You had a smile on your face the entire ride home - giddy as you practically threw yourself out of your car and jogged to your agency's doorstep. Slipping the key into the lock with ease, you shut the door behind you and shed your outer jacket, calling out as you did so:

"Curioso!"

You jumped the second he was in your sight - grinning down at you with his sharp teeth and tipping his signature top hat. It was the same greeting he always gave you when you returned home, if you hadn't brought him along on your outing. Trips like those were becoming more rare nowadays, as it was incredibly easy to have him tag along on your errands and serve as your partner for your investigations.

He was disappointed when you left today and insisted on going alone. But when you told him the reason why , he understood. You'd made a promise to never bring him onto any carnival grounds if you could help it – though why you wanted to go alone and so early in the day, he couldn't fathom. It only made the grin on your cheeks widen some more, tightening your grip on the bag you carried with you.

"Welcome home, Detective," he placed his hat back on his nonexistent head. "How was it?"

"You were right. The games are rigged and if you go in the middle of the day, all the employees smoke," you sniffed remembering the more dull parts of your trip. "I had fun, though. The shows were okay."

"Did you indulge in some carnival food?" you nodded and you swore his grin grew wider. "What did you have?"

"You're never going to believe this, but I had a deep-fried twinkie this big," you held up your fingers a good distance from each other. "I ate a little bit of funnel cake, and then I had a banana on a stick. Made me kind of sick."

You set your bag on your desk and took a seat, shuffling off your shoes. Your feet were aching from walking around so much. Curioso leaned over to take a peek into the tote bag you set down. He didn't miss the colorful clown on its fabric, with obnoxiously-bright text reading " FUN ". Before he could get a good look at its contents, you swatted him away and dragged it closer to yourself.

"Goodies, I'm guessing?" he tilted his mask.

"The games might be rigged, but I'm still good at a claw machine and throwing rings," you wiggled in your seat excitedly. "I got some stuff for Audrey's grandchildren, and something I think Elise will like."

"What about me ?"

You acted as if it just dawned on you. "Huh, I guess I should've won something for you, too..."

He pouted, sitting on the edge of your desk and turning away from you with his artificial arms crossed. You laughed at the sight before grabbing something and holding it in the edge of his view. It got his attention when he turned and looked at it, his mouth a little more open than usual.

"Cotton candy," you nudged it closer until it bumped his mask's cheek. "I think I've finally found something you can eat!"

He grabbed the paper cone from you, pinching some candy floss in between his fingers and observing it quietly. Then, he brought it closer to his mouth, and you watched with satisfaction as he tossed it in and it dissolved on his tongue.

Oh, yes. Curioso had a tongue. That was a very fun discovery you'd made one night – when you had finally gathered the guts to kiss him, only to run into several predicaments in doing so. A little experimenting made you intimately familiar with his mouth. Avoiding his sharp teeth was a challenge of its own, but ultimately rewarding in that you had the most intense kiss of your life.

And then some.

He practically melted. "I haven't had this…had anything , really, in so long…"

"I wish you could've come with me," you straightened at your words. "-I understand why ! Don't get me wrong. But it would've been a lot more enjoyable if you had come along."

"If I could have more of this , then I'll join you next time."

He was enjoying the treat before he paused and turned to you. You got the message and opened your mouth. He expertly threw a wad of the candy onto your tongue. You 'mmm'ed at the flavor. Cotton candy was available in your store sometimes, but there was something more authentic about getting it straight from the carnival. Like buying a serving of dippin dots at the amusement park.

"I had a hell of a time winning something for Elise," you stuck out your lower lip. "I could've used your help."

"Is that it? You wanted me there to help you cheat at the games?"

"How is it cheating if they're purposely rigged to pocket your money?"

"It's an ethical issue! I would expect more from a Detective!"

You laughed and winced when a piece of the candy hit your eye. You grabbed it and stuffed it in your mouth, watching as he finished the rest off. You were right to be so excited. You were worried he wouldn't be able to enjoy it - he had no throat to swallow anything, no stomach of his own anymore…but something that disintegrated on his tongue was enough to please him.

You turned red remembering the last time your tongue had tangled with his own, an act in which he claimed was much of a treat.

You stood to your feet and grabbed the bag, heading back to your door and ignoring your coat. "Come on, let's go drop this off."

You didn't even wait before leaving through the door and starting your short trip on the sidewalk. You didn't need to check if he was with you, if Curioso's little face was on your sleeve or your bag. You just knew he was there, felt his presence like it was a part of yourself. You supposed that's what being in a relationship for so long entailed - becoming as familiar with your partner as you were yourself.

You stopped at Audrey's shop and helped yourself in, breathing in deeply as the scent of freshly-baked bread met your nose. You looked up in time to spot a petite woman wearing an apron behind the counter, who was currently rolling some dough and singing to herself. Beside the taller girl was your older friend, who beamed the second she saw you and rounded the counter to embrace you.

