Chapter Text
"Please, at the very least, take a small walk. You need to get out of the house, Pirro. It's not healthy." Aure urged as she led him outside. "Get a dessert or something. Take care of yourself, for me, please.”
The man stared at his feet, heels clicking against the cobblestone. Pirro blew a puff of smoke into the air with a sigh. Aure was only trying her best to help out the depressed man and he could not fault her for it. He paused in the glow of the vending machine, gnats tapping against the glass in a futile attempt to reach the light. The scientist rummaged through his lab coat's pockets before pulling out a handful of coins. He gave a long stare at the vending machine selections: all beverages, not a snack in sight. "Coffee it is."
Around that very machine, a man was lurking around. This was routine for him and when he spotted Pirro looking miserable, it looked to him like he could be an easy prey. A diet of bugs could only sustain the fear spirit for so long. He was supposed to scare people, to be a walking nightmare, and to feed off of pure fear. Once he checked that no one was around, he gathered his courage and started his act. The vending machine's lights flickered off, casting the area in shadow. Pirro paused from putting coins in as the machine went dark. “Oh for goddess’s sake, just my luck.” Pirro slapped the side of the machine, unaware if it was merely lighting or an actual machine shutdown. The being disappeared into the shadows save for his glowing markings, eyes, and teeth. As Pirro stepped back with a deep breath, he saw the faint glow of red from the corner of his vision. He squinted in confusion and moved closer. The man’s plan was working so far and he grinned, creeping closer with his gaping mouth of glowing sharp teeth. His pair of eyes staring at him from the dark was a sight seen straight from a horror film.
Instead of being met with a scared victim, the scientist watched with vague interest before coming to the conclusion it was just some strange guy. He took a cigarette from his pocket and lit the end with his already burning one, blowing a cloud of smoke into the air. The scientist moved on to look at another machine, hoping to find one that sold food items. Pastries were what he was after in the first place, not weird strangers and malfunctioning machinery. Realizing that he had failed, the cryptid’s smoky shadows receded as he curled up against the machine. Pirro purchased a packaged danish and a warm can of milk coffee from the other set of machines. As he walked back down the alley, he looked over at the man from before who was looking incredibly gloomy in his literal cloud of darkness. They let out a loud sigh, not hiding their disappointment. Their initial attempt at being frightening was completely lost by how downtrodden they now appeared. Pirro overheard them mumble to themself about wishing they could live off of soda. He had a feeling that the man was homeless. The scientist ran his fingers through his unruly hair with an exhale then pulled the danish from his pocket, tossing it at the stranger’s feet. “Hey, here. Take this. It is not something I require.” The man snapped out of his daze and yelped in surprise, scooting away before his eyes fell on the discarded pastry. His gaze jumped back and forth between the man standing in front of him and the package. While the smoke obscured him slightly, Pirro could see his unease. He was more focused on the strange smoke shifting around the man, but eventually he broke his silence stare with a loud huff. He gestured to the danish. “I just bought it. I promise it is not poisoned or anything.”
“Um.” The shadowy man slowly grabbed it, standing up and taking a few steps back. “Hm, okay, thanks-”
Pirro blinked as he watched the man dart away. He plucked the cigarette from his lips and chuckled to himself. People could be very strange, but he supposed it was only fair to be suspicious of strangers. If Aure was any indication, he was quite the weirdo himself. He placed the cigarette back on his lips as he took out his can of coffee. A metallic sound resonated through the alleyway as he cracked it open to take a sip. As he walked back home, he mused to himself about strange men and the hope of cake when he returned to the lab. The trek back was a short one.
As he opened the door, Aure poked her head out from the kitchen with a look of surprise. “You’re back early.”
Pirro paused before he could toe off his boots. “Uh, yeah. I grabbed a coffee then came back.”
The tall woman grimaced at him. “I was hoping you’d take longer. I’m in the middle of baking some angel food cake. I picked up fresh strawberries and made some fresh cream as well.” She smiled faintly as Pirro met her gaze. “Why don’t you go out for a bit longer? Everything will be finished once you get back.”
Pirro frowned as she walked over and placed another pack in his jacket pocket. He looked up at her sunny smile and sighed. He couldn’t argue with her unwavering stare. “...alright.”
“Mm, how about you go to the park? You could use some fresh air.” She smirked at him and he frowned.
She was right. Some fresh air would work wonders for his stale smoky body. “Yeah, good idea, angel. I suppose I will see you after a short while, then.” He grunted as she patted his cheek with a smile, easing him towards the door. She waved him off as he walked to the park close by. With one last swig, he drained his coffee and tossed the can into the nearby bin. He normally ate something sweet with his drink (he mourned the loss of his pastry) (the grieving process was swift as he knew it was in better hands), so he looked around for another machine to purchase a small treat. There was one not too far off, someone already leaning against it, sipping on a beverage of their own. As he stepped over to peruse the contents, he glanced up at the stranger. They were wearing a face mask pulled around their chin. Even without the sharp teeth, Pirro could immediately recognize the man’s face. “Oh, hey, I believe I saw you earlier?”
The man jumped, nearly dropping his can as he frantically clutched at it, eyes looking everywhere but the scientist. He moved away a few inches. “Nope, never seen you before. Don’t know you at all.”
Pirro raised an eyebrow at the lie. He was unsure why he was so on edge. A chuckle bubbled out of him as he took a drag. “Yeah, no, I definitely saw you earlier. I am certain it was you. But if you do not want to talk to a stranger, I completely understand.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I tried to scare you, I’m just hungry, please forgive me, I’ll buy you a drink if you want-!” The man held the can between his hands in a praying gesture. He struggled to hold it as he rummaged around and pulled out the pastry, thrusting it towards the smoking male.
