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phantoms-lair · 5 years ago

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Feel the rain on your skin

Subject: A Cute Demon AU Fic written around this picture by @ectoimp

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Spring Rain

For all that the cave changed them irrevocably, the cave itself never did. It didn’t get warmer or cooler during their stay. There were no sounds of animals and the only light came from Lewis. Certainly no wind or precipitation.

It made both of them appreciate being outside all the more. There was magic now in the scents carried in the wind. Of the songs of birds and chirps of crickets. The only thing that could relax Arthur to a nap faster than the sun warming him and a light breeze dancing over his skin was if Lewis was holding him while it happened.

It was, without a doubt, one of Arthur’s favorite activities since their explosive escape from the cave a couple of weeks prior. Just laying on the grass outside the little cottage he and Lewis now shared and watching the clouds drift by. It wasn’t just a daytime activity either. Far too many nights were interrupted by nightmares on Arthur’s part. Some were memories of Lewis’s death, his own painful transformation, and being trapped in the cave. Others were made up of the dark whispers he had heard, trying to steal his body from him (was it even his body anymore? It certainly didn’t look it.) The worst though, were dreams of the cave where Lewis didn’t come back and he was trapped alone in the darkness with nothing but pain and the voice.

Those dreams always ended with him wrapped in big strong arms. Lewis would hold him close and whisper that he was safe and never alone. Arthur would cling to him, arms and wings wrapped tightly around his torso and his tail doing a great impression of a blood pressure cuff on Lewis’s arm or leg. Lewis never complained though, and just carried him outside, where they would watch the stars until either Arthur fell back asleep or the sun came up. The only exception was when the night was overcast and neither the moon or stars shined through. Neither of them liked seeing dark nothingness above them and on those night they stayed inside by the fire, Lewis cuddling him and singing lullabies.

Arthur didn’t know if ghosts could have nightmares when they rested in their anchor. Lewis never gave him an answer when asked, which either meant yes or that Lewis still found the whole thing surreal and didn’t want to talk about it. Arthur decided to err on the side of doing what he could and whenever Lewis had to rest Arthur would cradle the locket close to his chest, whispering comfort and focusing on how grateful he was that Lewis had been with him every step of the way.

He was laying on the couch, doing just that when a low rumbling sound washed over him. He perked his ears, waiting to see if the sound happened again. A few minutes later another rumble had Arthur off the couch and heading towards the door.

The clouds were still a ways away, but he could see them heading closer, flashes of light like the flash of a lighthouse. He could see the curtain of rain approaching, hear birds calling out as they tried to make it to shelter before the rains started.

The glare of the sun was blocked out as the colors became more vibrant. The small hairs on the nape of Arthur’s neck and his tail prickled as the atmosphere changed. Then it happened.

Pit Pat PitPatPitPat

The worst of the clouds were still a ways off, but the first drops of rain was hitting the porch roof. Arthur took a hesitant step off the porch. He had been through probably hundreds of rains storms in his life, and not felt more about them then mild annoyance. This one though…

There seemed to be something different about this one. Something wilder, for all the storm didn’t seem that bad. Maybe it was just that this was the first rain he’d seen since the cave. Maybe he was just projecting some emotions on to the storm. Either way he took his a hesitant step off the porch and into the rain.

The drops that hit him were cold, not warm like it would be in mid summer. Still he leaned into it, lifting his head and feeling the rain run down his face and back. His wings spread out and he could feel even more rain running down. It felt freeing. Cleansing.

The golden heart he clutched to his chest pulsed and in a rush of purple flames Lewis appeared. “Arthur what’s going on? You’re…” His initial thoughts of out in the rain and soaking wet were quickly replaced by happy. Arthur tended toward melancholy, even on good days. But he was standing before him with a big grin on his face and his tail twitching like that one internet cat that liked squeezing into small boxes.

Arthur surged forward, capturing him in a hug. “It’s raining Lew!”

“I noticed.” Lewis laughed at the sheer mirth in Arthur’s face. “Having fun?” “Mmmhmm,” Arthur was in full on snuggle mode, so with a move born of long practice Lewis scooped him up and carried him to the porch. He didn’t want to go inside, not when Arthur seemed to be enjoying the weather so much. Also not when they were dripping wet.

