Chapter Text
The dull light coming through the window flickered over Mountain’s face and roused the earth ghoul from his slumber. He stirred, sitting up and looking over at the other ghouls piled in his bed, brow furrowed as he took in their sleeping faces. Among the collection of limbs and tails he made out, Aether and Ifrit curled around Zephyr, a perfect combination for the air ghoul who had been particularly sore and hurting recently with the change of the season. A nudge into his side made Mountain startle and shift to look at the small figure attempting to burrow under his arm and into his side. Dewdrop’s face was soft and peaceful, long silver lashes brushing the tops of his cheekbones, lips parted slightly as he breathed softly into the Earth ghoul’s skin. Mountain couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the small Water ghoul when he was like this, being the only one in the room to have the privilege of being witness to something so soft and serene.
Mountain swung his legs over the edge of the bed, careful not to wake his packmates, stretched, and prepared to go to work. He looked at the calendar on the wall, sweeping his hair out of his eyes and rubbing his face. It’d been two weeks. Two weeks since they’d been home from tour. Two weeks since Terzo was dragged off the stage at their last show in Mexico City, two weeks since everything changed. Mountain scribbled a note on a scrap of paper and tucked it under Aether’s arm for him to find when he woke. Since they had arrived home from tour, the ghouls had taken to leaving little notes for each other, to keep tabs on each other’s whereabouts, on Aether’s insistence.
“In the secondary greenhouse, come find me when you wake.
I love you,
M”
Mountain slipped out of the room and made his way out of the ghouls’ den. He hunched his shoulders as he walked down the Abbey corridors, pulling the collar of his coat up to cover his face and neck. The change in the environment since the ghouls had been home from touring was clear and palpable. The braziers on the wall were dark, light was filtering in through the curtained windows but it was cold and stark against the tapestries on the walls and the ancient stone floors. Mountain made eye contact with a Sibling of Sin as they made their way down the corridor, approaching the Earth ghoul. He tried to offer the Sibling a smile but the man quickly averted his eyes and scurried past Mountain without so much as a glance back. Mountain sighed and continued on his way outside. His heart hung heavy with the lack of warmth and familiarity. As impulsive and hedonistic as their Papa was, his presence filled the Abbey with light and music, making it a warm and welcoming place to all. Now, their home was dark and cold, a foreboding feeling lingering in the air.
Mountain entered the secondary greenhouse, deeply wanting to just lose himself in the work ahead of him for a while. The season was changing; winter was coming and life in the greenhouses and gardens was beginning to prepare for hibernation. The Earth ghoul rolled his shoulders, shaking off a shudder. He could feel his own energy beginning to wane with the coming of the cold seasons along with his plants, his gardens and his land. Mountain turned on some quiet instrumental music and pulled his gloves on to start trimming down the dry vegetation around the greenhouse.
The quiet music and repetitive movements lulled his mind into a pleasant emptiness before two hands on his waist brought Mountain back into the present. Two solid arms wrapped around Mountain’s waist and gave a reassuring squeeze. The smell of snow and peppermint filled Mountain’s nose and he released a deep breath as he leaned back into the presence behind him. Aether hooked his chin over Mountain’s shoulder and nuzzled into his neck, squeezing the Earth ghoul in a reassuring embrace.
“Hey Mount, I found you. Everything okay?”
Mountain turned around in Aether’s arms and leaned back against the counter, looking down at the Quintessence ghoul.
“Have you heard anything?”
Aether sighed, looking away from the Earth ghoul at the browning vegetation on the various tables and shelves.
“...No. I heard back from the Clergy offices last night. Our inquiry request was denied…again.”
Mountain exhaled sharply, reaching up to run his hand through his auburn waves. The pack, namely Aether and Mountain, had filed numerous inquiries with the Ministry following their return from Mexico City and the disappearance of their Papa. Each time they had been turned away, being told that a paradigm shift was in motion and that it was none of their concern, whatever the fuck that was supposed to mean.
“Have you seen him recently? How is he doing?”
“He’s not doing well. He’s been holed up in his rooms for the last few days, he’ll hardly see anyone.”
