#phanter cuddle buddies

[ashthewaterghoul]

Eigengrau - #phanter cuddle buddies

Phantom had been partially blind from an accident that happened when they were a kit. But with the stress of being forced away from their Papa - who chases every bad memory away - not only do they lose sight of a possible reunion, but they also lose their sight, altogether while they other Ghouls are helpless but to watch them spiral into depression...

Words: 2.2k

Relationships: Phantom & Copia, Phantom & Aether, Dew/Aether. Swiss/Phantom

Tags: they/them Phantom, Phantom and Aether are siblings, blindness, hurt/comfort, angst, family dynamics, forced separation, parent-child relationship, implied murder Ghouls at the end, mostly phanter and aethtom (platonic) but a little bit of dewther and swisstom for the soul lol

~~~

    Phantom’s skin had long been painted in a myriad of scars acquired from a whole host of injuries and tales, but perhaps the most obvious is the one on their face. They got it when they were just a kit and training with their clan, getting a little overeager and causing a burst of unbridled Quintessential magic to erupt into their face. The instinct they got to turn away caused the damage to only hit the left side of their face, but it also took away most of the vision in that eye.

    They had no peripheral vision left, very little depth perception and only a straw’s width of a gap in the eigengrau void to actually see through. They slowly adjusted to their new way of having to view the world, always feeling unbalanced and often getting migraines from the sheer amount of compensating their right eye had to do.

    But, by the time they were summoned to Earth, they had fully adjusted and accepted what they now had to live with. And considering they now had their Papa with them, and were reunited with their brother, Aether, once more, they could never complain too much about anything in their life.

    Nightmares of all they went through were chased away by Copia’s scent of stale tobacco settled into woollen sweaters and aged parchment. The human’s strong arms around them made them feel safe and at home. And they could never get enough of sleeping in their Papa’s arms, listening to his heart and feeling his fingers thread through their black and white hair.

    It was all so perfect and Phantom could memorise every detail of their Papa despite their partially blind condition.

    Well… That was until it all fell apart, and a wedge was driven between Phantom and their beloved Papa. Now, they could no longer spend their nights holding each other, Phantom couldn’t be soothed by Copia’s scent after a nightmare, and their soul ached with the loneliness of it. All because of some promotion and arbitrary new rules that deemed their parent-child relationship as unprofessional and unsafe.

Read below the cut or on ao3

    Copia no longer had the responsibility of caring for the Ghouls. That was a Papa’s job and he was a Papa no more.

    The most interaction Phantom got with Frater was a nod in the corridor and a handshake at formal events. No hugs, no I love you’s and no visits to either’s rooms for sleepovers and cuddles.

    It had been just over a year and a half since this separation started and Phantom was losing hope for any reunion. They were having more nightmares than ever and so many were of Copia getting hurt and Phantom not being able to save them. The anxiety of those dreams possibly being premonitions was making them beyond stressed and what sleep they were getting was of no real quality.

    One day, they woke up from one of their nightmares and cracked their right eye open, gently smacking their left temple to get the other eye open. Sometimes it took a little longer to clear the sleep out from what little they could see from that side. But… that side was open… Why was it still so dark?

    Phantom felt their breathing pick up and their throat become dry. Their right eye saw the room spinning and the left saw completely nothing.

    “Aeth?! Aether, help!” They called, smacking their hand against the wall behind their bed that separated them from their older brother.

    The older Quint was in like a flash, holding their face in his hands and checking them over.

    “What’s wrong, love? Nightmare?” He asked, his heart breaking for his younger sibling.

    They shook their head as all breath seemed to have failed them.

    “M- my eye… C- can’t s- s- see anyth- thing…” They strained out against the panic and tears that had started to consume them.

    Aether’s face grew to one of worry as he checked in and indeed saw their left eye devoid of anything, and his mind devoid of a solution or remedy.

    “It’s okay, Bug. I’m here, it’ll be alright.” He said, gathering the little Quint into his arms and holding them tight, rocking them back and forth and encasing them both in a Quintessence bubble to calm them.

    Phantom didn’t know if it was calming them or just stopping them from getting worse. What they did know, was that their Papa being there would have made it all a lot better.

    Over the following weeks, they couldn’t adjust to their completely half-blind state. They practically had a constant headache from how much effort their right eye was putting in and they felt so horrifically unbalanced that they were a walking hazard. If it wasn’t this situation, it would be slightly funny and everyone would be calling them Bambi on ice.

    Aether was at a complete loss for what had caused this. He helped heal Phantom when the accident that took part of their vision first happened and even the best healers in their clan said it wouldn’t get worse after it had healed. Inbetween reassuring Phantom and shifts in the infirmary, he was researching everything he could about ocular health and spending as much time as he could doing it.

