a little dew x phantom thing i wrote for fun!
tldr: bug is the cutest ever, dew is a grumpy little guy but a softie at heart, and rain is a proud wingman (of sorts). all my ghoul boys get a happy ending in my barbie dream house :)
so much fluff it’s almost too much under the cut!
thinking about phantom, who is more than used to dew being a little standoffish with everyone but rain, especially when it comes to physical affection. and he’s fine with that… for the most part.
he just wants so badly for dew to like him, to feel comfortable with him, to trust him. but he’s accepted that at this point, even though it’s been a while since he was summoned, he’ll just have to go without dew’s affection. and yes… it stings, but at least everyone else is more than willing to cuddle our little bug whenever he wants! still, it hurts every time dew steps past him in favor of rain’s arms.
he’s so used to it, that when he’s laying on the couch watching tv with rain after a long rehearsal day, he’s unable to get comfortable. he’s anxious because he knows that when dew comes in looking exhausted… he’ll curl up next to rain, leaving bug painfully alone until someone else hopefully makes their way to the common room for some tv time.
so when dew finally does make an appearance, looking like he was dragged out of the pits just moments earlier, phantom unintentionally holds his breath. even though he knows what’s about to happen, he also knows it’s going to hurt like hell when dew makes no effort to acknowledge him.
that’s why it surprises the hell out of him when dew shuffles over to his side of the room and flops down on top of him.
for a second phantom just lays there. his mind is blank, he’s as stiff as a board, and he has no conceivable idea what he’s supposed to do in this situation. he’s convinced that dew must have mistaken him for rain because of how dark it is in the common room. either that… or he must be hallucinating.
but when dew turns his face and nuzzles it into his neck, phantom snaps out of his trance. he’s still laying there frozen when dew wraps his arms around his middle, unsure if this is actually happening. phantom turns his head the tiniest amount to look over at rain, hoping to find some help, or at least some acknowledgment that he’s not dreaming.
when they lock eyes, he’s entirely surprised to find that his water ghoul friend is already looking at him, grinning ear to ear, looking happier than he’s ever seen him. all of a sudden, it hits phantom that this is real, that dew really did choose to lay with him instead of rain, and that he better take full advantage of the situation.
so bug gingerly wraps his arms around dew’s waist in return, trying his best to calm his erratic breathing and slow his rapid pulse. for the first few minutes, he continued to look over to rain for reassurance. he’s wanted this for so long, he can hardly believe it’s real, and he wants to make sure he’s not going to fuck it up. he can’t fuck this up.
and sitting on the couch across from them is an entirely too giddy rain, who is just so happy that dew is finally letting his guard down with bug. he knows dew is rough around the edges, and that he only truly gives up the tough guy act around those who make him feel comfortable… which is hardly anyone. it took dew ages to warm up to him, and rain genuinely didn’t think he’d live to see it happen with any of the other ghouls - especially not a newbie.
but when rain met phantom? he just knew that their sweet little bug would find a way to crack dew’s heart wide open and make a home there for himself. he’s been waiting for this day for months. he’s actually so confident that bug has finally won dew over, that he thinks bug can pull off a special little move rain has perfected - one that’s saved for when dew is extra grumpy and tired, one that’s sure to have him melting even further into phantom.
so rain gets phantom’s attention, and he mimes to bug that he should scratch dew’s head, right up near his horns. phantom goes wide-eyed, subtly shaking his head at rain. bug is worried, no, terrified, that dew is gonna freak out if he tries to make it even the least bit more intimate, and then this whole thing will be ruined. months of hard work down the drain, possibly for good, but rain just nods his head in encouragement, still smiling like phantom has never seen him smile before.
and well, like phantom always hears dew say: go big, or go home.
his hand is shaking, and his heart is pounding, but he goes for it, gently placing his hand on top of dew’s head. when dew doesn’t immediately pull away, phantom starts softly scratching his head, right around the base of his horns like rain had shown him.
dew stiffens up, and phantom’s breath catches in his throat. he wills himself to stay put, to not run away or start crying… and then it happens. dew does melt. he almost immediately starts purring, burying his face deeper into the area between bug’s neck and shoulder, and lets out the biggest, happiest sigh phantom has ever heard a ghoul make.
and suddenly, all is right in the world.