As he rattled on, Pirro raised his hands and laughed. “Woah, hey, calm down. It is not a big deal. I am not offended or anything.” He smirked. “Keep the pastry, no return necessary. I offered it, after all.” As he dug into his pocket for his coin purse, it came up empty. He tucked it back into his pocket sheepishly. “I will not say no to a drink, however.”
The strange man sighed in relief. “Thank you.” He fished around for some coins before putting them in Pirro’s palm. “Here. Take it as an apology. As he put them into the machine, he unwrapped the package and chewed on the danish quietly.
Pirro shook his head. “I told you already, no need to say sorry. I really do not care.” He pressed a button to dispense a can of some kind of sweet milky tea nonsense. His nose crinkled as he opened it and was hit with the weird aroma. It appeared to be a type of earl grey, which was not the worst option, but not his favorite. Free was free, however. Pirro sighed softly as he raised it to his lips. “I am perplexed as to why you try to scare people for some food. I am sure some people would be willing to give you stuff. Not everyone is bad, you know.”
“Oh, well, I kinda... have to? Normal food doesn’t really work for me, I feed on fear-” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “-or living things, but I can’t really bring myself to eat anything but bugs.”
“...uh huh.” It was not the most normal topic to talk about, certainly not with someone you just met, but he could not complain since the man was being open with him. Small talk was never Pirro's strong suit. He took a swig of the tea, smacking his lips before taking a drag of his cigarette. After a long exhale, he spoke, “Yes, I think I can understand that. Solid food does not work for me either. I have to use smoke. But, eh, I still love sugar. Do not think I could give that up.”
“Ugh, right? Sugar is so good. I live off of soda and bugs...scaring people doesn’t usually go well and I feel bad about it. Of course, I could get in trouble for it too-” He groaned aloud before sipping his soda. It was clear he was glad to have someone to relate with. “Bugs don’t even give me enough energy...I’m still so hungry.”
Pirro frowned at himself, cigarette dangling from his lips as he took a drag. “At least you have an alternative. I never got your name, by the way. M’ name’s Pirro.”
“Oh, I’m Mushi.” He smiled awkwardly. “Nice to meet you, I guess. Sorry for the bad first impression.”
“It is no problem, really. As for the eating thing... ah, well, I guess that just comes with the territory of not being quite human.” He lifted his can towards Mushi. “Cheers to being not quite human.”
“Cheers.” Mushi let out some black smoke from his mouth as he chuckled to himself. Pirro tapped his can against Mushi’s and took a drink. He gave a satisfied sigh before taking out a new cigarette, lighting it, taking a drag, and waving it through the air. “Fear, huh ? Have you tried, I dunno, sticking around a theater after a movie ? I have heard that people get frightened after watching certain films and exiting in the dark.”
“It’s better if the person is scared of me , but I dunno that could work honestly. Especially if they’re scared of the dark, since that’s what I represent. I think my dream job would be working at a haunted house.” Mushi laughed out more smoke as he finished up his snack.
“Yeah, maybe you should try it out. Better than slumming it by scaring random people on the street.” He swirled his tea around, sighing as he stared down at the can. “I should head back. I have someone waiting at home for me.”
“I think I should quit scaring people. Sometimes, they’re the ones who scare me… bugs taste better with soda anyways,” Mushi breathed out in defeat. His head perked up as Pirro spoke. “Oh, sorry for ranting. You should go. Have a good evening.”
The scientist frowned at the man’s audible disappointment. He felt bad for the kid. Before he walked away, he cleared his throat. “Hey, uh. I am pretty sure Aure would not mind if I brought some company with me. Hell, she might have a field day that I brought a guest. I know she would love you to try her baking. You want to... tag along ?”
“Wh- for real? I couldn’t- I don’t want to be a bother or anything- !” His face was veiled with shock and a bit of confusion, but also some hopefulness.
Pirro chugged the rest of his tea and chucked it into the nearby bin. “Pssh, it should be fine. Aure is going to be thrilled I actually bothered to talk to someone. She would have made me drag you along, if we are being honest. It is no trouble at all.” He took a couple of steps, beckoning Mushi to follow. “Come on, smoky.”
“Well, if it makes everyone happy…” Mushi grinned wide, showing off his set of sharp teeth. He finished off his soda before throwing the can away and walking after Pirro, pulling his mask back over his face as they went. It projected a toothy smile that matched the one underneath it.
“Ha, yeah. If we are lucky, she might make us a drink too.” As he looked back, his brow lifted at the sight of the glowing mask. He turned back as they trekked back to the house. Even though it was his home, the lab look never really left. As much as Aure tried cleaning it and adding personal effects, the potted plants on the window sills could only add so much greenery to the monochrome building. Pirro did not bother knocking before pushing open the door and moving to unzip his boots and tucking them aside in the entryway. “Aure ! I am home." He called out into the hall. "And I brought a guest.”
The tall blue-haired woman looked out of the kitchen, curious and wide-eyed. As she settled her gaze on Mushi, her eyes lit up and a smile plastered across her face. A hand lifted to her mouth slightly agape. “Oh, you were serious !” She wiped her hands on her apron and approached Mushi. “Hello there, I’m Aure ! It’s so nice to meet one of Pirro’s friends. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Mushi and Pirro exchanged looks, the scientist shrugging with a smirk. The taller man turned back to her and bowed in greeting. “Hello, I’m Mushi. It’s nice to meet you.”
She let out a little gasp, clapping her hands together with a gasp. “I just finished making some angel food cake and strawberry lemonade. You simply have to try some !”
Pirro chuckled softly. Aure was already smitten.
Mushi didn’t want to ruin her good mood by telling her that they weren’t really friends. “That’s really nice of you. Thank you.” He returned a warm smile. “I’d love to try some.”
