technicallyhellbound | for @convincingsmile - Nobody's dying today (probably)

"I know." He replied to the first, "It was a reminder to myself as well." He could keep the map in his head, he often did in fact, he'd honed that sense of direction in hell, but sometimes, when he'd mirrored in somewhere he needed to remind himself of the physical location in relation to the starting point, or end point, in this case.

He nodded at the actual question, returning that gentle squeeze, loath to let go of Charles' hand, and thankful that Charles seemed to be of the same opinion.

He did have to stop to catch his breath twice along the way, both times trying to remind himself to move more slowly afterward, which he managed for a time, but ended up resuming his usual quicker walking pace before long. Upon arrival at the office, all he had to say was: "Not looking forward to the stairs." Before actually managing to slow himself down instead of taking them at his usual speed. He was wheezing faintly again by the time they were actually in the office proper, lowering himself gingerly to the sofa, canted forward, elbows resting on his knees, as if the angle might help regain his breath more easily.

For a while now Charles knew that his mission was to keep Edwin safe. Hell, the moment he told him he would stick with him, he knew. But there was something about them being alive during all that. Suddenly, there were a whole lot of other issues coming with both of them being dead. Suddenly they had bodies, and they could get noticed by people. Charles was still confident in his ability to protect Edwin, but he knew if anyone decided to pick on them that day he wouldn't be able to hold back.

Thankfully they could get back to the office without being noticed. He held Edwin's hand during the walk and helped him up the stairs, and made sure he was fine as he helped him onto the sofa. And then Charles just stood there, feeling a little helpless.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked quietly.

"Ribs." He replied, taking as deep a breath as he could manage, holding it for a moment, trying to pinpoint just where the pain was, but not fully able to because of the lingering ache of everything else, the relocated shoulder, the bandaged gouge, the various scrapes over both hands and up his arms.

He let the breath out slowly again, still wheezing faintly on the exhale, "Back, same side as the shoulder. I landed hard." A little shake of his head, mostly because he knew his hip was probably going to be protesting later, after the fall and the walk, but for the moment it seemed alright.

His brow creased, trying another slow breath, finally shaking his head, "It's a bit like when I had asthma when I was still alive." Another little head-shake, "Alive before, I suppose."

Hearing Edwin breathe was... an experience. Especially hearing him breathe in pain. Charles was too busy trying not to despair to really feel his limbs going cold at it all. He bounced a little on his feet as he was trying to think. At least... Edwin wasn't going to die... not yet, at least. Charles once again had to rub his eyes. They were back at the office, they were fine, safe for now. Edwin was in a good place now.

"You should lie down," Charles said, throwing his bag down. "'S gonna get worse," he added. "If I remember right," he added with a tired smile. Then he went to Edwin, putting his hand as gently as he could on his back. If he could he would have just gathered him into his arms and squeezed the life out of him but that wouldn't do so well for him at the moment. And Charles was dying inside. "I should get painkillers, eh? And water," he frowned.

He gestured with one hand towards the supply cupboard, "Check the cabinet. Crystal's taken over a shelf for 'living girl supplies'," something that she had actually asked about first, which surprised him, but it did make sense if she was going to be working from the office as often as not, "that may be something she's stocked, and I'm sure she'll understand that we couldn't exactly take a trip to the chemist."

He shook his head at the suggestion of lying down, fishing the polaroids out of his jacket pocket, "I can't lie down just yet, I should at least start looking for these, the sooner I can figure out the array and the purpose of it, the sooner we can return to ourselves."

Edwin didn't have to say it twice, Charles was already roaming the cabinet, already writing an apology letter for Crystal in his mind. But yes, she would understand. He also found a bottle of water with the painkillers. He put the bottle next to Edwin on the sofa and he was about to take one pill when Edwin spoke again. Charles huffed.

"Edwin," he started and stepped in front of his friend, grabbing his hand that held the pictures. "You gotta rest first, just a tick, yeah?" he said more gently than he felt about it all. "The pictures won't go away and what if you make yourself worse?"

