Chapter Text
Dew slowly wakes, stirring at the feeling of nimble fingers running through his hair, getting caught on knots and having to gently untangle it. He knows who it is before he even opens his eyes.
When he does, he sees that Rain is not in bed anymore, instead dressed and crouched down, resting a cheek on the bed as he watches. He perks up a little when he realizes Dew is awake.
"Hi." Rain greets in a whisper, flashing a little smile at him. His attempt at staying quiet makes Dew realize there are still others in bed with him. Or maybe just one? It's hard to tell, the scents of the other ghouls linger after a whole night spent together, sticking to each other stubbornly, and he's still gradually waking up, getting his senses back in order; but there is one ghoul pressed firmly against his back, arms tightly wound around Dew's waist. Rain or the girls will linger a little while after the others have left, sometimes, so he doesn't question it.
He is curious about who it is, though, so he gives Rain a confused look, glancing to the arms around his middle before looking back. Rain translates the motions effortlessly.
"Phantom," He answers, voice still low. That's odd. Phantom definitely isn't one to stick around, at least not with Dew. Their behavior last night was pretty out of the ordinary, too. As if reading his mind, Rain's expression shifts to something of concern.
"You should talk to them when they're up." Dew must make a face, because Rain furrows his brows in annoyance. "Don't be a dick. They have been looking really distant lately," He observes, and Dew can't tell if that's simply Rain thinking out loud, or if he's trying to hint at something.
Either way, before Dew can argue or ask questions, Rain presses a kiss to his forehead, then leans over to do the same for Phantom. He gives a little wave, then swiftly leaves. Dew curses him under his breath.
It's not as if Dew doesn't like Phantom. They've never been particularly close, a few nights spent alone together here and there, (he's pretty sure Phantom doesn't sleep around the group much anyway), though not much beyond time spent as a pack.
There had definitely been some tension between them when Phantom was first summoned, the wounds of Aether leaving still left open and raw. Sure, he isn't gone, he still visits from time to time, but Dew couldn't help but pin the blame on somebody when he was hurting; and Phantom was easy. Incredibly so. Dew ignored them relentlessly, replied bitterly to anything they said for months. They're not so much of a pushover anymore, coming into their own in a way that Dew is admittedly proud of; but at their core, Phantom is delicate. Sensitive.
Still, it's been a couple of years since then and they've long since moved past the one-sided conflict. At least Dew thinks so.
After a few minutes, he feels the other ghoul stretch, extracting their arms and untangling their legs from Dew's. They must think that Dew is asleep, because they get up to climb off the bed, slow and careful with their movements.
Dew stops them, sitting up to grab their wrist maybe a little too hard, because Phantom flinches hard with a gasp and a brief flash of terror flashes across their face. Dew hates it, guilt already festering in his chest.
"Sorry," He apologizes immediately, loosening his grip. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."
Phantom shakes their head, "S'fine." they sound more like they're trying to convince themself.
There's a very awkward silence after that. Dew really isn't cut out for this. Phantom looks like they want to flee but they're completely frozen in place, like a deer caught in headlights.
"So. You promised you'd talk." Dew finally offers.
"I didn't promise-"
Dew holds a finger up. "Ah ah, you're not getting out of it, bug."
Phantom heaves a sigh and settles back down, sitting parallel to Dew, legs drawn in. "It's not a big deal. I just... wasn't having a good night."
"... Because?" Dew pushes.
Phantom looks away. "Look, I appreciate the concern-"
Dew interrupts them again. "You've been in this pack long enough to know how this works. What, do you not trust me or somethin'?"
Phantom looks panicked at that, looking back at him and holding up their hands in protest. "No! I mean, yes, I do trust you," they sigh again, looking utterly frazzled. "It's embarrassing, I guess."
Dew shrugs. "So? We've all got embarrassing shit."
Phantom prepares themself, stalling for a mere few seconds by adjusting their legs. "I... You all make me feel so included, really, it's not that I don't feel loved," Dew would sure hope not, because despite being the least close to Phantom, he does love them. Very much. "But you all just seem to have... special bonds with each other, you know? You and Rain, Mount and 'Rora, Cirrus with Cumulus, before she left. We're a pack, I know, and there's enough to go around, but..." They trail off, nervous, fidgeting with their fingers.
A dull ache forms in Dew's chest at the confession. Bonded doesn't mean exclusive, by any means. For some, maybe, but not generally. Not for any of them. He knows they all spend time with Phantom, they all include them and give them just as much attention as the rest. But Phantom isn't bonded with any of them. It must feel so isolating.
He thinks back to last night. Everyone, excluding Rain, came in with groups of two or three.
Except for Phantom.
Had nobody thought to check on them? Is that why they showed up by themself, so late after everyone else? The sting in Dew's chest gets stronger, and he feels an insistent physical need to comfort this hurting ghoul next to him. He grabs Phantom's hand, for a start, holding it between both of his own.
