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Chapter Text

Charles was always hunting for rare objects to add to their collection. He made a habit of visiting Tragic Mick every few days, to see what new things he had at the store. His visits to Mick had become lighter and easier to handle as Charles realized the walrus-turned-man worked well with a barter system. He happened to be wandering the store a few days before Edwin’s birthday, looking for a present. Edwin didn’t like to celebrate his birthday, but Charles recently found out when it was and wanted to make his best friend feel special. He was also trying to sort out his feelings and had recently realized how much he cared for Edwin.

“Hello, Charles,” Mick said, a small smile on his face.

“Hello, Mick,” Charles replied, “Got anything new in?”

“What are you looking for, exactly?”

“A birthday present for Edwin. I can trade for it, I found some scrolls about Sedna when I was looking through the books in our office.”

Mick’s eyes lit up and he headed to the back of the shop. When he returned, he was carrying something wrapped in a sheet. Charles had wandered off, looking over the shelves in the shop. There were several artifacts Edwin would find interesting, but nothing stood out in the way Charles was hoping.

“I think this might be of interest to you,” Mick said. “It came from an Endless, but I can’t remember which one right now.”

“What is it?” Charles asked, reaching for the sheet. 

He was surprised to see a mirror resting under the cloth. He picked it up and almost dropped it when he saw his face looking back at him. He lifted it again, touching the reflection. The last time he’d seen his reflection was in Hell and he had been more preoccupied with saving Edwin than his appearance. His hair was a mess from running his fingers through it, but he still looked the same. He knew his reflection wouldn’t change, but he was still surprised by how young he would always look.

“Everything I found about it says that the mirror cannot be traced by the Endless and, as you have found, you can see supernatural creatures in it. Do you think this is something your friend would be interested in?”

“I think Edwin would definitely be interested in this,” Charles breathed out. “Thank you. Here, let me get those scrolls for you.”

Charles carefully put the mirror down on the counter and grabbed his bag. It didn’t take much digging to find the scrolls, which he handed over with a smile. Mick opened one and couldn’t help a sad smile as he saw a drawing of Sedna. It wasn’t often he found things that told the story of his family, so he treasured each item. 

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you, Mick. Edwin is going to love this.”

Charles carefully wrapped the mirror up again and put it in his backpack. Edwin had vaguely told him about his encounter with Despair, so he didn’t know how he would respond to the mirror. However, the chance to see their reflections again was a chance he was willing to take.

As Edwin’s birthday approached, he tried distracting himself. It wasn’t that he hated his birthday, it was the fact no one was interested in celebrating his existence when he was alive and he didn’t see how that would have changed after he died. Edwin knew Charles was hiding something from him. He disappeared into his backpack when they weren’t working a case and he had a secret smile on his face when he would reappear. He assumed it wasn’t a bad thing, so he didn’t ask. 

“Happy Birthday, Edwin,” Charles said, sitting on the edge of the desk.

“How did you…” Edwin looked up at him in shock. “How did you find out?”

“Mate, it’s not that hard to look up birth dates when you know everything else about a person,” Charles chuckled. “Plus, birthdays were the one holiday my mum liked to celebrate and they make me think of her.”

Edwin would have blushed if he hadn’t been a ghost. He knew Charles’ birthday, he had seen it on his headstone the one time they went to his grave. He hadn’t known how Charles felt about celebrating, so he never brought it up before.

“Thank you.”

“I have a present for you, but I think we should finish this case before I give it to you.” Charles grinned. “I know how much you love wrapping up a good case.”

Edwin nodded. The case had fallen into their lap when a young ghost had collapsed into Crystal’s lap at a coffee shop. They had almost finished the case, they were looking for the item keeping the girl tied to Earth.

“You did not have to get me anything, Charles,” Edwin insisted. 

“I know, but I wanted to.”

A few hours later, just before midnight, Crystal went home after wrapping up the case. Edwin finished his report of the case and wrote up the case notes while Charles went into his bag. Edwin closed his notebook as Charles came out of the bag, pulling something out behind him.

“What do you have there?” Edwin asked, placing his notebook in his desk drawer and standing.

“Your present. Happy Birthday.”

Charles grinned, handing the wrapped gift to Edwin. Edwin smiled softly, taking the surprisingly heavy package. He carefully started pulling the sheet off, almost dropping it as he saw his eyes looking back at him. The ornate mirror, surrounded by gold leaves and flowers, reflected his face to him. He held it tight, entranced. It was different to see his face again, not covered in blood and scared for his soul.

“Where did you find this?” He whispered.

“Tragic Mick’s,” Charles explained. “He said it belonged to one of the Endless. It can’t be traced by any of the Endless, so you don’t have to worry about Despair finding you in it. He said that it’s special.”

“I do not…” Edwin looked over the mirror at Charles. “Thank you. This is more than I was expecting.”

“Edwin, I know you don’t like to acknowledge birthdays, I don’t know why. I do know I am thankful you exist.” Charles shrugged. “If you had never been born, we wouldn’t be here now.”

“I did not need a present, Charles,” Edwin said, putting the mirror down on the desk. “I just need you, idiot.”

Charles smiled, wrapping Edwin in a hug. Edwin wrapped his arms around Charles, burying his face in his neck. The hug felt different, it felt like coming home and safety. Charles smiled, resting his head against Edwin’s. When Edwin finally let go, he picked the mirror up again. He turned until he could see him and Charles in the reflection. 

“Where shall we hang this?” He asked.

Charles rested his head on Edwin’s shoulder, looking at them side-by-side. He surprised them both when he pressed a kiss to Edwin’s cheek. He kept his head on Edwin’s shoulder, watching as a smile spread across the other boy’s face. He might not be in love with Edwin, but he was definitely on his way there.

“Wherever you like,” He whispered.

Chapter Text

The day Charles’ mother died, Death appeared in their office. Edwin looked up from his case notes and sighed. He stood and stepped over to the mirror, raising a hand to find the correct mirror. There was only one reason Death would be standing in their office. Charles was across town, visiting Crystal and Niko after a long case.

“Charles,” Edwin whispered, stepping partially through the mirror.

“Hey, babe,” Charles said, smiling. His face fell when he saw the look on Edwin’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Death is in our office,” Edwin explained. 

Crystal and Niko, unaware of the conversation the boys had with the Endless, started freaking out. Edwin tried to calm them while keeping an eye on his boyfriend. Charles looked like he was about to phase through the floor. He knew she had come for one reason and he had been hoping for more time. He slowly walked over, taking Edwin’s hand. Edwin squeezed his hand, pulling him through the mirror.

“Hello, Charles,” Death said, a sad smile on her face. “Would you like to come with me?”

“Who…” Charles swallowed, willing himself not to cry.

“Your mother.”

Charles choked back tears, squeezing Edwin’s hand tightly. He had hoped his father would pass before his mother, but it didn’t hurt any less to hear. Edwin pulled him close and kissed his cheek, hugging him tight.

“Go, love,” He whispered. “Finally say goodbye. I will be waiting here for you when you get home.”

Charles took a deep breath, burying his face in Edwin’s neck. He nodded, stepping away from his boyfriend. Edwin smiled softly, watching as Charles approached Death. He took her hand and let her take him to his house.

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It was strange to be back in his childhood house. He hadn’t been back to the house since right after he died, a brief moment to collect some things before running off with Edwin again. He followed Death to the master bedroom. He froze in the doorway, seeing his mother look out the window at the setting sun. She looked beautiful, even as a spirit. He never tired of looking at her, even after all the years of watching them in the mirror. She had more gray in her hair, and lines around her eyes.

“I knew Death would come for me,” Mary said, eyes on the sun. “I was hoping to see…”

She turned and froze when she saw Charles standing in the doorway. There was silence as they looked over each other, Mary taking in her son for the first time in almost 50 years. He still looked like the last time she saw him, except for the confidence in his shoulders. His eyes were the same brown as hers, with the spark of mischief that had disappeared long before he died. Charles stepped forward, breaking the stillness of the moment. Mary wrapped her arms around her son, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her face. Charles buried her face in her neck, sobbing at the feeling of hugging her again.

“Oh, my boy,” Mary whispered, squeezing him tight.

“Mum,” Charles whispered, pulling back to look at her.

“Is this…how are you here? It’s been so long,” Mary asked, cupping his face.

Charles sat her on the bed, sitting beside her as he explained everything that happened to him since he died. He could see the sadness when he told her about Edwin finding him in the attic and watching over him. She smiled as he told her about his relationship with Edwin, and how happy the other ghost made him. He told her about their cases and how they met their best friends. He told her everything he could think of, anything to help her know he was safe and happy.

“You are happy. That’s all that matters to me, my darling.” Mary squeezed his hand. “I’m so sorry for everything. I never should have let your father…”

“It’s not your fault, Mum. I promise, I never blamed you for any of it. It’s in the past,” Charles assured her. “I don’t hold anger anymore. I will talk to Dad when it’s time for him to go, we will see what happens.”

Mary smiled, cupping his face with one hand. Death stepped back into the room, a soft smile on her face. Charles nodded, squeezing his mother’s hand again. He knew he wouldn’t have forever, but he had enough.

“It’s time, isn’t it?” Mary asked.

“It is,” Death said, holding out her hand. “Charles was given a gift for all the good he does. Are you ready to see what the afterlife is like?”

Mary hesitated for a moment. She stepped over and hugged her son, squeezing him as tight. Charles clung to her, burying his face in her neck. He held back his tears, holding tight until she went to step away.

“I will see you again, my sunshine,” Mary whispered. “In this life or the next, I will see you again.”

“I love you, mum,” Charles whispered. “I will see you again, I promise.”

Mary patted his cheek, took a deep breath, and turned to Death. Death smiled, taking her hand. Charles blinked and was standing in the bedroom alone. He took a deep breath, trying not to look at the still form of his mother’s body on the bed. He ventured around the house, looking at the changes. 

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Edwin looked up as Charles stepped through the mirror. He slid back from the desk as Charles dropped into his lap, burying his face in Edwin’s neck. Edwin hummed and held him close, sighing when tears soaked into his shirt. He didn’t mind the tears, he expected them. 

“Oh, mi amor,” Edwin whispered. “How did it go?”

“She still has the warmest hugs,” Charles sobbed. “She tried…she wanted to apologize. I told her…not her fault.”

Edwin nodded. There was nothing to say, nothing that would make it any better. Death was part of everything, something they both knew better than anyone. He just held his boyfriend as he cried. There would be time to talk later, especially when Crystal and Niko came asking questions. He held tight and let his tears fall.

Chapter Text

Charles knew, from the moment he met Edwin Payne, that his life was forever tied to the boy in front of him. At the time, he thought it was only a crush, Edwin was the beginning of his bisexual panic. It only took a few months for them to realize they were in love with each other, and even shorter to realize they were meant to be together. 

“Hey, Crys,” Charles said, leaning against the counter in Crystal’s kitchen. “I have a question for you.”

“When don’t you have questions, Charles,” Crystal laughed, stirring the stir-fry she was cooking for dinner. “What is it today?”

“Theoretically, if I were to ask Edwin to marry me…”

Crystal gasped and turned around, hugging him tight. He chuckled, hugging her back. When she pulled away, she punched him in the shoulder.

“It took you long enough. You’ve been together longer than Niko and I have, and I locked her down years ago.” Crystal turned back to dinner. “What do you have in mind?”

Charles started laying out his plan. There was only one thing Edwin loved more than anything, books. He knew Edwin didn’t like to be the center of attention, so a big engagement was out of the question. He did not doubt that he would say yes, but he wanted Edwin to smile the entire time. He found a book he knew Edwin had been looking at and planned what he was going to do with it. He decided that he was going to put a sticky note at the end of every chapter, with the things that he loved about him. He only had 12 years worth of things to say.

“So, what do you think?” He asked, standing up from where he was leaning against the counter.

Crystal was silent, turning off the stove. When she turned to look at Charles, she had tears in her eyes.

“I swear, I have never seen two people who are more hopelessly in love with each other.” She hugged him again. “I think you know Edwin better than anyone else, and that is the most romantic way. It's very Edwin.”

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Charles watched Edwin as he steadily read through the book. Every time he reached the end of the chapter, he would smile brightly as he read over the note, then add it to the pile that he was using as a bookmark. Charles had found one stuck to their mirror that read, ‘You always light up my day’. It wasn’t taking him long to read, not that Charles expected it to. His boyfriend inhaled books like they were nothing.

“Getting close to the end there, love,” He said, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of Edwin’s head as he walked behind the couch.

“Yes, I am. I’m motivated to read it since I keep finding these lovely little notes at the end of every chapter,” Edwin said, tipping his head back to look up at him.

“I just like to see you smile. Keep reading, I am going to make dinner.”

“Try not to burn down the kitchen. I would hate to have to not get to the next note because of putting out a fire.”

Charles shook his head, chuckling.

“I’m just reheating some of that curry you made the other night, no need to worry dear. You read and see if Thomas is going to come out of hiding for you.”

He knew that he only had two chapters left in the book, so he wanted to have their food ready before he finished. As he poured the curry into a pot, he heard him chuckle as he found the note at the end of the chapter.

“Really, Charles? I love your terrible jokes, especially when you laugh at yourself?” Edwin said, looking over at him.

“It’s true. Some of those jokes you come up with are terrible, but I love watching you make yourself laugh as you tell them to someone.”

Edwin smiled and added it to the pile. Charles put the lid on the pot and turned it on. He turned around to see Edwin flipping to the last page, a soft smile on his face. He went to close the book, before seeing the final sticky note stuck to the back cover. Unbeknownst to him, as he turned to the final page, Charles snuck out of the kitchen and went to retrieve the ring that he had hidden weeks before.

“Will you marry… Charles?”

Edwin looked up and saw Charles kneeling in front of him.

“I love you so much, darling. I don’t know if there has ever been a time or universe where I haven’t loved you. You saved me when you didn’t have to, and you have loved me for myself every day since, even when I don’t like myself. I knew that you would not want a big production, but I wanted to express my love to you in the best way that I could. I have always known that I want to spend the rest of eternity loving you. You are my love, my life, and my soulmate. So, will you spend eternity with me, Edwin Payne?”

Edwin dropped the book and sticky notes beside him as he started crying. Charles waited a moment, knowing that he was overwhelmed and needed to calm himself down. When he took a deep breath and turned his attention to him, he had a smile on his face.

“Of course, I will marry you. There is no one in this world that I would want to spend the rest of my life with.”

Charles smiled and moved closer to him. As he slid the ring on his finger, Edwin let out a wet laugh, smiling at him. He took his hand and leaned down for a kiss. Edwin met him in the middle, smiling as he sealed his lips against his.

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” Charles whispered against his lips.

“Love, I would have waited an eternity for you,” Edwin whispered in reply.

Chapter Text

Edwin used to live in a world of darkness. He was used to the shadows, the whispers, and the silence. He hid in the darkness when he was alive, fading into the background so no one would comment on how odd he was. He was surrounded by the darkness of Hell, always hiding and trying to find a way out. Then, he got lost in the light in Charles' eyes. A light that never went out, even in death. There was a glint of mischief that shone no matter what was going on, a spark of genuine happiness that was never extinguished. Sometimes, that shining light in the brown eyes was the only thing that reminded him it wasn’t all a dream.

They had been working on a case and came across a haunted doll. As soon as the doll laughed, Edwin ran. He didn’t stop running until he realized he left Charles behind. He leaned against a wall, closing his eyes as he tried to remind himself he was on Earth and not being torn apart in Hell again. Charles caught up to him, putting his cricket bat into his bag.

“You need to breathe, mate,” Charles urged, resting a hand on Edwin’s shoulders. “It’s okay, I took care of the doll.”

Edwin’s eyes flew open, still taking panicked breaths. He couldn’t process that he didn’t need to breathe, that he wasn’t being chased, it wasn’t all an illusion. He kept hearing the laughter, ringing through his mind on a loop. He couldn’t look at Charles. He couldn’t face the illusion Hell was giving him. Not that his eyes were letting him focus on much, blurred by tears that streamed down his face against his will.

“Not real, you’re not real,” He stuttered.

Charles sighed and rested his palms on Edwin’s cheeks. Edwin sighed into the warmth before his entire body froze. He frantically searched the face in front of him, the only face he knew better than his own. There was worry written in eyes that usually hold laughter, lines were drawn in a face too young to worry about this level of trauma.

“I’m right here,” Charles whispered. “I am real, I’ve got you. Look at me and take a breath.”

Edwin finally settled on Charles’ eyes. Between the touch to his face and the familiar eyes staring back at him, he could finally breathe. He grabbed a hold of Charles’ wrists, trying to calm down further. Charles leaned closer, resting his forehead against Edwin’s.

“Charles…” Edwin muttered, lost in the chocolate ocean of the eyes so close to his.

“Right here, Edwin,” Charles coaxed. “Take another breath. A big breath, love.”

Edwin took another breath, closing his eyes as he let it out. His mind was still racing, but the sound of the laugh was finally gone, replaced by Charles’ laugh. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar glint of happiness in the molten chocolate eyes.

“Thank you,” He whispered, unwilling to let go of Charles’ wrists.

“Anything for you,” Charles replied in a low murmur. “Come on, we need a movie night with the girls. That case was a little scarier than I thought it would be. Don’t worry, I’ll write up the case notes for Asa.”

Crystal lived in a world of light. Flashing lights of cameras, the strobe light of a party, and the glaring light of the sun after a long night of working a case. Even with all the light, the world always seemed to be colorless. When she met the boys, the colors started to return; muted, and faded. When she met Niko, it was like someone turned the sharpness up. Suddenly, her entire world was full of rainbows and pastels. When they lost Niko, the world faded into muted shades again, all the joy retreating. The day Niko returned to their lives, the world was colorful again.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Niko asked, looking up at Crystal. 

She had her head in Crystal’s lap while the other girl ran her fingers through her hair. Since her return, one of the agency members has been with her. She didn’t mind the attention, she had missed her chosen family while on the astral plane.

“I just missed you,” Crystal whispered.

“It’s more than that,” Niko replied, sitting up and turning so her knees were pressed against Crystal’s leg. “Does it have anything to do with the feelings you are trying to hide? I thought you were dating Charles.”

Crystal wasn’t surprised Niko noticed the feelings she had been trying to hide for months. Edwin was the only one who hadn’t commented on her blatant crush on Niko, but he was too busy being the center of Charles’ attention to notice.

“Charles and Edwin started dating a month after we returned to London,” Crystal informed before sighing. “Fine, you caught me. I do have feelings for you. But, you just came back from a different plane, Niko. I don’t want you to rush back into life and I don’t want you to feel obligated…”

Crystal was surprised when she felt lips on her. It took her a few seconds to comprehend that Niko was kissing her. She closed her eyes, reaching up to cup Niko’s face as she returned the kiss. If Niko returned color to her life, kissing her looked like a fireworks display. The kiss lasted longer than Crystal expected and only ended with their need to breathe.

