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10:30 𝙥𝙢, 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 31.
It's Halloween. An oh-so perfect day to wreak havoc with his father, Aramis thinks. What better way to spend the most devilish holiday than making everyone feel a little fear?
Of course, most children and teens were out trick-or-treating, filling buckets and bags full of candy- but not Aramis. He's never been one to fulfill the tradition due to his family and the area he used to live, and maybe one day he'd actually do it, but today was certainly not that day. He wasn't sure if his father would rather him do something safer like going door to door demanding treats, but he never mentioned it, so why ask?
Alas, none of that was important right now. What was important right now, was that he keep an eye out- in case one of those weird batkids showed up. The sharp rocks he sat on rubbed against his pant legs, scratching him, but not enough for him to care to move. The sky was dark, barely any stars to shine through the clouds.
He was sitting near an empty parking lot, watching the lively little neighborhood from afar with interest. He looked down at his shoes. His dad should be done soon, right? How long did he say he was going to be gone, anyway-
“Hey. You should probably get off those rocks, man. I sat on them once- I was sore for the rest of the week.”
Aramis's head whipped around, his body tensing. Knowing the vigilantes around here, it could be any one of them-
But it wasn't. Upon turning around, Aramis found himself staring at…a teen. A regular, Non-hero-suit-wearing teen. Weird, considering there was quite literally no one around- but at least he didn't have to deal with any annoying quips or mocking.
“I'm fine, thanks.” Okay, maybe he came off as a bit rude, but this kid would get the hint anyway. He'd be out of his hair, and Aramis could go back to being bored out of his mind.
“...Ookay then.” The kid sat next to him. Oh Lord. “What are you doing, anyway?”
Aramis sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose before answering. “Nothing of importance, clearly.”
The kid frowned. “You might wanna leave then. You look like a total weirdo.”
Aramis definitely did want to leave right now. “I don't worry about what other people think of me. It's not like anyone's around, anyway.” He paused, looking the other boy up and down.
“Where are your parents?” He knew he was being hypocritical, since he was definitely at most, one year older than this guy, but he was trying to figure out what the fastest way of getting him to leave would be.
“They're at home. I snuck out to go trick or treating with some friends, but they kinda ditched me- and I didn't wanna head home yet, so I kinda just started walking.” Aramis looked away to hide the almost-sorry expression on his face. What a way to admit you're a loser. “...Right. Makes sense, I…guess.” He couldn't say he'd experienced something like it- but he's also never really had many friends, so he supposed he couldn't judge too much.
“Wouldn't your family want you home by now? It's getting pretty late. You're not worried about getting caught, either?”
The other shrugged. “They don't really care what I do.” He said nothing else. His tone had a hint of something solemn in it. Aramis could relate to that. His own parents had never cared much about where he was, or what he was doing.
“What's your name?” Maybe the kid could be of use, or something. He's just bored, alright? Sue him.
“Curio.”
Aramis almost chuckled.
“Curious, or bizzarre?”
“...what?”
Ah. Aramis shook his head. “Nevermind.” He outstretched his hand. “Aramis.”
Curio looked at the hand like he was weirded out by the gesture, but shook it nonetheless.
“Do we go to the same school? I feel like I've seen you somewhere before…”
Aramis took a closer look at the other, inspecting him. “Possibly. There's not that many schools around this part of Gotham.”
“No- wait, you're that kid from Crown Point.!”
Aramis stiffened. Shit. Out of all things, how could he have forgotten? Back when he still lived there, quite a few wanted posters would have his face on them.
“Im, uh, not sure what you mean by that.” He was supposed to be a good liar. He internally sighed.
“Cmon, you can't expect me to believe that. I lived there for a while- got pretty used to seeing your face.”
There was quiet for a moment.
“What was up with you, anyway? No offense, just- why were you a criminal in the first place?”
"Comin on a little strong there.” Would it matter if he said? He probably wouldn't see this guy ever again. Hell, in Gotham, Curio might not even live to see Thanksgiving.
He sighed. “My parents were kinda like yours…in a way. My mom was sick and my dad was just- weird. After my mom died, things got messy. I did petty crimes- stole 5 dollars from people a day, at most, just to hold myself over. Eventually my dad left, so from there it was basically steal to live, or die- yknow?”
Curio didn't know. It was clear on his face that he hadn't expected that much of an explanation, and he most definitely did not know what it was like to be a 12 year old thief. It hit Aramis immediately that he had overshared.
“Oh, man- I'm- I'm sorry I asked, that's really none of my business.” Curio cleared his throat nervously. “It makes sense that you'd have to- turn to crime- especially with how bad Gothams economy is, and with all the shit that already goes down in Crown Point-”
Aramis restrained a grimace, cutting the other boy off quickly. “-It's fine, I don't really care.” He exhaled quietly, leaning back. He shrugged.
“...The past is the past, right?”
Curio frowned. “...Right, yeah. I mean, at least you don't have to be a criminal anymore.”
He didn't have to. He knew he didn't. His father didn't really want him to be one in the first place- of course he didn't have to. It's all just for knowledge. For research- Because ‘he's curious’, for the simple minded.
Silence suffocated the two quickly.
Aramis hesitated. How did things get this awkward? Was it awkward the whole time?-
Curio stood up. “Yknow, you're probably right. About my parents, I mean. They…might be worried. I'm gonna head home.”
Thank god.
“Oh- okay.” Aramis looked back to the neighborhood.
“...Happy Halloween.”
“Happy Halloween Ari!!” What did he just call him??
He shook his head. It didn't matter now, he supposed.
He slipped his phone out of his pocket, checking the time.
11 pm.
His dad should be ready now.