Ooooh yessssss.
Twilight dims. The streets are covered with fog.
“Ooh, it’s kinda creepy.” Suzuya peers out their window. “Hanbee, you know what we should do?”
“What?” Hanbee looks up from his reading with apprehension.
“Do you want to watch ‘It?’” Suzuya smiles. “We make popcorn and get scared.”
Hanbee is happy to share popcorn with his leader, but he feels mild apprehension at the movie suggestion. “Is it a horror movie?”
“Kind of. It’s about a gang of misfits who team up to defeat a killer clown. Like us!” Suzuya beams at Hanbee. He won’t forget how Hanbee saved him during the clown siege, when that ghoul took on Mr. Shinohara’s face.
As soon as they start the movie, Hanbee squeals and slides closer to his squad leader.
“Hanbee, nothing’s happened yet,” Suzuya comments.
“I’m scared already,” he admits.
“You’re silly.” Suzuya shoves popcorn into Hanbee’s mouth.
Hanbee clutches Suzuya and screams at the opening scene, and Suzuya starts giggling. “Okay, would it be better for be to bring my quinque out?”
Hanbee hangs his head. “Yes, please.”
He’s expecting ghouls around every corner. Behind the couch, even.
Suzuya skips back into the room, Jason in one hand, a blanket in another. “I’ll protect my team.”
“And we’ll p-p-protect you,” Hanbee stammers, wrapping his arms around Suzuya again.
“Your hands are shaking.” Suzuya pelts Hanbee with popcorn as he places the blanket over their shoulders.
Hanbee throws back a single kernel, and of course Suzuya catches it in his mouth. “Nom.”
“You seem oddly happy for such a horrifying story.”
Suzuya smiles. “I’ve always wanted to do this. Watch scary movies with my friends and stuff myself on buttered popcorn.”
Hanbee squeezes Suzuya. Friends. Coworkers, yes, but friends too.
And then he has to shriek again.
Mercy and Magic 