Chapter Text
“Come on gang,” Alejandro sour mood subtly coming through his tried charismatic voice. “Let’s go,” sounding like all his energy had been drained
“Sure, now what happenied to that charismatic eel, show some energy.” Noah mocked, showing some glee in his tone, while Alejandro gave him minor stink eye.
“Aah guys, I’m so excited!” Owen wrapped his arms around the two. “It was so nice of your dad to let us come to his fancy party, I totally thought he hated our guts, you know you used to.”
“Yeah used to right?” Noah quietly quiped inquirer if at Alejandro.
“Yeah man! I’m gonna show all your family how cool I am, then I’m sure they’ll love me!” Tyler said shoulder excitedly poked up, stunning with his hands.
“Been trying for 17 years, but go right ahead,” Alejandro muttered to himself in Spanish, with only Noah quickly having any clue of what he was saying.
“What was that?” Tyler questioned with puppy dog eyes, tilting his head, with some concern about Alejandro’s uncharacteristically more open sourness. But that concern was overshadowed by the absulute excitement of being invited to what had to be one of the fanciest parties ever, by complete surprise.
“Oh nothing, nothing, just don’t get too excited it’s gonna be a- err- a lot different … to what you’re useddd to.” Alejandro said, trying to turn the charm back on to cover up his distain for everything here.
“Well if you ignore that passive agressiveness, even I think tonight should be pretty alright.” Noah surprisingly said not grumbling.
The sun have almost set in the empty parking lot of the old downtown supermarket, closed down a few years ago but rubbish still plagued the streets. As they messed around by the graffiti covered street lamps, Tyler and Owen swinging round in each other’s arm, and Izzy barking, climbing and riding round in the desolate shopping trolleys. Alejandro leaned against the van, distant from the others, giving himself a moment before driving, staring up at the sky, roudy gleeful, but friendly noises sounding from behind, praying tonight wouldn’t go horridly. Noah appeared next to him, nudging him attempted to check up on him, without being able to say the words. Alejandro looked over at him for a second and back up, before getting ready to drive up to his family’s party.
The drive up the lavish and extensive driveway, it seemed as though it kept dragging on, kept going and going, each perfectly groomed tree felt like they towered over the van. While excitement blared from the back of the back of the van. The gloomy, long driveway and the sound of the wheels, seemed to drown all that out, as Alejandro was left to his corner of the only him and the drive through. Staring at the driveway, as it kept crawling on.
Pulling into the park, Tyler kept on out of the van, leaping straight into the gravel before the van had even stopped moving. “Owwww” he groaned, before pulling himself up, spiting dirt out of his mouth. Next out was Owen then Noah,
“I’m not sure what to do with Izzy,” Owen said looking at the sleeping dog, knowing the second she woke up the walls would turn inside out the roof would be raised. “I want my little other little buddy to get plenty of sleep, but we can’t just leave her in there.”
“I fear we might unleash we dare wake her up” Noah quietly quiped.
“Yeah she can be a bit hyper too hyper, and Al told us to not too be loud or anything, I’ll just give her the keys” Owen said, placing the key next to her scrolling down the window a bit.
“It’s a party you’re meant to have some energy” Tyler said dancin round on the spot, drumming his hands on his legs.
“This is a bit of a dif-“
“Where’s Al?” Noah started before being abruptly cut off by Owen.
“Huh, oh I think he’s still in the car, don’t worry I’ll get him” Tyler said trying to calm himself down before talking to Alejandro, to prevent him from getting irritated at Tyler’s energy.
Alejandro stared at the wheel, everything seemingly fading away, noise scraping his ears, but becoming indistinguishable from the other noises. Tyler knocked on the window, “Hey man, you are doing alright? If you’re like over stimulated or something I think saw your noise cancelling headphones in the back there.”
Tyler’s voice snapped him back to reality.
“I’m… im fine,” Alejandro quietly responded before leaving the mystery machine one hand clutching his other arm and some feeling of nausea caused by stress.
“You sure man? You seem like you’ll need it.” Tyler said rubbing Alejandro’s arm.
“I’M FINE.” Alejandro snapped,”Besides you can’t just where headphones to a formal event, its just - its - you know.” He grumbled
“Peasant like?” Noah sarcastically quipped ignoring Alejandro’s grizzly mood
“Sure that.”
