Nico's POV

"Wait, back up a little more.." I directed, eagerly, once Elijah was in costume. "...right there! Now turn around, lemme see the whole thing."

He grumbled as he humored me, trying to hold back a little smile that betrayed his face.

"Satisfied?" He finally chuckled.

I grinned as I gazed at him standing before me and nodded. "Very. You make for a very handsome Roland Deschain."

"Thank you." He snickered, leaning down to tie his shoelaces.

"Funny, I wouldn't have pegged you for a Dark Tower fan." I added. "...or that much of one, at least."

"I thought eeeveryone loved The Dark Tower books." He chuckled.

"That's just it…" I smirked. "You're not like everyone else…...you're special."

"I'm picking up on that…." He teased. "Although, if I'm being totally honest, I might've read a few of em before I met you."

My eyebrows raised at this. "What's this now?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, I read up to The Wastelands back in high school." He admitted. "...just never bothered to pick em back up til you reintroduced me to them…..not that I didn't want to."

I rolled my eyes to his apparent amusement. "Why didn't you say something then, rather than rereading the whole series?"

"...Cause somebody would've mauled me if I let on that I dared to put down a King book."

I shook my head. Damn, he knows me. "I would've wrestled you to the ground and held you there til you agreed to finish it!" I laughed. "How could you seriously let go of them for sooo long?" I, admittedly, whined that last part.

"Because The Wastelands was so boriiiing!" He whined back.

"The Wastelands was boring?" I repeated back. "But what about Oy? Doesn't he make it worth something?"

"Nico, I mean this in the nicest way possible…..I would sooner read The Tommyknockers over rereading that damn thing." He sighed.

"...Elijah Uley, you take that back!"

He threw his arms up in exasperation. "You're honestly telling me you genuinely enjoyed that snoozefest?"

I sighed in semi defeat. "...I'll admit it was one of the slower books, but it was AT LEAST a four out of ten at worst."

"...You're not gonna like what I gave it." He snickered.

I rolled my eyes as I stood up off the bed. "Just keep it to yourself and help me find my roque mallet, would ya?"

"How would I even know what that looks like?" He sighed.

This time I pointed a finger at him. "...did we not watch The Shining miniseries together the other day?"

"We did, but why can't you just call it a croquet mallet?" groaned, apparently recalling what it was.

"Just help me find it." I sighed, shaking my head.

"More importantly, now…" He added. "...How the hell do you lose one of those?"

"...Are you trying to get on my last nerve, babe?"

He smirked. "All I got out of that was babe."

I couldn't help but snicker back. "You'll always be my babe."

He grinned at that. "I would hope so."

"...So we are going to the Halloween party?" Elijah observed as we pulled up in front of my house.

I shrugged. "That okay?"

"Well, yeah, I 'm just wondering what changed your mind." He explained.

I hopped out of the driver's seat as he got out on his side and met me over at mine. "Well, my mind was never really set in stone, more sort of torn."

"So, where does that put you now?"

"If I'm being honest.." I sighed. "I guess it puts me a step closer to easing my way back over here."

"So you've forgiven him then?"
"Hell no." I shook my head. "No, he's gonna have to do a lot more than a bs apology he tricked me into sitting down for, if he wants things back how they were."

"Then what?"

I shrugged. "Like I said, one step at a time. The main bit of it is, I just can't keep letting Liz get dragged into the middle of it all. She doesn't deserve that and I don't wanna ruin that relationship."

He nodded. "So does that mean I won't get the pleasure of waking up to those lovely red eyes of yours staring up at me as much?" he added sarcastically.

I chuckled at that. "Oh God no, where's the fun in that?" I scoffed. "Besides, what makes you think I couldn't get myself in, even if I wasn't staying here?"

"...Window locks?" He laughed.

"Awww…" I chuckled, patting him on the head. "You really are cute, aren't you?"

"I try." he sighed.

I took him by his hand and led him up to the, apparently, already opened door, where Liz stood...evidently awaiting our arrival.

She was wearing a long, blonde wig, which perfectly pulled together her, very miniseries, accurate Wendy Torrance costume.

Man, she must really miss having me over here.

"You Made it!" She beamed excitedly. "I was hoping you would!"

"I can see that." I chuckled, giving her costume another once over. "Nice costume."

"Back atcha." She smiled, turning her attention over to Elijah. "...Just as long as this one doesn't get too jealous.

He rolled his eyes. "I will certainly do my best."

"Besides, he did have his chance to dress up as my Wendy, but he turned it down." I shook my head at him with a chuckle. "Tsk tsk tsk."

"I did.." He sighed. "Although I do enjoy the choice I went with quite a bit more."

"Well, you do look very handsome in it." Liz remarked in an almost, probably unintentionally, flirty tone.

"Thank you."

"Alright, what are you trying to make this one jealous now? Come on!" I teased, gesturing to myself.

"Very funny." She chuckled, returning her attention to Elijah, "So, what are you supposed to be again?" She abruptly put her finger up before either of us could answer. "Wait wait, don't tell me…..Roland….frooom The Dark Tower books."

"Damnit, Liz. I told you to stay out of our heads…" I whined.

"I promised to try to stay out of your head." She smirked. "I promised nothing about his."

I shook my head in disappointment. "No, I guess you didn't."

Before either of us could say anything else, Naomi popped her head up from behind Liz to greet us.

"Hey guys!" She gasped very audibly. "Yess! I love it! No one EVER cosplays from the books and I hate it!"

"Well, you can thank this one for that." Elijah chuckled, gesturing towards me.

"Thank you, Naomi." I chuckled. "Where's your Ivy tonight?" I asked, noting her Harley costume.

She sighed. "Leah still refuses to set foot anywhere near this house. BUT I promised Liz I'd stop by."

"That figures." I laughed.

She nodded.

"Well, come on in!" Liz urged. "Party's just getting started."

"Jesus, I turn my back for two minutes to get some music going and the wolves descend." Imogen scoffed from the second story balcony, overlooking the room.

I rolled my eyes, not turning to give her the satisfaction of looking. "Didn't hear that!"

"Leon, who is this stranger in our living room?" She teased as she glided down the stairs. "He looks vaguely familiar.

"Easy, Tiger." Leon snickered, sneaking up behind her. "They might just high-tail it out of here."

Leon chuckled when I shot him the glare. "I only promised that he was welcome, I made no promises about dog puns."

"No, buit he did promise to keep his thoughts to himself." Liz shot him another glare. "Keep up the attitude and I'll tell him what you're really thinking about Elijah."

"Hey babe, you wanna follow me for a quick second?" I asked, grabbing Elijah around the waist.

"Why? The party's just getting good!" He chuckled, clearly referring to Liz's remark, judging by the amused look on her face.

"We're not leaving, I just wanna talk for a sec. Humor me?"

"As you wish." He chuckled, letting me lead him toward the back door.

"Aaaand we're back outsi-" he started to note, before I surprised him mid sentence with a kiss.

"Well, I guess I won't ask what was so important." He chuckled.

"I just wanted you to myself for a couple of minutes."

If it wasn't already clear, the grin on his face would've made it so, that he had no complaints.

"Suppose I could humor that."

"Good…"

We would eventually go back inside, rejoin the rest of the party….

But I won't surrender….not again.

Leon can have his pissy little dog puns.

He also promised me a second chance at life….my life…..so he can learn to live with Elijah being a part of it.

..Because it's only the beginning.