Her smaller wing shuddered as she hummed happily. “Wonderful ! Just this way.” She motioned him towards the kitchen, removing her apron as she led them in, Pirro following close behind. Mushi nearly trotted after her with a joyful gait. Aure moved to slice a piece of the spongy cake, putting a slice on a plate for each of them. She piled strawberries and cream on top before placing them onto the table. As she went to grab some glasses, she smiled at Mushi. “Would you like some lemonade as well ? We have other drinks if not.”
“Thank you so much. And yes, I’d love some lemonade.” He pulled his mask down, showing a smile brighter than the one the accessory displayed. Aure set the glasses down and grabbed a pitcher filled with pink liquid, several slices of lemon floating amongst the ice.
As she poured the lemonade, she chimed in. “So how do you know Pirro? He’s never mentioned you before.”
Pirro sputtered and choked on his lemonade. He sipped his drink awkwardly and Mushi’s smile faltered. He still felt bad about the whole ordeal.
“Oh, um, we kind of just... happened to get drinks from the same machine and started talking.” It was far from the whole story, but the scare attempt was an unneeded detail.
“Oh, I see. It went well if Pirro invited you over !” She finished pouring the drinks and sat down at the table. Pirro stabbed his fork into the cake. It crumbled slightly from the strawberry juices seeping into it.
“Yes, we have some stuff in common and I thought it would be nice to have someone over for once,” He added.
“Yes... it was very nice of him to invite me.” Mushi looked a bit more cheerful, the encounter slipping from his mind as he took a bite of the cake. Aure glanced over at Pirro, studying his face. There was tension evident in his clenched jaw and as she looked down, she saw the tight grip he had on his fork.
She stood up with a tight-lipped smirk. “I’ll be right back.”
Pirro watched her from the corner of his eye. Mushi looked up from his plate as she left the room. Aure was only gone for a brief moment before she returned with a box-shaped hookah. The scientist groaned and rubbed his temples. “Aure-”
“Don’t argue with me, Pirro Skoll. You’re home, you’re using the right equipment.” He could only sigh as she prepared it, torching the coal and closing the clasp over it. As she handed over the hose, he stubbed out his cigarette. She watched closely to make sure he inhaled from it. A plume of smoke exited him and the tension released from his body. His form seemed to quiver and solidify. Mushi could only watch quietly as he sipped his lemonade. Pirro grumbled, but he understood it was necessary and he should get in the habit of switching equipment when he had to. He steadily smoked between bites of cake and sips of lemonade.
His eyes darted over to Mushi and he gave him a placating smile. “My apologies.”
Aure folded her hands in front of her and turned to look back at Mushi. “He has some bad habits, hee hee. How is everything ?”
Mushi was embarrassed to be caught staring, so he quickly looked away, muttering a “don’t be” under his breath before swallowing his bit of cake to answer Aure. “It’s really great ! Thanks again.”
“I’m glad to hear that ! I’m still working on the ratios to make it extra fluffy.” She giggled, pleased that Mushi enjoyed her baking. Sitting up, she straightened her back then leaned towards Mushi, speaking softly. “Feel free to come over anytime. Goddesses know Pirro could use the company.”
Her eyes drifted over to Pirro and he stiffened. “Aure-”
“That’s incredibly kind of you to offer, but I’ll have to think about it. I don’t want to impose.” Mushi smiled nervously.
“Nonsense! I-”
Before Aure could open her mouth to argue, Pirro interrupted. “No, no, she is right. Ha, it is not like I do anything all day. Aure might not always be here, but I am. You can stop whenever you are in the area.”
“Sure. I mean, I don’t really do much either," he said, chuckling. He rubbed the back of his head. “I also hang out in the park during the evenings, if you want to drop by... but o-only if you feel like it, of course !”
Aure looked expectantly at Pirro and he shook his head, laughing softly. “Alright, yeah ! That sounds great. I look forward to it.”
The angelic woman beamed, standing up to gather up the empty glasses and plates. She stopped Pirro before he could grab his own. “Well, if you two are finished, Mushi, why don’t you let Pirro show you around the lab?”
“But I-”
“I’m sure he’d love to show off his research.” Her intense gaze told Pirro that there was no arguing with her.
“...yes.”
Mushi smiled. “I’d like that, yeah.”
Pirro stood up with a sigh, cradling the hookah. “I willl swap this out for the pipe first then we can go.”
Aure grinned. “Great !”
The scientist smiled softly at her then jerked his head towards the doorway as he stepped in that direction. “I will show you where I am most of the time.”
Mushi got up from his chair and followed after the shorter man. “Alright. So, uhm, what are you studying here?”
Pirro led him down to a door at the end of the hallway. Pushing open the door, it lead to pitch black room save for a desk lamp and some backlit shelves lined with jars and pans filled with various creatures, plants, tissues, and organs- all things once alive and now sitting stagnant in a frozen state of decay. An overall stench of rot filling the dark space, far from pleasant or inviting. “Death.”
Mushi stopped in his tracks, taken aback, face paling. His nose scrunched in disgust and Pirro merely quirked a brow at the man before laughing. The nervous man chuckled half-heartedly, still taken aback. He forced a smile. “O-oh ! That’s interesting… !”
Pirro set the hookah on a table and picked up a coal from a bowl, prepping a pipe sitting on the table’s metallic surface. Inhaling deeply, he stepped over to the shelf and ran his fingers across one of the potted plant’s leaves. It was green and glossy- healthy and alive- a stark difference to its withered companions. “I understand that it is not an easy topic to think about, let alone study in such depth. That is what I do: research death in all its forms, searching for what constitutes what exactly being ‘dead’ means.”
“Sorry, I do think it’s a great topic to study, but it’s not... really my thing.” Mushi tried not to stare at the jars too long.
