Chapter 1: Hurt Feelings
Chapter Text
Phantom exhaled as he slipped into the back stage. Tiredness set into his bones after the long set. It felt like nothing compared to the pitter feeling of guilt gnawing at his stomach from messing up yet again today. Having played his solo off. Having not only earned a very annoyed glare from papa, but pitying glances from all the ghouls he managed to make eye contact with. He even caught people out in the crowd frowning or snickering over his mistake. He lightly ran over his face. Exhaling as he tried to control his quickly beating heart.
“Okay..” He softly breathed out to himself before running his hand back through his hair.
That when he heard it, the recognizable clack of Copia’s shoes quickly approaching.
Phantom’s ears laid back, cowering as Copa rounded the corner. Lips pulled back a straight line as he stared at the ghoul. The ghouls heart sank as he noticed the fiery annoyance that flashed through his gaze once it locked onto him.
“You.” He pointed a gloved finger directly at Phantom, “You’ve practiced the lists hundreds of times and yet…you are failing to meet expectations! Aether never made this many mistakes!” He hadn’t meant to speak so cruelly to his ghoul. Far too worked up about meeting Nilh and Sisters expectations this tour around.
No one wants to be replaced.
“Maybe..maybe summoning you in to give the old ghoul a break was a mistake. We’d be better off without you! It’s too annoying to keep correcting!” With that Copia spun on his heels. Stomping away as the quintessence ghoul tried to to control the the tear that threatened to spill from his eyes. What made the situation that much worse..was that a handful of the other ghoul’s had heard his scolding.
“I..” The ghouls throat tightened as he quickly packed his rhythm guitar. Messily shoving his guitar pic between the strings
An awkward tune broke from the strings as he quickly lifted it up onto his shoulder. Unbothered by the weight. Hands lightly shaking as he glanced around to make sure he had everything. Not wanting to make a fool of himself by not gathering everything his.
His feet felt so heavy as he stood, like cement bricks. His stomach rolling as his nerves tore into him. He really hasn’t meant to mess up on stage so much. It was scary being up there, trying to live up to someone’s shadow they couldn’t surpass.
He caught brief eye contact with Dew who gave a small shrug. He wasn’t sure how to comfort the quintessence ghoul.
Phantom turned swallowing s lump on his throat before slipping out of the back door. Quickly making his way towards the tour bus. Not wanting anyone to catch him by himself. To see him with tears in his eyes as they asked for pictures or even tried to sneak them.
The sound of multiple pairs of footsteps echoed behind him.
Catching him completely off guard as a ghoulette gently touched his arm. Her cool fingers wrapping around his bicep. Making him slightly slow his pace.
“He didn’t mean that..you know he didn’t.”
Aurora softly soothed. Frowning at the way she watched him sniffle, trying so hard to be the strong quintessence ghoul he felt he had to live up to.
“Why don’t you come back to our wing of the tour bus? Just hang out with us for a while.” Aurora softly offered to him. Able to see how distressed the poor ghoul felt. It was already harder for him to fit in with replacing one of the front ghouls.
Cumulus let out a soft trill as she caught up to them. “Oh yes what she said.” She lightly hooked her arms around Phantoms other arm. Purring soothingly as they steered him up into the bus and towards their side. Almost immediately the sweet smell of cookies filled his senses. It seemed like someone had started to make something right after getting on the bus.
His stomach rumbled lowly.
Small giggles coming from the girls as they heard his stomachs response to the sweet smell.
“Oh sweet heart I’m sure Cirrus will share a few of our cookies once they’re done.” Cumulus purred out, helping him slip the rhythm guitar off his shoulder. Shoving it into one of the instrument cubby’s.
Phantom exhaled softly using the moment to use his now free hand to wipe at his face, it did feel nice to feel cared about by the girls. His hand slipped back, slipping his tail free of his pants. Immediately the long whip like tail with a slight notch taken out of the spade like shape smacked against the floor.
Aurora let out a soft purr, trilling loudly as she pushed him back to what could only be explained as a very rounded blanket nest. Seemed like the girls had all been sleeping together in a big ghoul pile.
His ears flicked forward lightly, unable to compress the soft purr that rumbled in his throat.
Cumulus slipped over to them before toothily grinning. “Go on, I promise we have enough room in our nest to house you too.”
Phantom did as told, slipping into the roomy nest, soft blankets sinking down underneath his weight. The entire little area felt so warm and safe. The scent of the ghoulette’s filling the entire little area even without all three curled up inside.
