I smiled.

"Yeah, he won’t have a problem with that." I said and he shook his head.

"No. With you! I’m a huge fan." he said and I smiled even wider.

"Really? Of course we can take a picture!" I said and he smiled and walked around the counter.

We took a selfie together and he stared at the picture on his phone.

"Thank you so much!"

"No worries! Have a wonderful night!" I said and with a little wave I left the store and got back into the car.

"Okay, let’s go." I said and started my navigation on the phone again.

"And you won’t tell me, where we’re going?" Charles asked and I shook my head.

"Nope. But you’ll see in a couple of minutes." I answered and he sighed a little, but followed my directions.

We rolled onto a little parking lot and I got out of the car. I grabbed my backpack and opened it to pull out the blanket together with two hoodies, both Charles’. I grabbed the bag with the snacks and walked over to Charles.

"Come on. Close your eyes and just trust me." I reached my hand out and he took it, then he closed his eyes and together we walked towards the little dunes in front, shortly after we stepped on the beach. I guided Charles a couple of metres onto it, closer to the shore and dropped his hand.

"Wait a minute." I said and handed him the paper bag. I laid out the big blanket. Threw the hoodies on it before I took the bag out of his hands again. I laid out the snacks on the blanket and then turned to Charles.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now." I said and he slowly did it. He blinked a little and looked around. As he saw the blanket he smiled and pulled me into him.

"A picnic at the beach?" he chuckled a little and I nodded.

"Well it’s an unhealthy one. And also a little cold one. But yeah…" I laughed and he hugged me for another minute close to his body. Then he kissed my forehead and I smiled "Come on, the ice cream is melting… or not, I don’t know, it’s not really warm." I pulled him down on the blanket and handed him his hoodie, then I pulled the other one over my head.

"What do we have here?" Charles asked and looked at the different snacks and I shrugged my shoulders.

"I’m only sure about the Lay’s chips, the lemonade and the ice cream, the rest? No idea!" I chuckled and grabbed a candy bar "But I’d say let’s find out!" I opened it and bit in. Charles looked at me and I just shook my head "Oh god! That’s too sweet!" I handed it over to Charles who took a bite and frowned a little as well.

"Yeah. That’s pure sugar." he said and wrapped the rest of the candy bar before he put it down.

We tried some of the other snacks, some good, some really bad as I began to shiver a little. The wind picked up slightly and another hoodie would’ve been amazing. Charles noticed it and spread his legs, then pulled me in between and I cuddled into him.

"Better?" he whispered in my ear and I nodded.

"Much better!" I grabbed the ice cream and showed Charles the flavours "Which one?"

"You decide!" he said and I opened up one tub and scooped up some ice cream before feeding it to Charles "How I knew which one you would choose." he chuckled and I ate a scoop full myself.

We sat in silence, enjoying the ice cream, the calmness of the night, the city lights in front, the waves crushing down the shore. After a while Charles kissed my temple and pulled me closer into him.

"Thank you, mon amour." he whispered in my ear and I turned my head to look at him, saw how the weight of the day was lifted off his shoulders a little and I leaned in. He kissed me immediately and our cold lips tasted like ice cream with a hint of sea salt. I felt myself melting into his touch, his heat, and I turned around, not breaking our kiss. I settled down on his lap, slinging my arms around his neck, hands nestled in his hair as I pulled a little at it. Charles groaned into our kiss and pulled away a little and looked at me. Fire in his eyes.

"Stop doing that… you know what that does to me!" he was out of breath and I wiggled a little in his lap and he groaned again "Lizzie!" He grabbed my waist before he kissed me again. This time more hungry. Fierce. Passionate.

"Pretty girl, you seriously need to get up now! Come on!" Charles gently rubbed my arm and I sighed, pulling the sheets over my head, but he pulled them right back and I opened my eyes "Get your cute little ass out of bed! We need to leave soon!"

I mumbled something incoherent and sat up slowly. Our suitcases were packed, there was a fresh set of clothes on the table with my toiletry bag and my phone and headphones were plugged in.

"Did I ever tell you, how amazing you are?" I nuzzled my head in the crook of his neck and inhaled his scent. Humming contently. Charles pulled away slightly, cupping my cheek with his hand and looked at me.

"All the time, cara mia, all the time." he said quietly and leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head slightly.

"I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet…" I mumbled and he chuckled a little, tilting my head back in place.

"I don’t care…" he whispered against my lips before capturing them in a gentle kiss. I could taste the peppermint of his toothpaste on my lips, my tongue, making me all too aware of the fact that I hadn’t had my teeth brushed yet and I pulled away slightly.

"When do we have to leave?" I asked, feeling the heat in my cheeks, the tingling sensation all over my body.

"In 30 minutes." Charles answered, sounding a little breathless.

"Alright, that’s enough time for a quick shower…" I slowly got up and stretched, my bones creaking. I walked to the table, grabbing my clothes and toiletry bag as Charles hugged me from behind.

"Thank you…" he whispered, kissing my shoulder.

"For getting up in time?" I asked and he chuckled.

"No, silly girl, thank you for last night… Suzuka is never easy… all the bad memories… but after what happened yesterday? When I saw the replay of Pierre being this close to that tractor? And knowing you were also on that track? Just thinking of…" Charles began but his voice cracked and I turned around, hugging him close.

"But nothing happened, okay? We’re all good! Pierre is ok. I’m ok. You’re ok. All is good, you hear me?" I whispered, rubbing soothing circles on his back.

"Yeah, but still… what you did last night. I needed that. I needed to forget what happened, needed to take my mind off of it… thank you, mon amour." he kissed the column of my throat and I shuddered a little.

"Just as all the times you lifted me up, I’ll do the same for you. It’s you and me against the world, remember?" I said and Charles chuckled lightly.

"Always."

For Charles 25th birthday I reserved the VIP area of one of his favourite clubs in Monaco and invited all our friends. I gathered everyone and nervously checked the time. 2 minutes until midnight. One of the waiters looked at me and I nodded at him, it was time. Looking for Charles, I found him close to the bar where he was talking to Joris and Riccardo like we planned it.

"Charles? Can I talk to you for a second?" I whispered into his ear from behind, Joris and Riccardo nodding slightly at me, walking away.

"Sure, what’s up cara mia?" he put his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

"I need to show you something! Come on!" I took his hand and pulled him towards the VIP area and as soon as we took the 3 steps up the big 25 lit up with sparkles right behind the huge cake, adorned with another 25 candles.

"Happy Birthday!" we all screamed and Charles smiled, eyes lighting up, dimples showing. He turned to me and I could see the look in his eyes, I knew he wanted to kiss me so bad. He hugged me close, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you so much, cara mia." he whispered and I smiled.

"Happy Birthday, Charlie." I whispered back, then pulling away kissing his cheeks "Come on!" I pushed him towards his cake and the whole club sang Happy Birthday for him, his cheeks turning slightly pink, which made him look even more adorable.

"Will you help me?" Charles looked at me as he bent down to blow out the candles and I nodded "Alright. 3… 2… 1… blow!"

All of our friends came up to congratulate Charles and I stayed back a little.

"He looks happy." Daniel said and I looked up at him "Maybe even happier if he could’ve kissed his girlfriend at 12…"

"What?" I gasped, looking frantically around.

"Your sister told me. But I know it’s a secret so I won’t tell, don’t worry." he whispered and I nodded "And please don’t be mad at Sissy! It just slipped out when we were on the phone and Liam asked her something!"

"It’s okay. As long as you keep it to yourself!" I chuckled a little and he saluted.

"Yes mam!" he took a swig of his drink and then squeezed my shoulder before he walked over to Charles, who was talking to Max and Pierre.

"Why do you look so tense? Come on! Loosen up a little!" Joris bumped into me and Shima next to him nodded.

"Yeah, here, take a shot with us and then let’s dance!"

Charles POV:

"There he is! The man of the hour!" Daniel slurred and Max tried to keep him upright.

"He had one drink too much I think." he laughed and I nodded.

"That’s why we’re here after all!" I clinked my glas with theirs and Daniel laughed.

"Hell yes!" Daniel shouted and I chuckled.

"Can I leave him with you for a moment?" Max asked and I nodded.

"Sure!"

I sipped on my drink, watching how Lizzie was dancing with Shima and Marta. Daniel followed my look and smiled.

"I’m happy for you guys, I already told Lizzie, Sissy let it slip out when I was on the phone with her and Liam asked something about you two." he said and I nodded.

"You have no idea how happy I am." I chuckled and he lifted his glass.

"To the beautiful Doetterer sisters!" Daniel smiled and I nodded.

"Cheers to that!" I said and took a swig of my drink "And thanks for coming!"

"Wouldn’t miss it in the world. When Lizzie asks me to come, then I come! No questions asked!" he mumbled a little.

"Yeah, I know. She has this effect on people, one look in her eyes and you would do everything for her!" I laughed.

"Exactly!" Daniel nodded "That’s why Charlotte and I kept quiet about Silverstone, the look she gave us? How could we say no?" Daniel said hastily and I looked up.

"What happened in Silverstone?" I was confused.

"That guy who grabbed her?" Daniel said and looked at me questioningly, but then he sat up, eyes widened "Oh shit! Fuck! I shouldn’t have said that!"

"What guy? Grabbed her how?" I was sober in an instant.

"Charles, I didn’t- fuck! I had to promise her I wouldn’t tell anyone!" he looked away, cursing under his breath.

"What happened in Silverstone?" I asked again and got up. Looking at Lizzie. My mind reeling. Thoughts spinning. Silverstone. Anxiety attack. Tears. A lot of tears. Bruises on her jaw and wrist. Lizzie being out of it. What the fuck happened in Silverstone? I had to leave. Get out of here. Fresh air. I walked out of the booth and when Lizzie looked at me, our eyes met. She smiled. But it froze when she saw the look on my face. She excused herself from Marta and Shima and came my way. I turned around and left. Outside. Just away. Just one moment to sort out the mess in my brain.

"Charles?" I heard her faint voice calling out for me but I couldn’t bear to look at her. Not now. I saw the cab at the corner and kept on walking "Charles! Wait!"

"Hi, are you free?" I leaned down and asked the driver who just nodded "Perfect." I got in the car and he drove off, I turned a little and saw Lizzie running up to the car, stopping when she realised she wouldn’t reach us in time. I swallowed hard. Turning back around, sinking into the seat. What happened in Silverstone? Who was that guy who grabbed her? Grabbed her how? What did he do to her? Lizzie’s face when she crouched on the floor, staring at her broken trophy, came to my mind. Lizzie. What the fuck was I doing? Why was I running away from her? She was the one who was attacked? I should run to her, hug her, love her. Not leaving her alone "Stop. Please. I have to get out." the driver looked at me confused and pulled over. I handed him some money and opened the door.

"Wait! That’s way too much! Your change!" the driver said.

"Keep it." I closed the door and the cab drove off. I leaned against the wall and looked around, groaning. I should’ve stayed in the cab, taking me back to the club. I pushed off the wall and started walking, searching my pockets for my phone to call Lizzie, but realised that I had left it at the club.

"Fuck!" I yelled and groaned in frustration. What happened in Silverstone? The question plopped up again and again in my mind. Why didn’t she tell me? But Daniel and Charlotte? I looked up to see where I was and choked up. Of course. The only place I went to, when I had no idea where else to go and needed advice. I took a deep breath and pushed the gate open, walking through the narrow aisles until I reached my destination. I sat down on the stone bench and closed my eyes for a second.

"I haven’t been here in a while, sorry, but a lot has happened. Like really a lot. Lizzie and I. We’re together now. Finally. It’s amazing, really. I never thought that this was what love felt like… it’s all consuming, it’s mind blowing, it sometimes feels like I’m suffocating, but in a good kind of way? Lizzie… she’s, god she’s so amazing, but you know that already, it’s like she makes every day better, every high feels higher with her, every low feels not as low… god, I love her. So much. And that’s why it kills me to say this, but I think I failed her. Couldn’t protect her. Made her feel like she couldn’t be honest with me. Something happened and she didn’t tell me about it, worse even, she wanted to keep it a secret from me… I don’t know what that means, I really could need your advice now, Dad.

"He talked to Danny Ric and then he ran away! Where is he!" I was nervous, even more so when I tried to call Charles, but saw his phone on the sofa of the booth he and Daniel were sitting, before he ran away.

"Where is Danny Ric now?" Shima asked and looked around.

"He left with Max a couple of minutes ago. He was really drunk." Joris said and I groaned.

"What the fuck happened?!" I looked around, still hoping Charles would just come up the 3 stairs and all would be good "I need to find him!"

"And how do you want to find him?" Joris asked and I sighed.

"I look everywhere where he could be, at home, his yacht, his mum’s place?" I was desperate.

"Okay, let’s go." he said and grabbed my hand.

"Text us when you find him!" Riccardo said I hugged him and Marta goodbye.

"I will." I smiled a little and together with Shima and Joris I left.

I walked back the dock and Shima and Joris looked at me, hopefully. I shook my head and Shima sighed.

"Where else could he be? At your place?" Shima asked and I shook my head.

"He doesn’t have a key yet…" I whispered leaning against the car, the cold wind made me shiver, after I forgot my jacket in the club. Joris looking apologetic at me, after he gave Shima his jacket already.

"Let’s get inside the car and think. You’ll freeze to death and Charles would burry me alive for that…" he opened the door for me to get in when it hit me.

"How could I be so stupid? Of course…" I smacked my palm against my forehead "I think I know where he is." I mumbled and Joris looked up.

"Yeah? Alright! Then let’s go."

I looked back at Shima and Joris and nodded slowly, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. I pushed open the gate and took a few hesitant steps at first. He’ll be here. I could feel it.

"Charles?" I whispered and he didn’t move, but I saw how his shoulders, his whole back tensed up and knew that he heard me. I walked up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder "What are you doing here?"

