for @groovy-bear by Emery
âNo no no, trust me, itâll be PERFECT!â
Glanni let out a frustrated sigh, the pokes from his needle still showing through his skin. He placed down a couple more sequins, trying (and subsequently failing) to patch them down in their proper places. âI was the one who taught you how to sew, you have no right to be better at it than me..!â Robbie twiddled his fingers, secretly holding the sequins in place so his cousin could sew them in. âBatman is not nearly
as glitzy as you think he is, thoughâŠyou sure heâll like it?â
âShut up itâs perf.â
âFair, fairâŠ.I suppose itâs all about the personal touches, anyway. Itâs going to look cool no matter what.â
Triumphant, he held up the batsuit, modified a bit to match Ithroâs physique. It glistened in the light, a few extra fabric details added, and some sparkly bits for show because he just Had to. Still, even with the pride of his handiwork filling him, a soft little doubt crawled over his chest. âWhat if he already has plans and Iâm doing this for no reason?â
âHe is so ridiculously public about EVERYTHING he does. I doubt he has anything going on.â Robbie held up the glossy plastic mask to his face, looking at himself in the mirror. He took the cape up in his arm to give it a big swoop. It was a little simple- after all, the Phantom didnât have very many details in his outfit- so he added a few extra touches of red-and-gold trim in intricate embroidered patterns. His classic signature of âR.R.â was hidden among the swirls. âDo I look fit for an OPERA?â he said dramatically, a dark and suave tone to his voice.
Glanni nodded excitedly. âMAN, this is gonna be so cool.â
â
âB-b-b!!!! But itâs so sillyâŠ!â
Totally indifferent to his brotherâs stresses, Ithro shrugged. âNah, you can wear a dress if you want. I personally wouldnât, but I think itâd look good on you. Plus, people crossdress on Halloween all the time.â
âMm, I suppose so,,,,â
âIsnât that more blue than Christine normally has, though? Not like I watch it often.â
Sportacus smiled with something that would have been indignance if he werenât so sweet. âI like blue! Besides, the stripes and swoops make it look nicer.â
He twirled a bit, just for the fun. It was quite a bit shorter than the dress normally would be, falling to about knee-length, so he could still adequately move in his⊠flamboyant fashion.
âShit, I donât have any lipstick. Do you think heâll have some?â
Sportacus looked at him and held back from guffawing. âThis is GLANNI GLAEPUR weâre talking about, and youâre worried about him having LIPSTICK?â
A nervous laugh escaped him, accompanied by blush. He gathered everything together, laying it out. The electric green wig, the royal purple suit, and the wacky eccentricity of the green-and-orange to match it. It was a little haphazard, some parts having been put together by his meaty and unrefined hands, but he made it work.
âAre you planning anything for yourself, brother?â Sportacus asked curiously.
âNah, Iâm probably just gonna go as the same thing I did last year, honestly.â
The blue elf smoothed out his skirt, fluffing up his hair as much as he could to bring out the curls and putting a small silver barrette in it. âToo much?â piped up his sheepish voice. Ithro shook his head. âDonât worry, you look great.â
âThen come on, letâs go give your gift to him!â
âAll dressed up like this, though? Is it too early to reveal the costumes though?â
Sportacus had already done a double-backflip out the door, so he had no choice but to follow with his plain wrapped box.
â
It was a short trek down the hall to Glanniâs apartment. They couldnât hear the voices on the inside of the door. âCome on, letâs go give it to them!â Robbie said excitedly, bouncing on his heels with devilish glee. He LOVED surprises, even if they werenât for him. All Glanni had was a purple and yellow box, which he tried to make more rugged and âmanlyâ with a burlap ribbon- he hoped more than anything that Ithro would appreciate it. Just at that moment, that hand nervously gripped the doorknob- he was so close, this should be so EASY, goddammit- and with a LURCH he was sent tumbling in when Robbie threw open the door from the inside.
âGAAack-â he yelped on his way in, narrowly missing Glanni and crashing to the floor. âHoly shit Ithro??! I!! Didnât know you were there!â Robbie helped pull him off the ground, but Glanni clutched the box tighter to him, flushing a bit- god, he wasnât expecting the confrontation so soon. Sportacus piped up from behind them. âWAIT?! Robbie, youâre- we match??â He looked up, confused, to see a wide-eyed blond Christine that was more gorgeous to him than any lady. His mouth fell open. âOh wow, you guys both did Phantom of the Opera? Thatâs incredible!â Glanni chuckled. âWas that coordinated at allâŠ?â (to which they both shook their heads brightly.) It was then that Ithro noticed the box.
âOh, whoâs that for? Me?â he joked.
Taken aback, Glanni didnât answer at first, and then just. Thrust it towards him! But gently. âYea. JustâŠhere.â
âIronicallyâŠâ Ithro trailed off, switching off the packages, both of them blushing quite a bit.
âHoly shit you-â
â-The BatmanâŠâ
âTHATâS.â
They both burst out laughing, holding the matching costumes they had made for each other- Joker and The Batman.
A glance at each other, a little nervous, a little silly, a little incredulous at it all.
Robbie and Sportacus looked on too, giggling with it all.
Unintentional, but wonderful- a matching double date.
It was going to be an awesome Halloween spent together.