Chapter Text
Honey walked quickly through the corridors of the castle. His lights scanned the area for either one of his current bed mates. He totally wasn’t running from the two of them. Nope, not at all. He was just trying to find somewhere he could mingle with others.
Every time the three of them got a chance to settle down together, usually at bedtime. Honey would carefully direct the conversation away from himself. It wasn’t all that difficult to keep Dust and Axe talking about all the things that had been going on. Dust did sometimes push back at Honey’s tactical topic changes wanting to speak with Paps. Honey had to tell him each time that his brother was asleep. It wasn’t a lie but neither was it the full truth. And Honey knew Dust was starting to suspect something was up.
Axe was excited about the garden Luna had been helping him with a lot. The large skeleton seemed proud to have the little hybrid close by. The little plants were coming along nicely. And of course, Skye was a topic all of them loved talking about. The little bundle of joy brought a small smile to Honey’s face. He ducked down another hall where he was still trying to get a feel for the castle, sometimes it felt as though the very hallways themselves changed. And it was starting to feel disorientating to say the least. But it was helping him right now.
“I need to take a trip to a dimension. I am in desperate need of a shopping trip. I really can’t keep wearing Teddy Bear’s shirts.” Luna’s voice came from one of the rooms he had passed.
A trip? He stopped midstep turning on his heel to glance at the door. Making a last minute decision, he popped over to the doorway. Peering in he glanced inside to find Luna curled up on a couch. Dressed in another one of Axe’s shirts which was carefully pulled to cover her intimate area. She held Skye swaddled in a baby blue blanket against her front. Arms resting carefully under the bundle while she shifted them to mimic bouncing. Night sat at his desk looking up from his paperwork to regard Luna.
“Your supply of clothing is quite limited. Especially when your full size.” Night agreed as he set his quill down. His azure gaze focused on the woman who sat off to the side of the couch. His teeth curving upwards into something that resembled admiration. Honey had noticed these two had been spending quite a bit of time together. Mostly in the library or their current spot, Night’s study.
Honey instantly honed in on that feathery pointed pen. oh my stars, of course he uses a quill. Honey fought the urge to snicker under his breath at the thought.
“Well that happens when Teddy Bear is allowed free reign of my wardrobe.” Luna’s voice came through slightly irritated. Axe had complained non stop how deteriorated some of the hybrid whinsum’s outfits were. There were a few that had been stained with something dark reddish orange. Those ones were pretty much tossed in the fire by the big skeleton.
“I know they were ripping in some areas but I could have sewn them.” There was no saving them even with sewing. It was a wonder they’d held together as long as they had. “But I was also thinking of picking up some supplies. You can pick the dimension this way so you know exactly where I am. That way Cross can have a break from opening portals.”
Deciding he’d had enough of being a creeper Honey cleared his throat as he stepped into the room. More than likely the two had already known he was there. He figured it was better to become a part of the conversation than just lurking. “would ya mind if i tagged along? ta be fair, i don’t got much in the way of clothes either, and i’d like ta find something ta surprise shade with ta give little skye here. maybe get a few things for the others.”
Luna looked up at him for a moment. Her head tilted to the side and for a little he thought she might object. She looked him over falling back into the couch stilling the bouncing motion she’d been doing for Skye. please say yes, blossom. Her gaze turned to Night then. “I could use the extra help. I'm familiar with some of the boys but not all of them. Perhaps Honey could help fill the gaps for me. I was also hoping to get more supplies for Kills as a surprise.” The baby in her lap started to whimper when she noticed she was no longer being rocked.
It had only been a few weeks since she had officially joined them. Night had offered her the boon but she hadn’t taken up on the offer. Honey hadn’t pried into why she’d said no as he felt it wasn’t his place to ask it. He didn’t know Luna as well as he wished he did and he could see how the others in the castle wanted to spend time with her.
Finding out they had a past had been a tough cookie to swallow too. Forgetting all of those memories she had of him still stung. If he allowed himself to dwell on it too long, he would end up distraught. Because he wanted to remember his past with her, he wanted to know the woman he had gotten close to.
“The two of you have been stuck within the castle for weeks. Perhaps a little outing is in order.” Night hummed, regarding them with a look at each of them before he extended his arms to take Skye from Luna. “I’m going to send you to a surface dimension I haven’t sensed the Star Shits in, at least for a long time. I believe the technology is relatively close to what your surface would have been like, Honey, so you should be able to find everything you need.”
Luna got up from the couch she had been resting on. Walking towards Night rocking the now cooing baby in her arms. She handed her off to Night before straightening. Turning to Honey she cleared her throat. “I need to wear something more appropriate. I believe I have something that Axe will allow me to wear. Should see if there's anything specific he'd want for the kitchen.” Luna bowed her head before leaving the room.
Honey took in a breath, happy to be getting out for a while. “You can't keep avoiding Dust and Axe.” Night remarked shortly after Luna left. Moving one of his tentacles to wrap around the quill so he could continue his work while holding his daughter.