Mountain nodded, chewing on his lower lip as he processed Aether’s words. Following Terzo’s abduction onstage, Omega had been absolutely distraught with his Papa’s–his mate’s–subsequent disappearance. The massive Quintessence ghoul had come back to the Abbey and promptly trashed his chambers in rage and grief, lashing out with snarling fang and claw at anyone who dared come close to either comfort or attempt to subdue him. Mountain's stomach clenched as he recalled in his mind’s eye the larger Quintessence ghoul howling and wailing with anguish. The essence of the Void radiated from his body, skin rippling with cosmic energy and visible supernovas as he clawed at his face; black, tar-like tears streaming from his wide, unseeing eyes, blind with grief. He could see Aether clinging to Omega collapsed on the ground, eyes wide with worry and fear as his mentor, the Alpha of their pack, sobbed into his neck.
“How could they take him from me? He’s MINE."
"Return him to me…please…"
Aether, unable to calm his mentor, and the siblings in the Infirmary fearing for their safety around a ghoul as large, strong and upset as he was, had received orders from Sister Imperator and the Clergy to prescribe him a sedative draught. All too well Mountain remembered the pained cry Aether had made as he was forced to inject the first dose; Imperator insisted as he was the only one who could get close enough to the imploding star of a ghoul. This medicine, being for his 'own safety and well-being', had calmed the Quintessence ghoul but had made him quiet and brooding in the days since. Mountain shuddered at the memory, his ears pinning against his head as he shook his head and whined low in his throat.
Aether reached up to cup Mountain’s face, rubbing the larger ghoul’s temple with his thumb. Mountain let out a low rumbling purr as he felt soothing threads of Quintessence pluck away at the stress etched into his sharp features. He sighed and leaned into the contact, trying to take some comfort in his packmate’s grounding touch.
“Easy, Mossling. We’re gonna figure this out. I have a number of patients on my schedule that I need to see today. Maybe you could pay Meg a visit later. He might talk to you.” Aether whispered as he reached up to plant a soft kiss on the Earth ghoul’s cheek.
Mountain watched Aether leave the greenhouse, letting out a weary sigh once the door shut behind him. Despite the comforting words and touch of the quintessence ghoul, the weight of the past few weeks still hung heavy on Mountain's mind. He attempted busying himself with his work, hoping the smell of dirt and chlorophyll would clear his head. However, after a valiant hour long effort, no luck was to be had. Mountain let out a frustrated huff, considering the prospect of visiting Omega like Aether suggested. Despite missing him dearly, he found he could not face the ghoul alone- not with the last memory of the larger ghoul still fresh in his mind. Mountain brushed off his hands and laid his apron carefully on the worktable, deciding to go find Dewdrop.
***
Mountain lingered in the doorway of the ghouls’ common room, scanning the area for the Water ghoul. A swish of hair in the entryway to the kitchen caught his eye, leading him to find Dewdrop sitting at the kitchen counter reading a book. Dew didn't notice the Earth ghoul watching him, engrossed in the novel in front of him. Mountain’s breath caught at the simplicity in the way Dew rested his head in the palm of his hand, casually munching on an apple as he scanned the page. The light filtering through the high-arched window made his silky hair shimmer with threads of silver and made the fins on his tail wrapped around the stool leg translucent, like colorful sugar glass.
Dew’s ears perked up at the sound of the Earth ghoul in the kitchen doorway, spinning on the stool to face him. He chirped happily, reaching his hands towards Mountain with a big smile on his fey-like face. Mountain purred back, striding towards Dew and taking those small hands in his, heart melting at the smile that reached Dew’s large aquamarine eyes, just for him.
“Hi, Water Lily. What are you reading?”
Dew looked over at the book on the counter, nose crinkling. “It’s a historical fiction novel that Zeph recommended. It’s moving kind of slow, but I’m trying to give it a chance. What are you up to?”
Mountain pulled up another stool and sat next to the small ghoul, leaning forward to lay his head in his folded arms, looking up at Dewdrop. Dew reached over to him, stroking over Mountain’s pointed ear and rubbing the inside softly with his thumb.
“Aether told me I should go visit Omega today. I want to but–I don’t know…” Mountain shook his head, turning his head away from Dew and burying his face in his arms with a quiet groan.