"I needed some advice." his voice was hoarse, strained with pain "When I don’t know what to do anymore, when I feel like I lost control, I come here and talk to him." he straightened his back, still not turning around.

"You know that you can also talk to me?" I whispered and he scoffed.

"Really? Can I?" he said, turning a little, looking up at me, his eyes glossy but cold "So when I ask you what happened in Silverstone, would you tell me the truth? Or would you keep on lying?"

I took my hand off of his shoulder, taking a step back. His voice was cold, laced with anger. He didn’t break eye contact, kept on staring at me, waiting for an answer. An answer I wasn’t ready to give. Or rather, I wasn’t prepared to give.

"Silence. That’s what I thought." he got up, taking a step in my direction and for some reason I took one back. Charles stopped immediately, looking at me with wide eyes.

"I’m sorry." I whispered, Charles expression unreadable.

"What happened in Silverstone, Lizzie." he repeated and I looked down.

"I- I can’t…" I choked out, my throat felt tight, making it difficult to swallow. My eyes stung with fresh tears. And I felt myself starting to shake a little.

"Lizzie, please… I need to hear it from you… and not the half version from Daniel, imagining the worst…" Charles took another step closer, his words pleading.

"He shouldn’t even… it’s just that… I- I don’t…" my voice started to crack, seeing the stress and fear in Charles eyes, made me feel even worse.

"I tell you what I know. I know that when I came to pick you up, you had this look in your eyes, like you were lost, the light was almost gone, I thought it was because of Hans, what I know is that I heard you scream out in pain in your driver room and when I rushed in you had a panic attack, you almost couldn’t breathe and told me it was because you dropped your trophy, what I know is that that bruise on your hip looked horrible, and I really don’t know how I could be so fucking stupid believing your story that you bumped into the table. What I know is that you had a heavily bruised jaw and wrist and were hiding it from me, then blaming Liam and Benji for it. What I know is that after Silverstone you always looked around like you would search for someone, I’m not even sure that you noticed that yourself. What I know now is that a guy grabbed you and Daniel and Charlotte helped you cover it up. Connecting the dots, I know now that you were frantically looking around, scared to see the face of the guy who attacked you and…"

"Stop." my voice was thin, throat aching, constricting my neck even more. I bit my lips to keep them from trembling, hot tears threatening to slip out the more I tried to blink them away.

"What happened Lizzie?" Charles cupped my cheeks making me look up at him "Please Lizzie, please let me help you and tell me the truth, do you know who it was?!"

I closed my eyes, Salva Diaz’ words burning inside my head. The anonymous letter with the business card. Tick Tock. Your time is ticking. I’m running out of patience. The comment underneath the post. What a sweet family they all are! you can only wish them health and happiness. Him being in Suzuka, crossing the line yet again just to get punched by Charles. I took a deep breath. Gathering myself. Opening my eyes.

"I don’t know who it was. It happened so fast." another lie, added to the pile of the ones I already told because of Diaz.

"Lizzie…" Charles began but I shook my head.

"I’ll tell you everything, everything that happened." I said and he nodded, leading me to the little bench where we sat down. I took another deep breath and lied. Again. Telling a story of a drunk guy, who didn’t want to accept a girl driving in F1. A drunk guy, who I maybe or maybe not would recognise in a sea of faces surrounding me. The whole time I kept looking down on my hands. Charles didn’t interrupt me once. When I finished we sat there in silence.

"I’m- I’m sorry." I sobbed, hating myself with every breath I took more and more.

"Don’t apologise…" Charles whispered, taking my hand in his, pulling me into him, kissing my temple.

"I just… I didn’t want to tell you… you already had enough on your plate with Ferrari and- and I know you. You wouldn’t let this just slip. You would try to find out who that guy was. You would be out for his blood and I just- I didn’t want you to do something stupid…" I whispered, at least now I was telling the truth.

"You’re right… now that I know that… I am out for his blood and when I’ll find him, he…" Charles began but I shook my head.

"See! That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you! Charles, look at me, please. You have to promise me, no, really! You have to promise me to not do anything stupid! Charles please! The only reason why I told you all this was because I wanted to be honest with you! So please, please don’t do anything stupid!" I pleaded, swallowing down the bile that rose up as soon as I took the word honest in my mouth.

Charles looked at me, his eyes studying my face and I knew that he tried to read me, figure out if I told him the whole truth and I knew I had to convince him. I tried to look as desperate as I could, scared even, to mask the nervousness his mustering gaze made me feel. He nodded slowly and I let out a breath, I didn’t know I was holding in.

"Okay. I won’t do anything stupid. I promise." he hugged me closer, kissing the side of my head "But you have to promise me something in return."

"Anything." I said immediately and Charles gently tilted my head up, looking me deep in the eyes.

"Promise me, no more lies. No more secrets."

I swallowed hard, feeling my lungs deflating.

"I promise." I lied breathlessly, hugging him, burying my face in the crook of his neck. Blinking tears away. One more lie. But this one, heavier than all the other ones combined.

Chapter 26 - a looot to unpack here. Japan last year was a shitshow, I had to bring it up. Seems like they both can’t catch a break. Last chapter for 2023 ✔️ but I can tell you, we’ll start the New Year off with a BANG 👀

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[satancopilotsmytardis]

Title: Home is Where...

Pairing: ShigaDabi

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Rape/Non-con

Tags: Yandere!Shigaraki, non-consensual somnophilia, sex toys, anal fingering, handjobs, semi-public sex, crossdressing, forced feminization, domestic submission, abusive relationships, anal sex, dacryphilia, League as family. Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Summary: A commission for @psi-neko , who wanted to see Yandere!Shigaraki, domestic submission, somnophilia, and more family moments with the League! 

The League has moved into a new safe house and Dabi is on lockdown after garnering too much attention from the police and heroes. He finds himself slowly but surely taking on more of the household chores, and that Shigaraki seems to be watching him at every moment. That's nothing to be worried about though, right? After all, the smell of rain that he keeps waking up to must just be his imagination, he always locks his door at night after all. 

Dabi is not entirely sure how they went from living on the streets to Shigaraki calling them all back to a quiet neighborhood in the suburbs. He really has no fucking clue how the boss somehow got a three-story house with four bedrooms and a finished basement, fully furnished with the utilities on. No idea if this was a safe house or something that AFO had before that he somehow managed to figure out was still safe prior to Kurogiri getting arrested or what, but he's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth too much. Really, really not going to complain when, despite arriving last, he ends up with one of the bedrooms upstairs with Duster, Compress and Toga in the rooms on the second floor, and Twice and Spinner taking the basement. 

They all get settled in, making sure that the blinds are shut tight in every room. If they can just do their best to not draw any attention from the neighbors then they should be able to stay here a while. But once they've gotten the lay of the land they all end up back downstairs in the living room for a debriefing, first one they've all been around for at the same time since just after dealing with Overhaul. And everything is fine, he would dare say normal even. He's been out recruiting, Toga and Compress have been doing spy shit, Spinner and Twice have been trying to find anyone that might be able to reproduce the quirk erasing bullets for them. All the stuff they're supposed to be doing--

"For the next few weeks, you four can also start looking for recruits again, but anyone even remotely interested has to be vetted by myself or Dabi prior to any meet-ups, understood?" Shigaraki doesn't even glance in Twice's direction as he says it, but they all feel that slight sting. Yeah well, none of them are mad at Jin about that-- he didn't know how much of a psycho Overhaul was gonna be. But Magne is still gone, Compress is still permanently disabled. It still was something that hurt them and they're making do in the aftermath. Whatever. "Dabi, you'll be at base until further notice. You can help me coordinate and decrypt the files my teacher left behind." 

He blinks. "What? No, I'm in charge of recruitment, Giran said he had something interesting in Fukuoka--" 

Shigaraki levels him with flat red eyes, "No. You've drawn far too much attention to yourself in the past few weeks. You're the most recognizable of us and your quirk is the most obvious and easy to trace. You're on house arrest until things cool off." 

He is really about to start bitching in earnest, but then he notices that Shigaraki isn't even clawing at his neck anymore. Which means he is dead set on this and just as ready for this to be a physical fight as Dabi was gearing up for a verbal one. He grits his teeth and bites out, "Fine." Which is a lot less of a fight than he would have put up at the beginning. At least they have a whole house to hole up in. Better than the shitty bar or the shack they were using a few weeks ago. 

The others seem to let out the collective breath that they were holding and Compress speaks up next. "I can check on things in Fukuoka, if you'd like." Dabi waves him off. They can do whatever the fuck they want. He doubts it was anything that interesting anyway. 

They finish up the meeting and when that's done, there's a pause. Been a long time since they had somewhere safe and comfortable to stay. Takes all of ten minutes before they all start to break off to do their own things. Thinks Toga is going to take a bath, Compress heads towards the kitchen to make sure that the rest of them actually eat, Spinner and Duster start in on some game from the ancient console gathering dust under the TV with Twice cheering them on, and he makes his way up to his room. As annoying as being locked down is, he has been doing the most running around for the past few months, has barely had a place to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. Can't exactly say that he's going to resent the opportunity to pass out for a solid eight hours in an actual bed. 

The others, very wisely, don't bother him once he shuts himself away for the night. 

///

Dabi learns three things very, very quickly once he is on house arrest. The first is that he is bored all of the time. He always bitched at the others for being sat around doing nothing when he popped back into base with updates, but he gets it now. There just isn't that much to do. He and Shigaraki work on trying to coordinate and run down leads based on what they still have from AFO, but that's a lot of putting out lines and waiting for a bite. They can't train with their quirks without drawing attention, and they can't leave the house. Thank god they have power and internet here at least because he's pretty sure he would be pulling out staples just for something to do otherwise. 

The second thing that becomes increasingly obvious is that the rest of his cohorts have never lived in a house like this, or if they did, they were never responsible for its upkeep. Spinner and Twice are so bluntly and obviously reclusive bachelors and they are always leaving dishes in the sink and laundry in the dryer. Pretty sure neither of them have ever touched a fucking vacuum in their lives either. Toga knows how to do chores and usually doesn't make too much of a mess, has gotten glimpses of her room and it's cluttered with as many cute things as she can get her hands on to make her space feel warm and homey, but generally clean. Compress, unsurprisingly, seems to know how to keep things in order, but he's not around as much since he has been traveling the most. Shigaraki, from what he can tell, also knows how to clean up after himself, but he definitely wasn't doing the majority of housework with Kurogiri or AFO. And Dabi is trying very, very hard not to care, or think about any of that. He lasts all of nine days. Gets up one morning and finds the sink piled high with dishes and mud tracked in from the back door and unfortunately cannot contain himself any longer. 

By the time the others are making their way downstairs he's vacuumed and scrubbed the floors, dusted everything from the baseboards to the ceiling fans, wiped down the counters and furniture with cleaner, cleaned the bathrooms, washed and put away the dishes, made breakfast, and written out a grocery list to plan for the rest of the week. There's definitely a confused, sleepy air hanging around the others as they come into the kitchen, an island at the center and dining area tucked off to the side before leading into the backyard, and find food laid out and waiting. 

"You... cooked?" And Spinner sounds genuinely baffled. 

"Yeah well, none of you fucking can." He snaps, Compress excluded, but he's not in a particularly charitable mood at the moment. 

"You cleaned too." And Shigaraki's tone is more considering. 

He sneers at them all. "Clearly none of you are capable of that either. If you make a mess on purpose I'll fucking incinerate you." Turns back to the sink to finish rinsing the cooking dishes and get those loaded into the dishwasher. "Food's getting cold." 

Really not expecting Toga to press along his back, catching him in a tight, warm hug that does something unforgivable to his chest, as she murmurs, "Thanks, Dabi." 

Genuinely glad he always sounds gruff with them when he mutters back, "Whatever, leech." 

So he takes over the household stuff, and that only alleviates his boredom about thirty percent of the time. Unfortunately, that does lead him to his third observation: Shigaraki seems to be always watching him. 

That's something he becomes aware of by inches. At first, he just noticed that he started seeing Shig at least once a day, then a little more often. He chalked that up to the fact that he started cooking most meals now that they weren't living off of convenience store food and cup noodles, but no. Whenever he was in one of the other rooms, Duster would wander in and find a reason to stay. Usually didn't make small talk with him, which he was perfectly happy to avoid, but he didn't know why the other man would keep getting into his space. Definitely didn't like how Shigaraki always seemed to be watching him with those sharp, creepy blood red eyes whenever he glanced up from whatever he was doing. Something about the look robbed him of the attitude he would have leveled at the others for staring. 

Maybe it was because Shigaraki never did it when the others were around, which left some kind of alarm bell ringing in the back of his mind. But their creepy boss hasn't done anything yet. Doesn't know how he would even bring it up without sounding insanely paranoid on top of his usual bitchiness. So Dabi doesn't say anything. 

Probably should have. 

///

Things come to a head one night after dinner. The others are still all out, might not come back for a day or two depending on any difficulties they might find traveling. He and Shig eat, they don't talk much, not usually in an uncomfortable way. More in a  not really knowing what to even talk about when it's just them that's not work, and they've already dealt with that today. So instead things are quiet as they eat. When they're finished, Dabi starts to clean up. The annoyance about doing the housework had worn off stunningly quickly in the wake of not having much to do. At least he can be useful while trapped in the house. And the cleaning, cooking, just... putting things in order, it taps into something in his head. Calms him down. Can't control how fast he's going to get to his revenge, hasn't been in control of most of what's happened to him for the past decade, but at least in this place, he's able to exercise some control over his situation. 

