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

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

Edwin knew as soon as he fell through the mirror that something was wrong, and not just a little bit wrong, but the kind of wrong that made the whole world tilt on its axis a little.

It wasn't a misdirected portal, not like the case that had ultimately led them to Crystal, not like many other failures of concentration when traversing mirror portals before, it was something else, and he couldn't place what it was. All he knew was that he'd simply passed through the mirror in question and had landed, hard on the floor on the other side of the room, hard enough that he actually skidded a couple of feet and that couldn't be right because that actually hurt, and hurt in the way he hadn't felt in... well, decades.

It was enough to tumble him against the far wall just from his own momentum, impacting hard enough to knock the breath out of his lungs, and that was definitely wrong, because he shouldn't have had breath or lungs. He could see, even through pain-hazed vision that the poltergeist he'd been baiting had, indeed, gotten caught in the trap he himself had leapt over when aiming for the mirror.

That was, however, the last thing he saw before the half-rotted-through loft floor gave way beneath his sudden and unexpected weight, sending him falling, flailing, scraped to ribbons on the broken slats, to the ground below, and he was reasonably sure he'd actually heard something snap on impact, ribs, if the sudden radiating pain was anything to go by, though his shoulder wasn't in good shape either, and that was an entirely different kind of pain, just layering on top of the feeling of the ragged scratches from the wood, and it occurred to him, dimly, that he'd forgotten how much he hated the feeling of blood on his skin.

It had been different in Hell, the pain, the sensations in general, all of it, it had been horrible, yes, but it was so much more visceral now, and even as his vision began to go hazy again, head swimming, his last thoughts were trying to remember how he'd somehow gotten separated from Charles, who had been barely a step behind him when he'd rounded the corner into the loft pursued by the poltergeist now trapped securely above him.

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Edwin had only realized that the statement might read as condescension instead of genuine once he'd said it, but they'd already moved on to the next thing before he could attempt to reiterate that he'd meant it.

He startled at the voice, only to relax almost instantly when he realized who it was, accepting the water even as he said, "I'd hoped you would stay with Charles so he doesn't think we've abandoned him." Though he shook his head almost immediately, uncapping the water with a more subdued, "But thank you. I am." The trembling had finally run its course, and he could only suspect it had been some kind of adrenal response, and while his ears were still ringing, he was sure that was just due to the relative quiet outside after the nearly-physical wall of sound inside.

It was after another swallow of the water that he unfolded to his feet, drawing himself upright with his usual sort of deliberate precision, steeling himself a little, "We should go back inside before he notices we've both gone."

"Charles isn't thinking about any of that right now," Crystal assured with a snort. "You two could benefit from spending a little time apart, especially when it's a warzone in there," she smirked. She was actually living it all, but she was worried for Edwin more than about Charles. "Stay as long as you want, Edwin, I just wanted to make sure you're fine. And leave Charles to me."

It was better for both of them if Edwin weren't nervous. And if Crystal had to babysit Charles for that, she could, she just needed to know if that was Edwin's main issue. After all the... experience of a concert. But as she turned to go back, a few people also emerged from the entrance, mostly for a smoke. Charles amongst them, with a wet stain on his shirt. He was sweating so much that his hair was sticking to his forehead. When he spotted them, Cystal realized he was indeed looking for them because as he jogged to them, he was barely distinguishable from a puppy running to its owners.

"Crystal!" Charles grinned as he gathered her in his arms for a tight hug. "Where were you? That was their best song!" his words were a little slurred and his breath smelled suspiciously of bad whiskey. Courtesy of a random group of people inviting him for a drink.

"I listen to it during the encore, I'm sure they won't leave without playing it again," she grinned. "But you, Charles, need a-"

"Edwin!" Charles called and immediately went to do the same kind of steel hug to the boy too. "Mate, are you okay?"

Edwin only realized when Crystal referred to the place as a 'war zone' that she didn't actually know why he was as ill at ease there as he was, and the fact that she'd come to make sure he was alright even knowing only the generalities of it was... well it was heartening in a way he hadn't expected, it was enough to make him smile, just a little.

