Hello all!
Well, I can't believe I actually managed to post this chapter tonight! It was by the skin of my teeth but I got it up on Halloween, which I was trying so hard for. (even though it's literally in the last five minutes left lol) But boy, this chapter was fun for me write! Who just doesn't want to write about Halloween in the twenties?! Anyway it may be a bit long (they just get bigger each time I post for some reason) and rushed in places due to my time crunch but I hope you enjoy it! And of course: Happy Halloween, y'all!
The Pirate and the Fairy
"You, uh, Tramp? Tramp Luske?"
A young clerk approached the counter with a crisp white box under his arm and looked up questioningly from an order sheet in his hand.
Tramp, who casually leaned against the glass counter's smooth surface, stood to his full lanky height. "That's me."
"Well here you go, it's all yours." The clerk said, handing him the box gingerly.
Tramp secured it under his arm and glanced around the department store, begrudgingly impressed. It was a world of glass counters and tall mahogany shelves, glossy wood floors and the scent of pressed paper. Well dressed ladies and children dotted the wood polished landscape, shopping for wares and knickknacks. October gloom eased through the store's grand windows outside and created a cozy sensation to the place.
"There's got to be a story to go with that name." The clerk continued, forcing Tramp's eye back to the counter.
He smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"We all do, you know." He shrugged good naturedly. "I mean you just come out of nowhere and sweep Ms. Jackson off her feet with a strange name to boot. We're all going to be curious."
"Kid, some things are better left a mystery. Makes life more interesting." Tramp replied, surveying the clerk with amusement. With curly brown hair and puppy dog eyes he was a few years younger than him. His cheeks were soft and and his knuckles rubbery, showcasing a sheltered upbringing, like everyone else this side of town. Not that Tramp minded. He'd progressively gotten used to being around middle class society over this past year, a feat which would have seemed impossible during his street days. Stepping into a ritzy department store was another one of those feats.
"Well you're no fun." The clerk sighed, putting his chin into his hand. "How about telling what you plan to do with your order there?"
"That, I can do. Lady and her family are throwing some Halloween shindig at their place tonight, and they insisted I get this for it."
"Wow, I've heard the Jackson's Hallow's Eve party is a great time. Sounds fun."
Tramp shrugged. "Not that I'd know. Never been to a party for Halloween, cause me and the guys did, uh—" He chuckled. "other things to celebrate."
"What kinds of things?" The clerk puzzled.
"Now that's definitely a story for another time. Anyways I've gotta get going or they'll be thinking I skipped out on them." Tramp said, shifting the box on his hip and headed for the exit with a half wave at the boy. "Later, kid."
His boots clunked on the wood floor as he made his way to the door, his head full of old memories. What a strange year this was turning out to be. Sometimes he felt as if he was in some alternate world and his past was just an extension of that. A girl like the one I got is bound make stuff like that happen. He mused. Tramp pushed open the door to the accompaniment of a bell's plinking trill. He stepped out and was met with crisp autumn air, which welcomed him with windy arms.
A group of young women headed into the department store appeared before him as he left. The three of them looked his way when he gave them a distracted smile. Giggles and a few bashful looks followed him as he headed down the street but they were easy to ignore. He adjusted the box again and watched the automobiles bumble through the leaf strewn boulevard, warm thoughts filling his head. He had a certain auburn haired girl on his mind, and she made everything like a daydream.
. . .
Lady adjusted her dress in the mirror for the hundredth time. She looked over sparkles and tulle, which gleamed in the light, with a harsh eye, making sure nothing was askew. She and her mother had worked long and hard on her costume this year. She wanted everything to look perfect; there was someone she wanted impress this Hallow's Eve. Lady smiled at her reflection with a hint of color coming to her cheeks. How she hoped her beau would like it.
After extensively searching through pattern catalogs and women's magazines, she had found an absolutely beautiful costume design. It had been titled Clair de Lune and Lady had fallen in love without a second thought. It was sleeveless, pale blue gown with a silvery pink bodice, and a voluminous tulle skirt which fell to her calf. Shimmering stars and crescents danced across the hem in silver glitter. A shawl of sheer tulle was pinned with stars to the neckline, falling about her bare shoulders and down her back like wings. But Lady's favorite addition was the head piece; a silky headband wrapped around her forehead, an off center crescent placed atop it.