Responding to his thoughts, his little deadbeats floated out of the house, each carrying a towel several sizes larger than it. Lewis plopped on over his head, and put another over Arthur, scrubbing his blonde mane. Arthur laughed and playfully shoved his hand away, but left the towel where it was.

“Since when are you such a big fan of rain?” Lewis asked, using his own towel to dry himself off.

“Since now I guess. It’s just so beautiful and free. We’re really free aren’t we, Lew?”

The last part was said softly and gave Lewis a better idea of where this was coming from.

“We are.” Lewis said, just as softly. “We’re free.”

Summer Rain

“Not now,” Lewis grumbled as he felt the first few drops fall in his head.

Given their need to stay hidden and their lack of funds, getting food for Arthur had turned into a matter of foraging and fishing. (They’d briefly considered hunting, had managed to capture a rabbit on a cage trap, and promptly let it go as neither had the heart to kill it). They’d also taken to trying to cultivate some of the edible plants they’d found, with mixed successes.

Arthur had been re-designing the fish trap they were using and had been focused enough that Lewis felt okay going to forage by himself, after telling Arthur where he’d be going. There had been a spot in the forest where Lewis had found some manzanilla shrubs and something he hoped would be a walnut tree (he wouldn’t know for sure for another few weeks)

The manzanilla was just starting to fruit, not ready to be harvested, but Lewis was content collecting some flower petals. It wouldn’t quite be lemonade, but it would be a nice drink for a summer’s day.

He’d just finished gathering petals when a familiar scent wafted past him. Lewis had froze, believing for a moment he’d imagined it. But the wind picked up again and the scent was even stronger. Lewis followed it until he’d found a patch of a grass-like plants with small white flowers.

Garlic.

Without salt or pepper, seasoning hadn’t been anywhere close to his normal skill level. Garlic, though, he could use to create something spectacular. Petals gently stored in the pocket of his vest, Lewis went to work digging up the wonderful aromatic, placing them in a bag he’d conjured. He’d just about finished when those first few raindrops had found him.

He pulled the petals from his pocket and conjured a small box to keep them dry before the rain really picked up. Lewis took a moment to get his surroundings and realized he’d not gone this far out before and wasn’t completely sure how to get back. He could almost kick himself for just following a scent on a breeze and not paying attention to where he was going, garlic be damned.

You could fly up a small voice in his head suggested. Get your bearing that way

No, if he didn’t know where he was, that was too risky. What if he was right by someone’s house and he was seen? Or near a road and seeing him caused someone to crash? They were excuses, true. He knew the real reason was the idea of being high enough over the trees scared the bejeezus out of him. But they were valid enough he convinced himself to keep his feet on the ground. One hand keeping the rain out of his eyes, Lewis picked the direction he thought he’d come from and ventured back. The trees looked kind of familiar, but he knew how deceptive wooded areas could be.

What if he’d gotten well and truly lost? Would Arthur be okay? What if Arthur though he had abandoned him?

Each thought made him a little more frantic, the worsening rain driving him even further in panic. Was that the same manzanilla he’d been picking petals from, or different plant altogether? His anchor thudded against his chest as though it was a beating heart. Forget the height, he was going to fly. The fear of being up high was terrifying, but nothing next to the fear of leaving Arthur alone. He just needed to get up his courage and-

“Found you!” The excitement in Arthur’s voice matched the relief Lewis felt as he turned and saw him best friend lolloping towards him, still a bit awkward on all fours, but right now the best thing Lewis had ever seen.

In one last leap Arthur was on him, arms wrapped around his waist and one wing spread over Lewis’s head, protecting him from the rain. “I came looking for you when the rain started,” Arthur explained.

“I’m glad you did. I maaay have gotten myself turned around,” Lewis admitted sheepishly, one hand behind his neck.

“Well let me then have the honor of escorting you home.” Arthur didn’t move the wing protecting Lewis, but swiveled to loop Lewis’s arm in his own. “Shall we?”

“Let’s,” Lewis laughed in spite of himself and let himself be led back to their cottage.

They got up to the porch and Arthur attempted to to squeeze out his mane, which had gotten thoroughly soaked.