"What if waiting makes it worse, Charles?" For something that could easily have been Edwin's snippy, terse tone, as it often was when presenting a counterpoint, it just sounded defeated, "What if we wait too long and it... sets? If this is it and we're alive for good now?"

It only occurred to him after he'd said it that wasn't necessarily an issue for Charles, who admittedly hated being dead and his expression folded in on itself a little, along with the rest of him, just sagging forward, dragging a hand up over his face and through his hair, "I'm sorry."

Edwin's tone wasn't snippy but it didn't make a difference for Charles. Right, yes... he enjoyed being alive again. He liked how his steps had weight, he liked the feel of Edwin's hand in his. He liked that he could smell the air, that he could feel his lungs burn as they took the stairs. He liked to feel the breeze in his hair. But that wasn't what Edwin wanted to hear now.

"No, mate, don't be," Charles smiled sadly as he got to his knees in front of Edwin, holding onto his hand still. "I get it, yeah? You're always thinking of the worst-case scenario. But there was nothing you and your brain couldn't figure out." He smiled and kissed Edwin's fingers. He knew Edwin was fine as a ghost. His afterlife was much better and less lonely than his life. And just as Edwin could understand how Charles wished to be alive, Charles... could somewhat understand how Edwin preferred his spectral existence.

"I told you I don't mind being dead with you, but I also don't mind living the rest of my new life with you either..." he added. "But for both of those, you gotta rest."

His fingers twitched at the kiss, the sensation familiar to -and still different from- how he was used to it feeling, "It's hardly the worst case scenario this time, Charles." He shook his head, "I was hardly good at it the first time I was alive, and we both know I'm worse at it now."

He wanted to argue for at least getting the books set out so he could start researching as soon as he was rested, but he also realized he was too physically exhausted even for that, didn't think he'd actually be able to get up again now that he was sitting. His brow creased a little, catching at Charles' hand more firmly, "Just... if it's obvious I'm having a nightmare, please wake me up? Don't let me sleep just because you think I need it?"

There were other things to worry about, certainly, like the possibility of his ribs actually being broken and not just cracked, that they might be causing actual damage to his lungs, but Charles had seen the shape Edwin's nightmares were likely to take, and Edwin would much rather suffer the physical pains than go through that again.

Charles felt himself sigh, deeply. Edwin was afraid of being alive. Because of all the things that it brought to him. He didn't see the good side of it all, all he saw was the horrors. And that... broke Charles' heart a little. He wished he could show Edwin how great life was. All the food, and things to do, and things to experience... That having skin was a great way to enjoy each other too... But it was truly Edwin's luck that he had to be alive while his body was battered and broken.

So Charles just smiled, sniffing, and leaned in to kiss Edwin's lips again.

"Yeah, I won't let the Dreaming torture you," he assured. "I'll try to get some books for you for when you wake up, alright?" Maybe not the right books but he can make some guesses on what Edwin would want to check first.

"And, I think you'd do great being alive, Edwin," Charles added, as he offered the pills.

His breath caught a little at the kiss, not in pain as it had been doing, but still a sort of surprise, swaying forward into it a little and once again wondering what he'd done to deserve Charles as a partner.

"Thank you." It was quiet as the apology had been, but he still meant it. It took him a moment to get the right leverage to get the bottle of water open, but he did so, accepting the pills and swallowing them down easily enough. That done, he went about shedding his jacket, more careful of the injured shoulder than he had been before. He situated himself on the sofa, the way he usually sat when reading, half propped up against one arm because he did remember that laying flat only aggravated his asthma when he'd first been alive, and couldn't imagine that would be any different now.

"Intermediate runic arrays to start, and advanced alchemy, I think?" His brow creased, trying to determine what else he might need even as he was already feeling the pull of sleep tugging at the edges of his mind, "The Hendrick's Encyclopedia, the old edition, not the new." He blinked slowly, realizing he was already fading fast now that he was mostly comfortable, "There's another one. I can't think of it right now."