“Did you see them too?” Niko whispered, resting her forehead against Crystal’s.

“I did,” Crystal said.

Both girls started giggling. They jumped slightly when someone cleared their throat. They turned to see Edwin and Charles standing beside the mirror, looking ruffled and lost. Niko scrambled up from the couch when she got a good look at Edwin.

“What happened?” She asked, pausing when Edwin rested his head on Charles’ shoulder. “Why does Edwin look so scared?”

“The case…” Charles took a breath before he started over. “The case we were working led us to a haunted doll. It kind of triggered Edwin’s trauma and I thought he could use a movie night. If you guys are busy…”

“Never too busy for a movie night with our boys,” Crystal said, standing and walking over to hug both boys. “Come on. It’s Niko’s turn to pick the movie and I need snacks.”

Charles started coaxing Edwin into removing some layers while Crystal walked to the kitchen. When she turned to ask if Niko wanted something, the look Niko shot her left her warm inside. They would have a conversation about what happened. There were so many things to talk about. Right now, they needed a laugh and some cuddles.

If there was one thing Edwin and Crystal learned, life doesn’t look quite as bleak with a little light and color.

Chapter Text

The first time Crystal saw Charles use magic, she was confused. Edwin had used magic several times in her presence, boasting about the years of research and practice he had done to perfect his access to magic. On the other hand, Charles had never shown his propensity to magic. He called himself the brawn for a reason, he liked to fight things physically. 

They were in the middle of a case when they stumbled upon an entire coven of witches. When the coven realized they had been discovered, they started throwing spells and summoning iron weapons. The three detectives ran, but something hit Edwin. Crystal almost screamed as she watched a blast of blue fly back towards the witches. She didn’t have time to see what was happening before Edwin pulled her behind a wall.

“What is going on?” She asked Edwin as they hid. “Why did we leave Charles back there? What did you throw at the witch?”

“It wasn’t me!” Edwin gasped out, holding the burn on his side. “Charles is losing control and went into overprotective mode.”

“Charles can do magic?!” Crystal exclaimed, ducking behind the wall as another blast of magic flew past her. 

“How do you think he makes our disguises?” Edwin asked, reaching into his pocket for his notebook. “I taught him most of what he knows, but he read several books about defensive magic in our tenure as detectives. Damn, I need my book. Kindly move over, Crystal.”

Crystal watched as Edwin leaned around the wall. Charles came darting around the wall, taking a few breaths before turning to Edwin. Crystal didn’t listen to their argument as Charles dug in his bag, pausing to fling a few spells around the wall.

“Here, can you find the spell before they get through that last block?” Charles snapped, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes.

“They would not have gotten this defensive if you had not thrown that spell,” Edwin argued, flipping open his book. “What came over you, Charles?”

“I don’t know, mate,” Charles growled. “Maybe it had something to do with my best friends getting things thrown at them? Or maybe it has something to do with the burn on your side?! They fired an enchanted iron bolt at the love of my life and I’m expected to remain calm?!”

Crystal didn’t miss the flicker of surprise that crossed Edwin’s face before he found the spell he was looking for. Charles leaned his head back against the wall, taking several breaths. She had no clue what she missed. She watched as Edwin cast the spell and urged them to run in the opposite direction. The trip back to the office was going to be fun with two disgruntled ghosts.

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Crystal gave the boys several days to calm down. She wasn’t surprised Charles never showed up at her apartment, seeing as the boys probably had several things to discuss. After 4 days, she made her way to the office. When she opened the door, she paused. Charles was sitting on the edge of the desk, as always. However, Edwin was standing between his legs and running a gentle hand through his curls. She could see Charles’ hand over the spot the burn had been a few days before. Charles smiled brightly before looking over Edwin’s shoulder.

“Hey, Crystal,” He announced, not moving from his spot. “Come on in, we were discussing a case.”

Crystal stepped into the office, closing the door behind her. When she turned around, Edwin kissed Charles’ cheek before stepping back and going around the desk to his chair.

“She may have questions for you, Charles,” Edwin said, picking up a stack of potential cases. “There is time to discuss the cases after you have quelled her curiosity.”

“I do have several questions.” Crystal curled up on the couch. “Let’s start with the obvious change to your relationship status. Then, we are going to discuss the fact that you can do magic and never thought to tell me.”

“All ghosts can do magic, it’s a matter of practice,” Charles shrugged. “We can discuss your first question after Edwin and I have time to figure it out. As for the magic thing, I thought you’d seen me use magic before. I use it every time we need disguises and my bat is enchanted.”

“I thought Edwin enchanted your bat.”

“If I had, he would not have broken it many times,” Edwin stepped in. “The first thing he did after he learned he could do magic was to enchant it. He has not let me touch it the entire time we have known each other.”

Charles turned his attention to Edwin, who didn’t hesitate to have a staring contest with him. Crystal had learned they were having silent conversations when they did it, so she let them have a few minutes. Charles grinned and turned back to Crystal.

“To be fair, my magic doesn’t usually explode like it did,” He explained. “I try to keep a tight hold on it, but I hit my limit. As Edwin said, I’m a little overprotective of the two of you. I didn’t realize you could see the magic though.”

“I haven’t always been able to,” Crystal admitted. “It started in Port Townsend. I’ve seen sparks of Edwin’s magic, the red and purples are pretty when they appear.”

“Purple?” Edwin asked, putting his papers down. “My magic has never been any color except red. Unless…” Edwin looked at Charles, who refused to look in his eyes. “Charles, have you been helping me with spells?”

Crystal rolled her eyes as the boys started a verbal argument. She was processing all the moments she had seen purple magic dance around Edwin before finding its intended target. If Charles had been helping his magic the entire time, how often was Charles protecting Edwin subconsciously? Had he used magic to protect Crystal without her realizing it? Seeing how he didn’t always pay attention to anything but fighting off an attacker, it was probably a subconscious thought for him to protect her and Edwin.

“That aside, you have been able to see magic since Port Townsend?” Edwin asked, glaring at Charles before turning his attention to Crystal. “Why did you not inform us that you could see magic? Why not tell us about the coven we were approaching?”

Crystal sighed and started trying to explain herself. How did a conversation about Charles using magic turn into questioning her? She flipped Charles off as he started chuckling, earning her a glare from Edwin and a lecture about proper office decorum.

Chapter Text

Charles found Edwin’s voice the most soothing thing in the world. He had from the moment he met him. Over the years, in the moments of calm and when they didn’t have a case, Edwin would find a book and Charles would listen to him read. Edwin could always tell when his partner was stressed and would pull a book off the shelf, settling in his office chair to read. They had read different books, ranging from ancient texts in dead languages to Jane Austen. Edwin never asked what he wanted to read, he simply pulled a book off the shelf and ushered Charles to the couch. The only thing that changed over the years was Charles no longer sat on the opposite side of the couch when reading.

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Charles lay pressed against Edwin on the couch as Edwin held a book in his hand. They had started a new book and Charles couldn’t help but curl up closer as he read. 

“ But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,' said Frodo.” Edwin read, his fingers buried in Charles’ curls. “Sam looked at him unhappily. 'It all depends on what you want,' put in Merry. 'You can trust us to stick with you through thick and thin--to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours--closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. ”

“Sounds a lot like our friends,” Charles whispered, his eyes shut as he pressed closer.

“It does, indeed.”

Edwin smiled as Charles nuzzled his face into his stomach, making Edwin’s finger twist in his hair. Edwin continues reading, feeling Charles met against his side. The other boy had been on edge since a close call during their last case, so he knew they both needed a moment. If ghosts could sleep, he was sure Charles would be sound asleep.

When the Hobbits reached Rivendell, Charles looked up at Edwin with rapt attention. There was something about the childlike wonder in his eyes as he heard about the Eastern settlement of the elves. Edwin settled for rubbing the short hair on the back of his head instead of leaving them in his curls, trying not to get distracted by his shining eyes.

“ Do you remember when we first met?’ Arwen asked. ‘I thought I had wandered into a dream.’ ‘Long years have passed. You did not have the cares you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?’ ‘You said you'd bind yourself to me, forsaking the immortal life of your people.’ ‘And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone. ”

“That sounds wonderful,” Charles whispered, shifting. Edwin placed his bookmark between the pages as Charles moved. He smiled softly as Charles brought his face in front of Edwin’s, his hands braced on the couch’s armrest. “Sounds like us, doesn’t it, love?”

“Of course, you would relate to Arwen and Aragorn,” Edwin replied, closing the book and placing it in his lap. “Do you imagine yourself an elf, darling? Immortal life and all?”

“Not immortal, seeing as how we are dead.” Charles rested his forehead against Edwin’s. “But, we have bound ourselves together for the rest of eternity. And I remember thinking you were a dream my frozen brain conjured to comfort me.”

Edwin brushed his knuckles against Charles’ cheek, causing Charles’ eyes to flutter shut for a few seconds. The touch felt different since Hell. They figured out their feelings and decided to be together.

“A dream? Me?” Edwin chuckled. “I think your mind would have conjured something better than me.”

“There is nothing better than you,” Charles whispered, kissing the tip of his nose. “Best thing to ever happen to me.”

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A few days later, the boys were back on the couch. Charles was nursing a particularly terrible burn from a fence he had been thrown into, so Edwin decided to finish reading the Fellowship of the Ring. They had read a chapter here or there over the last few days, but Edwin was determined to finish it.

“What do you mean, they got separated?” Charles exclaimed, looking up at Edwin from where he lay on his chest. “Frodo just leaves?”

“Darling, if you give me a moment,” Edwin chuckled, kissing the top of Charles’ head. “ But I must go at once. It's the only way.’ ‘Of course it is,’ answered Sam. ‘But not alone. I'm coming too, or neither of us isn't going. I'll knock holes in all the boats first.’ Frodo actually laughed. A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart. ”

“I knew Sam would never let him go alone.” Charles nodded, returning to playing with Edwin’s free hand. “Sam is a good friend. I’m glad Frodo has him.”

Edwin smiled and finished the chapter, putting the book on the floor. Charles took the opportunity to grab his other arm and take it hostage. Edwin rolled his eyes, burying his face in Charles’ hair. He felt Charles chuckle and wince, the burn slow to heal because he was held against the iron longer than he should have been.

“What did you think?” Edwin mumbled into his hair. “Do you want to read the second one? I have not read it yet, so it will be new for us both.”

“Love, you could read me a phonebook and I would listen,” Charles replied. “It’s not the books that I want, it’s just your voice.”

“A little creepy, darling,” Edwin chuckled, sitting up. “You sound a bit like the sea witch from The Little Mermaid.”

Charles dissolved into laughter, wincing as he pulled on the burns. Edwin couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as Charles looked up at him. There was mirth in his eyes and written across his face, alongside pure adoration. Edwin couldn’t help himself, he pressed his lips to Charles’

“How did I know you two were going to be gross?” Crystal asked, closing the door to the office behind her.

“I thought we discussed knocking, Crystal,” Edwin said, refusing to release Charles. “I do believe I also told you to go home for the evening. Charles is in no state to discuss the case until the burn is gone.”

Chapter Text

Edwin was always running, always hiding from something. He desperately tried to find a way out of Hell, but he never succeeded. The loop repeated itself more than he could count, especially after the doll spider received him as a gift. He could always taste blood after he regenerated, no matter how many times he died. He hated the fact he could taste in Hell, especially the blood and bile he choked up for far too long. The first time he fell and felt blood pour from his head, he was shocked at the pain that radiated through his head. He got used to the taste of blood, of the cuts on his feet. The doll's laughter rang through his head and all around him, reminding him of where he was.

The first time he broke a bone and wasn’t immediately caught by the spider, he kept running. His arm was useless, hanging by his side and pouring blood from where the bone was shoved through the skin as he tried to open the door between gluttony and lust. He hissed as he tried to lift it, the adrenaline not quite enough to dull the pain.

“Blast it,” He huffed, finally getting the door open. 

The few extra moments it took to open the door cost him dearly, as the spider had exited the dollhouse and was after him again. He slammed the door shut, jamming something into the handle to give him a few spare moments. He hated the blood on the floor of Lust, the sticky feeling seeping into the cuts on the bottoms of his feet. The people weren’t phased as he ran through the room, looking for the passage to Limbo. He lost more time as he looked for the edge that would allow him to open the wall.

“No, no!” He screamed as the spider burst into the room before he could open the wall. 

He watched as the door swung open just as the spider grabbed him and carried him off. He no longer felt his arm as the spider began to gnaw on him, waiting as his vision blacked out and he started to regenerate. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As time passed, so slowly and without much notice, Edwin became numb to his body. He lost limbs, he bled from wounds, and he ran until his feet bled. He pushed bones back into the skin, pulled off his limbs when they weren’t completely separated from him, and watched pieces of him be torn off. He got closer to the exit every day, he could almost see the outside world. Every time, something happened and he got trapped again. Then came the falling. Over and over, he fell from the staircase, never getting closer to the top.

Edwin lay on the floor below the spiral staircase, staring at the high step he had fallen from. If he had been alive, the fall would have killed him. However, being in Hell, he had to wait for the injury to catch up. Sometimes, it took seconds or minutes. Lately, it seemed like it was taking days. He could feel the blood surrounding him, the pool from his head spreading as he continued to bleed out. His eyes refused to darken, his heart refused to stop racing. He wasn’t dying! 

“Please,” He prayed. “Please just let me die. I do not care if this is going to happen repeatedly. Let me die!”

He didn’t know who he was praying to anymore. He had stopped asking God for forgiveness a long time ago, his shaky relationship with religion completely broken. He continued to plead for death, his voice echoing off the walls. No one answered, nothing happened. He felt the pain leave his limbs, the nerves dying slowly and painfully. He watched souls walk past him, unable to see him as they headed to Limbo. He lay in a pool of his blood for years, until he finally was granted death.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He thought he had recovered well from his time in Hell. He no longer had waking dreams about the demons, about the dollhouse. He spent 30 years trying to erase the memories, burying them beneath cases and Charles’ laughter. Falling into the dark abyss inside the witch’s cabinet sent Edwin spiraling. He couldn’t hear anything but his screams as he fell, the darkness surrounding him. He barely felt it as he hit the ground, a single light shining above him. He started to hyperventilate, waiting to feel blood pool around him. 

“ No, not again ,” He thought, his eyes squeezed closed. “ I wasn’t fast enough. I fell, again. How long is it going to take me to die? How long until I finally bleed out? ”

“Edwin!” Charles’ voice cut through the darkness, making Edwin take a breath. He grunted as he felt something pulling him down. “Edwin? Are you okay? Magical void, innit? Sucked you in.”

“Good call. It's magic.” Edwin groaned, trying to push himself up. “I can feel it weighing me down.”

When Charles pulled him from the void, he tried not to let the other boy see how phased he was. Part of him felt like he was being tricked, that he was still lying in the void and bleeding out. He rubbed the feeling back into his hands, watching Crystal hide the memories inside Becky’s mind. 

While Crystal packed her meager belongings so they could go back to London, Edwin was tempted to step through the mirror and go back to the office alone. He didn’t want Charles to see him broken, weak. The other boy walked over, resting a hand on his shoulder. Edwin felt grounded. He was no longer floundering, waiting for the light to fade.

“ Charles is real, ” He thought, turning to look at Charles before looking back out the window. “ I am not in Hell, I am not bleeding out. I am on Earth, I am a detective. Charles is real and I am not dying again. ”

“Come on, mate,” Charles said, smiling. “Crystal is all packed and we have just enough time to catch the last ferry.”

Chapter Text

Edwin had heard plenty of stories about Charles’ father. Charles would talk about some of the worst things he’d done, usually when they were curled up in the middle of the night and he couldn’t keep it in anymore. Crystal hadn’t hesitated to tell Edwin everything she witnessed when they were growing up, the horrors that no child should see. He had seen the other side effects of the environment he grew up in, from Charles’ blatant praise kink to the moments where he didn’t eat for days.

“Charles, my darling,” Edwin whispered, crouching beside the couch and running his fingers through Charles’ curls. “It’s time to eat.”

“Not hungry,” Charles groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. “Maybe later.”

“Baby,” Edwin cooed. “We talked about this. I know you are stressed, I know you are dealing with a lot right now. However, my job is to care for you while you figure it out. So, you are going to come sit at the table with me. You can decide how much food you put on your plate, and you decide when you are done.”

Charles opened his eyes, anger simmering in the brown irises. All the fight left him when he saw how calm Edwin was. There was no hostility, no anger, and no judgment. He nodded minutely and sat up, holding his head as black dots appeared in his vision. Edwin was patient, waiting until Charles looked up at him. He offered him a hand, smiling softly when Charles cautiously took it.

The following day, Edwin found Charles sitting on the counter in the middle of the night. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence, his boyfriend had the worst case of insomnia when his mental health was terrible. What was surprising was the bowl in his hand.

“Darling, if you wanted a snack at 3 am, you could have invited me.”

Edwin leaned against the counter, watching Charles. The other man grinned, swinging his feet so his heels bounced off the cabinet door.

“Love, you hate ravioli on a good day,” Charles replied. “Plus, you were sleeping so well.”

Edwin kissed Charles’ cheek. He didn’t care that it was the middle of the night or that they had to be up in three hours to prepare for class. All that mattered was the smile on Charles’ face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It didn’t matter how much time passed, Charles’ mind always seemed like a hellscape when it got close to his birthday. Edwin never asked, he deferred to Charles about celebrating and what they would do. In the four years they had been together, they had celebrated once. 

Charles was buried under the blankets, not a single part of his body could be seen. Edwin thought he knew what kind of day it would be because of that. He cautiously approached, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Morning, darling,” He said, watching the pile of blankets for movement. “How are we feeling about the day?”

Charles groaned, pulling the side of the blanket up so he could peek at Edwin. He looked tired, but Edwin couldn’t help but notice the return of mischief in his eyes.

“Would be better if my gorgeous boyfriend was still in bed,” Charles whined. “I’m cold. Come back.”

Edwin huffed, rolling his eyes playfully. He stood, pulling on the blanket until Charles released it. Once under the blankets with his boyfriend, Charles pressed against him. Edwin hummed as Charles looked up at him, a half smile on his face.

“Can I say it?” Edwin whispered.

“I suppose,” Charles shrugged, wrapping an arm around Edwin’s waist and pulling him closer. “Doesn’t feel as dark as last year.”

Edwin cupped his face, tilting it up to look at him. Charles went willingly, falling into his softer side faster than usual. Edwin ran a gentle thumb over Charles’ bottom lip, his fingers holding his face still.