    One night, when Dew came down to force-feed him and make sure he actually took a break, he found the answer.

    “IT’S STRESS!” Aether called as he read the article on the screen.

   After the librarian came to admonish him for his volume, he hugged Dew tight, happy to have an answer.

    “Wait, if stress causes blindness, how come Mountain hasn’t been blind from birth? He’s the biggest stresshead we know.” The Fire Ghoul chuckled.

    “Who fucking knows? Probably because Phant’s left eye is already weak? As for Mountain, no clue.” Aether was still smiling, happy to have an answer for his little sibling and now hopefully start being able to help. That smile, though, was soon wiped from his face when his phone buzzed with a message from Swiss.

    ‘Get back up here NOW. Phantom needs you.’

    Aether forgot to clean up or switch the computer off before he was running out of the library and back up to the den but he didn’t care one bit. Nothing and no one stopped him until he was back in Phantom’s room, asking what was wrong when he saw Phantom deep in another panic attack.

    As Aether desperately tried to get Phantom to calm, Swiss explained that the vision in Phantom’s right eye was starting to fade now too…

    Aether’s heart sank as he saw that cloud of blindness start to creep in around Phantom’s healthy eye. The distress of this whole situation being so cruel to such a pure soul that had already fought so much. When would they ever get their break?

    The right eye now saw what the left used to. Merely a pin-point of light and the blurred shapes and figures of things in their immediate vicinity. They couldn’t read, couldn’t see the faces of their loved ones and couldn’t even see when they passed Copia in the corridor.

    After Swiss told them when they had, yet again, missed a wave from their Papa they broke down and sobbed for what they were losing. Not only their sight but the hope of everything going back to how it was. How was everything meant to be the same again when Phantom couldn’t even see the person in front of them?

    They knew blind Ghouls could still live good lives but they didn’t want this. They wanted to be able to see their Papa’s eyes light up when his pipistrello entered the room and the warm smile that caused every little crease and wrinkle on his face to pop out.

    Every morning that Phantom woke up without Copia was another that made them more depressed for what they lost. And as they lost even more of their vision - it only taking a couple weeks for sightlessness to completely take them - they only became more catatonic. The pack ached to see such a vibrant Bug so dull and flat.

    Aether’s heart cried even more for his little sibling and he was draining himself dry to try and give them plenty of Quintessence to just do something other than stare at the nothing and cry.

    Seeing the little Quint’s stars fade was tearing the pack apart. All of them had been affected by the forced separation to Copia, but none more than Phantom. There had barely been a night since they came home from Frater’s last tour that at least one of them didn’t sleep with Phantom because while their Papa may not be there to chase the nightmares away, someone else could be.

    No one dared tell Copia either. Aether, Swiss and Mountain – being the biggest and strongest Ghouls – were occasionally chosen to escort Copia as security on business trips but even then they were too scared to be anything but professional with Frater.

    They’d all seen what the Clergy is capable of - Primo, Secondo and Terzo’s bodies and Dew’s unnatural Element are all proof of that - and no one would dare tempt a reprise or something even worse. Sister may be gone, but she certainly didn’t act alone in her cruelties and her followers still dominated the Clergy.

    If Copia knew the situation had made his bambino blind from the stress of it all it would break him more than he had already been broken by the separation too. And at least very least, one of them had to appear strong for the other.

    Copia knew his Ghouls though, and suspected they were hiding something from Swiss’ jaw tightening, the way Aether’s Adam’s apple bobbed, how Mountain’s ears flicked at the mention of Phantom’s name. But, pry as he might, he could never get any information from them that told Copia how his pipistrello was doing aside from the bare minimum.

    He couldn’t go and investigate either. Not without risking so much. He already had visions of his Ghouls being sent back to the Pits they came from and he could never risk Phantom being sent back, not after all they’ve been through.

    So Copia kept his nose down and did his best. Though even his best didn’t seem to be enough to help Phantom. He never saw them in the halls anymore or in the cafeteria. He couldn’t find them in the crowds at Black Mass and apparently they could no longer attend rehearsals or their duties either.

    Phantom couldn’t do much of anything as they rotted in their own mind. They felt as useless as a kit as they wandered the den in tiny steps with one hand on the wall for stability. Their other senses were overwhelmed by what they had to make up for too but they couldn’t shut them off when it’s all they had to rely on now. They didn’t really leave their room much anyway. Sitting in front of the TV felt like a mockery and it wasn’t like they could cook for themself – even before they were blind. Walking around the halls was more hassle than it was worth and they could barely even feel the sunlight on their eyelids anymore.

    Aether went in to see Phantom in the morning before work, kissing their forehead with a promise to come by after his shift. When he did, his heart broke into an infinitesimal number of pieces as he realised they hadn’t moved an inch since he left them twelve hours prior.