“It is... fascinating how resilient living things are. People die everyday, people live everyday. But what is more interesting are the ones who have done both. Died and came back from the brink.”
“Oh... wow, yeah. That does sound wild. Have you ever, like, met someone like that ?” The man’s pinpoint pupils drifted back to the scientist. “Can people really come back ?”
“Mm, no, I have not. But they can, and they do !” There was sudden fervor to Pirro’s movement. His lab coat swung through the air and he swiveled to face a fish tank, striding up to it. Small silver fish swam through the water and cast glittering light across the scientist’s cheekbones as he stared into the glowing glass surface. “These were feeder fish, meant to be given to someone’s pet for a meal. However, they passed long before they were purchased.” He swung back to face Mushi, ash and smoke swirling around his grinning face. “That is, until I did the same. And brought them back to life.”
“Y-you did that?” Mushi looked at the fish with wide eyes then at Pirro. “H-” The smoke caused him to cough out his own, interrupting him before he breathed out again. “How-?”
“I- ! I have... an ability to reanimate the dead. Not always, but I can.” He took a long drag, exhaling a plume of grey as he stared down at his dusty palm.
“That’s, uh, wow ?” Mushi could only stare in awe, at a loss for proper words. “I mean, yeah, that’s really impressive. Have you ever...brought back a person ?”
“No. I have not. That is far more difficult. I don’t- I do not think I should, even if it were possible.” He peered at the shelves, knowing full well that his previous attempts went against most morals.
“You’re right. It’s probably best not to…”
“The largest thing I have done is reanimate a bird. He was long dead, a few days out and many parts were already decayed away, some signs of being eaten. So, I-” Pirro snorted. “It’s kind of like you. I absorb dead tissue. I take that dead tissue and replace it with living tissue. Took almost a week of work, then a day of standing to revive him, but I did it. He is alive now.”
“Like me…? No, no way, I can’t do anything nearly as cool as that.”
“Cool ?” The scientist looked flabbergasted, unused to such a positive response. He had heard his work called morbid, insane, ungodly- nothing but negativity. This was refreshing.
Mushi flushed in embarrassment. “Okay, maybe that wasn’t the appropriate word, but it’s such a big thing-” He gestured wildly as he looked for the words to say. “You can do things I didn’t think was even possible, and it’s not like you experiment on humans, at least I don’t think so- alright, so maybe it’s still a bit weird but-” He shut his mouth, ceasing his rambling. “It-it’s cool. Sorry, the way I put it isn’t great...”
“No, no, you are fine.” Pirro smiled. “Just took me by surprise is all. I never heard it called that before. Cool.” He paused for a moment, humming before walking over to the shelf to take a dead plant, bringing it over to a work table and setting it down. His hands hovered over it, eyes glancing over at the masked man. “Would you... like to see?”
“Can I ? Please, yes, I’d love to see.” He hurried over to Pirro’s side, eyes shining with curiosity as he stared expectantly.
Pirro’s own eyes seemed to shimmer, his grin brimming with enthusiasm. “Great. Great !” The scientist rubbed his hands together and reached over to open a refrigerator underneath the table. He pulled out what looked to be a metal pan filled with translucent white sheets of some soft material. A laugh bubbled out of him as he pulled off a sheet of the genetic tissue and draped it over the withered leaves. Carefully, he wrapped it around the branches, folding and tucking it around the leaves so they were completely covered. He put the pan back in the fridge before clutching the plant between his hands. Before he could start, he looked over at Mushi. “You might want to move away a little. I do not want to hurt you.”
“Oh, of course, you need room to work.” He took a few steps back, but made sure he could still watch properly. Pirro settled his fingers around one of the stems, concentrating on the area. Slowly his skin rippled and wobbled, dissipating into thick black smoke. Particles shifted under his fingertips, the shrivelled leaves turning into grey smoke that fed into the now smog-like appendages. Mushi’s eyes widened as he watched intensely, not wanting to miss a single second. The tissue surrounding the leaves shriveled and turned into papery strips that cascaded onto the tabletop. Then, quicker than it started, Pirro's hands reformed and snapped back into their natural state; and what was left behind, were perfectly shaped, healthy green leaves.
“Woah, that’s crazy-” When it was all over, Mushi looked back at Pirro. “Woah, are you okay ?”
Pirro panted and steadied himself, a chuckled slipping from his needle thin teeth now poking past his lips. His appearance was not what Mushi expected, almost monsterish. Upon closer inspection, Mushi could see his pupils receding from fully dark irises. The scientist hurriedly grabbed his pipe and took a deep inhale, his teeth and eyes returning to normal. He gripped the edge of the table as his knees shook. “Y-yeah, it takes a bit out of me. I really should use my mask when doing this, but I was... distracted.”
Mushi moved close to the tired man, ready to catch him in case he lost balance. “I’m sorry if I kept you from focusing on your work, thanks for showing me.”
“I am fine, really.” Pirro straightened his posture and as he did he took in Mushi’s face in more detail, observing the red glow of his facial markings.
“Okay, that’s good. Don’t go fainting cause it’s not like I can revive you or anything-” He looked at the other with worry, softly glowing in the dimly lit room much like the first time they met, yet far more visible.
The scientist squinted and stepped closer, his hand reached toward the marks on his cheeks. “Sorry for staring, I am just-” He pointed at Mushi and gestured along his face. “Intrigued? How does the glowing work?”
Mushi squirmed, flustered by the attention. “Ah, uh, I don’t really... know... it just happens. Oh, but I can stop it if I try.”
Pirro circled him, studying the light radiating from Mushi’s facial markings. He halted when the two were face to face, stepping even closer, hand reaching toward his cheek. “Can I touch you ?”
