Summary: In an old house, sometimes repairs are necessary.
Set post season…4.
Written for the prompt, 'Author's choice, author's choice, in an old house, sometimes repairs are necessary'. Also, thanks to Kai for the direction in the last scene.
Repair
By Dark Ice Dragon
It had been a few weeks since they had last been at Rai's mansion and after the recent events, Frankenstein had decided they were due for a break. The look on his face when Rai had suggested his old house had amused him, but it was quiet, and the other nobles had no reason to bother them.
He'd also wanted to go just in case he'd forgotten something there.
At first glance, it had seemed like the mansion had been completely untouched in those 800 years, but the longer they stayed, the more apparent that was not the case: windows wouldn't open without force, dust coated every surface, and spiders had made their home in every corner (his room had leaves coating the floor, vines creeping in through the open window).
"Do you think we should renovate?" Tao asked Frankenstein, peering up at the living room ceiling, while Rai had a cup of tea near the window.
Frankenstein smiled, and warm amusement ran down their link. "You came here to rest, not work."
"Yeeeah, but-" Tao shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at Frankenstein. "-we're not fighting, no-one's lives are on the line; for us, this would be a break."
Frankenstein hummed, sending him a query. He replied with confirmation. If that was what they wanted to do, he wouldn't stop them.
"Very well," Frankenstein said, nodding.
"Roger!" Tao saluted, grinning.
"Ah, there is one thing," Frankenstein said as Tao was turning to leave.
"Mm? What is it, Boss?" Tao looked over his shoulder.
"There's a room on the third floor, east wing – it would be best if you started there."
"The one with the vines?" Tao's lips quirked up. "Heh, I can see why you'd want that cleaned up straight away." He nodded, clapping his hands. "All right, we'll get this place to exactly what it was like in no time!"
It wouldn't be however hard they tried, but Rai didn't say anything, taking another sip of his tea. It didn't matter because the house's original state had been silence and now that it was filled with feet and chatter, he knew what he preferred.
"Thank you."
Pleasure thrummed through their bond, and Frankenstein bowed. "Master."
xOx
Tao had been right: it didn't take them long to clear his room of greenery, a large pile of leaves heaped together in the garden to show how much had been in it. They'd watched the pile burn, making sure it didn't set anything else alight and Tao had made a passing comment about 'marshmallows'.
Their break ended there and Rai watched the five of them enter the house again, a faint frown tugging his lips. They were busy, setting his house back, but he didn't have a way to help them.
"There are other ways to assist others," Frankenstein said softly. "You may not be helping them with the physical work, but their breaks are just as valued."
Ah. Hm. They had wanted something to eat and drink when they'd stopped working, so…perhaps he would make them tea.
Frankenstein smiled.