“Let me,” Lewis offered, setting down the bag of garlic. He ran a warmer than usual hand through Arthur’s hair. Arthur made an almost purring sound as he melted against Lewis’s touch. Lewis smiled, sitting down and pulling him into his lap, where he continued to comb Arthur’s hair with his fingers, slowly drying it.

“Damn. You would be, like, the kings of massages now.” Arthur commented, his tone completely relaxed.

“Well, you’ve always been the king of tense muscles, so I guess it works out.,”

“Mmmm” Arthur didn’t even attempt a comeback, just relaxing to the impromptu scalp massage and the sound of the rain around them.

The rain wasn’t so bad Lewis decided. Not bad at all.

Autumn Rain

The rains in autumn were a lot more violent than the showers of summer. It was colder with high winds and much more thunder and lightning. Even with his newfound love of rain Arthur had no interest in going past the porch. He kept his wings tight around him to the best of his ability, afraid if a good gust caught them he’d go flying.

“I’m a bit worried about the garden,” Lewis confessed, handing Arthur a mug with primrose tea.

“Do we want to try and enclose it, like a greenhouse?” Arthur suggested.

“I don’t think we need to go that far, but some more wind breaks would not go amiss. Not if it keeps up like this.”

“I don’t know that it will.” Arthur shrugged. “We’re just about out of the season for it. But I’m happy to help you put some up if you want to.” Then he cocked his head, “Lewis do you hear that?”

“The only thing I hear is the wind,” Lewis strained to listen above the storm. Then it caught his ears just after the crash of thunder, a small child’s scream of terror. Lewis bolted off the porch without thinking, his deadbeats right behind him.

They separated as they went, Lewis wanting to cover as much ground as possible. After getting lost he’d made sure he was familiar with every inch of the wilderness around there cottage. But knowing his way around didn’t tell him where the child was.

Another frightened scream, followed by a call of “Lewis I found him!” gave him the lead he needed. He and his deadbeats swooped in to where they found a small boy around Belle’s age huddled against a tree. He was shaking slightly and Lewis wasn’t sure if it was from being cold, or from seeing Arthur, as the boy seemed terrified by him.

Arthur shot Lewis a look, as if pleading with him to do something. Lewis conjured a copy of his glasses, no sense in scaring the kid more than he already was. “Hey kid, what’s your name?”

The kid’s eyes shifted back and forth between Lewis and Arthur.

“My name’s Lewis, and this is Arthur. We’re not going to hurt you, I promise. But it’s not safe out here.” As if to prove his point, there was a loud crack and the sound of a large branch falling nearby.

“We need to get him inside, Lew. It’s getting dangerous.” Arthur had to raise his voice to be heard over the storm.

The kid was obviously weighing his option whether to go with them or run when another crash of thunder had him jumping into Lewis’s offered hand.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Lewis said softly. The child was definitely colder than he should have been and Lewis turned up the heat just a little. He looked up at his little minions. “Can you do a search in case there’s someone around looking for him?” His deadbeats saluted and scattered again and Lewis picked up the boy and held him to his chest. He headed back to the house as fast as he could, Arthur right behind him. He didn’t relax until they were in the door, out of the storm.

“What is this place?” The kid asked, poking his head up.

“It’s our home,” Lewis gently explained. ��You can stay here until the storm lets up and we can take you back to civilization.”

“Do you have a phone?” The boy tried to hold back a sniffle. “My Mom’s got to be really worried.”

“We don’t have any electricity here, sorry. But there’s a convenience store a bit away. They’ll have a phone.”

“Oh…” The kid tucked his head down.

“Don’t worry, big storms like this usually don’t last too long, and this one’s been going for a bit.” He didn’t want to let go of the kid just yet, not until at the very least his clothes were dry. Hopefully with his powers acting as a personal heater that wouldn’t take too long.

Meanwhile Arthur slinked back into the house, trying to keep the kid from noticing him just yet. It was funny, Arthur always thought he would be crushed the first time someone was scared of him, but he wasn’t. Maybe it was the crisis situation of a lost child, or maybe just that he was a kid and Arthur had seen kids be scared of Lance of all people.

Arthur had shook himself dry as best he could on the porch, but still went straight for a towel so he didn’t drip more than necessary. He tried to think of something he could do to help. Something warm to eat would probably be good for the kid. He stuck his head in the kitchen, trying to see if Lewis had started dinner. Sure enough on the stove was a pot containing what Arthur could now recognize as mashed yucca root. Thankfully it was a slow cooking food that hadn’t burned during their run into the forest.

