Chapter Text
Dewdrop crossed his arms, leaning against the wall of the church, waiting for the new ghoul to arrive from the pits of hell. He already wanted to roll his eyes just at the thought. He watched as Aether stood close to the summoning circle with a small smile on his lips.
This time he did roll his eyes, why was he so happy? He’d be stuck here at the church instead of where he belonged. He shouldn’t have been happy. He should’ve been angry that he was being replaced!
A sudden cloud of ash appear blocking the appearance of the new Quintessence. When it settled covering the area with the fine dust there knelt a boy, he looked younger than most of the other ghouls. He was folded over his thighs and cautiously sat up, looking around at his new surroundings.
His deep purple almost black hair cascaded around horns that had a slight curve to them and did tell his age. They were fairly polished with barely any scratches on them. He was a pale grey with a more purple hue to him unlike most of the others who were more blue but it matched this vibrant purple eyes that blinked away any ash from his lashes.
“Ah welcome little ghoul.” Copia greeted the boy softly. He knelt on one knee and slowly pushed his hand out to brush away the ash, “what are you called?” He asked.
The ghoul glanced around as if completely obvious to Papa, before focusing on him, “Phantom sir.” He then coughed trying to clear his lungs.
Copia rubbed his shoulders gently, “you’re alright.” He spoke as calmly as he usually did to the ghouls, when they behaved that is. “Swiss and Cumulus are going to help you get cleaned up and settled.” He pointed at the two who gave him comforting smiles.
Phantom nodded slowly as he took them in. Copia stood up, with his hand held out for the ghoul who gently took his hand and pushed up from the ground. He stood tall, not as tall as Mountain, Aether, or Swiss but definitely taller than the others, maybe close to the same height as Rain though.
He took a few steps, holding onto Papa before Cumulus came forward, “come on sweetheart, let us get you all clean and in proper clothes.” She smiled, leading Phantom and Swiss out of the main room.
Dewdrop watched as Aether chattered with Copia, and when his gold eyes met the silver ones, he looked away and pushed off the wall to leave.
He kept walking even hearing Aether come after him. “Dew!” Aether grabbed a hold of Dewdrop’s wrist pausing his movement. “What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong? We’ll be going on tour in a month and a half yet and that thing is suppose to replace you! It’s bullshit and you know it!” Dewdrop glared at him.
Aether clenched his jaw shut for a moment, feeling all of Dewdrop's emotions hitting him at once, “Dewy that wasn’t nice to say.” He first scolded the ghoul making him scoff, “Phantom is not a thing, he’s one of us and I won’t tolerate you being mean to him.”
“I’m leaving if you’re just going to lecture me Aether.” He said quickly before turning to leave but Aether just tightened his grip.
“Dewdrop.” He then cupped his face making him focus on him, “You act as if I’m leaving, I’m always going to be right here waiting for you to return. I’ll be in your room waiting.” Aether reassured the fire ghoul.
Staring into the silver eyes, Dewdrop sighed, “it’s not fair.”
Aether chuckled lightly, “now you’re sounding like a child Dew. I trust Copia and his decisions, there’s also the rest of our friends. They’ll always be there for you, so I know you’ll be just fine on the road.” He leaned in close to him, laying his forehead onto Dewdrop’s. “I love you Dew.” He whispered.
Dewdrop felt a shiver go through his spine, “you promise you’ll be here when we get back?”
“Of course my love.”
Feeling more relaxed than he has been since the news, Dewdrop leaned up to place a sweet kiss on Aether’s lips making the ghoul smile. “I love you too.”
___
Scratching at his arms, Phantom glanced around as he walked around the main house. Everyone had apparently gone to bed or at least he was assuming so since it was around 2 am.
After Cumulus and Swiss helped him and showed his room, had locked the door and did not come out even when dinner was called. Cumulus and he believed her name was Cirrus came by and knocked to see if he was okay but he refused to answer.
He was struggling to grasp what was happening. It all felt like too much at once, too many names, voices, touches, just everything was getting thrown at him at once. He couldn’t focus his eyes or ears as if he had never used them before.
Walking into the kitchen, he looked around and found the pantry. He picked up package after package reading what each thing was. Is this what they eat now? What the hell were Oreos? He pulled back the plastic and frowned at the black and white thing. He sniffed it curiously and it smelt sweet. He took a bite and his eyes widened, a smile immediately gracing his lips. Exiting the pantry with the package in his hand and a cookie in the other, he continued exploring feeling a bit happier.
“Phantom?” The boy jumped, dropping his cookie. He stared down at it sadly as Swiss came full into view from the hallway.
Swiss chuckled and reached down to pick it up and tossed it out. “Midnight snack?” He then reached into the package Phantom was still holding and grabbing a cookie for himself. He hummed in delight. “You’re lucky I like you, I don’t typically share my cookies.” He joked but Phantom tilted his head to the side.