He was, however, saved from trying to thank her -knowing it would be awkward and stilted at a minimum- by Charles' arrival, and he couldn't help but smile at the way Charles practically lifted her with that hug, only to be met with his own a moment later before he could say anything, just nodding as he was released, unable to keep his smile from spreading, clasping Charles' shoulders in return, "Yes, I'm alright, only needed some air." The smile tilted up on one side, "You've been having fun, then?"

Charles's arms settled loosely around Edwin's waist, not entirely sure if to keep him close or to steady himself. But he nodded at Edwin's question.

"'S aces! The music the- I've never thought I could listen to that song like this ever, it was bloody amazing, Edwin, like, it's- it's-" Charles shook his head as he was trying to find the words and drowned in laughter when he couldn't. "Those guys offered me a drink an' I thought, why not, and then we decided to request the Underwear song for the encore, like, maybe they gonna play it? That'd be brills!" he rambled, motioning to the people coming out of the club before him. Then he went to hug Edwin again, nuzzling at his cheek more like a puppy and less like a boyfriend. "'M so glad you're here with me, yeah? Like, I know 's loud and there's people but I'm so happy you're here, right? You're here with me, and we're alive, Edwin..." he rambled, slurring his words. Crystal just muttered an 'oh boy' from a few steps away.

He couldn't help the soft laugh at Charles' rambling, dropping a hand to his hip to keep him steady, glancing to the people he'd emerged from the club with, assessing and determining that they probably had no ill-intentions, "Can't say I know that one." He said in response to the song title, he was sure Charles had told him about it or played it for him before, but he couldn't bring to mind just which one it was, and given the givens it probably didn't matter.

He shifted his weight so that he could offer Charles the bottle of water Crystal had just brought him, "Here, you'll need this. I'm immeasurably pleased that you're enjoying yourself, Charles. I do hope you know that."

"'S supp'sed to be one if the bonus tracks, like not even....mmm," Charles's mouth was interrupted by the water bottle he himself raised to it. As if his mouth and body were two different entities working in completely different ways. He coughed as he swallowed a few sips, looking around them, a bit of habit rather than something conscious, searching for silent threats, but then he turned to Edwin again.

"It's fun, 's so much fun and there's gonna be an after-party later, after the concert. 'M having so much fun Edwin, I love you, you're my light, yeah? Like you're the best thing that ever happened to me, right? 'M glad we have eternity together because I dun think I'd be fine with less..." He hugged Edwin tight again, shaking him a little too, as if just hugging and touching wouldn't be enough.

Then Charles kissed Edwin on the lips, a bit sloppy but enthusiastic, before letting him go. Then he went to Crystal, cupping her face to plant a kiss on both of her cheeks. And then he was heading back down to the club with his newly acquired friends.

The whole exchange was oddly and incredibly heartening, even the kiss that caught him by surprise and had him tensing briefly before having to manually unlock his joints again to relax, something he had to focus on, too ready to run after something like that even despite the call of 'get it!' from one of Charles' new friends, and a thumbs-up from another, something that had him blushing slightly, but ultimately just shaking his head with a huff of amusement.

Both brows lifted as he turned to Crystal, "We should probably go and make sure he doesn't intend to bring home any strays." He reached over to clasp her elbow briefly, "I'll be alright, truly."

Crystal cleared her throat, rubbing her cheeks too. While she was apparently ready for hugs, she didn't expect the cheek kisses. She did bristle at the call, despite they were good in nature, but by the time Edwin addressed her she was ready to go on.

"Good," she smiled. "Take all the breaks you need. I'll handle Charles if needed," she smirked. Then shook her head, squeezing Edwin's wrist in reassurance. "The way he is at, it's gonna be him who has to be taken home. I hope I'm not right, though," she added.

Then shook her second half of the concert was even more intense than the first. Charles kept bouncing between Edwin and the group that basically adopted him as their puppy for the night. It was Charles Rowland in action, charming and energetic and affectionate. Until a certain point in the night. The band had already finished with their encore, wrapping up when Charles disappeared from the scene, just to be found in one of the stalls of the restroom.

