Work Text:
Basic respect the boss etiquette, simple.
Work well with everyone? No problem.
Ask when borrowing a game? Stupid easy.
Mind each others space, can do.
Don't fall in love with him- well, he failed that.
Shigaraki Tomura wasn't beautiful. No, no he was more than that. The man was breath taking. Down to the parts of him that society called ugly. He was charismatic yet insecure.
On that day when the sky lay empty and all that filled his view was Shigaraki, Spinner felt it in his chest. That feeling of loyalty, of admiration, of love. To the end of time the one that he chose to follow was him.
Only him.
But a deep devotion is hard to go by without notice. Difficult to keep under wraps- Shigaraki might be unexperienced but he was no fool. And Spinner, Spinner was his friend. His first real friend.
It was during one of their nightly sessions after a meeting. Before Shigaraki took that step past no return. The time read 4:24AM. He was supposed to see the Doc later that day, but was trying to spend time with his friend for as long as possible. Before it all had to change. His eyes fell on the man, scales reflecting back at him from the screens shine. His shoulders stiff and his long mouth clearly held tight. Holding words he dare not say. While Spinner refused to look at him Shigaraki slowly scooted on closer.
It's when a gloved hand touches his arm that Spinner breaks his concentration on the screen and his head turns to meet the man that appeared in all his daydreams. Total silence. Then he feels the odd sensation of resistance against his scales and his head drops to look.
Shigaraki's fingers are pressed a little harder and moving up his arm. There's an odd mix of color that flashes across Spinner's face. His mouth parts and just as the word 'Boss' starts to escape him Shigaraki's eyes narrow. Spinner corrects himself. "Tomura."
A crooked grin tugs at the corner of Shigaraki's lips.
"Didn't have to tell you this time. Seems like you do learn." The way they talk is so casual, genuine. Spinner fears about breaking it. Ruining the connection he had made with man just barely younger than him. Yet just like that the dam bursts and Spinner mimics the hold on his own arm by grabbing onto Shigaraki, a pathetic display of desperation. He's on his knees and looking down at him. Shigaraki's eyes briefly widen out of momentary surprise until relaxing back into his amused state.
"....The you here. The one that has been working through hell for this shit. He can't leave. I don't know what you plan to put yourself through but you can't-" Spinners voice cracks and he clears his throat, shaking his head while avoiding Shigaraki's gaze. Shigaraki's usual grin is replaced by a rare show of a smile. A light that never shows in his dull eyes. In the following quiet he slips off his glove and gently caresses Spinner's jawline.
"But you will stay by me."
The statement hits Spinner in the chest and he wants to refuse but he knows, no matter, he would stay. He will stay.
"You will remain loyal. You will revere me." Shigaraki continues and as he does his hand slides forward up into Spinners hair. Where he then tugs the man so different to him down, closer. Impossibly closer. Lips just centimeters from the tip of Spinner's nose.
"You will love me."
And he does love him. Spinner hates how much he does love him. When the beautiful sky of nothing fades to that of a dream and all he has to hold in his arms is that of a screaming memory. A phantom of the man he chose to follow. Even now.
As he stays crouched to the floor, watching as the body of the man he promised presses himself into the ground and grabs his own hair in such a crazed state. Claws curl carefully and gently run themselves through that mass of hair. Wishing, hoping, pleading.
That the Tomura that left him that day could be saved. That those words he couldn't say then might be heard now.
"I love you."