i've read the book of bill for the first time recently and couldn't stop thinking about their dynamic. and one day i was like–
toxic codependent relationship between the manipulative god and the lonely yearning human and they meet when the human is asleep. i've seen this somewhere before.
im obsessed with rain ghoul i can't survive a day without searching for rain ghoul on every social media and looking for fanarts edits fanfiction whatever content with rain ghoul
Dewdrop: doesn't really care about the design of his profiles, so for several years he has had one photo as his pfp – a random shot of him in a leather jacket, leaning against a brick wall with a cigarette in his mouth, not looking at the camera. he thinks it's pretty cool
Rain: a selfie where half of his face isn’t visible, but you can see his jewelry, a black shirt with the top buttons deliberately undone and a collarbone peeking out. and of course he added some aesthetic filters. rarely changes his pfps, since it takes effort for him to take a selfie that he will actually like
Phantom: often changes his pfps and profile designs in general, he can't stick with one. mostly puts silly pictures of himself or some brainrot tiktok memes
Mountain: default/no pfp, or a landscape picture he set when he created his account and will never change again
Aurora: usually takes a lot of pictures, so she often changes her pfps. she tries to make her profiles bright and colourful, sometimes puts pictures of her friends as her pfps or selfies with them
Cirrus: a photo of her in the studio behind the keyboard, taken by someone else. or it can be some cute picture of Cumulus (cause her social media usually makes it clear what she loves<3)
Cumulus: a picture of her that Cirrus took at a picnic, where she’s in a summer dress with a wreath of wildflowers on her head. also sometimes uses pictures of kittens as her pfp:)
Swiss: too lazy to bother with his profiles, has a blurry silly photo of him at sunset as his pfp. sometimes he puts funny photos of Dew or Phantom to rage bait them
Haze: a picture of herself in the bathroom mirror, full makeup on, wearing a glamorous dress, with some instagram filters
Aether: “dad” selfie in sunglasses. i said what i said.
i saw a couple of old works on ao3 and posts on tumblr where dew is called ember and i can't stop thinking about what a waste it is that this nickname didn't stick for him :") i do like the name dewdrop but... imagine how tragic it would be if “dewdrop” became his deadname, associated only with his water past. it could be a source of trauma for him, a reminder of what he has lost. or, in a good way, the new name could be a symbol that he has finally become his true and cooler self :) after all, i really think “ember” would suit him...
tags: fluff, romance, hugs, love confessions, friends to lovers, idiots in love, winter, talking, apologies, water ghouls are cold in winter
summary:
They were standing in the dim kitchen at night, reflecting on their past, sharing what had been bothering them for so long.
my first work about them (and first time posting here omg) ! sorry if the writing style is strange, english is not my first language, i tried my best:( hope this will make your holidays a little warmer♡ merry christmas and happy new year!
Rain walked along the dark corridor, shivering from the cold. Winter in the ministry wasn't an easy time for its residents, as the heating system in the old building could hardly keep up. That season, everyone had gotten used to escaping the cold by bundling up in extra layers, scarves and blankets. And usually, this was enough to get through these harsh months in relative comfort. For most.
Rain was a sensitive ghoul himself. But due to his water physiology, he was particularly susceptible to many things. The weather conditions, the temperature, the atmospheric pressure, and sometimes even the emotions of others – all this affected Rain as the moon affects the ocean. It wasn't difficult to guess what cold winters were for him. An absolute nightmare.
It was already well past midnight, but Rain still couldn't fall asleep. A December snowstorm was raging outside, and the bassist's teeth were chattering. The huge blanket the poor ghoul was wrapped in didn't help. It seemed like the frost was coming from within him, and no external heat could reach him. Even in his cozy bed, it was chilly and uncomfortable, and Rain finally gave up on trying to sleep. With nothing better to do, he wrapped the blanket tighter around himself and decided to walk to the kitchen, hoping a hot drink might help.