“Happy Birthday, Darling,” Edwin professed. “I love you. I am so glad you exist.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charles knew a side of Edwin that no one else did. Everyone else saw the confidence, the smirk, the witty man who walked like he owned every room he entered. Charles saw the boy created in an environment meant to destroy him.  He saw the tears, the dark thought. He was the one who saved Edwin when the darkness surrounded him.

Edwin had tried everything to rid himself of the dark thoughts and feelings, the dock being a last-ditch effort, as it always seemed to do the trick of clearing his mind. This time, nothing worked. As thunder began to rumble overhead, his eyes blurred with tears as he buried his face into his knees and cried.

"Love?" He heard from behind him.

Edwin didn't have to look up to know who it was. Only one person in the entire city knew exactly where to find him when his world went dark around the edges. He didn't say anything, didn't move.

"You don't have to talk to me, you don't even have to acknowledge that I am here,” Charles whispered, sitting beside him. “I just need you to know that I am. I know it's been a long day for you, I know your head isn't where it should be right now. I am right here and I will continue to be right here until you don't want me to be."

Edwin lifted his head, resting his chin on his knees. He took a deep breath and reached for him, letting Charles take his hand and squeeze it. Edwin returned the squeeze with one of his own, tears flowing from his eyes.

"I'm lost, Charles."

"I know, love. Let me help you find your way back."

Charles pulled him tight against him, letting him cry. Edwin clung desperately to him, needing an anchor. Even as his mind screamed at him to end it all and let go, he knew Charles wouldn’t let that happen. He held him until his sobs subsided. By this point, it had started to rain. 

"Can we go home?" Edwin asked softly, not moving from where his face was hidden in Charles’ neck.

"Of course we can.”

Chapter Text

Crystal and Niko sat on the floor on either side of the coffee table, a go board on the table between them. Niko told Crystal she had missed playing the game with her father, so Crystal offered to learn. It was slow going, especially when they had cases to work and the distraction of the boys, but Crystal was starting to understand the game better as they went. They both knew Edwin would be a better player, but Niko had been adamant she wanted Crystal to be the one to learn.

“When did your dad start teaching you to play?” Crystal asked, looking over the board. “I know you said you were a hyperactive kid.”

“I think I was 7 or 8,” Niko replied, pouring tea. “My mother got tired of me running around and it was raining too much to go outside. My father went into the office and came back with this board.”

Crystal smiled, trying to figure out her next move. She wasn’t particularly good, but Niko had assured her that it was okay. She finally laid one of her stones and nodded to Niko. Niko took her time, looking over the small board.

“Did you take to go like you did to detective work?” Crystal chuckled, grabbing the teapot and a cup. 

“Not at first,” Niko said, placing her stone. “It took months for me to beat him for the first time. When I was able to beat him, we moved up to the medium board. When he died, we constantly had a game going. Mom always tried to get us to put it away, but she accepted its presence on the table regardless.”

Crystal nodded, taking a sip of her tea.

“How did she react when you asked to take them with you?” 

“Well, I told her I wanted to teach my girlfriend how to play.” Niko grinned as Crystal sputtered. “She asked me to bring you to visit next time. She needs someone else to play riichi mahjong with. She also isn’t that fond of go, so it was okay.”

Crystal cast a glance over the board before putting a stone down. She turned her attention back to her girlfriend. Niko was grinning behind her cup, trying to hide the joy she felt at teasing her.

“Wait, backtrack. Why didn’t you tell me you told her?” Crystal wanted to scream at the pleased look on Niko’s face. “I’ve talked to her since then. We pretended that we hadn’t been making out five seconds before she called.”

The only response she got was Niko’s giggle and the sound of a stone being placed on the board. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal curled up on the couch on her balcony, watching the setting sun. Her headache had gotten worse, her mind trying to fit her memories back where they should be. She jumped when a mug appeared in front of her.

“Here, hot chocolate,” Niko offered, smiling softly. “You look like you need some sugar.”

“Thank you,” Crystal whispered. “My brain is just…a mess. I’m still trying to put the memories where they should be, and deal with the demon I buried. I’m sorry.”

Niko shook her head, sitting beside her. She rested her head on Crystal’s shoulder, sighing.

“Don’t apologize. You were trying to get your memories back, they are a part of you.” Niko rested a hand on her knee. “Want to tell me about some of the things you are remembering?”

Crystal sighed. She told her about her earliest memories of being alone with nannies and butlers. The empty house that seemed to echo the loneliness back to her. Then, she told her about the parties, the drugs, and all the horrible things she did so she could feel something other than lonely. Then, there were the mash of memories from her time with David. The real memories, hurting people and being in love, and the false ones David had constructed for her. 

Niko remained quiet as she listened, her hand never straying from Crystal’s knee. It wasn’t until Crystal’s voice cracked and she stopped speaking that Niko thought of the words.

“When I came back from the other plane, I had lived several lifetimes at once,” She explained. “I have so many memories that I don’t know which person I am anymore. But, I know the person I want to be. Maybe that’s all you need. You need to be the person you want to be, regardless of your past.”

Crystal smiled softly, taking a sip from her mug before kissing Niko’s forehead. The other girl tilted her face up, a blinding smile on her face. 

“As always, you’re smarter than me.”

“Not smarter,” Niko insisted. “I just think outside the box a little more than you. Drink your chocolate before it gets too cold. It will help with your headache. Afterwards, we can watch a movie or go play Clue with the boys. Charles told me Edwin is close to breaking.”

Crystal laughed, bringing her cup to her mouth again. The group effort they had put into cheating so Edwin never won a game of Clue was beautiful, especially when he started to get frustrated.

Chapter Text

There was a large thunderstorm that decided to sit over London for two days. It wasn’t a problem until the lightning hit a transformer and cast part of the city into darkness, including their office. Edwin hated the dark, so Charles searched his bag for any source of light he could find. Flashlights, candles, and glowing stones were positioned around the office. He could still see the fear on his friend’s face, even as he tried to pretend there was nothing wrong. 

“Where is it?” He whispered, stepping through the organized chaos that was his backpack. “I know I put it over here.”

“Charles, are you returning soon?” Edwin asked, peeking into the bag. He couldn’t see anything, but he knew Charles could hear him anywhere in the bag. “The lightning has started again and I am unsure about how I feel.”

“Ah-ha!” Charles exclaimed. He paused when he heard the panic in Edwin’s voice, a sound that appeared more after his second trip to Hell. “Yeah, mate. I’m coming out now. Sit on the couch and get comfortable. This storm is no joke.”

When Charles emerged from his bag, Edwin was sitting on the edge of one of the cushions, one of the glowing stones in his hand as he looked out the window. Edwin’s eyes darted to Charles as he pulled himself the rest of the way out of the bag. Charles hated the fear that had taken over his eyes in the brief time he had been alone, the haunted look out of place on the older ghost’s face.

“What took you so long?” Edwin asked with a quiver in his voice.

“I was looking for this.”

Charles grinned as he pulled the lantern out of the bag. He had thought he’d left it in Hell, but he was surprised to find it back in his bag once they returned to London. He didn’t question it, happiness settling in him with the reminder of how he and Edwin met. His eyes met Edwin’s, the light of the lantern making the other boy’s eyes glow.

“How…” Edwin started to ask.

“I don’t know.” Charles put the lantern on the table they had placed beside the couch and took a seat beside Edwin. “I remember leaving it when I went to save you. When I cleaned out my bag after we got home, I found it in the spot I always keep it. I’m glad it was there, with this storm.”

The boys sat in silence for a while, Edwin flipping a glow stone in his hand, seemingly lost in thought. Charles shifted until his thigh pressed against Edwin’s. The other boy smiled softly, looking over at Charles. Time seemed to freeze as Charles looked at him. The orange from the lantern cast a light into his eyes, making them look like a sunset on the ocean. It was at that moment that Charles realized he could look into Edwin’s eyes forever. 

“Thank you,” Edwin muttered.

“I know you don’t like the dark,” Charles admitted. “I don’t want you to be scared.”

Edwin smiled softly, lost in Charles’ molten eyes. From the moment he met the other boy, he could admire how good he looked bathed in the light of the lantern. Even now, when Edwin couldn’t shake the fear from his bones and he couldn’t stop fidgeting, he couldn’t help but look at Charles.

“I do not know what has come over me,” Edwin tried to explain, turning the stone in his hand again. “I should not…”

Charles reached over and took one of his hands. Edwin froze, squeezing his hand tight. Charles turned his attention to Edwin, reaching to gently cup his face with his other hand.

“Edwin, you are allowed to be afraid,” Charles insisted. “You went to Hell, twice. You were locked away in the darkness and it’s normal to be afraid of the dark after that. Truthfully, I am afraid of water, especially in the winter. But, I know that I can be brave because you will always remind me that I can’t freeze to death again.”

Edwin looked down at his lap. Charles tapped his cheek, bringing his attention back to his face. He could see the softness in his eyes, getting lost in the safety he felt in the gentle touches. Charles always touched him like he was the most precious thing in the world; like he would break if handled wrong. 

He stunned himself as he leaned forward and kissed Charles. He immediately pulled away, shocked by his audaciousness. When he saw Charles’ stunned face, he shrank back, trying to put space between them. He immediately started to apologize, but Charles wasn’t having any of it. The other boy shifted his hold on Edwin’s face and sealed his lips over Edwin’s. Edwin froze but melted into the kiss. Charles was careful with him, like always, but there was so much heat and feelings behind the kiss.

Charles hadn’t thought that kissing Edwin would feel like this. He felt warm and tingly, butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He pulled away, resting his forehead against Edwin’s. He could see tears in the corners of the other boy’s eyes as he smiled brightly.

“I hope that means what I think it does,” Edwin whispered.

“That I am completely in love with you?” Charles chuckled. “Yeah, that means that.”

Edwin smiled, closing his eyes. The storm was still raging outside, the darkness was still terrifying. However, he finally felt safe in the bubble he and Charles had created. When Charles shifted to seal his lips over Edwin’s again, Edwin smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around his neck. In the soft glow of their lantern, two boys fell in love. Once again, they chose each other and feeling safe over everything else.

Chapter Text

Monty often wished he didn’t have to sleep. Sleeping meant dreaming, and Esther still hid inside his dreams. Every time he started to dream, it was interrupted by the witch appearing and tearing him apart again. He was thankful to have his space away from his boyfriends, and more grateful that they understood that humans needed to sleep. If they knew he spent most nights brewing potions to stay awake, that his dreams were haunted by a woman that had no power over him.

Charles looked down at the boy sleeping in his lap and sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Monty assumed he was hiding his lack of sleep from them all, but Charles could see right through his facade. The crow-turned-human was exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes, and always fell asleep when discussing new cases. Their boy was exhausted and had been for a while.

“How is he?” Edwin asked, looking up from his notebook.

“Sleeping, finally.” Charles stopped moving his fingers, only to start again as Monty whined in his sleep. “I don’t think he’s been sleeping very well, Edwin.”

“I concur.” Edwin closed his notebook and stood from his chair. Charles watched him as he walked around the desk, pulling off his bowtie and dropping his jacket over the arm of the couch. “I’ve found him awake at odd hours, often in his kitchen. I believe our little crow may be having nightmares.”

“Oh, little songbird,” Charles whispered, gently scratching at Monty’s scalp. “What can we do?”

Edwin sighed. He had checked in on Monty several times, only to find him muttering over a mug. He tried to play it off as tea to help him sleep, but Edwin knew better. He could see the magic in his eyes and the exhaustion he had started wearing on his face. 

“Wait until he asks,” Edwin whispered. “He cannot know we are aware of this. He wants to handle it himself. I know that you are overprotective at best, my love, but he has to ask.”

Monty screamed as Esther pinned him to the ground. She hadn’t stunned him with a blow to the chest this time. She just started tearing him apart. He could feel the magic leaving his body, turning him back into a bird. He looked over and saw Edwin watching, indifference in his eyes.

“Edwin, please,” Monty choked up, blood pouring from his mouth. “Help.”

“Why would I help you, Monty?” Edwin asked, cocking his head to the side. “You lied to me, Monty. You were her pet all along. You put me in danger, you put Charles in danger. Why should I help you?”

Monty screamed as he felt Esther grab the buddle of magic that kept him human and start to rip it out of his chest.

Monty jumped awake screaming, holding his stomach as he felt Esther’s hands still ripping him apart. He couldn’t help the tears that started running down his face as he tried to shake the images from his brain. The passive look on Edwin’s face broke something deep inside Monty’s heart. He could deal with Esther’s words, and he could deal with Charles’ jealousy and anger, but it was Edwin’s passiveness that broke him every time. The love in Edwin’s eyes was gone, leaving an empty, hateful gaze.

“Oh, songbird,” He heard from somewhere in his room. “It’s alright. I’m here.”

Monty felt gentle hands rest on his shoulders before a blurry face was in front of him. Monty whined, trying to get the hands off him. The voice soothed him, rubbing gentle thumbs over his collarbones as he tried to clear his eyes and breathe.

“Shh…It is alright,” Another voice said, somewhere off to his other side. “It’s over now, little crow. Take a breath.”

Monty tried to swipe the tears from his eyes, wanting to see who the kind voices belonged to. He cleared his eyes, his eyes looking into concerned, chocolate irises. He took a hiccuping breath, his gaze shifting to the other figure. He jumped at the face from his nightmare, held in place by the gentle hands on his shoulders. 

“Songbird,” Charles cooed, moving a hand to turn Monty’s face to look at him. “It’s just Edwin. We are right here, nothing is going to hurt you. It was just a nightmare.”

The word rang through Monty’s mind as he tried to breathe. It was a nightmare, it was his mind tormenting him when he finally thought he was happy. Esther was haunting him from wherever she had been taken, making his life Hell all the same. 

“Darling, can you tell us what has scared you?” Edwin soothed, trying to keep his voice calm. “I have never seen you this afraid.”

“Esther,” Monty whispered, pushing Charles’ hands off him as he pulled his knees to his chest. “She was…I was back in the woods in Port Townsend. She had found out that you knew I was a crow. Instead of stabbing me and then ripping apart the magic making me human, she just started to tear into me.” Monty paused to wipe tears from his cheeks. “You were there, watching as she tore me apart. You didn’t care, you were so passive and emotionless.”

Charles and Edwin shared a look. They didn’t know how Monty became a bird again but hadn’t imagined him being torn apart. Edwin shuddered before holding a single hand out to the cowering bird. Monty stared at it, almost as though he was waiting for it to turn into a snake or a smack. He cautiously took it, his other hand sliding into Charle’s. Edwin carefully reached up and cupped his face, smiling softly.

“Darling, it wasn’t real.” Monty shook his head, almost yanking his hand out of Edwin’s. “Monty, Esther is gone. You are in London, safe from her. Even if she were to return somehow, you are already bonded to me. You are safe.”

“Not to mention, I have been waiting for a chance to kick her ass with my cricket bat,” Charles chimed in. “You are safe, songbird. We aren’t going to let anything happen to you.”

Monty took a few more breaths before he was able to release Edwin and Charles. He didn’t comment as they settled on either side of him, Charles situating him so he was lying between the two ghosts. Edwin smiled and brushed a lock of sweaty hair out of his eye. Charles pressed himself against Monty’s back, pressing kisses across his neck.

“Cases?” Monty yawned.

“No case is as important as ensuring you are safe,” Edwin assured him. “Take a rest, darling. We will still be here in the morning.”

“Sleep, little bird,” Charles whispered, wrapping his arms around Monty and holding him tight. “We will keep you safe.”

When Monty awoke the next morning, he was surprised at how rested he felt. He went to sit up, only to find himself weighed down. Everything came flooding back, a blush crossing his face as he realized Charles was still holding him.

“None of that, pretty bird,” Charles chuckled, hugging him. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

For the first time in his life, he wasn’t lying. A good morning, complete with a kiss from Charles.

Chapter Text

After she came back from the astral plane, Niko kept her magic eight ball. She carried it in her backpack, taking it out to play with when bored or stressed. Charles and Edwin didn’t see anything wrong with it, it was just a toy. Crystal was appalled by the idea that Niko kept it on her person.

“Niko, that thing is cursed,” Crystal insisted. “Please. Just throw it away or give it to Edwin. At least he will be able to make sure it doesn’t predict anyone else’s death.”

“Crystal, that was payment for the lighthouse case,” Niko insisted. “It might have hinted I was going to die, but it’s also important for the agency.”

Crystal threw up her hands and left the office, leaving Niko alone with Edwin and Charles. The two boys were pretending not to listen to the conversation, Charles perched on the desk while Edwin pretended to tell him about potential cases they had gotten. Niko shook the eight ball again, staring at the answer.

“What does it tell you now?” Charles asked, startling her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay,” Niko smiled softly. “It says ‘Ask again later’. So far, I get that and the die just continues to spin until I put it down. I’m not sure what it means and I don’t want to go back to Port Townsend to find out.”

“Perhaps it knows you have already died once,” Edwin supplied, placing his pile of cases in his desk drawer. “It does not know how to answer the question. You were transported to another plane, you were dead for months. We do not know what brought you back to your body, nor do we know much about that artifact. All we can do is guess.”

Niko nodded, shaking the ball a final time before putting it in her bag. 

Niko felt bad for lying to her friends, but she needed to get answers. She was supposed to be on a plane to Japan, to visit her mom again. She would eventually get on that plane, but she was standing in Mick’s shop, trying to control her breathing as she focused. Taking a final breath, she stepped into the shop.

“Oh, Niko,” Mick said, standing and coming around the counter to hug her.

“Hello, mister former walrus,” Niko smiled softly, hugging him. “Thank you for the bear. I suppose it did its job.”

Niko didn’t say anything when she felt tears fall into her shoulder. She knew she was one of the few people who asked Mick his story, much less listened and emphasized with him. Mick patted her cheek as he pulled out of the hug.

“What can I do for you?” He asked, taking a few steps back.

Niko reached into her bag, digging for the ball. She felt like there was a vice around her heart as she finally got her fingers around it. While she needed to know what was going on, she didn’t know how to ask the questions she had. She pulled the ball out of her bag and held it up to Mick.

“What can you tell me about this?”

Mick took the ball, almost dropping it when it made contact with his hand. He recovered well, taking the ball behind the desk and putting it on a piece of equipment Niko had never seen. Mick took several minutes to look over the ball, confusion written over his face.

“This is a very cursed object,” Mick said, using a handkerchief to give the ball back to Niko. “Something dark is attached to it. How did you get it?”

“It was our payment for getting rid of Angie,” Niko explained. “Dagfinn told us it predicts your death. Before I died, it told me ‘outlook not so good’ every time I shook it. Now, it either tells me to try again later, or the die just spins in circles.”

“That sounds like you’ve confused a very cursed object.” Mick took a seat behind the counter. “The only thing I can suggest is to take your questions to the person who gave you the ball. If you are looking to keep it, I recommend this.” 