"Lady dear, our guests will be arriving soon. Are you almost ready?" Darling's voice wafted from down the stairs, soft and gentle like always.
"Yes, mother, I'll be right down."
Lady turned from the mirror and faced her bedroom. She grabbed her homemade wand from the dresser; a shimmering star and crescent on a thin rod of wood. She exited her room and went downstairs to the living room, humming a familiar tune. Upon entering Lady walked headlong into a paper spider hanging from its web across the doorway. She batted it away lightly and smiled. Darling was fanatical about decorations, covering the house head to toe each year in spooky trimmings. She had done so as long as Lady could remember.
She stepped into the room and saw her mother, dressed in witch's garb, walking to and fro across the room. In her hands were a pile of black cat cutouts. She hid one under a lamp on the coffee table by the sofa, her fingers gentle. "What are you doing, silly goose?" Lady inquired.
"Oh, there you are!" Darling said, spinning to face her daughter. She adjusted her silky witch's hat and grinned. "I was hiding these for The Witch's Cats."
Lady giggled. "I haven't heard that game in a long time. You have a lot of them planned this year."
"Of course. It's wonderful that you are older now so you can participate in them. And—" she grinned. "you have friends your age as well. "
Lady smiled, abashed. "I'm looking forward to it."
"I'll say, you look absolutely radiant. We chose quite the wonderful design this year for you. How about a twirl for me?"
She happily obliged and spun on her heels, the room blurring as skirt fabric sighed against her legs. When she faced her mother again, Darling nodded affirmingly.
"Alright, now why don't you help me hide these poor cats, our guests will be here shortly."
Lady grabbed several cutouts from Darling's hands and hid them around the room with a proud sense of mischief. Maybe Tramp has been rubbing off on me after all. She thought with a smirk. When they had finished the grandfather clock chimed it was 9 o'clock. Her father entered the living room as it quieted, but not before smacking into the spider as well. Dressed as a Pierrot clown, he looked around the room impressed. His tall white hat and frilly collar looking comical on his usually genteel form, making Lady giggle to herself."My love, you have outdone yourself. As usual." He commented to Darling.
Lady followed his eyes around the festive decor and couldn't help but feel impressed too. Frightened black cat faces held up waterfalls of cascading orange streamers around the windows. Ghosts and pumpkins peeked under the sills with wide, bulging eyes. The fireplace mantle was a perch for hissing cats and glaring owls. A large barrel of water sat by the hearth, crimson apples bobbing about lazily. Yet the most eye catching piece by far was the ceiling. Steamers grew from the light fixture and scrawled across its white expanse in large glass light fixture itself was covered in streamers shaped together like a diamond, a great crepe chandelier of vibrant orange and black. A flying witch hung from its center, presiding over the room with a wild, toothy grin.
Lady agreed with her father in a pleased hum. He turned his gaze from the ceiling and glanced over his daughter's outfit. "My, my don't you look beautiful." He said. "An absolute vision."
"Thank you." She replied, ducking her head once again.
"Your Tramp friend had better say so when he arrives."
"Oh, Jim." Darling said with a roll of her eyes. "It's alright, don't pressure the poor boy. I'm sure he will find her as beautiful as we do."
Lady blushed and twirled her kitten heel into the carpet. Was it that obvious?
"Don't worry, sweetheart no need to be embarrassed. We have to tease you a bit, this being your first beau afterall." Darling winked at her.
Before Lady could reply, a playful rapping sounded at their front door. Both her parents straightened up and fiddled with their costumes. "Our guest are finally here my loves." Jim said, hastening to the door. Lady felt a thrill race through her stomach. Darling took her broom which reclined against the sofa and placed her hand on Lady's shoulder, giving a reassuring smile. "You young lady, can focus on enjoying your night with Tramp." Lady nodded and they both headed to join Jim at the doorway. He did one last adjustment to his ridiculously frilly collar, cleared his throat and opened the door.