The bassist entered the ghouls' small dining room and turned on the poorly working lamp above the hood. He didn't feel like turning on the main light and adjusting to its harsh glare. A few minutes later, Rain stood with a cup of cocoa in his hands. The hot mug burned his palms, leaving red marks, but didn't provide the warmth he truly needed. Still, it was something. The bassist took a sip of the scalding drink and suddenly heard footsteps. Someone was approaching the kitchen.
A moment later, a short silhouette with long, messy hair appeared in the doorway. Despite the cold, the damned fire ghoul was wearing just a loose T-shirt and shorts. Dewdrop met Rain's gaze and raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised to see someone in the kitchen at such a late hour. Then, realizing who stood before him, he smiled.
“Hi,” he said quietly and walked over to the kitchen table.
“Hi,” Rain answered. Maybe his face didn't show it, but he was actually glad to have Dew's company now, even though he hadn't expected to meet anyone when he'd left his bedroom. The presence of the fire ghoul always changed the atmosphere, no matter where he appeared.
Dew silently poured himself some water. He leaned against the kitchen cabinets next to Rain and emptied his glass.
“Can't sleep?” Rain finally asked.
“Yeah. I think I can still hear Copia's voice in my head. He yelled so much today”
Rain sighed and nodded in understanding. Even though the band was currently on a break from touring and rehearsals, the ministry, as always, was full of work that needed to be done. And Dewdrop was often the one Copia loaded with the most tasks, as his closest ghoul and the most experienced band member. Rain truly admired his older friend's authority in the abbey, as it was absolutely deserved, but on busy days like these, he felt genuine sympathy for him.
“Can't sleep either,” he said.
“I know”
Rain turned his head toward Dew, meeting his gaze. The dim, warm light from the hood reflected in the fire ghoul's amber eyes, making them sparkle. According to the others, these eyes had once been light blue, just like Rain's, but the bassist still found it hard to imagine Dew that way. The fiery features fit the guitarist's energy and personality so perfectly that it seemed like he'd always been like this. Like he was summoned like this. Like he was made to be exactly like this.
“Don't miss those cold days when I was water,” Dew smiled.
Dew knew what it was like. He'd been in Rain's shoes. He'd been a water ghoul, experiencing the same feelings and being affected by the same things. Rain had never known that Dewdrop. All his ideas about that version of the guitarist were based on stories from older ghouls. During his first year topside, eager to know every last detail, Rain had bombarded his friends with questions, as it was almost impossible to get any information from Dew himself. The guitarist never talked about his water past, and when it came up in conversation, he usually answered vaguely or simply changed the topic.
“...Do you miss that time in general?” the bassist asked hesitantly after a short silence.
He was actually afraid to bring up this subject. He worried it might be a sore point for his friend. After all, for Rain, it certainly was.
Dew frowned slightly, but to the bassist's relief, there was no real tension on his face. He seemed to be simply weighing his answer.
“Rather no than yes. I like it better now anyway,” he finally said.
“Really?”
“Well, yeah. You know, I always felt like I didn't really fit in with water ghouls. All of you are so... elegant. Smooth. Soft. I've never been like that in any sense,” Dew chuckled.
Rain listened with all his attention, absorbing every word. He didn't even move, as if he was afraid of scaring Dew away during such a rare moment of revelation. But the fire ghoul looked relaxed, as if he was talking about something ordinary.
“Now I feel truly like myself and in my place. I certainly wouldn't go back.”
“I’m… glad to hear that,” Rain said after a moment. “I’ve actually been worried about it.”
Dew looked at him questioningly.
“...I felt like you'd lost something important to you. Because of me,” Rain continued with difficulty, unsure how much he should say. “...And it was all my fault. And it would've been better if I hadn't been summoned at all.”
Rain looked away. He suddenly felt that he could no longer bear his friend's gaze. He had just expressed his deepest feelings, his greatest worries, which he had been afraid to face even in solitude. And he had done so to none other than Dewdrop himself.
