Claude Faustus sighed for the billionth time that day and adjusted his glasses.

Since he had died, Alois, Hannah, Luka, and himself had all wound up together. They pushed their differences aside. Decided to start some semblance of a family. Well, that was all fine and dandy for the others, but what about him? While the blonde brat chatted away with his new mummy and baby brother, Claude was awkwardly left on the sidelines with not so much as a "do you need something?"

And he was starving.

And now, Alois and Hannah had bloody up and left to go to the human world, of all places! Like Hell wasn't good enough for the likes of them!

Which meant he was stuck at home with a certain cheerful, effervescent, admittedly not-entirely-hideous little ginger. Claude stopped sighing and cleared his throat.

"So...young one...what is it you want to do?"

Luka smiled and shrugged.

"Dunno! Whatever you want!" Claude rolled his spectacle-clad topaz orbs. The miniature master was so incredibly specific.

"Right...Well then, I suppose we can just sit quietly until your brother and Hannah get home."

Luka's grin suddenly reversed into a pout.

"But that's not fun! We should do something fun. Because I like you, an' you're my big brother now, an' Jim says I need to get along with you because he likes you too."

Somewhere in the webbing of silk and raspberry jam and venom and salt and sugar that was Claude Faustus, something softened very slightly.

"I have an idea, young one. If we are to continue living in Hell as immortals, you and Alois will need to learn how to feed. I can teach you how to cook souls into human food for your brother. I have been told it makes them more palatable for novice immortals."

Little hands clapped vigorously.

"Sounds like a really good idea! I remember brother snatched me a little cake once on my birthday and it was so good. The rest of the time we ate from bins."

Claude let the faintest hint of a smile grace his cold visage.

"Fairy cakes it is."

As the two immortals traipsed into the kitchen, one skipping cheerfully and the other watching for stumbles, Alois Trancy gave a small smile back in London.

"Looks like you're right, Hannah. It was the best thing we could do, to leave them alone together."

TBC