Niko watched Mick as he pulled a box from under the counter. It was wooden and could have been used for anything. When she touched it, she was surprised to feel magic embedded in it.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Magic suppression box,” Mick explained, sitting down. “You put magical items inside and it makes it so the magic won’t seep out or infect anyone else. It also is good for containing cursed objects.”

“Thank you.” Niko looked at the ball a final time and put it in the box. “How much do I owe you?”

“It's on the house,” Mick said with a small smile. “Charles brought me something very valuable a few months back. I am glad to see you alive, you are one of the kindest people I have ever met.”

“It’s good to be back,” Niko said, putting the box in her bag. “Thank you again. For the bear and the box.”

When Niko returned from Japan, she presented Edwin with the box. When she explained what it was and what was inside, he simply raised his eyebrow and handed it to Charles. Crystal hugged her as she explained she couldn’t live with the questions anymore and was ready to start helping people again. 

“Niko, you are always welcome to join us on cases,” Edwin said, reaching for her hand. She didn’t know what happened, but she liked the more affectionate version of Edwin. “You have been part of the agency since you solved your first case.”

“That’s unfair,” Crystal laughed. “I didn’t get officially invited to the agency until after we defeated Esther.”

“Well, Niko came with previous experience.” Edwin replied with a half smile. “She watched a lot of Scooby Doo.”

Niko smiled as Crystal made an affronted noise and Charles looked at them both with an affectionate grin. This was where she belonged and she was so happy to be back.

Chapter Text

Edwin could hear the whispers as he crouched in the corner of his cell. Sa’al had escorted him to the cell as soon as they arrived in Hell, locking him in and warning the other demons to stay away from him. While he was thankful he wasn’t being tortured, he didn’t like the whispers and stares he was getting either. He could hear them coming, demons of all shapes and sizes. They smelled of brimstone and death, filling his nose and making him gag. He hated how they spoke about him as if he couldn’t hear them.

“When is Sal going to let his little pet out to play?” One of the demons asked, passing the cell. “He’s been here for long enough.”

“Azazel, Sa’al is very protective over his sacrifices,” Another demon commented. “I heard this one had no clue he was being taken. It is very rare to find a virgin sacrifice his age.”

The days passed much the same. He couldn’t tell what time it was, or how long he had been in the cell. He stopped praying after a long time, every time he opened his eyes and found his prayers had not been answered he believed in God even less. Meanwhile, the demons were preoccupied with the boy. Sa’al seemed to feel bad for the terrified teen, but he knew it was a matter of time before another demon gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Sure enough, a few years into Edwin’s stay in Hell, Sa’al was torturing a soul when the offer came. When your superior comes and offers to give you as many souls as you want for one teen sacrifice, you don’t turn them down.

“He tried to escape again!” Buer growled. “It’s the fifth time this month. If it weren’t for the hellhounds, he would have made it 2 floors up.”

“Which boy is this?” Deumus asked.

“The one I got from Sa’al. The boy doesn’t scream the way he should and he’s escaped. How can one human soul figure out how to escape one of the lowest levels of hell after a year?”

“Might as well put up signs,” Ipes muttered. “Seen this soul? Return to Buer. Change the name when you decide you’re tired of trying to break him.”

No one expected Buer to take the advice seriously, but he did. A few days after the conversation, Edwin escaped again. After he was captured, his face was plastered around Hell. No one knew if they would work, but they had to try something to keep him from escaping. Buer was already regretting taking the boy from Sa’al, now he was questioning his sanity about keeping him.

Astaroth took great pleasure in taking the human’s voice. When he had been given the human boy from Buer, he had been expecting a broken soul. What he got was a boy more determined than ever to escape Hell. He threw the voiceless boy back into his cell and ensured all the enchantments were in place before leaving his office.

“Having problems with your present again?” One of the imps chuckled.

“I would be quiet unless you want to replace him in that cell,” Astaroth snapped before stomping to the common room. 

There was no secret in Hell that no soul had caused as much trouble for the demons in several hundred years. It seemed there was no way to break the boy, he just continued to find a way to escape his captors and try to find an exit.

“Escape again?” Buer asked.

“Yes!” Astaroth threw himself into a chair. “He slipped out when I turned to grab something. How is he so fast? Can he not feel the fire burning his feet as he runs? Have I not tortured him enough yet?”

“I’m starting to think the torture isn’t going to work on him,” Amon said, sitting beside Astaroth. “He seems to get more resilient the longer he is here. I wonder what is keeping him here. We have seen Death come for several souls who don’t belong here.”

“At this point, I’m tempted to let him run and see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Edwin was pushing at the enchantments that surrounded his cell. He might not have a voice, but he didn’t need it anyway. No one could hear him, and he had found screaming was the quickest way to get captured again. With a good push against a weakness in the enchantments, he watched them fall from around the cell. He listened, ensuring he couldn’t hear any footsteps returning to the office before he bolted down the hall.

“FUCK!” Astaroth cursed, taking off out of the common room.

The demons left in his wake laughed. Who knew that one teenage soul could cause a crown prince of Hell to lose composure?

Bael curled up in the corner of the Dollhouse, watching the boy cower in the corner. He was no fool, he knew he hadn’t broken the boy. He had gotten lucky, the boy fell from the stairs before he could escape. A few more steps and he would have found one of the secret doors to leave Hell. He could see the cracks starting to form, the boy was starting to break. It had only taken 70 years.

“Damnation!” Bael cursed, waking from a short nap to find the boy gone again. “How is he so fast? Where does he get the energy to keep running?”

He arrived at the staircase in time to see Edwin glance over the edge of the stairs and run up the final few. Bael cursed, trying desperately to get to him before he could get out. He was too late. The boy fell through the door out of Hell and Bael was left with the desire to throw himself down the stairs. He was going to have to explain how he let a soul escape. But, he knew no one was in a hurry to bring the troublesome boy back.

Every demon in Hell let out a collective groan the day Bael dragged Edwin back to the dollhouse. They had been free of the troublesome teen for so long that they weren’t looking forward to chasing him around Hell again. Out of everyone, Bael was the one who was able to keep him contained the longest, but he was also the one who allowed him to escape.

“He has a fucking friend!” Bael moaned, coming down the hall. “Another soul came to Hell of his own free will and helped the boy escape.”

“We will get back to that,” Ipes chuckled. “You captured the boy, brought him back, and he’s already escaped again? It hasn’t even been one Earth day.”

“Well, it would have been longer if a boy hadn’t brought a BOMB into my dollhouse!” Bael screamed.

“A boy?” Buer asked. “You are telling me that you let not one but two teenage boys escape? How did the other boy even get here? One of us would have been alerted if a soul needed to be collected.”

“A woman from that damned Lost and Found Department opened a door,” Bael hissed. “I thought they were supposed to collect wayward children, not aid them in plane jumping. I’m done. If that boy ends up here again, someone else can have him. Give him to the boss for all I care. Especially if his friend comes too.”

Edwin and Charles would have been amused to see posters of their faces around Hell after that. They all said the same thing: If you see these souls, let them leave! They are more trouble than they are worth to keep here!

Chapter Text

When Emma Payne received news that her son had disappeared from the school, she had assumed he had run from his responsibilities. Elizabeth had lost her oldest son to the Boer War before the turn of the century and her daughter wasn’t old enough to be in society yet. Edwin, with all his faults, was the only option they had to continue their family name.

After her son was missing for a few months, the school sent a representative to speak with her, as her husband was out of the country on business. She sent Elizabeth with her governess and sent for tea.

“Can you tell me what happened to my son?” Elizabeth asked.

“It was an act of God, ma’am,” The representative said. “I am sorry to come bearing horrible news for you, ma’am. A group of the boys have gone missing on the school property. They have been missing for some time and the authorities have declared them dead.”

Emma took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Waves of sorrow overcame her as the loss hit her. She calmed down, opening her eyes and dabbing the corners before her tears could run.

“What do you need from us?”

“Someone will need to collect his personal effects.”

“I will discuss it with my husband upon his return. I assume there was nothing to indicate what he was doing before he went missing?”

“No, ma’am.” The representative stood to leave. He paused before turning and sitting back down. “It is quite odd. The dorm master told us Edwin was already asleep when he checked on the boys. He also did not associate himself with the other boys who went missing.”

Emma nodded, accepting the tea that was brought into the room. The representative didn’t linger, he drank a cup of tea before departing. Once alone, Emma sat her cup down and started to cry. Edwin might have been an awkward child, and her husband’s least favorite, but he was still her child. She would mourn for him as long as she lived, just as she did for her oldest son.

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Mary Rowland had a lot of regrets when it came to her son. She regretted letting her husband hurt him and sending him to boarding school. Most of all, she regretted not seeing the boy he had become. Her sweet and caring boy had remained the same his entire life, no matter what was thrown at him. She knew he faced backlash for his heritage, coloring, and scars. She knew he was the first to stand guard over others and would do anything to protect others.

“We don’t know what happened to your son,” The headmaster said, looking at the couple sitting across from him. “The other boys said he never came back to the dorm and we found him in the attic this morning. We don’t know how long he was there or what happened.”

“Where are the police, then?” Paul asked. “My boy died under your watch, you have no idea how, and you haven’t called the police?”

Mary couldn’t hear anything after that. She was focused on the fact her boy was gone. Her son, her only child, was dead. She couldn’t feel the tears running down her face, her sorrow so deep in her bones as she tried not to break down. She didn’t react as her husband helped her out of her chair, and didn’t react as he led her outside.

“His things…” She whispered, looking at Paul through her tears. “Where are his things?”

“We don’t need them,” Paul growled, the act of being a caring father ended as soon as they got in the car. “That little nuisance is finally out of our lives.”

“No, you can’t do that,” Mary sobbed. “He was my boy, mine! You don’t get to erase him, destroy him! I might not have fought you before, I might have let you hurt my boy for far too long. From this moment on, you don’t get to disrespect my son. If you lay a hand on me, if you try and pretend like my child never existed, I will go to the police. You will go to jail for everything you have done to me.”

Paul was stunned by her outburst. Mary was a mess of emotions; anger and grief filled her words as she finally got them off her chest. Later, she would reinforce her words. Later, she would sit in her son’s room and carefully pack away his belongings while planning a funeral. Later, she would drown in her grief. For now, she would ensure the man she married would never hurt her child’s memory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mai Sasaki looked at the pictures that lined the walls of her home. She couldn’t help but feel lost in a sea of grief as she took in the smiling faces that stared back at her. Niko, her precious daughter, had joined her father in the afterlife. No one had given her any details on how her daughter had died, Jenny’s call was translated by Mai’s brother in broken English, but she knew her Niko. Her girl had died protecting someone else.

Her house was full of reminders of a life well lived. Pictures of her husband and daughter smiled out at her as she walked to the sunroom, her slippers seeming to echo through the house. She stopped in front of one just before the sunroom, a picture of her husband and daughter from when Niko was still a little girl.

“You take care of our girl,” She whispered to the picture of her husband. “She missed you every day you have been gone. I will see you again one day.”

She closed her eyes, a breeze blowing through the house. She could almost hear the sound of her daughter’s laugh on the wind, the melody so familiar and lost to her again. As she listened to the sound, she took a breath and let her sorrow take her. In that moment, she found peace.

Chapter Text

Charles didn’t jump as he felt nails dig into his shoulder and feathers barely brushed his ear. They were wrapping up a case and he had been waiting for Monty to return. He reached and ran a finger down the crow’s beak, smiling as it cawed softly before nuzzling against his face. Edwin smiled softly, finishing his notes before the client arrived. Monty nuzzled Charles again before fluttering over to land on Edwin’s desk.

“Hello, little crow,” Edwin soothed, rubbing a thumb down the bird’s back. “Would you like to stay for the meeting or go back to your flat?”

Charles laughed as Edwin suddenly had a lapful of Monty, the former crow chuckling as he kissed Edwin’s cheek. The other boy looked perplexed before hugging Monty to his chest. Charles approached to kiss Monty’s hair, gently caressing Edwin’s cheek. Their moment was interrupted by the client knocking on the door.

“Come on, little crow,” Charles said, offering a hand to Monty. “Edwin likes to be professional when he is meeting clients. You can sit on the couch and look cute.”

“You always think I’m cute,” Monty argued, poking Charles’ cheek before curling up on the couch. “Even before we started our relationship.”

“Stop flirting, both of you.” Edwin hissed before turning his attention to the door. “Come in.”

Charles kissed Monty’s head again before walking back over to the desk. Monty loved watching them work, especially when their cases were solved. Both boys were relaxed and Charles teased Edwin relentlessly in front of the clients. Monty closed his eyes and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch. He had time for a nap before the client was gone and he became the sole focus of Charles’ attention.

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Crystal should have been surprised to see the crow sitting on her balcony, but she wasn’t. Charles had stepped through the mirror to tell her Monty had been in a mood and snapped at Edwin. It was odd, usually it was Charles and Monty who snipped at each other when they were on edge. He had left the office as a boy, but they weren’t sure if he would still be that way when he got to her.

“You don’t have to change back if you don’t want to,” She said, setting the plate of sandwiches on the table. “I’m here if you want to talk. I promise not to tell the boys if you don’t want me to.”

She went inside to get the hot chocolate she made, leaving him for a few minutes to decide what he wanted to do. She smiled when she saw Monty was curled up in one of the chairs, nibbling on a sandwich. She smiled softly and put a mug on the table before him before sitting in another chair. She closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the sun.

“Today is technically my birthday,” Monty whispered. “Today is the day Esther changed me from a crow to a boy. I guess I just got in my head. I didn’t mean to snap at Edwin. I was just…”

“Lost in your head?” Crystal said, sipping her mug. “I get that. Edwin has a way of appearing in the one moment when you can’t process what he’s asking then gets angry when you don’t have an answer.”

“That’s the thing though.” Monty put his sandwich down and leaned forward. “He wasn’t asking me anything. He cupped my face so he could kiss my forehead. He’s done that since we started dating. I snapped and I feel so bad about it.”

Crystal sighed. Unlike the rest of the agency, she was able to get therapy for almost everything she had gone through the last few years. 

“Monty,” She soothed. “Today is the day that you were forced to become a human. It was traumatic. You might not remember all of it, but your mind does. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have PTSD from everything that happened to you in such a short amount of time. Yes, Edwin has done the same thing since you started dating. But, there is so much trauma attached to today and your brain can’t differentiate between good and bad. I’m sure Edwin will understand if you explain.”

Monty leaned back, sipping from the mug he’d grabbed off the table. She could see the gears turning as he sipped the hot chocolate, his eyes on the sky. Crystal turned when she heard the front door open. Niko had returned from shopping, kicking her shoes off and waving at Crystal. 

“Thank you,” Monty whispered.

“For what?”

“For being my friend.” Monty put the empty mug on the table. “I need to apologize to Edwin. It’s not his fault that he didn’t know what today is. There has been a lot going on recently so I don’t blame them for not realizing. Do you want me to help clean this up?”

“No, you go ahead and head home.” Crystal sipped from her mug. “I’m here if you need me.”

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Edwin stood by the window in Monty’s room, watching the sun begin to rise. Jenny had been nice enough to let the familiar move in with her, and she didn’t ask questions when she saw Edwin or Charles standing in her living room in the middle of the night. Now, Charles was wrapped around Monty in the bed, his eyes closed as he buried his face in his hair. 

“Can feel you staring,” Monty murmured, his eyes drawn to Edwin.

“I apologize, songbird,” Edwin whispered, climbing back into the bed. “Go back to sleep, darling. The sun has not even risen yet.”

“Too late, I’m awake.” Monty yawned, poking Charles to get him to move.

Charles groaned playfully and rolled off the bed. Monty laughed, a bright smile on his face, while Edwin rolled his eyes affectionately. Charles climbed back into the bed and wrapped himself around Monty again, burying his face in the back of his head. Edwin tilted Monty’s face up to look at him.

“I love you, Monty,” He whispered so quietly he was afraid he hadn’t heard him.

“I love you too.”

Edwin kissed Monty’s forehead, making the other boy sigh in happiness.

“Oh, I love you, Charles. Thank you so much for cuddling me while I slept.” Charles mimicked. “I love you too, Charles. Thank you for cleaning up the office without having to be asked.”

Edwin and Monty looked at each other, affection and exasperation evident. Monty grabbed Charles’ arms and made him tighten them as Edwin reached back and yanked Charles’ head so he would look at him.

“Are you feeling neglected, love?” He asked. “Do you need all the attention? That isn’t fair to our little crow, we did miss his birthday after all.”

“Don’t worry, Charles,” Monty whispered, pressing back against him. “We love you too.”

Chapter Text

Edwin didn’t have to defend Charles often. If there was one thing his partner was good at, it was protecting them both when they were attacked. When another ghost happened to get the jump on Charles, Edwin wasn’t prepared for them to take Charles down. He watched as the other boy struggled with the ghost, gasping for air he didn’t need as they wrapped their hands around his neck.

“Ed…” Charles gasped. “Knife…”

Edwin looked around for the bag of tricks, finding it a short distance away. Charles had dropped it in the scuffle, needing all his focus. Edwin grabbed Charles’ backpack, not even thinking about how to navigate it. He knew Charles kept the iron stuff at the top, always ready to grab with a gloved hand. He reached in and grabbed the first thing he felt. He wasn’t surprised that it was the iron knife Charles usually carried in his pocket.

He opened the knife, his mind reminding him what Charles had taught him. He didn’t like to get physical, it was the reason they had the dynamic they did. He knew he didn’t have to stab the other ghost, a touch from the blade would be enough. However, seeing the ghost tighten his grip on Charles’ neck was the final straw for Edwin.

When they returned to the office, they closed the case and curled together on the couch. They needed to talk about what happened,  They had gotten better at it since Hell.

“You did good today, baby,” Charles cooed, burying his face in Edwin’s neck. “I know you hate getting in the middle of a fight, but you did good.”

“I did not mean to stab the poor man,” Edwin explained. “I only meant to place the knife on his skin. But then I heard you…I couldn’t let him keep his hands around your neck.”

Edwin’s hands shook as he rubbed Charles’ back. His mind kept flashing to the panicked look on the other boy’s face. He sighed, rubbing his cheek against the side of Charles’ head. He liked the feeling of his curls brushing against his face, the reminder that Charles was still beside him.

“Darling,” Charles soothed. “As you frequently remind me, I am already dead. He couldn’t have killed me. I love the sentiment though.”

“I love you.”

It was a statement of fact, emotions laced through his words. Charles knew the thoughts racing through the other boy’s mind, he had them every time Edwin got hurt on a case. 

“I love you.” Charles tilted his face to give Edwin a half smile. “I’m glad you managed to not touch me with the knife. It got a little hairy there for a moment.”

Edwin rolled his eyes and kissed the smirk off his face.

