Chapter Text
Scara stared at his own reflection. He looked paler than usual. He rubbed his fingers through his hair, each strand soft as silk but never quite like real hair.
Despite his human-like appearance, there still was something just... off. Perhaps it was the unnaturally shiny hair, his flawless, blemish-free skin, or the hollow look in his eyes. Attentive people who met him - without knowing his identity - sensed it too, though they could never quite put a finger on what was really wrong.
He glanced down at his outfit, admitting reluctantly that it looked better than he had initally expected.
He was wearing a dark shirt with long sleeves and a ruffled collar, his tailored dark pants matching with it. A loose, flowing black coat hung off his shoulders, draping down to the floor. He had even swapped his usual hat for a smaller, black one with delicate, transparent ribbons that trailed down. And, even though he hadn’t styled his hair, it fell in place as always, smooth and perfect.
But still, he didn't feel comfortable at all in the fabrics.The darker colors drained his skin to an unnatural whiteness, making him appear almost ghostly. Unsettling, even to himself.
But he would pull himself together. He knew that he only had to wear it for this night. A faint smile appeared on his thin lips as he remembered Teucer's reaction when he had chosen this costume in the shop. Teucer had squealed, delighted at the thought of them matching as vampires, though Scara knew they weren’t exactly the same. But he’d let it slide for Teucer’s sake.
"I don't know why you were complaining earlier - you look great, Scara", a voice was suddenly heard.
He flinched, his shoulders tensing. His gaze darted up to the mirror, where he could now see not only his own face but the figure of a taller redhead behind him. He hadn’t even heard Childe enter the room, and much less move close enough that he could feel the warmth of his breath on the back of his neck. A prickling tension climbed his spine, but he forced himself to stay still, ignoring the goosebumps rising on his skin. Childe knew exactly what he was doing.
Letting out a slow breath, Scara’s shoulders fell back into their usual guarded stance. The two of them stood there, eyes locked on the mirror but somehow seeing only each other.
He could feel how Childe's eyes were resting on him, how they seemed to wander over his face, his hands, over every single inch of his body and the longer he was watching the more a a pink hue rose in his cheeks. He dropped his eyes to the floor.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that,” he muttered, keeping his voice low and avoiding looking in the mirror.
Childe chuckled softly. "I didn't sneak up on you. It's not my fault you were so focused on yourself that you didn’t hear me.” Amusement edged his voice, but his gaze didn’t waver.
As Childe noticed that Scara wasn't replying to him his expression softened and he added. "If I didn't know you, I'd probably think you're a real living vampire"
“Vampires aren’t even living, idiot,” Scara shot back, but he couldn’t deny the truth in Childe’s words. He could indeed pass as a vampire, if he wanted to.
"Well,” Childe murmured, his voice gentle, “you don’t exactly 'live' either, do you?" Scara couldn't see his face, but he felt the seriousness if his words.
Even if he knew Childe was right, the reminder still stung. Even when said gently, it reminded him of what he was, what he’d never be. It still hurt. It still hurt to know that he would never live like a human would, even though with the years the desire to be a human had become less.
"Umm I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way", Childe whispered behind him and his gaze lifted back into the mirror. His eyes had darkened, a hint of something hollow in them.
Normally, a comment like that would provoke his anger. But with Childe, it was different. He knew Childe didn't say it with any bad intentions or because he thought he was a 'lower being' for not having a heart. He actually didn't mean it bad in any way. He was just teasing him… It had just... slipped.
"I know you didn’t mean it that way,” he said, holding Childe’s gaze in the mirror, his expression softening.
A shiver ran through him as he felt two warm hands settle on his cold shoulders. Childe’s fingers began to move in slow, soothing circles. He felt his shoulders slowly sink again under the light pressure - he hadn't even realised they were tensed up.
"You're always so tense", Childe whispered with a low hum.
"Can you blame me for that?"
A quiet laugh echoed behind him. “Guess I can’t.”
The door handle creaked, and Childe’s hands slipped away, leaving only a warm ghostly tingle of his touch lingering on Scara’s shoulders. Teucer bursted in, fully dressed in his costume and nearly tripping over his long coat in his excitement.
It was a few sizes bigger than Teucer actually needed and he was nearly swallowed by the big hood. His little head just barely peeked out. They hadn't had any smaller size and Teucer still had insisted on wearing it - and Childe hadn't been able to say 'no' to him.
Teucer held up three small fabric bags embroidered with Halloween motifs.
“I’m ready! When will we go?” he chirped, not realising that he might have interrupted them. Scara tore his gaze from the mirror, and Childe did the same.
Only now did Scara get a better look at the costume that Childe was wearing. A white shirt with half-length sleeves beneath a brown leather coat, several thick belts crossing his waist, and dark trousers tucked into matte leather boots. On his head sat a triangular hat decorated with various beads and ribbons. Scara had to admit—he couldn’t have imagined anyone else pulling off a pirate costume quite like Childe
"Preferably as soon as possible", Childe gave him a small nod and Teucer then handed both of them one of the bags, adding with a proud smile that they were selfmade.
