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“Goddamnit Ghoul, hold still!” Party sighs, becoming mildly exasperated
“It’s not my fault you’re taking forever!”
“Look, d’you want me to do this or not?”
“Okay, oka-”
Crash
Their conversation is rudely interrupted by the door being flung open, revealing a mortified looking Kobra, who exclaims “Are you guys seriously-” before pausing and re-assessing the situation.
“Seriously what?” Party looks up from the eyeliner they're applying, or attempting to apply, to Ghoul’s face.
“Yeah Kobes, what?” Ghoul chirps, a grin of amused realisation spreading across his face.
Kobra flushes a bright, embarrassed red “Uh nothing, nothing.”
“Hm. Okay.” Hums Party, fixing their gaze back on painting the outline of Ghoul’s eyes “Did you need somethin’?”
“Right yeah, sorry” Kobra says as a look of panic trickles into his expression, seemingly remembering why he had sought out his sibling’s room in the first place “Look, I know you’re busy and you really deserve some time to yourself but Jet’s out on a supply run and I just got a call from Cola and I know it’s bad timing but I really gotta go so-”
“Geez Kid, calm down, yeah?” Ghoul tilts his head, earning a frustrated hiss from Party “Whatever it is, i’m sure we can handle it.”
“Watch her real close for a couple hours?” Kobra steps to the side slightly, bringing into view the Girl, standing beside him, clutching her crayons “An’ keep her out the front room, Cherri didn’t sound too good, I don’t want her seein’ that when I bring him back here.”
“Witch Kobes, that's all? ‘S just Girlie, nothin’ we ain’t used to” Party replies “ C’mere kiddo.”
The Girl happily obliges, scampering over to sit next to Party, peering curiously at the pallets of colours and sparkles placed around them.
“Yeah you’re right Pois, sorry, ‘m just real worried about Cola..”
“Hey ‘s alright, go get your boy, yeah?” Poison smiles up at their brother “And Kobra? Be safe.”
The younger returns the smile, and with a “‘Course, see ya later then, bye Girlie!” hurries back through the diner.
“So Motorbaby” Poison grins at her, with their hands on their hips, evoking a giggle from The Girl “What d’ya think?” They motion to Ghoul’s glittering face.
A dark ink outlines Ghoul’s eyes, fading slightly into a shining green around the corners. Small yellow stars adorn his left cheekbone and a shrunken version of their stitched up smiling symbol shimmers gold on his right.
The Girl stares up with shining eyes, her mouth forming a small ‘o’ “‘S pretty…” She whispers.
“Aw well thank you darlin’” Party responds “See Ghoul, all that sitting still was worth it huh?”
Their boyfriend rolls his eyes “Well if Girlie likes it…” Ghoul reaches out to sweep her off her feet, pulling her into his lap, causing her to erupt into a fit of laughter.
Poison watches their boyfriend and the little girl the whole crew have come to call their own and can practically feel their heart swell.
There’s something so charming about her childhood innocence. Party isn’t ready for the desert to take that from her, but better she witness a firefight than experience what BLI put them through. Put Kobra through.
A small hand, pulling on their own, drags Poison out of thoughts they’d rather not be having and reality comes back in the form of The Girl peering up at them.
Ghoul furrows his brow “Y’ ok Pois?”
“Hm? Yeah. Shiny.”
“Will you do- do mine?” Another voice chimes in, stuttering but bright. Motorbaby.
“Your makeup?” Poison questions.
She nods enthusiastically “Yeah, the shi- shiny stuff! Like Gho- like Ghouls!”
Ghouls once again tugs her back into his lap “Well if y’ sit real still i'm sure Pois’ll be happy to make you as beautiful as me.” They flip their hair comically, earning a short huff of laughter from Party and a delighted smile from The Girl.
“Right, if you wanna pick a couple colours, I’ll make you look shiny as anythin’, yeah hon?” Poison hands The Girl a large pallet sporting every colour of the rainbow, glittery counterparts and all.
She nods happily, and quickly settles on red, blue and yellow, asking for silver stars as well. “M- matches my coat.” She chirps, flashing a toothy grin.
Poison smiles back, ruffling her voluminous hair “Sure does. Might tickle a bit, just lie back, ‘m sure Ghoulie’ll tell ya a story”
Ghoul hugs Motorbaby round the waist as Party begins “Now did I ever tell ya when I tried to ride Kobes’ bike…..
***
Just as Ghoul comes to a close on an admittedly hilarious tale, which resulted in an infuriated Kobra, a cackling Poison, a bruised Ghoul and an exasperated Jet, Party puts down their brush with a flourish.
"All done!" They exclaim, shutting their makeup pallet.
Girlie beams, jumping to her feet. "H-how- how does it look?"
Poison beams back "Ya look great honey, why don't you show Ghoul?"
She spins around, hands on her hips, face shimmering. "Do- do I look- look as shiny as yo- you?"
Ghoul grabs her hand and twirls her around "Even better Motorbaby, even better."
The Girl, elated by this, launches herself at Party, wrapping them in a tight hug, her little arms squeezing them round the middle.
"Thank- thank you Pois" she speaks, muffled into their leather jacket.
"You're welcome darlin'" The latter replies, squeezing her back.
Over Girlie's shoulder, Poison smiles softly at Ghoul. God I love this kid. Ghoul smiles back. Me too.
Their peaceful moment is quickly broken, much like everything else in the desert, with the slam of a door somewhere in the diner and a shout.
"POISON?!"
Kobra.