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Theo stood outside of their best friend's door for a few seconds as they hesiated to knock on the door.
The brunette shuffled the candy bag they held in their hands. It was the first Halloween they were spending with Robin, first Halloween Theo celebrated at all actually, and they didn't want to mess it up for the world.
He had come a little later than when Robin & him had planned since he wanted to make sure he wasn't late.
Finally, he gained the courage to knock before he stepped back a little so he wouldn't be hit by the door slamming open.
"Coming!" Theo heard his friend call out to him from inside the house.
Theo brushed a hand through his dark brunette hair.
The door opened, allowing a stream of light to seep onto Theo's face. But instead of being met with his friend, Theo was met with Cornelius, one Robin's guardians, stood in the door frame.
"Oh uh- hello sir." Theo glanced behind the man to see if Robin was anywhere to be found.
"Hello, Theodore; you're here to trick or treat with Robin, correct?" The blonde crossed his arms over his chest.
The blonde towered over Theo with how significantly tall he was.
"Yes, sir."
"Robin!" Cornelius looked back into the house. "Your friend is here."
"I know!" Theo heard their friend yell from inside.
"Don't give me that sass, child! Oh also," Cornelius looked back at Theo which caused him to stand a bit taller. "Don't call me 'sir'," the man laughed, "I already feel old enough."
"Oh okay, my apologies." Theo agreed anxiously, relaxing their shoulders a little.
"Hi Theo!!!" Robin suddenly appeared behind the tall man, jumping so he could be seen by Theo.
"Hi Robin." Theo responded as Robin pushed the tall man to get to the front.
Robin was wearing a pumpkin outfit just as Robin had spoiled to Theo.
"I like your costume! You're a skeleton right?" Robin wanted to comfirm.
Theo nodded. "Mhm. I like yours aswell."
"Oh- well thank you!"
Theo had trouble deciding what they were going to wear for halloween so they had asked Robin for ideas.
Robin had suggested a lot of ideas but the two both had agreed on a simplistic skeleton.
"You two have someone to go with, right?" A brunette appeared behind Cornelius; Catt, another one of Robin's guardians.
"Uhhh- no?" Robin replied.
"You didn't consider that beforehand??" Catt asked.
Robin just shrugged in response.
The brunette sighed, "I'll have to call Watson & see if Ran will walk with you two."
"Okay!" Robin responded excitedly.
Robin looked up to Ran like he was her brother; Theo could just tell. Theo got why Robin did look up to the teen though, after all, he was the same way with Hubert.
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Approximately five to six minutes after the brunette had made the call, Ran arrived at the house with no costume on.
"Hello Ran." Cornelius smiled, still stood in the doorframe.
"Hi." The teen replied, his arms were crossed like the angsty teen he was.
"They have to be back by nine pm at max, understood?"
"Aye aye, captain." Ran did a little salute. "Come on, children."
Robin raised her arms in excitement, "YEAHHH!!!!"
"Be safe you three!" Catt exclaimed. "Ran, don't let them be hit by a car!"
"I'll try!"
Ran turned to the two once they had gotten a bit far away. "So- where do you guys wanna go first?"
"The rich neighborhood!!!" Robin exclaimed causing Theo to tense.
"Actually- um- how about we head near the street Ash & Zachary live on?" Theo suggested instead. "I heard they want to hand out the best kinds of candy."
And in Theo's humble defense that was true. Ash had been going around telling everyone about it.
But, of course, that wasn't the real reason Theo wanted to head over there instead.
"Oooh, yeah!!!" Robin didn't even have to consider the idea for a second. She looked over at Ran. "Can we, can we?"
"Eh- sure, why not." Ran pulled out their phone. "Just letting you know that you have an hour."
"Well then we've got a lot of walking to do;" Robin took Theo's hand. "come on!"
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"Have a nice evening!!!" Ash waved to the two kids, Zachary waving at them from behind his brother.
"You aswell!!"
"Okay," Ran looked at their phone again. "We've still got forty-five minutes since that didn't take too long besides the fact Robin talked to them for over three minutes straight."
"They gave us king sized chocolate bars!!" Robin held up the candy to show Ran in for her defense. "How could I not stay a little longer?"
Ran put their fingers on the bridge of their nose. "Fine... come on let's-"
"Oh well would you look at that. it's 'trick or treating is for toddlers'!"