"Detective! You're back!" she looked down at the bag in your hand and smiled. "You weren't kidding! I didn't think you were the type to go to the circus."

"Eh, I wanted to feel like a kid again," you shrugged. You glanced behind you and saw Curioso looking through the shelves of junk food. He'd sneak some in your kitchen sometimes just to tempt you. "If you ever want me to babysit for you, they're in town for the rest of the week."

"I'll consider it!"

You slipped something out of the bag then handed it to Audrey, who thanked you and disappeared in the back. You approached Elise behind the counter, who looked up the second you were in her sight. She dropped everything was doing and clapped the excess flour off of her hands. Even without a face, you could tell she was excited to see you.

Months ago, you'd been so happy to bring Elise to your home, wanting to help her start a new life. But you couldn't ignore how withdrawn she had been from you and Curioso, staying in her box for most of her days and only coming out if you asked. She claimed that she had little use to you as a detective, and was only good for housework. You'd been adamant on insisting otherwise, but her troubles remind you of a friend you had, and of the little store and bakery she owned. The woman who had grandkids to look and clean up after - who could use some extra help in taking care of her duties and family.

When you brought the proposition up to her, she was a little confused. She'd gotten used to Curioso and came to terms with what he was, so to learn there was another like him was baffling. But she gladly accepted the help. You knew she would never take advantage of Elise. She was treated as one of her own, and the servant had put her life in your hands trusting you as she had.

You were glad to see it had paid off.

"Detective! Would you like your usual?" she was already putting the jelly-filled doughnut into a small bag for you. After a sickening morning full of sweets, you didn't know if you could stomach it right now, but took it from her anyway. Audrey's baking was your favorite and the woman would be offended to hear if you didn't take your weekly offering.

"Thank you! I have something for you too," you reached over the counter to hand her a small, soft pink plush of a bunny. You'd debated on leaving this one for Audrey's grandkids, but…something to give Elise to decorate her room with didn't seem too bad. You remembered what her old one looked like and wished to change that.

"How adorable!" she reached out and clutched it in her gloved hands, squeezing it against her chest. "Thank you. I will cherish it."

"What will you name it?" your jester asked, now behind you. Elise thought a little before replying:

"Mrs. Hopps."

"How have things been?" you asked. You visited Audrey's shop at least once a week now, to keep yourself up-to-date with your groceries and check in with the girls. Elise was nearby now, which meant she and Curioso also got to catch up. They'd gotten along pretty well and it was nice to see them getting along.

"Very well. I have learned some new recipes and make everything by scratch now," she set Mrs. Hopps aside and resumed her dough-making. "I also know how to change diapers and help with science homework."

While the latter sounded uninteresting, it was clear she was happy with the things she was doing and learning. You were glad. "If you ever want to stop by, we're just down the street."

"Of course. You say that every time you're here."

"Because it's true," Curioso insisted, leaning over to rest his elbow on your head. You smacked him away.

Audrey returned and was pleased to see you holding your usual. She thanked you again for getting her grandchildren some toys. You grabbed a couple things you needed while you were there, then headed back to the Dark Light Detective Agency. You put away your groceries and settled in, watching as Curioso rummaged through your fridge and got you a glass of your favorite juice.

"It's nice that she's happy there," you thought aloud. Your eyes drifted over to him. "And it's good that you're happy, too."

"Whatever would give you the impression that I'm happy ?" he joked, sitting next to you and allowing you to rest your legs on him.

"You're still here, aren't you?"

"I'll be here for a long time," he reaffirmed.

Your fingers intertwined with his, and you leaned over to kiss the side of his mask. You always got a reaction out of him when you did that - as you had learned it was the most sensitive part of his being. It explained how jumpy he had been when you first touched it, and now you took that to your advantage. This time, Curioso leaned towards you, almost beckoning you for another. You left a kiss on one of his top teeth.

"That doesn't feel as good as you think," he teased.

"I do it to get you to want more."

He purred, "My Detective is always so clever, aren't you?"

You closed your eyes and rolled over into his lap, enjoying the way his large hands protectively held you as you began to rest. You felt like a child after a long day of having fun and overloading yourself with sugar. You wanted to just lay down and enjoy this peaceful time with Curioso. You savored these moments with him as the two of you waited for your next case - and he would happily join you on the journey, helping you find things and solve the mysteries.

It was hard to believe the two of you had started off as enemies - in your task to save the kidnapped collectors being held hostage, you ended up falling in love with their captor. Who was able to redeem himself from his past actions – who received the proper care and love that he'd always needed. That you were happy to give. You had a partner now, someone who filled the empty holes in your life and gave you the company you craved. He was funny, powerful, and the greatest thing to ever come from one of your cases.

"Lucky is more like it," you corrected him, and he held you even tighter.

THE END