As they turned to leave, Scara felt Childe’s gaze linger on him for a moment longer, a quiet weight behind it. But before he could fully process the look, Childe had already turned away.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
It was already getting dark outside when they set out on their way. Teucer had been a little sad because he wanted to go out even later - 'he wasn't a little boy anymore' - but they had convinced him that they would already go trick or treating now, since later the temperature would sink even more and they would freeze to death in their on averange thin costumes - at least Childe and Teucer.
There was a lot going on in the streets already. Many small groups were out and about at this time, dressed in a varity of different costumes so that they could easily blend in. Childe felt a strange relief as they slipped through the crowds of costumed children - completely unrecogizable.
It wouldn't have been optimal if someone found out that two harbingers were out trick-or-treating. Not that it was forbidden or that it would really hurt their reputation, but he still didn’t want to risk Teucer finding out.
Their feet left crunching footprints in the deep snow as they walked along the side of the road. The residents must not have been able to keep up with all the snowfall because it had been snowing for hours. At least it was dry from above now.
"I want to start there!", Teucer announced and pointed on a house on the opposite road side.
The house was decorated from top to bottom and there was hardly an inch without scary figures or pumpkin laterns. Teucer had definitely remembered his words from the previous year: The more decorations in front of the door, the more sweets they would probably get. Since those people also were more generous.
"Do you still know our rhyme?" Childe asked him with raised eyebrows. He could already feel his own excitement slowly rising within him, a slight tingling sensation on his skin. He knew that he was theoretically too old for something like that, but the thought of trick or treating was still tempting.
Teucer nodded. "Yes! I'd never forget that!"
"Good good, then how about you tell it to Mr. Scara too so we can all together scare the ghosts away?" Childe turned to Scara who trailed a few steps behind the them.
Scara was clutching the bag for sweets - which he wouldn't even eat - close to his body almost as if his life was depending on it. His steps were small and his head unusual low. Scara looked lost in the snowy landscape, his black coat and slim pale figure almost swallowed by the white surroundings. Childe could tell that he felt out of place, and guilt crept in. He almost felt bad for convincing him to come with them, even though he’d only done it with the best of intentions. He knew Scara wasn't particularly keen on this, but he hadn't thought at all that he would struggle so much with it.
He looked back at Teucer for a moment, giving him a small nod to signal him to wait and then walked over to Scara.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're even paler than usual", he muttered in a low voice, so Teucer couldn't hear them against the cold wind or that at least just a few loose words would reach him.
"Are you okay?" His first statement had been slightly teasing, but his follow-up question was meant completely serious. His worried gaze slid over Scara and lingered on his eyes. His irises were large, a restless flickering in them. For a moment, Childe was caught in his gaze, trapped by the dark color of his eyes and the way his eyeliner was perfectly placed as always. But then he returned to reality.
Scara held his gaze for a moment, but then he narrowed his eyes."Tch, yes I am. Let's just get it over with."
"You were supposed to also have fun", Childe let out a sigh. This wasn't how he had imagined this evening. And it probably even was his own fault, since he had convinced him.
"But you can't force fun, can you?", Scara retorted and Childe felt his heart sink in his chest. He inhaled the cold air sharply.
"Yeah, you're right. Just try to at least relax a little, it's not like anything could happen. It's not that bad, is it?" He suggested and then turned his head to glance over his back at Teucer, who was clearly watching them, swaying restlessly on his feet while he waved his bag around, waiting impatiently.
"Guess, we gotta go now", Childe whispered and slightly stretched out his hand toward Scara's, contemplating to grab his fingers as a silent comforting gesture but he stopped midmotion as he noticed Scara's sharp gaze, which said more than any words. For a moment, his fingers hung in the air, until he reluctantly let his hand fall to his side. Sometimes, Scara was really hard to figure out. But he also knew that he had to give him enough space.
As they reached Teucer again, the latter could hardly be contained and kept peering over to the door of the house they wanted to 'haunt'. "Can we go now, please?", he pleaded impatiently.
"Tell Scara our rhyme first", Childe reminded his brother with a small smile. Even if Scara himself already didn't seem enthusiastic at all, Childe at least didn't want him to feel left out too. Because that would make it even worse. He wanted to try to make him have fun too, even if it was just a little bit.
Teucer, who was immediately convinced of his task, slowly began to recite the rhyme. He couldn't hide the proud smile that crept on his face, as Teucer really had remembered it word for word. He still could remember the exact same day in the last year when they both had written the verses together.
Last Halloween was such an extraordinary experience. He just wanted that the celebration this year would be as good or even better. And he wanted Scara to be a part of it. And that he would enjoy it... But well…, Scara was right. He couldn't force him.