Charles took Edwin's jacket and folded it with the utmost care. It may not have been as neat as the other boy would have done it but at least it won't have wrinkles. He put it on the desk as Edwin got comfortable.

"I know, Edwin, I know, relax," he chuckled as he walked back to Edwin. He gently put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing softly to try and assure him. "I'll get them. Sleep now," he smiled.

Charles waited by the sofa as Edwin fell asleep. And even a little after that. Because this was the first time he had seen him sleep. Usually, when they got exhausted they reduced to an orb. So Charles had never seen Edwin's sleeping face. And, however horrible the circumstances were, he still felt lucky that he could experience it. Without the always present frown, without the tight lips... Edwin almost looked younger even. And very handsome. Charles couldn't help laying a soft kiss on his forehead before going to the bookshelf to find all the books, and some more for him for when he woke up. He was also glad that he had a few moments to himself, where he could just weep a little. Because by god, he was worried, and then he was ecstatic, and then worried again, and now he was so, so tired...

Luckily for them both, Edwin was too exhausted to dream, head lolled to the side against the back of the couch, barely moving aside from the slow and steady breathing, still wheezing faintly on the exhale, but not as bad as it had been back in the house.

More than that, he slept for a solid six hours, barely even shifting the whole time, though for all that stillness, he still startled awake at the first light from the window creeping across his face, blinking wildly and gone startled-still for the few moments it took to actually register what had happened, to remember falling asleep in the first place, seemingly surprised to find himself in the same place he'd gone to sleep, "Charles?"

Charles piled the books Edwin asked for and a few more on a chair next to the sofa, placing the polaroids on top of it all. Then he got the one blanket they had and draped it over Edwin, so he wouldn't get cold. And then it got quiet.

He didn't exactly plan to sleep, not like this. Since the chair was occupied by books, he sat down on the floor leaning his shoulder against the sofa, watching Edwin for any kind of nightmare. And before he knew it, his head was resting on the seat, next to Edwin's body, and he fell asleep too.

He stirred a little when Edwin woke but still didn't fully wake.

It only took Edwin a moment to take in the scene, to sort out what had happened and to realize the weight of Charles' presence. He felt that he should probably take him up so he could have the sofa, since Edwin himself wasn't likely to fall back to sleep, but at the same time, he didn't want to wake him if he'd only fallen asleep himself recently.

So he moved as carefully as possible, levering himself a little more fully upright against the arm of the sofa where he was, moving carefully, remembering to rely on his good arm rather than his dominant one as it was the one that was injured. Re-situated he gently shifted the blanket off of himself and over Charles instead, hesitating only briefly before trailing his fingers across the other boy's curls, smiling faintly at the sensation.

That done, however, he picked up the pictures to go over them again, flipping to a fresh page of his notebook to jot down the symbols as best he could, pulling the first book off the top of the stack to leaf through it for anything that would help.

As the blanket was draped over him, Charles let out a sigh and went back to sleep. It took him a little more than half an hour to slowly start waking up. He sighed, slowly opening his eyes. He was a little lost for a moment... because he thought that he dreamed it all. That he died. That he spent his afterlife with a boy named Edwin, and falling in love with him.

Charles felt a cold sensation sink in his stomach as he thought for a second that he had he had to get out of bed and face his father. Or his schoolmates. After all the adventures he went on with Edwin. But then a movement caught his eye and he turned his head just to see Edwin already hard at work.

Charles's eyes widened as he grabbed at Edwin's leg.

"You're okay? You didn't have a nightmare, right?" he asked, his words still slurring a little from sleep.

He startled a little at the touch, but his hand settled in Charles' hair again almost immediately, that tension bleeding out of him again, "I'm quite alright, Charles, slept right through."

His brow creased a little, taking in Charles' momentary distress before asking, "And you?" He'd been sleeping soundly as far as Edwin could tell, it was just waking up that had caused him to startle, almost as if he'd fallen asleep mid-duty, not that Edwin blamed him in the slightest.