Crystal sat in the back of the Uber, trying to keep her tears at bay. Even though it had been a few years since she lost her memories and returned to London as a different person, the people from her old life still couldn’t see her any differently.

“ Why are you always so dramatic, Crystal? ” Her mother had said, sipping a glass of wine. “ It’s not our fault that you disappear all the time and are so secretive. How are we supposed to know that you aren’t off galavanting across the city? You could be doing drugs again for all we know. ”

“ You’re so petty, Crystal, ” Her former best friend snapped when Crystal mentioned something in passing.

“ I can’t believe you are still on about that, ” Another friend commented when Crystal told them about her temporary amnesia. “ You have everyone else fooled, but not me. I know your parents shipped you off the rehab the first chance they got. I’m sure they were glad to be done with a manipulative bitch like you. ”

Each sentence, each word, felt like a knife in her back. It was reaching the point where the words hurt more than the silence. Some of her friends accepted her apologies and moved on. Several of them had been waiting for the other shoe to drop, for her to switch back to the person she was.

“Thank you,” She whispered, climbing out of the car and walking into the building. 

She knew Jenny would be home, it was later than Crystal had thought it would be when she finally left her parents’. They were still trying to convince her to live with them, but they refused to admit their actions led her down her original path. She wanted to have a relationship with them, but it was getting harder to justify the torture she was putting herself through.

“You look like you had a rough day,” Jenny remarked from her spot on the floor. “Want to share or drone out to mindless TV?”

Crystal shrugged, kicking off her shoes and locking the door behind her. Jenny didn’t say anything as the younger girl plopped on the couch, her face buried in the cushions. They didn’t have to worry about the boys showing up, Charles had already informed Jenny that Edwin wasn’t having a good day.

“How about this,” Jenny said, sitting up. “I am going to order Chinese because I’m tired from work. You will change into your pajamas and find a new documentary to watch. We are going to zone out. If you feel like talking, I’m here. If not, then we just watch TV, no harm done. Deal?”

Crystal rolled over and peered at the older woman. Jenny was the closest thing Crystal had to an older sibling and she always turned to her when her head wouldn’t be quiet. 

“Deal,” She muttered.

“Alright then. Bedroom while I order.”

Crystal dragged herself from the couch and pattered down the hall to her room. As she walked and listened to Jenny order from their favorite Chinese place, the sting of the words from her past hurt less. She knew she would spill her gut over some noodles and General Tso’s, but she wasn’t going to give in to the tears.

Chapter Text

It was a fact in their house that Monty hated mushrooms. Edwin loved mushrooms and used them in several dishes, while Charles would eat anything Edwin cooked. Edwin quickly realized he couldn’t hide the mushrooms in food or Monty wouldn’t eat anything. Monty was adamant they could taste the fungi, regardless of how well they were hidden or seasoned.

“Charles, could you get the rice and pasta down from the cabinet for me?” Edwin asked, crouching to get a pot and pan out of the cabinet. “I want to have dinner done before Monty gets home.” 

“Of course, angel.” Charles went to the pantry and grabbed a bag of rice and a box of pasta. “What are you making?”

“Mushroom risotto for you and me, and garlic noodles for the songbird,” Edwin explained, pointing to the camera. “I have been craving risotto for days. I stopped by the market on my way home from class and picked some up.”

Charles hummed, wrapping his arms around Edwin. The other man chuckled and rested a hand on his arms. Charles was the cuddliest one in their relationship, so Edwin was used to working while having at least one of his boyfriends wrapped around him. He wasn’t phased as Charles buried his face in his neck, chopping the mushrooms to add to the pan. 

“If you are going to be distracting, I advise you to find something else to do,” Edwin chuckled, kissing Charles’ forehead. “I love you, but I need to focus. I would hate to ruin my beautiful risotto because my boyfriend was too cute.”

Charles grumbled, kissed Edwin’s neck, and stepped away. Edwin wasn’t surprised when he collected his homework and set up on the island. All three apartment occupants desired to be near each other, something none of them liked having in common. Edwin listened to Charles mutter to himself, opening his computer to work on an essay due in two days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Monty got home, Charles was still working on his essay while Edwin hummed away at the stove. Monty wrinkled their nose, kicking their shoes off before entering the kitchen. Charles glanced up and smiled, pretending to lock his lips before returning to his essay. Monty shook their head and wrapped their arms around Edwin.

“Hello, songbird,” Edwin purred. “How was your day?”

“It was okay,” Monty whispered into Edwin’s back. They were slightly shorter than Charles and Edwin, which was part of the reason the two were so protective over them. “The study group was a little boring, mostly because Thomas was there and I have no interest in the man. He still asks if I can give him your number.”

“Darling, you can tell him we are together,” Edwin assured him, taking the lid off the pan and stirring his food. “I would rather him irritate you about our relationship than make you uncomfortable with his attraction.”

“Not our fault you’re so hot,” Charles muttered, typing a few more words before groaning.

Monty tried ignoring the smell of cooked mushrooms, burying their face in Edwin’s back. They couldn’t resist sneaking a hand under his shirt, fingers tracing along his skin. Edwin hummed, closing his eyes as the touch distracted him. He knew what Monty was doing, even if they wouldn’t admit it. 

“Oh, I see how it is,” Charles said, closing his computer. “Monty is allowed to distract you while you cook but I get banished to the island. I knew the songbird was your favorite.”

Edwin sighed and turned down the risotto before turning in Monty’s arms. Charles was watching them, amused, as Monty’s eyes went huge. Edwin could feel hesitant fingers on his back, his shirt raised enough to show skin.

“Fine, you menaces,” He announced, looking between his boyfriends. “You have my attention. The food will be done in about 15 minutes. Do your worst.”

Monty turned and looked at Charles, having a silent conversation. Edwin was intrigued until he saw the self-satisfied smirk on Charles’ face. Monty didn’t often come up with the ideas, more content to do whatever thought Charles came up with. Watching Charles stand from his stool and stalk towards them, Edwin started to question what he had gotten himself into.

“Don’t worry, angel,” Charles cooed, cupping the back of Edwin’s head and pressing a harsh kiss against his lips. “We aren’t going to hurt you…much.”

Monty chuckled at the shiver that ran through Edwin’s body at the words. It was no secret that Edwin liked to be in control. Monty and Charles had an agreement that he looked just as pretty when they took all his control away. 

“You want the first go?” Monty whispered, wrapping an arm around Charles’ waist and kissing along his neck. “You look like you need it, especially after that essay you were working on.”

“You are so sweet, songbird,” Charles replied, pressing a series of small kisses to Monty’s lips. “Meet me in the bedroom?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charles and Monty were barely conscious of the fact Edwin scrambled from their bed and darted down the hall. They didn’t care that he was still naked and screaming about his dinner. They were content to bask in the afterglow and cuddle.

“You know he made you a separate dinner, right?” Charles muttered, wrapping himself around Monty. “You didn’t have to almost ruin the risotto by seducing him.”

Monty huffed, eyes barely able to stay open as they buried their face in Edwin’s pillow. They were comfortable, surrounded by the warmth of Charles and the scent of Edwin.

“I turned it off while you led him down the hall,” Monty yawned. “Just because I don’t like the smell of the mushrooms doesn’t mean I will take away his joy. I would have been fine heating up the leftovers from yesterday.”

“He would never have let that happen.”

Monty chuckled and sighed, sleeping sliding over him like another blanket. Charles buried his face in Monty’s hair before letting out a sigh and falling asleep.

Edwin walked into the room, content with the knowledge his desired risotto wasn’t ruined. Monty and Charles were passed out on the bed, the blanket barely covering them. He took a moment to appreciate the two before returning to the kitchen. Dinner needed to be covered or it would be ruined.

Chapter Text

Charles and Crystal quickly realized they were not meant to be in a romantic relationship. Between Charles’ complicated feelings for Edwin and the fact Crystal was alive, they knew they were supposed to be friends. 

Charles patiently took Crystal’s hands, smiling softly. Touching her didn’t feel the same as it had before he went to get Edwin from Hell. The barely there touch was nothing compared to the warmth and comfort of hugging Edwin.

“I love you, Crystal, but I think I would rather be your friend,” He said softly. “You are still dealing with the stuff from David and I want to figure out my feelings. Now that I’m not holding the secret about my dad, I feel like I have room for other feelings.”

“I figured,” Crystal chuckled. “I feel the same way. After our kiss, I started to realize how much I liked having you as a friend.”

Charles chuckled, squeezing her hands. Crystal rested her head on his shoulder, sighing. Edwin came into the office, looking at them for a moment. There were gears turning as he tried to figure out what was going on.

“Don’t worry, mate,” Charles chirped. “Crystal and I were discussing how we are much better friends than anything else. More emotion that you want to engage in during the middle of the day. Any new cases?”

Edwin still had a crease between his eyes as he looked at the pile of mail in his hand. He had thought Crystal and Charles had previously discussed having a relationship, so this new development was confusing.

“There are several new cases, Charles,” Edwin scoffed. “You would know that if you had the decency to look at the mail for yourself. However, I have narrowed it down to a few cases that need our immediate attention.”

Crystal watched as Charles detangled himself from her and immediately stepped beside Edwin. It was nothing for her to see the two of them bent over the desk together, every part of them touching as they debated cases. She and Jenny had a bet going on how long it was going to take Charles to figure out he was in love with the other boy.

It was interesting to watch Charles paint Crystal’s nails. They weren’t sure it would work, but he was willing to try. Crystal couldn’t help but smile at the light in his eyes as he worked, the tip of his tongue poked out in concentration. 

“This is a pretty color,” He said, seeing the pale pink stand out against her skin.

“It is,” Crystal smiled brightly. “Thank you for doing this. Maybe Jenny will let you do hers next.”

“I think she would sooner kill me again,” Charles chuckled, dipping the brush back into the bottle. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“I’m always here to listen.”

She watched as Charles silently painted her nails. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he decided not to say anything at all. She knew him well enough to know he was trying to organize his thoughts before he said anything at all. 

“I think I’ve been in love with Edwin for a long time,” He whispered. “I didn’t realize it because there was so much else in the way. Everything with my dad, with the cases, my relationship with you. I think I fell in love with him in the attic and buried it under everything else.”

Crystal couldn’t look at him, couldn’t see the emotions in his eyes. She knew, from the touch on her hand, how conflicted he was with the feelings. 

“Are you going to tell him?” She whispered.

“I don’t know.” He finished painting her nails, putting the lid back on the polish bottle. “What if I don’t deserve to be loved by him? Why would the amazing person that is Edwin trust me to hold onto his heart? What if I never deserve to be loved the way he wants to love me?”

Crystal reached up with one hand, cupping his face.

“Charles,” She began in a gentle voice. “If there is one thing I have learned in all my therapy, it’s this: if we only accept the love we think we deserve, we will never find love at all. You need to tell him, even if it’s just to ease your mind.”

Edwin and Crystal sat across from each other with a chessboard between them. Crystal was the only one who had the patience to play an entire game with him, and it was the only time that they didn’t argue. Crystal could play circles around Edwin, but they were split pretty evenly down the middle.

“If you do that, I can beat you in three,” Edwin said, watching her touch one of her pieces.

“Shut up,” Crystal snapped, looking over the board again. “I plan on beating you again before Charles gets back. It's never a true victory if he distracts you mid-game.”

Edwin chuckled, leaning back in his chair. Their relationship had improved since Charles and Edwin got together, enough that Charles had no issue leaving them alone for hours. Crystal often referred to Edwin as her older brother during conversations, while Edwin called her his sister several times. 

“That move I beat you in two.”

“Fuck you too, Edwin.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have left you two alone today,” Charles said, stepping through the mirror. “I haven’t heard her curse at you in weeks. Hi, love.”

Edwin smiled as Charles kissed the top of his head, his eyes still on the board before him. Crystal rolled her eyes, reaching for a different piece and moving it.

“If you two are going to be gross, I’m leaving before the game ends.” She said, glaring at them. “Charles, go away so Edwin can lose fairly.”

Charles chuckled and stepped away, sitting on the couch to watch them finish their game. Edwin sighed and looked at the board, his eyes only on the board. Crystal leaned back in her chair and smiled to herself. It was nice to have friends, especially ones that felt more like family.

Chapter Text

Edwin loved trees. When he was growing up, his mother had shown him books on how to identify different trees, which were good for firewood, and which were better for climbing. He never found a good climbing tree, not that climbing trees was high on his list of things he enjoyed.

“Silver birch,” Edwin commented, looking at the item on his desk. “Wherever did you find such a magnificent gift like this?”

“It’s been passed down in my family for years,” the client explained. “I didn’t know what it was made of. I just know I died without an heir and I’m the last member of my family. I don’t want the box to pass to someone who won’t appreciate it. Thank you, again, for solving my case.”

Edwin nodded, running his fingers over the beautifully carved box. He didn’t hear the client leave, his thoughts returning to one of his last conversations with their mother while they broke down.  

“Want to tell me what has you so distracted?” Charles whispered, coming to rest in his spot on the desk.

“My mother had a silver birch tree planted yearly, trying to save the planet. I’m sure they are beautiful now, being fully grown.”

“That doens’t explain why you are almost crying over a box, much less see you lost in thought before the client has even left the office yet. So, talk.”

So Edwin started talking. He started with the forest, the trees he could still remember and those he was sure Simeon already knew. He explained his walks through the woods always calmed his racing mind. He told him about his mother and their connection over the trees. There was a fond smile on his face as he looked up at Charles.

“I’m glad you have good memories from your childhood, no matter how far and few between they are.” Charles kissed the top of his head. “Maybe you can take me back where you grew up? I would love to see how you became you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niko loved the forest and had grown up running through fields and climbing trees. Her love of the forest came from her father and the forest felt more like home after her father died. Maybe that’s what led her to the dandelion sprites to begin with. If it weren’t for the sprites, she never would have found the family she loved more than life. 

Crystal knew the rules about walking in the woods, especially alone. She had heard them growing up and kept them in her mind. Niko didn’t ask, she had no fear of the woods. Charles and Edwin often seemed confused, especially after their trip into the woods to help Monty.

“What do you mean, rules?” Charles asked. “Edwin, do you know any rules about walking through forests?”

“I know not to interact with the fae,” Edwin informed them. “I am aware of the mimics and skinwalkers who reside inside certain areas. I believe there are rules you should follow when entering magical places, such as forests and cemeteries. However, I am not aware of specific rules.”

Crystal sighed. She sat on the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. She could hear her grandmother in her head, her words of warning ringing out every time Niko said she was going for a walk.

“Do you want to share the rules?” Charles asked, crouching in front of her. “Just so we don’t do anything you are uncomfortable with.”

Crystal thought for a moment. Every second they were venturing through the woods around Port Townsend, she had gone over the rules in her mind. She hated being afraid, especially since it was an unwarranted fear. They had bigger problems at that moment, mainly David and Esther.

My grandmother gave me a list of rules to follow when I visited her in the summers,” She explained. “I was her only grandchild, she wanted to ensure I was safe. The first rule was never to go into the woods alone. It didn’t matter if it was a ghost, dog, or friend, you never venture into the woods alone.”

“You’re never alone,” Niko commented. “You have all of us.”

“I know.” Crystal looked over at her. “The second rule is never turn around. It doesn’t matter what you hear, no matter what you think you hear, don’t turn around. The third rule is never to respond if you hear someone calling your name. Even if it sounds like your mother or father, never respond.”

Charles and Edwin looked at each other while Niko shook her head. Some of these rules were getting ridiculous. There was nothing inherently evil about the spirits of the woods, however, she understood that everyone had a different opinion.

“Mimics do try to lure you into revealing your voice,” Edwin nodded, writing something in his journal. “What else?”

“If you have a bad feeling about a certain path, don’t take it,” Crystal played with the rips in her jeans as she thought. “Something is waiting for you at the end and it isn’t a nice ending. And make sure you remember the way home. The moment you get lost and turned around, you become fair game to whatever is in the woods.”

“That doesn’t sound very pleasant,” Niko said. “I’ve never had an encounter like that.”

“Niko,” Charles said gently. “You were possessed by dandelion sprites for an undetermined amount of time. You should have a good idea of what is a bad idea and what isn’t. Crystal?”

“Hm?” She looked up. “Oh, right. The biggest one my grandmother always repeated was you never know what is buried under your feet. Remember to be cautious and courteous, you don’t want to anger anything.”

Chapter Text

Charles shouldn’t be allowed to pick cases, Edwin was quick to admit to that. Every time he let Charles pick the case, they ended up being chased by something. This time, Charles decided he knew how to handle a redcap. Edwin just forgot to make sure Charles had actually researched the case before they left to investigate.

“Damnation, Charles!” Edwin cursed, watching Charles try to dig through his bag for one of Edwin’s books. “Do you not know how to research before you agree to cases?”

“I thought I knew what we were getting into!” Charles yelled, shoulder-deep in his bag. “Fuck, of course. The one book we need and it’s buried under everything. Can you hold the bag so I can go find it?

Edwin nodded, hesitating to be alone with the redcap for too long. While the creature wasn’t a threat to himself or Charles, there was a nearby town full of people who could fall victim to the sinister being. Edwin had grown up with stories of redcaps, told by his grandfather. The only story he remembered with the most clarity was his grandfather's encounter with a redcap. At least, that was the story he told.

“Got it!” Charles called from the bag, holding a book from the open top.

“Excellent.” Edwin placed the bag on the floor and opened the book. “Get out here so we can be prepared for the creature. Every time we move, it’s getting closer to town.”

Charles hurried out of the bag, listening as everything crashed to the floor. He would have time to deal with that after the investigation, as long as Edwin didn’t find a way to kill him again.

Edwin didn’t take long to find the passages to do with redcaps, sending Charles to search for a few crucifixes they kept in the bag, just in case. When the redcap was finally gone in its ball of fire, Charles chuckled and picked up the long, ragged tooth it left behind. Edwin simply glared at him and started walking towards town. He wasn’t up for teleporting himself to the office, and there were several mirrors to pick from. He heard his boyfriend sigh behind him. Charles knew he would be getting a lecture as soon as they arrived back at the office, he was not looking forward to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charles groaned as he read through the passage again. After the incident with the redcap, Edwin no longer allowed him to decide what cases they should investigate. They had a pile of interesting cases in the drawer of Edwin’s desk, but he wasn’t allowed to even look at them. However, his real punishment was worse than that. 

“Why do I have to do all the research?” He moaned, glancing at his boyfriend. “It was just a redcap.”

“And you have the answer,” Edwin commented, writing notes in his notebook before glancing over at him. “You are to do the research thoroughly. The last case might have been a redcap, but you never know what else we could encounter doing our job. I will know if you have missed something, so please be thorough.”

Charles tried to give his boyfriend a pleading look. He pulled out his biggest, saddest eyes and everything. However, Edwin never looked away from his notebook. Charles let out a long-suffering sigh.