"Perfect, did you listen Scara?", Childe asked the other who just sighed in response. "Yeah, I did."
"Then it's time to make the night unsafe!"
Teucer didn't need to be told twice and ran straight to the door of the first house, Scara and Childe at his heels. Teucer stood on tiptoe to ring the bell and there was silence on the other end for a few moments. Then they heard footsteps and a second later the door opened with a flourish and an oldery woman stood in the doorway.
They counted until 3 in their heads and then Teucer began to sing loudly and Childe joined in. He casted a glance at Scara who was moving his lips too, albeit only slightly and he could also barely hear anything from him. But it was a start.
"From the heights of celestia,
to the depths of the abyss,
if we don't get our sweets,
we'll destroy all of your bliss.
Like hillichuls hunt in the night,
we will strike and bring the fright.
To prevent this, fill our bags
And we'll pass on and haunt the next!"
Before they had finished speaking, Teucer had taken a step forward and held out his little cloth bag, ready to receive his well-earned sweets while a wide bright smile was on his face.
As they fell silent the house resident clapped her hands and reached into a plate near the door and pulled out a load of sweets which she generously dropped into Teucer's bag. "What a great perfomance!", the woman exclaimed with a big smile.
Childe watched Teucer’s wide smile as he peeked into his bag, and he felt a quiet satisfaction knowing that this wasn't the worst start. It was actually a very good one.
They waved goodbye to the woman and returned to the snowy street, Teucer’s bag now a little heavier and his smile a little brighter.
As the evening progressed, they walked from house to house, reciting their rhyme and their bags were filling up with more and more sweets. The longer they went trick or treating, the more comfortable Scara seemed to feel. He even would have dared to say, that it seemed like Scara was enjoying it, even if he was keeping his usual facade.
It were the small things Childe noticed. It was like a part of the tension which was usually written on Scara's face and weighed on his shoulders when they were on a mission or generally in company of other Harbingers or subordinates had faded and was replaced by a little more calm expression.
Tonight they weren't doing a job or anything, this was their free time after all. Nobody forced them to wear the mask of a Harbinger because in the darkness they just were a group of costumised people. Just like many others.
They even got Scara to sing along louder and louder the more houses they visited, so that in the end he almost was singing as loudly as Childe - though he still heard the hesistation in his voice and saw the bored, uninterested expression on his face, as if he was just playing along.
Even Teucer had been delighted with the way he sang. Perhaps there was some truth in his singing talent after all, he thought.
"Do we really still have to go to that house?" They stopped on a small sideway of the street, a little offside from the main road. Until now it really was pitch-black outside and just the street laterns and the glowing pumpkins some people had placed in front of their houses were a source of light. The full moon was shinning down on them and added an eerie glow to their surroundings.
"Are you already tired, Scara?" Childe raised his eyebrows, his lips turning up into a cheeky smile.
But he couldnt deny himself that he felt a little exhausted after Teucer had basically convinced them to rush to almost every house they could find in their radius. But Teucer, on the other hand, still was full of energy even after they already spend hours on the streets. When it came to things that Teucer enjoyed, he really seemed to have endless stamina.
"No, not at all", Scara furrowed his eyebrows. Childe knew that he wasn't the most social person- well he actually wasn't social at all - and that he probably just had enough from all the contact with other people. But he still noticed how the tone of his voice had changed, even if it just was a minimal change one could probably only notice if you knew him well - which Childe did.
"What do you think Teucer? I'm sure what you got will be enough for a long time", he turned to his little brother who was busy with examining the countless items in his bag - for Teucer everything he had gathered was like a little precious treasure to him and his eyes were glowing.
"It's fine, we can go home!"
"Alright!", Childe agreed with him.
The way Teucer had talked about 'home' made a warm feeling in his chest rise. They weren't exactly at Teucers home, he had just traveled to visit them for this day and would stay with them at the headquarters- they had told him it were some kind of apartments they had rented. He knew it was dangerous but they didn't have another option. Teucer still he had called it home.
This reminded him of something his father had told him once and which he surely also had told to Teucer - home wasn't exactly a place, home could also mean some special people. Home is where your 'family' is.
"We should head back then, we have still a bit to walk" The others agreed and they set off.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
"Y-you really want to go there, big brother?", Teucer nervously looked over to his brother, his fingers fidgeting with the straps of his bag.
"Yes, this path is a shortcut, we'll be home faster", Childe explained to him, a faint glint in his blue eyes that Scara couldn't quite decipher.
Teucer had already started to complain about his hurting feet a while ago. The moment the fun had stopped, Teucer had started to realise his own exhaustion.
They were standing at a turn-off from the busy roads that led towards a less crowded - well almost completely empty - forest path. The snow-covered trees shimmered spookily in the moonlight, and you could easily imagine moving shadows behind them. Scara knew very well this was definitely not a shortcut; they’d be faster staying on the main road.