    “I don’t know what to do, Dew.” Aether said to his mate in the evening after Swiss came in to sit with the Bug. Planting his elbows on the breakfast table, he buried his face into his hands.

    Dew poured two glasses of neat whiskey for them both and pushed one towards the Quint, standing next to him and combing his fingers through his short hair.

    “We could kill them.” Dew suggested, only half-joking as he referred to the humans that had enforced these cruel rules and restrictions.

    “I thought half of why we’ve done nothing is that we’re scared of what the Clergy will do.” Aether responded as he took the glass and let the whiskey burn down his throat.

    “Do you have any other ideas?” Dew said, shrugging his shoulders as if he was suggesting the most casual activity you could think of.

    Aether exhaled and traced a claw around the edge of the glass.

    “We know who Sister’s loyalists are.” He said.

    Dew’s wicked grin heated up the space around them both. “We do.”

    “We’re natural born predators too. We know how to be discreet and only harm, not kill.”

    “That we are, love.” Dew said, kissing his mate’s cheek with a deep purr.

    “Someone needs to stay with Phantom tomorrow then. While we explain this to the pack.” Aether thought out loud.

    “We’ll figure it out, Aether. We’ll get our Bug back.” Dew promised, toasting their whiskey glasses and letting the glow of the moon light up the amber liquid.

    Phantom didn’t know why, but the next morning, as they awoke next to Swiss, they felt the sun on their eyes a little stronger than usual. And while it was quickly snuffed out by the tidal waves of depression they had fallen into, the tiny spark of hope that fluttered in their chest was so so bright.

    Almost as bright as Phantom would see Copia’s eyes when they finally reunited…

One shot master post can be found here

#phanter cuddle buddies master post can be found here

And the amazing @anotherbananasong did some art of Phantom based on this you can find here

[the-ghoul-roadie]

@ashthewaterghoul I’m not sorry for the reblogging I’m about to do to your blog and phanter cuddle buddies stuff I just discovered, so just giving you a heads up, duck and cover!! And Tumblr? LEAVE ME ALONE!!

[saintplaquerat]

https://www.tumblr.com/plaquerat/772405049639993344/ughh-i-need-stuff-to-read-can-i-get-some-fic

@ashthewaterghoul ‘s ENTIRE Phanter Cuddle Buddies Universe content. From the fics to the asks from anons do (some have even made fics within the fics), it’s gold! Ash also has some awesome fics apart from that that could be fun to read

Hey I'm like. Really sorry but I can't seem to find any fics? It just looks like a lot of headcanon posts I don't have context for. Is there something longform I can read or even a summary so I can get an understanding?

[ashthewaterghoul]

Don’t imagine Phantom being terrified after being summoned, for all they went through in the pit and after. They sleep in Copia’s room, on the floor next to his bed because they don’t want to wake him but they want to feel safe just like he promised them.

Don’t imagine Copia finding them, picking them up and cuddling them in his bed.

Don’t imagine Phantom finally realising it’s okay to ask for help and spends many nights sleeping cuddled up with their Papa because it’s the only place they feel safe from their past. Copia giving Phantom a spare key to his room so his piccolo pipistrello can come in anytime they need to.

Don’t imagine Copia becoming Frater and moving to a new room. Phantom has to give their key back because the new guy doesn’t want to extend the same curtesy.

Don’t imagine Phantom being denied entry to Copia’s new quarters bc he’s Frater now, he has nothing to do with the Ghouls anymore. Phantom, again, doesn’t ask for help.

Don’t imagine Phantom just curling up on the floor, as close as they can get to Copia’s front door, and hoping that when they wake up they’ll be in his bed.

Got a couple asks about this so if you want more angst on this then it’s tagged as #phanter cuddle buddies

[ashthewaterghoul]

I know I say a lot “Copia wishes he had Phantom from birth” but what if he did…

Maybe Phantom was born topside and their dam didn’t want them. A summoning gone wrong that brought up a kit instead of a fully grown Ghoul. Or wandering Ghouls not tethered to any Ministry or anything leave the unwanted kits on the Abbey steps so they’ll still be cared for.

However it happened, as soon as Copia had that little kit in his arms, he knew they’d become his world.

He was the one who raised them, soothed them as their fangs and horns grew in, watching them take their first steps and say their first words.

It wasn’t always easy, juggling his rapidly advancing stations and caring for his autistic kit that when they needed their Papa, they needed him.

But they both made it work and Phantom had the best childhood an orphaned kit could ever ask for.

They missed their Papa so terribly on tours and would call constantly or arrange days to be able to come out and see them.

When Aether retired and Phantom could play the whole discography from memory, they knew it was the perfect opportunity to spend even more time with Copia and travel the world with him.

They never really wonder about their dam and sire, and they only thank them for whatever they did to make it so they could always be in Copia’s arms.

Ig this would have to be another au to the #pcb cinematic universe but the thought is cute~

[ashthewaterghoul]

HC where Quintessence Ghouls have ridiculously powerful glamours and can basically hide/add anything to their forms. Other Elements just let them go between Ghoul and Human looks.