“This is worse than no kissing,” Charles grumbled, going back to the book he was reading. “Stupid redcaps. Stupid books. Gorgeous boyfriend that doesn’t want to cuddle because it might distract me.”

Edwin watched him, affection burrowed in his chest. He had already done the research for the case before Charles had returned from walking Crystal home. She didn’t want to work a case about a spirit turning into a wraith. He could watch Charles research all day, but this was meant to be a punishment. It wasn’t his fault Charles looked highly attractive when he was concentrating.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days later, Edwin was putting books away when Charles stepped behind him. He smiled as an arm snaked around his waist, pulling him back against him. He hummed as Charles buried his face in his neck, pressing gentle kisses to the skin.

“I was researching last night,” Charles whispered into his neck. “While you were playing chess with Crystal.”

“Is that so?” Edwin hummed, placing another book in its place before resting his hand on the back of Charles’ head. “You managed to do research without it being a punishment? I am genuinely surprised.”

“What can I say, you inspired me.” Charles kissed his neck again before stepping back. “I may have been researching courting rituals and other things from the early 1900s.”

“Charles, you did not…”

Edwin turned around and stopped mid-turn. Charles smiled as he held out a necklace, his eyes shining with happiness. Edwin couldn’t help the pang of familiarity when he saw the necklace. He carefully took it and ran his finger over the charm. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized it was a locket.

“It wasn’t supposed to make you cry,” Charles whispered, the happiness draining from his face. “I can…”

“No, no,” Edwin assured him, reaching for his hand as his eyes darted from the necklace to Charles. “These are happy tears. Do you have any idea what you just handed me, darling?”

“Crystal helped me find it,” Charles whispered. “She helped me research your family and she found out what happened to your stuff when the line died. Funnily enough, this was in Mick’s shop.”

Edwin chuckled, opening the locket. There was always a photo of his father inside, then one of him and his siblings. He froze when he saw the photos. Charles leaned over and smiled softly, running a finger over the picture inside. The pictures had been replaced by two of Edwin, one from when he was younger and another from his time at St. Hilarion’s.

“This belonged to my mother,” He whispered. “She wore it my entire life and I was sure she had been buried with it. Thank you, so much.”

Charles smiled brightly. Nothing made him happier than making Edwin happy.

Chapter Text

Niko stood atop the lighthouse, looking out over the ocean. It was her father’s birthday and she missed him more than ever. She was sure her mother wouldn’t have minded if she came home for the week, but she didn’t want to drown in her mother's grief alongside her own. Looking down at the water, she wanted to scream and cry until there were no more emotions left. She sighed, leaning against the railing.

“I wouldn’t jump,” A voice said.

Niko jumped slightly, turning. A girl was standing by the door to the landing, looking more out of place than Niko ever had. She wasn’t much older than Niko, but she seemed so sad.

 “I’m not going to jump,” Niko said, turning to look over the water again. “I like to come up here to think sometimes.”

“Me too,” The girl admitted, walking over beside Niko. “The ocean keeps secrets well. Not to mention, we are high enough up that no one can hear you cry.”

Niko nodded. She closed her eyes, listening to the wind blow. She needed to leave soon, to get to school on time, but she needed a few more moments. She felt the other girl’s hair brush against her arm, a whisper of a touch reminding her she wasn’t alone. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see the other girl holding onto the railing and staring at the water below.

“Not thinking of jumping, right?” Niko asked.

“Huh?” The girl shook herself before smiling softly at Niko. “No, I’m just thinking. It has been a rough few months. I’m Pandora, by the way. You can call me Dora.”

“Niko.”

“You live above the Tongue and Tail, right?” Pandora asked, resting her hip against the railing. “I saw you when I went to visit Jenny.”

“I do.” Niko looked at her watch. “Oh, no. I’m going to be late for school. It was so nice to meet you, Dora!”

Pandora chuckled as Niko went down the stairs, her footsteps echoing. She turned back to the ocean, taking a deep breath. She needed a moment of calm, her magic buzzing off her fingers. She would have to return before Thomas awoke, but it was nice to run into someone who wasn’t full of chaos.

Crystal and Niko stood at the lighthouse’s base, staring up at it. Niko routinely met Pandora at the top now that the sprites were gone. Crystal hadn’t returned to the lighthouse since she almost jumped off during Angie’s case. Niko wanted to show her friend there was nothing to be afraid of. Angie was asleep on the ocean floor again and the sunset always looked more beautiful from the top of the lighthouse.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Niko asked, rubbing her hand to get some warmth in her fingertips. “You don’t have to come with me.”

“Niko, I’m not afraid of the lighthouse,” Crystal scoffed, with a hint of fear. “I don’t think Dagfinn will be okay with us visiting.”

“Oh, I talk to him every morning,” Niko assured her. “He said that he doesn’t mind us going to the top. I’ve been coming every morning since I moved here and he told me he enjoys listening to me talk to my dad. Plus, Dora is supposed to be coming.”

“Dora?”

“A friend.”

Crystal nodded, watching Niko step into the lighthouse. She took a deep breath and followed her inside. When they reached the top, she waited to hear her mother’s voice calling out to her again. When it didn’t come, she took a deep breath and smiled. The view was gorgeous, and the sunset made the sky pink.

“Of course it would be the lighthouse,” Crystal chuckled, letting Niko lead her up the stairs. “I would expect nothing less of you.”

“Honey, I almost died a few months ago,” Niko reminded her, squeezing her hand. “I like to feel the final rays of the sun on my skin because I still can. You didn’t have to come.”

Crystal pulled her to a stop halfway up the stairs. Niko stood a stair up from her, making her slightly taller. Crystal kissed the back of her hand, looking up at her. It had been three months since the fight with Esther, three months since Pandora saved Niko’s life, three months since magic started pouring from Niko’s pores, and two months since Crystal acknowledged the crush she harbored for her friend.

“I am happy to watch the sunset with you every night, baby.” Crystal squeezed her hand. “I’m just curious if we are going to see the Cat King this early in the morning.”

Niko chuckled, kissing Crystal’s forehead.

“Only if Dora has dragged him out of hiding so he can apologize for trying to use magic on us again. I mean, I don’t blame him, we did get his soulmate injured for the second time in a few days.”

Crystal nodded in agreement, letting Niko lead her up to the top. They made it out on the landing as the first rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon. Crystal smiled as Niko hugged her into her side, resting her head against Crystal’s. There was something magical about the sunset, especially when you got to watch it with someone you love.

“I told you they would be here, Thomas,” Pandora said, stepping onto the landing. “Do stop pouting. At least they finally got rid of the witch for us.”

“Yes,” The Cat King purred, nuzzling against Pandora’s neck as he wrapped himself around her. “But they caused you to be stabbed, again. And I don’t care how cute their little friends are, I still want to punish them.”

Pandora rolled her eyes, stepping out of his arms to hug Niko and Crystal. The two girls returned the hug with every ounce of enthusiasm they could find. This was their last morning in Port Townsend, Niko’s mother had given her permission to move to England with Crystal and Jenny.

“I’m going to miss watching the sunset with you,” Niko said.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Pandora replied, cupping her face. “I’m a snap away. I will come every evening if you like. It will give Thomas time to do his job without me telling him to.”

Thomas made a disgruntled noise behind them, making all three girls laugh. Niko looked back out over the ocean as the sun continued to dip below the horizon. The town had brought her a lot of pain, but the happiness and acceptance she felt was so much better than the loneliness.

Chapter Text

They didn’t have a case. It wasn’t for a lack of them, they had an entire pile hidden away in Edwin’s desk. However, Charles had convinced Edwin they all needed a day off, to have some downtime before they all got burnt out working back-to-back cases. It hadn’t taken much convincing, a few kisses and cuddle on the couch was as much bribery as he needed.

“You sure you wanna do that, Charles?” Crystal asked, watching him from the other side of the table with a smirk.

Charles gave her a nervous smile. “Not anymore, I’m not,” he said, his hands shaking slightly higher out of nerves.

“Don’t listen to her, darling, you got this,” Edwin said, patting him on the back as he made his way around the kitchen table to the living room. He and Niko had moved to the living room to discuss historical events and astral planes. Charles released a shaky breath and moved his red piece, skipping over Crystal’s piece and putting it off to the side of the board.

Crystal raised a brow at him. She glanced at the board before a smirk spread across her face.

“Do me a favor, Charles,” she said. She was doing that thing she always did, where she wasn’t asking, but demanding. Charles hated it because he always fell for it, but at this moment it terrified him more than it irked him.

“Yeah?” he asked with a tremble in his voice.

“Never try to learn chess.” Crystal picked up one of her remaining red pieces, jumped four of Charles’, and landed on the end line. “King me, baby, ” she said, curling her hand in a gimme gesture.

Charles sighed. He only had two pieces left and there was nowhere to move that Crystal wouldn’t immediately take them. He hung his head in defeat, handing her one of the pieces to king her piece.

“I will leave chess to you and Edwin,” He whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room exploded into chaos when Edwin realized he had lost a game of Clue again. Charles was trying to hold Edwin back while also laughing hysterically at the indignant look on his face. Niko and Jenny were calmly trying to clean up the game, while Crystal continued to look smug. The look seemed to make Edwin more indignant, his eyes darkening as he drew his eyebrows down.

“This game is hardly real detective work! I’m simply too sophisticated for the simplicity of it,” Edwin insisted, glaring at Crystal. “Just because you have beaten me again doesn’t mean you are a better detective.”

Edwin was quickly getting heated, making the others scramble to clean up the game before he tried to throw the board. They all had a bet about how many losses it would take before he lost his mind, and they were pretty sure they were getting close.

“Calm down, man,” Jenny said, helping Niko clean up the game. “I don’t understand why you get so worked up about a game made for children.”

“Yeah, Edwin, calm down,” Crystal said. “This is only the hundredth time you’ve lost and you always say the same thing. 

“Both of you, stop.” Charles grabbed Edwin’s hand and led him over to the mirror. Once the other boy was in the office, he turned to Crystal. “Add it to the tally. Edwin: 0, the rest of us: 78.”

“I heard that, Charles!” Edwin exclaimed.

Charles had the decency to look chastised before stepping through the mirror after his boyfriend. He knew he would get an earful from his boyfriend, but the running joke of Edwin always losing was too fun to stop now. If they had to cheat a little along the way, that was a secret Edwin never needed to know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn’t unusual for Edwin to read to Charles when they had downtime. Crystal and Niko had walked in on them curled up on the couch together quite a few times. However, he stopped reading when they entered so Crystal never understood why Charles seemed so entranced. That all changed after a tough case that left Crystal worn down and sick. 

“ Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. ”

Crystal opened her eyes slightly to see Edwin lounging in a chair beside her bed. When she had fallen asleep, Niko had been watching over her. 

“What are you reading?” She whispered, her voice hoarse from coughing.

“Frankenstein,” Edwin said softly. “I did not want to disturb you. Charles insists reading is calming and thought it best to try it with you. You have been sleeping fitfully for a few days.”

Crystal groaned, her head pounding as she tried to sit up. Edwin scrambled to help her, offering her a glass of water. She nodded and waved him off, watching him settle in the chair again as she sipped the water.

“I’ve never read that one,” She admitted. “My mother insisted it was boring and wouldn’t help me learn anything.”

“Mary Shelley is the mother of supernatural tales,” Edwin argued. “If it were not for this book, science fiction would not exist. Charles complains regularly about people giving Bram Stoker the title "founder of science fiction.”

Crystal hid her grin behind her cup before she started coughing. Edwin quickly took the glass from her and rubbed her back until the coughing fit was over. Their relationship wasn’t quite on the level of friends, but Edwin treated her like a sibling and she returned the favor.

“Can you read some more?” Crystal asked, laying down and curling into a ball under the blankets.

“Of course.”

Crystal smiled softly, sniffling. She closed her eyes as Edwin started reading again. She would never admit it to anyone but Charles, but she understood why Charles enjoyed listening to his boyfriend read so much.

Chapter Text

Crystal had been able to see ghosts for most of her life. She couldn’t remember the first time she saw a ghost, much less when she realized the ghosts could interact with her. She had a constant companion no matter where they lived, a new friend always willing to play with her and keep her company when her parents left her alone to attend an opening or a gala. The ghosts were her friends when she didn’t have any. 

When she met Charles and Edwin, she didn’t understand anything going on around her. When she got her memories back, it made sense why she felt more at home with the ghosts than humans. Even after returning to London and reconnecting with her family and friends, she found herself spending more time in the office than anywhere else. Edwin and Charles constantly let themselves into her bedroom, with permission, and she was more comfortable sharing herself with them than anyone else.

“Do any of your family know about what happened while you were gone?” Jenny asked, washing dishes as Crystal sat on the counter beside her. “Not even the demon stuff, but Niko and your amnesia.”

“I tried to tell my mom,” Crystal whispered, running a finger around the rim of her mug. “She used to be able to see the things I can. I don’t know when her abilities went away. But, I tried to tell her about losing Niko and how I literally had no memories. She wouldn’t listen. She told me to stop fabricating stories and just tell them where I was. I think they are hoping I went to rehab and that’s why I’ve changed.”

Jenny sighed, drying her hands as she finished her chore. She looked at Crystal, seeing the droop in her shoulders and the pinched expression on her face. Her lips pinched together when she wasn’t speaking and constantly looked like she was ready to burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, kiddo,” She whispered, rubbing her arm in the most comforting way she could. “I’m here if you need someone to talk to. And I know you and the boys have been hanging out a lot.”

“They feel more like my family,” Crystal admitted in a low voice. “I can be myself with them, I don’t have to hide anything. It’s not like I have to hide them from anyone, but no one really believes me when I say I can see ghosts so it’s easier not to mention it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She knew something was wrong. When they wrapped up the case the night before, the mage they had been chasing had blown a weird powder into Crystal’s face before Charles knocked him out. She felt weird, her vision blurry and her head hurt. Jenny had taken her back to her apartment, wanting to keep an eye on her and make sure there were no side effects that would need a trip to the hospital.

“Crystal, are you feeling alright this morning?” Jenny asked as the younger girl stumbled into the kitchen.

“My head is still pounding, but I don’t feel anything else.” Crystal grabbed a mug and poured a cup of coffee. “I think I’m okay.”

Jenny’s eyes narrowed, darting to the side. Crystal watched her for a moment, sipping her coffee. She was surprised Charles wasn’t waiting for her with Jenny; he was known to hover over her when she wasn’t feeling her best. Jenny tilted her head, almost as though she was hearing something that Crystal couldn’t.

“I know, stop pestering me. Crystal,” Jenny said slowly, resting a hand on her arm. “What do you hear?”

Crystal was confused, opening her mouth to ask what she meant. It was only when she looked down that she realized.

“Oh,” She whispered. “I can’t…I can’t hear your thoughts. I thought everything was quiet because of my headache.”

“Crystal…”

Crystal’s eyes widened as she thought.

“I can’t see the boys,” She gasped. “Oh, god. I’ve lost my powers. I’ve lost the boys.”

Jenny took the mug from her hand as she started to sob, gathering her in her arms. She held her tight as the teenager broke down, sobs wracking her body. It was one thing to lose her powers. It was another for her to lose her one connection to the only family she cared about.

Meanwhile, Edwin was researching and Charles was hovering. Edwin had gone into research mode when Charles told him that Crystal couldn’t see or hear them anymore. There were only so many things the powder could have been, and he was determined to help their friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been two weeks since Crystal lost her abilities. Charles had taken to following her around when they didn’t have a case, while Edwin spent every spare moment looking for a cure to the powder. They could all see how much the loss of her powers was weighing on her. She might have lost her ability to read objects and feelings, but she had never lost the ability to see ghosts. 

Edwin burst through the mirror, falling into Jenny’s living room. The woman jumped up from the couch, moving to catch him. He scrambled to his feet, looking at Jenny. 

“I know how to cure Crystal,” He huffed out, holding his alchemy kit to his chest.

“You actually found a cure?” Jenny asked. “I don’t want to get her hopes up again just for it to not work.”

“I actually found a cure,” Edwin assured her. “I went back to the mage’s house and borrowed his books. Can you take me to her so I can help, please?”

Jenny nodded and led him down the hall. Charles was sitting on the edge of the guest bed, watching as Crystal slept fitfully. It only took a look for Charles to realize why Edwin was there. He stood and held out a hand for the kit, which Edwin happily handed over. They worked together to make the cure for the powder, creating a dust that looked distinctly like pixie dust.

“We just have to sprinkle it over her face. She has to breathe it in for at least 24 hours, and she can’t wash it off. Can you make sure she does not have any adverse reaction to it?” Edwin turned his attention to Jenny before he did anything else.

“Of course. It’s not like anyone else is going to take care of her.”

Edwin nodded and turned his attention back to Crystal. The girl was still sleeping, her eyebrows scrunched together. Edwin had a moment of weakness, running careful fingers over her cheek before sprinkling dust over her face.

Crystal waited beside Jenny, her eyes closed and leaning back on the couch. She was terrified to open her eyes and find she still couldn’t see Edwin and Charles. Jenny held her hand, trying to soothe her.

“Are you ready?” Jenny asked. “It’s almost been 24 hours.”

“Yeah, I think…” Crystal froze, her eyes shooting up to look at Jenny. “Wait…I can…Jenny, I can hear your thoughts. I know what you’re feeling.”

Jenny smiled, pointing across the room. Crystal turned and almost started crying when she laid eyes on Edwin and Charles for the first time in 2 weeks. She scrambled up from the couch and hugged both boys, sobbing. Charles let out a sigh of relief, his worry finally eased. Edwin, on the other hand, hugged her back as tight as he could and smiled.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Crystal cried, stepping back to look at their faces.

“I’ve never been more happy to be seen,” Charles smiled.

Edwin didn’t say anything. He smiled softly at Crystal, seeing the light come back into her as she grabbed Charles in another hug. Crystal sighed, finally feeling whole again.

Chapter Text

Monty didn’t know how he found himself under the protection of the Cat King. He was wandering the perimeter of Port Townsend, debating if he should leave or stay in the only home he knew, then it was 2 years later and he was working for Mick during the day and spending time with the cats during the night. 

“Hello, Gem,” Monty chirped, scooping the white cat into his arms as he walked towards the cannery. “Come for a ride or just to make sure I get home safe?”

“I just wanted to keep you company,” The cat replied, rubbing her head under his chin. “The Cat King has been in a mood since you left this morning and no one wants to be around him right now.”

“A mood?” Monty cocked his head, glancing down at the cat. “What happened after I left this morning?”

“Nothing.” The cat insisted. “We had the usual summit with him, he spoke about the areas of town where we can’t go because of construction, and then he snapped at all of us to get out. He hasn’t been this snippy since that Edwardian boy got dragged to Hell.”