"...shit." Ran groaned, turning around.
There stood three teenagers.
"Who are you guys?" Theo asked.
"Boo!" Theo shrieked from the voice behind him before looking around to find a teenager with green goggles on his head.
"Cletus!" The teen next to him exclaimed. "Don't be mean."
So there were actually five in total.
"It's Halloween, Benny boy! This is the only day of the year I get to celebrate bullying children." The ravenette, Cletus, claimed.
"I think you mean the one day of the year you get to bully children." One of the other teens corrected.
"Nope! I'll happily bully children any day of the year; some holiday can't stop me." Cletus replied. "You should know that by now, Charles."
"Yeah, yeah, what do you guys want?" Ran interupted the other teens.
"Well, I'm quite sad," The teen began fake whining. "since we asked you if you were going out tonight & you told us that you werent going out even if Watson killed you for it."
"Plans change, Issac." Ran rolled his eyes "Plus, we both know full well I just don't wanna hang with you losers on Halloween night."
"Oh but I bet you'd go with Jackie if he even so as to asked." Another teen added. "But he didn't, right?"
"Who's Jackie?" Robin asked curiously.
"A friend." Ran turned to Robin. "And he's going with his aunt, Genevieve, that's why he didn't ask me."
"I still just can't believe you didn't get out of the house for us but you did for a bunch of- of toddlers!" The boy named Cletus stated.
"Ok look- i'm sorry-" Ran began apologizing.
Robin looked over at the teen annoyed before laughing. "Get over it!"
"Oooo," 'Charles' laughed. "Cletus, you just got told off by a nine year old!"
"What the actual fuck!"
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After that mess, Theo, Ran & Robin just walked around figuring out where to go next.
"How do you have so many friends?" Theo questioned Ran.
"When you're friends with an extrovert you're bound to make a few whether you like it or not."
"Yeah- yeah I understand." That's how Robin was with Theo; of course, the brunette always appreciated it in the end.
"Okaaay, so how about we head to the rich neighborhood now?" Ran offered.
I just get the bed ready for me to put the stuff on the next
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!" Robin agreed.
"I don't-" Theo began.
"Pleaaase?" Robin made puppy eyes at Theo. "Why don't you want to go to the rich neighborhood?"
"I-" Theo didn't know how to explain their distress before sighing. "Nevermind, we can go."
"YAYAYA!!!"
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"Why don't we head to your mum's house first!?" Robin suggested as the three walked.
"Robin, I already told you: she's not my mom." Theo replied.
"She sure acts like it." Robin mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Learia is more like a wine aunt to be honest." Ran expressed.
"What's that?" Robin & Theo asked at the same time.
"... You'll understand when you're older."
"Oh look we're here." Theo stated the obvious. The three had arrived at the huge pale white mansion.
"Woaah- I'll never get used to how big her house is!!!" Robin exclaimed, walking up to the large door.
Theo & Ran stepped back a little as Robin knocked.
Not even ten seconds later the white door opened & Learia stood in the door frame. She was wearing an angel costume, a classic.
"Trick or treat!" said Robin as Theo went up next to him.
"Awww, you two are adorable." she complimented before pouring candy into their bags. "I love your costumes."
"Thank you, Miss Learia!!" Robin closed his bag.
"What is your friend dressed as?" Learia asked, looking over at Ran who was still in the back.
"A trainwreck." Ran jokingly answered for Robin.
"Ooh, I see it!" Learia said. "Very realistic."
"Thanks, I try my best."
Learia finally glanced over at Theo. "Theo! it's been a while. How have you been doing?"
"I've been okay." Theo hesitantly responded.
"I'm glad." Learia expressed. "You know you can come here any time you like, right?"
Theo nodded. "Yeah, I know."
"Thank you for the candy!!" Robin interupted on accident, already biting into one of the king sized chocolate bars.
"Of course, sweetie. You three make sure to stay safe; you know how Halloween night can be."
"Yep!" Robin pointed at Ran. "That why they're with us."
"Yep, I'm basically a guard dog." Ran joked causing Learia to laugh.
"Okay, have a nice night!!" Robin bid goodbye as she began to skip away.
"Wait, you can't leave without giving a hug." Learia offered a hug, opening her arms.