"It's not-" Childe quickly elbowed him in the side, cutting him off. Scara glared at him, confusion mixing with irritation. He tried to understand Childe's motifs but failed. He cleared his throat. "What was that for?!"
Childe shot him a gaze but Scara couldn't quite understand how to interpret it. Usually reading Childe was way easier...
"It's all good. I know my way around here way better, especially in the dark", Childe replied casually. But this was a lie. Scara had spend so much time in the capital of Snezhnaya that he knew it inside out - just as well as Childe. Maybe even better. So what was he thinking? Was Childe planning something? But what kind of plan involved going into a dark forest at night?
"This way looks scary", Teucer's voice was just a whisper. Even the brave little Teucer seemed to get goosebumps as he eyed the shadowy path.
"Didn’t you tell me you don’t believe in ghosts just a few hours ago?", Childe teased, his voice light and lilting, placing his hand on his brothers shoulder.
"Yes, because they don't exist!", Teucer exclaimed, sounding a bit more determined again.
"Then let's hurry up!", Childe didn’t give either of them a chance to protest and confidently walked toward the forest path. Scara sighed and followed, with Teucer in tow.
The further they moved away from the illuminated street the darker it was getting around them. The forest was unusually quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps breaking the silence. A cold breeze had risen since they set out, biting into their skin as it swept through the trees.The snow crunched loudly under their feet. Apparently nobody had bothered to shovel the snow on this path at all.
Scara was glad that he had put his boots on, because the snow was almost up to his calves. Teucer clung to his hand, struggling to keep pace with his oversized coat and small feet. He was a little touched that Teucer seemed to prefer staying more close to him than to his own brother. Scara almost felt that Teucer had a preference for him—at least for now. He'd savor the chance to rub it in Childe's face later.
As they went further, Teucer grew quieter. He had been chatting away with Scara almost the whole way telling him about his family, his new sweets and whatever his little mind was thinking of. But now he clung to him in silence. The darkness seemed to bother him more than he’d admit.
Suddenly, Childe stopped, and they almost ran into him. "Shit. I think I lost my keys somewhere along the way. I’ll have to go back and look for them. You two go ahead; I’ll catch up with you."
Scara’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Something was going on here and he was more than just annoyed that he hadn't been told about it. He didn’t trust Childe’s sudden change of plans, but with Teucer tugging at his side, he gave a resigned nod. Teucer, however, looked back at his brother with wide eyes, his voice barely a whisper.
"B-but brother" Teucer stepped between them and looked up at Childe with pleading eyes. "Do you really want to go back alone?"
"Don't worry Teucer, Scara will watch you and protect you from any evil ghosts - which of course don't exist, right?" Childe said, as he waved at them, completely ignoring Scara’s irritated gaze, then turned and quickly walked back the way they’d come.
"I’ll catch up with you soon!" he shouted from the distance. Soon having disappeared into the shadows, leaving even Scara unable to see him.
Teucer looked up at him expectantly. "We just... continue without him?" he asked, his voice a low whisper, while he looked at him with big eyes.
"Yeah, don’t worry about him. He’ll catch up with us soon," Scara replied, trying to sound comforting, though this wasn’t exactly his strength. He didn’t even know what Childe was up to, and it was driving him crazy. Teucer’s grip on his hand tightened.
They continued on, Scara pulling Teucer along a bit, since Teucer was too busy jerking his head from side to side, watching out for moving figures or whatever was lurking in the shadows of the tree branches or under the treetops.
"Mr. Scara, look!" Teucer called out with a shrill voice, and Scara’s head shot in his direction.
Teucer stretched out his other hand, pointing toward something by the wayside, nestled between the dark tree trunks. Wisps of whitish-gray steam rose there, forming shapes and shadows that moved up and down, seeming to silently run parallel to them in the shadows of the tree trunks.
He could see how Teucer, who had steadfastly maintained that there were no ghosts, was slowly overcome by doubt.
"Are those... real ghosts?" Teucer stared at the moving shapes, wide-eyed with fear but also some kind of fascination.
So that had been Childe’s plan. A small smile formed on Scara’s lips as he realized what was happening here. He didn't expect Childe to go that many lenghts to prove the existence of ghosts to Teucer. But it just showed once more what Childe was willing to do for his loved ones.
"You should have listened to your brother," he murmured in a low voice, leaning down a bit toward Teucer, as he watched his expressions shift to even more fascination with amusement.
The shadows continued their eerie dance on the other side of the path. The dim moonlight filtering through the snow-covered tree tops adding mystery to the scene, as if it were a paid actor in Childe’s elaborate plan. The wind had begun to hiss softly, and with enough imagination, one could almost believe the figures were whispering to each other.
The little boys fear next to him had faded and Teucer had even made a few steps closer to the shadows, watching the spectacle full of curiosity.