He's fucking glad they have a dishwasher though, because the seams across his palms are already not thrilled with how much he's been irritating them with scrubbing floors, and tubs, and surfaces. Lets out a soft hiss of breath as the hot water hits his seam and that one has just had it with his bullshit today. A thin trickle of blood goes pink and washes away with the water. He turns off the tap and is about to reach for a towel, but he's abruptly paused when Shigaraki is right in his space. His skin heats sharply as his panic spikes when the other man catches him with four fingers around his wrist. Duster acts as if he hasn't even noticed, like this is normal, before bringing the towel to his hand and gently drying his skin. He's careful not to pull at his staples any more than Dabi already has, but it's still so strange that Dabi can't relax. 

"I didn't realize you would be such a good homemaker." Definitely hasn't ever heard Shigaraki's voice low like that and it has his skin bristling. Especially when he tries to pull his hand back and Shig holds a little tighter, raised finger dropping just enough to keep him from giving a more insistent tug as his nervousness spikes. 

"...Better soldier, if you let me stop spinning my wheels." He tries to sound mostly unfazed, but he doesn't think he pulls it off. 

"No, I like having you right here, where I can see you. Where I know you're being so well-behaved for me." His mind goes unhelpfully blank when Shigaraki lifts his hand, dips his head, so he can press a soft kiss to his aching seam. Dabi bristles slightly. Tries to pull his hand back again, and that last deadly finger lowers a little more. He stills. Lets Duster press his palm briefly to his cheek before he straightens and lets go of him. It takes more restraint than he knew he had to not snatch his hand back from the space between them, to move slowly and deliberately, leaving the rest of the dishes and stepping around the other man who has practically trapped him between the sink and island. 

"Not sure what it says that you're turned on by housework, but I'm not interested, Duster." 

Sends something very cold through his gut when Shigaraki keeps watching him with those dissecting red eyes and the barest touch of a smile curling his lips. "You will be, firefly." He really does not like how sure the other man sounds and as soon as he's far enough away that he'd be able to set off his flames faster than he thinks Shigaraki could reach for him, he turns and heads swiftly back upstairs to his room. Throwing the lock into place isn't really that much of a reassurance when the whole door could be turned to dust in a few seconds, but that would be pretty hard for Shigaraki to explain to the others. Still has a hard time falling asleep that night. 

///

Shigaraki doesn't treat him any differently while they're working, but he is always watching him while he's in the common areas of the house, especially when he's cleaning or cooking. Doesn't try anything again, but those red eyes are following him into his sleep. 

The first dream happened after he finally managed to sleep the night Shigaraki cornered him in the kitchen. Had been so simple. Cool lips against his cheek through the dark, fingers trailing along his throat, down his chest, stopping as they drifted low on his stomach. And then nothing. He woke up the next morning foggy and confused, but didn't think too hard about it. Not until the same thing happened the next night. The lips in his dream trailed a little further along his jaw, the fingers starting on his thighs and working their way up. He did his best to ignore it, but when he swore that he was starting to come out of sleep with the smell of petrichor in his nose, the smell that follows Shigaraki around, he started to question if it was just paranoia and weird dreams. Still hasn't said anything though, doesn't know how he can even bring it up without stirring the pot in a way he really doesn't want to, especially when his door is always firmly locked when he comes to each morning. 

Wakes up this morning with the memory of lips pressing softly to his own and resolves that he's going to have to do something about these weird ass dreams before he loses any more of his mind. He gets dressed, though he's given up on his villain gear, sticking with casual clothes until he's allowed out of the house again, and heads to go get started on breakfast. Not expecting to nearly trip on a small brown box as he opens his door. Dabi pauses, nudges it with his toe, half expecting it to be some kind of prank. He would absolutely not put it past Toga to try to glitter bomb him-- but the box is light and inert against his socked foot. He picks it up and retreats over to the desk to get the scissors. 

When he gets it open he finds a pair of black rubber gloves inside. It's a gift that only serves to confuse him more. Isn't sure if it's an apology for being so weird the other night, or if Duster is just that level of inept that the whole situation came off so much creepier than he'd intended. 

Either way, his seams are a lot happier with him when he wears them as he's wiping down the counters after breakfast, and Duster looks a little self-satisfied as well. He doesn't thank the other man. An additional fee for being such a creep. 

///

Dabi is starting to think that there is a plot happening in the house, and paranoid or not, it definitely seems to be conspiring against him in particular. Because this is the second time in as many days that he's walked into a room and conversation has abruptly died. 

"What the fuck is going on?" Maybe a touch nastier than he usually is with them at this point, but he does not like how they all are suddenly pretending to be busy with their own things as he comes in to get started on dinner, the kitchen open to the living room. 

"Nothing!" Toga says too loud, too quick, too bright with a big smile full of fangs. Doesn't believe her for a second and she must know it. But she continues anyway, "What's for dinner?" 

"Fucking nothing unless you spill the beans, brat." 

"Oh, that's alright, Dabi." Compress says as he pushes off the couch, already undoing his cufflinks to roll his sleeves. "You've been doing so much of the domestic chores, why don't I handle dinner tonight?" 

And he really doesn't know what to do with the way that makes his chest kind of hurt a little. "Whatever, do what you want." Feels incredibly petulant when he turns his ass right back around and heads upstairs. Fine, if they don't want him to know whatever's going on, if they want to mock him for trying to find ways to occupy his time, then they can fend for their fucking selves. He drops onto his bed and figures he'll go down and eat after the others are finished. He hears Duster pass by his room and the door shut softly half an hour later. 

He wasn't even tired when he laid down, but in a matter of minutes his eyes are so heavy he couldn't keep them open if he wanted to. 

///

Cold hands on his body, cool lips against his neck, a weight settled over him. Dabi squirms in the dark, trying to shift away. Something in him knows that the sensations are wrong, that something is going on, but his mind is so thick and foggy he can't pay attention. The dream presses in closer. It pushes up his shirt to expose his chest and there are lips and fingers there too. Teasing little licks and tugs at his piercings that are making his skin go hotter. A lot hotter when there's pressure against his crotch. When after a few teasing strokes and squeezes, a hand is slipping into his pants. Oh. Dabi lets out a thin moan, forgetting the discomfort from before as he has good friction against his cock for the first time in ages. Can't even remember the last time he jacked off. Just knows that having a cool, firm touch against his overheated skin is sending his pleasure higher. The touches are firm and sure, they move against him and he lets himself be swept along by the sensations. His skin is nearly humming, everything feeling so much more intense in the blackness of his dream. Wonders if that's why he imagines the smell of petrichor again. 

"Shigaraki?" His tongue is so heavy, the word slurred so much that he barely thinks it can even count as a word in the first place. But the hand around his cock stills for a second, but then it's moving again, firmer, faster, and the lips are back at his neck. Makes everything feel so much better with an insistence that has him moaning and squirming again, his cock dripping against the phantom palm stroking him. Is teetering on the edge of his orgasm so soon. Is sent over the edge when teeth start at his neck, licking and sucking, and then biting hard enough that he's whimpering as that little flare of pain is enough. His orgasm feels so good as it washes over him. It leaves his muscles trembling softly as he settles again. As the teeth pull themselves from his skin and lips press another kiss there instead. 

The darkness feels much heavier again and the rest of his dream is blissfully empty. 

///

"Dabi?" Toga's voice coming through the door, accompanied by a knock. Fuck, he feels like he got hit by a train. Can't remember the last time he slept so hard. He starts to shift and is abruptly more awake than he was a moment ago because the inside of his sweatpants is soiled and sticky with old cum. His face burns and he glances at the door, overwhelmingly relieved that it's locked as she tries the handle gently.

He thinks he manages to sound annoyed instead of embarrassed when he snaps, "What, leech?" 

There's a slight pause, "We made breakfast, are you going to come down?" Breakfast? He glances over at the clock and blinks. Nine a.m. It was definitely barely after seven when he came in here last night. Doesn't know how that happened. Fuck, the others probably thought he was acting like even more of a mopey teenager than he was. 

"Yeah, I'll be down in a bit, brat." Anything to get her to leave so he can be mortified about the mess he's made of himself in private. Hears her footsteps going and gets out of bed, stripping out of his sweats and trying to clean up a bit with some tissues before he has to make his way to the bathroom. He thought he was in a coma during the embarrassing wet dream years, really didn't think he was going to have to deal with them now. Must have been more pent up than he thought to have such a weird dream. 

He's not really thinking that much when his hand moves to his neck, to where he remembers teeth. It's tender to the touch and the blood drains from his face. throws on clean clothes and heads to the bathroom. The mirror offers no insights, his skin too dark to see a bruise. Dabi tries to calm down. His door was locked, he'd unlocked it himself, heard it rattle soundly in place when Toga tried. Must have just slept weird and his dreams turned the ache into a sensation that went along with the rest of the dream. He tries to shake the uneasiness from his mind as he cleans up and gets ready for the day.

By the time he's made it downstairs, he can already hear the others all lively in the kitchen, food already on the table. 

"Yo, there you are, what happened to you last night, man?" Spinner greets from in front of the fridge, taking out the pitcher of orange juice. 

"I tried to knock last night and you didn't answer," Shigaraki says dryly, not even looking up from whatever game he's tapping away at on his phone. Shigaraki? Tries to shake himself quickly before heat can head to his face. Must have heard him through the door. Must have been why he'd thought of him--

"I put on a book," taken to listening to them while he's been working around the house with his headphones on. "And it literally bored me to sleep." Not really expecting a palpable release of tension to be banished from the room, but the others all seem to perk up, except Duster who looks completely nonplussed by the whole situation. 

"So you're not mad?" 

Definitely was last night, but that feels a million miles away now. "No, is that about to change abruptly?" 

"It depends on how you feel about puns, I guess," Spinner says, which instills no confidence in him as Toga rushes over to the table and pulls a flat box off of his chair, before bringing it back to him, nearly bouncing. 

"Open it!"

"We wanted to thank you for everything you've been doing for us over the past few weeks," Compress tells him more calmly as he hesitantly takes the box. Kind of wants to crawl out of his skin as he opens it under their watchful eyes. 

The ache in his chest goes so much sharper as he pulls the bundle of blue and black fabric from the box. An apron, messily died into a black and blue gradient, puffy paint messily declaring 'If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!' on the front. Little blobs of blue paint frame the kanji on either side that he thinks are supposed to be flames. He doesn't say anything for an agonizingly long moment, doesn't know how to speak when his lungs feel like they've collapsed in on themselves. It takes him a second to look up and he finds that they're all watching him, an earnestness across their features that he thinks is going to tear him open at the seams. 

"You're all a bunch of fucking saps." But his voice is not as even as he'd like it to be. 

Says something about how well he's let them know him that none of them comment on it, instead letting him slip into his chair at the table and starting the usual chatter as they start to eat. They still leave to go out on their jobs, he's still on house arrest, but when he goes to clean up the mess from breakfast, he does it with his gloves and apron on. 

///

Things go back to normal, for everyone else. The others were apparently sneaking around the house and whispering because they were trying to figure out how to make the gift and were worried about him overhearing, but now that the cat is out of the bag, they're all back to normal. And Dabi is still having wet dreams like a horny teenager and he's absolutely fucking mortified about it. He's been sleeping so deeply, feeling hands all over him in the dark, stroking him and bringing him off, kisses pressed along his jaw, cheeks, and neck, fingers toying with his nipples, he feels so filthy every time he wakes up with cum staining the inside of his pajamas. Never had this happen before and what's worse is that every dream is full of indistinguishable heavy darkness and the smell of rain. Which means that he's dreaming about Shigaraki every time and he really doesn't know what to do about that. Only just started getting along with him for work things a few weeks ago, didn't think that would develop into anything else, but apparently, the other man had infected him with that kiss against his seams to have his subconscious so needy for him. 

Not that he's ever going to let Duster know that. 

The dreams become such a persistent and embarrassing routine over the next week that Dabi finally gives in and tries to cut them off. Fine, he's clearly more sexually frustrated than he thought he was, okay, so he deals with that. He honestly is more interested in going out and railing or getting railed than masturbating, but since he's still on lockdown, he settles for this. Digs out a packet of lube from the bottom of his duffle and gets on his bed. Tries to think about anything besides the dreams and his creepy boss, but the four-fingered touches keep coming to the forefront of his mind as he starts to stroke himself. By the time there are thin wisps of smoke coming out of his seams and he's dripping against his palm, Dabi has his knuckles pressed to his mouth, trying to muffle any sounds. Would be absolutely mortifying if, 

"Tomura," Shigaraki heard him gasping his name through the wall as Dabi stripes his hand with his cum. Mortifying enough as is. He cleans up, pulls his pajama bottoms back on, and hits the light, hoping that he's staved off the dreams for the night. If he can just avoid waking up in soiled sweats again, then he will accept this as a win. 

///

Hands on his body, rougher than before. They pull at his pajamas, never tugged at his clothes like this before, taking them off as lips move almost frantically across his jaw. Until they seal over his own. Definitely never done that before. Fingers on his jaw as soon as he's pulled away his sweats, pulling his mouth open so a tongue can push greedily inside. Dabi lets out a muffled sound, not sure what's happening why the dream is so much more than it usually is, jolting slightly when the hands go back to his thighs and spread them wide so that a solid weight can settle between them. Dabi feels more overwhelmed, more devoured by the touches than he has in any of the dreams before, the mouth barely leaving his long enough for him to breathe, and he starts to struggle, trying to escape the overwhelming sensations. It has the hands around his thighs tightening sharply, hard enough that it pulls at the staples there and sparks pain across his skin. 

He lets out a sharper gasp as his eyes open, trying to flinch away from the pressure. Shigaraki holds him still as he presses in to kiss him again. 

Dabi lets out a thin sound of shock as reality comes crashing in on him. Not wet dreams, not a dream, Shigaraki touching him, coming into his room-- Panic, fear, disgust, all spike so sharply in him as he reaches for his quirk, as he tries to get his sleep-heavy limbs coordinated enough to push him away, to light him on fire for touching him-- and his quirk doesn't react at all. His arms feel like noodles as he gets his hands against Shigaraki's chest. Can't put any force behind the movement. Tries to bite him, and it's barely a nip. 