When Phantom finds this out, they add bat wings to their glamour.

They are purely cosmetic so they unfortunately can’t fly, (which they found out one night when Swiss dared them to jump out the window and see if they would glide) but they love their bat wings and hates when they have to put them away.

As soon as they get back to the Den or off stage, you best get out of their way because it’s bat wing time. (They unironically say that like a catchphrase every time)

Bonus - They have a picture of them and Papa on their wall, and they both have their bat wings on. Phantom adores that picture.

[ashthewaterghoul]

Imagine this: One day Copia was extremely stressed. Paperwork, organizing the tour dates, putting up with Nihil, listen to Sister Imperator’s list of things to do, Psaltarian’s weird ass calm mood that radiates “we don’t know what his deal is so he be cryptic” and just the members of the clergy’s BS

So imagine Copia is at his office, having just listened to Nihil’s bs “advice.” The frontman is tired, he’s irritated, stressed. And then poor Phantom shows up to his office at the wrong time to talk. And all the poor ghoul said was “Hey Papa-?” Before Copia goes off and yells “CAN I JUST HAVE 5 MINUTES AND BE LEFT THE FUCK ALONE?” (Or something like that)

It isn’t until he realizes who it was at the door until it’s too late. Phantom flinches in fear and runs off, leaving Copia guilt ridden.

Add more pain to the heart? Phantom avoids Copia for a whole week out of fear of making him mad again

What you think happens during the whole time? I don’t know I’m talking as I go! I need your yaps!!

Ohhhhhh anon, I just want you to know that I put my ipad away and got my laptop out to yap about this ehehehehehhe

SO!

Copia regrets it the minute he hears that whimper. And it is the most sad whimper you've ever heard. It's more depressing than that of a kicked puppy because Phantom's just been falcon-punched to the heart.

He takes a few steps towards Phantom, both their eyes full of tears.

"Pipistrello, I'm sorry. Please- !"

But Phantom's already sprinted away with a sob bubbling from their throat.

They practically slam into Aether as they run through the corridors, the larger Quint letting out a big "Oof!" and honestly getting slightly winded from Phantom's velocity.

Aether's trying to ask what's wrong, why they're sobbing and running so hard but Phantom can barely breathe, they're that torn up. Aether's instantly shushing them, kissing the top of their head and giving them enough Quintessence to knock them out and get them up to their room.

When they wake, they're still heartbroken. They're so destroyed that they go non-verbal and have to sign out what they're thinking. They explained what they saw, Copia looking very stressed and him turning around and snapping like that.

The rational part to the Ghouls' minds know it was probably just a misunderstanding but Phantom's so destroyed that it spikes all their instincts. While Phantom is basically depressed and non-verbal in their nest all week, at least one other person stays in the room and one other guards the door.

The entire time they're just wondering what they did to their Papa to make him say that to them.

Meanwhile, Copia is equally torn up. He can't get the sound of that whimper or the sight of their teary eyes out of his mind. And what is almost the worst part is that he can't get a break to go see them and try to explain himself.

His schedule is packed, he has so much work to do that he's barely finding time to eat and as soon as he's done he passes out cold, ready to throw himself straight back into the next day.

It's about a week and a half later the paperwork and meetings and shit start slowing back to their usual amount. Copia freshens himself up, puts on his VVLGARI tshirt and maroon tracksuit and goes down to the den. Luckily, it's just Aether who's there, outside Phantom's door and he knows Copia well enough to know that this was all a misunderstanding, most likely.

He coaxes Dew out of the room so the two can have a moment, not without a few snarls and hisses from the Fire Ghoul, but he comes out of there. Copia walks in and his heart breaks all over again seeing the condition Phantom's been in.

"Bambino? Can I try and explain myself?"

Phantom nods and Copia walks over, sitting himself on the ground next to Phantom's nest. They're on their side so they can see him perfectly well.

"I did not mean to yell at you. I didn't even know it was you. My day had been terrible and I thought it was someone else coming to give me more work. I have truly been haunted by the way I've hurt you so as well as being sorry for snapping, I am sorry for not being able to come up sooner."

Copia feels his heart in his throat as he waits for them to respond.

They lift their face from the bat plushie it was stuffed into - one of the dozens Copia has bought them - and in such a tiny voice, they whisper:

"Just please don't yell at me again."

Copia smiles and promises they never will ever again. He puts his hand over to rifle through their hair, hovering just short though and letting them decide if they want the contact.

They respond by yoinking Copia into the nest with them, and purring for the first time since they ran from that office. And they don't stop purring for a long while after that.

[ashthewaterghoul]

https://www.tumblr.com/ashthewaterghoul/763482572056576000/may-we-have-more-phanter-cuddle-buddies-im

HELLS YEAH LETS GOOOOOOOOO

Phanter Cuddle Buddies - The Full Story

A 3.1k ramble on the entire 'lore' of this hc of mine, and the asks I got about it after posting it. All posts relating to it can be found with the tag #phanter cuddle buddies.

Phanter = Phantom + Copia (Frater)

Enjoy!