A swell of adults in costumes awaited them, their smiles wide and friendly. The sound of their exuberant voices joined with her parents in a loud but cheerful exchange of niceties. "Come, come friends." Jim announced with a sweep of his arm toward the kitchen. "Come in before the mischief makers play their dirty tricks on you."
They entered the house in a flurry of tails, skirts and masks befitting a masquerade ball. Lady didn't recognize many of them but she still smiled politely, and greeted them as they passed her into the kitchen. Then, finally at the tail end of the procession, she began to recognize some faces. Dr. Avery, a wispy blonde woman, who lived across the street and her husband, dressed as a king and queen. Mr. Norval, a bank manager, and his wife who lived two doors down disguised as French aristocrats. And then Mr. Butterfield, an auto manufacturer and his son Elias.
Both men stepped in and joined the others who congregated in the dining room. Lady's father followed them in and began making more announcements of the activities they had planned. Lady stood by the open door, peering out onto the porch and the dark street beyond it."You worried he won't come?" Darling asked beside her.
"No." Lady shook her head. "I know he will."
"Well come and join us when you're ready, you don't want to miss out on the pumpkin pie." Darling said, shutting the door as she went to join the party. Once she had left Lady went to the window near the door and continued to look out into the night. How she hoped Tramp had had an easy time picking up his costume from the department store. He had insisted he could fetch it himself and she had obliged, but now she was beginning to feel nervous. He wasn't used to places like that quite yet. Maybe it hadn't gone well? Lady shook herself and let the thought go. He could handle himself just fine, a fact she knew more than most.
Lady waited several minutes, the nutty smell of coffee and laughing voices leaving the kitchen like a warm bubble. She fiddled with her skirt mindlessly and spun the wand across her palms. Where was he? Then the sound mumbling voices outside the door reached her ears. She perked up and went to the window again with her hopes high. Two black figures could be made out in the porch light, lumbering towards the door. Before they could reach it Lady thrust it open and smiled as the cool air took her breath way. Then, who stepped into the light, was none other than Jock and Trusty. Lady kept her smile but her disappointment deflated her like a flat balloon. "Hello, gentlemen!" She gushed.
Both men smiled and warmly greeted her through bright, wise eyes. Trusty cut a believable rendition of a cowboy with a great leather hat and Jock was in full kilt, bagpipe and all."You both look wonderful! Why don't you come in, the party is starting in the kitchen." Lady continued.
Both men gave each other a meaningful look, staying firmly planted on the porch. "Isn't there something missing, Miss Lady?" Trusty asked. It was then Lady noticed they were standing shoulder to shoulder, as if hiding something. She cocked her head questioningly. "What would that be?"
"Oh, just the life of the party." Lady heard a voice separate from her friends, and a great grin ran across her lips. Jock and Trusty moved aside, and standing behind them was Tramp. Lady's chest seized with elation at the sight of him, clapping her hands as she felt she'd beau stood with an amused expression, crooked smile in place, like a gift just for her. "Hiya, Pigeon."
"Oh sweetheart, hello! I'm so glad you're here."
"You think I'd miss this shindig? Nah." He placed both his hands on Jock and Trusty's shoulders amicably. "Thanks for the dramatics, boys, you sure know how to help a guy out."
"Now in repayment, you have to give Miss Lady a proper good time tonight." Jock said.
"Who you think I am? Of course I will, old man."
Both men smiled in confirmation and ushered themselves through the door, heading for the kitchen's merriment. Lady's eyes didn't leave Tramp as she looked him up and down in his costume. He looked ruggedly handsome no matter what clothes he wore, she realized. Her gray haired boy was dressed as a pirate, and he took to it quite nicely. He wore a white open neck shirt, and over top a collared, black tailcoat with gold embellishments. Trousers and long black boots covered his legs, a play sword strapped to his waist. And over his gray tufts sat a black, gold trimmed tricorne. Tramp waggled an eyebrow and brought his arms out to the side for her to inspect him. "Have to say, you have good taste in costumes, Pidge. I kinda like it."
"I knew it would suit you." Lady giggled.