Shigaraki pulls away after a moment, red eyes locking with his and dark with his lust. "There you are, firefly. Was hoping you would wake up for this." 

"G...et off," hard to speak too, fuck, everything feels heavy and hazy. Been sleeping so hard lately, fuck, not sleeping. Drugged. Doesn't know how Shigaraki has been doing it, but he must have been. Dabi is far too paranoid to sleep through someone sneaking into his room. 

"Oh sweetheart, why would I do that?" Dabi is choked with panic as he feels Shigaraki wrap four ungloved fingers around his half-hard cock, stroking him like he's already figured out every way to make him hot. Has, probably, in the week he's been molesting him in his sleep. "When you wanted me so badly earlier you couldn't even wait for me to come and see you, pretty boy." 

He tries to shake his head, tries to squirm away, can barely move at all. "S-stop," 

"Been waiting so long for you to show me that you were ready for more." Terror and anguish crash in on his chest when wet fingers start to rub against his hole, making him nearly whimper. 

"Don't!" Can't get as much force behind the word as he wants, but the more he tries to focus, the easier speech becomes. If he shouts--

"Shh, don't want the others to hear you, pretty thing." Duster sinks a finger inside of him and Dabi lets out a harsh pant. Can't move enough to fight him, can't use his quirk for some reason, if he has to scream for help then fine, anything to keep from being raped by his psychotic boss. The hand around his cock shifts to his thigh, Shigaraki starts to drum his fingers against the skin over his artery, a deliberate, threatening rhythm as his mouth trails along his cheek so he can murmur in his ear. "You wouldn't want them to come knocking and find you like this, would you? Pretty cock dripping and hole stretching so eagerly around my fingers, door locked, not even struggling? Do you really think they would believe you if you said you didn't want it?" He pushes in a second finger as he's speaking, rubbing and stretching, and then crooking-- Dabi lets out an involuntary moan, his eyes squeezing shut as Shigaraki rubs against his prostate and sends unwanted pleasure spilling out across his nerves. "When your body is so clearly desperate for my cock, sweetheart? Scream if you want, precious, happy to show off the cute sounds you always make when I'm touching you." Lips pressing softly and sweetly against his cheek as Dabi whimpers, words dying in his throat. The fingers keep tapping along his thigh. Prepared to kill or maim him if he tries anyway. 

He grits his teeth and swallows away any screams or further protests as Shigaraki keeps working him open. Gets him stretched and wet, his body forced pliant from whatever the other man dosed him with. And then he's shifting, pulling his cock free from his sleep pants and Dabi can't help it, lets out a weak sob. He doesn't think he's ever felt more helpless since he was a child as Shigaraki spreads lube over himself before resettling between his legs and pushing his thick head against his hole. Duster presses more soft kisses against his cheeks, under his eyes as the first drops of blood slip over his cheeks, shushing him gently. 

He cries harder as Shigaraki presses inside of his body. Wanted to be full like this a few hours ago, and his body keeps betraying him by feeling so good as he's stretched so full of Duster's cock. Bites as hard as he can at his lip, trying to chase away the pleasure dancing along his nerves, but Shigaraki must want it to feel good. Kisses him again and again, hands moving over his body, one returning to stroke his cock in time with his deliberate rolling thrusts that have him sinking in so deep and rubbing over his prostate each time he moves. A slow, deliberate, building rhythm that soaks his body in unwanted arousal even as his stomach curdles. Can't help the little breathless whimpers that keep sneaking out of him. 

"Perfect, baby, so pretty when you cry, feel so good," fucks him leisurely, like he has all the time in the world. "So glad you finally called for me, firefly. Didn't know how long I could keep waiting," more kisses, hands holding him a little tighter. "Told you that you would want it, can't wait to have you like this every night." 

Doesn't know if it's terror or shame that consumes him as Shigaraki keeps murmuring in his ear as he works them both steadily towards their climaxes. Just knows that by the time it's over he's been broken again in some new, fresh way he has no idea how to cope with. 

///

Dabi's not quite sure how it could even happen, but somehow he managed to pass out after that. Wakes up feeling foggy and a little sore, his gut hollow, and skin cleaner than it should be. And cuddled up against Shigaraki's chest, deadly hands petting softly over his skin and face pressed into his hair. Dabi tenses, reaching for his quirk--

"None of that, firefly." A burst of pain starts somewhere near his lower back, a spike of something numb and cold before agony creeps through him and he loses all of the breath in his lungs in a split second as he hears his skin crack. Dabi sharply drops his temperature again, doesn't dare try to reach for his flames again and the pain stops. The whole room is spinning as he realizes that Shigaraki just used Decay on him. Hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look up, and Dabi can't help the muted sound of terror that slips out of his lips to have him touching him there. Duster's eyes are warm, a soft smile on his lips, "Shh baby, it's alright, can you take a slow breath for me?"

Can he? Dabi forces himself to as Shigaraki rubs his thumb just under his eye, can feel four points of contact against his cheek. He manages to suck in a breath. 

"Good boy, out." He listens, trapped between deadly hands, until he's not hyperventilating anymore. But the pain still radiating out from his back is sharp and raw. "There." He holds very still as Shigaraki leans in and presses a soft kiss to his lips. 

"Shigaraki this is-- you can't do this," He doesn't know if he's ever heard his voice so thin and terrified. 

Shigaraki's voice has no right to be so soft as he pulls Dabi even closer until their foreheads are pressed together. "Why not? You came and found me, you decided to stay by my side, you've been so eager to show me how useful you can be. You've been practically begging for me to make you mine." One hand stays on his cheek, but the other wraps back around his waist, pulling their bodies even closer, and Dabi's panic spikes. "I was going to wait a little longer, until you came to me again, but last night, you were so needy, so desperate to be claimed, I couldn't leave you aching." Lips against his temple. "And now you don't have to worry about that again. Never going to be needy now that you're mine." 

"Shigaraki--" Words turning to ash in his throat as the hand trails down to his ass, swallowing hard and trembling, not sure if he's more terrified of the sting of Decay or if he's scared of him forcing his fingers inside dry. 

"Mine, Dabi, you understand that, don't you, sweetheart?" 

"Stop, Shig, please--" 

"Mine," Duster murmuring the words against his temple, "Because everyone knows you're with the League, because if you try to run, no one will help you. Because if you try to use your quirk," the hand moves up to his back again, pressing roughly enough on the wound that he cries out softly. "I'll have to use mine." Did it over one of his patches of scars, he realizes dizzily. Even if he told the others, if he tries to show them proof-- probably just looks like one of his staples tore loose. Anguish is building in his chest. "I don't want to do that. You're so beautiful, I don't want to have to punish you, but I will if you make me."

"Don't," Always thought Shigaraki was kind of creepy, but Dabi never expected to be scared of him. "Please, we can forget about this, I won't say anything--" Has had so many horrible things happen to him, what's one more? Can put this away, can hide it, and hold on until he finds an opportunity to burn Shigaraki out too. 

Shigaraki ignores him, "There are some rules that you'll have to follow now that you're mine, baby boy. And as long as you follow them," fingers digging into the wound again, making black spots burst across his vision, "I won't have to punish you again. Understand?" 

He really thinks he might vomit, but he forces himself to nod. 

"Good boy, we're going to go over them now," Shigaraki presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "On your hands and knees, baby." 

Dabi gives a weak sob even as he starts to move.

///

That was three weeks ago. Shigaraki made sure that he was settled into his ownership, made sure that he was used to his new routine and Dabi had a few more patches of Decay across his body from fighting at first. Stopped soon enough when he realized just how unhinged Shigaraki is, when he was made abundantly aware that if he kept struggling that he wouldn't even make it to a fight with his father. 

The others still come and go for their own jobs, Shigaraki still has him working on things he doesn't need to leave for, and... has him doing the housework. Mocked him for that before this started, but now it's become clear that's part of whatever delusion the other villain has constructed. That this is their home, not just a safe house, that Dabi is doing all of this as an act of service, of devotion. Makes him sick to his stomach because it kind of was before Shigaraki twisted it. Started cleaning just because he couldn't stand the mess, but then the others had been so surprised, so happy with it all. He'd started doing it for them. Thinks that's the only reason he doesn't hate it now as he keeps at it even when--

"Are you almost finished, baby?" Deadly hands catch him around his hips as Shigaraki's body presses along his spine. He doesn't even shiver anymore. Routine. 

"Yes, sir." Was cleaning up after prepping things for dinner. The others won't probably be back until late, just wanted to have things ready to throw in the oven once they came back. Routine to have Shigaraki peppering kisses along his neck, a hand slipping over his ass and making him all too aware of the plug keeping him ready to take the other man's cock whenever he wants him to. 

Routine to have him wake every morning, shower, prepare himself for the day, and then have to go into Shigaraki's room, get on his hands and knees, and let the other man open him up and slip the plug inside. Makes him wear it until they turn in for the night, only takes it out then. At first, he thought that would mean that Shigaraki would be using him every day, but he doesn't. Just wants the constant knowledge that he will again to sit on his nerves. He belongs to Duster, keeping him full of the plug is a reminder. 

But Sir does actually seem to want him right now. He can feel him pressing half-hard against him as his mouth moves over his skin, the other hand snaking around to slip under his apron and shirt to toy with the seam curving across his stomach. Dabi hates how quickly he's learned every place that can make him hot, how he always makes sure his need is so high against his will that by the time Sir's cock is buried inside of him, he can't do anything but sob and moan, his body betraying him when he rocks back to get more friction. He does his best not to squirm as his face starts to heat with his humiliation. 

"Please sir, just a few more minutes? I just want to keep things tidy for you." 

"Yeah, sweetheart?" But his mouth is more insistent against his neck. Sensitive there from his scars and none of his other partners ever touched him there because of them. Between that, the probing touches slowly drifting lower across his stomach, and Tomura grinding his cock against him, it has him close to trembling embarrassingly quickly as sour arousal starts to slip along his nerves. "Always being such a good girl," Dabi's humiliation spikes sharply, his face burning as he really does start to shake. Another thing of Shigaraki's. Likes to call him that, treat him like his little housewife. Makes Dabi disgusted with himself because it has his cock starting to harden. Worse because Duster chuckles against his skin, knows how hot that makes him too. "What if I want you to be a mess, precious?" 

The hand moves from his stomach up to his mouth and Dabi opens automatically. Knows that he's supposed to. Sir presses his fingers past his lips, has him lick at them. He's already wet, but he would rather have more than less when it comes to being split open around Sir's cock, so he licks at his cool skin until Tomura is satisfied. Is expecting the other man to make him bend over the island again and tug his sweats down so he can remove his plug and fuck him full, but instead his wet hand slips down his front, under his waistband. Dabi lets out a thready moan as he wraps his fingers insistently around his cock and starts to stroke and tease him. Doesn't know if this is better or worse, but Shigaraki doesn't always want to get off himself when he corners Dabi. Seems to take so much delight in making him 'feel good' like for every second of forced pleasure, Dabi isn't left sobbing just as long. Tomura's mouth goes back to his neck as he strokes him, his other hand slipping under his shirt to toy with the piercings through his nipples. Dabi tries to ignore everything else, just let it happen and then it will be over again. 

At least... at least Tomura's obsessions all just want him subservient, want him... enjoying himself if not happy. Doesn't seem to delight in any greater cruelty than making him cry. Doesn't seem to actually enjoy hurting him with his quirk when he misbehaves. It could be worse, it could be so much worse, he remembers how his mother used to not be able to walk, how her pale skin would be mottled with bruises over and over again until she finally got pregnant with Shoto. If he has to endure this, then he'd rather Shigaraki be obsessed with the idea of them as a happy couple rather than as a plaything to be used and ruined at his whim. 

"Tomura," Gasped out because he's starting to drip as the other man plays with his ladder, his mouth sucking a bruise no one will be able to see on the sensitive patch of skin just below his ear. 

"That's it, princess, show me how much you want it." 

Hard to make his shaking muscles comply, but he forces himself to start to move, fucking into Shigaraki's hand as his arousal creeps higher and higher. Will probably be over once he cums. Tomura will probably want him on his knees later before he takes out his plug. Tries to put that out of his mind. Friction is friction. 

He's so close when he hears the front door unlock and his veins are drenched with ice. He tries to twist away from Shigaraki. The others don't know about this. Doesn't want them to know. Doesn't know how he would tell them. What Shigaraki would do to them if they tried to stop what's happening? Duster is more than willing to use force to get what he wants, has let so many other members of the League be tossed aside if that would get him closer to his goals. Would he hurt them to keep him just like this?

Sir's hand moves faster over him, keeping his pleasure sharp as he hears Spinner enter the house with a loud, "Yo," in greeting. 

"If you track in mud," Dabi is almost proud of how little his voice shakes, how agitated he manages to sound instead of humiliated, "I'll kill you, gecko." Rain has been pattering against the roof all day. Must be soaked. He's dripping all over Tomura's hand. Dabi shoves his knuckles between his teeth to muffle any sounds as Duster twists at his piercings and sinks his teeth into the other side of his neck. Just hard enough. Learned that just the right spark of pain--

"Yeah, yeah, I'm taking off my boots." 

Dabi lets out a harsh pant and a muffled cry as Shigaraki rolls his hips against his, making his plug shift inside of him, and that does it. Spills all over his boxers and sweats, his legs wanting to drop out from under him. Can't let the unwanted pleasure of his orgasm shake through him for too long, realizes that he did exactly what Sir wanted and made a mess as he moves away from him, going over to wash his hands before helping him to put things away. Dabi is about to be absolutely mortified when their companion walks in before he realizes that his apron is hiding the wet spot from view. 

