oneshot

Chapter: The House That Doesn’t Pretend

shadowsun City always tried too hard on Halloween.

Plastic skeletons hung crookedly from porch lights. Artificial fog machines sputtered across lawns. Costumes ranged from half-hearted to desperate—people trying, for one night, to become something they weren’t.

The Vonreichsin estate did none of that.

No decorations.

No lights.

No music.

Just a tall, looming house at the end of the street, its windows dimly lit, its gates slightly ajar—as if inviting something in… or warning something to stay out.

And yet—

It was the most talked-about house every year.

Inside the Estate

Diana stood near the entrance hall window, cigarette between her fingers, the faint glow illuminating her calm, unreadable expression. Smoke curled upward, slow and deliberate, blending into the shadows she seemed to belong to.

Beckett stood beside her, masked, gloved, scarf wrapped neatly—exactly as he always was.

No costume.

No effort.

Just real.

“They’re louder this year,” Diana murmured, exhaling smoke as distant laughter echoed outside.

“It’s expected,” Beckett replied quietly. “They’re trying harder.”

She gave a faint, almost amused hum.

“Trying is exhausting.”

The Twins at the Door

Meanwhile, at the front entrance, Hades and Persephone stood ready—each holding a bowl of candy.

Unlike the rest of the city, they didn’t shout “trick or treat.”

They didn’t need to.

The first group of kids approached hesitantly, whispering among themselves.

“This is the house…”
“Are you sure?”
“Just knock—just do it!”

The door creaked open before they even touched it.

The twins stood there, calm, composed, eerily polite.

“Happy Halloween,” Persephone said softly.

“Please take one,” Hades added, holding out the bowl.

The children blinked.

No jump scare.

No gimmick.

Just… quiet.

They took the candy slowly, glancing past the twins into the dimly lit interior—and that’s when they noticed the silhouettes deeper inside.

Watching.

The Shadows

From the hallway, Diana leaned slightly against the wall, smoke drifting lazily around her. Beckett stood just behind her, silent, still, his presence more felt than seen.

They weren’t hiding.

They simply were.

The children stiffened.

“Th-thank you…” one of them muttered before quickly retreating.

The twins closed the door gently.

A Different Kind of Halloween

More groups came.

Each time, the same pattern:

hesitation

quiet greeting

polite exchange

uneasy retreat

And yet… word spread.

“They actually give good candy.”
“They’re not mean—just… weird.”
“It’s kinda cool.”

The house didn’t scare people away.

It drew them in—just enough to leave an impression.

Diana and Beckett

Back in the shadows, Diana tapped ash into a tray, eyes half-lidded.

“They’re calmer than usual,” she noted.

“The twins are handling it well,” Beckett replied.

She glanced at him briefly, then reached into her pocket, pulling out a small box.

Pocky.

She held one between her fingers, placing the other end between her lips before looking at him expectantly.

No words needed.

Beckett paused—then stepped closer and lowered his mask.

Careful.

Measured.

He leaned in, taking the other end, the distance between them shrinking with quiet precision.

The world outside faded.

No costumes.

No noise.

Just them.

Diana didn’t rush. She never did. She watched him closely, eyes sharp with quiet amusement as he hesitated—just slightly.

And then—

She moved first.

Closing the gap.

Winning, effortlessly.

She pulled back, lips curling faintly as she took the last bite, tapping the empty stick lightly against his scarf.

“Still too careful, Prince.”

Beckett lowered his gaze slightly, but there was warmth in it.

“I’ll improve, Mistress.”

Her smirk deepened—subtle, satisfied after that indirect kiss.

The Philosophy of It All

Outside, laughter continued. Costumes paraded. People pretended to be monsters, heroes, fantasies.

Inside, Diana lit another cigarette.

“They spend one night pretending,” she said. “And the rest of the year hiding.”

Beckett nodded.

“We don’t need to pretend.”

She glanced at him again, something softer beneath the cynicism.

“No,” she agreed. “We never did.”

The Final Visitors

Near the end of the night, a smaller group of kids approached—quieter, more hesitant than the others.

Introverted.

Outsiders.

The kind Diana always noticed.

They knocked softly.

The twins opened the door.

“Happy Halloween,” Persephone said again, gentler this time.

The children smiled—small, genuine.

“Your house is… really cool,” one admitted.

Hades tilted his head slightly.

“Thank you.”

No fear.

Just understanding.

From the hallway, Diana watched them leave, her expression unreadable—but she didn’t look away as quickly this time.

Closing the Night

The door shut for the last time.

The bowls were empty.

The house returned to silence.

The twins wandered back inside, satisfied. Beckett adjusted his gloves. Diana took one final drag before extinguishing her cigarette.

Outside, the city buzzed with the last echoes of Halloween.

Inside, nothing had changed.

And that was exactly how they liked it.

End

No costumes.

No pretending.

Just a house that didn’t need Halloween to be what it already was.

And for those who dared to approach—

It was the most unforgettable stop of the night.