Dew nodded, understanding what Mountain was trying to say. He hadn’t been present for Omega’s breakdown upon the band’s return from tour. He had, however, heard what had happened, and he had sat there holding space and comfort for both Aether and Mountain as they lay curled against his sides, shaking and sobbing as they purged their sadness and grief over witnessing the state of their respected leader. He scooted closer to Mountain, running a hand up and down the Earth ghoul’s back, lightly scratching his back with his claws.
“Hey, Rosebud, can you look at me?”
Mountain turned his head to face the smaller ghoul, resting his cheek against his forearm. Dew folded his arms on the counter and laid his head down as well, facing Mountain. He moved towards his packmate, leaning over to bump their horns softly together. Dew nuzzled Mountain’s nose with his own before retreating back to rest on his forearms again. His tail sneaked up to wrap around Mountain’s ankle, lending a grounding touch to quell the Earth ghoul's anxiety. Mountain closed his eyes, breathing in Dew’s scent of petrichor and water lilies.
“I know you’re nervous to see Meg again. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you and Aeth to witness. It sounded…terrifying.” Dew reached over to tuck back a lock of hair that had fallen over Mountain’s antlers and into his eyes as he nodded.
“As scary as that must have been for you two, it must have also been so, so scary, and traumatizing for Omega. Aether is right. He needs his pack, Mount. He needs us.” Dew sat up, hopping down from his stool. He gently encouraged Mountain to sit up, spinning the larger ghoul on his stool towards him and resting his hands softly on Mountain’s thighs.
“Do you want me to come? We can go visit Meg together, then maybe it won’t seem so overwhelming. Does that sound okay?”
Mountain nodded, pulling Dew forward into a bear hug, burying his nose in the Water ghoul’s soft, silver hair.
“Yeah…that sounds good.’
***
Mountain stood in front of Omega’s door. He placed his hand on the heavy iron doorknob, heart beating heavy in his chest. He hadn’t seen Omega since his initial breakdown after returning from tour. The emotions from that night returned as he willed himself to open the door, to enter and face his Alpha who had retreated from their pack in his grief. He took a shuddering, shaky breath, palms tingling. Dew grasped his hand, giving the massive paw a reassuring squeeze, chirping softly at the Earth ghoul.
"Mounty, it's okay."
Mountain looked down towards the Water ghoul at his side, those large blue eyes trusting and filled with love and support. He took a deep breath, and made his way inside with Dew.
Mountain wasn’t sure what he expected to find, but it wasn’t the scene that awaited them. Omega was sitting on a simple wooden desk chair by the window in his room, head tilted slightly to the side, and a far-away expression on his face. Mountain took an instinctive step back at the empty lack of energy and emotion in the room; it was in pristine, if not sparse, condition- a stark contrast to how Mountain had last seen it. He felt Dew squeeze his hand again, and after another steadying breath, they approached. As they neared the Quintessence ghoul, Mountain’s chest clenched at the sight before him. Omega’s normally vibrant violet eyes were dull, sunken in. His skin, normally adorned with stars and swirling galaxies, was dark and void of its usual celestial light. His hands were fiddling with something, and Mountain’s heart mourned for his Alpha as he realized that what Omega was absent-mindedly turning over in his hands was Terzo’s gilded, bejeweled Grucifix.
Mountain faltered, nervously shuffling his feet as Dew gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and left him to approach Omega. Dew stood in front of the Quintessence ghoul, meeting him at eye level and reaching for one of the hands fiddling with the Grucifix. He softly moved Omega’s fingers away from the gilded object, holding Omega’s massive hand in both of his.
“Hi Astra, it’s us. We came to see you, to see how you're doing.” Dew spoke softly, not wanting to startle him.
Dew rubbed his thumbs softly over Omega’s rough, scarred knuckles. He watched Omega’s eyes slowly drift from the window, down to his lap where Dew was holding his hand. Omega let his eyes rest on their joined hands for a moment before sliding his gaze up to Dew’s face. Dew looked at him, waiting patiently as he continued massaging Omega’s hand. Slowly, familiarity bloomed in the Quintessence ghoul’s empty eyes, softly lighting up as he recognized Dew in front of him.