Arthur scooped it up in a bowl and added some of the blackberry preserves Lewis had made to make it a bit sweeter for the kid. Now the hard part - getting him to eat it. This would be easier if Lew still had a Deadbeat around, those things were too cute to be scared of.

Arthur pulled his wings as tight and hunched over, trying to look smaller. He made his way into the living roof and saw the kid curled up on Lewis’s lap.

“I brought you some food,” he said softly.

The kid yelped and buried his face in Lewis’s chest.

“It’s okay,” Lewis said soothingly. “I told you. Arthur isn’t going to hurt you.” Even as he said it, Lewis shot his a look as if to say That’s your dinner?

I survived weeks without food, I can miss one dinner. And he needs it more, was Arthur’s returning look. “It’s warm and tasty,” Arthur promised. “And hey, bet you can’t guess what my favorite food is?”

The boy peeked at him fearfully. “Is it little boys?”

“Not even close.” Arthur chuckled, even though it was a little forced. “Got another guess?”

“Is it… snakes and rats?” The boy looked like he was thinking hard.

“No, and ew.”

“Rattlesnake pasta is good,” Lewis argued.

“You think chocolate covered fire tastes good, invalid.” Arthur stuck out his tongue.

“Rude,” was Lewis’s only reply.

“And it’s pizza.” Arthur winked at the kid, who had been following their back and forth like a tennis match.

His jaw dropped. “P-Pizza?”

“With fish on it, so I don’t think Arthur has any room to complain about my taste in snacks.” Lewis clarified.

“Yes, and it’s delicious. But the pizza guy won’t deliver out here, so we’ve got to make due.” Arthur said sadly. “But this stuff is pretty good, and it’s warm too.”

The kid still looked at him suspiciously but took the bowl. He took one bite, not breaking eye contact with Arthur, only for them to widen in surprise. “S’good.”

“Told you. Who knows, maybe by the time you’re finished, the rain will stop.” Arthur suggested. As if on queue, there was another crash of thunder, causing the kid to drop the bowl and bury himself into Lewis’s chest.

Arthur dove forward, catching the bowl before it hit the ground. The kid sniffed a bit. “M’sorry. I know I shouldn’t be scared of thunder and lightning.”

“Hey, it’s okay to be scared. I used to be scared almost all the time.” Arthur confessed.

“Why would you be scared? You’re a monster?”

“He’s not!” The words escaped Lewis’s mouth before Arthur could even say anything. “He’s not a monster.”

“He’s not?” The kid looked at Arthur’s horns and wings in confusion.

“Let me tell you a story while you finish eating.” Lewis sat back as Arthur handed the kid the bowl again. “Once upon a time there were three friends. One day they heard about an evil monster that lived in a cave.”

Arthur shuddered at the reminder.

“They faced the monster and beat it. But as it died, the monster decided to curse them. The first was the leader. She was brave and caring woman who would do anything for her friends. But the monster wiped them from her memory. She wandered out of the cave, not knowing her friends hurt and needed help. That, and all the happy memories of them together, was gone.”

Lewis couldn’t help drooping a bit as he told the story. Arthur’s wings had closed around himself and his tail had wrapped itself around Lewis’s ankle.

“The second friend was cursed to walk the world as a ghost. He looked mostly normal, but he could neither eat nor truly sleep. And if he got mad his hair turned to flames. But the worst curse was done to third friend, for he was the one who had defeated the monster in the end.”

“This friend was the kindest and most loyal of the three. But he was cursed to look like the monster so people would be afraid of him and attack him. There was a fourth person in the cave. I won’t call him a friend, because he willingly abandoned the second and third to their fates, but before he left he attacked the third friend thinking he was the monster, and then closed the cave so he could never be free, even if it meant trapping in the last two as well. But he didn’t count on the second friend using his curse to escape and free the third.”

“If people saw Arthur, they’d be scared of him, so we have to hide in the woods. But we have a nice home and it’s not too bad out here. But no one can know we’re here, so when you go back you need to keep this a secret, okay?”

“Is there a way to break the curse?” As fantastical a story as it was, Arthur was too real for him to ignore it.