Tramp walked into the house, looking pleased, and Lady closed the door behind him. Once inside he took her hand and looked her over with a tender smirk. "Wow Pigeon, you worked hard on that costume of yours. Don't think I've ever seen a dress that fancy. Now, just so I don't get it wrong, tell me, what are you?"
"A moon fairy, of course." Lady replied, motioning for him to guide her into a twirl. She spun around and grinned coyly when she faced him again."Your very own Clair De Lune."
"You have got to be the prettiest thing I've ever seen." Tramp said, leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek.
"You like it?"
"I love it." He murmured, bringing his mouth to her ear. "I might have to gobble you up right here and now."
Lady laughed and drew him into a hug. "Stop that. You need to be behave alright?"
"Me, behave? It is me we're talking about here."
"Exactly so try your hardest, for me." Lady said into his neck.
They pulled away and Tramp grinned down at her. "You gonna show me the ropes, little fairy?"
"Of course." Lady said, drawing him towards the kitchen. "Come on, I have to show you the food mother and I made, before it's all gone."
Hands intertwined, the couple walked down the hall and joined the party. They were greeted with jovial voices, sweet smells and the sound of a jazzy record playing from the living room. The introductions were a bit awkward at first but Jim and Darling helped ease them into it all. Then, as they got comfortable, Lady and Tramp were caught and swept up into a warm whirlwind of a night.
The kitchen was decorated splendidly, much like the living room, in orange and black trimmings. The table was a festive spread, with a large paper witch and her cauldron cackling over the warm food. There was, chicken pie, vegetable salad, brown bread and cream, cheese sandwiches, pumpkin pie, coffee and cider. It all tasted delicious and Lady had to force herself not to overeat. Tramp looked as if he was eating the grandest feast of his life, his eyes glowing with pleasure. They talked endlessly with everyone about anything and everything under the sun. Lady was pleasantly surprised how easily Tramp charmed their guests, with witty humor and dramatic storytelling. Watching him made her happier than she could say, her handsome pirate of a thousand talents.
After all had had their fill a fortune cake was cut, with small charms insides meant to indicate their futures. Then everyone moved in to the living room and began a handful of Halloween games, carefully orchestrated by Darling. More fortune telling and bobbing for apples. Dancing games, full of energetic music which left Lady breathless. The Witch's Cats was by far her favorite; a dance where a single guest was left out to search for a paper cat, in order to pick a partner and cut in. Tramp and Mr. Butterfeild's son, Elias, seemed to have formed a rivalry, for both boys cut in as Lady's partner repeatedly. Lady hadn't minded the attention.
Once the party goers were given a chance to catch their breath, the lights were dimmed and candles were lit. Everyone congregated around the fireplace, sitting on sofas and chairs; Lady and Tramp sat on the floor. Once situated Jim and the other men began to take turns telling ghost stories. Some were silly tales, others old stories from the Halloweens of their youth, and some were terrifying legends from the past. Lady cuddled with Tramp throughout them all, her head resting on his shoulder and their fingers still interwoven. The fire placed popped comfortingly and she began to think this was a new kind of heaven. But eventually, after an hour or two, the stories ended and the men's voices began to grow tired.
The lights were turned on again and a socializing break ensued, Darling bringing water for the sore throated storytellers. Lady and Tramp were now both very antsy and their limbs were asleep from sitting on the floor. As the adults resumed their small talk, Tramp leaned over and murmured. "Would you wanna go outside on the porch with me for a bit?"
"I would love to." Lady whispered back.
The pirate and the fairy both slipped by without a second glance from the rest of the party goers and made their way to the back door. Tramp held it open for her and together they stopped out into the cool night. Once the door was shut, the warmth of the house and the constant buzz of voices faded away. October wind and leaves rustling in the breeze greeted them instead. Tramp sighed and stretched his lanky arms up to the sky. "What a crazy night. Your parents know how to party, that's for sure."
"They've had a lot of practice." Lady said. "Are you liking it so far?"
"It's not what I'm used to, but I can see myself getting used to it. And I'm not gonna complain about spending a night with you." He said, walking down to the porch steps. He sat on the last one and motioned for her to join him. "Come on, let's sit and be alone together for awhile."