Monty bit the corner of his mouth, nuzzling the cat as he pushed open the door to the cannery. He wasn’t surprised to see Thomas sitting on his throne, a stormy look on the cat’s face. He saw the way his eyes softened when he saw Monty, but he chose to ignore it.

“I hear you’re being a grouch today,” He said, scratching Gem behind her ears before letting her hop to the floor. “Who pissed in your cheerios?”

“Such language,” Thomas purred. “It’s not my fault the cats insist on asking why they need to do things when I ask them. How was your day?”

Monty shrugged, dropping his backpack on the floor before taking a seat in the chair off to the side. Thomas had gotten it for him not long after he figured out how to change him back from a crow. 

“It was okay, I suppose.” He sighed. “Working for Mick is fun. You should see some of the stuff that appears in the show randomly.”

Monty was distracted by a cat hopping into his lap and he missed how Thomas’ face softened. The other cats took that as an opportunity to crowd in the chair with Monty, trying to make him smell more like a cat than a crow.

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“Did you know that cats don’t sleep in the way we think they do?” Edwin asked, sitting on the Cat King’s throne as the other man paced the room. “They are interdimensional beings and regularly visit places humans cannot. You, of course, are immune to that, being a cat king and all.”

“Where did you learn this, darling?” Thomas purred. “There are very few facts about cats that I don’t know.”

“I enjoy reading when I am not working on cases,” Edwin smirked. “Cars are our protectors in the energy world like dogs are physical protectors. Of course, not everyone has a cat king to protect them.”

Thomas watched a cat jump into Edwin’s lap, purring and almost begging for attention. Edwin smiled softly, running his fingers through the cat’s fur. The two of them, Thomas and Edwin, had stuck up a friendship after Esther was gone. Edwin told Thomas about his changing relationship with Charles while Thomas told him about his ward. They talked about cases and discussed the changes in Port Townsend. Thomas, however, hadn’t stopped pacing since Edwin stepped out of the mirror purposefully set up in the back of the warehouse.

“About my ward…” Thomas started to say.

He was interrupted by the arrival of a crow landing in the middle of the room. Edwin looked up from the cat in his lap as the crow changed shape. Before he could blink, Monty was standing in the middle of the room. 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Monty stuttered out. “I thought you would have gone home by now. I can just…”

“No, it is time for me to return,” Edwin replied, shooing the cat from his lap before standing. “Charles just wanted me gone for a few hours. Something about an anniversary that he wanted to set up for. I will see you in a few days, Thomas. A pleasure as always, Monty.”

The familiar watched as Edwin stepped through the mirror without a reply from either of them. The moment before the connection closed to the other side, they watched as Charles swept Edwin into a hug and kissed all over his face.

“He is rather enthusiastic in his desire, is he not?” Thomas said, glancing over at Monty. “He always greets Edwin like that.”

“I feel silly in my attraction to Edwin, seeing how much he and Charles love each other,” Monty admitted, perching on the throne. “I need to discuss something with you.”

“As you wish, little bird,” Thomas purred.

“Mick recently explained to me that my feelings for Edwin were possibly caused because he was the first person to be kind to me.” Monty sighed. “I already had my eyes on him because of Esther and I think my feelings changed as a rebellion against her. However, I still have feelings that I don’t understand.”

“Feelings?” Thomas stood before Monty. “What kind of feelings, little bird? Anything I can help you with?”

Monty stood quickly, invading Thomas’ space before he finished speaking. He locked eyes with the cat, his gaze unwavering as his thoughts passed behind his eyes.

“You kissed me once, trying to prove something to Edwin,” Monty whispered. “In that brief moment, I had more feeling than I did in my small kiss with Edwin. Am I going insane or…”

Thomas carefully cupped his face, holding him in place. Monty watched him with careful eyes, waiting to see what he was going to do. Thomas leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“I promised myself I would never kiss you without your permission again.”

Monty wrapped his hands around Thomas’ wrists, anchoring himself. He leaned forward until he was completely in Thomas’ space. He could feel his breath on his lips as he sighed.

“If you don’t kiss me in the next five seconds…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before his lips were captured in a kiss just as breathtaking as the first. He sighed into it, seeing the fireworks light behind his eyelids as Thomas held him close. When they pulled apart, it took him a moment before his eyes opened.

“Is that what you were hoping for, little crow?”

Monty opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his face. 

“It was better.”

Chapter Text

Niko got her love of flowers from her father. When she was growing up, they would spend all day outside, learning about the different flowers he planted in their garden. Her favorite was always dandelions. The yellow flowers that sprouted in the spring looked like small suns, while the fluffy ones that appeared over the summer and fall kept her entertained for hours. The dandelions were never where they were planted, always sprouting in random spots around their yard.

“Papa, look!” Niko exclaimed, pointing at the lone dandelion that had appeared between the sidewalk slabs outside their house. “How is it growing in the path? There’s no dirt there.”

“There is dirt, my love. It’s just buried under the cement.” Niko’s father reminded her, running his fingers over the yellow flowers that sprung up overnight. “Dandelions adapt to their environment, no matter how challenging. Dandelion magic is the magic of adaptation.” 

“Like humans?” Niko asked, kneeling on the ground to touch the leaves of the flower.

“Not unlike humans.” Her father smiled. “Humans are forced to change by nature, dandelions do it because they want to. Dandelion is more than an adapter; Dandelion is a transformer. They change themselves to better their environment, so they can continue to grow.”

“Mama uses them when we’re sick, to make us better, right?”

“Very good, my girl. Now, let’s leave this little flower to keep growing. One day, it will sprout seeds and you can make many wishes.”

Niko giggled, standing so she could help her father off the ground. They made their way into the garden, ready to tend to the rest of the flowers. Niko made sure to take her watering can and water the little dandelion before hurrying back to her father.

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Niko walked through the woods, tears running down her face. Her mother was lost in her grief, so lost that she forgot her daughter. Niko knew where she was going, even with her vision clouded by tears. She collapsed into the field, sobs wracking her body. She cried until she couldn’t breathe, her tears falling onto the flowers surrounding her.

“I miss you, Dad,” she cried, looking up at the sky. “Why did you have to go? Why did you leave me?”

There was no answer, not that she expected one. She wiped her face on the sleeves of her sweater, trying to catch her breath. When she could breathe and see again, she wasn’t surprised to find herself in a field of dandelion. 

“Of course you would lead me here,” She whispered.

She picked one of the fluffy dandelions, looking at the wisps before closing her eyes. She didn’t wish for her father back, it was impossible. She simply wanted courage and peace. She took a deep breath and blew the seeds off the flower. She felt a gust of wind float around her, almost as though it was hugging her. She let out a sob, her mind telling her it was a final hug from her father. She picked a few flowers to place on the family grave the following day before taking a breath and getting to her feet. Her mother needed her, no matter what else was going on.

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Starting at a new school was terrifying enough without starting at a new school in a different country. Her father always told her dandelions were good for courage, and she had a knack for always finding fields of them wherever she went. She wandered through the woods after leaving the lighthouse, searching for dandelions. She had seen a field of them every time she walked to the lighthouse.

“Oh, this is a lot of dandelions,” She thought, looking around the field. “Hello, dandelions. Do you mind if I pick some of you? I need courage today and I don’t want to be rude.”

She was blasted in the face with a wave of something. When she woke up, she was surprised to see the setting sun above her. She sat up, shivering slightly. 

“What happened?” She whispered, realizing she had been passed out in the field for the entire day. “Where did the day go?”

As she stood, she remembered what brought her to the field to begin with. She reached for a few different dandelions and resolved to have courage the next day. She just hoped her mother wasn’t too upset about her missing her first day of school.

Chapter Text

It took years for the boys to be ready to return to St. Hilarion’s. Crystal wanted nothing to do with the school that had covered up the deaths of the two boys, much less helped murderers get away with a hate crime. She didn’t understand why they wanted to go back to the school to begin with.

“Are you sure you want to do this today, Edwin?” Charles asked, squeezing Edwin’s hand in his. “We can wait until any other day besides your birthday.”

“It’s the perfect day to do this,” Edwin insisted, lifting Charles’ hand to press a kiss to the back. “Come on, Crystal is supposed to meet us at the cemetery just after nightfall. You know how much she hates being in the cemetery after dark, especially since David.”

Charles let Edwin lead him into the building, listening to the sounds of running feet. Neither believed Crystal when she told them the school was still open, much less that students still used the attic where Charles had died. They made their way through the halls, watching boys run through the hall and laughing. It was obvious the strict rules from Charles’ school days were gone, and the hall was decorated for the holiday that had just passed.

“Ready?” Charles asked, looking at the attic door.

“As ready as I can be, darling.”

Charles stepped through the door, looking at the stairs before sighing. He hadn’t seen the attic since they ran from Death, and he wasn’t disappointed. Much like the rest of the school, the attic hadn’t changed. The mattress where he had laid was gone, likely burned in the incinerator to get rid of the evidence. Edwin squeezed his hand before walking over to a chest in the corner.

When he returned from Hell, he had two missions: find his bones and hide from everyone until he could finally move on. Charles was a happy delay to those plans, but Edwin wouldn’t trade the last 30 years for anything. He had, however, completed one of his missions before finding Charles. Inside the chest were all Edwin’s belongings, which had been forgotten by the school and never sent to his mother. Alongside the clothes and books was a small box, closed with a bow.

“I forgot that I closed it with your old tie,” Charles whispered, resting his head on Edwin’s shoulder.

“Thank you, darling.” Edwin held the box tight to his chest, taking a deep breath before handing the box to Charles. He watched his boyfriend as he carefully placed the box in his bag before pulling Edwin into a hug. “You always care for me to the best of your abilities, my love.”

“That’s my whole job, sweetheart,” Charles reiterated. “Edwin protector is my only job description.” Edwin smiled softly and looked around the attic. He rested his head against Charles’, watching the sunset through the window. Charles held him tight, kissing his cheek. “Ready?”

“Yes,” Edwin whispered. “There is only one place truly safe to put them.”

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Crystal crouched before a gravestone, a sad look on her face. Charles and Edwin seemed to materialize out of nowhere on either side of her. Charles crouched down and leaned against her. She hugged him, running a finger over the name.

“Charles Rowland, beloved son and friend,” She whispered. “Someone loved you enough to make sure everyone knew.”

“My mum.” Charles placed a hand on the gravestone. “It was one of the only times I watched her stand up to my father. She wanted to make sure I knew how loved I was, even if it was only in death. If only she knew.”

Edwin smiled sadly, standing off to the side. Charles stood and held out a hand to Edwin. Crystal stood and stepped back watching them slowly sink into the ground. She wasn’t sure about their plan to put Edwin’s bones to rest alongside Charles, but she understood why they felt it was the best course of action. 

Meanwhile, Edwin and Charles were couching in the coffin. Charles was slightly perturbed by seeing his bones, but it was important. He opened his bag, reaching inside to carefully remove the box. He smiled, rubbing his hand against the box before handing it to Edwin. 

“Are you sure about this?” Edwin asked, holding his box close to his chest. “We can…”

“Edwin,” Charles whispered, reaching over to squeeze his arm. “There is no place safer for you. No one is going to know and it’s not going to matter. I want you with me, forever. This way, we know your bones are safe and no one can keep us apart.”

Edwin nodded, taking a deep breath. He carefully rested the box beside Charles, a sense of peace settling over him. The boys took a moment before standing and lifting themselves through the dirt. When they arrived at the surface, Crystal stood at the foot of the grave.

“How does it feel to be laid to rest?” She asked, reaching over to rest a hand on his arm. “How does it feel to know you are forever tied to Charles?”

“It feels nice to be at rest,” Edwin insisted, brushing off invisible dirt before reaching for Charles’ hand. “As for spending forever with Charles, I assumed I was already doing that.”

Crystal rolled her eyes, looking at the headstone again. Edwin and Charles started to walk away, ready to return to the office before the night truely set in. When Crystal caught up to them, they were standing outside a crypt.

“What’s this?” She asked.

“My family tomb,” Edwin shrugged. “I already searched the records and they never added my name. It does not matter, my bones are safer with Charles than they ever would have be in there. Come along, I suppose we can suffer through a ride on the underground tonight.”

The trio made their way out of the cemetery, moving swiftly. They had done what they set out to do, and Edwin was finally at rest beside the love of his afterlife.

Chapter Text

They had been working together for three years and in their office for almost 2 years before Charles started to see the Christmas decorations begin to appear at the beginning of December. He said nothing, watching his best friend hum and smile brightly for the first time all year. A few days before Christmas, he decided to walk around town, seeing the decorations being set up along the roads and in businesses. When he returned to the office, he paused in the doorframe.

“So, what do you think?!” Edwin asked, standing behind his desk and grinning. 

Charles looked around the office. Tinsel and garland hung from the ceiling, holly bunches were placed around, and a small tree was in the corner beside their mirror. He imagined the office would smell like pine throughout. 

“It’s definitely… festive,” Charles said, closing the door and removing his coat.

“You hate it…” Edwin’s face dropped slightly.

“I didn’t say that,” Charles assured him, sitting on the edge of the desk and making Edwin look at him.

“But you do not need to say it, Charles. I can see it on your face.”

“Yeah, that’s on me. Listen, it really is beautiful and thoughtful and…Thank you for doing this. I mean it, Edwin. It’s just… I’m not big on celebrating the holidays.”

“Oh, um, I—“

“No, no—don’t apologize. Not for this, it’s wonderful. …I wish I could properly appreciate it. I know you like to do things just because…”

“Just because I want you to be happy. I can take it down. It’s not a problem, really.”

“…Leave it as it is. I don’t want all your hard work to go to waste. I can see how much you love the decorations and it’s nice to see some happiness on your face.”

”But if it’s bothering you—“

“It’s not. I promise,” Charles smiled softly. “Why do you like Christmas so much anyway?”

Edwin sat down, pulling out the pile of cases they needed to look through. He opened one of the letters, leaning back in the chair to read the case and think. Charles watched several emotions cross the other boy’s face before he opened his mouth.

“Christmas was the only time my family acted like a family,” Edwin explained. “My father did not work on Christmas, I came home from boarding school, and my grandparents came to visit. There was life in my house that didn’t exist the rest of the year. Out of the misery I lived, this was the only time I was truly happy. If it is too much…”

“Nah, mate,” Charles chuckled. “It’s fine. I will let you know if it gets to be too much. Do you want me to look over some of those cases?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The year after Port Townsend, when everything was settled and Niko had returned to them, Charles watched as Edwin decorated the office. It was a different experience to watch his boyfriend decorate their office, an ever-growing pile of decorations that seemed to be taking over the box they lived in. Crystal and Niko helped decorate, adding in things they had found. The small tree had grown taller than the boys, with a star perched on the top. Charles couldn’t help but notice marigolds and paper streamers added around, Edwin giving him a secret smile when he looked at him.

“Hey, baby?” Charles asked as Edwin went to sit down.

“Yes, darling?” Edwin replied with a soft smile on his face at the nickname.

“Would you come for a walk with me?” Edwin glanced at Crystal and Niko. “They are just putting ornaments on the tree, they will be fine for a few minutes.”

Edwin nodded, standing to put on his coat. Charles smirked at Crystal, who rolled her eyes and turned back to Niko. As they exited the office, Charles laced his fingers with Edwin’s. It had started to snow as they walked down the street, Edwin looking at the sky with a smile.

“Thank you, for the marigolds,” Charles chirped.

“I know they are a part of Hindu traditions,” Edwin explained. “I also know you only tolerate the decorations because I love Christmas, but I wanted to add a touch for you.”

“That is so sweet of you.” Charles kissed his cheek. “You have made this time of year a little less sad. I still dislike Christmas because of my dad, but I love seeing you so happy.”

Edwin wasn’t surprised when Charles led him to a nearby park. There was a light layer of snow on the ground already, undisturbed by people in the middle of the night. Edwin and Charles didn’t leave any prints as they walked to a bench, a perk of being a ghost. Edwin smiled as Charles spun in a circle, his head tilted back as he looked up into the snow. They would have to head home soon, to see Crystal and Niko off before the snow came down harder.

“I love you.”

Edwin thought he’d said it in his head. He didn’t realize he had said it aloud until Charles’ face dropped to look at him. In two strides, Charles was in Edwin’s personal space, carefully cupping his face and resting his forehead against his.

“I love you too.”

It was a breath, words barely spoken at a volume that Edwin could hear them. Edwin leaned forward, his lips barely touching Charles’. Charles had closed his eyes, anticipating a kiss.

“I only want you to be happy,” Edwin whispered, his words ghosting over Charles’ lips before he finally sealed them together in a kiss. 

They didn’t know how long they stood there, lips locked in a kiss that was both passionate and gentle. Charles wrapped his arms around Edwin, pulling him closer until there was no space between them at all. When they finally ended the kiss, Edwin was the one to rest his forehead against Charles’.

“You make me happier than anything else on this planet,” Charles admitted with a soft smile.

“Even more than the snow?”

“Let’s not get crazy now.”

Edwin chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled away. Charles shifted to keep an arm around his waist, leading him towards home. There was no trace of them in the snow, but they both knew the universe could hear them as the snow started to fall a little harder.

Chapter Text

Niko and Edwin stopped when they entered the kitchen and saw Crystal asleep at the table. The fact that she’d fallen asleep was hardly surprising since she had worked late at the museum, what was surprising was the towers of plastic cups surrounding her. There was no way they weren’t going to crash when Crystal woke up, especially not with the rather impressive bridge going over her.

A triumphant sound made them turn to the other occupant of the room. Suppressing a smile, Charles happily brandished another pack of plastic cups he had retrieved from the depths of the top cupboard.

"Really?" Edwin asked, careful to keep his voice low to not wake Crystal, as funny as that may have been.

"Hey, she knows the dangers of falling asleep in the common areas," Charles defended in a whisper as he headed back to the table.

"This is payback for the plants isn't it?"

“What is going on? Why are we whispering?” Niko asked, watching Charles stick his tongue out and stack more cups.

“Charles and Crystal are only allowed to prank each other. The other day, when Crys and Charles were home alone, she surrounded him with the small pots of plants from the porch. He couldn’t get out of the bed without help or they would have spilled. This is payback. Darling, don’t you have class in an hour?” Edwin looked at his boyfriend.

Charles shrugged, returning to stacking as if he had never been interrupted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, have you seen -- why are you green?" Niko asked Charles as he walked past her.

He was the only one who didn’t have a class that day and he decided to clean the flat before everyone else got home. Once he finished cleaning, he got in the shower, so he was clean for the date he wanted to take Edwin on. He wasn’t expecting to exit the shower with green streaks down his skin and a slight green tint to his hair. He didn’t see Niko in the kitchen when he came out of his and Edwin’s bedroom, only jumping slightly when she spoke. Charles paused and turned around. 