Robin immediately ran into her arms giving her a big hug. Theo came after, giving the tall, blonde lady a hug aswell.
Learia patted them both on the head as they began walking off.
"You two have lots of fun!" Learia waved.
"We will!" Robin comfirmed, waving back.
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The three continued to walk down the sidewalk looking for more houses since they were pretty spread out.
"Is that a house?" Robin asked, pointing up a hill.
"What is?" Ran looked at where the child was pointing.
There was a huge, dark spruce mansion on the top of the hill.
"Can we go??" Robin begged. "Pleeeaseee!!"
"You two can go ahead, I'll stay down here and wait." Ran said, pulling out his phone. "Just keep in mind you only have thirty minutes left so don't take too long."
"Okay!!" Robin was already skipping up the hill.
Then realization finally hit Theo as he followed Robin up the hill. "Robin wait- maybe we shouldn't."
"Hm? Why not?" Robin asked, clearly confused.
"Well- there's no halloween decorations out." Theo defended. "They might not celebrate Halloween."
"My family doesn't have decorations up outside, and they hand out candy every year!" Robin still continued to walk.
"But- I mean-" Theo desprately tried to find a reasoning as to why they shouldn't go up there other than the real one. "There's barely any lights on."
"Yeah, but there are some on right?" By the time Robin said this they had already made it to the mansion.
"C'monnn, think about the candy!!!" Robin tried convincing Theo. "How about this: I'll ring the doorbell & you can stand behind me, okay?"
"Robin-" Theo tried objecting but the ginger had already rung the doorbell.
"... whoops?" Robin softly laughed, though Theo could tell she was being apologetic.
The two stood at the door for a few minutes without even a voice coming from inside to let them know someone was home.
"See? Haha ... no one is home." Theo looked at Robin. "We should go back to Ran."
"Hmm," Robin was clearly not giving up. "Let me just..." Robin knocked on the door one last time causing the two to hear a groan coming from inside.
"Ughh, fine! I'm coming!" A voice could be heard from inside.
"Ooh, there is someone home!!" Robin glanced over at Theo who was slowly hiding behind her. "Huh? What's wro-"
Robin was interrupted by the big door opening. In the door way they were met with a shorter than average pig hybrid.
"Trick or treat!" Robin held her bag out while Theo just continued to hide behind the ginger.
"What do you want?" The pig hybrid wasn't dressed in a costume at all, if anything, he sounded annoyed.
"Um- candy?"
"Wait ... is that-" the pig hyrbid glanced behind Robin before pushing her aside to be met with Theo. "Why hello there."
"Hiii sirrr..." Theo laughed in order to try and play it cool but you could tell he was extremely nervous.
"What did I say about not coming here with anyone?" The pig hybrid raised his voice. "Especially when I told you that you don't even deserve to go out."
"I'm sorry- but I did all my work in the house & I tried to stay away from here."
"Oh I bet I could find something for you to do in less than a minute." The hyrbid chuckled. "And secondly, if that's really the case why are you here at all if you tried so hard not to bother me when I'm trying to relax?"
"I..." Theo looked over at Robin who was even more confused than before. "I'm really sorry."
"Wait- are you guys related?" Robin seemed puzzled. "You look nothing alike!"
"We're-" Theo tried explaining before being interrupted.
"Not biologicallly, thankfully, I so kindly took him in when he was an orphan." The pig hyrbid told Robin. "Yet it seems like he just isn't very thankful for that."
"I promise, I am-!" Theo tried to defend.
"Stop it!" the pig hybrid yelled.
The three went very silent for a moment before Robin broke the silence.
"So do you have candy or not?" Robin tried to wrap things up quickly, pulling Theo away from the hyrbid.
"What? No- you stupid child." The man rolled his eyes. "Halloween is for the poor."
"Well Miss Learia just gave us candy at the house before thi-" Theo tried to object.
"Theodore," the hyrbid raised his voice again. "Speak. when. you're. spoken. to."
"Right- you're right. I'm sorry."
Robin turned her head to glance at Theo who who held their head down in undeserved shame.
"Look, I dont know who you think you are-" Robin began. "-but I'm not just gonna let you talk to my friend that way!"
The hybrid laughed. "Do you even begin to realize know who your talking to?
