A lone set of footsteps echoed down a cold, stone corridor as rain assaulted the glass panes. Lightening caused gnarly shadows to stretch along the walls and floors, allowing the visitor's mind to run rampant with vivid thoughts formed by his imagination. A clap of thunder startled them enough to drop their bundle of books before another boom made them fumble during their retrieval, spilling several pencils onto the floor in a clatter.
'Come now; there's nothing to be frightened of.'
Retrieving the last of their items, the visitor continued down the corridor. Feeling a sudden and chilling gust, the individual turned around to have their hood whipped off to reveal feathery, pink hair. Watching as the large, wooden door slammed against the wall, a shiver worked its way down the person's back as they saw what appeared to be a silhouette during a strike of lightening. Not taking their eyes off the entryway until a powerful gust blew the door shut, the person continued on their way until they came across another large door.
Jumping at the clap of thunder that rattled the window panes, they left the corridor to venture into a vestibule. Treading lightly over the red carpeted floor, the guest looked down at their feet when they made nothing but a light padding sound before noticing the trail of dripping water. Grimacing at the idea of continuing to be in wet clothes, the pinkette set their bag down before removing their hooded cloak. Setting that on the railing, they toed off their boots before adjusting their glasses as they took a seat on the last step.
Shivering due to the lack of an outer layer, the pinkette turned their attention to the nonstop rain before lowering their head at the thought of having to stay the longer than a few hours. Shivering once more, they began to doze before a flicker of a candle roused their attention. As another then another lit up in quick succession, the guest rose to their feet quickly by the time the chandelier above was lit and casting a warm glow.
A thunderclap made them bit their tongue, making it bleed in the process. 'Ow…'
Pressing fingertips to their tongue, hazel eyes noted the bit of red before wiping it on the disheveled shirt that was a tad too large on them. Seeing how that too was wet, the pinkette grimaced at the thought of having to lose another layer of clothing.
"Oh dear…" Flinching at the drawl, the guest turned their attention to the top of the stairwell to see someone else looking down on them. "Name."
"W-what?"
"Your name," the other replied flatly. "What is it?"
"R-Robert Harukana," the pinkette replied.
"Acknowledged."
"Um, what's your name?"
"I've been called many things but you may call me Ace Tanner, dear Robert," he replied with a tip of his hat.
Eyeing the other just a bit longer, Ace hummed in contentment as he began to descend the stairwell. He then stopped when the other took a step away from him.
"Don't take this the wrong way but why are you here?"
Offering a small smile as he continued down the stairs, each step deliberate yet graceful, Ace walked to the center of the vestibule. "Why am I here?" he questioned as he combed a hand through his hair.
Finding him odd to say the least, Robert looked around the lit area to see the old paintings hanging high on the walls. Some were slightly torn, others faded. Not hearing any footsteps, Robert turned to see sharp, red eyes watching him. Transfixed on that gaze, it didn't register that the other was standing in front of him until he had blinked, making him stumble back on the staircase behind him. Having his arm seized to be pulled against the other, Robert felt his face burn before shivering at the sudden chill.
"W-who are you?" he stammered.
"You already know the answer to that," Ace replied.
"S-so why are you here?"
Releasing the shivering man, Ace held his hands behind him as he took a step backwards. "Before I answer any questions, why don't we do something about your wet clothing.
"It's ok."
Ace simply stared before his eyes closed as he smiled. "Nonsense; you'll catch a cold if you stay in such…wet clothing."
"No, really it's ok. Um, I could just sit by the fire or something."
"Nonsense; you'll catch a cold if you stay in such…wet clothing."
"Y-yes, you already said that…"
Red eyes opened. "Ah, I guess I did." Ace then gestured towards the top of the stairwell. "Well, why don't you go change then? Once you do, maybe I'll be more inclined to answer your questions," he teased as Robert hesitantly made his way up the marbled staircase.
«†» Happy Halloween «†»
The pinkette had wandered for a time with no general direction instructed to him. When he finally had come across a door that was slightly ajar, he had entered to find black clothing set out on a bed as if it had already been picked for him. After a reasonable inspection, he eyed himself in the mirror as he admired the quality of the clothes he was borrowing.
"It looks nice on you."
Jumping then looking over his shoulder, Robert turned around completely to see Ace in front of him.