"I thought you ghosts didn't exist..." He whispered, obviously not getting any response since it just was a show - which Teucer wasn't aware of. Disappointment flitted over his face. "Why don't they respond?", He turned to him, looking conflicted.
Scara was slightly overwhelmed for a split second, but had an answer ready shortly afterwards."They can't hear you... they're on their way to the afterlife", Scara muttered quickly, hoping Teucer would accept this explanation. He could see the gears turning in the little boy’s mind as he processed this information.
"Why do I just see them now?" Teucer then asked with a tone of skepticism laced in his voice; he still didn’t fully believe in what he was seeing.
"Because it's Halloween. Today, the borders between life and death are a lot smaller. Think of it like the back door being ajar," Scara explained.
It felt surprisingly easy to find something Teucer would believe. Scara knew from his own experience that such naiveté could be dangerous and that it could quickly lead to being taken advantage of. In this case it was different but in the wrong hands, it could be extremly critical.
"This ghost looks different!" Teucer interrupted his thoughts, and Scara turned to see what had caught his attention.
He couldn't believe his eyes as he spotted a cryo abyss mage hovering just over the ground ahead of them on the way. He waved the wand tauntingly in his hand, while he made shrill noises that almost hurt his ears.
How did the mage suddenly come here? Their voices must have attracted it. Normally, abyss creatures stayed far from the city, avoiding such happenings or lurking for their victims from further away.
"Teucer! Get behind me!" With a surge of protective instinct, Scara pulled Teucer behind just as the abyss mage hurled icicles toward them. Teucer stumbled back, his eyes still wide with fascination, not yet realizing the real danger he was in. The shards of ice shattered on the ground where Teucer had just stood seconds ago, splintering in all directions.
The abyss mage, furious at its missed attack, began mocking them in an abyssal language that even Scara couldn't understand.
"W-why is he attacking us?" Teucer whispered, finally grasping the gravity of the situation, shrinking behind Scara's back.
"He's an evil ghost," Scara replied shortly, stepping forward to shield Teucer from further attacks.
"Close your eyes for a moment; I'll take care of him." As he spoke, crackling sparks of electro power glimmering in his palms.
With a swift, well-aimed blow, he hurled the electricity at the surprised abyss mage, breaking through its cryo shield in an instant. The mage staggered, thrown off balance and vulnerable. Seizing the moment, Scara struck again, and with a flash, the abyss mage dissolved into an ice vortex, disappearing back into the shadows from which it had come with a loud bang.
Teucer peeked out from behind Scara, sensing the stillness that followed the abyss mage's departure. The only sound was the fading tingle of electro energy in Scara's hands which died out a few moments later.
"Is he gone?" Teucer whispered, his voice thin and fragile.
"He's gone. No need to worry anymore." Scara reassured him, turning to scan the dark surroundings once more. He listened for any signs of danger, his instincts still on high alert. When he saw nothing lurking in the shadows, he allowed himself to relax a little.
"How did you do that?" Teucer's voice trembled with excitement, he could hear his heart racing. "Your fingers. Those electro powers. Do you have a vision?" He scrutinized Scara’s hands, his eyes wide with wonder, perhaps pondering if he could wield such abilities himself.
"No i don't own a vision - but it's just some elemental powers," Scara explained, his tone casual but with an underlying seriousness. "They're not something to play with-"
Teucer nodded slowly, absorbing every word. "Can I learn it too?" His eyes sparkled with hope, reflecting his admiration.
Oh Teucer. He thought. What would Teucer think if he found out that he gained those powers on another way? He probably couldn’t even imagine it. But while having elemental powers was possible, it usually required being lucky enough to earn a Vision—though not many were that fortunate. There were still delusions...but he didn't want to think about those. Childe would not be happy if his own brother used one.
"Maybe one day", he tried to sound optimistic, a small smile tugging at his lips, though doubt lingered in the back of his mind.
Suddenly, they heard brisk footsteps approaching from behind. Scara's gaze snapped in the direction of the sounds, ready to attack if anything happened. But it was only a heavily breathing Childe, quickly approaching them, his ginger hair sticking out wildly in all directions beneath his hat.
"For the Seven, are you alright? I heard fighting sounds!" Childe's worried gaze slid first to Teucer, where it lingered for a moment as he checked for possible wounds, before looking over at Scara.
But Scara knew that Childe must have witnessed what had happened; after all, he had created the illusions of the ghosts, which were now gone too, so he must have always been nearby. Still, he hadn’t been able to help because otherwise it would have been too conspicuous for Teucer. Childe would never have missed a fight otherwise.
"Yes, I'm fine!" the little boy exclaimed excitedly, his eyes shining with admiration. "Mr. Scara saved me! He's super strong!"
"It was only an abyss mage, nothing special," Scara replied, trying to downplay the praise. The mage was nothing compared to the monsters he had seen in the abyss. But judging by Childe's grin, Teucer would probably be telling everyone he met about it for the next few months - or even years. Ugh.