“You hearing me okay dude?” Swiss asked and Phantom nodded nervously. “Ah so why don’t you talk back? I know you can.”
Phantom glanced around as if he was looking for someone else to appear and Swiss caught it, “it’s just us.” He reassured the ghoul.
“Okay.” He spoke quietly and the Swiss gave him a big grin.
“There you are! Want to watch a movie with me? I can’t sleep so I was gonna use the den’s tv.” Swiss invited him, “we can keep the cookies! Oooh and I gotta get us cups of milk.” He said, snapping his fingers and rushing over to the fridge.
“Movie? Milk with cookies?” Phantom tilted his head curiously.
“Dude I know you aren’t that stupid, you were born way after us so you should definitely know what movies are and especially what milk and cookies are.” Swiss said thinking Phantom was joking as he grabbed two mugs and filled them with milk.
Phantom frowned thinking Swiss was insulting him. What did I say? He didn’t understand. “I don’t.” He tried correcting the multi-ghoul.
Swiss simply rolled his eyes playfully, “sure okay! Come on!” He said holding the mugs and leading Phantom out of the kitchen and into the den.
After sitting the mugs on the coffee table, he plopped onto the sectional and patted the spot next to him. Phantom gently sat next to Swiss and placed the package of cookies next to the mag. He immediately curled into himself, his knees to his chest and sitting his head on top of them. His eyes widened seeing the screen light up and Swiss starting to look for whatever a movie was.
“Whoa…” he mumbled quietly as Swiss settled for a thriller movie.
Phantom glanced out of the corner of his eyes, watching Swiss dip the Oreos into the milk for a few moments before putting the whole thing into his mouth as his eyes focused onto the screen.
Copying the ghoul, Phantom got his mug and cookie, but only taking half a bite instead of shoving it into his mouth like Swiss did.
It took less than 30 minutes for the two to finish off the package.
Swiss glanced over at Phantom, after noticing there were no more cookies, and he looked mesmerized by the tv. He raised a brow and a small smile stayed on his lips as he looked at the ghoul.
Was he not joking with me? There’s no way he didn’t know what movies were…right?
Deciding to finish the movie first before he asked questions, he couldn’t help but sneaky glances at Phantom when he knew something would get a reaction out of him.
After an two hours of the two enjoying the movie, it came to a close and Swiss stretched his limbs before going limp. Phantom had loosened up, and was now just sitting sideways on the couch with his hands in his lap, his head leaning against the back of it.
Swiss turned his body towards the ghoul who watched him closely. Laying his head against the back just like Phantom, Swiss managed to catch those purple eyes. “I have some questions for you Phantom.”
Phantom nodded slowly, letting him continue. “Okay, what do you remember from your previous life?”
This caused Phantom to frown, “like before I was sent to the pit?” He asked for clarification.
“Yeah, we all had a life before we became ghouls.”
“Well I don’t remember anything really before I woke up in hell.” He admitted.
Swiss frowned, he hadn’t heard of someone not remembering their previous life. He’d have to ask Copia about it, maybe even Aether because it might be a Quintessence thing however he didn’t think it was.
“Is that a bad thing that I don’t remember?” Phantom asked when Swiss got quiet.
Immediately shaking his head, Swiss waved away his concerns, “nah, just mean I get to teach you so many things.” He chuckled mischievously.
“Like what?” Phantom asked innocently.
Swiss had multiple things come to his head, none of them appropriate. He knew the second he saw Phantom he wanted to get his claws into him, but with this new revelation he knew better than to tell him all of his devious plans.
“I’ll make a list of things for you to experience.” Swiss said calming the ghoul’s curiosity for now. “How have you been feeling though, I’m sure it’s been a bit overwhelming.” He asked to move the conversation.
Phantom gave him a small nod as he thought, his eyes drifting down to his arms as if confused by them, “it was too much this morning.” He answered truthfully.
Swiss glanced down at Phantom’s arms when he noticed he was focused on them but nothing was out of the ordinary with them,, “but you’re feeling okay right now?”
Looking away from his arms, Phantom nodded, “yeah, much better, I like being around you.” He admitted and it shot Swiss right in his heart.
“I like being around you too. I have no doubt you’ll get comfortable here in no time.” Swiss reached over and pushed away the stray hair behind Phantom’s little pointy ears.
The boy let out a big yawn and closed his eyes for a few moments, looking incredibly comfy as he snuggled into the couch. Swiss smiled watching him.
“Come on sleepyhead, off to bed before you pass out here on the couch.” Swiss stretched when he stood up.
Phantom sleepily got up and wrapped his arms around his torso. “Goodnight Swiss.”
“Night Phantom, sweet dreams.”
Phantom smiled shyly before walking away from the ghoul but right before he turned the corner he stopped to watch Swiss clean up their little movie night. He bit the inside of his cheek before shaking his head, clearing away foggy thoughts and heading to his room