Pardon the way that I stare
There's nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak - I Love You, Baby by Frank Sinatra

High, grey winter storm clouds towered over the Burton estate in Hampshire. The manor sat on acres of rolling lawn with strategic forests and it's own private airdock. The Manor itself was a grand affair with twelve bedrooms, ten bathrooms, and a pool house.

Our safe house in Brittania, a place we definitely were not allowed, no matter what ship registry we used. The Burton family had made a desperate call when his wife and eldest daughter had been kidnapped five years ago. Captain Aizawa had, by then, been ready to leave the hypocritical Imperial fleet. He gathered intel through official channels then through unofficial. With just Yamada and Kayama as his crew he'd tracked down the pirates responsible and brought the women back to a very grateful husband and father.

Mr. Burton had given him enough money to buy and refurbish the Magdalene. He'd also given them carte blanche to come back whenever they wished. Aizawa was not a terrible houseguest and never stayed long enough to cause any trouble.

This was the kind of place where fairy tale endings were dreamt. When I woke here, it had been in a bed with crisp, yellow sheets the color of morning sun. The room was papered in gold and blue and Dabi was slumped over my hand, breathing the smooth in and out of sleep.

"Did I die? I must have lived a better life than I thought to be reincarnated here." My voice scraped out, rusty and tight with disuse.

Dabi's eyes lifted, "You're still alive. I'm sure whatever is waiting for me in the next life isn't quite so nice."

I coughed and he sat straighter, though my hand was still clenched in his. I looked at our interlocking fingers and squeezed, so happy to be able to touch him again. The pillows were wonderfully plump and I lay back in their embrace.

"I am happy you're finally awake. Midnight's been keeping you asleep for a couple of days. She had you moved here last night. You're healed enough to sleep in a real bed, but you need to stay here until your lung heals. You have a catheter," I blushed, feeling the tube taped to my thigh. He gestured to a box, "You also have a morphine drip. Use it. Please."

"It hurts." I acknowledged with a wince, "What happened?"

"Midnight says severe chest trauma leading to pneumothorax. You will heal, but it's painful and you'll need to do breathing exercises." He lifted my fingers to his mouth, kissing my knuckles softly. "Our crew has to leave in another couple of days but you and I," he sighed, "if you wish, will convalesce here for the next three weeks."

I ran my thumb over his knuckles and smiled happily. Even with the pain lancing through my chest and shoulder, I watched Dabi as he gazed at me with hopeful eyes. His smile stretched to match mine, and he kissed me with the gentleness of a butterfly wing.


AN/ The end! Thank EVERYONE who read this. I especially thank Mosevic who repays crazy with kindness. I cannot thank you enough. He is writing The Eraser's Journey, go check it out!