Spinner comes in and starts to give them an update about a potential group of recruits he's found and Dabi pretends to pay attention. Can't focus on anything but the cum drying against his skin. 

///

Dabi feels even more off than he has for the past few weeks by the time he gets up the next morning and makes his way to Shigaraki's room. He barely knocks, Duster always seems to know where he is, and at this point, he's absolutely positive that the whole house is bugged in some way or another, and Shigaraki's door is always unlocked for him in the morning anyway. He steps inside and abruptly realizes that Shigaraki's room must also be soundproof because Tomura is on the phone. He's still in his pajamas, his plug isn't waiting for him on the bed or nightstand, Shigaraki sitting at the desk tapping away at a tablet that Dabi hasn't seen before. 

"--press is extracting that information as we speak." Duster also has the box of quirk-erasing bullets on the table. "Once that's finished we'll be moving to a location closer to your main lab." Oh, talking to the monster maker. That's actually probably good news as far as their goals go. Means that they might be moving forward soon. Shigaraki glances up at him and waves him off. Never let any of them talk to the monster maker, clearly doesn't want him eavesdropping on this conversation. Dabi is more than happy to leave the room without the unwanted accessory. He starts back towards his room. None of the others are home this morning, as far as he's aware, and he might as well wait for Duster to finish his call before he starts on breakfast--

A recklessness surges through him. He gets dressed in his civilian clothes, doesn't dare try to grab his bag, doesn't take anything that would make it obvious that he's not coming back. If things are bugged then Shigaraki is likely to stop him if he sees even a trace of his intentions. He heads downstairs and writes a note, just says he's going to pick up a few things for later, even takes his phone with him. He'll ditch it on the street near the shop and hop a train. At least then if Duster can somehow track it, he might buy himself a little extra time. Dabi doesn't waste any more time and starts on his way. It's the first time he's been out of the house in... god, months? 

He makes his way as swiftly as he can in the direction he wants to go, but it's not raining for the first time in days, and even overcast, people are all over the streets, trying to soak up the fresh air while they can get it. It makes moving slow going and frustrating. Not going to be able to just slink along the main streets, too risking with so many people out and about. Going to have to take side streets and back alleys. Wouldn't normally be a problem but that slows his progress to a crawl. He was always planning on hopping a train in the seedier part of town but this is torture. Takes him an hour just to get into the commercial district. 

Really shouldn't be surprised that he's barely there when his phone chimes. Not surprising at all that it's Shigaraki's name that pops up with the alert. 

Duster: I didn't give you permission to leave. 

He takes a breath, tempted to ditch his phone right now and just sprint to the nearest train station. But Shigaraki didn't call him. Duster always calls them when he wants something. He doesn't like having anything written down in case one of them gets caught. Did he not call because he's already following him? Because Dabi would be able to tell he was moving and not in the house? Never seen Shigaraki text unless he was giving Kurogiri an extraction point--

The next text comes through with the name of the street he's on and Dabi's gut goes leaden. Should have known better. Duster never thought to lock him in the house, just told him to stay and he had because Dabi knew that getting away would be impossible. He takes a shaky breath and responds, 

Dabi: I just wanted to pick up something special for tonight. It's just going to be us, isn't it, sir?

Keeps going without a response. 

Dabi: I'm being careful, I promise I'll be home soon.

Duster: One hour, Dabi. 

Doesn't make an overt threat over the phone, but Dabi knows that he's in for hell if he doesn't make it on time. Has only been punished for small things, flinching away from his touch, trying to push him away, talking back. He doesn't want to know what Tomura will do to him if he's not perfect. 

His eyes scan the street a little franticly. Needs to find something to make his outing seem worth it, and he needs to do it quickly. 

///

It's honestly a miracle that it starts raining as he exits the grocery store. It means that people start to tuck themselves back inside and he's able to run and it just looks like he's trying to keep his shopping from getting too wet on his way to his destination. The rain is probably the only thing that keeps him from being late as he slips back into the house fifty-five minutes after Tomura's warning. He lets his quirk vent through his skin, his tension over the past almost-hour high enough that as soon as he loosens his hold on it, the water starts to evaporate from his clothes. He moves to get out of his boots and pauses at the array of shoes his are joining. 

"Dabi!" Toga's voice is bright from the living room. 

"Don't track in mud," Spinner mocks him from the same direction. He catches his breath, stops steaming, and hangs up his jacket before making his way in their direction with his bags. 

Sure enough, the rest of the League is there, Shigaraki included, all gathered around in the living room. Looks like someone brought back takeout for lunch. "Don't you all have jobs?" They weren't supposed to be here. His eyes flit to Duster's and Shigaraki is watching him, but doesn't say anything as he pivots and starts to head towards the kitchen. 

"Circumstances ended up bringing us all home a bit early." Compress remarks. 

"Aren't you happy to see us? Bah, he's never happy!" 

"What'd you get?" Toga asks as she bounces over from the living room to the island as he puts the bags down. Immediately reaches for the black bag that's clearly not from the grocery store and he reaches out and smacks her hand away reflexively, a few harmless sparks leaping off the back of his hand. 

"None of your business, leech." 

She sticks out her tongue as she moves to the other side of the island and he pulls the bag away and puts it beside the fridge so she can't grab for it again as he starts to unpack the groceries. 

"Sorry for not giving you more forewarning," Compress tells him more reasonably. 

Dabi can feel Shigaraki watching him. Knows that the longer that he waits to talk to him, the more trouble he'll be in. God, he's not even wearing his plug. He's going to be in so much trouble-- "You should be," Keeps turned fully towards the fridge and does his very best to not let his voice shake at all as he continues, "You're interrupting date night." Things go so quiet that he can hear every raindrop pattering against the window and then--

"Date night?!" 

"I told you! Shiggy's been smelling like love for months!" 

"There's no way-- I totally saw this coming!"

He feels his face heat, chances glancing at Duster while the others are getting so animated. Tomura is watching him, looks a little surprised himself, and then, his eyes go soft and warm. Maybe he is in love with him. Maybe whatever this fucked up thing he'd pushed on him is the only way he knew how to act on that. Doesn't exactly think that All For One or Kurogiri were teaching him any kind of sane form of affection. No excuse for what he's done, what Dabi knows he's going to keep making him do, but it's going to happen either way. An easier-to-look-at veneer is more for his sake than anything else. 

"You know it's been ages since we went to Giran's. What? We just saw him--" Spinner elbows Twice hard in his sternum to cut off his contradiction. 

"You're right dude, we should go over for poker night since we're all free for once." 

"Aw but--" Toga immediately whines, wanting to soak up any potential threads of romance like a sponge. 

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Jin why don't you give him a call?" Compress says pointedly. 

It's genuinely astounding how fast the others clear out, at that. And Dabi's gut turns at how... excited they are. Toga is beaming, hugs him and Shigaraki, Spinner gives Shig a thumbs up when he thinks Dabi won't notice. Happy for them, they make that abundantly clear before they're all gone again, willing to get soaked and head two districts over to go see Giran just to give them their privacy. Fuck, that would be so sweet of them if this were real. They're all gone in a matter of minutes and Dabi finishes putting the groceries away, sure that he's in for a punishment, and just waiting for it. 

He tries to keep his quirk from spiking his temperature with his panic when, as soon as it's quiet in the house again, Shigaraki is moving towards him with deliberate steps. Opens his mouth to apologize, to say anything as he turns to face him, anything to try and make what happens next not hurt as badly-- Dabi doesn't expect for Shigaraki to catch him around the waist and pull him in, pressing in for a kiss. He lets out a soft sound of surprise, but Shigaraki just takes that as an opportunity to lick deeply into his mouth, backing him against the edge of the counter and holding him there. Keeps kissing him like neither of them need to breathe. Until Dabi has his hands tangled in his hair and he's trying to gasp against his lips to just get a second of reprieve,

"Tomura," 

Duster kisses any other words out of his mouth. Keeps going until Dabi's dizzy and his body is a little too hot. Not sure if it's his quirk or not. Doesn't think Shigaraki has kissed him like this before. Dabi... isn't sure anyone has ever kissed him like this. Like they can't get enough of him, like the thought of a millimeter of space between them is unthinkable. When Shigaraki does finally pull away, Dabi is dazed and then gagged with his nerves when those red eyes are so warm and so close to him. Adoring. 

"I'm so proud of you, firefly." Knuckles running gently over his cheek. "I was beginning to think that you would never be ready to tell the others. Should have known you would surprise me. You always do." 

Doesn't even mention his leaving. Not even a whisper of threat in his tone that warns him of an oncoming punishment. Okay, that's good, okay. He can... play along. That's what he's been doing anyway, hasn't it? "Barely seen you all day, didn't want them to spoil tonight." 

"Yeah?" Tomura's tone is slightly amused as he presses a kiss to his cheek and along his jaw. "And what do you have planned for tonight, firefly?" 

Humiliation turns his gut into sour knots, but he makes himself mirror that sweet smile on the other man's face. "Can I surprise you? You've been," he tries to put whatever is left in him to protest away. He needs to stay alive long enough to fight his father, keeping the monster obsessed with him happy is the only way that's going to happen. And after that, it won't matter anymore. He just has to get there. Already planning on doing anything to make it. What's one more horror? "So good to me while I've been getting used to things. I want to show you how much I appreciate that." 

If anyone else had ever kissed him the way that Tomura does after hearing him say that, then Dabi thinks he might have doubted the end he'd been planning for himself. Because Shigaraki kisses him like he believes every drop of his affection is real. That this is love instead of something brutal and twisted. Dabi pretends for a second too, is breathless again by the time he's released. "Alright, precious. Do you need me to help with anything?" 

"No, sir. I just want to make things perfect for you, Tomura." Hesitates with bile in the back of his throat as his face heats with his shame. Duster sees his hesitation and waits, "You were busy this morning, will you," really thinks he's going to be sick but if he can avoid getting maimed--but he still can't bring himself to ask for the plug. "I want to be ready for after dinner." 

The next kiss has a little more heat in it as Shigaraki starts to steer him towards the stairs, "Of course, pretty boy, always happy to fill up your needy hole." 

"Thank you, sir." Hopes he mistakes the thinness in his voice for arousal as they start to move towards the stairs.

///

There's real work to do through the late afternoon, the others gave updates while they were here, the monster maker is interested in rekindling their working relationship. It's all good stuff for the League, movements towards their goals. But Dabi is only half paying attention. Is really using the bout of normalcy to meditate on everything that's going to happen as soon as they stop working. Feels like that time comes in minutes instead of hours, but eventually Dabi excuses himself to go get started on dinner. Shigaraki lets him go, eyes still way too affectionate as he does. He preps for the meal meticulously, making sure that everything is as perfect as he can get it, and loads the final dish into the oven to cook while he goes about tidying up the rest of the downstairs. 

The others came and went like a tornado which means that by the time he's finished cleaning it actually looks like he did something. But all too soon he's finished with that. Usually leaves prep dishes for after they've finished eating, but he isn't even sure they're going to get to eating tonight, certainly doesn't think he'll be able to delay the inevitable by claiming he needs to deal with them, so he might as well just take care of it all now. When everything is spotless and the smell of dinner is starting to waft around the house he stops dragging his feet and goes upstairs to get changed. 

The black bag wasn't from anywhere particularly scandalous, it's not like there was a fetish store right next to the grocer, but he did not know how he would explain the clothes he got from the modest boutique any more than the plug he's been wearing around. He thinks that he would almost rather pull his skin from his staples instead of slipping into the lace-edged navy panties and matching bra and the dress he'd managed to grab. It's probably a good thing that he's so thin and not too tall, or finding anything in the shop that would have fit him at all would have probably been an impossibility. As is, the A-line black cocktail dress probably wouldn't have fit his broader shoulders if he had picked anything with sleeves instead of straps, but the fabric is just thick enough to cover his bra and sit comfortably over his shoulders, trailing down into the fitted bodice and flared skirt. He looks at himself in the mirror and wants to puke. Doesn't know how Shigaraki could look at him and see a housewife, but this will likely not dissuade him from the notion. Whatever. As long as he doesn't say anything about it in front of the others. 

He forces himself to head back downstairs, giving a brief knock against Duster's door and calling, "Dinner should be ready in ten," before swiftly heading for the stairs. He puts his apron back on to keep his dress as tidy as everything else as he takes the chicken from the oven. Both it and the vegetables roasted alongside come out without any notable issues and he starts to plate things as he hears Tomura coming down the stairs. He is pulling the wine from the fridge when he comes into the room and doesn't force himself to acknowledge him a moment sooner than he has to. 

Really not expecting to find he's not the only one who's dressed up as Shigaraki picks up the plates off of the counter, wearing black dress pants and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled. Never seen him in anything besides his villain stuff and his sleepwear. Takes him a second of his brain trying to play catch up with how well this 'date night' excuse has gone to cover his escape attempt before he remembers, 

"You don't need to do that, sir. I'll get them--" 

"I know, precious, but your hands are already full. You've already done so much today, baby, come sit down." Pauses him to press a kiss to his cheek and Dabi picks up the wine glasses and follows him over to the table. Tomura pulls his chair out for him like he's a gentleman and not a monster. "You look beautiful, precious." 

He hates himself for how his face heats and how the blush doesn't feel as unhappy and humiliated as it did before. "Thank you, sir." 

Dinner is kind of a blur. He thought he would be playing the simpering housewife, and he is to a degree, but not as large of one as he thought. Shigaraki wants him docile and adoring, but he still wants him, and the conversation shifts easily from work to books he's been reading, to things the others have been getting up to, and all the like. It's calm. The food turned out well. Dabi forces himself to eat even though his stomach is still tight with his dread and finds himself wishing he could drink enough to numb what's going to happen when they're finished, but with how high his nerves are he's more likely just to burn off the alcohol and end up being hung over in half an hour. 

