Partners × In × Crime

Halloween III

- - - WESTON CITY // OCTOBER 31ST - - -

An hour has passed since they split up. Xavia and Freckle-face meet up with Dusk and Blondie, who have managed to find several more pieces of the armor set.

As Xavia stows away each piece of the armor into his nen bubble, the two young teens watch with wide-eyed fascination. They bombard him with questions about how he's doing it and why they can't see anything inside.

"But where does it go?" Freckle-face asks, craning his neck to try and peer into the nothingness where a gauntlet has just disappeared.

"Is it like... Another dimension or something?" Blondie chimes in, squinting as if that will help him see better.

Xavia finds himself suppressing a grin at their childlike wonderment, "Something like that," Is all he says before returning to the task at hand.

Dusk chuckles at their incessant questions and Xavia's vague responses. She leans over to the boys, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she whispers conspiratorially, "Pretty cool, isn't he?"

Their faces light up with awe and admiration for him. They nod enthusiastically in agreement, their gazes fixed on him.

Xavia rolls his eyes, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

He turns to her with an incredulous look, "Really? Now you're encouraging them?" He retorts, raising an eyebrow in mock annoyance. Despite the slight sarcasm in his voice, there's a warmth and familiarity that hadn't been present before.

"Well, it's not every day they get to see something like this," She points out, giving him a playful wink.

Xavia groans internally at her words, but he can't wipe the small smile from his face. Even as she turns back to engage the boys, Xavia watches her for a moment longer before shaking himself out of it and refocusing on their mission.

With most of the armor now recovered, all that remains is locating Jasper who undoubtedly holds on to the last, arguably most important, piece: The sword.

"Alright," Xavia begins, scanning their surroundings as if hoping Jasper will magically appear, "That brat has got to be around here somewhere."

Blondie, or Jack as he'd introduced himself to Dusk, speaks up, his eyes wide and filled with determination, "We last saw him near the park," He says, pointing in that direction.

"Good," Xavia responds with a nod of acknowledgment, "Let's get moving."

As they start heading towards the park, Freckle-face asks with an eager sparkle in his eyes, "Do you think we could trick-or-treat at a few houses on the way? We lost a lot of time helping you guys..."

Blondie quickly agrees, turning to Xavia with an expectant look, "Yeah, it's only fair."

Xavia stops walking and turns around to face them both squarely. His expression is stern as he shoots down their request without hesitation, "Absolutely not," He declares flatly.

Dusk comes to a halt and crosses her arms over her chest, "Oh, come on, Xav," She protests in an exasperated tone, "It's Halloween."

She looks at the two kids who are practically begging for this small concession with puppy dog eyes.

"Dusk," He starts in a firm tone that brooks no argument, "Don't coddle them."

Dusk gives Xavia a pointed look, "I'm not coddling them," She asserts firmly, "It's Halloween and they're kids."

Jack jumps in at Dusk's words, "Yeah! Listen to your girlfriend!" He exclaims with a grin.

Xavia flushes slightly and immediately begins to retort, "She's not my-" But cuts himself off abruptly. He lets out a heavy sigh before relenting with an irritated wave of his hand, "Fine... Just go!"