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Although the ghoul den is, at most times, overcrowded and noisy, even the most rambunctious of ghouls need some sleep eventually. These whispering hours, the space between night and day, are where Dew finds a moment to himself.
A moment to microwave a cup of noodles in peace.
The hum of the appliances seems louder in the dark of night, narrowing his focus onto only the task at hand. During the day, Dew would have to keep his ears perked for intruders, ghouls waiting around every corner to ask him endless questions and pester him about the latest show they've been watching (Dew, notably, doesn't know what in the Nine Hells they're talking about, he doesn't watch that shit). Tonight, it's just him, the cool lineoleum under his feet, the light of the moon, and…
"Fucksake, Phantom!"
Dew dislodges his claws from the wallpaper where he ripped into it in his shock at finding the eerie creature perched on the edge of the counter, staring out into the kitchen with his freaky pearl-white eyes unfocused and shining. He turns his head slowly towards the fire ghoul, as if not quite certain that Dew is there.
"Hullo, Sodo," Phantom chirps, his ears twitching. Dew still isn't sure if that's friendly, involuntary, or threatening.
"What the hell are you doing in here?"
Dew flicks on the dim stove light, and Phantom squeezes his eyes shut tight, creasing his forehead and the corners of his eyes. Slowly, he opens one eye at a time and squints at Dew.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Well you aren't gonna fall asleep out here," Dew scoffs.
Phantom shakes his head with an earnest look on his round features. "Oh, no, I wouldn't sleep on the counter, I might fall off."
Dew raises an eyebrow. Phantom is silent a beat too long before he remembers that Dew is expecting an answer.
"The uh, the floor?"
Dew shakes his head, understanding Phantom's not-even-half sentence and knowing he shouldn't have expected anything different. The poor quint's normally lively hair is flattened against the back of his head—not tangled, but messy—and the shadows under his eyes have shadows. Dew isn't sure he's ever seen Phantom sleeping properly, in a nest, but he was willing to believe the odd ghoul just kept odd hours. Guess he'll have to factor in odd places too.
"Get a snack, then you're coming to bed with me and Rain."
Phantom's tail puffs out to twice its usual size.
"Not for sex, Bat. I mean, unless you wanna." Dew grins, showing his fangs.
"Won't Rain be asleep…? He got really grumpy the last time I woke him up."
"He'll get over it real quick if he hears you're there to eat him out."
Dew shoves his noodle cup under the faucet with one hand and uses the other to hold the sauce packet to his mouth and tear it open with his teeth. He winks at Phantom, who only blinks owlishly. Dew's gonna… Yeah, he's going to double check that someone gave him the talk about sleeping with Siblings of Sin.
The microwave whirrs as Dew's noodles cook. Phantom watches the turntable go around, fixated on the jolting movements of the wheels that turn the platter. Just before the timer goes off, Dew opens the door and grabs his steaming snack.
"Alright." Dew slings an arm around Phantom's shoulders, guiding him out of the kitchen. "Bedtime for you, fucking Rain optional."