Cummulus wasted no time crawling in after him, clawed hands immediately grabbing got him. Aurora was the same with him, giggling as she grabbed onto Phantom who let out a startled wiggle against the ghoulette’s were starting to wrap around him. “Oh I-“ They kneaded and purred as they wiggled their body’s onto him till he was trapped between and half underneath two very happy ghoulette’s.
“Am I a pillow?” He couldn’t help but softly laugh. The girls seemed to be quite happy as they kneaded at him, nuzzling at his sides before Cirrus appeared at the entrance of the nest.
“It looks like it.” The older ghoulette softly laughed. Finding it amusing that the others decided to drag him in the nest.
“You want cookies hun?” She watched how Cummulus was on the cookies in seconds. Grabbing up one that was nearly shaped like a heart. “Thank you”!” She munched into the cookie while loudly purring.
Cirrus watched her mate with soft eyes for a moment before redirecting to Aurora who grabbed one up as well. Eyes sparkling as she dug right in.
Phantom of watched everyone for a moment before catching eye contact with Circus who cocked an eyebrow in response. “I promise I won’t bite you, take a cookie too sweet thing. You’ve had a long day.” She smiled softly in a genuine caring manner.
Phantom wiggled slightly to reach out, fingers out stretched as he snatched the closest cookie on the plate. “Thank you.” He softly murmured respectfully. He couldn’t help but think that Cirrus definitely had a mom vibe to her, not just mommy that people labeled her.
Cirrus soon placed the plate down before wiggling into the nest to join everyone else. Surely one of the boys would get ahold of the rest later.
The space was slightly cramped, but in a good way. Like being wrapped up in a ball of purrs and comfort.
“Thank..thank you guys for inviting me into here..” Phantom eventually spoke, eyes slightly round as he glanced around at the relaxing ghoulette’s. He hadn’t seen them drag any other ghoul but Mountain in here to join their cuddles yet this tour. Course that big ghoul was a favorite with how much of him there was to lay on and snuggle.
Cirrus half curled around Cumulus, her body relaxing as she nuzzled into her mates shoulder. “Course Sweet Heart, you deserve to relax and the best way to do that is cuddle and eat cookies isn’t it?”
Cumulus let out a hum of agreement around a mouthful of cookie.
Her tail beating into the bed lazily yet happily. Her long forked tongue flicked her over her fingers to clean away any crumbs left behind.
“It is.” Phantom laughed after a few moments. Biting into his cookie soon after, savoring the sweet flavor as chocolate melted on his tongue. This honestly was the most welcomed he’d felt since joining the band.
His shoulders relaxed as he felt Aurora nuzzle into his side, a claws hand wrapped over his lower stomach as she closed her eyes. Her purrs vibrating his own body.
“Thank you guys so much.” He repeated while letting his eyes slip half closed. Finishing the cookie off soon after. He really worry about eh few crumbs that fell onto his shirt. Soothed by all the purring he heard from each ghoullete around him.
“Course.” He heard back while feeling Cumulus curl closer to him. Her arm stretching out longly to rest over his chest.
The ghoul felt his eyes grow heavy as sleep lightly tugged at him. It was far too warm and comfortable in this nest to not be sleepy.
Maybe things would be okay in the morning.
Chapter Text
Copia slipped through the dark parking lot of the venue they’d performed in hours before. The parking lot empty aside from their tour bus. His titties and beer cup in hand. Granite it was empty at this point, leaving him mildly uncomfortable carrying the empty cup around with the already gnawing guilt of yelling at his newest ghoul. He hadn’t meant to be so harsh on him, he hadn’t meant what he’d said either. Sure he knew they had to perform as well as possible, but it wasn’t Phantom's fault for the fact he was summoned in. That he was thrown a guitar and told to learn on a very limited time frame before they jumped in the tour bus and went on their way.
“Eh..” He groaned softly before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Caro Satana..I need to apologize.” He muttered, picturing the quintessence ghoul with drooped ears and a sad expression. Curled up in his bunk by himself, cut away from the world.
Quiet.
Alone.
He didn’t expect that the ghoulettes would completely consume him into their nest.
Cocooning him in love and affection.
A light drizzle began to fall as he passed through the moonlight. Clouds overhead slowly cut off faint light he’d needed, of course it was easy to tell where he was going still.
Green eyes shining as they pinned on him in the distance.
Had he been anyone else the scene might have been unnerving, instead it was comforting to be under the large ghouls gaze.
“Mountain?” He lightly called out.
“Copia.” A deeper voice responded back, the eyes growing closer.
