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Dark Cupid knows that he was tricked by Lady Wifi to do the one thing that everyone refuses to do since the beginning but damn it if it didn’t work. He’s headstrong and always refuses to back down from any kind of challenges; this is something that Lady Wifi knew and so does Dark Cupid.
It’s why he found himself at the park and easily found Stoneheart hanging out with Mr. Pigeon; the two feeding the birds.
He wonders if the pigeons are real or just something that Evillustrator created.
Dark Cupid clears his throat - drawing the two’s attention - and made his landing.
“So, I heard that you've been looking to add a floating island or something?” Dark Cupid question, even though everyone knows that’s what Stoneheart wanted since Evillustrator first started creating stuff for them. He stretches his arms out and walks towards the pair before his feet even touch the ground; his wings stretch out for a moment before relaxing. “Because you are in luck, my friend. Eve and I have been talking and he wanted to add something new to Anti-Paris.”
All lies. Dark Cupid hasn’t spoken a word to Evillustrator since Horrificator joined them, who caused all the Akumas - at the time - to live through their worst nightmare. Dark Cupid decided to keep an eye on Evillustrator during that whole mess; he’s actually unsure if Evillustrator is mad at him or not.
This probably won’t help if that’s the case but Dark Cupid is not a quitter.
He’s going to get that stupid floating garden even if it kills him.
Stoneheart stomps over and grabs Dark Cupid’s hands. “Really, you mean it?” There’s a bit of worry in the Akuma’s voice, especially for someone that talks so vibrate about that island. “Because last I checked, Eve is quite busy with new housing and whatever else Wifi had tasked him with.”
“Well yes, but Eve and I talked over it last night-” Another lie. Dark Cupid was crashing at Copy Cat’s place, the two were playing cards and making bets that neither one can ever hope of fulfilling. “And he said that we can go to his place and get it all planned out.”
Or Evillustrator is going to murder him.
Dark Cupid just knows it.
Stoneheart lights up like a Christmas tree; the Akuma easily picks Dark Cupid up and sets him on his shoulders before taking off towards Evillustrator’s house.
Dark Cupid manages to take flight and follows close above the Akuma; heart sinking as he realizes that he won’t even have time to convince Evillustrator to join in his lie.
He is so dead…
…
“A garden?” Evillustrator stops his painting to look down at the pair from his balcony. His fingers are coated in paint and he looks like he has a foot in the grave already. The Akuma doesn’t look mad just confused and maybe even a little bit curious. “I mean that’s doable, Stoneheart, but why didn’t you bring it to me before?”
Stoneheart looks quite sheepish; head down and rubbing his neck while thinking of what to say.
Actually, Dark Cupid wants to know the answer too.
Stoneheart has been bringing up the floating garden at almost every meeting since the beginning but kept his mouth shut whenever Evillustrator joins them.
“I didn’t want to disturb you.” Stoneheart looks up at Evillustrator. “You’ve done so much for us and I didn’t want to ask for more when a garden isn’t that important.”
Evillustrator set down his paintbrush and tray before leaning against the railing. “It is. Even though we don’t need to eat, a garden would still be good to have. It’s another activity for people to use and it would be beneficial to you as well.” The artist gesture towards Stoneheart. “Next time you want something, just talk to me.”
With that Evillustrator went back to his painting.
Dark Cupid snaps his wings out and uses them to lift off the ground so he can pat Stoneheart’s shoulder. “See, now you’re getting that garden.” And he won the challenge, earning something. Dark Cupid really should have thought this over before agreeing.
However, Stoneheart doesn’t look convinced.
“No.” Stoneheart shakes his head - pushing past Dark Cupid - before looking back up at Evillustrator, looking far more determined than before. “Eve, don’t bother.”
“Wait, what?” Dark Cupid snaps between the two before quickly following after Stoneheart. “Why not? You’ve been asking for this garden forever now, and now that you are getting it, you don’t want it?” It doesn’t make any sense! “Why don’t you want it!?”
Stoneheart stops - Dark Cupid had to flip over the top of the Akuma so as not to crash into him - and looks determinedly up at Dark Cupid. “Because we been taking Eve for granted and using him just like Hawkmoth used us, and I don’t want to be like Hawkmoth!” The Akuma push past Dark Cupid and went back to Anti-Paris, leaving Dark Cupid behind.
…
Dark Cupid wanders around before finding Stoneheart in a black patch of the void just off the footpath of Anti-Paris. It’s just complete darkness once you step away from the lights but Stoneheart works on moving dirt and rocks like none of that matters.
Frankly, it makes sense.
Stoneheart is building his own garden without the help of Evillustrator.
Dark Cupid picks up a bag of dirt and carries it over to the pile that Stoneheart has been working on.
“Need some help?” Dark Cupid asks.