As they walked through the light of the interior felt blinding like a golden bright lights, overwhelmed their eyes, accustomed to the dark. For Alejandro it was like that sign, that cue that for the mask to turn back on, Swiftly turning on the charm wandering off before the others eyes could adjust to the brightness. Mingling with guest attempting to present himself as inhumanely perfect, like Icarus to sun, was him to his charm.
“Where did he,” Noah muttered to himself, scanning the gorgeous room for Alejandro. But God! It would impossible to fail to notice how incredibly fancy the Burromuerto’s place was. Their fortune really was shown off in the regal like interior (and exterior) design. It appeared so incredibly lavish, though strangely cold and felt more like a palace than a home.
Finally Noah notice him talking to a posh looking lady in a bright red dress and using the charisma to hide that strange uncanniness that woman, that Noah could. It was that uncanniness was the subtle way if seeing it, his fears and anxieties, had that subtle way of showing behind the mask. It takes a long time to learn them and and have any clue of what ge really feels behind that layer of charm.
“Maybe he was right, this doesn’t really feel like a party.” Owen whisper to Tyler who seemed like he turned into a weeping angel.
“Yeah, course man, he’s always right, this feels like some fancy ass school assembly, not a party.” Tyler irritatedly whispered.
“I’m not gonna question what kind of school assembles you went to, but like god, man! I miss Geoff parties all of a sudden.” Owen whisper whined, wincing, while shaking Tyler’s shoulders, while dirty glared were shot across the room.
From their more causal outfits to their more relaxed friendliness, made then stick out like a sore thumb. Those posh face staring with snarling noses and mouths that seemed like they were full of fangs. Walking through, despite the wide open space, something made it all feel like squiring together down a tight corridor.
“Shit, I lost that eel in the crowd, where did he slide off some it.” Noah mumbled
“Ahh, don’t worry. He’s probably just going to say hi Yu his dad or something” Owen responded, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.
“Yeah, maybe he’ll go find people who don’t annoy him so bad and who he sees as all smart and perfect like him.” Tyler grumbled, upset shoulders crossed, his frustration felt like it was making him claustrophobic.
“Come on guys, he was probably just having a moment, I’m sure he loves us.” Owen said.
“Really?!” Noah stared like Owen had just claimed he saw some pigs flying.
Attempting to stand tall and proud, while ever noise and every flick felt like a pounding drum right in the ear, trying to shove every bit of shame down and hidden. Charming and mingling with the crowd, anything to make him seem like he was worth being called a Burromuerto. It happened to be a wee bit of rarity for him be told about these kinda events and not just shoed off, since he was considered a black sheep of the family. Like they always saw something off about him, unable to actually achieve that perfect conformity. Why is it an impossible task to be part of your own family.
A boney hand slide onto his shoulder, from a tall dark figure. The figure’s shadow engulfing him.
“I see you’ve met my son,” Alejandro’s father stood behind him, acknowledging him as his son?! And without the usual hint of Shane that permeates his usual voice. He spoke in Spanish in that dignified way that is often used to condescend, but now it felt like a way to elevate him, invite him in. It was a welcome.
“Yes, yes, of cour-“
CRASHHH,
One of the grand windows toppling over the guest, smash with a figure crawling in, as the glass fell outside. Huge, twisted bone, form all hunched covering the window, with sharp joints like it was ready to pounce. Pointed spikey bat like ears, huge wings joint to hideous, dirty, sharp claws and galring eyes red and glowing like a pirates treasure.
“WHAT IN GOD’S NAME?!” Mr Burromuerto cried out at the top of hus lungs, like a performer projecting hus voice for a crowd.
“Noo, why now?!” Alejandro frustratedly whispered to himself, scorning the monster who would dare interupt this.
“Is that?!”
“A Bat man?!” Noah gasped, before Owen concluded with a loud burst.
The monster was no mere thing, toppling over everyone, its twisted humanoid body reaching to 8ft.
“Welcome back!” It cackled “Now I’m here to bring you the most exciting, entertaining time of your life.” It yelled out gleaming at the distressed crowd.