When they're finished eating, Dabi expects to be pushed along upstairs to get on his knees or roll over for the other villain, but Shigaraki helps him clear the table instead. He lets Dabi pull on his gloves and apron and start to wash the dishes, and to his surprise, Duster starts to dry them and put them away, the conversation continuing from the table. And for a split second, he feels it, sees it. The domesticity that could have been real if it had been allowed to bloom naturally. But it doesn't last long. Already mostly washed up before dinner, so soon enough Duster is putting away the last plate and Dabi is reluctantly taking off his apron and gloves again. Not a surprise when Shigaraki moves closer then, catching him with four fingers around his waist and he makes himself tilt his head to accept the kiss immediately. 

"Let's go upstairs, beautiful." 

"Okay," not like he really has a choice about that. 

Shigaraki laces most of their fingers together on one hand and he follows along up the stairs. Is in Duster's room all too soon, and that is a bit of a surprise. Unless he's putting in his plug, Shigaraki always fucks him in his room. Makes his sheets smell like sex that Dabi can't escape without doing laundry constantly, hasn't ever fucked him in his bed before. He shivers slightly when Duster's cool fingers catch the edge of his jaw. Still not used to the coolness of his skin, doesn't know if he ever will be. But he lets the other man kiss him, heat starting to build in it as he's pulled in even closer. 

He makes his hands work, reaching to start to undo the buttons on Tomura's shirt as the kiss deepens. He has to do this, has to survive. What's one more horror? Dabi forces himself to pretend. At least Shigaraki always wants it to feel good for both of them. At least he doesn't think he needs to be scared about being torn open and left bleeding on the sheets. He makes himself stop thinking. Anyone's hands on him, gently pushing him back until his legs hit the edge of the mattress. Someone else's shoulders he's pushing the fabric of their shirt over as he sinks onto the sheets. Doesn't work very well as he spreads his legs so that Duster can climb between them and it's a careful four-fingered touch that's just starting to push up the hem of his skirt. 

"So beautiful in this, baby girl. Didn't know you wanted to get dressed up like this." Mouth moving across his jaw to find the sensitive parts of his neck and send heat spilling out alongside his humiliation in his veins. 

"...I thought you would like it, sir." 

"I do, princess." Voice dripping with his affection and arousal as he finds the zipper running down his back. Dabi blushes hotly as he arches up, pressing more of their bodies together so that he can catch it and start to tug it down. Hates how good the coolness of Shigaraki's body feels against his heated skin as he does. Pulls the zipper low and then starts to slip the straps from his shoulders as he kisses along the same path his hands are traveling. "Do you want to dress like this for me again, sweetheart?" 

No. "Okay, but," his face is so hot as Duster pulls the bodice down his body and sees his bra. Red eyes darken and he can feel him hardening against his thigh. Mortifying how seeing that want, feeling it, is making his own start to spike nervously higher. "Just for you? I-- I don't want anyone else--" 

Tomura catches his lips in another more demanding kiss, swallows up his breath and words before he has him kicking away his dress as he settles back between his legs. Can't help the startled moan that slips out into the kiss as his hands move across his body and tease at his nipple piercings through the fabric cupping his chest. "That's fine, precious, I know you're shy. Can just be something for us." Eyes dragging over him and lingering half hard and already straining the soft fabric of his panties. "I'll have to get you some more things to wear. Will hardly be able to keep my hands off of you knowing you're dressed so cute under your other clothes." 

Lets that tangle up in equal parts arousal and misery as he realizes Tomura is going to keep him in panties as constantly as he keeps him full of his plug. But Sir is trying to make the arousal sit higher in his veins. Seems to want to work him up tonight and knows all of the places that he needs to touch to get that happening faster. Made worse by the constant press of the plug in him, and as his arousal grows, it makes his prostate more sensitive. Every little shift has it prodding against him more intensely and he can't help it when he squirms just wrong and it settles with a pressure firm enough to have a loud moan slipping from between his lips, his hips immediately jumping, wanting to get friction against his aching cock and back again against the plug. He whimpers when he feels how hard Tomura is too. 

"Ready for more, baby?" Lips pressing sweetly against his as fingers trail lower, until he's stroking him through his panties. Dabi's insides tighten unhappily, but that just puts more pressure inside of him, makes his nerves tingle with more of the unwanted pleasure. But he knows what he's supposed to say, 

"Please, sir?" Glad that Duster kisses him again, that he can pretend that he's just so needy for more that it's impatience that has a weak sob slipping from his lips as the sound of him undoing his belt is so loud in the quiet room. He doesn't have long before the last barrier between their skin is removed and he's trying to shift to get onto his hands and knees. Prefers that when Shigaraki does this. At least then he can hide his face against the pillows and sheets, can muffle some of his sobs, and save himself a little of the indignity he's being forced to endure. 

But Shigaraki stops him today, makes him settle with his head against the pillows, and his legs spread wide for him. One hand comes up to stroke his thumb across his cheek. Smears away one of the thin trickles of blood that have managed to sneak out from his eyes. "Stay like this, darling, I want to see you." The other hand moves to catch the base of his plug and Dabi wants to hide, wants to turn his face away as he lets out another moan as it drags along his slick, twitching walls as it's pulled free. "Always blush the prettiest pink when we make love." 

His whole body tenses before he can stop himself, his temperature spiking slightly with his distress. Doesn't know why that upsets him so much, already knew in the back of his mind that's what this was for Shigaraki. But hearing it makes a pain blossom inside of him that he doesn't know what to do with or even where it's come from. Hits him so hard that his distress is plain even through the delusion that Shigaraki has constructed for them apparently, because the next second he's pressing their foreheads together and shushing him gently. 

"It's alright, baby boy. I know you're not there yet. I can wait for you to be ready, as long as you know how much I love you, firefly." Tomura, thankfully, doesn't make him respond. Just gives him more sweet, soft kisses as he starts to press inside. Dabi throws himself into the way his nerves all lit up at being so much fuller, anything to distract him from the agony alight in his chest that he hadn't expected when he'd been resigning himself to the horrors he knew would be coming for him tonight. It's easier for him to suffuse his body with the shame that his reluctant pleasure gives him as Tomura moves inside of him, as his lips and hands move over his body than to accept anything else that is happening in his chest or head now. 

Tomura makes love to him, fucks him, uses him as a receptacle for his fantasies. Makes him fall apart again and again until he's barely conscious, and then pulls him close and keeps murmuring his affection against his hair and skin. It's a mercy when the blackness of sleep finally comes for him, even if that doesn't guarantee that Shigaraki won't use him again while his mind is quiet. 

///

When he wakes next it's to light pressing in against the curtains, blankets angled around his naked skin, and his face tucked tight against Duster's chest. Clinging to the other man in his sleep. His distress and disgust swell because the hands petting along his back are so light, not holding him here. Dabi tries to disentangle himself without getting dusted and startles when he feels a weight around his wrist and hears the tinkling sound of metal on metal. 

The suppression cuff is hooked around his left wrist when he pulls his hand into view. He tries automatically, stupidly, to bring his quirk to the surface of his skin, but it's like missing a step in the dark, leaves him fumbling and terrified. "Tomura?" 

Immediately gets a kiss pressed to the crown of his head before Duster catches his chained hand and laces most of their fingers together. "Last night was wonderful, sweetheart, I loved my surprise. But I told you that you had to stay put. You still deliberately disobeyed me." Brings their entwined knuckles to his lips so he can press a kiss there too. "So from now on you're going to come to my room when it's time for bed, and we're going to sleep like this until I can trust you to be good again." Never going to let him sleep in his own bed again, he knows instinctively. Going to keep him as close as possible until he's his docile, perfect pet, or at least until Dabi acts like it. 

"Yes, sir." His voice is barely his with how small it is. As far as punishments go, it could still be so much worse. Not like having a separate place to sleep ever protected him from Shigaraki in the first place. Doesn't put up any resistance when he catches his chin with two more fingers and tilts his head up to give him a kiss. 

"Good boy. Are you ready to get up, sweetheart? Not sure when the others will be home, want to make sure you're all ready for the day." 

///

They didn't need to rush, though Dabi was honestly more than happy to exchange the handcuff for the more familiar helplessness of his plug, because the others creep in around the mid-afternoon, poking their heads into the living room like they're afraid they're going to find them fucking on the island. Not that Shigaraki hasn't fucked him on the island before, but whatever. As soon as they see they're just sitting in the living room, finished with work stuff, and Dabi's just listening to one of his books while waiting for the laundry to finish as Duster taps away at one of his games, their trepidation quickly leaves and they pour into the room. 

"How was--" Spinner cuffs Toga across the back of her head and parries the immediate retaliation of one of her knives to cut off her question. 

"Welcome back," Duster says with some amusement. Dabi decides, for his sanity, he's going to ignore it all and pulls his headphones off of his ears. 

"You guys eat yet?" 

A round of negatives and he starts towards the kitchen. It's kind of a surprise that Compress follows him there as Toga definitely tries to get any details she can out of Shigaraki, and Twice and Spinner try to reign her in. At least Compress knows how to cook, and they start to make lunch in a mostly comfortable silence as the others grow more raucous in the room beyond. It's only when Twice has launched into a rambling story riddled with loud contradictions, that Mister catches his attention and speaks softly under the din. 

"Thank you for everything you've been doing, Dabi." 

He shrugs, "It's not a big deal, barely have anything to do while Duster has me on lockdown." Not expecting Compress to gently catch his elbow and he really hopes the leather of his gloves is thick enough that the older man doesn't feel his temperature spike with his fear. 

"It's a bigger deal than I think you know, Dabi." Still careful and soft, speaking quietly enough to not draw attention from the others even as his eyes stray back towards the living room. "I don't know what your family situation was like," and god fucking damn it, does Compress just seem to be finding every sore spot to poke at right now. Though thankfully he doesn't keep touching his arm when Dabi pulls away. "But it's clear that the others have never had a home before. I don't think any of them are even capable of telling you how much it means that you've been going out of your way to care for them, and the house, and to treat them like family. This fight will be long, drawn-out, and brutal, and for as much conviction as Shigaraki has, we already know that all of us may not survive to see the end of it. You showing them what it's like to have a home may be the only time they ever get to experience it at all." 

A lump swells in his throat. Toga snarking at Spinner. Twice is gesticulating wildly as he continues to tell his story to Shigaraki, his cheek resting against his knuckles and listening with a wry, amused affection that he never saw on him while they were in Kamino. A home. A family. Shigaraki raped me. The words are choking him. He could say them. He could turn to Compress right now and tell him, ask for help. Compress isn't like the others. He's older, more level-headed, definitely the most stable and mature. Compress would help if he thought he could. And Dabi would destroy the home the League has made here, found with each other. Sour every good memory they have in this house. Doesn't even want to think what Shigaraki will do in the wake of his delusion being broken. If he'll receive the brunt of his retaliation or if the League will. No. He swallows the lump, hides away the words. Locks them up deep inside where he's locked up his name. He's already going to burn one family to ashes. He's not going to do the same to the one he actually... likes. 

"God you're way too melodramatic, Mister." His voice sounds more level than he'd expected it to. Finishes getting things swiftly enough and then calls to the others, "Yo, food's ready."

They make their way into the kitchen, still lively as ever, Spinner's got some new game for them to play after they actually debrief. They get their food with scattered thanks and Dabi waits until most of them are headed towards the table before he catches Duster's sleeve between two fingers to pull him to a stop. Only manages to take a shaky little breath before he closes the space between them for the first time. Tomura stills, thinks he might have actually surprised the other man again. But then he curls a hand around the back of his neck and turns it softer and deeper than Dabi would have on his own. 

When he pulls back Dabi barely manages to breathe, "I love you." The words aren't for Shigaraki. Not now. Maybe someday he'll be able to pretend that they're real, pretend that he means them. But right now he says those words while looking at the monster who's taken more of him than he even thought he had left, and he whispers them for the friends who are whistling and mocking them from the other side of the room. He's only ever endured his suffering for hate before, and that left him half insane in his isolation before he found them. Maybe enduring this, knowing that they'll get to hold onto their happiness a little longer for each moment he does, will be easier with his love for them sitting in his chest and worn on the apron draped around his neck. 

Check out my pinned post for commission info!

[flock-from-the-void]

Happy WBW! As I continue my reading saga of death and grief, tell me a little about the subject in your world. How is death treated and thought of? How do your characters-- or the world at large-- handle grief in relation to it?

Going into And May the Moon again fienfndn

Thank you so much for the question!! It's perfect, I could talk about funeral traditions and their revolution in this universe for so long... Let's try to focus on death itself

So in ancient times, before the elvish culture* split into multiple cultures, elves were living on the trees. They also treated death as something nearly unnatural, because, well, they're pretty much immortal. A death of a person was a BIG deal and they didn't really believe that this person died for real. Sure, animals or plants could die for real, but they were immortal creatures created as something above all the other creation. So they built houses for their dead. The dead person would be just sat in a fully furnished treehouse, with their name, age and “milestones” (eg. having a child, getting a special achievement, making an official friend etc.) written on a wall. The dead had their own designated cities for the dead. With time, elves started to mummify their dead to preserve the bodies and tone down the stinking a bit.

Later, when more complex political structures evolved, more people were being murdered or died in battle. Also at this point they were like 90% sure that dead people don't come back to life, it became something more like the Christian idea of apocalypse and people being revived with their mortal bodies. Anyways, this is when the idea of “natural” and “unnatural” death appeared. “Natural” death was basically everything that was not caused by another person. Drowning, being killed by an animal, various diseases etc. included. It was regarded as something still tragic but kinda... neutral by itself? “Unnatural” was murder, accidents caused by people, suicide, physical or psychological torture leading to death etc. It was the worst crime. The worst the worst. No one had a right to kill an elf, not a lord, king or some god. The punishment was often some kind of torture or slavery. This was also when different groups started to emerge and separate so those ideas are not fully universal, but still some variations were preserved among most of the elves.