"Long story. Why are you holding a knife?" He asked, taking a step back from her.

"It's a stage knife. I’m working on something with the drama department this term and I have to practice with it before tomorrow. Are you and Crystal doing a prank war again?"

Charles laughed. It was a well-known fact that 

"I wish. Then she might have to follow the Geneva Conventions. All I know is that my shampoo was white when I washed Edwin’s hair with it last night and now it is green. Speaking of Crystal, have you heard from her?"

Niko hummed, pushing the knife against her leg so it would retract. She unlocked her phone, opening the messages from her girlfriend. She didn’t mind prank wars but preferred it when Charles and Crystal kept it between themselves.

“She just finished class and is calling an Uber to get home. I would advise getting revenge before she gets back. Just so you know, there is some of that green dye in the linen closet by our bedroom.”

Charles smiled and walked up the stairs. When Edwin and Monty got home later, they found a green Crystal and Charles having a staring contest at the table while Niko laughed from the couch.

“Do we want to know what has been going on here?” Monty asked, picking up a piece of Crystal’s hair while Edwin chuckled and kissed the side of Charles’ head.

“Nope. We are going to say that Crystal doesn’t know how to follow the Geneva Conventions and she doesn’t seem to be able to take revenge when it’s dished out to her,” Charles replied, looking up at Edwin and lightly kicking at Crystal’s leg.

“I will find a way to get back at you, as soon as I figure out how to get this dye off my skin. You are just lucky that it’s mostly in places that my clothes will cover, except for my hair.” Crystal stuck her tongue out at him. “My hairstylist is going to kill you.”

“Ah, mine is far worse,” Charles threatened, leaning forward. “Edwin’s mother is going to kill you. We are supposed to be having family photos done.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was only one prank Charles ever played on Edwin. He had perfected it over the years and could get away with it no matter how many times he played it. He grabbed Edwin’s pile of books, ensured his homework was done, and found a place to hide them. Edwin had been engrossed in studying and preparing for a big test, and Charles was concerned for his health. He quickly returned to their bedroom, lay on the bed, and pretended he hadn’t done anything.

“Charles?” He heard. A few minutes later, Edwin stepped into the bedroom. “Darling, it was not funny the first few times you did this, it is not funny now. Where are my books?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Charles insisted, hanging his head off the side of the bed to look at his boyfriend. “Have you studied so much, you’ve finally lost your mind?”

Edwin sighed, leaning against the doorframe. It was hard to argue with Charles when he did things like hang off the bed. The other boy knew his boyfriend had a weak spot for him, especially when he wasn’t okay.

“Charles, I need to pass this test with excellent grades.”

“Edwin, you have an eidetic memory,” Charles reminded him. “You literally have the books in your brain. I think you need to be done studying for a little while.”

Charles made grabby hands at Edwin, pouting. Edwin sighed and stepped closer, watching as Charles sat up and turned around, pulling Edwin close. Edwin ran his fingers through his curls, still slightly green from Crystal’s prank.

“Charles, I need to study.” 

“Not study time, it’s cuddle Charles time.” 

Charles buried his face in Edwin’s stomach, holding him tight. Edwin sighed in defeat, burying his face in his hair. Charles chuckled and pulled him into the bed, situating them until he was the little spoon. Edwin wrapped his arms around him, scratching his back as he went.

“An hour,” Edwin whispered, yawning. “Then you tell me where you’ve hidden my books.”

“Maybe.” Charles nuzzled his head under Edwin’s chin and closed his eyes. “Maybe I will just keep you hostage until I get hungry.”

Chapter Text

Edwin didn’t speak about most of his experiences in Hell. No one knew about a demon that used him as a toy. How the monster played with him in their hands as if he was nothing but a limp, lifeless doll. They didn’t know he could still feel tugging on his limbs and hair, especially in the quiet moments when he was alone. He could feel the demon twisting his body between their fingers, squeezing him in a tight fist. They didn’t know the horror and slight happiness Edwin felt when the demon put him in a cell with all their other fidget toys once it was done playing with him, forcing Edwin into a small, dark, and enclosed space for hours on end. How he spent hours trying to sleep, only to be awoken as the demon chose another soul to fidget with. No one knew about Edwin being roughly woken up and plucked out of the cell again, whenever the demon needed something to ease their stress, tugged and dragged around as if he was nothing but an object at the demon’s disposal. No one needed to know about the phantom pains that would radiate across his body, echoing from his bones that remembered far more than Edwin wanted to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal grew up knowing she was nothing more than an accessory for her parents to show off. In all the photos from when she was a baby, she was dressed in pretty dresses, bows, and shoes from the moment she came home. She was a doll for her parents to dress and tote around. As a child, she realized she was never a central part of her parents’ lives. She was locked in the house with a nanny if she wasn’t attending an event with them. If she wanted to attend events, she spent hours in the bathroom with her mother, made to look perfectly put together. There was no time for messy curls or painted hands, no use for drawings on the fridge or awards on the wall. She was meant to be seen and appreciated, much like the artwork hung on the walls of the galleries she spent too many days in. She protested more the older she got, her clothes changing and her life getting messy. She didn’t want to be a doll, seen and not heard. She wanted attention, in any way she could get it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niko liked to think of herself as a doll. She could wear whatever she wanted, change her clothes as much as she liked in a day, and look at herself with pride. Her parents never expected perfection, they just wanted her to be dressed. She grew up knowing her taste in clothes didn’t suit everyone, but the only one she had to please was herself. She dressed her dolls to match her, even carrying them around to show off their matching outfits on more than one occasion. After her father died, she stopped putting on her pretty outfits that made her glow like the sun. She put away the bright colors and the happiness, living in the sadness that her favorite person was gone. She still treated herself like a doll, matching her socks with her shirt and putting bows in her hair. When the sprites came around, she had so many gaps in her memory that she didn’t care how she looked. She was just a living doll, put through the motions so the sprites could get the attention they craved. When the sprites were finally gone, she felt more alive than she had in months. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monty hadn’t chosen the life that was given to him, much less what he did with the life he was given. Esther used him like a toy, something to be dangled in front of others until the final moment. She chose what he ate when he slept, what he did, and what he felt. Until his feelings for Edwin deepened, he thought that’s what being human was. It was letting someone use you until you were gone, a shell of a person. He hated when Esther fixed his hair or made him change into something different. He hated feeling like a toy that could be thrown away at the first opportunity. When Esther killed him, changing him back into a crow, he was happier than he should have been. He was free of being used as a toy, only to realize his imaginary cage was back to being a real one.

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Charles saw more than anyone thought he did. He noticed Edwin would flinch when nothing was around him, almost as though he was feeling something no one else could see. He saw how Crystal took forever to find clothes, only to come out in a variation of the same outfit every day. He saw the way Niko looked at some of her clothes with a haunted look, reaching for muted tones on days when there was sadness written across her face. He noticed when Monty couldn’t make a decision, looking for someone to tell him the right answer. He didn’t know their trauma, he didn’t expect them to share it with him. 

Charles would ease careful fingers down Edwin’s arms, pressing a kiss to his hair when he saw him flinch. It never failed to ease the other boy, the careful touches so ingrained in him that it was second nature.

He would let Crystal change her clothes a million times, never commenting except to tell her how pretty she was. It warmed his heart when she started changing her style and figuring out who she wanted to be.

He hugged Niko tighter on the days she didn’t wear color. He would let her show him her favorite pictures and took up her offer to read some of her books, just to see her smile return. When her smile returned, so did the color.

He would ease Monty by giving him fewer choices, his dislike of the former crow changing to protectiveness. The boy was learning to be human and no one could fault him stumbling along the way.

Chapter Text

Charles felt guilty. Edwin was stressed about the phone call he was supposed to have with his parents, and Charles couldn’t stop thinking about how hot his boyfriend was. His hair was out of sorts from running his fingers through it, the top buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. It wasn’t his fault that the only other time he looked out of sorts was when he was taking Charles apart.

“Charles, could you get me a glass of brandy?” Edwin asked, running his fingers through his hair again.

“Of course, love. One or two?”

“Two, if you please, my darling.”

Charles got to his feet and walked over to the cabinet they kept the alcohol in. Neither of them were big drinkers, but sometimes a drink was necessary. Charles poured a drink and carried it over to Edwin. The other man took the glass and then surprised Charles by pulling him into his lap. 

“Thank you, darling,” Edwin whispered, kissing him before taking a sip from the glass. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“Exist?” Charles shrugged, resting his head on Edwin’s shoulder. “Why are you so tense, love? You get like this every month.” 

Edwin sighed, sipping his drink again. Charles rubbed his nose along Edwin’s jaw, the light stubble tickling him. Edwin tightened his grip around his waist, putting his glass on the table.

“My parents are under the assumption that I am going to marry a suitable young woman and provide several grandchildren for them. Never mind the fact I have other siblings who have already done so, they are also aware that I am not fond of women.” Edwin’s other hand slid up Charles’ leg, grabbing his thigh and squeezing. “Just because they don’t know about you doesn’t mean they get to dictate my life. I despise having a chat with them because they try to push their agenda on me. They are making my life hell over things I cannot change about myself.”

Charles hummed, nosing into Edwin’s neck. Edwin chuckled, a half smile on his face as he held his love close.

“You walked through my hell with me, love,” Charles whispered, his breath tickling his neck as he moved closer to his ear. “I am happy to walk through yours with you.”

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Charles had been keeping the party a secret for the past seven days, which may not seem like a lot but it was when you lived with one of the most observant men in the history of the world. He had three more days to keep the secret, but he knew Edwin would always be his downfall. Edwin finally struck on the eighth morning, the only morning the boys didn’t have an early class.

"Tell me," Edwin breathed, as Charles was making their coffee, boxing Charles in against the counter in the kitchen and rubbing his nose against his neck right over the sensitive spot that he knew made his boyfriend weak at the knees.

"There's nothing-" he started before Edwin's tongue flicked out and pressed against his pulse point, "Fuck," he groaned as Edwin sucked lightly at his skin. "Nothing to tell," he managed.

Edwin nipped at his pulse point then, his teeth sharp before his lips and tongue soothed the sting, "You are lying. Your pulse is elevated."

"Arousal," Charles argued.

He tried to maintain his composure and listen to ensure Crystal or Niko didn’t come down the hall. They had been caught in a compromising position one too many times, and he didn’t want another lecture about what not to do in common areas.

"There is that, too," Edwin murmured wickedly as his mouth moved lower and he sucked at Charles's collarbone instead. "But it is not just that. You have plenty of tells when you are lying, especially to me."

"What are they, then?" Charles deflected.

"Deflecting," Edwin murmured as his hands framed Charles's hips, thumbs sliding under his shirt to rub along his hip bone. Charles tipped his head back. Edwin's lips pressed against his chin. "But you are not cheating on me-"

"I would never!" Charles exclaimed, pulling his head back to look Edwin in the eyes. "Darling," he murmured, cupping Edwin's cheek, "I would never cheat on you."

"I know," the other man soothed, pressing his lips to Charles's, "But if you did I would know. And your body language is all wrong for that." Charles breathed a sigh of relief, at least Edwin didn't think he was hiding something terrible. "Now, hush so I can go back to seducing," he smirked, "I mean deducing you."

Charles huffed a laugh.

"Now, it's not something to do with the flat," he said, pushing Charles's shirt up. He was trying to make it so they could pretend nothing was happening if the girls came in. He smoothed his hands over Charles's chest, thumbs brushing lightly over his nipples. "If it was, I would already know. Or one of the girls would have told me."

"That's fair," Charles replied breathlessly.

"And it's not something Monty would have asked you not to tell me," he said.

"How do you figure that?" Charles asked, trying to focus on the conversation as Edwin trailed his fingers along his torso, setting his skin alight with sensation.

"Because they respect our relationship and have stopped asking you to keep secrets from me," he said before kissing his way across his right clavicle.

Charles moaned, close to breaking.

“I can keep secrets, even from you and your unique brand of torture,” He groaned.

“Mhmm. Let’s see, it’s either Crystal or Niko then,” Edwin whispered.

He grinned at the hitch in Charles’s breathing, which was not from his questioning methods.

“I’ll never tell,” Charles whimpered.

“How about this: You tell me what you are hiding and I will let you do that thing you’ve been wanting to try,” Edwin whispered, pressing himself against Charles and latching onto his neck.

Charles moaned, his eyes rolling back in his head.

A few hours later, Crystal stormed into the living room and pointed a finger at him. Charles shrunk back, using his textbook to hide his face. He knew why she was mad, he just didn’t know how she found out.

“You told him, didn’t you?” Crystal accused.

“He tortured me, Crys. Then he bribed me and it was such a good bribe,” Charles pleaded, seeing the thunderous expression on his friend’s face.

“Charles, it was ten days, you couldn’t keep a secret for ten days?” Niko asked with amusement in her eyes and voice.

“You don’t want to know what the bribe was. Let me tell you, I would have done anything.”

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“You’re my favorite,” Edwin muttered into Charles’ hair as they lay in bed.

Charles was almost asleep. He heard the words and it took a moment for his brain to process what his boyfriend had said. He opened his eyes, scooting closer to Edwin. Edwin hummed and kissed his forehead, content to fall asleep.

“Favorite what, my love?” He yawned.

“Well,” Edwin stuttered, trying to gather his thoughts, “just that. You are my favorite pair of eyes to look at. My favorite voice to hear when I’m having a bad day. My favorite distraction when I’m too far in my head. Fill in the blank, darling. That’s why I just left it at favorite.”

Charles smiled, moving so he could rest his head over Edwin’s heart. He could hear the slight quickening of his heartbeat, the way his hands slightly shook when he wrapped his arms around him.

“You’re my favorite too,” Charles whispered. He heard and felt Edwin sigh, the small statement setting his anxiety at ease. Charles closed his eyes, wrapping an arm around Edwin’s waist. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

The kids approached the abandoned building down the long alley. There had been rumors of ghosts surrounding the building for years, odd noises, and lights when there shouldn’t have been. A boy once claimed to see a floating football when he ventured up to the top floor. It became a dare, a right of passage in the neighborhood. If you could get inside and stay for at least 20 minutes, you won bragging rights until the next Halloween. So far, no one has been able to last more than 10 minutes.

“Have you seen the weird girl that keeps going inside?” Toby asked, looking through the gate at the empty building.

“Has she gone mental?” Ashley asked, a few steps away. “My da says the building has been empty as long as he’s been here. My nan moved in during the 90s.”

As they were speaking, a girl stepped out of the building. She looked like she was talking to someone, but quickly closed her mouth to glare at Toby and Ashley as she walked out of the gate and down the street. The door to the building slowly closed, as if someone had been holding it open. Toby and Ashley looked at each other before closing the gate and taking off to their building. 

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Todd hated the fact he could see things others couldn’t. He had grown up seeing his grandparents, playing with kids who wore clothes that looked out of place. He didn’t tell his friends about the two boys that hung around the abandoned building, much less about the ghosts that seemed to come and go as they pleased. The building was spooky regardless of his abilities and he had no intention of being teased.

“Come on, Todd,” Simon prodded, shouldering him. “You are the only one who hasn’t gone in. You’ve also lived here forever. It’s not like there’s a monster hiding inside.”

“Really, Simon?” Alex laughed. “You went in and didn’t even last five minutes before you came running out. I swear you looked like a ghost.”

Todd drowned his friends out, looking at the building. He had watched one of the ghosts that frequented the building leave not too long before, and he hadn’t reappeared yet. He didn’t know if the ghosts were gone or if the one who wore a bowtie was still inside. He shook himself from his thoughts as Alex nudged him.

“How about it, Todd?”

“How about what, Alex?”

“You, going inside?” Alex leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. “Simon had a point, for once. You have lived here the longest and you have never been inside.”

Todd groaned, dropping his head to his knees. It was one thing to pretend to be afraid of the building, it was another to explain why. The ghosts he saw didn’t seem mean or scary, they were often laughing when he saw them. It wasn’t the ghosts that scared him, it was the uncertainty of what he would find inside the building itself.

“Who knows what’s inside?” He argued. “For all we know, the building could be falling apart inside and we won’t know until we die. I mean, you heard Ashley the other day. Her nan never saw anyone in the building, and that was back in the 90s. My parents would kill me if I got hurt doing something stupid.”

“It’s 20 minutes,” Simon groaned before his face split into a grin. “Unless you’re too much of a chicken to do it. I always knew you were a pussy.”

Todd tried not to rise the bait. He wasn’t joking, his parents wouldn’t be happy if he was stupid and got hurt. However, he had a problem with peer pressure, especially when someone called him a pussy. He groaned and stood, throwing his backpack on the ground when he was on his feet.

“Fine, whatever.” He looked towards the building and gulped. “Who’s timing me? I am going to make it to 20 minutes just so you all will shut up.”

Todd cautiously made his way down the hallways of the building, jumping at the sounds from the floor. The building was cleaner than he had expected, but there were several layers of dust and grime on every surface. He huffed, pulling his shirt over his nose and mouth so he wouldn’t breathe in anything. He continued down the hall, one eye on the timer.

“15 more minutes,” He whispered to himself. “I can do 15 in the creepy building.”

He was surprised he could hear a ball bouncing as he made it up the stairs to the upper floors. It made him think of the claims of a floating ball in one of the upper rooms. He didn’t find anything on the second floor, so he went to the top floor.

“Dead Boy Detective Agency,” He read, looking at the door before him. “Who would want to work out of an old building like this?” He thought.

Just as he went to open the door to investigate, a figure stepped through the wall. Todd was taken aback, grabbing his chest and holding in the scream he wanted to let out. The boy stood before him, not much older than Todd’s 13, but he looked like someone who stepped out of an old 80s movie.

“Hey, kid,” The boy said. “Do you need help with something? Are you lost?”

Todd finally stopped floundering and screamed, startling the ghost before him. The ghost watched as the boy darted out of the hall and back down the stairs, shaking his head at the face of fear the boy had made. 

“Charles, what was that noise?” Edwin asked when Charles stepped back into the office.

“It seems, darling, that the kids are using our building to test their resolve,” Charles chuckled, wrapping an arm around Edwin’s middle. “There was a boy that was dared to spend 20 minutes in our building. This poor kid didn’t last 10.

Edwin huffed, rolling his eyes and resting his head under Charles’ chin. 

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Meanwhile, Todd had finally made it out of the building. He leaned against the wall just outside the gate, trying to catch his breath while glaring at his friends.

“So, what was that about lasting 20 minutes?” Simon laughed, almost doubled over. “You’re reaction is almost as funny as the girly scream Xavier let out last year. What happened? Did you see a ghost?”

Todd shook his head, finally about to catch his breath. He wasn’t going to tell them about the sentient ghost.

“The building is just spooky as hell, mate.” He grabbed his bag off the ground. “I’m going home. I’ll see you later.”