"Um, th-thank you. I will have these cleaned and brought back to you."
"Nonsense," Ace replied as he took another step forward. "They look quite nice on you," he added before glancing at the full-length mirror pressed against Robert's back. He then stepped back. "Better than expected really so, as a payment, why don't you accompany me and have a little chat?"
"S…sure."
If Robert knew Ace's use of the word chat he might have opted in leaving. The two of them had traversed the upper level of the building for some time without a single exchange of words. The occasional thunderclap had made the pinkette jump a few times yet the other seemed completely unfazed by it.
Entering a room with a vast hearth, Robert took a seat on an old yet comfortable divan. When Ace took his place on a chaise across from him, Robert glanced back at the window to see that the rain didn't seem like it would let up. The sight of lightening had him tearing his gaze away from the window to stare at his presumable host to see that he had appeared to have fallen asleep. Scowling at the idea of just sitting there, hazel eyes searched the room before landing on his belongings sitting on a small table.
Collecting his pad and pencil, he took a seat once more relieved that his work had not been ruined by the torrential rain. Glancing back at Ace to see a peaceful expression on his face, Robert set out with sketching the sleeping male. Scooting a bit closer for better detail, Robert eventually wound up walking over to continue his work.
Ace didn't look much older than him. Hell, he didn't appear to be older than twenty or so. Robert then noted that despite the warmth of the fireplace, it was still a bit cold in the room. The glow from the flames did nothing to add any of warmth to the sleeper's skin. His dark hair, accented by red streaks only helped to amplify how pale of a person Ace was.
Darkening several lines, Robert could see he still hadn't quite finished Ace's face. Gradually leaning in to get the most detail he could with the provided light, he noticed something else.
In spite of being so close to the fire, the flickering shadows made it hard to determine if the slumbering individual was even breathing.
It was almost as if he wasn't alive.
"You're staring awfully hard, Robert." Said person bolted upright to see that dark red eyes were indeed staring at him. Or was it through him? "Do you like what you see that much?" Ace teased as the other stepped back.
"I-I… um, I…"
Turning his attention to the pad being held tighter and tighter, Ace held out his hand before offering a gentle smile. "May I?"
Handing over the item quickly, Robert chewed on the end of his pencil as the only sounds came from the pages being flipped. It then became silent before the pinkette chanced a glance to see what the other had been doing.
Ace stood quietly. What page he was staring at, Robert wasn't sure but the intensity in the raven's gaze was enough to make him more uneasy than he had been.
"Um…"
Ace looked at him before holding out the pad for Robert to see. "So, this is what I look like?" Robert nodded hesitantly. "I see…" Staring back down at the portrait for a moment longer, he then tossed it on the divan that the pinkette had been using. "I don't think anyone's drawn me before," he muttered half to himself before turning his attention back to Robert. "Can you draw more?"
Robert nodded stiffly. "Y-yes?" The crackling sound of firewood was the only sound for a time. "So…um…" Hazel eyes focused on the window to see that the rain had only let up slightly. "I should get going."
"Nonsense."
"The rain has let up a bit. I think I should at least head back before it pours again."
The raven hummed more so to himself before he took a seat on the chaise lounge. "You should stay."
"I have to –"
"Robert." Said person stiffened when their gaze shifted towards the other. "You're staying," Ace said, gesturing to the book laying near by. "Those other pictures in your book are from various angles of this place." A smirk pulled at the corners of his mouth. "This isn't the first time you've come."
"Well, I… I didn't know this place was occupied," Robert replied quickly as he watched Ace rise to his feet. "If I knew you stayed here, I wouldn't have – " He stiffened when Ace started to walk towards him "I wouldn't have trespassed."
"Nonsense," Ace said as he tilted the shorter man's chin upwards. "If you hadn't stopped by, I'd still be alone. No one wants to be alone, Robert."
"Then I'll be s-sure to come back and s-see you when the weather is better," Robert said. "I'll come back on a nice, sunny day."
Ace shook his head as he leaned in. "I don't think you understand, Robert." His dark gaze searched the other's face before he offered a smile. "I have no intentions on letting you go," he stated.
"W-what?" Robert stepped back towards the door prior to having his hand seized. "I have to go!"