~~~~~~

    Phantom landed in a heap on the altar, a story painted across their skin in scars. There were some fresh wounds too - maybe Ghouls trying to hop a ride, maybe it was jealousy it wasn’t them. All Copia knew was that he needed to protect them.

    After Phantom had been taken to the infirmary – the usual checks to make sure a Ghoul didn’t see any damage from the summoning, along with healing the open wounds – Copia introduced himself. He hated how Phantom bristled at the word ‘Master’ and promised that Phantom would always be safe here, under his leather bat-wing.

    “Whenever you need me, and whatever for. I will help you, and protect you.” Copia promised. And he meant every word in whatever interpretation you could think of.

    He checked on Phantom often, also receiving updates from the rest of the pack and Copia could see through every façade the young Ghoul put up. Phantom was struggling with nightmares, struggling to adjust to life topside, and certainly the gawping from the Siblings and pressures from the Clergy weren’t helping matters. Copia could see the piccolo pipistrello falling apart piece-by-piece.

    So, he paid them a visit one evening. And offered something Phantom was in sore need of, a hug.

    Phantom started crying with relief as they sunk down, head on Copia’s chest and arms around his waist. Copia’s hands wrapped around Phantom’s torso and held on tight. Phantom never made any move to let go, so Copia didn’t either. And they both fell asleep together in each other’s arms.

    When Copia woke up, Phantom was still asleep. And when Aether poked his head in for some guitar lessons, he looked astounded.

    “They haven’t slept in this late at all.” He muttered. It was only 8:30am.

    They agreed to let Phantom sleep until their body woke up of its own accord, and that ending up being almost two hours later.

    Phantom looked entirely well-rested and peaceful, but was immediately guilty for Copia having been there the whole night and keeping him from his duties that morning. Satanas, they were like a kit!

    “Fantasma, one of my duties as Papa is to ensure the proper care of all my Ghouls. Being here with you, making sure you’re okay, is me attending my duties.”

    Phantom didn’t feel too much better. But it was something.

    Copia unfortunately didn’t see them again for the days following, but on a particularly restless night, he got up and immediately startled because there was a Phantom on his floor. Copia could see Aether’s keys next to them so either a borrowing or theft occurred. But Copia couldn’t quite care because Phantom was on the cold and rough floor.

    Phantom hadn’t slept well at all for the nights following the impromptu sleep over with Copia. And Aether assured them that Copia would be more than happy to do it again, even offering his spare key for the room that he never used. As Phantom walked into the bedchamber of the Papal suite, they could see Copia with his eyes shut and he look so comfortable that Phantom didn’t dare wake him. Surely that was some sort of offence here? To ruin Papa’s beauty rest? Or did Dew say that about the other guy?

    It was no matter because Phantom wouldn’t wake Copia for their silly little problem. So, just like they had down in the pits countless times, they made do with what they had and slept on the ground.

    By morning they wouldn’t know the difference and would just have to stretch their back out a bit. But something certainly felt different when they woke up. It was soft and plush and warm and Phantom was still on their side, tucked against Copia’s chest. He smelt like stale tobacco that had long settled into woollen sweaters and old parchment.

    And that became somewhat of a routine.

    Phantom would sneak up from the Ghoul den and use Aether’s key to get in. They’d snuggle on the ground, and Copia always woke up at the perfect time to lift them into his bed without waking them.

    “You know,” Copia said as he woke one morning, “you can always ask. No need for sneakiness, pipistrello.”

    “But, aren’t I just being stupid? Shouldn’t I just get on with it like everyone else does?” Phantom asked.

    “If that would make you more comfortable, then by all means. I don’t know about you, but this is quite comfortable for me.” Copia said, wrapping his arms tight around Phantom, and putting a kiss inbetween their horns.

   “This is comfy for me too.” Phantom said, snuggling in further, and kneading along Copia’s tummy. An odd habit of self-soothing they did, and Copia adored because it meant Phantom was with him.

    With the restful nights for them both, Phantom came out their shell a lot more and managed to spend a night or two away from Copia a week. Although they had become great at asking to come over, rather than sneaking in. It took some prompting from Copia for it to start, but they got there. And Copia couldn’t be prouder.

    Phantom’s sleep was often wracked with nightmares and flashbacks of all they went through in the pits. They sometimes would wake screaming and crying in a cold sweat, sometimes they would just blink awake and silently cry, horrendously uncomfortable from their what images their mind would conjure up. Whatever happened, Copia helped. Even if he himself didn’t always wake up, his scent was what Phantom used to ground themself, or sometimes trace along the tattoo on his pec. Just Copia’s presence helped Phantom. “The safest arms in the Ministry” Mountain had said as a joke, but Phantom couldn’t ever think anything else.

    As much as their nights helped Phantom rest easier, they helped Copia too. He was a world-class insomniac – a trait he learned he shared with all his brothers – but something about Phantom helped him sleep easier. It wasn’t any Quintessence; he knows what that feels like. It was just a deep-rooted contentment in his heart that warmed him up as Phantom snuggled in close.

