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“Sweets, when you invited me over, I’ll be honest, I was expecting a little less talking.” Milo whispered into the stealth’s ear as they shut the door in front of them, setting the bowl of various candy bars down on the table next to it.
“We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” They replied nonchalantly as they idly watched the other’s face, the suggestive meaning lost to them.
“No, investigator. Not like that.” He sighed in response a small, temporary, pang of annoyance painted in his mind. After a moment, he reached out to hold their shoulder, guiding them to the wall behind them.
“I meant a little more aerobic activity, if you will.” The vampire explained, encroaching into their space as he nosed along their neck, the increase in their heart rate loud in his ears. Sensing no resistance, he kept his hands roaming their waist, a small sense of relief hitting as they reached their arms around his shoulders, leaning into the sensations.
“Oh.” Was all they said in response, which was not enough of a consent for Milo’s taste, the mood notably dampened in his eyes.
“Hey, Sweethea-” He started as he pulled away from them, while at the same time a loud ringing sounded from the house, notifying the two of them that someone was at the door. Milo reeled back and covered his ears in response, the already loud doorbell amplified by his vampiric hearing.
“Damnit, I put a sign that said not to ring the bell...” Sweetheart mumbled to themselves, face going from upset to forcing a smile as they grabbed the bowl of candy, opening the door to the young trick or treaters, who couldn’t have been more than five years old, a clearly tired parent in tow.
While Sweetheart made short conversation with the kids, handing them each their own haul of sweets, Milo made his way into the kitchen, the lingering tinnitus foreshadowing a headache for the vampire. He set his forehead against the fridge, willing the bubbling ire to subside.
When the stealth had called Milo asking if he had any plans for the night, then invited him over, he was expecting the routine rendezvous they had come to enjoy; trading off who traveled to whose home . He had arrived with all the pomp and circumstance as any other nightly call, but rather than being greeted by his bed partner in their usual attire, they were dressed in a white peasant shirt, a striped bandana messily holding their hair back, a clearly cheap pirates sword slung on their belt, and a pair black skin tight pants that had Milo’s mind working overtime.
It was after questioning their outfit choice that he remembered that it was the night of the 31st, their smile faltering as his face didn’t hide that he was connecting the dots, realizing that they had invited him over for the holiday, rather than as an illicit meetup.
He explained that it had been a long time since he celebrated it, so it slipped his mind, but being a vampire was his costume. Internally, he knew it was because the Rebane’s only concern in October was the uptick in curious, but foolish, unempowered trying to roam their territory at all hours of the night. Halloween was a headache, rather than a holiday, and being the prince of the house meant he rarely, if ever, had to keep an eye on the grounds, much less on a night that was set to be busy, so the day slipped his mind up until he stood on Sweetheart’s front door, looking them up and down.
Sweetheart assured him that they should have mentioned it, and that they were on a busy street with lots of families, and since they handed out full sized candy, they just wanted someone else around to help them keep up. Milo glanced into their abode and saw the pile they had, his fangs already stinging at the idea of even having that much chocolate in one place. He hesitantly agreed to help, not one for hanging around kids, but curious enough about his latest situational partner to stay.
It wasn’t until 2 hours in that Milo found himself verging on the edge of irritability. The conversation between the two had barely lulled on for two minutes at a time before there would come a sharp knock on the door, with most children simply grabbing the candy from the stealth and running back to the street, any polite words lost to the wind. There were a handful of older kids who had stopped by multiple times, without any repercussions from Sweetheart, just a tense smile and self-flagellating sigh once they shut the door again.
The doorbell being rung for the second time that night brought the vampire to a dangerous edge, his words sharpening just as much as his teeth. He saw the patience and understanding on the stealth's face, but could smell their nerves lighting up with guarded anxiety.
Milo’s breaking point was when he heard one of the parents scold Sweetheart for not having a ‘good’ candy bars that their kid liked. Their teenager’s shit eating grin behind them was one that was familiar, their second visit to the door, first with a guardian. The stealth, with all the diplomacy on Elegy, explained that it was nearing midnight, so they were running short. It was clear the words weren’t sinking in, the brick wall of a parent continuing to vent, points being made that if the lights were on they needed to have more candy. The vampire’s blood boiled at the privileged attitude, but even more-so that the stealth simply nodded along, taking the blows.
“Hey dickheads, if you want that candy so bad, go buy it your own damn self. They’re doin’ this out of the kindness of their heart and you have the gall to say it ain’t good enough? Besides, your shitty kid already got his candy from here, no double dipping.” The vampire interjected, turning the corner to shield Sweetheart, the aflush parent momentarily pausing, face morphing from annoyance to offended. Before they could rebut, Milo continued.
