"But I want to wear the crown!" Tracey cried, as Michael slipped on shoulder holsters over what used to be a white tank top and was now mussed beyond repair. His khaki pants were similarly sullied, but it didn't seem to bother him as he turned to his five year old.
"I thought you wanted to be a fairy?" he asked, tugging at the badge hanging on a chain around his neck.
"A fairy princess," Tracey corrected vehemently.
"Ohh," Michael conceded, "Give me just a second," he said and quickly ducked back into the kids' room. "Ow, ow," Michael purred as he passed Amanda on his way to the closet. She wore a short, white wrap dress and had fake feathered wings strapped on her back. Michael almost asked if the glittery silver heels were from work, but decided not to as he grabbed an also glittery, but pink, crown from the toy chest in the closet. She finished zipping up Jimmy's black and grey costume and straightened out the hooded mask with pointed ears over his face. Michael grabbed the silver tinsel circle that rested on the edge of the bed.
"Alright, go on," Amanda said and the miniature Batman lept down from the bed and dashed out the door giggling. Amanda turned to face Michael and ducked as he set the circlet atop her head.
"I think you forgot something," he whispered. He leaned over and gave her a kiss. She brought up her hands, nails painted red, and put them on his chest. As she went to embrace him, her hands came to rest upon the pistols slung under his arms. She pulled back and went to put her hand on the grip but Michael stopped her from pulling the weapon very far out.
"Michael, are those real?" she asked incredulously.
"What?" he asked, shrugging. "It adds a touch of authenticity," he said, pinching his fingers together and kissing them too. Amanda lifted the badge from where it hung on its chain at his chest, and tilted her head, before looking back up at him.
"This isn't…"
"Don't. Ask," he cut her off, grasping her hand in his and taking it away from the badge. "Questions you don't want to know the answers to." He kissed her cheek and followed Jimmy to the living area. Amanda shook her head as she followed, looking her husband up and down.
"Michael, you're supposed to dress up, for Halloween. You just look like you got off a job," Amanda sighed. "And stole some poor cop's-"
"Sshh," Michael sputtered. "I'm John McClane!"
"Sure," Amanda replied, "just don't let the kids get your 'props'."
"Of course not!" Michael exclaimed picking up Jimmy, who immediately began grabbing at his father. Michael held him at arms length before turning back to Amanda. "Maybe you should take him?"
"Uh huh," Amanda agreed and took Jimmy.
Tracey bounced by the door, brown paper bag in hand and her crown now set atop her head. "Let's go! Let's go!" she said and Michael opened the door. She skipped through the door and Michael waved Amanda and Jimmy through. She had to angle slightly, so her wings didn't hit the sides of the doorway, while Jimmy grabbed at her tinsel halo.
"Go across the street," Michael called after them as he too exited the trailer home, relishing the unseasonably warm weather. Usually by now snow covered the ground and the children had to wear coats over their costumes, but this year the leaves still clung onto the trees and though a chill permeated the air, Michael was comfortable in his tank top. Tracey flitted to and fro as Amanda put Jimmy on the ground. He bolted forward, following Tracey as she went up the stairs, her fairy wings flopping behind her. Jimmy took the stairs one at a time and stumbled and crawled after his sister, his cape flopping flimsily after him. Michael and Amanda stayed at the foot of the steps as Tracey pounded on their neighbor's door. The door opened to reveal a tall man in a black and red high collared cape.
"Who's this?" the burly man asked, bending low. "A-a fairy and, oh man, no way, Batman?!"
"I'm a fairy princess," Tracey corrected, tapping her crown indignantly. The tall man put a hand to his chest apologetically.
"Oh excuse me, your highness," he said. He bent low and whipped out a basket of treats. "What are you doing out of your castle?" he asked. Tracey turned back to look at her parents in uncertainty. Jimmy flapped his cape up and down.
"Go on," Amanda encouraged and Tracey tuned back to the neighbor.
"Trick or treat!" Tracey said and held out her bag. Jimmy continued playing with his cape until Tracey side kicked him. He held out his bag as well and the vampire dumped a handful of wrapped candy bars into the bags. "Thank you, Mr Ted!" Tracey exclaimed and the neighbor hid behind his red and black cape.