Lady obliged and gingerly folded her skirt to sit on the step. Together they sat in comfortable silence and watched dark clouds float over the moon. But then they began a soft conversation, about the party and small things they'd noticed of the guests. Lady told him a bit about how she and Darling had made her dress. Tramp explained his trip to the department store. Lady always loved her parents vivacious parties but talking one on one with her gray haired boy was the best part of the night. They carried on for a while longer, when slowly an indistinct sound began to work its way up from the end of the street.
Tramp glanced over Lady's head towards the source of the sound and suddenly his smile vanished. A glint, partially cast from the street lamp, entered his eyes, and his black irises turned sharp as flint. He muttered something indistinguishable under his breath, standing from the step beside her. "What is it?" Lady inquired, also rising to her feet.
He didn't give a reply but kept his eyes trained on the street, his hand turning to a fist at his side. Lady peered around his form and began to make out a group of people walking along the sidewalk. Rowdy voices and shuffling feet reached her ears, strangely making her feel uneasy. "Tramp?"
As though hearing her for the first time, Tramp turned abruptly and gave her a strange smile. As sharp as his eyes it was aggressive and strange. "Sorry Pidge, but it looks like we got some trouble. I think you should go back inside for a while."
Lady looked back to the group on the street, realizing they were all boys. From what she could make out there were seven or eight altogether and several were hauling things over their shoulders. She bit her lip as the unease grew stronger in her stomach. "Are they the trouble?"
Tramp took off his hat and ruffled his hair, placing the tricorne on the steps. "Yeah. Now I need you to go back in the house and lock the door."
"Why? What's going on? You're scaring me."
"Ah, no sorry." He said, his strange smile tightening. "It's alright, it's just a group of my old pals up to no good. I don't want them asking about you is all."
"I've haven't met any of your friends before are they really—"
"You don't wanna meet them yet, Pigeon, trust me. Especially not tonight."
"But—"
"Lady." Tramp said, his voice becoming solemn. She snapped her jaw closed in response and blinked up at him through wide eyes. "You really need to get in the house, alright?"
Lady nodded, perplexed. Without a word she began to slowly walk up the stairs, heart beginning to patter like raindrops. She reached the door and placed her fingers on the knob one at a time.
"Well, if it ain't the Tramp." A boy's voice echoed across the yard. Lady froze where she stood, her reflection gasping back after her through the door's window. She squeezed the doorknob and then whirled around to look behind her.
"Buster." Tramp acknowledged, standing at the end of the walkway with his arms folded across his chest. The other boys had congregated together a few feet away, but it was a boy who stood in front of the procession Lady's eyes fell to. He was black haired with olive skin and a burly build, his voice heavy with an accent she didn't recognize.
"This is a sight I never thought I'd see, eh boys?" He said, his chin held high and his hand on his hip. A chorus of sniggers and chuckles answered the forgien boy's words. "A street kid tryin' to fit in with the wealthy snobs."
Tramp ignored the comment and chuckled deep in his throat. "What are you doing here? You have one of the boys follow me here?"
Buster paused and lost his smug expression, but only for a moment. He gave a wry smile before he answered, his canines sharp and jagged. "Still can't get nothin' by you can I? You always were the smart one."
"Yeah cause I'd never send Slim of all people to tail anyone." Tramp retorted. Buster turned and glared at the boy next to him, a chubby blonde with sallow skin, who shrugged apologetically. Buster curled his lip and huffed in annoyance. Lady was certain she heard Tramp laugh quietly under his breath. "So what do you want? I'm obviously in the middle of something right now." Tramp said.
"We got a whole bunch of neighborhoods we're planning to hit tonight, and we came to offer you a spot on the team. Seeing as you always had the best ideas." Buster said as he looked between the other boys, receiving nods and grunts of affirmation.
"Not that I ain't flattered but I'm gonna have to decline, like I said I'm in the middle of something."
"You ain't kidding?" Buster said, his eyebrows raised. "That must be some little dame you got there, making you turn down a Halloween raid."
"No, no joking around this time, I just ain't feeling it this year." Tramp shrugged.