The poor man made a garbled noise, markings glowing even brighter. “Wh-what?”
Pirro’s brows scrunched together as he watched the man grow flustered before pulling away suddenly. His eyes widened and he waved his hand around. “Not like that-!” The scientist held his pipe and took a couple of puffs, glancing away for a moment before looking back at Mushi. “I was just curious…”
Mushi covered his face with his hand, trying to calm down. “Yeah, of course, I don’t mind, but don’t make it sound weird- !” He uncovered his face and sighed, eyes drifting to the ground.
“I’m not-” Pirro huffed, took a deep breath as he lowered his hand, then lifted them back to Mushi’s cheeks. “Be quiet and let me touch your face.” He said, already running his fingertips along where the red glow emanated.
Mushi stayed quiet, unmoving, hoping Pirro couldn’t feel how warm his cheeks were. His fingers smoothed over the illuminated skin, testing for any indentions or extensions to the flesh. As he did, he glanced up at Mushi’s expression before his gaze fell on his pupils. They shone a red glow that didn’t appear to be eyeshine as it remained steady no matter which way he turned his head. The two red dots darted around as Mushi looked at all the jars and other experiments, distracting himself from the tense situation. “Hm.” He stroked Mushi’s cheek with his palm. “Most likely bioluminescence caused by a luciferase compound, possibly even a presence of photophores. I do not believe any of the insects around here would contain what is needed to produce it, so you might synthesize it.” He patted it and gave a closed off hum. “But there is always just magic that can explain it. You never know, though.”
“I couldn’t tell you.” Mushi was more focused on how weirdly solid Pirro’s hands felt despite their earlier fog-like appearance. Pirro stepped over the shelves to unplug the cord then walked over to turn off the desk lamp, plunging the room into darkness save for the faint glow of the fish tank and Mushi’s facial markings and eyes. When Mushi spoke, his teeth had a faint glow to them. “What are you doing… ?”
“Getting a better look.” The scientist carefully navigated his way back to the glowing man, circling him briefly before he settled in front of him to touch along the markings. There were no changes to the feel of the flesh there. He hummed. “Interesting…” His fingers trailed down his cheeks before pulling Mushi’s lips apart. He traced along the gum line as he observed his illuminated teeth.
“Hghfgh-?” While he was uncomfortable, he did not protest Pirro’s lack of manners. Pirro pressed his thumb against a thin, sharp tooth then pinched it between his fingers. He slid them along the length, pulling them away to observe the slight glow left on his fingertips. As he spread them apart, the saliva on them stretched into a thin string. Against better judgement he stuck his fingers into his mouth, rolling the fluid around on his tongue.
“Bitter…”
Mushi pushed him away and stepped back. “Dude- ! Did you just taste my spit- that’s so weird ?” He lowered his voice, in hopes Aure had not heard his shout. “Ah, but please don’t get angry !”
Pirro felt his neck flush with warmth. Even he could admit the action was a bit strange. “I’m not gonna get mad ?” He breathed out. “Sorry, that was weird, even from a scientific standpoint. I was testing if it was a luciferase compound. Luciferase has a bitter taste.”
“Alright, sure. It was really weird though.”
The smoking man ran a hand through his messy hair. “I should have asked first. You gave me permission to touch you, but that was. Invasive.”
“A bit, yeah.” Mushi cleared his throat. “I hope you found something interesting though !”
“Oh, most definitely. I believe the glow you produce is the result of a naturally occurring chemical compound, likely from some sort of tissue in your skin. The teeth, I am unsure about, but it could be that it’s secreted through the gums. I can not know for certain- I would have to lick your teeth to help confirm that theory or extract some tissue. Ah, but I just met you and that is all a bit much.”
“So we’re done ?”
“Yes, we can stop for today.”
“That’s good to know I suppose.” Mushi tried and failed to not look worried about the prospect of future testing as he laughed nervously. “You’re, uh, really dedicated to science.”
“I am a scientist.” Pirro turned the desk lamp on and proceeded to do the same for the shelves. He shrugged as he turned back towards Mushi. “It is good to be passionate about something. To have a reason to keep going on in life. To have an attachment to something in this world.”
The younger man kept his thoughts to himself on the extremes of the scientist’s passion, especially with how genuine he was being. It made him fidget. “You’re right. I wish I had something like that…”
Pirro patted his shoulder, stepping to the door. “You will find one. There is no rush. You are young and have plenty of time ahead of you. For now, just be you.” As he opened it, he looked over his shoulder. “I will show you the rest of the place. You can meet that bird I told you about.”
He was quick to follow the shorter man, a small smile tugging at his lips. “What kind of bird ? What’s it called ?”
“He is a raven. I found his body in a cemetery. He is a bit strange looking now, considering what parts I had to use, but he is doing great.” Pirro led him through the kitchen, pushing aside the curtains to reveal sliding glass doors. He opened them and stepped onto the wooden porch where a bird sat on an iron fence that caged in its own area. Its body, head, and legs were a sharp white, off-putting its darker feathers. “I don’t really call him anything other than Oiseaux.”
“I love him.” Mushi was beaming as he lifted his hand towards the large bird. “What a fancy boy, it’s like he’s wearing a suit ! Is he friendly ?”
Pirro reached over and scratched the fluffy plumage around his neck. Oiseaux chittered. “Yes, he is a fan of scratches and some petting. Go ahead.”
Mushi was gentle as he stroked over the back feathers. “So soft... Does he eat bugs ?”
“Bugs, rodents, lizards, frogs, eggs, dead things, garbage- he does not care. Try not to feed him garbage, however. No matter how much he insists.”