“Droplet,” Omega croaked, voice hoarse from disuse.
“Yeah Meg, it’s me, your Droplet.” Dew laughed softly, lifting Omega’s hand to his lips to press a gentle kiss to the Quintessence ghoul's knuckles.
Mountain breathed out a sigh, visibly relaxing at the exchange between the two. He padded quietly over, watching Omega’s eyes flick up to him as he knelt down in front of him. He moved to take Omega’s other hand, but decided otherwise when he saw it tighten around the Grucifix, opting instead to rest his large paw on Omega’s knee.
“How are you doing, Omega?” Mountain asked, pulling another chair around to sit next to him.
“Tired a lot of the time. Words are hard.” Omega replied slowly, a slight slur to his words. He pulled his hand from Dew’s, turning away to cough hoarsely.
Mountain nodded. He had seen the siblings coming in and out of Omega’s rooms with trays containing the medicine they had been administering to help keep the large ghoul calm in the days since the incident. Whatever sedative compound was in it must have been keeping him in a state of mental fog.
“Do you want something to drink for your throat, Meg? Maybe something to eat?” Dew asked, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to Omega.
Omega nodded, hunching over and coughing again into the handkerchief. Mountain reached around to give him gentle pats on the back, throwing a glance at Dew.
“I’ll be right back with something to help.” Dew gave Omega a warm squeeze on his shoulder and a kiss on the forehead before padding out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Mountain looked away from the door and moved his chair to sit directly in front of the other ghoul. Without Dewdrop’s hand to hold, the Quintessence ghoul had gone back to toying and fiddling with the Grucifix in his lap. With Dew gone, Mountain could see that absent-minded look returning to Omega’s eyes. He reached out and took Omega’s hand into his own again, gripping firmly but gently.
“Hey Astra, come back to me, hmm? There you are.” Mountain murmured, watching Omega’s eyes track back to him and hold his gaze, focus slowly returning to his face. Mountain watched as the violet glow began returning to the older ghoul’s eyes and he smiled. He was catching glimpses of his Omega through the haze.
“How are you? What have you been doing in here all this time?" Mountain asked.
Omega licked his lips, clearing his throat and gesturing towards the bathroom. Mountain stood, fetching him a glass of water and placing it carefully in his hand before sitting back down. Omega raised the glass to his lips, draining it before leaning back in his chair.
“I have been alright. I have been sleeping a large portion of the time, and reading when my mind feels a bit clearer.”
Mountain made a noise in his throat, watching the golden Grucifix rotate in Omega’s hands.
“I’m sorry we haven’t been to see you…these times have been so strange for all of us.” Mountain murmured, guilt blooming in his gut at the thought of the older ghoul spending all of this time in solitary isolation. Omega looked at Mountain, reaching forward to put a hand on his shoulder.
“No need to apologize, my boy. I know the last time you saw me I was…not myself.” Omega cleared his throat again, giving the Earth ghoul’s shoulder another reassuring squeeze. “These are indeed strange times. I can sense how you are caring for everyone else, and I am proud of you for stepping into my shoes as a leader.”
Mountain reached around to grasp the hand resting on his shoulder, sniffling lightly as the pressure and angst in his mind from the last few weeks felt…maybe not so heavy for a moment. All of a sudden he was a young new summon again, stumbling out of the summoning circle into Omega’s open arms, waiting to wrap the tall but lanky ghoul in a blanket of love and security. Mountain left his chair, kneeling in front of Omega and laying his head in the older ghoul’s lap, breathing heavily. Omega placed a hand on Mountain’s head, running his fingers gently through Mountain’s chestnut waves as Mountain let his stress leave his body, his shoulders shaking.
“I hate the idea of you being here alone,” Mountain whispered into Omega’s lap.
“My boy, I have not been here alone. He has been here with me for the last week or so.” Omega hummed, scratching lightly over Mountain’s scalp.
Mountain froze, raising his head to look into Omega’s eyes. “He?”
“Yes, Mountain. He’s been with me, keeping me company.” Omega gave a small smile, moving his hands back to the Grucifix. His eyes gazed past Mountain’s shoulder, looking behind him towards the back corner of the room.
“Meg…do you mean…Papa has been here, with you?”