He would have had to leave again with the way the crowd was in more of a frenzy, if it weren't for one of Charles' new friends pressing a cellophane packet with a single-use pair of earplugs into his hand as he did his best to keep to the edges of the crowd while still keeping Charles in line of sight.

It was a surprise, in a way, that Charles' new friends had already -apparently- accepted he and Crystal into the fold simply by dint of knowing Charles. But they were also far more of a help than he'd expected, mostly because he hadn't really known such a thing even existed, and if he had he definitely would have thought to use them in the first place. The crowd was still too densely-packed and too energetic for him to be fully comfortable, but with the sound cut down somewhat it wasn't enough to have his adrenaline spiking again as long as he kept to the edges, finally managing to settle at one of the standing tables between the bar and the dance floor.

It was when the band was wrapping up and some of the crowd began to disperse that he realized he didn't know where Charles had gone, had seen him with his new friends only a few moments before, and did his best not to let the cold panic settle into the pit of his stomach, forcing himself around to the most logical conclusion first, heading for the restroom, relaxing almost instantly upon finding Charles there, "Alright then, Charles?"

Charles groaned when he heard Edwin's voice. He couldn't lift his head, as he was kneeling, with his cheek resting on the toilet seat. Sweating and looking clearly sick. Right around the time he heard the last chords of the last song he got dizzy, too dizzy... to the point he could not fight it anymore. He isn't entirely sure how he got to the bathroom...

"Fuck," Charles groaned, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he attempted to get up. But the movement only resulted in him getting sick again, hurling his guts out into the toilet. It was a nightmare, and he wasn't entirely sure where he was. "'M okay," he coughed when he dared to move his head, pushing himself away to lean against the wall of the stall. Though he tensed when he felt the dizziness get him again. "Gimme me a tick..."

Edwin winced at the sound, that was just one of many things he really didn't miss about being human: the ability to be sick.

But he knew pointing that out -or the reason for it- would only make things worse, so instead he grabbed a handful of paper towels to wet them in the sink, sidling closer to dab at Charles' face with them, "Well, your aim is as impeccable as ever, nothing on yourself at all, I'm impressed, actually."

He wasn't going to try to get Charles to move to the sink until he knew he was actually steady on his feet and finished heaving. He did shift his weight a little so that he could actually flush the toilet, feeling well enough himself for the time being, but the smell of it would undoubtedly have set him off before too long if he hadn't done so.

Charles tensed his lips, trying to breathe through his nose as he was trying to assess if he was fine or not. He opened his eyes at the dabbing, finding homself face to face with Edwin. And he felt himself flush, as if they weren't together already... God, Edwin could make him fell for him over and over again.

"'S talent," Charles chuckled, leaning his head back against the wall. Though, this was new. Edwin being nice, was new. Charles remembered getting laughed at when he got sick like this, once or twice... Not many times, for sure, his memories were fuzzy. But he remembered the laughter and the shame that came with it. And his father... Charles froze as his body was trying to decide if it was going to get sick again, but thankfully it calmed soon. But the nausea was still present.

"You're always gonna come and save me in the end, huh?" he huffed in a hoarse voice.

"Of course I am, Charles." He replied, brow creasing just a little, folding the paper towel over so he could dab that relative cool against Charles' brow and temples, "You've done so for me more times than I can count, I'd be remiss if I didn't do the same from time to time."

He shook his head once he'd said it, "And I've gone and made it sound like some sort of obligation and it isn't, not even close. It's simply what you deserve, or, at least as much of what you deserve as I can provide." Because as far as he was concerned Charles deserved so much more than Edwin could give him, he would forever be just doing his best.

"Feeling alright to move, or would you like to catch your breath a bit longer?" He asked, brows both lifting in some sort of concern.

Charles wasn't sure why but as the cold, wet towel touched his heated skin again he thought about his dying day. This touch felt the same as Edwin's presence when everything hurt and he was so scared... His eyelids were heavy, closing as he was listening to Edwin.