“Why are you out here?” He questioned before hearing a deep throaty chuckle from the ghoul. “Enjoying the fresh air after that show, you?”
Copia found himself shrugging, he didn’t want to admit he hadn’t come back sooner over the fact he’d said those things to Phatom.
“Ah you know just walking around?” He shrugged pathetically.
“Mmhm..”
Copia couldn’t help the shiver that ran up his spine as he heard the rumble in Mountain's throat.
“Well eh..I should be going back inside the bus before I get wet. You should come in soon too okay?” He didn’t really wait for a response. Opening the door as he scrambled up into the bus. He knew that he didn’t have an iron grasp over his ghouls. He didn’t demand respect from them like Primo or Secondo who supposedly ruled over them with an iron grasp. Nor did he have the ability to control any ghouls like Terzo did. Though..he didn’t really want to woo his ghouls to submission either.
Once slipping into the bus the energy of the place shifted. It felt calmer.
So peaceful and quiet.
His eyes flicked over the room. He could spot multiple jackets from here of his ghouls thrown about. Draped chairs, tables, what looked like Dew’s on the floor. “Eh..Phantom?” He called out while moving over towards the bunk he assumed he was curled up in. Pausing in surprise as he found it completely empty. Immediately he peered into other bunks. Coming nose to nose with Dew peering out at him.
“Oh-“ He half flinched back, watching the fire ghouls' eyes sparkling amusement.
“Lost something?” Dew half mocked with a soft chortle. “He’s with the girls you know..” He pointed a pointed claw over towards the plush blanketed decked out bunk. What looked like his beloved water ghouls tail tip peering out of the edge of the bunk.
“Oh..uh thank you Sodo.” He lightly hummed before moving towards the ghoulette’s beds. Not sticking around for the fire ghoul to pick at him for bullying the little quintessence ghoul earlier. A pair of eyes glowing from the dark nook that they all seemed to be curled up in.
“Phantom?” He curiously called out in question while moving a bit closer peering into the dark.
Small grumbles and snores echoed from within the little cubby before a hand lunged out.
Clawed hands grabbed Copia before pulling him partially in. “Shhh..” Cirrus lowly murmured out. Watching how Copia nearly stumbled over his words. “Oh I’m- they’re..” He stared at the pile of ghouls sleeping. Little ears twitching from time to time. Little paw padded toes lightly stretching and curling as they settled back into sleep.
“Ghoul piling.” Cirrus lightly finished his sentence. “Rain crawled in here a few minutes ago and passed right out on Phantom.” She softly chortled. “Cute isn’t it?”
Copia nodded while glancing over the five piled up ghouls. It felt so nice to see them all so comfortable and content.
It was nice knowing his band was so close.
“It is..” He softly whispered before softly frowning. “I really wanted to apologize for what I said to him earlier..” He lightly touched the soft blanket nearest to him. Worrying the soft material between his fingers.
“I feel terrible Cirrus.” He whispered softly. Mismatched eyes focusing on anything but the ghoulette as he admitted his feelings.
“I’m just so worried about this tour, you know? I don’t want everything to fall apart and I got worried with him messing up just a few solos. I’m proud of him I-“
A thin tail flicked across the blankets before thumping lightly.
Copia’s eyes quickly flicked up to find who it belonged to. It most certainly didn’t belong to the ghoulette he was speaking to. The angle all wrong.
“Wait is Phantom awa-“
Cirrus lightly grabbed his arm, shaking her head. A soft smile splayed out across her lips. Of course the little ghoul was. He had to of awoken when Copia came in.
“So you're proud of him?” The Ghoulette lightly repeated.
Copia stared at her for a moment, the gears in his little rat sized brain turning before it clicked.
“Oh! Ah yes I’m very proud of him. He’s wonderful as a rhythm guitarist. I’ve seen how much he’s improved in such a short period.” His eyes focused on the wiggling ghoul tail. Sure that if he saw his expression he’d be beaming.
“He’s so wonderful to be around, I could never really regret spawning him.” His voice lowered slightly. “I know he’ll be a wonderful addition to the clergy. I think he’ll be a wonderful right hand man for me once he’s ready to step up.”
As he finished speaking he glanced back at Cirrus.
Her expression was soft. “I’m sure he’d love to hear all that..maybe later you can tell him as well?”
The ghoulette lightly patted Copia’s arm before nuzzling back into her mate. Ready to settle back in for the night.
“I will.” Copia nodded while watching. Slowly backing out of the little nest.
Things would be okay in the morning, he’d talk to phantom personally.
Notes:
I felt like a little add on could tie this all together quite nicely :]