Lionel nodded, ashamed that one of his largest insecurities had risen to the surface. “It’s not.. not a drug den, I promise.”
shipping? shipping (closed)
"And it's not a meth lab? Again, it's okay as long as I don't step in someone's vomit or cocaine or something," Sebastian said with a small smile
Lionel nodded, doing his best to seem less troubled than he was. Since he’d begun to date Sebastian, he’d started wearing his nicer clothes (which were casual wear for the rest of the world) and trying his best to seem like less of the financially challenged man he was. But now…
Sebastian eventually sighed, wrapping an arm around Lionel's waist and pulling him against him. "Look, it's okay if you don't want me to see the place. I respect if you don't feel comfortable about it. You shouldn't have to feel pressured to do anything, okay?"
He chewed on his bottom lip. “I can’t exactly keep you from it—you’re my boyfriend. I just don’t want you to think any less of me…”
"Why would I think less of you? At the very least I can help you if you need new furniture or anything. And technically, I'm more or less homeless, so it's not like I don't understand," Sebastian said with a small shrug
Lionel gave up, deciding to let his apartment do the talking. “Let’s go, then. Your car?”
"Of course," Sebastian chuckled, leading the way to the parking lot. He hummed faintly, giving Lionel's hand a little squeeze
Skip to the house?)
(ye)
Lionel took his time opening the front door of his apartment, wincing visibly as he stepped inside. The worn floorboards of the cramped space creaked and groaned loudly underfoot, as if announcing his entrance. He flicked the light switch, and it took a few seconds for the overhead light to flicker weakly to light. Even then, the space was dim, despite the small, cracked windowpanes. The walls were lined with spiderline cracks, the furniture sparse and drab. Overall, it was kept clean, neat, but… that didn’t stop his shame from rising. Perhaps the worst thing visible were the gouges in the far wall, like the claw marks of a monster.
Sebastian, however, was smiling as he looked around. "Aww, look at it! It's so homey and cute!" he exclaimed, grinning as he walked inside, looking around a bit. "It makes sense, y'know? It's adorable, just like you," he cooed as he gave Lionel a little squeeze
Lionel’s brows drew together in confusion. “You—like it?” He gestured vaguely to everything around them. “It’s so…. ugly.”
"No, it's cute and refreshing. Do you know how much of a pain seeing perfect walls is all the time?" Sebastian asked, now looking at Lionel like he was crazy
Cute? Refreshing? Lionel felt suffocated in his own home, and not only because of its cramped interior. He'd spent too many nights clutching a threadbare blanket and sobbing from sheer pain as he tried to repress his monthly transformation, lock the monster up inside. It never worked.
"It….. is?"
"Yeah..?" Sebastian said slowly, but suddenly his eyes widened when he saw just how upset Lionel seemed to be getting over this. A sympathetic look crossed his face, and he walked over to his boyfriend, gently wrapping his arms around him. "It's okay, baby. I know how you might feel about this, and trust me, I don't care that you live in a small place like this."
Lionel nodded weakly. "I–I'm sorry. I know I'm overreacting—It's not you, I promise." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I just can't help but feel…. insignificant, next to you. I mean, I can barely feed myself. And this place……. yeah. But I'm glad you don't hate it…"
"If you can't feed yourself, why don't you let me help you? Baby, I love you, I'd do anything to help you," Sebastian said softly, a bit of sadness working its way into his expression. He didn't care that the apartment was shabby, he cared that his boyfriend was struggling so much
"You shouldn't waste any more money on me…." Lionel murmured, averting his eyes. I'm not exactly worth it.
"Waste? Baby, I've got enough money that you'd never have to work a day in your life. I've got enough of an inheritance to keep us both happy forever, and as much of a dick as my sister is, she can't take my cash," Sebastian insisted softly
Lionel's eyes went wide. Sebastian would willingly share all of that with him, of all people? To his mind, any money that passed into his hands had to be earned, he couldn't just…. take it off someone else.
"But… wouldn't I have to earn it? I can't just…."
"Babe, you've already earned it. You deserve the world and much more, and I can tell, because of just how sweet you are. You're perfect," Sebastian said softly
The werewolf practically melted in Sebastian's arms. Perfect. The fact that someone thought of him like that….
"I–I can't dictate what you do with your money," he said quietly, "But even just the offer is so—I don't know anyone else who would make it."
"That's because no one else is a rich gangster who happens to be your boyfriend," Sebastian chuckled, pulling Lionel closer in his arms
"No one," he agreed, a quiet laugh slipping from his lips. "That spot is reserved only for you."
"Damn better be," Sebastian hummed, a devious glint in his eye as he gave Lionel's backside a teasing smack
Lionel let out a tiny squeak of surprise, caught off guard. “Sebastian!”
"Sebastian speaking," came the other's response, grinning smugly as he giggled. "Such a cutie like this," he teased
“You’re awful…” he groaned, burying his face in his boyfriend’s chest.
"You know you love it," Sebastian said with a small, warm smile, giving Lionel a little squeeze and cuddling him closer