“Why don’t you both take a long walk back home, ‘kay?” Milo spat the last word, the anger leaving the parent’s face as they turned around, clearly tranced. Annoyed, the kid followed, while the vampire slammed the door, locking the bolt attached to it and harshly flicking the porch lights off.
“You’re done sweet stuff. No more charity for people who don’t deserve it.”
“Milo you can’t just trance someone like-”
“I can, and I did. They needed the push to not ruin someone else’s night. It’ll wear off when they get to their house.” he reassured, knowing that they were concerned about a breach of covert, but he was too riled up to care.
“I’m sorry Milo. I wanted this holiday to be fun, it’s my fifth Halloween in this neighborhood, most of the families are unempowered and are usually really kind. I can’t do much for them outside of holidays, so I try to for them. But this night has just kind of been miserable for you, I’m so sorry.” Sweetheart apologized, negative feelings palpable in the air.
“Don’t put those words in my mouth, I never said anything about being miserable.” Milo quickly argued, the other apologizing quietly for assuming on his behalf, a habit he was still trying to break them of, however slow and painful it was.
“Listen, sweets, you are way too damn generous for your own good.” Milo sighed, exasperated by their unyielding patience. “Some of those ‘really kind’ families are just walkin’ all over you.” he continued, telling the stealth what they likely didn't want to hear.
In lieu of a reply, they simply turned on their heels, brushing his arm as they headed down the hallway to their bedroom.
“We can just do what we usually do when you’re over, just give me a second to get out of this costume, it’s uncomfortable.” They explained, already moving to take the bandana off, their hair pressed to their head where it had been tied. Milo desperately wanted to reach out and fix it for them, but was too hung up on their words to make any sort of move.
“Is that what you want?” He settled on asking, examining every inch of their face as they turned back to answer.
“Isn’t it what you do? Isn’t that why you came over?” Incredulity lacing their voice, as if they were surprised by him asking for their opinion on the matter, instead of just agreeing.
“Stop. Stop that shit right now investigator. I’m not about to fuck you just ‘cause I’m here. You clearly aren’t feeling it ‘cause you’re being dodgy about answering, I’m not feeling it, so it ain’t gonna happen.” Milo bit back, watching them shrink in on themselves.
“Okay. You don’t have to stay here either way. If you have other things to do tonight then don’t let me stop you, but thank you for being here for as long as you were, and for getting that parent to leave.” They sighed, leaning back against the doorframe, half in the bedroom, half outside of it, a limbo-esque impasse that mimicked the words they spoke, a choice given to Milo.
“Alright sweet stuff, lemme tell you what we’re gonna do. You’re gonna turn that pretty ass around, go get dressed in your comfies, and we’re gonna sit on your couch and talk about what we’re doing the rest of the night. Okay?” The vampire narrated, the temporary rage subsiding in favor of communication, in favor of giving them both a chance to decompress before they snapped.
Sweetheart only nodded in response, turning and closing their bedroom door softly behind them, Milo returned to their couch, head in hands as he willed the fire of anger for the stealth to be put out. He told himself that he had no right to be angry in their stead, while another part of him told him that if he wasn't, then who would be. Eventually, he settled on talking about it with them later, another night when he wasn’t also nursing a headache and the overwhelming presence of dozens of people along the streets.
The stealth emerged from their room a quarter of an hour later, pirate getup replaced by cotton sleepwear, and their makeup replaced by red eyes with lingering clouds.
“Sweetheart.” Milo cooed, reaching a hand out to wipe away the dried tears, their face shy as they leaned into the touch.
“I’m an angry crier. Ironically cathartic though.” They explained, moving closer to settle against the vampire’s shoulder. In the silence following Milo wrapped his arms around them, pressing soft kisses to the crown of their head, a quiet understanding dispersing any lingering tension and frustration.
“How do you want to celebrate Halloween sweets? Not some punk-ass kids, not their parents, not what you assume I want to do. You, the wonderful person you are, at this moment, what do you want to do? I’m in this holiday spirit shit for the long haul with you tonight, so name what you want and we’ll do it.” He asked after a few minutes, voice low as he held them.
“Promise you won’t laugh?” they questioned in response, voice hesitant, but the trust in Milo still ever present.
“I can’t promise that, you seem to make me laugh more than anyone else, which is a good thing, before your brain takes that in a negative way, but I do promise not to make fun of you.”
“Okay… There are some Halloween movies I’ve always wanted to watch, but know I would have nightmares if I watched them alone. Watch them with me?” Milo chucked in response, holding them tighter as he nodded back to them.
“Anything for you, Sweets.”