“Great ! And I won’t.” Mushi pulled out a jar out of his bag, filled with something squirming. He unscrewed the lid and grabbed a handful of insects from it, holding out his palm towards the raven. Pirro peeked over his shoulder, staring into the jar and noting the variety of species. Oiseaux had shuffled closer and was pecking at Mushi’s palm. Each time it made a soft crunch as he snatched an insect in his beak. His wings flapped as he ate.
“How do you keep them alive in a jar like that? There are no holes and I doubt they are polite enough to not hurt each other.”
“Hrn ?” Mushi shoved several bugs into his mouth before grabbing more. “Well, they only need to stay alive for a day or two. Since I eat them so fast, it’s not too hard. “
“I see.” Pirro lifted a centipede out and it writhed between his fingers, attempting to get traction.
“You can try one if you want to ! Those are my favorite.”
“Ah, uh, um. I think I will pass on this one.” It was not as if the scientist had put worse in his mouth before. While insects were known to be nutritious, the taste did not seem appealing in his mind and the texture was bound to be unpleasant. He could not deny he was curious. Before he changed his mind, he thrust it towards Mushi. “You can have it.”
“They’re really not that bad, but I get it.” He bit the end of it that dangled from Pirro’s grasp and chewed with a grin.
Pirro’s eyes widened. “I will take your word for it.” Mushi gave another handful to Oiseaux and he gratefully took the offered food. Pirro scratched his stubble as the man continued to chew on the centipede. “I would offer a smoke, but it is not any better for people, even if it is nutrient paste.”
“It smells bad, yeah, no thanks.” Mushi spoke around the centipede before slurping it up like a noodle, making Pirro jolt slightly.
“Uh.”
Mushi took a handful of bugs and paused. “What ? I was hungry.”
“Was not expecting that is all.”
“But you handed it to me-”
The man cleared his throat and scratched under Oiseaux’s chin. Mushi quieted as he was distracted by the raven’s soft feathers. Pirro patted the bird’s back as Mushi buried his fingers in the fluff of his neck.
“How about I show you upstairs? That is where our living area is. We keep all the labs to the bottom floor and basement.”
“Sure, if you want to.” Mushi looked at the raven and pouted.
“We can take him with us.” Pirro held out his arm and let the raven climb onto his shoulder. “I doubt he minds.”
Mushi pet the bird’s head as he chirped. The scientist led him upstairs and the temperature was noticeably warmer. Cool tones were left on the ground floor in favor of rich browns and golds. Fluorescents were swapped out for the glow of lamplight.
“If you can not tell, Aure got her hands on the upper floor. Said it was ‘too clinical’ and ‘not befitting of a home.’”
“She did a great job. It’s so cozy.” As he imagined the more lab-like rooms, he scowled. “Yeah, I’ll have to compliment her for the decorating later.”
Pirro opened his palm, extending his hand in a sweeping gesture around the landing where a small reading area was set up. There was a lone bookshelf in the far corner by the window. Leather seating surrounded a round wooden coffee table, a pile of scientific magazines sat on top of its scuffed surface. One of the recliners had a woven basket placed next to it, filled with yarn, thread, and embroidery loops.
The tired man sighed, “I do not use this lounge much, but Aure does.”
“It looks so comfy !” Mushi exclaimed as he admired the collection of books before stepping over to a chair. He sighed to himself as his fingers brushed over the armrest, “I wish I had something like this.”
“You can come over whenever you want. I do not mind the company. And Aure would jump at the opportunity to have you over.” Pirro chuckled as he walked down the hall and stopped at the first door. He opened it to reveal a small guest room. Several quilted blankets adorned the bed. The trunk at the foot of it had a small suitcase sitting on top of it, a bookmarked novel beside it. A jewellry box and a makeup bag were on the dresser. “Aure has been using this room when she stays for the night, but you are free to use it when she leaves.”
“I thought she just lived here,” Mushi mused as he walked over and pat the blankets, eyelids slipping closed for a moment as he sighed. A few seconds passed before they popped open and he stood up. “Okay, better not do that again or I might fall asleep.” Pirro squinted at him, cigarette poking out as his lip pouted. Mushi waved his hands as he moved past the scientist, back into the hall. He added,”Sorry, it’s just been so long since I slept in a bed- ah, but I shouldn’t complain so much.”
“Yeah. No, she is an in-home therapy angel. She has her own place; she only stays here when she is working. That said, she is here so often she might as well live here.” Pirro said with a fleeting smile, frowning slightly at Mushi’s words.
The taller man smiled dreamily as he responded, “Ooh, therapy angel? That sounds cool. I can definitely see how she helps. She’s so kind and warm.” His own smile disappeared as he noticed Pirro’s expression.
The man exhaled a cloud of ash. “Where do you usually sleep?”
“Hm? Oh, uh, that one abandoned apartment complex by the park.” Mushi chipped in, “It’s not as bad as it looks or sounds. But it’s still rather...empty.”
Pirro hummed, ”Yeah, not the best place to sleep but I suppose it is better than the streets.”
The air grew silent as they walked down the hall, ignoring a door as he pushed open the one at the far end. It was all greys and whites- stark, clean, and orderly. Having a sheen of dust could make one think it had never been used, but the constant cloud surrounding the scientist said otherwise. The only real indication of it being his was the ashtray holding a few cigarette butts on the nightstand. He breathed out, “Here’s mine.”
“It looks,” Mushi spoke and made no move to walk in as he inhaled a cloud of dust and ash, finally getting a whiff of an odor he could only describe as Pirro, ”like it needs some redecorating.”
Pirro shrugged. “I do not require much sleep, so I end up using my chair in the lab most of the time.”
“You could at least chill here. That doesn’t sound very comfortable.”
“Eh. If it gets the job done, who cares.” As the scientist sat down, the bed gave a loud squeal. The mattress and bed frame did not move a single inch. “Honestly, my chair is better than this.”
