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The air outside is almost stifling with warmth and heat. A heavy scent of flowers is floating through the hot breeze, instead of the normal scent of leaves and crisp cool autumn air. The middle of the southern hemisphere leg of the tour has landed on the very last day of October. Rather then letting the day pass quietly, in true Terzo fashion he demands- of course, dramatically- that there must be some sort of costume party.
Months before, when it was confirmed Halloween would fall during the tour, Terzo had his personal tailor fashion elaborate matching costumes of his own choosing. A wonderful sentiment- if he had considered the weather ahead of time. For whatever reason, he was stuck on the idea of an over-the-top matador costume, which also meant excessive layers. Luckily he dressed you in a MUCH cooler mini dress.
You are still adjusting to the heat when he steps out into the courtyard, all black velvet and gold trim. No doubt he is the most overdressed man in a thousand mile radius- but he looks stunning.
“Cara Mia.” He loudly groans the moment the heat hits him like a brick. “no one told me Halloween down here would feel like the inside of an oven!”
“You picked the outfit!” You tease with a giggle.
“Because I am a committed man, Tesoro. I am committed to the esthetic!” Pointing to the hand embroidered sleeves as proof he quips “you surely cannot expect Papa Emeritus the III to celebrate Halloween…in cotton.” A look of horror flashes across his face which sends you into a laughing fit.
“You’d survive it.” You tease. “Just barely.”
Taking your hand, he gives you a twirl, solely so he can eye you up and down. It lands you straight into his arms.
“It’s all your fault, amore. You are far too close! You make the air sizzle!”
A blush creeps across your face as his lips gently land on your cheek.
When he lets you go, you hand him an ice cold drink from the table beside you. Taking a sip his eyes close and he groans in exaggerated blissfulness. “Ah, see? You are my angel…sent to me to rescue me from heat stroke…and mediocrity.”
Laughter echoes through the courtyard as the ghouls dart past you- one with a fake cobweb trailing behind them, another wearing what looks like a very hastily made ghost sheet with eye holes cut out. Terzo watches them fondly. “Look at them! They are melting but still they sparkle. Just like their Papa. I have raised them well.”
Leaning against a wall you fan yourself with your masquerade mask. “Maybe next year, somewhere cooler?”
He gasps theatrically. “And miss this?!” He gestures overhead to the purple and orange string lights, perfectly meshing with the breathtakingly colorful setting sun. Palm fronds swaying in the warm breeze. Music drifting from an outside speaker, lazy and relaxing. “Oh no, my dear.” He says as he steps forward taking your hand in both of his. “This is perfect.”
You notice the bead of sweat forming on his brow and stifle laughter. “You’re melting Papa.”
“Then you must save me.” He murmurs in a voice low like velvet. “With a drink…or a kiss. I am not picky.”
You roll your eyes and smile widely, handing him another glass. Condensation drips from the glass onto both of your fingers.
“Come.” He says suddenly, handing both glasses to you which you promptly put down on a table nearby. “We are going for a stroll. Before my makeup runs and I look like a sad clown.”
You follow him hand in hand down a path leading away from all the noise of the party, past trees twined with strings of lights. The air smells of sugar and sweets that you have both left behind. Flawlessly, he scoops up a bowl of soft serve ice cream out of the hand of an employee working an ice cream station; then hands it to you with a wink.
“For the road” he says, as you feed him a bite. Ice cream drips onto his lip and he makes a show of licking it away slowly. “Sticky sweets, sticky fingers…a dangerous combination eh?”
“That depends on who you ask.” You retort with a smirk.
“Then I am asking you.” His grin turns slowly, playfully wicked.
Nudging him playfully with your shoulder, your smirk grows impossibly wider. “You’re impossible.”
“Irresistibly impossible.” He wiggles his eyebrows making you giggle.
The path opens up to a clearing- a quiet overlook of the glimmering city below. Thousands of tiny lights twinkling like stars fallen from above. Terzo leans against the railing beside you, the theatrics disappearing into something much softer. “ you know…I used to think Halloween needed the cold. The crunch of leaves. The little shiver that makes you feel lively. But here…” he nods his head in the direction of light and laughter from the courtyard in the distance. “here, it feels different. As if the night itself is holding us close.”
You cannot help but smile, the glow of lanterns above head painting him in a golden glow.
“I think it suits you.”
He reaches over, taking the bowl of ice cream from you. He feeds you a bite and you purposely make a show of licking the spoon, taking your turn to be the flirt. Purposely, he swipes ice cream along your bottom lip.
“To warm nights…and the stickiest of sweets.” He murmurs gently before pulling you into a passionate kiss. The night was humming around you- warm, sweet, lively. Somewhere in the far distance, a few fireworks crack into the night sky, perfectly mimicking the feeling between you and Terzo. For once, you thought, maybe a Halloween without the chill isn’t so bad after all.