He felt Childe's cold, gloved hand on his shoulder as he spoke. "Don't be so modest, or we might get the wrong idea about you, Scara."
Scara rolled his eyes, which only seemed to amuse Childe even more.
"How far is it still?" Teucer suddenly chirped, his tone a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. "My feet are hurting and it's getting really cold."
"Oh, we're almost there," Childe replied with a reassuring warm smile. "Just a little further."
Scara shot him a look that said this better not be a lie. Childe merely shrugged it off, a playful grin still on his face.
As they continued on, Teucer’s mood brightened again. All the fear he had felt earlier was forgotten, and he couldn't stop talking about what he just had seen. Teucer bounced excitedly as he spoke. "I can't believe you were right about the ghosts!" He turned to his big brother. "It's such a shame you didn't see them!"
Childe grinned broadly. "Who knows Maybe we'll see them again soon."
"I hope so! But hopefully not the evil one!"
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
The fire crackled softly in the fireplace, the dancing flames casting gigantic shadows on the walls of the otherwise almost completely dark room. Teucer sat by the hearth, curled up in a blanket Childe had arranged for him, warming his fingers as he carefully examined each piece from his overturned bag of sweets. His "treasures' lay scattered across the carpet and next to it.
Scara was sitting on the other side of the room on the bed, watching him quietly. Childe had stepped out to gather more firewood, leaving the room in a stillness broken only by the fire and Teucer’s soft rustling.
After a while, Teucer looked up, holding a square-shaped sweet in his fingers. "Would you like one, Mr. Scara?" he asked, extending the candy toward him.
He couldn't surpress the small smile that formed on his face by Teucers simple generous gesture. The little boy usually didn't like sharing when it came to his precious treasures. But maybe today felt different to him - perhaps he felt grateful after Scara had 'saved' him earlier.
"It's fine, just keep it for yourself", Scara quickly replied. Teucers bag was full of sweets, and the small package he was holding in his hands was even worse - sticky caramel. One of the worst foods in existence, since it wasn't just sickening sweet but also got stuck into the whole mouth because of its texture. There was no need for it.
"Okay..." Teucer’s face fell slightly, and his gaze lowered. Yet Scara knew that the boy’s disappointment would quickly change into a new distraction.The thoughts of children were so diverting. One moment they were sad and the next moment it was completly forgotten.
Teucer was more than busy looking at every single sweet again and sneaking bites while his brother was absent, likely knowing he’d face a scolding when Childe returned. Although his brother would certainly turn a blind eye on this day.
Scara let his eyes fall to the hypnotic dance of the fire again. There was something soothing about watching their flame's dance and the way they twined around each other, trying to fight who was the strongest light, strangling the weaker others to the ground.
"Where is your family, Mr. Scara?" Teucer’s question broke his trance. Scara blinked, needing a moment to process.
"My family?" He repeated with surprise. The words sounded distant, foreign even.
"I'm sure your siblings would also love to celebrate Halloween with you!" Teucer added earnestly, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
Scara’s gaze fell back to the fire. How could he explain to him that he didn’t truly have a family? That he wasn’t even human? Teucer wouldn’t understand, and Scara also didn't want to overwhelm him with that kind of information. Especially after such a close bond of trust had already grown between them in the short time.
"I… lost contact with them a long time ago," he finally replied, his voice sounded distant with a quiet melancholy.
He hadn't expected such a deep question from Teucer. On the other hand, Teucer was Childe's brother and their family seemed to be a really high priority for both of them.
Teucer tilted his head. "Don’t you miss them?"
This conversation cut deeper with every question the little boy was asking. Deeper than Scara would have ever preferred. It was tempting to just break it off, but he couldn't do that to Teucer, who was watching him so innocently and full of curiosity. The little boy couldn't have the slightest idea about his past. For a while he stared into the dancing flames lost in thoughts.
"No, not really," he murmured. "My… mother never really liked me."
"I'm sure she still misses you", Teucer replied right out. The person Scara once had been would probably have done everything to believe those words, but the person he was now just could let out a bitter laugh about this.
"Definitely not."
"Yes, she does! She must be proud of you," Teucer insisted, clapping his hands. How could this little boy just have such high ideas of him? How could he be so sure of something like that? Teucer barely knew him and he was just a little boy with not much experience. A boy that hadn't seen any dark shade of the world. (Well kids never lie)
"I don't know", he said hesistatly.
"But I do! The way my brother talks about you, it’s clear as day!" Teucer said happily, stuffing another sweet into his mouth with a loud crunch, babbling loudly.
"He talks about me?", Scara raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"Yes, in almost every letter he sends to us!" He could feel his face flush at his response, his cheeks heating up. Scara knew Childe wrote to his family regularly - he’d even accompanied him a few times when he brought the letters away. But to think he’d mentioned him in those letters?
