Safe Place to Land [Elliot]

[Deleted]

January 10, 2026
@elliot

Elliot had come back to the UK a few months ago. After an unfortunately explosion. Tempers (mainly Dusti's) had run hot, before the two seemed to reconcile. Though Dusti had put very strict "rules" in place as they "reconnected". For one, she refused to sleep with him. And second, he hadn't been allowed near her flat. She'd flat out refused to even tell him where the new flat was, actually. Basically, she'd made them take things "slow". Because while he said he was staying there was still a part of her that was hurt and didn't fully believe him.

Now though, after he'd been back a few months and proven to be more reliable, she'd finally relented and told him he could come over. The place was pretty small, and not the most lavish place, but it was home. Just a small one bedroom attic flat that she was renting from an older couple that lived on the floors below. They'd liked her because she was quiet, and didn't cause any issues. It also helped that she had cast noise cancelling spells around the place so as not to disturb her landlords below. But it was definitely far from where her parents had ever expected of her. The place was actually... warm. Furnished very comfortable, with warm tones and plenty of light. It was small but inviting. Dusti could have afforded much more, from the Flint inheritance, but Dusti had refused to touch any of her parent's money thus far. Instead, she let it sit in her Gringott's vault. She didn't really know what to do with it, to be honest. Nothing felt right. Her sister had bought a shop, her brother had bought a very nice flat. But her? She jsut sat on the money, letting it collect dust.

So, earlier that evening she'd texted Elliot, letting him know what time she'd be off work and that he could meet her at her place at a certain time, and provided the address. She got about an hour before the time she said he could come over so that she could shower and make sure the place still looked presentable. She felt a little... nervous. As letting him come to her place was a big step in their rekindled relationship. THey'd shared a flat before he'd left, so him being in her space wasn't new. It was just.... It had been a long time. After showering and pulling her damp hair into a braid she sat on her couch next to her cat, Danny, and absentmindedly scratched his head. She'd told Elliot she'd gotten a cat. Told him that she'd adopted him from a rescue. Something Elliot most likely detested. He hated cats. But screw his thoughts on it, it was her cat and she loved said cat. He also probably knew that he'd have no success in getting her to get rid of said cat, as she rarely changed her mind once it was set. So he'd just have to learn to tolerate it.

It was at that moment the doorbell rang. She got up, crossing to the door and unlocking it to let him in. There Elliot was. Looking as smug as ever. God, she could never decide if she wanted to smack that look off his face or kiss him. She offered one of her own rare smiles and stepped aside so he could come in. "Hey."

[Deleted]

@dusti

so he and dusti were making progress. they weren't taking great strides but there was progress and it felt like it was in the right direction. they'd been spending time together and he'd even been invited to the place she lived in now. it had taken more than a few months of not being told, of reasons and teasing and close calls but then it seemed she'd change her mind at the last minute, or maybe she'd never been intent on telling him but the game was fun. it was like the chase all over again. they'd fallen so quickly and so heavily while they'd been in hogwarts that there hadn't been much of a chase, the effort had been easy because they'd been living in the same place, they had access to each other and now it was a whole other ball game. life had thrown curveballs at them and it seemed like they were passing them. or at least he hoped he was.

it was the message telling him her address and what time to be there that was one of the final signs for him. she was inviting him in, she was letting him into the final piece of herself that she'd been keeping secret and that was big for dusti. he glanced at his watch as he made his way over to her place, deciding against apparating and making his way there the seemingly muggle way because he had the time and it was a nice enough day outside. best enjoy the rare moments that weren't rain, sleet and snow. he walked up to her door and he rang the bell, standing there as he waited for her to open the door.

there was one thing he wasn't looking forward to and that was the cat. the cat that he hadn't even met. the cat she'd gotten while they'd been broken up. he really really wasn't looking forward to meeting it. he'd never been a cat person. he hated cats and for her to get a cat, seemed like a way she'd been able to flip the finger at him while he'd been gone and now he was back he'd have to put up with it. as much as he'd love to suggest she get rid of it, he knew he couldn't. it was a shame though, there were hundreds of other animals she could have picked and she'd gone with cat.

he could hear her turn the lock and he made the snap choice to lean his hand against the frame and he raised a brow when she opened the door. "why hello." he said as he raised a brow a little before he dropped his hand and stepped closer to her. he could have happily pulled her into his arms and kissed her stupid but he didn't. there was a certain look on her face that made him wonder if she was going to slap or kiss him and he figured he'd wait a moment to figure out what mood she was in before he pushed his luck.