Omega turned his focus back to Mountain, gesturing casually towards the corner. “Of course, He’s been with me this whole time you've been here, watching over us.”
Mountain sat back on his haunches, watching Omega’s face as the older ghoul looked serenely at him before looking back towards the corner of the room, a small smile on his face. He glanced over his shoulder towards the corner Omega was referring to, finding it empty. He slid his eyes back to the Quintessence ghoul seated in front of him, a slight shiver running down his spine. Mountain swallowed dryly before scooching closer to Omega, taking his hand again and looking up into his face.
“...Is Papa here with you all the time?”
Omega looked down at him thoughtfully, “Mmm…I would not say all the time. But he has been spending time with me here quite often this week, it has been a great comfort as I recover from my incident.”
Mountain sat, processing the fact that his Alpha was claiming that not only had he seen and been spending time with their missing Papa, but that Terzo was currently in the room with them as they spoke.
“What does Papa do with you when he’s here? Does he ever say anything to you?”
“He sits with me while I read, but he never speaks. It’s quite alright though, I am just happy to have him back with me.” Omega mused, rubbing his thumb along the jewels of the Grucifix, “Although, sometimes while he sits next to me, I can sense that he is sad, that he mourns something. I cannot sense what it is, though. Curious, indeed.”
Mountain watched as Omega’s eyes began to dim and glaze over with that far-away, unfocused look they had possessed when he and Dew had first arrived. Omega turned his head away from the Earth ghoul, looking into the middle-distance in the direction of the corner. He reached his massive hand towards the empty space, as if to beckon whatever was there towards the two of them.
“Join us, dearest. Mountain has come to visit with us and young Dewdrop will be back soon with a spot of tea for us all to enjoy. Please sit, my love.”
Before Mountain could react, a soft noise startled him and drew his attention away from Omega, towards the door where a Sibling of Sin stood in the entry watching them. The Brother looked between the two ghouls, a tray containing a syringe loaded with cloudy liquid grasped tightly in his hand.
“It’s time for his next dose of his medication. I am going to have to ask you to leave now. He needs rest,” the Brother said in a tight voice, looking pointedly at Mountain.
The tall ghoul nodded, casting his eyes towards the ground, “Don’t worry, I’ll go.”
Mountain stood, leaning down to give Omega a soft kiss between his horns before turning to make his way past the Brother and out of the room. As he closed the door, he could hear Omega still talking to the Terzo in his imagination as the Brother of Sin administered the sedative. A soft trill took his thoughts and attention away from Omega as Mountain saw Dew coming down the hallway with a tray of drinks and sandwiches in his hands. Dew smiled as he approached him, reaching up on tiptoes to give the taller ghoul a kiss on the cheek, careful not to spill the contents of the tray all over Mountain’s boots.
“Hi, Mounty! I wasn’t sure what Meg would want, so I thought I’d bring choices–wait, why are you out here in the hallway?”
Mountain looked down at the Water ghoul, taking the tray from his lithe, tiny hands, glancing at the closed door. “He started feeling tired, he’s resting now.”
Dew looked from Mountain’s face to the door, and back again, large blue eyes taking in the Earth ghoul’s stoic gaze, searching for something in the emotions on Mountain’s face. After a moment, he smiled and reached out his hand for Mountain to take.
“Alright, well, these sandwiches shouldn’t go to waste. Why don’t we go find Ifrit? He’ll appreciate them.”
Mountain breathed out a soft sigh, releasing a low chuckle. He grasped Dew’s hand in his large mitt, “Sure, Droplet. Let’s go.”
***
The Brother of Sin peeked through a crack in the door, watching the Earth and Water ghouls depart down the hallway towards the pack’s common room. He glanced dismissively back over to Omega. The large ghoul was slumped forward in his hard wooden chair after the administration of the sedative, the golden Grucifix hanging pathetically from his limp hand. The Sibling rummaged in the folds of his cassock for a phone, dialing a number and holding the phone to his ear. A female voice answered on the other end.
“Yes, Sister. Yes, I just gave the Quintessence ghoul another vial. Listen, there’s something you should be aware of. You know the Earth ghoul? Yes, the tall one. I think the Quint told him something. I think he knows.”