    Copia never had any children of his own, but he felt like Phantom was the child he’d always wanted. They were just so perfect, and he cared and loved them more than he ever had for his Ghouls. It was almost primal the way he adored the Bug and wanted to protect them.

    From anyone else, Papa had felt like a title, a denote of respect.

    From Phantom? It was true, he was their Papa, in any and every way you could imagine.

    One night, when Phantom came up in their fluffy pyjamas that Cumulus had bought them, Copia handed them a gift bag.

    “I didn’t forget my birthday, did I?” Phantom asked.

    “No, no, il mio bambino.” Copia laughed, “This is for no particular reason other than I want you to have it.”

    Phantom opened the bag, and their eyes watered as they lifted their own spare key for the room from the bag. A little purple bat keyring hanging from it.

    “Even if I am not here, you can always come in. I know for Ghouls even the scent of someone, or their space in general can be a comfort.” Copia said.

    “Thank you.” Phantom whispered; their heart full of gratitude and tears running down their face.

    “You deserve it. And now you can stop stealing Aether’s keys.” Copia smiled, and they both laughed.

    Even during the nights Phantom spent away from Copia’s bed, the sheets still smelt vaguely of them. Copia’s human nose would never be as sharp as a Ghoul’s. Apparently Phantom’s scent was log fires and cocoa but Copia couldn’t quite discern those notes. All he could smell was Phantom. Hisbambino. His pipistrello.

    And for Phantom, they had stolen more than a few things from Copia’s room – shouldn’t have given me a key if he didn’t want me having access to things with his scent – and so they could always smell him too. It would never be as good as the real deal, but it was always a good make-do. And they had they key so they could have the real deal whenever they wanted or needed.

    Even on tour, they often paired up for hotel rooms, or crammed their two bodies into the small bunks. Tiny sofas in greenrooms or sprawled out in parks on adventures. Any and all struggle was worth it to have their solace in their little world.

    But then, it happened.

    Sister died, and Copia ascended to Frater Imperator.

    When they returned home from that tour, Copia was told that he had new Quarters. He wasn’t Papa now; he didn’t need the Papal suite. Okay yeah, that makes sense.

    Copia was handed the key, and so he asked if there were any spares. He was told no.

    “Well, I should like a few made, per favore.” Copia said.

    “Why?” The bishop who had arranged the room change asked.

    “Do I need a reason? I am often forgetful; I should like spares.” He had more authority, they should listen to him now, right?

    “We can get more made or find a locksmith if you forget your key, Papa.”

    “It is Frater now, and I should like a spare. At least one.”

    “Well, it can be considered. But as Frater your safety is of utmost priority. Why should we consider it?”

    Copia exhaled, “It is for my Ghoul. We both enjoy the other’s company, get our own benefits from it.” They were a Church of Sin, if he made it sound like it was something sinful then they would agree, right? “They had a key to my old rooms. I should like to keep that curtesy going as my successor has refused them.”

    A deafening second of silence. Then a deafening crack of laughter.

    Copia locked himself in and cried in his new room. He didn’t realise how much the old place smelled of Phantom until he realised their scent would never grace the new Quarters.

    He tried to go without Phantom, as painful as it was. Maybe it was just a habit he could break even though he didn’t want to break it. The little he now saw Phantom, he knew they were struggling too. Neither of them had been sleeping right, and Copia was very thankful for his Clergy paint hiding his dark purple under-eyes. Phantom was praying that the new masks may still have the googles to hide their own exhaustion.

    Phantom had tried to come up to Copia’s new room on the second night, having not slept a wink on the first. They got up to the stairs that led way to the High Clergy wing, and there was Clergy guarding the stairs. That was new. Phantom just tried to offer them a polite smile and continue on, but a hand pushed into their abdomen to stop them moving.

    “What do you want, Ghoul?” One man asked them.

    “T- to see Copia.” Phantom said.

    “It is late. Frater needs his rest before his first day on the job tomorrow.” The other said.

    “But I always come and see him. I had a key to his old room.” Phantom said.

    “Yes, when he was Papa. He is not Papa anymore. He has no responsibility to Ghouls.”

    Phantom felt like crying or shouting or ripping them to shreds. So, they turned on their heel until they were out of sight, and collapsed to the floor. They stuffed their fleece sleeve into their mouth to stop their sobs echoing and managed to cry themselves dry on the ground. When they woke up, they were in a bed. But any and all hope was quickly ripped away when they realised that it wasn’t Copia’s bed.

    Aether’s Quintessence had known something was wrong, and with a bit of searching, he found Phantom asleep in the corridor. Eyes swollen from crying and absolutely reeking of despair. He picked them up, and brought them back to his own nest, holding them for every second until they woke up.

    A few nights later, Copia tried to go down to the den instead, just like that first time.

    “Where are you going, Frater?” One Clergy guard asked.

    “A walk, I am restless.” He said simply.

