Ghost Oneshots /// Ships (pt.1)

💗 & ⚡️ Emeritus Brothers - Fitting

!RHRN MOVIE SPOILERS!

This is based on fanart I found on Pinterest, and while it's cute it's also really sad :')

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Copia was nervous. He paced in his chambers, his nerves running high and making him sweat. He went to his mirror again, checking his suit one last time. He looked great, right? He stepped closer, fixed his eye and lip make-up a little and looked himself all over again. He nodded and let out a sigh, adjusting the ministry's crucifix relict he got from his mother. Doing another once over check, he finally decided he was looking good enough and was ready to welcome the new Papa into the ministry. I walked over to the door, taking a deep breath before he finally opened the door and walked into the hallway.

He felt different as he walked down the long, empty halls. The ministry was really quiet, almost scarily so. Copia had never felt so overwhelmed, lonely and scared before, and that all at once. He was not only Frater Imperator now, no, he was also fully on his own. Sure, there were still his fathers and his mothers spirits, but it wasn't the same. Especially not without sister around anymore. He missed her dearly, more that he would've liked to admit. Feeling himself tearing up at the thought of it all, he cleared his throat and straightened up. He just wished he wouldn't be alone now, that at least someone would be around.

He turned around a corner again, still lost in thought about this and that. But he suddenly stopped as he saw three spirits in front of him. Three spirits he hadn't seen in ages, not once since they died, actually. But there they were; Primo, Secondo and Terzo. All of them. He felt himself freezing on the spot, his wide in surprise, shock and joy. And also worry. Had he really done a good job all those years? He knew his brothers never liked him. He had been the outcast, because he didn't fit in. Because everyone had always thought he wasn't part of the bloodline, which was not true, how he now knew. 

He subconsciously straightened his suit and cleared his throat. He had no idea what to say or what to do. "H- How do I look...?" he stuttered after a moment, wearing a small, weary smile. Much to his surprise, all of his brothers were smiling at him, and they even looked proud as they looked down at him. "You look great, Copia" the oldest of them, Primo said. His tone was gentle, his eyes soft. It was clear that he felt sorry for all those years they had been dicks to him, but right then and there, Copia forgot about all of that. "Yeah, doesn't look bad at all" Secondo chimed in, wearing a small smirk as he crossed his arms and looked him once over. Copia smiled and shuffled around a little, looking down at the floor. He felt like he might burst from joy.

"Could use a cape, no?" Terzo then spoke up, and everyone looked over to him with raised eyebrows and confused looks. "No?" he repeated with a grin, and everyone just burst out laughing. Even Copia. He really laughed, a real laugh. The first since the concert in LA. The first real laugh since everything had changed. "I'm not doing a cape, Terzo" he said, his smile happy and fond. He couldn't believe he was doing this, that he was really here, talking with his brothers. Then he went quiet again and looked at the floor. He looked like a lost and scared cat, and Primo could feel a pang in his chest. He got a little closer to Cardi and sighed. 

"I'm sorry, Copia... we should've been nicer to you. We know you are part of the bloodline, but even if you wouldn't be... we shouldn't have acted like we did" he said and rested a hand on Copia's shoulder, who looked up to him through glossy eyes. He barely felt the hand. It was more just a cold mist that he felt, but he didn't care. It felt good. He stayed silent as he just stared at his oldest brother, and he was confused as the others came closer too. "Yeah, we were dicks to you. You deserved better" Terzo agreed, and also Secondo nodded. The frater could feel himself properly tearing up all over again, his hands already shaking slightly.

"Besides, you've done a great job, little C" Terzo then continued and gave him a smile. "R- Really?" It wasn't Terzo who answered, but Secondo, "Really. You never got as much praise as you should've. You've been a good Papa, you served the ministry well. Besides, look at where you are now, and where we are" he said with a small grin, trying to lighten the mood. He did manage to get a chuckle out of Copia. "Frater Imperator..." Primo mused, a proud smile on his lip, "That's a great title, don't you think?" he continued and Copia could only let out a nervous laugh as he rubbed his neck awkwardly. 

"C'mere, little C" Terzo then said, and all his brothers surrounded him and hugged him, as good as spirits could. And that was the moment it all got too much for Copia. All the emotions he held in for years spilled over. The years and years of stress, worry and fear crashed down upon him. His mothers death, and the fact that he was all on his own now, besides his ghouls. Not to mention that he'd have to meet a new Papa. He couldn't stop the tears from running down his cheeks as he let himself being developed in the group hug with his brothers. He wished he could've had that earlier, that he could've had that when they were still alive. 

"Shh... it's okay. You're not alone. You might feel like it sometimes, but we're here" Secondo said, keeping his voice soft and gentle. It was unusual for him, but Copia valued it greatly. "I wish you could be all here again, actually here" Copia sobbed and looked between them. His look was one of clear desperation, and the three brothers felt sorry. They could've been better brothers for him, and now it was too late to properly make up for it. But they would try to be there for him now. They couldn't understand how hard everything was for Copia now, how much he was struggling. After all, they had never been alone in their position. 

"Let's go clean up your make up. You have a new Papa to meet" Terzo spoke up, trying to change the subject. He didn't want to see Copia cry more, even if he understood the importance of letting his emotions out. Cardi sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a moment, straightened up and nodded. "Okay" he said, his voice sounding a little more stable already. He made his way back to his quarters, and did a quick job of fixing his make up while his brothers waited outside. "Do I look okay?" he asked once he stepped back outside, and he got a nod and a smile from everyone. "Awesome, now come on, time to meet the new one" Primo said, so together they walked down the hallway until they reached the great entrance hall. 

As Copia stood in front of the huge door, he felt scared and nervous, but different than before. Not as lonely anymore. He wasn't alone. While none of them were physically there, the spirits of his father, mother and his three brothers were all with him and supporting him. For the first time in months he didn't feel like a burden or like shit. He finally felt... happy. At least a little.

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(1296 words)

Hell no, I nearly made myself cry 😭 I hope you enjoyed this, I know it's somewhat different but I had this on my mind for ages now. There were just so many requests I did first. And there are already new ones, so I'll do them next! Thanks for everything <3

- Luma