“Of course you would feel that,” Dew answered more seriously, “'Cause I did everything to make you think so.”
Rain looked up at him again in confusion. But Dew just smiled warmly. There was a hint of remorse on his face.
When Rain had joined the band, Dewdrop had disliked him. He pointedly ignored him, rolled his eyes whenever Rain misunderstood something or made a mistake, and never missed an opportunity for a caustic remark. Poor, newly summoned Rain honestly didn't understand why. Aether tried to reassure him, told him not to pay attention to Dewdrop's outbursts, and – as an explanation for the fire ghoul's strange behavior – mentioned something about Sister Imperator, Terzo Emeritus, and a couple of other unfamiliar names. And although Rain tried to convince himself that he had done nothing to deserve it, he couldn't lie to himself – the guitarist's attitude affected him. Every disdainful look, every taunt, every sharp word from someone like Dewdrop couldn't help but sting him, making him feel like nothing more than a stupid mistake.
And despite the fact that Dew had stopped acting like this a long time ago and a lot had changed between them, Rain never forgot those feelings. In the water ghoul's memories, that winter remained especially cold.
“Forget about it forever, Rainy. I behaved like a child. And it was stupid. Now I see clearly that it all needed to happen. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have become my true self and, moreover, I wouldn't have met someone as amazing as you. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you, Rain. You didn't deserve a single drop of my rage”
Rain blinked. For a moment, he simply stared at Dewdrop, processing what he'd just said. The fire ghoul looked at him earnestly, his usual sharpness gone. There was no doubt he meant it. The bassist's cheeks slightly reddened.
“It's okay. Thank you for saying that. And... I'm glad that I met you too, Dew” he answered and averted his eyes.
He had just realized how intimate their conversation was. They were standing in the dim kitchen at night, reflecting on their past, sharing what had been bothering them for so long. Moments like this weren't common in their friendship – especially acknowledging their importance to each other so openly. Yes, they were close – both of them could even say that the other was the closest person to them. They knew how valuable they were to each other, but saying it out loud, so honestly? It wasn't that the fire ghoul was completely stingy with his emotions, but such heartfelt confessions weren't in his nature. And Rain? Maybe he was just too reserved to talk about something so personal and precious to him.
The silence was getting slightly awkward. Rain cleared his throat and put his empty cup in the sink. Then he involuntarily shuddered and wrapped the blanket tighter around himself. He was still very cold.
The guitarist noticed that. He hesitated for a beat, then stepped in front of Rain, his gaze searching. The bassist stared back, not moving. Dew suddenly took Rain's hands in his own. He held them for a moment and frowned.
“Shit, you're freezing,” he stated, not letting go.
“Yeah, a little,” Rain let out a small laugh, pretending that this unexpected touch hadn't just made his heart skip a beat.
On the one hand, Rain was taken aback by the guitarist's sudden gesture and wanted to pull his hands away as quickly as possible. The situation between them was already quite tense, and the water ghoul didn't want it to get even more embarrassing. On the other hand, the fire ghoul's warm palms felt... not bad. Definitely not bad.
Dew noticed the change in Rain's expression and smiled slightly. He softly placed his hands on the water ghoul's shoulders, still keeping a respectful distance. Not seeing any protest from him, he began to massage them lightly.
“How's that now?” he asked with a small grin.
“...Better.”
“Heh”
Dew continued to gently run his hands over Rain's shoulders. The bassist just froze in place. He was barely breathing.
Rain was suddenly engulfed by waves of an unfamiliar, peculiar warmth. They spread through his upper body, calming his shivers and chasing away the nagging cold. It was as if the touch of the fire ghoul was melting the ice inside Rain. It was so sudden, so strange and so nice that all the water ghoul's awkward feelings about it faded into the background. All he could think about right now was Dew's hands on him. He felt the urge to surrender to his touch.