    “If his Dark Excellency wants to take a walk that is fine, but one of us must accompany you until you return safely to your room.”

    “It is unneeded.” He assured.

    “It is needed. A rule from the new Papa. To ensure the safety of all.”

    “Well, an old rule from Sister Imperator means that I hold absolute power here. I do not need an escort.”

    “It is certainly something you can bring up in the next Clergy meeting, but for now…”

    Copia gritted his teeth, “You know, gentlemen, this talk has been exactly what I needed to wear myself out.” He turned and left. And it certainly didn’t wear him out because he couldn’t sleep for the life of him.

    It’s not right for an Imperator to be so close with the Ghouls.

    They’re a Papa’s responsibility, not yours.

    It’s just not proper.

    Don’t you sleep easier with room in your bed for those who want to satisfy your sinful urges?

    It isn’t safe.

    It’s not your duty anymore.

    The Ghoul is fully grown and has a whole pack, they will be fine by themself.

    No.

    It’s all Copia heard on repeat for the next… how long has it been? Days? Weeks? Months? It couldn’t possibly have been years, could it?

    It actually had been nearly two years.

    Two years of not a single night slept well for Phantom or Copia. Neither were permitted to keep anything that smelled of the other and what they did manage to keep quickly lost the scent of its original owner. Whenever Copia was allowed to take a Ghoul on business trips for security, his requests for Phantom were rejected for someone bigger and stronger who would protect him. Texting and video calling didn’t have the same effect when all they wanted were each other’s scents and warmth. They had odd moments they could be together – Clergy get-togethers and the like – but it wasn’t what they craved.

    “One day” had become their mantra, no matter how much it felt it would never happen.

    Phantom was whisked away on tours with the new guy and the distance from Copia only made things worse. Aether had been an okay substitute but even he wasn’t here either. Swiss had been the one to deal with Phantom mainly, others taking over when they allowed. Returning home, all Phantom wanted was to run to Copia’s arms, but he was never allowed anything more than a handshake.

    If Phantom though they knew Hell, this was so much worse.

    Copia still saw Phantom as his child. And to have his child in the same building, the same roof, only a few minutes’ walk away and to not be able to help them or comfort them through the long nights? He was in agony.

    Copia thought Hell would be kinder than this torture.

    But, as always, the Ghouls had a plan.

    Some Clergy had announced retirements, location changes, even a disappearance from one stubborn Archbishop.  To anyone else, if was just unfortunate, but Copia saw a certain pattern to each Clerical change. He knew his Ghouls and it started to feel suspicious to Copia. Swiss’ smirk when he asked all but confirmed it.

    “We’re natural born predators, Frater. You always encouraged us to be ourselves. We’re pack. And we hunt those who hurt our pack.” Swiss explained as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

    Aether and Mountain had been spearheading their silent insurrection to ensure that no one actually got murdered, no matter how much they may want it, well… apart from the Archbishop but the Ghoulettes were hunting and he was just in the way. Copia got clued into everything, and managed to make some of his own methodical staff changes. But eventually, enough Clergy had been replaced with younger, open ears. The next time Copia proposed a change to the limits placed on what relationship he could have with his Ghouls, the odds finally tipped in their favours.

    When Phantom got that text, they didn’t believe it. They asked just about every Ghoul they could find to speak it to back to them so they knew they were reading it correctly.

    *Get your comfiest pyjamas on. Get the blanket and stuffie of yours I love. And get up here. I have something for you, pipistrello.*

    Well, they have never moved faster in their entire life, and they’d been hunted what-must-be some world record number of times. Their chest was burning by the time they were at the staircase to the High Clergy wing. They half expected it to be a trick - one of those prank apps that make it look like calls and texts are coming from people you know and it was actually bored Siblings or Clergy playing games with them.

    But no one stopped them. No one stopped them from going up the stairs, from finding the nameplate that said “Frater Imperator”. No one stopped them from knocking. And no one stopped them from jumping into Copia’s arms as he opened the door.

    “Oh, mio bambino.” Copia cried too, kissing everything he could reach on Phantom without breaking the anxiety-relieving, bone-crushing, soul-melding hug they had wanted for so so long.

    ��Papa.” Phantom cried, they only ever said Frater when they had to because for all intents and purposes, Copia was their Papa.

    They waddled backwards together into Copia’s suite, Phantom closing the door with their tail. After some inordinate amount of time, they broke apart, and Phantom had a good idea what was in the gift bag this time.

    They pulled out a spare key for the new room, their bat keyring hanging off it, and started crying again. They were soothed by that scent of old tobacco settled into woolled sweaters and old parchment that was much more easily described as safety and home.

    Phantom’s own unique scent, the feel of their heartbeat and their little hands kneading along his tummy made Copia’s heart swell. His cucciolo di pipistrello in his arms again, where they should’ve been the whole time. Right where they belong.