After that there came an era of wars and destruction which lead to the domination of Noverentos. This is the time in which And May the Moon is set! A problem of burring hundreds of people quickly arose. The traditions around death started to diverge quickly between the cultures. Noverentos were putting the bodies on a pile and making a quick shelter around them. The western elves** were carving out the hearts, making small buildings for them (something like a block of flats? kinda?) and burning the bodies. Also the fact that the dead are not rising, not any time soon at least, was proven with the discovery of necromancy. I don't want to dive too deep into that because it's very important in Tiv's story – which means a lot of spoilers.

And then the topic becomes ridiculously broad. I can share some funfacts though.

Noverentos' royals had a special city practically covered in gold just for their dead. Generally, yellow/gold became a color of mourning among Noverentos,

Also, among Noverentos funeral practices became highly regulated by religious leaders and oh boy, they weren't cheap,

When humans and elves finally met, elves were believing that killing an elf is a much worse crime than killing a human “because humans would die anyway”. You can tell that the racial and cultural differences really made this meeting successful ahaha,

A bit unrelated, but there's an elvish culture nicknamed the Mourners because of one myth. In reality they're like, the most chill, mentally health and least strict culture lol. Maybe they're mourning the sanity of everyone else.

Well, that's it for now. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk! This is just a tip of an iceberg btw :"D

*I call it “the elvish culture” because on the continent I'm speaking about pretty much all elves ended up knowing about each other and making a semi-coherent culture in ancient times

**I have a specific name for them written somewhere but my notes are a mess rn

[pudding-parade]

Llama Key by AspectWindow

Another Wednesday, another world from the Exchange. :)

This is an old one, uploaded to the Exchange in February of 2010. At that time, the only EP that existed was World Adventures, but I'm pretty certain this world is basegame only. It's a simple little world that has a sort of quirky, shabby-chic vibe. I can definitely see this being a world full of eccentric, laid-back, beach-bumming, queer artists.

As you can see, it's a small island world. The map is 1024x1024, but much of that is water. The playable space is small. It's unpopulated and has 13 residential lots and 27 community lots. Except for three empty residential lots, the lots are all fully built and furnished, which means that you can jump right into playing this thing, but it also means that you don't have much room for expansion, if such a thing is important for your purposes. I do think this island could be easily "dressed" up with objects and activities from later EPs, if not actual lot types from them. Adding a few diving lots might be possible, but I didn't test that out.

The world has all of the basegame spawners, evenly distributed throughout the main island. While taking pics and checking out lots and such, I had Story Progression add five other households to the world, and the world ran for five simdays with no issues that I noticed, and no notifications of stuck sims except for wild horses. (I do not recommend allowing wild horses on this island. They tend to get stuck. Other animals ought to be fine.)

The title of this post is a link to the world's Exchange page, but if you don't want to deal with the Exchange and/or sims3packs, I have also uploaded a .world-format file here. Just drop that into your installation files at GameData > Shared > NonPackaged > Worlds.

More info and pics behind the cut.

Here are some overhead views of the main island in live mode and in Edit Town:

There is also this smaller island, which does have one large, empty residential lot, like so:

In my pseudo-playing while taking pics and testing routing and lot function, my sim water-taxied to the empty island and back with no issues.

The world has all of the basegame rabbitholes except for a military one and a stadium. You could easily add the military one by replacing the basegame city hall with one of the later, multi-function ones. Then you'd have two police stations, or you could repurpose the lot that the basegame police station is sitting on for something else instead, maybe a club or whatever. A stadium would probably be harder to add, but if you really wanted one, there is a small community lot in the area where most of the rabbitholes are that serves as a parking area. You could probably repurpose that into a little football field or basketball court, if you have that Store item, and then plop a rabbithole rug on it.

The world does have all of the basegame-type community lots -- a public pool, a gym, a library, and an art gallery. It has a number of small parks, mostly just with seating though one has playground equipment. It has four beaches, only two of which have anything on them. All but one of the beaches are pretty steep, so sunbathing and playing in the ocean are problematic if not impossible on them, but there's always swimming and fishing. The largest beach is mostly flat, but it's also empty. Other than that, the community lots are rabbitholes. I don't think any of the lots on the island are EA, but I could be wrong. I don't pay enough attention to EA residential lots to recognize them as such. In any case, here are some pics of some of the community/rabbithole lots:

Those are the most-furnished of the four beaches, the art gallery, the business rabbithole with the afore-mentioned parking lot, the public pool, the library, the police rabbithole with the school behind and above it, and the diner.

In terms of residential lots...I tend to keep worlds in my archive of them that have lots I like and might want to steal for other purposes. I'm pretty sure I kept this world for the lighthouse lot, because I think it's cute. :) You can see the back of the lighthouse lot in one of the pics before the cut, and here's the front of it:

It is a complete residential lot, with two large bedrooms. The lighthouse part is accessible, though you can't do much with it. There are a couple of deck chairs on the deck wrapping around the top of the lighthouse, at least. I think a telescope would fit up there, too, either on the deck or inside the light room.

Next are two of the other residential lots, one a small, shabby, starter beach shack that's similar to (but not the same as) the other small lots and the other one of the two or three nicer, less-shabby houses on the island.

The beach shack, which is indeed right on the beach:

And the larger, more expensive house, more in the interior of the island but still with an ocean view, since the island is not flat:

And that's about all I have to say for this one. Have a few more random pics:

[procrastinatorproject]

Procrastinator's Kitchen Countdwon - The Measuring

About 6-7 weeks to go (with any luck)

In my quest to buy a new kitchen, I first turned to my trusty provider of decent, sensibly-priced furniture: IKEA. I'm sure I could have gotten better quality for less money elsewhere, but given that I will probably take this kitchen with me when I move and will have to fit it into a new space, the modularity and continued availability of IKEA furniture is a big plus.

So, I sat down with their 3D kitchen planner, diligently did my best to measure out each nook and cranny of my convoluted kitchen, and got to work.

One of the problems is that the very large slanted roof is 1. very hard to measure with furniture still in the room, 2. also hard to measure because it's fairly old and there are very few straight lines or crisp edges, and 3. extremely confusing to the 3D planner. Normally, you put in a detailed floor plan and the IKEA algorithm will spit out some suggestions for furniture placement in your kitchen.

When I tried it, at first, the model refused to show the slanted wall at all, because it couldn't believe it would come down as far as it did. After a bunch of prodding, I managed t oget the walls set up, but was then informed that there were n osuggestions available for a kitchen like mine. And every time I add a new piece of furniture, the software complains that there is absolutely no place it could possibly fit that and defiantly places it in the middle of the room.

I did eventually manage to play around with furniture options and got some ideas for what I might need and where it could go. But as soon as I really got serious about it (and climbed around my kitchen with measuring tape and chalk pens to sketch out possible cupboard-placement on the current furniture), it became abundantly clear that there was a huge margin of error. I might not know if my desired kitchen furniture fit into the space I had chosen for it up until the moment it actually arrived at my flat - at which point, exchanging it for something more fitting would be a fairly big hassle.

When I mentioned this to the IKEA kitchen adviser on Tuesday (because IKEA offers to go over your kitchen design with you free of charge, whether you end up buying the kitchen from them or not), he made a suggestion: they could send someone to my place to take measurements with a laser tool, that would give them an accurate model down to the milimeter! It would also allow things like ordering a pre-cut counter top from IKEA, rather than having to worry about cutting it myself to the extremely wonky shape required.

I had seen on their website that this option was available, but I'd dismissed it because of the additional cost. However, the IKEA employee told me that if I decided to purchase my kitchen furniture from them (which I had already decided to do anyway), I could get reimbursed for the measuring fee afterwards!

My next objection was that it might delay the whole process even more. Once you order a kitchen, it takes about five weeks to be delivered. Which, on the one hand, is good, because I still need to get rid of the old furniture, clean and paint the entire room, order new appliances, and hope that the construction site in front of my house will finally get done so a delivery truck can actually park on the street. But on the other hand, uni starts again in late October, giving me a deadline after which the whole endeavour will get exponentially more stressful.

Luckily, when my friendly IKEA adviser checked his system, he found that there was a measuring appointment available two days later, meaning I could be back at IKEA the following Tuesday for the final planning and ordering, and my kitchen furniture could potentially arrive in the second week of October! Or hopefully the third at the very latest.

So, yesterday, I had an appointment for someone to laser-measure my kitchen! Because the room is still fully furnished, I would have to remove everything from the countertops and empty the cupboard under the sink to allow an accurate measurement of the water pipes.

The technician was supposed to call me an hour before arriving, which would have given me plenty of time to move everything into the living room (and to make sure there were no crumpled clothes or other embarrassing clutter left anywhere in view in the rest of the flat). When the very nice man from the measuring company called me, however, he told me that if I was currently at home, he could be with me in 20 to 30 minutes. And of course, as someone who rarely thinks these things through properly, I agreed, since I didn't want to cause him any unneccessary delays in his day.

It was then that it occurred to me that I really, really should have emptied out the kitchen the night before. Alas, there is a reason this is the procrastinator's kitchen adventure 🙈

As it was (and with some lovely moral support from @regionalpancake, with whom I happened to be on a Discord call when the technician announced himself), I just managed to get everything out of the kitchen in time. 35 mintues after the technician's call, I was just about to run the hoover through the half-empty room when the doorbell rang.

I have to say, I am fairly prod of myself for actually getting everything out in time, and for removing as much stuff as I did. I even took out the 2 by 2 Kallax shelf after emptying it, since I figured the corner it was in was one of the more vital parts that needed accurate measurement. The technician was also very pleased, because apparnelty, a lot of people are not as diligent about making space!

Looks like I am getting a good grade in kitchen emptying, something that is entirely normal to want etc. 🤣

The measuring itself happened with the door closed. I got a brief glimpse of the futuristic device the technician mounted on an impressive tripod, and I could hear it beeping through the door for 40 minutes or so, but when he called me to say he was done, it was all packed away again.

It's wild to think, as Pancakes pointed out, that there is now a laser-accurate 3D scan of my kitchen just... out there in the world somewhere. We live in a time where that's possible! And where I can use it to sit down with the IKEA people on Tuesday to order furniture that will actually fit my space! Hopefully that means I won't have any of the issues we had with the current kitchen, like suddenly being unable to open the oven because we had pushed it a liiiiitle too close to the wall when installing a new countertop and now the door frame was in the way.

(Have I mentioned that any time I mention to someone who's cooked here that I'm getting a new kitchen, their reaction is "Finally!!"? 😅)

I really hope I'll get to take some version of the 3D scan home with me or at least get access to the model they build based on it. If I do, I will definitely post some screenshots here :D

For now, I need to finish moving all my Stuff back into the kitchen - because of course it's still spread all over the living room, 24+ hours after the technician left 🙈 I have moved about a third of it, which is pretty good by my standards, and part of taking it easy for a few weeks is not getting mad at myself for procrasitnating chores. But I think I'll try to tear myself away from blogging and mapping now to at least put cleaning supplies and spices back where they belong. I do enjoy smelling the potato spice blend when sitting in my armchair, but the occasional whiff of bathroom cleaner is not exactly a harmonious addition.

Next step: second IKEA meeting on Tuesday, at which we will hopefully put in an order for the furniture and I'll learn how long my countdown is actually going to be!

[loosesodamarble]

Coming Clean

Summary: Morgen helps Iris clean out his room and finds out a pleasant little secret. Genre: general Word count: ~650

..........

A spacious bedroom furnished with finely varnished wood and vibrant fabrics. It was a space that the elites of society would occupy. One would expect a noble’s personal chambers to be picturesque.

However, the bedroom of Iris Faust was anything but orderly.

“Iris, you’ve go—AAAAHH!” Morgen let out an undignified yelp when his foot caught on something upon entering his son’s room and being sent hurtling towards the floor.

After hitting the floor, and a number of items he was too discombobulated to identify, Morgen pushed himself up. What was around him was a veritable sea of chaos. Balled up clothing. Drawers fully removed from the furniture they came from. A hill of books. Emptied out boxes. The contents of those boxes, ranging from loose papers to childhood toys, were strewn about. There was even a hefty halberd sticking up from the mess.

Morgen made a mental note to remind Iris to keep his weapon in the armory with everyone else’s armaments.

In the middle of the room stood Iris. His one, visible eye was wide and frantic.

All annoyance left Morgen’s body and he scooted through the messy room to his son’s side.

“Is everything alright?” Morgen questioned while putting his hands on his son’s shoulders. Iris’s body jolted for a second before he wilted on himself. “It’s just me, Iris. Now can you tell what’s troubling you?”

“Dad, I…” Iris looked up and tears slid down his face. “I’ve lost them all…” He wiped his tears with his palm heels. “A-and I promised to treasure them…”

“Ah…” Morgen sighed sympathetically and ran a hand along Iris’s hair. “There, there. How about I help you look? And let’s say we reorganize so you don’t lose whatever you’re looking for again.”

“What if we can’t find it at all and it’s lost forevermore?”

Morgen bit back a laugh at Iris’s overly poetic lamentation. He had to keep focus and help his son.

“Let’s not be pessimistic right out of the gate.” Grinning with hope, Morgen rolled back his sleeves and tightened his ponytail. “Let’s give it our best shot, alright?”

Although still frowning and teary-eyed, Iris nodded in agreement.

Morgen guided Iris through the process of cleaning up his room.

“So what exactly are you looking for?” asked Morgen while straightening a stack of graded papers that Iris received from his teachers.

“Uhp!” Iris fumbled with an armful of books. He was successful in not dropping any of the volumes. But his face turned the color of a cherry and he bowed his head, causing the fringe of his hair to clover both his eyes rather than just one. “T-th-tha-tha-that’s…”

“I see. Keep your secrets then.”