"Why don't you try to contact your family again?", Teucer wanted to know, his voice high-pitched and chirping with curiosity.
Scara exhaled slowly. "I don’t… see the need for that," he replied.
His thoughts were still spinning like a carousel. He hadn't even thought once in all that time about trying to contact his creator again. She probably couldn't care less about him after all of those decades. And he also didn't want to hear from her the slightest. It probably would stay like this forever. He would forever stay like her failed and discarted prototype.
Usually this thought felt like a fire in his chest, a brutal burning weight which wouldn't leave him alone. But today it was different. It felt like the fire was extinguished, the slightly glowing ashes only a distant memory of what once was. And a new warm spark had started to glow, right at the right side of his empty chest - a spark ignited only by Childe.
"Who are you talking about?" Childe returned with his arms full of freshly gathered wood, only to find Teucer and Scara in the exact positions he’d left them in. Teucer was still sitting by the fire, the blanket covering almost everything except his head. It hadn't escaped his eye that Teucer had tried to hide some of the sweets as soon as he had come in, but he had failed and half of the papers were still sticking out under the blanket.
Scara, on the other hand, was sitting on the edge of his bed, legs straight and upright as ever but as soon as he entered, his head shot into his direction.
"Mr. Scara's family!", Teucer exclaimed, while twisting to glance over his shoulder.
"His family?", Childe repeated and turned around to Scara, his gaze slowly hovered over him, checking in from head to toe trying to read his expression, but as usual he failed. Scara really had a talent in hiding whatever emotion he didn't want the others to see. The only remnants he could discover was the way Scaras pale cheeks had a little more colour then usually.
"Stop staring", Scara muttered, averting his gaze.
"I'm not!", Childe quickly protested, looking away from him and kneeling down next to Teucer at the fireplace. He began to carefully refill it with the fresh wood he had gathered and his brother watched curiously. Every hiss of damp wood made Teucer flinch, his eyes darting to the sparks.
When Childe finished, he looked back at Teucer, affection warming his gaze. “So, did everything go like you imagined?”, he asked his brother stroking fondly one of his tangled strands of hair out of his face.
"Yes!", the boy said without the slightest hesitation. "I got a lot sweets, I saw real ghosts and I could spend time with you and Mr. Scara. This has to be the greatest Halloween in history!"
The excitement in his voice was so pure and genuine that Childe felt his chest swell with pride and warmth. He caught a small sound - almost sounding like a low chuckle - from Scara's direction. It was rare to catch reactions like this from him, so he cherished every one of them deeply.
It was so unbelievably easy to faszinate Teucer and it seems like he already had completely forgotten about his encounter with the abyss mage, well...or maybe he hasn't and it only has made everything even more exciting for him. In that regard, he and his brother had definitely something in common.
He couldn't be happied that his plan had worked out perfectly and Teucer had believed his illusions. He had been able to watch all of it from behind a tree and he'd never forget the look on Teucer's face when he had seen the 'ghosts'.
When Childe turned to Teucer once more, his little brother could barely keep his eyes open - it seemed as if the tiredness from the day's exertions had finally won over the boy's body even if he had fought against it for a while already.
"Look who really needs some sleep now", Childe murmured softly.
"But i'm not tired!",The little boy protested, but his voice was already muffled, as if he was about to drift off to sleep any second. His eyes only flickered open again for a brief moment. "I'm already a big boy! I can stay awake for longer."
"Yes, you are. But even for big boys it's time to go to sleep at some point" Childe stood up and scooping him up the a blanket with ease, and with a few steps carefully brought him over to the guest bed that he had just arranged for him. He placed him on the soft mattress and laid his head on the pillow.
"Can you still tell me a good night story?", he then heard the almost already half asleep Teucer whisper.
"Of course, let me just get you another blanket", he said softly and walked over to the other side of the room gathering a blanket but as he came back to Teucer, he was already fully asleep and snored peacefully.
"So no good night story then...", Childe said a little lost in thoughts to himself.
A soft cough reminded him that they weren’t alone. Childe turned and saw Scara still sitting on the edge of the bed, silent as ever. He had been so silent that Childe had almost forgotten about him. Well just almost. He could never forget Scara.
"Oh, do you want a good night story too, Scara?" He teased.
He walked over to him and with a little bounce sat down next to him on the edge of he bed, with so little distance that their shoulders bumped against each other but neither of them even made an attempt to slide away.
"I doubt you know any stories worth telling," Scara replied with his usual sharp edge, though Childe had long since stopped taking it personally.
"Ouch, i'm a pretty good story teller you know", he replied. They both were speaking in low voices, so as not to accidently wake up Teucer who was snoring peacefully on his blankets a bit away.
"Oh really?", Scara's voice was dripping in sarcasm.
"My siblings practically grew up on my bedtime stories."