"You were by yourself last night." Dew notes as if it's a revelation.
Phantom nods, looking at their connected hands like they're fleeting, like if they look away the contact will break. "I thought it'd just be you and Rain in here. I wanted to ask to join," They shift uncomfortably. Rain would've said yes, and although Dew might've grumbled about it for show, he'd never turn away any ghoul seeking out comfort. "I didn't realize everybody else was already here, 'till I showed up."
They'd been left out. Unintentionally, of course, Dew knows none of them would ever purposefully leave anyone out. It's a general rule of thumb that every one of them is welcomed in every activity, with few exceptions. Invitations are trivial, because they are always expected. Still, it's nice to feel considered, to feel wanted. Dew can understand that. He can understand why Phantom didn't feel that way.
"I'm glad you joined anyway," Dew says, because he's sort of at a loss for words. He's never been very good with those. "You can always come see me, you know. Invade my personal space all you want. Door's always unlocked for a reason."
"I, um. I know you were close with Aether, so I never wanted to...impose..." Phantom trails off after seeing Dew's expression.
It's a sore subject. Not one Dew talks about much at all, let alone with the person he'd decided to punish over it.
"That doesn't matter," Dew waves it off as best he can, "You're part of the pack as much as he was. So are the others. Just 'cause I was close with him doesn't mean any different."
Phantom nods slowly, like they don't quite believe it. Understandable, Dew thinks.
He tries to think of something better to say, wonders if there's some string of magic words that'll make Phantom feel better. Sometimes he feels like others can do that for him, but he never understands how they come up with the right sequence every time.
Phantom needs to feel wanted. Needs to feel like they're being chosen over everyone else, for no particular reason other than the simple fact that they are loved and desired.
So, Dew enacts a plan.
⸸
He'd only told Rain, in case he came looking for him. Rain had felt so guilty, recognizing how Phantom must be feeling, and he'd instructed Dew to be extra generous with affection on his behalf.
He can do that.
The plan commences late that night. Dew pads along the hall of the Abbey, wearing pajama pants he doesn't know the owner of that drag on the floor as he walks, and a tank top with an intricate bird design that he's pretty sure is his, but he can't be certain. He stops at his target's door.
He ends up deciding against knocking. Nobody ever really bothers to around here.
The door is pushed open quietly as Dew peeks in. Phantom is awake, lounging on the bed in their dimly lit room with a comic, or maybe a magazine, he can't quite make it out.
They look up, startled. Their face morphs from alarm to confusion the moment they process who they're looking at.
"Dewdrop?"
"That would be me," Dew chirps, closing the door behind him. He saunters up to the bed, then makes a vague gesture at it. "May I?"
"I'm not really... in the mood," They insinuate, still entirely bewildered at Dew's presence.
He really can't blame them for the assumption, he's pretty sure every other time he's been in this room it was because he and Phantom had stumbled here together, hands and mouths desperately pressed against each other.
"Not for that," Dew clarifies with a low chuckle he can't contain, "Just wanted to sleep here. If that's cool with you."
Phantom seems to deliberate for a moment, before giving a nod.
Dew wastes no time climbing into bed, and wastes even less time crawling directly on top of Phantom. He butts at the book still in their hands until they lift it just enough for him to shove his head under. He settles on their chest, arms tucked underneath theirs.
Phantom just stares, lost.
"Is Rain busy?" They question, a genuine attempt at figuring out what's going on.
"Mm, no, don't think so." Dew mumbles into their shirt.
They seem to be slowly piecing together that Dew, is in fact, just here for them. Their hand tentatively finds its way into Dew's hair, pulling a low rumbly purr from the fire ghoul's throat almost instantly, urging them on. Dull nails scratch gently along his scalp, then behind his ear, then to the nape of his neck.
They finally set their book aside after a while, repositioning to lie down fully. Dew takes the opportunity to shift up, nosing into Phantom's jaw, rubbing his cheek along their neck to scent. He can smell subtle traces of Storm on them, too strong to just be from sleeping next to him last night. He decides not to question it for now, but he will absolutely want any and all information about that later.
"You don't have to be here," Phantom states, though their arms finally wrap around Dew's back like they're afraid he'll leave.
"Wanted to see you." Dew replies simply. "Not leaving unless you kick me out."
"I'm not kicking you out." Phantom whispers, their hold tightening, hands rubbing light circles into Dew's shoulder blade.
"Good." Dew whispers back, then presses a kiss to the space where their jaw meets their neck.
Dew's purrs start up again shortly after, and eventually Phantom's purring too, both holding each other impossibly close until they're dozing off.
Aurora is the one to find them the next morning after they'd both slept in late, and one by one, the rest of the ghouls assemble at the door to marvel at the fact that the two are closer than just getting along.
Dew pretends not to hear their whispers and giggles that had woken him a while ago, instead focusing on the rise and fall of Phantom's chest, and the very faint purr still emanating from them.