"Yeah, cause you trying to feel something else instead." A random boy joked from the back, which brought an outburst of snorting laughter from them all."
"Very funny, Miles." Tramp called over their ruckus. He sighed and shook his head. "You're all a bunch of idiots, honestly."
From the porch Lady pursed her lips indignantly. She took her hand off the doorknob and turned around fully. "How rude." She muttered.
"Wait who is that?" An unfamiliar boy's voice rang out across the yard. Buster immediately looked behind Tramp and fixed Lady with a hard stare, fourteen other pairs of eyes joining him to pin her in place to the wood floor. "Oops." She whispered, her body freezing up like she'd stepped into an ice box. A moment of silence crept by and Lady stared from the boys to Tramp with a feeling of helplessness.
"Don't tell me that's her? You're kidding me, that's really her?" Buster asked, lifting his chin again and assessing her through narrowed eyes. Lady swallowed and took a step back, looking to Tramp for guidance.
He turned around and another taut smile greeted her. "Hey Pidge, I'm almost done here. Go back inside and I'll be there in a minute."
"You mean you're not gonna introduce us? Come on Trampo, don't get stingy now." Buster smiled devilishly. "Little dame, come say hello to the boys and me." He waved her over and some quiet laughter filled the air once again. Lady clasped her hands on her tulle skirt, still looking at her beau with uncertainty. But he wasn't looking at her anymore, facing Buster again with his arms at his sides.
"What with that look Trampo? Ain't no harm in us getting to know each other."
Lady bit her lip as Tramp didn't do or say anything to help her decide what she should do. Should she just go inside the house? That seemed rude to her. Should she stay where she was? Or do as Buster asked? As she pondered, Lady felt her indignantation start to eat at her stomach. Their suggestive laughter had been humiliating. Who were they to talk down to Tramp and treat her like an object? She had looked forward to this night for a long time and some mean spirited boys weren't going to ruin their night.
She held her shoulders high with utterly fake confidence and walked down the stairs again, leaves crunching under her feet. When Lady had reached Tramp and stood securely beside him, she thoroughly looked over Buster and his crew. They were in their late teens like Tramp, with patched up clothes, messy hair and smudged faces. All of them bore crudely made paper mache masks, around their necks or resting on their foreheads. She noticed a large majority carried alarming objects; baseball bats, rope, bags of unknown substances, and even a can of what looked to be kerosene. So they, and others like them, were the ones the papers talked of causing so much mischief and mayhem every Halloween night.
Lady moved a half step closer to Tramp and cleared her throat. "Hello."
Up close Buster's dark eyes fell all over Lady, his gaze unabashed and lingering, like insect legs scurrying across her skin. She looked down at her shoes and pulled her unhelpfully sheer shawl around her shoulders. "Lady, meet the boys." Tramp placed his hand on her shoulder and motioned with the other. "Boys, meet Lady."
"Well, look at her." Buster laughed, his canines flashing. A quiet whistle or two sounded from behind him and Lady fought to keep her cheeks from turning red. "Looking like that I think I can understand why our man ditched us. Right boys?" He said, elbowing the closest boy next to him. Another round of boyish giggles ran through them and Lady wanted to melt into the pavement.
"Ease up alright?" Tramp said with a small laugh, subtly moving closer to her as the embarrassment worked its way down her neck "She's not used to being around meatheads like you."
"We ain't gonna do anything, old pal." Buster said, and turned his attention back to Lady with a wink. "But you ever get sick of this cad, you come find me huh?"
Lady smiled in response but didn't utter a sound, nervously fiddling with her skirt. "I think I made her blush." More laughter. "You ain't gotta be scared of me, I might even nicer to you than Trampo here." He took a step toward her and Lady froze up again.
Beside her Tramp aggressively ran his tongue under his bottom teeth, flint returning to his eyes. He placed himself in front of her and crossed his arms again. "Alright, you've had your fun, now leave her be." He said, making a weak attempt to jest through a smile.
Buster's stopped where he was, his smile fading a bit as he searched Tramp's face with a miffed expression. "Was only jestin', man. You ain't have to get like that about it."