“Then get a new bed ? Don’t you want to feel nice when you walk in a room ? That’s what decorating is for. Your room looks gloomy and so do you,” Mushi huffed and pouted.
Pirro blinked. “Oh. Huh. Maybe you are right about that.”
“A nice room would do wonders for sure.” Mushi rolled his eyes before they widened. “Hey, how about we meet at the park tomorrow and go for a small walk? Is the evening okay ?”
"Meet ?” Pirro straightened up, clutching at his cigarette. “You are just going to go sleep in an abandoned building after this, is that right? It is already late, why don’t you stay over ?”
Mushi shook his hands in front him. “I wouldn’t want to bother you, really. I’m basically a stranger and I don’t sleep at night anyway.”
“Well, yeah, I know we just met but,” Pirro breathed out, ”I want you to stay. You deserve a place to sleep. A proper place, that is.”
Mushi scratched the back of his head. “Well, if you insist... I guess it would be rude to refuse, right ?”
“Great, great. You can take my bed since I do not use it. Being not quite human and all.” Pirro stood up suddenly and Oiseaux flapped his wings, squawking in protest. “Heh, maybe you should live here and decorate it yourself.”
“That’s really nice of you-” Mushi stared blankly before piping up,”I couldn’t possibly do that, come on… !”
“It would be nice to have someone at home and, well, make it feel like a home.” Pirro rubbed the back of his neck and smiled gently.”You can stay over whenever you like.”
Mushi was tearing up from the offer. His voice was choked when he made his response,”Okay. Thank you.” He nodded. “I’ll visit a lot if that makes you happy.”
“Only if you want to. I would be happy for you to have a proper bed. Everyone deserves that much.” Pirro patted the man’s shoulder with a soft smile. “Let us look at one last place then I will ask if Aure is staying over so we can figure out sleeping arrangements. And put up Oiseaux. I think he just shit on me.”
“What a rude little man !” Mushi gasped, petting the raven as he followed Pirro to the end of the hall. The scientist grabbed the handle of a large metal door and pulled, the hinges groaning in protest as he opened it slowly. Instead of being greeted with a room, Mushi was met with a ladder attached to a concrete wall.
Pirro panted, “This goes up to the roof. Heh. Aure keeps her pride and joy there.”
The two started their climb and Mushi’s curiosity heightened with each rung of the ladder. He undid a latch to push open the metal hatch at the top, fresh air and the scent of grass dancing making its way into his nostrils as he breathed heavily. A layer of greenery coated the rooftop. Flowers sprawled along the roof, the flowerbeds filled with dark soil. Some potted plants sat amongst them. What garnered the most attention, however, was the large wire enclosure filled with pigeons.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty. I see why she’s so proud of it.” Mushi looked around a bit before walking up to the cage. “More birds ! How lively.” He almost said ‘friend-shaped’ aloud when one bobbed its head at him with a cooing sound.
Pirro smiled and opened the cage door. “Yeah, it is a little patch of paradise up here.”
Mushi followed closely behind. The pigeons were a flurry of browns, whites, and greys. He giggled as the fluttering wings tickled at his exposed skin and ruffled his already messy hair. “So many friends ! I’d give them a snack but I’m all out of bugs.”
Pirro pointed to a garbage can sized metal box. “There is a container in the corner full of feed. Simply undo the latches and grab a sack. Careful though. They will try to fly in if you are not fast enough.”
“Gotta be sneaky…” Mushi whispered as he approached the container and opened it, sneaking a hand inside and pulling out a sack. He made sure to shut the lid as fast as possible. The second it had opened, all the pigeons had swarmed around and landed on it. Their heads bobbed up and down in anticipation. When he moved to pet their heads, the feed shifted in the cloth bag and they jumped from the lid onto his arms. Mushi was beaming and giggling as he untied the sack. They pecked at the seed, the ones perched on his shoulders straining their neck to get to the food.
“They’re so cute !” Mushi grinned at Pirro, sharp teeth in a row. A fluffy down feather landed in his hair, white standing out in the deep black.
Pirro stared for a moment before chuckling and reaching over to take the feather and tuck it behind Mushi’s ear. There was a faint grey flush to his cheeks when he spoke, “Yeah, they are. Little spoiled aviators.”
“They’re all good boys! They deserve it-” Mushi looked at Pirro then his hand, spotting the feather. He blushed as the scientist’s fingers brushed against the shell of his ear. He looked away, trying to focus on the birds. “Uh, thanks ?”
“If you want, I can make a chart with all their names for you. Some time. If you would like that.” Pirro cleared his throat before taking a puff of his pipe.
“Heh, yeah. I don’t think I can remember them all... what was the raven’s name already ?”
Pirro blinked then roared with laughter, having to fan away the wisps of smoke streaming from his eyes. Mushi jumped at the sudden loud guffaw. “Oiseaux. It... was a last minute choice anyway. I did not think I would bring him back in the first place.”
The raven squacked in annoyance as the flock of pigeons scattered around him.
“That’s a cool name. I guess.” Mushi shrugged with a smile and pat the angry bird.
“It means ‘birds’.” Pirro chuckled to himself and held out his palm towards Oiseaux, the corvid nuzzling against it roughly. “This is why Aure names things.”
“Pfft, I see. It’s funny though,” Mushi said while scratching at the bird’s feathers. “Mister bird, sir, would you like some seeds? Are we friends yet ?”
Oiseaux opened his beak and croaked loudly. Pirro tightened his lips together, inhaling sharply through his nose with a scrunched expression. “He will never say no to food. Ever. Practically falls in love with you if you give him enough.”