"Yeah, yeah, know who i'm talking to:" Robin responded. "a real asshole!"
The hyrbid's eyes widened, eyebrows furrowing in anger. "What did you just-"
"Ro, come on- let's just go!" Theo tried convincing Robin to leave.
"Yeah, you're right, Theo. I bet this guy likes candy corn anyway."
"But candy corn isn't bad?" Theo took a moment to question the ginger.
"Not the point, Theo!" Robin grabbed the brunette's hand & the two began running down the hill.
"Eughhh, fucking orphans." The hyrbid mumbled before slamming the door shut.
Once the two made it down the hill Ran was waiting for them while he was on his phone.
"Did you get a load of candy?"
"Nope, just a blood rush is all." Robin continued to walk quickly down the street, Theo hurrying to follow him.
"... is that a type of candy?" Ran questioned, wondering what happened while he had been texting. Though he didn't immediately follow after the two kids & finished up on his phone.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I have a..." Theo trailed off, not even knowing what to call Billiam.
Robin just laughed before quickly replying. "Nonono, Theo, I get it. If I had someone like that for a 'parent', I'd probably disown them completely aswell."
Theo quietly laughed. "Thanks ... but still- I shouldn't have lied to you & led you to believe I was an orphan. I'm sorry."
"Theo, stop apologizing, you dumbass." Robin laughed, showing there was no real malice behind her words. "I've said I'm an orphan but- I have guardians, right? My biological parents are long gone so sometimes I still feel like an orphan & my guardians understand that."
Theo hummed in consideration.
"Do you still feel like an orphan?" Robin asked.
"Yes." Theo answered almost instantly; he so badly wished he felt guilty for it.
"I thought so." Robin admitted, softly laughing before putting an arm around Theo's shoulders. "We can be almost-orphans together."
They walked in silence before hearing the sound of running behind them causing them to look around.
"Children, don't run off like that again, you could've gotten lost!" Ran scolded as they caught up to the two. "Plus, Cornelius & Catt would have absolutely murdered me."
As the three were talking & laughing a light brown haired brunette in a multicolored hoodie passed by them.
The three went quiet as they felt chills right when they passed by the man and they had no idea why so they continued to joke.
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"Where next!?" Robin skipped a little ahead on the sidewalk in front of the other two.
"We've basically hit every house by now." Ran pulled his phone out to check the time. "Plus you only have eight minutes until you have to head back home & we're not very close."
"Aw man, we should start heading back then; right, Theo?" Robin glanced at Theo who was looking behind the three at something. "Uhh- Theo?"
"Guuuyss ..." Theo began. "... There's a man following us."
"There's a what now!?" Ran questioned, instantly walking a little bit faster.
"What do we do???" Robin panicked.
"Okay, okay hold on. Theo, I need you to open the pocket on my jacket."
"What??? I can't do that!!!" Theo whisper-yelled in horror. "Also why do you carry a pocket knife?"
"None of your buisness, child! Now get the knife out, you got this." Ran reassured the boy.
"Wait are we gonna have to stab this guy!?" Robin questioned.
"No! ... I think." Ran answered.
"I got it!" Theo stated.
"Wait you actually got it??? I didn't expect you to actually be able to take it out." Ran admitted.
"Then why did you tell me to take it out in the first place?!"
"Whatever, child, hand it to me." Ran brushed off the question.
Theo handed the knife to Ran.
"The man is getting closer!!" Robin whisper-yelled, covering his eyes with his hands.
"What does he look like???" Ran asked since he hadn't had the guts to look behind him.
"He has this light blue robe on-" Theo started.
"Kind of like the ghostface costumes we've been seeing all night!" Robin explained, uncovering his eyes to look at Ran.
"And he has this white, circular mask on with the letters 'XD' written on it." Theo continued.
"It's like no costume I've ever seen before." Robin expressed.
Ran sighed, clenching the knife in their hand. "Shits about to go dow-"
"Hi Ran!!!"
Ran & the two children looked ahead of them to see two blondes, around the same age as Ran.
"I thought you said you weren't going out for Halloween?" The teen with the short blonde hair walked up to Ran. "You okay? You three look as if you've just seen a ghost."
The trio had stopped in their tracks. When the three went back to look at the man, he was gone.
"No, we're good. These two were just pranking me by making me think there was someone following us."