"Mmmm," he hummed, trying to catch the boy's hand, even if his eyes were not open. So his attempt was... made but he probably couldn't take Edwin's hand. "You're all I wan', mate," he slurred. "Love, dear, annnngel," he chuckled. "You're enough for me," he added softer. And he almost fell asleep on the spot, now that he knew that he was safe and fine and Edwin was there. So his next question shook him awake.

"Uuuh," he hummed, trying to assess the situation. "I wan'ed to go to the afterparty," he said in a stupid laugh then, instead of answering. Because what were they talking about?

"I'm sure you did," he agreed with a nod, gently steering Charles towards the sinks, "and I'm sure you'd have a grand time, but, we've a full day ahead of us tomorrow, and we do actually need sleep to be able to do things." An innocuous enough statement if anyone happened to overhear it, it would just seem like a reminder to get some rest, even if it was oddly-phrased.

He trusted that even in his current inebriated state, Charles would still understand that he meant it as 'while they were human'.

"And Crystal has been kind enough to offer to arrange us a ride home, so that we don't have to walk the whole way, but if you think the walk would do you good, I can simply decline the offer."

Charles stumbled, feeling like his body wasn't his anymore. As if he himself was possessed by some kind of sludge monster that made his limbs become heavy, and his head dizzy. He grabbed the side of a sink, trying to get a grip on himself.

"Oh... Oh Edwin," he mumbled, his eyes closed as he was trying to process the whole few steps from the stall to the sinks. "Right, yeah..." Right, yes, tomorrow... and the things they planned. Right. That was still there. "I don'- I don' think I can get into a car, mate," he added then. Not because he wouldn't have killed to be in a car, but he knew he would mess up the seats the moment it got moving. He let go of a suffering groan and leaned his forehead on Edwin's shoulder. "'M sorry... 'M sorry."

"You've nothing to be sorry for, Charles." He replied, threading his fingers gently through Charles' sweat-sodden curls, just cradling the back of his head gently, "And we'd already planned on walking home as it was, so it isn't as if declining a ride changes our plan at all. Besides, I've a feeling the night air will do us both some good."

He knew he hadn't had anywhere near as much to drink as Charles had, but even he was feeling pleasantly languid, joints just a little liquidy where they probably shouldn't be, but he knew he'd be able to get them both home easily enough. And would then, quite probably, just pass out with his jacket still on. He wasn't thinking that far ahead just yet, though, "Think you'll be alright to get as far as the bench outside? Can catch our breath and have some water there before we get moving for real."

"Okay," Charles said after taking a few deep breaths. And even in this state, he noted that Edwin had a scent. He could smell him. He shivered when he felt his fingers in his hair, and he wished he could pursue that sensation further. If he could see where else Edwin's fingers could cause such a feeling... but the dizziness and the nausea was too distracting. "Okay," Charles repeated then, leaning more heavily on Edwin. "You smell so good..." he muttered.

He gave another small smile at that, hesitating only briefly before looping his arm around Charles' waist even as he drew Charles' arm across his shoulders to help keep him balanced, "Come along then, some of the crowd will have thinned by now, should make it easier to get outside without running into anyone."

Anyone save Crystal, who was waiting for them, two fresh water bottles in hand, she was also gracious enough about them declining the ride, as if she'd halfway expected they would, though her compromise was to walk with them at least through the park, even though it was the opposite direction from her new flat, she could get a ride home from their side of the park just as easily as from in front of the club, and it might even be cheaper away from a late night venue.

Edwin considered declining that insistence as well, but knew that she would feel responsible for them if something happened in their current state, and so he just nodded, accepting one of the waters even as he steered Charles towards the stairs, "Thank you, Crystal, it's appreciated."

Charles leaned heavily on Edwin as they were walking up the stairs and to the benches outside. He could barely pay attention to the conversations around him, or even to the water that was offered. He knew that his new friends said bye, asking him to be there at the next party so they could exchange numbers. Charles only realized how sad that made him the next day... But right now, he was just happy he could rely on Edwin and Crystal to get them back to the office.