"Fine. But I think it's about time you boys left, you got plenty of other neighborhoods to work and this ain't one of em'."
The other dark haired boy lost all signs of amusement. The other boys went silent behind him, shuffling their feet and looking at the ground in awkward glances. Buster moved back and resumed his place as the head of the procession, drawing himself up. "You obviously too good for us now. Wouldn't wanna step on your good time, kissing ass with those snobs."
Tramp sighed. "Not this again, how many times we gotta through this man? I'm really not part of the crew anymore. Go and raise hell like you want, I ain't gonna stop you. But you're gonna have to count me out."
Buster stared Tramp down in silence and glowered. Lady held her breath, afraid they wouldn't take no for an answer. A brisk gust of wind blew through the yard, the autumn trees sashaying about as their leaves twirled into the air. Lady shivered and softly rubbed her barren arms. After a moment, Buster shook his head and grimaced. "Whatever. What would we want with a phony like you anyways? C'mon boys, let's get outta here."
Without a word, the entirety of the group situated the mache masks over their faces. Grotesquely disproportionate and white as a sheet, the masks stared at nothing with pitiless black eyes. Some were apathetic with pursed lips, others angered through heavy eyebrows or grinning ear to ear in gleeful smiles. Lady realized what a frightening picture they made here on her street under the street lamps glow. She looked back at the house and desperately hoped none of the adults glanced outside.
"Guess we'll be seeing you later." Buster growled, taking a mask from Slim next to him.
"We will." Tramp replied confidently. The boys finally began to turn and head for the end of the street, their feet shuffling against dark cobblestones. Buster challengingly kept eye contact with Tramp for a second longer, and turned to join them. But he glanced over his shoulder amidst his retreat, raising the mask to his face. "Later, little Lady." He crooned. Lady shivered again and felt the skin insects return once again. The mask went on and then without a sound they departed into the dark Halloween night.
Once they had gone, Tramp unfolded his arms and lifted his head to the sky with a huff of frustration. His breath tickled the inky sky in a plume of vapor "Damn it, that guy is going to be the death of me." He said under his breath.
Lady let out a shaky, nervous laugh. Tramp turned around and went up the steps to meet her, grabbing his hat from the ground. "Sorry about that, Pigeon. You alright?"
"I'm fine, just a little startled."
Standing next to her, Tramp shrugged off his pirate jacket and placed it around her shoulders with an apologetic grimace. "That is why I didn't want you to meet them. They can be a bit overbearing and rough around the edges. Especially Buster."
"He wasn't very happy was he?" Lady asked, gratefully accepting the warmth of his jacket.
"He's just jealous, the stupid ass. Don't worry about him."
"Are you okay? You seemed angry too."
"Only cause he talked to you like that." Tramp said, guiding her towards the porch door with his hand on her back.
"Well it was lucky I had my pirate captain there to look out for me." Lady teased gently.
Tramp smirked and fully slipped his arm around her shoulder. "Of course, I wouldn't make a very good pirate if I couldn't protect my treasure, now could I?"
They both laughed and pressed their foreheads together, their breath creating a screen of warm vapor under the porch light. They stood in front of the door to the house and rubbed their hands together to warm up a bit before heading inside. The nervous feeling Lady had carried in her stomach was gone and was replaced with a wild affection for the boy in front of her. Shivering and giddy, she leaned forward and gave him a cold kiss on the lips. Tramp grinned. "What was that for?"
"Because, I'm glad it was you who found me that day in the alley."
"I'm glad I found you too." His eyes lost any sign of flintiness and became smooth as dark, tranquil waters.
Tramp tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "You sure you're alright being with a guy who came from all that."
"Of course." Lady said vehemently. "As long as you're alright with my obnoxious parties and wealthy neighbors."
"Of course. Well, I guess we're at a draw huh?" Tramp beamed.
"It appears that way, Mr. Luske." She beamed back.
The young couple, smiling bright and wide for the Halloween moon to see, clasped hands once again. They shared one more tender glance, practically glowing with young love and stepped into the house. As the door shut behind them, they both sent prayers up to the sky and wished for more nights just like this one.