He couldn't even remember how many stories he had already told them. When they were younger it was much easier, since the day after he told them a story, they had already forgotten most of the plot and so he just could tell something similar again at the next evening. But the older they had gotten the more demanding they had become but luckily he has a lot of imagination.
He leaned closer to Scara and bowed his head down, letting his lips brush the edge of Scara’s ear. "But my mouth can tell a different kind of stories too." His lips twisted up as he stared at Scara, though in the semi dark most of his face was laying in the shadows so he couldn't exactly read his expression. But he also didn't have to because Scaras words literally kicked him back to reality.
"You idiot! Teucer is literally right there" Scara muttered, jerking away but not far enough to break their proximity.
"He's asleep", Childe mumbled trying to sound playful - not being able to suppress a small giggle. Scara, unfortunately, had better ears than any human and had heard him clearly.
"You'll be sleeping too - forever - if you suggest something like that again", Scara retorted and turned his head away from him.
With an impulsive thought, Childe slowly stretched his fingers out and reached for one of his strands and twisted it a few times around his fingers before softly tucking it behind his ear again.
"Come on, Scara, don’t say brutal things like that-not while Teucer’s around," Childe whispered, using Scara’s own words against him with a playful smirk.
"So? Now you suddenly care that your brother is in the room?", He heard Scara's voice.
Even if it was dark he could imagine clearly how Scara had probably rolled his eyes. He had already seen that exasperated look so many times before.
"I guess I should go now." With a little jolt, he suddenly felt the mattress of his bed go up as weight fell off it. Scara had stood up and was about to walk off. Without thinking, Childe reached out and caught his wrist.
"No wait. Stay." He slightly raised his voice, in an almost pleading tone, while at the same time he still tried to be quiet enough to not accidently wake up his brother.
He really wanted Scara to stay. Scara's room and office in the headquarters were laying two whole floors above his own. It might not seem like it was a lot distance but still too much in Childe's opinion.
Besides Scara had already slept multiple times in his room - well mostly only if he was being in a terrible mood and needed someone to comfort him (of course he would never admit that) or if he had come back from dottores lab and was in pain (another unpleasant topic).
But they had spend the whole day together already, so why not the night too? He could already hear Scara saying that he spend more than enough time with him today already and that he couldn't stand him even one more second.
"Really?", he could hear the hesistation in his voice.
"Yes, you're always welcome here. I want you to stay", Childe hummed affectionately and pulled his wrist to bring him closer once more, using his free hand to pet at the free place on the bed next to him again - a signal for him to sit down again.
Reluctantly - or not - Scara dropped down next to him on the edge again. Childe’s hand found his, their fingers loosely intertwining in the space between them. He didn’t even seem to notice—or maybe he did, and just chose to ignore it.
"What did you tell Teucer about your family?", he wanted to know. This question had already been on his mind ever since he had interrupted their conversation. He knew it was a dangerous topic to ask Scara but his curiosity just won at this point.
“Not much. There isn’t anything to tell,” He could clearly hear the resigned undertone from Scara even if he spoke calmly, which was signaling him to not continue to ask further. And he accepted that wish. For a moment they were just sitting there silently, their hands still loosely intertwined on the edge of the bed.
"Don't mind me but I'm honestly getting tired. I had some quite sleepless nights and a long day", Childe muttered after a while, finally allowing himself a yawn he had suppressed for a while already.
"Sleepless nights?" Scara’s voice had a hint of surprise, and Childe couldn’t resist teasing him just a bit more.
"Yeah, being busy thinking about you, stupid", he whispered warmly.
Suddently Childe leaned closer until his fingers found Scara's chin, tilting it gently until their eyes locked. Scara's indigo eyes shimmered faintly in the dim light, a subtle glint of surprise and maybe also anticipation dancing within them.
In one smooth motion, Childe closed the gap, brushing his lips softly against Scara's in a brief, lingering kiss. Their lips barely met before he already drew back, the warmth of his breath still hanging in the narrow space between them.
Remembering Teucer asleep nearby, Childe withdrew carefully, loosening their interlocked fingers as he slid backward onto the bed, dropping onto the mattress with a quiet chuckle. Scara didn't even hesitate and followed suit and then Childe pulled his blanket above both of them, so that just their heads were looking out of it, facing each other.
"Don't say something like this ever again", he could hear Scara complain grumpily next to him.
"Why not? Don't you like it?", he asked innocently. In response he received a punishment, which consisted of an elbow strike that elicited an 'ouch' from him.
The two of them fell into a comfortable silence and Childe could feel how his thoughts were already drifting away, his eyes yearning for the sleep but he forced himself to stay awake a little longer and turned to face Scara again.
“Thanks for playing along and not destroying Teucer’s dreams.”
“It’s not like I had a choice,” Scara replied softly.
Childe’s smile deepened. “Trust me, you always had.”