At Morgen’s teasing, Iris’s face quickly lost all color and he wailed in a moment of despair. Or maybe a different kind of embarrassment.

Eventually, the floor was cleared. Yet Iris’s gaze still flicked about in a desperate search.

“So that’s how it shall be…” Iris again rubbed away his tears. “Vanished like a winter’s exhale…”

Morgen hung his head in defeat. He didn’t mean to give his son false hope. It was the last thing he wanted to do as a parent right next to disappointing his children.

That’s when he noticed a brown something tucked in the shadow of Iris’s bed. Morgen crouched down and pulled the item into the light. It was a wide and flat chess, likely used for storing stationary.

“Iris… Is th—?”

“Aaaahhh! My sweet darling’s gifts to me! My princess’s treasured words! My—” Iris blinked and only then remembered his father’s presence.

“Oh?” Morgen beamed. “Love letters from a sweetheart?” What joyful news to hear about Iris. “Is it somebody in the Spade Kingdom?” What a pleasant surprise. “Just so you know, another letter came from there. So you might want to head to the foyer and pick up your mail.”

“Daaaaaad!”

Morgen walked away, smiling to himself and looking forward to meeting his future daughter-in-law.

[happystayportel]

Short Term Rental 3 BHK Flat Near Jaipur Railway Station

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Positioned near Jaipur Railway Station, these apartments provide easy access to all essential city areas, including shopping hubs, schools, hospitals, and entertainment centers. Living close to Jaipur Railway Station also ensures effortless commutes for those who frequently travel by train, whether for work or leisure. The location is not only convenient but also surrounded by vibrant cultural spots that make living here an exciting experience.

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[hybridresi]

Finding the Perfect Place: A Guide to London Apartments for Rent and Short-Term Rentals

When you're searching for a place to stay in London, the options can seem overwhelming. Whether you're a student, a professional on a temporary assignment, or simply visiting the city, finding the right accommodation can make all the difference in your stay. From London Apartments for Rent to Short Term Rentals London, the variety is vast, and choosing the best option requires some research. If you're in the market for affordable and flexible living arrangements, HybridResi is here to help you find the perfect fit.

In this blog, we'll explore various accommodation options in London, ranging from Cheap Short Term Accommodation London to Furnished Short Term Rentals London, and even London Serviced Apartments Long Term. Whatever your needs may be, this guide will give you a comprehensive overview of what to expect and how to find a place that feels like home.

Why Choose Short-Term Rentals?

For many people, Short Term Rentals London offer an ideal solution, particularly for those who don't want to commit to long-term leases. These rentals are typically more flexible, allowing tenants to stay for just a few weeks or months without the need for complicated contracts. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for business travelers, international students, or people who are relocating to the city for a short time.

Unlike traditional leases, Short Term Flat Rental London can be booked for shorter periods and often come fully furnished. You won't have to worry about buying furniture or dealing with the hassles of setting up utilities. Many short-term rentals also include amenities like Wi-Fi, housekeeping, and even fitness facilities.

The Appeal of Furnished Rentals

When you choose Furnished Short Term Rentals London, you can move in with just your suitcase. These rentals are fully equipped with everything you need, from kitchen utensils to bedroom linens. This is especially convenient if you're moving to London for work or school and don't want to spend time and money furnishing an apartment.

Moreover, Cheap Short Term Accommodation London doesn't necessarily mean compromising on comfort or quality. Many furnished apartments offer modern amenities and stylish interiors, providing a cozy and convenient living space at a reasonable cost. These types of rentals are perfect for anyone who wants a hassle-free move without the burden of furnishing an entire apartment from scratch.

The Benefits of London Serviced Apartments

If you're looking for a more luxurious or hassle-free experience, London Serviced Apartments Short Term may be the right choice for you. These apartments are similar to hotels in that they come with services such as housekeeping, security, and sometimes even concierge service. However, they offer more space, privacy, and a homier feel compared to standard hotel rooms.

For individuals planning a longer stay, London Serviced Apartments Long Term provide a great balance between the comforts of home and the convenience of hotel-like services. You can enjoy fully furnished spaces with kitchens, living areas, and multiple bedrooms—ideal for families or groups staying in London for an extended period. Not only do you have more living space, but you also have the added benefits of amenities like laundry services, room cleaning, and even 24/7 customer support.

Ideal for Relocation or Business Travel

London attracts thousands of professionals from around the world who come to the city for work, business meetings, or short-term projects. For these individuals, Short Term Accommodation London or London Apartments for Rent are the perfect solutions. Business travelers, in particular, need comfortable, well-located apartments that allow them to be productive and relax after a long day of meetings.

Choosing a Short Term Flat Rental London gives you the flexibility to live close to where you work, minimizing commute times and maximizing your time to explore the city. Many short-term rental providers also offer a variety of locations throughout London, from the financial district to more residential areas, allowing you to choose the location that best suits your lifestyle and work needs.

Budget-Friendly Options

Finding Cheap Short Term Accommodation London doesn't mean sacrificing quality. In fact, there are numerous affordable options throughout the city that provide comfortable and well-equipped living spaces. By booking a short-term rental, you can often get better value for money compared to hotels, particularly if you plan on staying for more than a few weeks.

For instance, Furnished Short Term Rentals London offer significant savings because they eliminate the need to buy furniture, set up utilities, or pay for separate services like cleaning or Wi-Fi. Additionally, if you're sharing the apartment with a colleague or family member, the cost per person can be significantly lower than booking multiple hotel rooms.

How HybridResi Can Help

At HybridResi, we understand that finding the right accommodation in London can be a daunting task, especially for those unfamiliar with the city. That's why we offer a wide range of options, from London Serviced Apartments Long Term to Short Term Rentals London, tailored to meet the needs of different travelers.

Our goal is to provide flexible, affordable, and comfortable accommodations that allow you to enjoy your time in London without the stress of searching for a place to stay. Whether you're here for a few weeks or a few months, we have the perfect option to suit your needs.

Conclusion

London is a city filled with opportunities, and finding the right place to stay should enhance your experience, not complicate it. Whether you're seeking London Apartments for Rent, Short Term Accommodation London, or London Serviced Apartments Short Term, the options are vast and varied. With fully furnished apartments, flexible leases, and a wide range of locations, you can find the perfect place to call home during your time in the city.

If you're looking for an affordable and flexible living arrangement in London, don't hesitate to explore the options at HybridResi. Our team is ready to assist you in finding a space that meets all your needs and allows you to enjoy everything London has to offer.

[alifechoes]

Experience the Comfort of Rangs Courtyard in Baridhara

When it comes to finding the perfect place for a short-term stay in Dhaka, Rangs Courtyard in Baridhara stands out as an exceptional option. This beautifully furnished two-bedroom flat combines modern amenities with a welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal home away from home for both business travelers and tourists.

A Perfectly Appointed Living Space

Rangs Courtyard offers fully furnished two-bedroom apartments designed for comfort and convenience. Each unit is thoughtfully arranged, ensuring that every guest feels at ease. The spacious drawing and dining areas provide the perfect setting for relaxation or casual gatherings with friends and family.

The unit comes with necessary features, such as:

Kitchen Facilities: Enjoy the flexibility of cooking your own meals in a well-equipped kitchen that features a refrigerator, microwave oven, and LP gas stove. Whether you prefer preparing a gourmet meal or simply reheating leftovers, everything you need is at your fingertips.

Modern Appliances: Stay connected and entertained with complimentary WiFi and a television. The microwave oven and geyser add extra convenience, catering to your everyday needs.

Added Services for a Hassle-Free Stay

At Rangs Courtyard, your comfort and peace of mind are priorities. The property offers a range of additional services designed to enhance your stay:

Cleaning Service: To ensure your apartment remains pristine, cleaning services are available. This allows you to focus on enjoying your stay without the hassle of daily chores.

Laundry Services: The convenience of on-site laundry services means you can easily take care of your clothing without the need to find an external laundromat.

Security Measures: Your safety is assured with robust security features in place, allowing you to relax and enjoy your stay without worry.

Location Benefits

Situated in the upComfort Features: With air conditioning throughout the flat, you can maintain a comfortable indoor climate regardless of the weather outside.

scale Baridhara area, Rangs Courtyard boasts a prime location that’s both serene and conveniently accessible. The neighborhood is known for its tranquil atmosphere, making it a great escape from the bustling city. You’ll find shopping centers, restaurants, and business districts just a short distance away, providing easy access to everything Dhaka has to offer.

Address for Rangs Courtyard

Location: JCX TOWER, 1136/A, Block-I, Level 5 Japan Street, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Booking Your Stay

If you're ready to enjoy the comforts of Rangs Courtyard, booking your stay is straightforward. For questions or to book a reservation, please reach out:

Phone: +88 01712553547 or +88 01921096846

For more information about the property, you can visit their official website: Rangs Courtyard Rentals.

You can also explore the property through visual content available on their YouTube channel: YouTube Tour.

Why Choose Rangs Courtyard?

Choosing Rangs Courtyard means opting for a seamless blend of comfort, convenience, and quality service. The fully furnished apartments are ideal for anyone in need of a short-term rental, whether for business engagements, family visits, or exploring the local culture. With comprehensive amenities and a dedicated team focused on guest satisfaction, Rangs Courtyard ensures a pleasant stay for all its visitors.

Conclusion

Rangs Courtyard in Baridhara is a standout option for those seeking a temporary residence in Dhaka. Its fully furnished two-bedroom flats, combined with modern amenities and exceptional service, create an inviting environment where guests can truly feel at home. Whether you're in Dhaka for work or leisure, make your stay memorable by choosing Rangs Courtyard. Book today and experience the perfect blend of comfort and convenience in one of Dhaka’s most desirable neighborhoods.

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Apartments for sale in gopanpally hyderabad

Finding Your Dream Apartment in Gopanpally, Hyderabad

Ah, Gopanpally! Nestled in the vibrant city of Hyderabad, this neighborhood has become a hotbed for apartment hunters. Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade your current living situation, Gopanpally offers a range of apartments that cater to diverse needs and tastes. Let's dive into what makes this locality special and why your dream home might just be a visit away.

Why Gopanpally?

Location:

First things first Gopanpally is strategically located. It’s close to the IT hubs of Gachibowli and Hitech City, making it a prime choice for tech professionals. Imagine cutting down your daily commute and having more time to binge-watch your favorite series. Plus, it’s near major educational institutions like the University of Hyderabad and Indian School of Business. For families, that means top-notch education without the hassle of long travel times.

Amenities Galore

Gopanpally isn't just about convenience; it's about lifestyle. The area is brimming with shopping centers, parks, and eateries. Whether you're a foodie who lives for weekend brunches or a fitness enthusiast who loves morning jogs in the park, Gopanpally has something for everyone. And let's not forget the essential amenities like hospitals and supermarkets, which are just a stone's throw away.

Types of Apartments Available

1. Luxurious Apartments

If luxury is your middle name, Gopanpally won't disappoint. Think spacious 3,4 BHK apartments with state-of-the-art facilities like swimming pools, gymnasiums, and clubhouse access. Many of these apartments come with modular kitchens, stylish interiors, and balconies that offer stunning views of the cityscape.

2. Budget-Friendly Options

Not everyone has a billionaire's budget, and that's okay. Gopanpally has a plethora of affordable apartments that don’t skimp on quality. You can find cozy 1, 2 BHK units that are perfect for singles or small families. These apartments often come with essential amenities like 24/7 security, parking spaces, and power backup.

3. Ready-to-Move-In Flats

For those who can't wait to start their new life in Gopanpally, ready-to-move-in apartments are a blessing. These flats are fully furnished and equipped with all the necessities. All you need to bring is your suitcase and maybe a couple of houseplants to make it feel like home.

What to Consider When Buying an Apartment in Gopanpally

1. Budget Planning

Let's get real for a moment. Buying an apartment is a significant financial commitment. Start by setting a realistic budget. Consider your current savings, future income, and the availability of home loans. Remember, it's not just about the down payment; factor in registration fees, maintenance costs, and those sneaky hidden charges.

2. Builder Reputation

Not all that glitters is gold, and not every builder is trustworthy. Do your homework on the developers. Check out their previous projects, read reviews, and perhaps even talk to current residents. A reputable builder means quality construction and timely delivery.

3. Legal Due Diligence

Nobody likes legal hassles, especially when it involves your dream home. Ensure that the apartment has all the necessary approvals and clearances from local authorities. Verify the land title and get a legal expert to vet the sale agreement.

A Peek into the Neighborhood

Schools and Colleges

For those with kids, proximity to good schools is often a deal-breaker. Gopanpally boasts several reputed educational institutions, ensuring your child gets a quality education without the long bus rides.

Healthcare Facilities

Health is wealth, and Gopanpally ensures you have access to top-notch healthcare facilities. With numerous hospitals and clinics around, you can rest easy knowing that medical help is always nearby.

Shopping and Entertainment

Who doesn’t love a good shopping spree? Gopanpally has numerous malls and local markets where you can shop to your heart’s content. From high-end brands to local boutiques, there's something for everyone. And for those movie nights, several multiplexes are just around the corner.

Conclusion: Is Gopanpally Your Next Home?

In the grand tapestry of Hyderabad, Gopanpally stands out as a neighborhood that offers a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. With its strategic location, plethora of amenities, and diverse apartment options, it's no wonder more people are calling Gopanpally their home.

So, if you're on the lookout for an apartment for sale in Gopanpally, Hyderabad, take the plunge. Your dream home might just be waiting for you. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one giving tips to new home buyers in this charming neighborhood.

Remember, home is not just a place; it's a feeling. And Gopanpally has all the right vibes to make you feel at home.

Visit estatedekho.com for more information about Apartments for Sale in Gopanpally Hyderabad Telangana. Estatedekho is an online platform that offers sellers, potential clients, buyers verified plots, and professional agents at service.