"But there was!!" Robin tried to convince Ran.
"Yeah, sure there was. But uh yeah- plans changed since I had to supervise these children."
"That's so nice of you." Jackie waved to the children who were still a little shellshocked but they still waved back.
"Uh- how has your guys' night been?" Ran asked.
"Oh yeah- we've been egging houses & throwing toilet paper on them, everything! We've ran out of supplies now but it was great." The blonde teen explained. "You should've been there, I'm sorry I didn't invite you. Just gotta have some family time every once & a while, you know?"
"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. I get it, don't worry." Ran replied.
"Waiit- so you're Jackie?" Robin asked causing Jackie to glance at the ginger.
"Awww," The blonde turned back to Ran. "You talk about me?
"Yep!!! He wouldn't shut up about you alll night." Robin lied to tease Ran.
"Nooo, Robin's a little liar," Ran declined, laughing but you could tell that he was embarassed by the tint of green blush on his cheeks. "One of the guys brought you up like once so I had to explain who you were to these two."
"So that means you're Genevive right?" Theo looked over at the older one with long, blonde hair.
"That's me." Genevieve smiled before looking over at Ran. "Wow, you're so grown up already, Ran. I didn't get to suprvise Jackie until I was nineteen!
"But you are nineteen aren't you?" Ran questioned.
"Exactly."
"But anyways euggh, don't remind me that I'm going to be counted in as old in a few years." Ran groaned.
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better: I'll never be counted as old since I'm so lively." Genevieve teased.
"Or maybe just because you're childish." Ran shrugged.
"Good!" Genevieve laughed. "I'd rather be childish than in a retirement home like you in the future."
"Holy shit. She's got you there, Ran." Jackie pat the ender hybrid on the back.
"Uhhh- Ran?" Theo asked.
"I'll get her next time." Ran stated as if it were a promise.
"Ran?" Theo tried to get their attention again.
"Sure you will, maybe next Halloween if you're not using a cane by then!" Genevieve joked.
"Maybe-" Ran began before being interrupted.
"RAN!" Robin finally yelled.
"What???" Ran finally acknowledged, clearly annoyed.
Robin just pointed at Theo.
"Um- doesn't Robin have to be home like really soon?" Theo nervously questioned.
"Shit, you're right." Ran pulled out his phone. "We have three minutes."
"Three minutes??? We gotta run then!!" Robin tried to pull Ran but she was no where near strong enough to do so.
"Right- Jackie, I'll text you later." Ran rushed. "Have a good rest of your night you two!"
"You too!!!" Ran heard Jackie yell but the three teens had already began running to make it to Robin's house in time.
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"Thank you so much for watching over him." Catt thanked Ran. "I know Robin can be a handful sometimes."
"Yeah, of course." Ran shrugged. "It was nothing."
"Yeah I'm suprised he came back untouched knowing you, Ran." Cornelius joked.
"Haha, very funny."
"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" Robin asked Theo.
"Yeah, of course."
Robin looked over at her parents for a moment to make sure they wouldnt hear before asking, "Where are you going to stay for the night?"
Theo tensed; he hadn't thought about this beforehand. "Uhhh-" He looked over at Ran. "Ran, can you walk me over to Miss Learia's place after this?"
"Are you staying the night?" Ran questioned.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Oook, I can do that." Ran nodded, continuing to talk with Catt & Cornelius.
"Okay, stay safe then Theo!" Robin hugged Theo. "If you ever need a place to stay you can always ask okay."
Theo softly laughed. "You're the second person to offer a place to stay tonight."
Robin laughed, aswell. "I guess I've got your mum as competition then."
"I told you she's not my..." Theo trailed off & the two just laughed before they eventually broke the hug.
"Make sure to thank your father for letting you go out in the first place, Ran."
"Yep, I'll make sure to." Ran promised. "I'm sure he's very happy I got out tonight instead of just playing video games."
"Oh defnitely." Catt nodded. "I'm sure he's very proud."
"Okay well we've gotten run now before it gets too late & Learia heads off to bed." Ran began walking off.
"Alright, stay safe!" Catt reminded.
"Come on, Theo." Ran called for Theo.
"Bye Theo." Robin waved at Theo.
"Bye Robin!" Theo waved back before turning to hurry & catch up with Ran.