"What's the rush?" Ace asked before he took hold of Robert's chin, watching his face turn a shade of pink. "Stay here." Leaning in a bit more, he was stopped when a hand was shoved against his face. "Robert… that isn't exactly nice, you know?"
"Let go of me!" Robert snapped before being released suddenly.
"Robert…"
Feeling his blood run cold at the saying of his name, the pinkette bolted out the room.
"Run, run, run," Ace muttered to himself as he went to put out the fire. A grin then tugged at the corners of his mouth. "You can run but you can't hide."
«†» Happy Halloween «†»
The idea of just getting downstairs was at the forefront of Robert's mind. Not chancing a glance over his shoulder, he continued to run down the hall though he didn't seem to be making much progress.
Looking up at the walls, he was sure that he had passed those pictures several times already. It was hard to tell with how dark the corridor seemed. The curtains appeared to be drawn but when they were and by who the pinkette was unsure.
Finally coming to the stairs, Robert felt more out of breath than he should have. Turning his gaze to the room he had left, he felt a shiver run down his spine when he saw how close the room seemed to have been to the stairwell to start with. Seeing the door creak open, Robert hurried down the stairs only looking back once he had reached the bottom. Not seeing anyone on the second floor, Robert started towards the way he had come before running head on into something solid.
"Oh dear…" Looking up quickly to see dark red eyes staring down at him, Robert stepped back towards the stairwell. "You're not going to run again are you?"
Robert started up the stairs before looking back to see that Ace was no longer there. 'Where…?'
"Robert dear."
Whipping his head back around to see the raven perched at the top of the stairs, Robert lost his footing prior to toppling down the stairs.
Head spinning after landing on the floor, Robert gradually became aware of the footsteps making their way down the steps. Craning his neck to see Ace walking towards him, Robert clambered to his feet the best he could before the chandelier above went out.
The only lighting left was the candles that had lined the walls, casting the large room mainly into shadow. When the footsteps stopped behind him, Robert stiffened before trying to take off towards the doors he had initially come through.
The pain shooting down his side and back was enough to make him stumble before falling over into a crumpled heap. Unaware of Ace's position, Robert pulled himself to his feet. He then pushed at the old, wooden doors, grunting under strain when it did not open. Hearing humming coming up behind him, he rammed his shoulder against the barrier before the thing swung open.
Hurrying down the corridor, Robert flinched when another tremor of pain wracked his body. Forcing himself to stay upright, he pushed himself down the hall until he made it to the front door.
He tugged at the handle but it didn't budge. A low yet lilting hum could be heard from the other end of the hall. That was then accompanied by the sound of footsteps gradually getting louder.
Robert tugged again with the same results.
He couldn't hear anything else aside from his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
'Please open up! Open!' Robert continued to pull at the handle. 'Please open!'
Tugging one last time, Robert staggered when the door swung open and he was greeted by the rain. Flinching at the thunder, he looked over his shoulder during a flash of lightening only to see his shadow stretching down the hall. Turning his attention back to the storm outside, he stepped forward before going rigid as a hand slid over his glasses. Another hand pushed against his chest knocking him into something cold and solid.
"Robert dear…" The pinkette flinched at the whisper of in his ear before thrashing around to get free. He didn't make any progress despite his efforts. "…you don't seem to recall what I had said earlier."
"A-Ace…please?"
"You still don't seem to understand." There was only the sound of rain before the next line was whispered into the pinkette's ear. "I have no intention of letting you go."
Feeling something wet trail down his cheek, Robert squeezed his eyes shut when his head was tilted back then to the side. "Ace, please…?"
The other simply hummed to themselves as they leaned, running their tongue over a sharpened fang. "Hold that thought, Robert dear…" he whispered.
"No!"
Rolling off the couch and onto the floor, Robert felt all around his neck before letting out a relieved sigh. Picking up the DVD case he had landed on, he attributed his nightmare to the movie had been watching before sitting up as the lights came on. Peering over the couch as he heard footsteps approaching, he reached for the lamp before seeing Skylar standing in the doorway.
"Are you talkin' to yourself again, Robbie?" he asked. "You're in here yellin' and stuff."
"No," the pinkette replied sullenly as he sat back on the couch. "What the heck are you supposed to be anyway?"
Grinning mischievously, the small redhead let out his best howl. "I'm a werewolf," he growled as he made clawing motions.
