like roses, death blooms

“Oh… Maybe he’s just busy or she’s just always there. She’s a teacher, so…online clases.” Nine kind of hoped he was right, that Lance’s dad was a thousand times kinder than the mother. “Wait, what…?” He paused, thinking hard at all the ghosts he remembered catching looking at his boyfriend. Has anyone met his boyfriend before? Did any of them look angry at him? To Nine, they only looked passive, judging, scared…or could it ever be pity? After all, they also looked at the son of death next. “N-no, why would you think that? That’s… There are too many ghosts in New York.” Even if there was any ghost who looked at Artem with hatred, Nine was never going to let be near him.

“Maybe his father would be fine, though… Anyone better than her.” Nine never really bothered to know her husband, and he haven’t asked Lance about it yet. “That they avoid you? I don’t really know, but you’re not the only one in Camp and maybe the ones I’ve noticed are not brave enough… When we first officially met, it was a ghost that made me stare at you.” Nine nodded a bit. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t know… What if he goes to other relatives instead or his grandparents?” Nine would be sad if that happened, but as long as it was better than staying with Lance’s mother. The son of Thanatos pulled away to look at his boyfriend. “We could check tomorrow if you want. I’m not sure how safe it would be for us.” Nine should really learn how to check it like Artem does, so his boyfriend wasn’t doing all the work. “No, no ghosts here. I’m a ghost magnet but they keep their distance when I’m with you. No ghosts in my apartment too. I’ve put all possible shit to block them from entering.” New York is occupied by different spirits and ghosts, and Nine wanted to feel safe or have some peace here, something he wasn’t really able to do in Camp because Greek ghosts were annoying. “Can you see ghosts?”

“Though we haven’t got much choice when she takes him back.” Nine would be sad but he’ll just hope that something had changed for the better for Lance and his mother. “Security? Yeah, I guess. What kind of security do you mean? I own the lot and we used to live there until we moved closer for my stepdad’s office. Oh, and there are no ghosts.”

“She only mentioned him so I asked where the kid was, and it turns out she left him alone to buy groceries.” Nine frowned slightly. He wasn’t a parent but he knows that was very irresponsible of her. “I guess she was desperate enough to ask me to babysit him, and I won’t say no to the kid.” His fingers started to fiddle with the ends of Artem’s shirt. “Should we redecorate or something? Or we could go to my apartment instead, I’m all up for redecorating it and it’s unused.”

Nine shook his head slightly. “No, just her at first, and then she fetched the kid at their home.” He was quiet for a few seconds, thinking. Did he need to return the kid to his mother? He didn’t really want to but he didn’t have much rights to keep the little kid here. “I don’t know, but maybe she would. That’s her son, after all.”

Nine immediately went to his boyfriend’s arms. Hugs were welcomed or basically just any comforting physical contact would make Nine feel better, even if they were about to discuss something that could stress him out. “Ask me something then,” Nine mumbled, wanting to disappear in Artem’s arms.

Nine wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, unable to say anything else for now. He`d love to face anything with Artem, and they would really need to figure out how to help the kid. Nine pulled away and looked at his boyfriend with a small time. Together. It was wonderful to hear. “Let’s go.” The son of Thanatos took the other’s hand again as they made their way to their room. He still needed to explain, but he didn’t really know where to start so he hoped Artem would ask him what he wanted to know.

Nine was thankful Artem took his hand, and he held onto him as they left the kid’s room. Only then did he look at his boyfriend with tears pooling in his eyes. He had been holding it because he didn’t want Lance to see him or get worried. “Artem… Gods.” Nine took a deep breath and walked further away from the kid’s room. “I didn’t know it would be this bad,” he whispered.

The kid nodded and told the cat to follow them. Nine pointed out the rooms and the bathroom, and let the kid decide which of the two rooms he wanted. Lance had looked at Nine, then seemed to consider the distance of the rooms to the couple’s bedroom. “This one,” Lance said, going to the room which he thought was farthest from the master bedroom.

Nine just nodded and followed the kid inside, leaving the door open, though he didn’t really care much if the cat actually followed them. On his understanding, cats did what they wanted, and Katya hated him but loved Lance so he wasn’t sure what she’d do. As he helped the kid settle on the bed after Lance brushed his teeth, Nine took a quick look around the room to check if everything would be fine for the kid. “You know where to find us if you need us. Just knock, one of us will let you in,” Nine told the kid. It would most likely be Artem who’ll wake up with a knock. “Good night.”

“Maybe.” Nine watched the cat looking at the kid. It still surprised him that she loved Lance, and they just met today. “We mostly just avoid each other now.” Or Nine does. Katya does what she wants.

“That’s okay. I’m small,” said the child. Lance turned around to get his backpack. It was packed with clothes and a few toys, though he hoped that his mother picked his favourite toys. Sometimes she packs the wrong ones and Lance ends up getting bored. “Can I go to my room now?”

Nine glanced at Artem, like he was saying they can talk after. He gently took the bag from the kid, as it felt too heavy for Lance go carry. “Yeah. I’ll help you pick your room. C'mon. Artem, can you get Katya’s bed?”

Lance’s face brightened up to hear he would have his own room. Hopefully far from their room. “I will have a room?” In his excitement, he let go of the cat and Nine was smart enough to move his feet away from Katya’s landing. “Is Katya allowed on the bed? Can she sleep with me?”

“Someone probably picked her up and treated her badly, maybe she associated them to you? You were the one who picked her up first, after all.” Artem just hoped that Nine and Katya would get along the longer they live together. He didn’t want to force both to like each other though. "Give her some time, I guess.”

"That's okay. I'm small," said the child. Lance turned around to get his backpack. It was packed with clothes and a few toys, though he hoped that his mother picked his favourite toys. Sometimes she packs the wrong ones and Lance ends up getting bored. "Can I go to my room now?"

“Everyone? What’s wrong with me?” Nine looked at his boyfriend with a small pout. “Am I a dog or something?” He’s been nice to Katya since the first day, but she really didn’t like him.

Lance moved closer to the couple while trying to carry the liquid cat who keeps slipping in his short arms. Nine was thankful Katya wasn’t even trying to scratch the kid. “Am I going to sleep on the couch?”

“Because you definitely take my attention away from Katya. She’s a spoiled kitty but only when you’re out of the picture.” Artem joked, though that was probably one reason why Katya disliked Nine. “But I can’t exactly talk to animals so I wouldn’t know.”

Nine sat beside his boyfriend, immediately taking the other’s hand and clinging to him. “Let’s talk later,” Nine said softly. He smiled when he heard the kid’s giggle while playing with the cat. “That’s Katya?” It was surprising to see that Lance had already bonded with the cat. Nine thought Katya only likes Artem, but now Nine could confirm Katya can like everyone except Nine.

“That’s good. Yeah, I’ll be there.” Nine nodded once, but didn’t move further until Artem left. He should apologize later for being stupid to Artem. A few minutes after his shower when he had finally forced himself to clean himself up, Nine came to the living room to catch up on their new friend. It was good that Lance gets along with Katya, since he was worried he’ll have to keep watching the kid around the cat. When he saw Artem, he came up to behind the Russian and kissed his cheek.

“I thought she wouldn’t recognize me…” Nine turned the shower on after stripping and just stood there while the water went on. “I haven’t seen her for a couple of years.” He remembered she had a baby with her back then, but he didn’t really see Lance before. He just noticed that she had baby stuff with her in the park and he didn’t bother going over to ask. Today was the first time Nine and Lance met. “I’m gonna look for them when he’s not here. Please could you make sure they’re all out of his reach?”