Chapter Text
It had been a long, long week.
Ceroba was exhausted. Kanako was exhausted. And if they were this worn out, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what the week had been like for Clover.
Ceroba had kept a close eye on her kids. Both of her kids, because as brave of a face Kanako had been putting on, her daughter was worried– but nothing had come of it. Kanako helped her watch Clover. Clover didn’t have any more night terrors. They didn’t get much worse, but they certainly didn’t look much better.
With each day that ticked by, Ceroba swore she only heard them say maybe one, two sentences during each conversation. They looked smaller, the way they held themself, their shoulders always curled in and their head bowed, watching the floor. Their shoes. Their hands. Looking anywhere but her eyes.
They hadn’t been playing with Kanako. They hadn’t been leaving their room. They hadn’t been doing much at all, really, and it was starting to show in the pallor of their face, the dark rings beneath their eyes.
Ceroba didn’t know what to do.
After the first night, after the night terror, they’d woken up the next morning exhausted and disoriented. They’d been a little spacy all morning, but Kanako was (surprisingly) tight-lipped about the night’s events, and Ceroba didn’t let anything slip, either.
Usually, she wouldn’t have felt so comfortable keeping a secret like that. Not after everything that had happened in the Underground. She was different, now. She’d left all of the secret keeping far, far below Mount Ebott, but…
This was different.
If this had been a known issue, it would’ve been reported to her already. Starlo would’ve said something. Dalv, Martlet– none of them would let a secret like this fester. If Clover was having issues, they all would’ve known. Someone would’ve told her.
But no one had. No one said a thing. As far as she was aware, that was the first and only night terror Clover had ever had.
Considering it was a new pattern, something was wrong.
Starlo had known that. She should’ve been softer on her friend when he first knocked. She’d seen the look on Clover’s face and almost immediately she’d clocked that something wasn’t right, and Kanako had picked up on it quick, too.
Clover had always been a quiet kid, but not like this. Even their eyes were so full of personality, their smile bright enough to light up a room.
Something was so, so wrong, and Ceroba didn’t know what to do.
Now, walking up the steps to Dalv’s front porch, she knew it would only be a matter of time before the vampire figured it out, too.
It was going to be another three weeks before Ceroba got Clover back. Another three weeks where they were going to cycle through Dalv, then Martlet, then Starlo again, and if it wasn’t better by then…
She had time. Time to research, to study. She’d promised herself that she was going to put in some time to read up on whatever she could get her hands on.
Starlo knew a lot about human culture, but he didn’t know a lot about humans, and if he didn’t know what was going on then Martlet and Dalv wouldn’t either. At the very least, Ceroba’s husband had been a doctor. A scientist. She’d learned enough through his research and ramblings. If anyone could figure this out, it was her.
Right after she made sure Clover was safe, of course.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a small hand gently squeezed her own. Ceroba returned the gesture, glancing down.
Dull brown eyes blinked up at her, confused.
Ceroba blinked back. Her gaze drifted to the front door, to the step beneath her, where she’d stalled.
Oh.
Ceroba cleared her throat, placing a few measured knocks in the center of the door. Clover shifted in place next to her, and she lifted an arm to let the kid tuck against her side, the sleeve of her kimono falling over their shoulder.
Something moved inside. The creak of a door, the hushing of footsteps. Ceroba drew herself up to stand taller at the sound of a clicking lock, the handle turning.
The door swung open.
“Ah, hello!” Dalv’s greeted, crimson eyes crinkling at the corners. “Clover! Ceroba! You’re here! I trust that you made it here okay?”
Despite herself, despite everything, Ceroba smiled. “Dalv,” she said tiredly. “Yes, hi.”
Dalv smiled back, sunlight glinting off of sharp fangs. He turned, cloak swaying. “Clover–”
The weight disappeared from beneath Ceroba’s arm, a short blur of movement catching her eye. She tipped her head down, catching the tail end of Clover ducking their head, pushing past Dalv to get inside.
Dalv’s smile faltered, turning to watch them go. “Oh. Did I say something wrong?”
Ceroba exhaled softly. “No,” she said. “No, they’re… they’re just having a rough time, right now.”
Dalv’s expression creased. “Oh.”
The silence stretched, just a beat too long.
“Do you… wish to come in?” Dalv asked awkwardly, shifting a step to the side.
Ceroba cleared her throat. “Right,” she said, slipping inside. Dalv shut the door behind her. “Do you have somewhere private we can talk?”
“I–”
A door creaked shut somewhere down the hallway, the noise resounding in the small house. Small enough that stepping in through the front door left her between the kitchen and the living room, a long, dark hall continuing on straight ahead.
“Nevermind,” Ceroba said dryly. “Right here works.”
“If you’re sure,” Dalv said, staring down the hallway. He hesitated. “Are they alright? They look a bit, ah… down.”
Understatement of the century.
“We’re having some issues,” Ceroba said.
“Issues? What kind of issues?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Ceroba said, sighing softly. She leaned against the wall next to the door. “Starlo said they were having a rough week at his place. I thought I could keep an eye on them, and maybe it’d get better, but…” She faltered.
Dalv tilted his head. Ceroba forged on.
“They had a night terror,” she said, steadying herself. Dalv’s eyes widened. “Starlo said they were sick. I thought that he was right for a while, maybe, but this has to be something more.”
“What do you think it is, then?” Dalv asked, words dripping with worry.
“I don’t know,” Ceroba said. “I’m going to look into it. I just want you to be aware so you can keep an eye on them.”
“I will,” Dalv promised. “Of course I will. Has Martlet been informed yet?”
Ceroba shook her head. “You know how she is.”
Martlet was a good parent– a great parent, even. Probably better than Ceroba had ever been. As scattered as she was, as forgetful and clumsy, she’d always gone to great lengths to protect Clover.
That was exactly why Ceroba couldn’t quite bring herself to reach out to her yet. She didn’t know if she could handle that storm of emotion at the moment, much less if Clover could handle Martlet’s constant hovering when they were like this.
“Ah. I see,” Dalv said. “While they are with me, then, is there… is there something I should be doing?”
“Just be gentle with them,” Ceroba said. “They haven’t had the energy to do much, so don’t push them too hard. Just make sure they’re eating and drinking enough. And sleeping, too.”
Dalv nodded, his eyebrows furrowed but his expression serious. “And you said they were having night terrors, yes?” When she nodded, he continued, “Could you explain that a little more?”
“Sure thing,” Ceroba said. “Why don’t we find somewhere to sit down?”