“I’m sure there is. We just don’t know it yet, but one day we’ll figure it out.” Lewis assured him.

The boy was quiet for a moment. “Josiah. That’s my name. But you can call me Joe.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Joe.” Arthur held out a clawed hand and let Joe give it a shake. “See, you shook hands with me. I’d say that’s pretty brave. In fact, stay right here a sec, I’ll be right back.” Arthur went to the bed room and grabbed something from the top shelf of the closet. It had taken his a while to clean all the blood off it, but he hadn’t worn it since losing his vest.

“Here you go.” Arthur gave Joe his star badge. “Let that be a reminder that even when you’re afraid, you’re a really brave kid.”

Joe took the dented yellow tin in his hands, holding it almost reverently.

‘Are you sure?’ Lewis mouthed at him, that star being one of Arthur’s very few mementos of happier times, but Arthur nodded. Better it become the treasured item of another kid than just collecting dust.

Joe’s eyes darted over to the window, where the storm still raged. “Can you tell me another story?”

“Of course,” Lewis said softly. “I’ve got several.”

“Joe, Joe, it’s time to wake up.”

“Don’t wanna.” He was comfy and warm, being carried in someone’s arms.

“Sorry, little man. But we’re almost to your search party.”

Search party? Joe scrunched his eyes shut trying to figure out what he was being told. That was right, he’d gotten lost in the forest and been found by two very strange people. He cracked his eyes open and saw a wash of green. It was Arthur’s wings, he realized. Arthur had been carrying him while they were walking. The storm had stopped, but now he could hear another sound, people calling his name.

“This is as far as we can go, or else someone might see us.” Lewis explained. “But these little guys will help you.” Three little pink beings appeared on Lewis’s cue.

“What are they?” Joe asked in wonder.

“Just think of them as forest spirits.” Arthur said with a grin. “Kind of like us, I guess.” He put Joe down only for the kid to hug him, then hug Lewis.

“Thank you so much.” Joe whispered.

“Any time kiddo,” Arthur laughed. “That said, it’s probably not a good idea to just wander in the woods. There’s plenty out here that’s dangerous. Like snakes. Which should not go in pasta.”

Joe giggled, before grabbing the tiny hand of the deadbeat. “Bye Arthur. Bye Lewis.”

“Bye Joe,” they said in unison, waving till he was out of sight.

Once gone they let out a breath of relief.

“He’s going to be okay,” Lewis said.

“Yeah, he is. It was...nice, you know? You’re good with kids, Lew.”

Lewis snorted. “I have three younger sisters. What’s your excuse?”

“My excuse?” Arthur asked questioningly.

“You had him go from actively scared of you to hugging you goodbye in the space of a couple of hours. You’re not so bad with kids yourself.”

Arthur was quiet for a moment. “You know you can go back right? Your parents and sisters-”

“Have each other. One day I’ll go back, when you can come with me.”

“That day may never come, Lew. You know that.”

“I know nothing of the kind.” Lewis gave Arthur a gentle kiss on his forehead, right between his horns.

“What am I, one of your sisters?” Arthur asked fondly.

“You’re family, Artie. Always have been, always will be.” He ruffled his friend hair.

“Don’t start that unless you want the favor returned,” Arthur threatened with a grin. “Let’s go home Lew.”

Lewis put an arm over his shoulder, “Lets.”

Winter Rain

Josiah Jones hated the rain. He’d never liked thunder and lightning, but he hadn’t started disliking the rain itself until a few months ago when he’d been lost in the woods. He was saved by the nice forest spirits, but he still had bad dreams about the cold and wet.

It was raining again, even colder in February. The rain has caused his Mom to lose control of the car for a moment and they’d crashed into a guardrail. No one was hurt, and the car wasn’t even badly damaged, but it made him hate the rain even more.

A tow truck had taken them to a little garage in a place called Tempo and his Mom was talking with the mechanic, leaving Joe to sit glaring at the rain out the window.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the badge Arthur had given him. Arthur told him it was a reminder that he was brave even if he was scared and he needed that now.

“Excuse me?” A lady’s voice startled him out of his thoughts. “My name is Vivi. Could you tell me where you found that?”

#MSA #Demon!AU #Ghost Writing #Commission

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