"Mr Ted?! I am count Dracula!" he proclaimed, and with a melodramatic laugh he shut the door. Tracey and Jimmy returned to their parents.
"He has way too much fun with this crap," Michael whispered out of the corner of his mouth as the kids bolted to the next trailer home.
"Michael!" Amanda berated, adjusting her halo and passing him to follow the children. He had to admit, as he walked behind her, he loved watching her walk in heels. So distracted was he, by the easy sway of her hips, accentuated by the waggling feathered wings, that he almost didn't see the rustling in the bushes. But he did.
"Woah, woah!" Michael exclaimed, drawing one of his pistols and aiming at the bush as a figure lept out. Amanda screeched and gathered up both of the children, who in turn squeaked and screamed in surprise. A figure clad completely in red with a devilish face and a piercing cackle crouched amidst the family, but Michael was the first to relax, lowering his pistol.
"Jesus fucking Christ, T," Michael sighed as he holstered his gun. Amanda stayed hunched low to the ground, clutching her children with an iron grip.
"Trevor!?" she finally managed to breath through her clenched teeth. The devil spun around to face the wife and kids.
"Amanda! Angel, baby!" he exclaimed, his arms open wide. "Fancy meeting you here!" he remarked and Amanda stood up, pulling down her dress from where it had rode up.
"Uncle T?" Tracey gasped, gaping, and Trevor stooped to all fours, hopping about and making fiendish noises. Jimmy wailed and ran back inside the house. Tracey wasn't far behind him.
"Hey-ey-ey, the fuck you do that for man?" Michael asked, approaching his friend, who he realized was actually wearing body paint from head to toe, red briefs, and work boots.
"Life lessons, bro. It's all hallows eve. Time to be wary, be watchful. It's never to early to start bein' suspicious of the bush next door," Trevor replied with a waggle of his eyebrows. Amanda gagged.
"Great, our kids are going to be scared of shrubbery," she remarked in exasperation.
"Well, lookie here, Miss high and mighty. I wouldn't be talking if I was you, naughty little ang-"
"Fuck off," Amanda bit back and Trevor splayed his arms open wide toward her.
"You want me to? Huh?" he taunted, motioning crudely before Michael spun him around. Trevor stumbled a few steps forward, and turned back around to see only one of the pair of wings poking out from hiding behind Michael.
"That's enough, T" Michael scolded. "Now I'm going to go get my kids and we're going to continue trick or treating, and you are going to keep your mouth shut and your hands where I can see them."
"Yes, sir, Mister Copper sir," Trevor respond and Michael threw his hands down, exasperated.
"I am not a cop; I'm John McClane!"
"Uh huh, sure, sugar tits. The fuck is John McClane? You're wearing the same damn shit you always do."
"Fuck you," Michael said, flipping him off as he retreated to his own doorway. Trevor turned to Amanda who glared, her arms crossed over her chest. Trevor leaned toward her a bit, most obviously looking her up and down.
"It's, uh, a bit chilly out, innit?" he asked and she harrumphed before her children ran toward her.
"It is you, uncle T!" Tracey exclaimed as she and Jimmy threw themselves at the red painted man.
"Of course it is! How many other genuine devils do you know?" he asked, returning their hugs ten fold.
"Yea, you're a real one-of-a-kind," Michael goaded as he approached. "Come on, next house," he instructed and ushered the kids forward. Amanda hurried before him, taking quick, shuffling steps in her heels as she caught up to the kids. Michael pushed his way past Trevor, who chortled and followed. Michael sighed, pushing his hair back looking from the angel in front of him to the devil behind him. "Jesus fucking Christ," he whispered in an irritated moment of realization.
"Michael!" Amanda scolded in an urgent, if hushed, voice, glancing back at him over her shoulder as the children ran up the stairs to another house. Michael shrugged, shaking his head in apology. He took out a cigarette and clamped it between his lips. He reached for his lighter, but Trevor's was there first, the flame almost licking Michael's nose. Michael let out a small, surprised yelp, before steadying the cigarette with his hand and lighting it from his friend's outstretched light. He pulled back and exhaled; Trevor flipped the lighter closed and stashed it back in his red briefs. Michael shut his eyes tight and took a deep, steadying breath, before shaking his head again.
"I almost fu- effing shot you back there by the way"
"I know, wasn't it great?"