“Is that...” was all he managed to say.
“Yeah. Fire ghoul thing,” the guitarist replied with a slight grin in his voice.
Of course, Rain knew about fire ghouls physiology and their ability to give off heat. And of course, he knew that fire and water ghouls' bodies complemented each other and could balance each other's temperature. The bassist had often seen such couples curled up on sofas in the ministry's living rooms in winter. Numb from the cold, he had secretly envied them each year, wanting the same thing. But he was only close with one fire ghoul. It wasn't that Rain hadn't imagined it many times, but could he really just come to Dew on a random evening and ask for cuddles? It seemed to him that they were too «bros» for this. That it would be weird and would affect Dew's attitude towards him. That's why he just shook his head every time and brushed those thoughts aside.
“I could help you. If you're okay with it,” Dew said calmly. He moved his hands a little lower onto Rain's forearms and paused in silent question.
Well, since he was offering...
“Yes,” Rain whispered immediately. His teeth were still chattering, but he was no longer sure if it was because of the cold.
Dew smiled. He let go only to open his arms in a wordless invitation. Rain paused for a moment, feeling his shoulders grow cold again. Then he exhaled and stepped forward into Dew's arms, slowly resting his head on his shoulder. The fire ghoul immediately wrapped his arms around the bassist, pulling him closer. Rain relaxed and finally melted into the fire ghoul's warm embrace.
Dew didn't say anything. Not when Rain instinctively hugged him back, pressing closer. Not when he rubbed his cheek against his shoulder, burying his face in the curve of his neck. The guitarist was silent, allowing Rain to get comfortable. Maybe in another situation he wouldn't have resisted some joke or quip, as he always did. But now he just held the bassist, gently stroking his back and letting the warmth envelop him. Now, the most important thing in the world was to finally give poor Rainy what he had wanted for so long. To let him feel the comfort he needed and missed so much. And, honestly, Dew didn't mind doing it at all.
And Rain felt deeply grateful for it. He was immensely thankful for everything Dew had ever done for him — not just tonight, but always. While the fire ghoul usually wasn't the sentimental one, he somehow always understood Rain and found the way to brighten his day. But honestly, his mere presence was often enough to make the bassist smile. He felt a unique bond with Dew, a comfort and ease he found with no one else. He could just be himself around him, never needing to hide. And all the hardships of the past faded away at the realization that he had someone like that by his side. All old grievances and misunderstandings paled in comparison to the strong, sincere connection they now shared. Settled in his arms now, Rain was filled with endless gratitude and pure affection for his beloved Dew.
“Feeling better?” the fire ghoul asked after some time.
“Yes. Thank you, Dew. I love you so much,” Rain answered from the bottom of his heart.
“...”
Dew's hands on his back stopped moving. Rain realized what he had said only when he was lifted off the fire ghoul's shoulder and two wide-open eyes stared at him.
Fuck.
“I- I mean...”
Rain's heart dropped. Even with Dew's hands still on him, a chill ran down his spine. Had he really just said that? But how could he? Dew continued to stare at him with an unreadable expression, without blinking. Panic gripped Rain. He needed to explain himself. He hoped to somehow turn it into a declaration of warm friendship, a simple gratitude for help, or just a silly sentimental impulse. But who the hell was he trying to fool? From the way he had uttered those words so softly, so sensually and sincerely, and from his absolutely dumb expression right now, it was perfectly clear what Rain actually meant. What an idiot.
But Dew's eyes suddenly gleamed in a new, special way. He smiled broadly and then pulled Rain closer again, pressing him even tighter than before. Rain was about to mumble something, but Dew stopped him.
“Shh. I understand,” he said calmly. Rain couldn't see his silly happy face at that moment, “Love you too, fishy. Rest.”
They'll talk about how exactly later. For now, all that mattered was their arms wrapped around each other and the huge, overwhelming warmth that they shared just by being together.
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