Submission (#8384) Approved

It was a typical night in summer when Lune cracked open his first soda bottle of the evening. Niyari had brought some back from their most recent job, of course Lune stopped asking what *kind* of jobs his partner would take on. It was better for their relationship to not know. The family had finished up dinner and clean up as Niyari announced they were retiring to bed. They were quite tired from their travel home so affectionately kissed Lune, and made their way upstairs to get some sleep. Lune would join soon but as the kids wanted to play outside, he volunteered to watch them for a while.

“Kids Yaya is going to bed say goodnight.” A unison chorus rung out of good nights and sleep tight. Even a don’t let the mana bugs bite followed by laughs. Niyari rolled their eyes *affectionately* at the name the kids had given them.

As Niyari took leave, Lune watched the inquisitive minds of the children playing tag and chasing each other. It was a fun night time ritual they started. Getting out the last of their energy before tucked into bed.

It was nearing the end of the play session when Noon ran over and plopped themselves onto Lune’s lap. They hugged their dad and they watched as the other two joined them, panting out the last of their energy. Lune enjoyed nights like this, though having Niyari with them made the whole experience more perfect.

“Papa, why does Hiko make black splotches when he walks?” Noon was always the more curious of the three, asking questions and noticing others. Nova was more stoic, little to say but his body language said a lot. And then Chairon. He was a more reserved child, due to his upbringing, but Lune was happy to see the progress he’d made while in their home. Lune never forced the younger one to call him anything but Lune, Niyari was the same, yet he’d still opened up enough to call them Papa and Yaya all the same. “Papa?” Lune was brought back to reality.

“Well, I think you guys are old enough to hear the story- well at least a kid friendly version..” as Lune began telling them how Hiko became a Shadow Herald and what that did to him, they were enthralled. He told them that the splotches were actually a tar like illusion made of shadows and that it was called by many ‘Phantom Step’ because it wasn’t entirely real. “Papa do you want the Phantom Step ability?” Lune thought about it for a moment then retorted he wasn’t sure. If something like that happened to him; it would need to be something really special as a step. It had to mean something to Lune as much as it did to anyone else.

Lune didn’t go into the whole story of Hiko’s transformation, nor the mana poisoning aspects. They already were dealing with slight issues due to Nova’s mana poisoning so Lune didn’t want to scare them.

Noon almost flew off Lune’s lap and onto their brothers. “I have an idea!” They began whispering to the boys and their faces lit up. Nova perked up and shouted “I’ll get the glue!” Lune looked curious but mostly scared.

“Kids it’s nearly bed time shouldn’t this wait until morning?” Noon held Lune down as the other two got their craft supplies. “Nope we gotta do this now Papa.” Chairon and Nova returned, Nova with glue and Chairon with a small tub. It was his favorite crafting supply and suddenly Lune knew what they planned.

“Oh no you don’t. I didn’t intend to shower again this evening. You are not putting glitter on me.” The three smiled, dropping glue on Lune’s paws and then dumping the glitter all over his feet. Lune couldn’t resist as Nova held him down. “Ugh!”

As the three stepped away from their master work, Lune grumbled. He was covered in glitter and now he couldn’t take a step without tracking the micro bits of shiny material all over. “Yaya is going to be mad they just swept”.

“Don’t worry Papa, we will help clean up. But what does this phantom step feel like?” Lune couldn’t get mad, especially as the one who beamed the brightest was Chairon himself.

“You know what?” Lune let out a sigh. If this helped them work together, he would indulge them.

Maybe it would be a fun family game they could play. “Glitter is just too messy I think for my phantom step, but maybe you kids can think of a different phantom step for me.. maybe one that's less to clean up?” They beamed and smiled, running into the house ironically tracking in none of the glittery bits. “Niyari is going to kill me if I clog the drain with glitter… again.” Lune stepped carefully over to the hose, and yelped at the cold water as it hit his feet. He could get at least some of the glitter off before bed.

“What would my phantom step be?” He pondered as he scrubbed the glitter from his feet and getting it everywhere else in the process. After painstakingly long time scrubbing, Lune was mostly clear of the crafting supply. He made a mental note to get Chairon more glitter for his art works and he walked inside the house. Having made sure the kids were in bed, he tucked them in and got into bed himself. “Lune.. why do you have glitter in your fur?” Lune sighed and laughed.

“Kids want to give me a phantom step.” It was all he said, not leaving it open for any other questions- of course he would be asked them anyway. Niyari rolled over and stared at Lune. “Am.. I supposed to know what that means?” Lune kissed Niyari’s nose, getting glitter on them and rolled over to sleep. “Lune.. now I have glitter on me..”. Lune giggled, said his *I love yous* and drifted off to sleep.