Dread. Worry. Fear. And there was that overly worrying feeling of failure that wafted through the air as September made his way into the atrium of the ship, Arkoiha sitting there and looking even worse than if he had been injured.
"Koiha?" He asked, eyebrows rising as he came in fully and stood in front of him. "What has gotten into you? Usually by now you are either bouncing around the ship asking questions or draping yourself over my shoulder to see what I am working on…"
The silence that reigned was thick enough that every shuffle had him on edge. But it was as Arkoiha looked up at him, tears in his eyes while handing him something that was golden, that he started to understand.
"I-I… I’m sorry, Sept… I… I didn’t mean to!”
"Arkoiha…" He sighed out, pinching the bridge of his nose to stop the young man from sobbing. "It… It is fine… I have more uniforms…" As Arkoiha still didn’t look convinced, he took in a deep breath and murmured, "It is Halloween…”
As the bounty hunter’s eyes lit up, he knew he had said the right thing. But as Arkoiha grabbed his arm and was pulling him along towards the fresher, September started to think maybe the right thing had been the wrong thing.
It was two hours later, as they were standing in front of a house, dressed in the failed laundry attempt by Arkoiha, shining brightly from the golden color, that September silently berated himself. A man of his station should not…
"Trick or treat!" Arkoiha beamed as the door was opened, and any thoughts September had quickly disappeared at the look of sheer joy upon the man’s face.
But as the person at the door just stared at them, September quickly stood a little taller, tapping his blaster at his side and bowing his head a little, the silent words very clear.
"Give the man his candy…"
He’d make sure Arkoiha got his candy. And then, after they went back to the ship and Arkoiha seemed to be content with other things, he’d make sure to add onto that stash.
Damn it… Why was he so soft with the hunter?