At the touch in his hair, Charles still wondered if he was dreaming, because it felt slightly different than their usual touches. It was more... alive. Oh, yes. They were alive. That was why he could sleep too. Shit, he fell asleep when he was supposed to watch Edwin for nightmares... great.

"Good... okay," Charles murmured, rubbing his red eyes. It's been a while since they felt like this, a little puffy. He sighed, looking around in their little office, sighing in relief. "'M fine," he said. "For a second I thought I've dreamt it all. But this isn't a dream, yeah?"

"Fortunately for the both of us, this is quite real." A sigh followed, kneading at the bridge of his nose a moment, "Unfortunately I've not been able to make heads or tails of this runic array. It seems to be two separate circles, one possibly made to correct the other instead of just correcting it, which makes no sense at all."

He was definitely more terse about it than usual, and quite possibly because he was hungry and just hadn't recognized the sensation yet over the rest of his general discomfort.

Charles sighed again, and he actually smiled a little as Edwin started his ranting. Right, yes, they were real, and they were in a pickle, as detectives often are. Charles was just watching Edwin with soft amusement, only to hear the strangest noise.

"Wh-" Charles blinked, then he had to realize it was him. His stomach. Growling. "Um," he frowned, then looked up at Edwin. "Mate," he started and had to stop himself for a moment before he continued saying the most absurd words. "I'm... hungry." It made sense but then it didn't. But it made more sense than it didn't.

"That... would explain some things." He replied, marking the page with his notes and folding the notebook closed again, setting it aside. Moving was slightly easier than it had been the night before, but even he could see the bruises blooming along his arm where he'd landed, and knew there were more from where he'd popped his shoulder back into place, and likely more still across his back.

"There's the cafe down the street that Crystal likes, but I don't really think we should go walking in there looking like this. Honestly probably shouldn't go walking in anywhere, and i don't know if we've even got any petty cash left in the jar." They'd stopped keeping track of it at some point because they'd stopped needing it for things, "I don't suppose we really have any other options, though."

The moment Edwin moved, Charles was on his feet too. He blinked as the blanket fell from his shoulder, feeling warmth pooling in his chest about it. He picked it up and put it on the armrest of the sofa.

"Yeah, how about you stay here, right? I take whatever money's left in the jar and get something to eat. So you can work, and then we can have food too. I can't really help with this stuff anyway," Charles said, motioning toward the books. He wasn't too comfortable with Edwin walking around injured and alive if he was honest. Even if he would have loved to take him out, but... that may not have been smart.

He sighed heavily because as much as he didn't like the idea, it was really the only viable option, which was why he nodded, "Alright, just..." His lips pressed together briefly, realizing that he was going to sound like a nag, "Just remember people can see you now, but the ones in the cars aren't going to pay attention."

They usually steered clear of too many people or the middle of thoroughfares just in general because being walked through was an unpleasant sensation and being driven through wasn't any better, but the whole excursion was going to be more fraught than usual as it was, even though it was only down the block.

Charles smiled fondly at the warnings. He moved closer and put his hand on Edwin's arm, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

"I've been dead a shorter time than you, haven't I? I think I still remember a few things," he winked. And he was excited to go out there, somehwat. It would feel good, Charles thought. So he took a step back and spread his arms. "So how do I look? Do I look presentable for the masses?" he asked in a laugh, though then he saw a movement from the corner of his eyes. Oh. It was his reflection in their mirror. He asked Edwin to check him because it was how they usually did it... but now they had a body that could be seen not by people, but in mirrors too. And Charles froze, staring at it.

"Perfectly acceptable, I should think." He'd started, "It's, what did Crystal call it? Retro?" He shook his head then, "Certainly more in line with modern fashions than myself, anyway."

His brow creased at the way Charles froze, worried for a moment that it might be some kind of side-effect of what was happening, shifting himself around forward on the couch so he could follow Charles' line of sight, giving a quiet, "Oh. I see." When he caught sight of their reflections as well, which, he supposed, was some kind of side-effect to being living again.

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