Honey startled at the comment, his skull turning to meet the singular azure eye light. Huffing, he came closer before taking a seat on the comfy couch Luna had been lounging on. “i know i can’t.” He admitted, fiddling with his phalanges in his lap for a moment before folding his hands to stop the nervous habit. He hadn’t been expected to be called out for such.
“They know something is up with you.” Night stated, keeping his attention on his paperwork. A lot of it had piled up after everything that had been going on. The balance was suffering for it too. “The only reason I bring it up is because I don’t want your anxiety to fester into something bigger than it is now and then Luna or I will have to deal with it.”
Honey slouched lower in his seat while scowling at the floor. He knew Night was right of course. It just sucked to get called out. At least it was just the two of them. If he wasn't careful though he could trigger Luna on this, then he’d have to deal with her input. “and that’s something i don’t wanna do.” He agreed.
The sound of Night’s quill stopped getting Honey to look up before freezing at the way the deity’s eye light held his own with a serious expression. “Then will you agree to my request to speak with the two of them when you return from this trip?”
It was phrased as a question but Honey easily caught the underlying tone. This was something expected of him. He could refuse, but in the end it would be easier on everyone if he agreed. “yeah, i can do that.”
“Promise me.” Night said, his tone gentling knowing how deep a promise went with any Judge and Honey himself.
Honey was quiet for a moment before sighing faintly. A promise was just that, and there was no breaking it for him. “i promise ta talk ta the two of them when we get back.”
“Good. For now enjoy this trip with Luna. I will need you to get a hold of me if someone shows up.” Dream or at the very minimum Ink were wild cards. There was no telling where or when they might pop up. “Luna doesn't hold my boon and last time it had only been because of Cross that we got there in time. So, you going with her will be a great help.”
“course i can do that for ya, night.” Honey agreed easily. He wasn’t in favor of meeting either of the remaining Stars if he could help it. And keeping them as far from Luna was something everyone in the castle had agreed on. Shade and Axe most of all. His lights drifted down to Skye as Night continued to rock her without seeming to think about it. A smile spread across his face as he thought of something he could maybe get for his niece.
About fifteen minutes later, Luna reappeared in the room. Her ivory hair pulled into a high ponytail that sat at the back of her head. She wore a pair of sweats with a cardigan over the top of a simple shirt. What caught his eye was the crescent shaped stone that hung from a loose thread of some black cord around her neck, resting just above where her soul resided. It glowed a mix of orchid and a deep dark azure. That was her talisman, Honey surmised. Since she wore mostly Axe’s shirts it was always covered. So this was the first time he was seeing it. It looked so pretty.
“We ready to go? Have you told Dust and Axe?” Luna turned to Honey.
He got to his feet as she returned to the room, his smile turning easy. “i wanted ta make it a surprise when we got back and show ‘em some of the things we might get for them.”
He admitted it’d be fun to see the look on both of their faces when he could change into something more that wasn’t borrowed clothes from Axe. The Teddy Bear’s wardrobe really needed help when it came down to it. He did his best to ignore the stare he could feel on the back of his skull coming from Night and the promise he’d made to the deity. As well as the one that Luna was shooting at him. “you’re lookin’ real good yourself, blossom.”
“Mm, thank you. I have a cloth bag for us to carry things.” She pulled out a bag that looked like strips of fabric crudely sewn together. A pair of thick braided ropes made up the handles. “I think we are ready to go, my Prince.”
oh my stars, is that a blush on night’s face? Honey hid a smile behind his hand as he turned slightly while nodding he was ready as well.
“Very well. Be safe out there.” Night set his quill down and concentrated on the wall to his left. A black portal opened into a back alley hidden from view. “Don’t hesitate to send a distress signal through your Boon if anything happens, Honey.”
“i will. i don’t think we should be gone for more than a few hours.” Though if he had anything to say about it, he was going to try and convince Luna to stay until nightfall. From the looks of it he’d guess it was still fairly early morning.
Night watched as Honey and Luna walked through the portal. He was uneasy sending them to a dimension without one of the boys. The both of them were too treasured by everyone to let anything happen. A glance over to Skye had him humming in thought. A slow rocking motion in his hands had her snuggling into him.
She had been getting a little fussy. And Shade needed some extra rest. Honey’s anxiety was echoing off him more than he realized. Thus making Shade feel very worn down. Luna had offered to take it off Shade but his mate refused. Saying that a little bit of rest was needed. So Luna had helped with another obstacle, a fussy baby. He wanted her to take his boon but she had refused. It bothered him being rejected by her, but he’d shrugged it off for the most part.
A flicker showed up beside the still open portal. Night turned his attention to it, finding Killer standing there. Looking through the portal as if he were tracking. He was Luna’s constant shadow as of late. Between him and Cross the poor thing was never alone for too long. Vi had brought it to Night’s attention a week ago when both were spotted spying on the afternoon tea he’d set up with his brother and Luna.
Night had no qualms about it. And seeing it now provided another option. The two of them connected lights and Night gave a brief nod. Killer smiled before shortcutting through the portal. Trailing behind the two as they walked through the crowd. Night closed the portal feeling a significant weight uplifting from his shoulders. They were in good hands with his right hand keeping his eye sockets on them both.