Mushi grinned wide at that. “He loves me ! And he’s so clever. Here. Your dinner, sir bird.” He grabbed a fistful of seed from the sack and held it out for Oiseaux who scooped it up quickly. The raven crunched it down like he was starving. Bits of shell fell on Mushi’s skin.
Pirro snorted. “Spoiled.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Mushi was not even looking at Pirro anymore, busily petting the feasting bird. Oiseaux and the pigeons finished off the entire bag. The flock slowly relocated to their respective sides of the cage, some grouping up. The raven chittered from his spot and climbed onto Mushi’s shoulder, talons digging in.
“Hey there, little man. Please don’t shit on me.” Mushi winced slightly.
Pirro was fast to respond, “Woah, woah, careful. Ravens can hurt without proper protection. I can take him back.”
“It’s okay. It just stings a little.” A black substance had started to ooze from where the talons pierced his skin, but Mushi fought a painful grimace. The honor of holding the bird was too great for him to refuse.
“No, wait a second-” Pirro led him out of the cage and took Oiseaux from his shoulder gently, setting the raven on a fence post.
“No, let me hold him, we’re friends… !” Mushi whined as they were separated.
The scientist worriedly checked the wound and hissed through his teeth as more black leaked out. It was Mushi’s blood. “Does it hurt badly ?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Pirro ignored him and took a small first aid kit from his inner coat pocket. He took out an antiseptic wipe and some adhesive medical strips. Silently, he dressed the wounds. “I’m fine, really. They’re just small scratches,” Mushi huffed. There was nothing he could do to stop Pirro. He had already cleaned and bandaged him before he had even tried to protest.
Pirro put away the kit and let out a breath. “Sorry, but it is best to treat stuff right away or it could end up leaving some more lasting damage.”
“Thanks.” Mushi did not try to argue with him over it, only staring down at his nicely dressed arm. “...does that mean I can’t hold the bird ?”
“You can,” Pirro sighed and lifted Oiseaux back up. “Just, try and put him somewhere more covered. And be careful.”
The taller man stared down at his shirt- short sleeves and uncovered shoulders. It certainly was not ideal for carrying a bird. He pulled one side over to cover a shoulder then smiled sheepishly. “Uh, ta da! Covered shoulder.”
Pirro looked at his shirt then his face, letting out an exasperated sigh as he placed the raven onto Mushi. He walked away before he could see Mushi’s face light up at the action. “Let’s head back. I will ask Aure if she is staying over, we will put Oiseuax back on his porch, and then we can head to bed for the night.”
“Sounds like a plan !” Mushi celebrated with a grinning selfie of him and the indifferent raven.
After descending the ladder and the stairs, Pirro stood there listening to hear if Aure was still in the kitchen. It was utterly silent. He stepped over to the lounge door and opened it, finding Aure sitting inside. She looked up from her book and smiled. “Ah, is the tour over ?”
“Yeah. I invited Mushi to stay for the night and was wondering if you were staying as well ?”
“Oh, yes, it is getting late,” Aure said before looking at her phone with a frown. “It is late. The last train departed an hour ago.”
“Right, sorry. I guess you do not really have a choice now.”
“It’s fine, Pirro.” She turned to Mushi. “I assume you are taking Pirro’s bed? I can lend you some blankets. It’s very bare in there.”
He blinked. “Oh, I don’t mind, it’s comfier than what I’m used to, but thank you. I don’t want to be a bother.”
Pirro spoke up, ”It is no problem at all. I end up falling asleep in the lab no matter what.”
Aure scowled at him. “You should be resting more. And using your mask while you’re working.”
“I will,” Pirro supplied, half-heartedly.
“Right! Don’t get tired at all again. Maybe you should put a couch or a bed in your lab, if you don’t want to go to bed.” Mushi teamed up with Aure.
“That would take up too much space. My chair is fine,” Pirro argued. Aure glared at him in obvious disagreement. He cleared his throat. “It really is fine. If need be, I can sleep on the couch downstairs.”
“You should at least do that, yes. Sleeping in a chair all the time can’t be good for you,” Mushi bugged him further.
Aure nodded. “In fact, why don’t you sleep upstairs instead of working for once? We have a guest, after all. You don’t want to be rude. Right, Pirro ?”
She nudged him and Mushi piped in, ”Yeah, get that rest ! You look so exhausted. I can take the couch instead if you want the bed back.” He gave his best puppy-dog eyes.
“No, no, take the bed. I insist. I want you to have it.” He raised his hands in defense. “I can take the couch. I am more used to chairs, either way.”
“If you insist, but don’t sleep in a chair anymore. It can’t be any good for you.”
“Alright, alright, I hear you,” Pirro sighed, walking to the stairwell. “I will get my mask ready.”
Mushi cheered in victory, looking Aure expectantly. She beamed back, clapping her hands together. The shadow man was already making plans to stop by often and help harass the scientist into healthier sleeping habits.
When Pirro returned wearing his mask, he removed his hand from his pocket to wave at her. “Happy ?”
She smirked. “Very.”
“Funky…” Mushi whispered. He suddenly remembered his own mask and pulled it up, sealing up the shadowy tendrils escaping from his mouth.
“Well,” Aure chirped. “I’m heading to bed then. Mushi, are you sure you don’t need anything for the night?”
“I’m good, thanks. I already have a bed, so that’s a lot,” Mushi chuckled. “Sleep well.”
She nodded with a smile. “Alright. Don’t hesitate to ask me, or Pirro, for anything. You sleep well, as well!”
As the three walked upstairs, Mushi frowned inwardly and sighed. He was a nocturnal creature, but being able to rest on an actual, honest-to-goodness bed was incentive enough to get ready for bed with his gracious hosts. With one last look at the man who made it possible, he smiled at the scientist, headed down the hall to his room, and laid down for the best rest of his life.