Stoneheart looks up from the rocks that he has been setting up; it’s a border to mark out the sad-looking dirt patch. There’s a crudely drawn sign of a tomato. His hands are cake in dirt but Stoneheart doesn’t seem to mind.
“I figured you want to do it the easy way.”
Dark Cupid huffs and drops the bag on top of the others. “You make it seem like we always asking for stuff from Eve.” Which is kinda true now that Dark Cupid is thinking about it. How can they not? It’s not like any of them can do what Evillustrator can do. “Actually, your right.”
He sits on the bags; his wings drooping and the feeling of defeat hitting hard.
“We can't help it and Evillustrator never says no…”
“And you wonder why I never ask for the garden.” Stoneheart went back to placing rocks down. “I thought about it a few times but as the Akumas show up, meaning more things for Eve to draw, I realize that I didn’t need him to do this for me.”
Dark Cupid lifts his head but is still ever much confused.
“We are more than able to build anything as long as Eve gives us the tools and supplies instead of him making everything.” Stoneheart sighs. “We need to prove that we aren’t useless…that I’m not useless.”
“Why would you think that, Stone?”
This is the first Dark Cupid is hearing about this. Though to be fair, Stoneheart tends to keep to himself and never really share anything. The garden stands out because it’s the only thing that Stoneheart talks about around them.
“Eve made Anti-Paris, Stormy Weather brought the actual weather, Timebreaker brought in the very foundations of time, and Lady Wifi, well you know the whole wifi thing.” Stoneheart looks over at Dark Cupid. “I brought nothing but yet I’m treated just as special and important as everyone else.”
“Yeah because you're the first Akuma, Stoneheart, without you the rest of us wouldn’t be here.”
“Not what I’m looking for but okay…”
Stoneheart grabs another rock and held it towards Dark Cupid; who understands that they are done talking.
The two work and slowly put this sad-looking garden together; there’s a lop-sided pathway of rocks connecting to the main path which leads into a small patch of dirt that’s outlined by more rocks. Stoneheart already has a few pots of different plants from Evillustrator.
A few flowers, a pot of tomatoes, another pot of carrots, and a final pot of potatoes.
Stoneheart went on and on about what he wanted to plant and about the garden in general. Dark Cupid listens to every word even though he doesn’t understand most of what Stoneheart is talking about.
At some point, the rest of the First Ten decided to show up and even started to help out, which turns into all of them getting dirty and messing around. It’s the first time that Dark Cupid can remember where they are all together and it isn’t a meeting or the black empty void.
“This is looking great, Stoneheart.”
The First Ten all froze at the voice; Evillustrator stands at the entrance of the garden.
“Can I help?”
Stoneheart got up, brushing off the dirt as best as possible, and makes his way over. The Akuma leers over top; staring holes in the younger Akuma before suddenly patting Evillustrator’s head.
“Sure as long as you don’t mind the mess.”
“I’m pretty use to it, so what should I help with?”
Everyone relax - even though none of them notice how tense they got - and went back to work.
The sun was setting and Stoneheart made sure to say goodbye to everyone. Save for Evillustrator and Dark Cupid, who’s still hanging around.
“I can’t make a floating garden, Stoneheart.”
That startles the two as they snap their attention towards Evillustrator, who’s drawing something on his sketch pad.
“I have a theory that it might have something to do with the void. Since my drawings have to be grounded in reality a bit and us still ‘falling’-” Evillustrator set his sketch pad down as a balloon suddenly appears in his hands “-I think my drawings believe that they are already ‘floating’.”
Evillustrator lets the balloon fall from his hands and it lands heavily don't the ground, even leaving an imprint behind when he picks it up again.
“It still acts like a balloon just won’t float.”
Evillustrator shrugs and pops the balloon.
“So,” Stoneheart draws out the word for a moment before continuing, “you already knew about my floating garden and just didn’t bother saying anything?”
“Pretty much, mostly because I’m not sure I can even do something that big or even if it’s possible.” Evillustrator shrugs as he stands up; brushing off the dirt and grabbing his sketch pad. “It’s not unless we get an Akuma that can do the opposite of things or something, a floating garden at this point just won’t work.”
Stoneheart looks defeated at those words but Dark Cupid doesn’t care about that at the moment.
“Wait, so I lost then?”
Evillustrator looks confused and just shrugs. “I guess.” He left quite quickly after that.
Dark Cupid knew that this wouldn’t be so simple.
“Don’t worry, we won’t give up.” Dark Cupid jumps up into the air so he can be at eye level with Stoneheart. “I’ll make this island float even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“Thank you, Cupid.”
Dark Cupid is headstrong and always refused to back down from any kind of challenge; this is something that Stoneheart knows and so does Dark Cupid. He’s going to get that floating island for Stoneheart and prove that the task isn’t impossible.
But first, he has to figure out what the game plan from here on out is going to be.