Charles remembered telling Crystal to be safe and phone them when she gets home, which was something he didn't truly realize was something he usually said when he was alive... They usually used the mirrors to check on Crystal when needed, after all.

And when they were up at the office, along with Edwin, Charles didn't remember for a moment how they got there...

"Crystal's okay, yeah?" Charles heard himself slur the words as he found himself on the couch.

It had been habit more than anything that had Edwin leading them to the office instead of the room down the hall that they'd done up with the air mattress and the clothes, and that meant he was going to have to haul Charles up off of the couch so they could actually sleep comfortably, and had been working out how to say so when Charles asked after Crystal.

All he could do was smile, nodding, "Yes, she's caught a ride, and she's assured us that the driver isn't a serial killer, and she'll text when she's home safe." He offered Charles an arm, then, "Which means we ought to take our time getting ready for bed, if we can, should at least wash your face," his nose wrinkled a little, realizing even as he said it that he felt gritty as well, just another sensation he hadn't missed, dried sweat, "Mine too, really, and change into proper pajamas before we crash. Save an actual shower for morning when there's less chance of falling asleep in it."

His brows both lifted, "Think you can make it down the hall? If not I'm sure I can fashion one of the spare bed-sheets into a travois to drag you there."

Charles closed his eyes as he was trying to concentrate on listening to Edwin. Good, Crystal was going to be fine. Right. Alright. And Edwin was safe too. Aces. Yes.

As Edwin went on, Charles gasped. Right, yes, they were alive... They had bodies. They had a place to sleep! And he was looking forward to sleeping with Edwin, in all the sense of that word. He looked around the office, thinking that yes, it was such a habit to end up here instead of their makeshift bed. God, he was so dizzy, he felt his body heavy and light at the same time and his mouth tasted foul... He swallowed the shame again as he opened his eyes at Edwin.

"No I- Yea', yea... I can move," he nodded, then reached for him to help him get up and somehow walk down the hall to their room. "I feel so hot," he chuckled, realizing how long it had been since he felt feverish. He let Edwin lead them to the bathroom for a wash-up before getting to bed.

"That would be the whiskey." He replied, warm and amused and fully intent on ignoring the way his own ears were still crested red, though that was the walk as much as it was the gin and whatever it was the shots had been. Edwin had ended up washing not just his face but scrubbing down his chest and arms and the back of his neck as well, because once he'd started the relative cool of the wet washcloth felt marvelous.

Brushing his teeth was done as quickly as possible because he detested the feel of it, likewise he disliked the burn of the mouthwash but didn't mind the cooling effect of the mint flavor.

He'd only just finished changing into sleepwear when the text from Crystal came through, "She's made it home." He commented, "And says she'll bring 'hangover breakfast' for us tomorrow so we're fortified for the trip to the botanical gardens."

Charles was still stumbling around as he did his best to scrub himself down and washed his teeth. Taking off clothes was easy but putting them on was too much, so he fainted into bed wearing only his boxers. So all he said was an approving sound as he was laying in their makeshift bed, trying to will his dizziness and nausea away.

"Aces," he chuckled but groaned when he felt his stomach disapprove of all the movement. He opened his eyes then as much as he could, looking at Edwin. "Mate, I wan'ed to make love to you tonight, but..." he sighed, whining almost as a puppy. He couldn't finish that sentence. He couldn't say it that he was too drunk to give proper kisses, let alone do anything else.

Edwin shook his head, stretching out beside Charles, wriggling just a little to get comfortable even as he answered, "It's quite alright, Charles, I daresay I'm not exactly feeling up to it myself."

While he hadn't had as much to drink as Charles had, the near panic attack had definitely taken it out of him, and while he was feeling better having had time to recover, he still felt a little wrung out, not shaky exactly, but not far from it, either. He did prop himself up on an elbow so that he could press a kiss to Charles' temple, as that was what he could reach, "We've still got time, good night's sleep will do us both some good."

Come morning, Edwin was awake only slightly later than his usual time, and even then he was content, for the time being, to just lay there, stretched out alongside Charles, listening to his breathing.

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