"Right…" Robert muttered as watched his younger brother run to the door at the sound of the doorbell. "Are you going trick-or-treating with Yuno and Marny?"
"Yes!" he growled as he threw open the door to be greeted by his friends. "Are you going to Kai's?"
"He's taking his sister trick-or-treating," Robert replied as he walked over to the door. "He said he'd stop by if it wasn't too late."
"C'mon, Sky!"
"See ya later, Robbie!" Sky called.
"Be sure to stay together!" Robert called. "Also stay in lit areas! Don't go into anyone's house!"
"I can take it from here," Marny's mom replied as she waved from the end of the driveway. "I'll bring him back in a few hours."
Nodding and giving his farewells, Robert collected the bowl of candy to give out to a few of the trick-or-treaters. Bidding a few children a 'Happy Halloween', Robert lingered by the entryway for a few more moments before the door was pushed closed in front of him. Going to look back over his shoulder, he stiffened when another hand was used to cover his eyes.
"A-Ace?"
Hearing nothing but a hum for an answer, Robert shivered before having the hand at his eyes removed and he was turned around.
"Hey, Robbie," Ace replied with a smile. It faltered when he noticed that the pinkette was watching him much too closely. "You're staring at me awfully hard. Do you like what you see that much?"
"Do you like what you see that much?"
Shaking at the recollection, Robert bowed his head before having his chin tilted upwards. "Robbie, are you ok?"
"Please let go of me," he muttered as he looked in the other direction. "I have to go."
"What's the rush?" Ace asked as he barred the pinkette's way. "Stay here." When Robert didn't look at him, Ace leaned forward before having a hand shoved in his face. "Robert… that's not nice, ya know?"
"Let go of me!" Robert snapped before pushing the other back.
"Robbie…"
Feeling his blood run cold at the calling of his name, the pinkette bolted past the PDA before taking to the stairs. Glancing back to see the raven hunch his shoulders, Robert took another step upwards before stopping when he heard something like a sniffle. When another came about, he came back down to address the issue.
"You're not gonna' cry, are you?" he questioned.
Ace lowered his head before covering his face. "No."
"Ace?"
"Don't you have to be somewhere else? You said that you had to go, right?"
Looking away for a few moments, Robert sighed inwardly before tapping Ace on the shoulder. When the expected action didn't occur, the shorter male lowered the other's arm before having the other avert his eyes.
"Ace..." Said person continued to stare at the door. "Ace, look at me."
The PDA relented and did so. "Why'd you shove a hand in my face?"
"I'm sorry; I just-"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Um, no," Robert said.
"Then I don't understand," Ace said irritably. "Why did you shove your hand in my face?"
"I'm s-sorry! I just- I didn't mean to…"
Massaging the side of his head as Robert continued to ramble on, Ace took him by the hand before pressing a kiss to it. It caused the pinkette to pause but he then continued on with his longwinded apology as well as fumbling over his choice of words as to justify his actions.
Pressing another kiss to his hand then cheek, Ace finally gave him a kiss to at least shut him up long enough. He hadn't counted on the teen to continue talking as he had done before the pinkette wrenched away touching his lip to see that it was bleeding.
"Ace… did you just bite me?"
"I'm really sorry," Ace replied as he watched Robert hurry by to get to the bathroom. "I didn't mean to, honest."
Glancing back at the raven to see him standing by the front entryway, Robert started looking around for peroxide. "I'm sure you didn't," he said as he looked through the cabinet beneath the sink. "I'm sorry; I'm just overreacting is all."
"Nonsense," Ace said as he headed towards the bathroom.
Looking up at the PDA to see him watching him from the doorway, Robert continued with what he was doing when his face flushed.
He truly was overreacting and overthinking everything.
Ace was Ace, his PDA.
He wouldn't hurt him.
"Ace?" Said person hummed in question as he took a step into the bathroom. "I'm sorry for putting my hand in your face," he said. "I just had this dream that you –"
"You had a dream and about me no less," came the teasing remark.
Robert felt his cheeks flush a tad more. "Um… yeah," he said as he continued his search. "It was…it was a –"
"Hey, Robert."
The pinkette looked back to see Ace running his tongue over a sharpened fang before he kicked the door closed behind him. "A…Ace?"
"Hold that thought, Robert," he replied as he cut the lights.
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