    It may have been years, but Phantom and Copia’s bodies easily remembering the dance of snuggling into each other and burrowing down for a bit of rest. For the first time since they got home from that last tour, they both found themselves easily drifting away to the dreamworld. Although when they woke up, they would remember that their dreams from the last couple years had finally come true. But for now, they slept.

    And by Satan that night of sleep was the safest, deepest and just the best in either of their Hellbound existences.

One shot master post can be found here!

[ashthewaterghoul]

Okay I’m taking matters into my own hands:

Imagine when when the pack gets home after touring. (Let’s say this is a universe where there’s no seperation. It’s the peaceful universe or something like that)

So the pack gets home, and obvi Phantom is the first to almost practically go through the tour bus doors to get to their papa.

And you know hug reunion, Copia is so happy to have his beloved ghouls, and especially his pipistrello, return.

So fast forward, cuddle night obviously. And when Phantom starts doing biscuits, they notice that Copia has gotten an even more softer tummy now.

Since the Frater now does more ministry work and no longer moving as much as when he was frontman, his lifestyle was a tad bit more different now. But it was a good sign tho at the same time. He wasn’t being so hard on himself and actually following through with meals.

So Phantom just goes like, “Holy shit I didn’t think you’d get more comfier” and just proceeds to do biscuits on their Papa’s tummy.

Please this is GORGEOUS 😭😭😭

Phantom’s eyes just go wider than ever because they’ve got a lotttttt more biscuits to make now.

The factory is open and overproducing for a while after that😂

[ashthewaterghoul]

Phantom having the intro to CMLS to themself is making me think about Copia just listening backstage like fucking Hamilton “Look at my son! Pride is not the word I’m looking for🥹”

[ashthewaterghoul]

https://www.tumblr.com/containsquinine/779845979682783232/materassassino-my-soft-and-comfortable-mama?source=share

Phantom curling up on aether's or copias tummy

Ooooo it’s giving Aether to me…

Phantom obviously loves their Papa’s tummy but they also love their brother’s tummy too… It’s the one they grew up with (to a point anyway…)

[ashthewaterghoul]

as a reprieve from the heartwrenching angst imagine copia coming down with a cold and phantom curling up on top of him and purring to try and make him feel better since he read one time that cats purring can help with sickness

Heheheheh I love thissss

Aether who walks in to check on Copia and doesn’t even question it. Just works around Phantom curled up and purring and making muffins against Copia’s tummy but a little less insistently than usual.

[ashthewaterghoul]

Thinking about Phanter (Phantom + Copia/Frater) again but this time I actually have more formulated thoughts…

It’s the dead of night and the Ministry is silent. Even the rats are asleep.

But, in the Ghouls’ wing, you may hear something as you get closer to the door with a Quintessence symbol, the rest of the ebony wood adorned in bat silhouettes and bug stickers.

It won’t sound like anything to start with but if you spend more time sitting outside this door then you’ll hear Phantom softly crying to themself within those cold stone walls.

Their face buried into pillows and the first bat plushie that their Papa ever bought for them, curled up so small that their hips are cramping and their neck is sore.

They have their headphones in and listening to Darkness At The Heart Of My Love. They have it looped so they can hear their Papa’s voice singing to them “I’m with you always” as they try to deal with the ache in their chest from where their Papa should be.

When that song has been tired out, they move onto Call Me Little Sunshine.

“You will never walk alone, you can always reach me”

And oh how they wish they could.

On the other side of the Ministry, isolated from the already isolated High Clergy quarters, Frater himself is doing the same thing. He cries into the blanket that Phantom bought for Copia’s bed, the fleece balled up so he can hug it in a heartbreaking mimicry of his bambino…

[ashthewaterghoul]

Phanter with matching rings

Copia hiding his under his glove so the clergy can't notice it

Yessssss

They have the interlocking ones like this⬇️

But it’s a bat silhouette of course.

Dew forged them using his fire and they are custom made to the exact shape of their fingers.

[ashthewaterghoul]

But hear me out:

Copia sneaking off to go to the bathroom and Phantom realizes once the door is locked and reaches under the door like a cat.

“Hey. Papa… what are you doing? Can I help? Why don’t you let me in? Why’d you go without me? Do you need my help? Can I come in? Hey… hey… hey…”

They’re just having a very clingy day, bless their heart😂

Poor Copia is just pants down, trying to do his business…

Phantom: “But this is normal for Ghouls! I kept Dew company the other day when he ate too much dairy!”

Copia: “I’m not a Ghoul, pipistrello! This is not what humans do!”

Phantom: *sad and dejected voice as they slowly bring their hand from under the door* “Okay….”

Copia: *sighs* “Only if you face the wall and do not look at me.”

Phantom: “:D”

[ashthewaterghoul]

Hey, can I ruin the music video for everyone?

Phantom didn’t want to be there.

It was towards the start of the separation and they hadn’t yet adjusted to the life they now had to lead without their Papa. They didn’t want to serve the new Papa. They just wanted Copia back…