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

[technicallyhellbound]

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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[convincingsmile]

Charles was already out of his polo shirt when he looked up at Edwin's question.

"Ah, yeah," he started a little hesitant. Then he chuckled to himself because, yeah, he may have gotten a little sappy there, huh. But then he walked to Edwin, holding up a hand to tell him he can help him get his shirt off once it's unbuttoned. "It's just... maybe tomorrow you're gonna find the reverse of the spell and we can be ghosts again. But we're alive now, and we get to have a hot water shower. We get to touch each other in a new way, yeah? I gotta touch you in ways I could never before and never again, probably."

Charles shrugged, looking around the room for a moment.

"I can make sure you're safe and your wounds are tended, and I can also help you clean your body that I love so much? I think that's pretty mint," he added. "It's special, to me. Because you're special to me, Edwin."

[technicallyhellbound]

He did, at least, seem to consider that, just turning things over from that new perspective even as he shrugged his good arm out of his shirt, letting Charles help with the other, but he nodded once it was off, because the warmth of Charles' hands -even through shirt and undershirt- was more pleasant than he'd expected, and he could only imagine it was going to be moreso when they were also standing in warm running water, "I think I understand."

It took him probably longer than it should have to sort out that he was going to have to sit to get his boots off, because nothing else was getting off until he'd dealt with that, lowering himself gingerly to the bench beside the sink, mostly managing to untie them and unlace the first few eyelets by feel, because bending forward put the wrong kind of pressure on his ribs, but he managed with the minimum amount of fuss, trousers following.

The undershirt was going to present a problem, however, because while he could get his good arm pulled out of the sleeve, he couldn't really shuck it off over his head and the other arm himself, thankful once again for Charles' help before he'd even managed to ask for it, though his nose wrinkled just a little at the fact that one of the corners of the tape holding the bandage down had come up, tugging against his shirt and his skin as he shed the garment.

The bruising was definitely worse than it had been the day before, uneven purple splotching all the way along his back, practically from shoulder to hip, running around his right side and in the hollow of his shoulder where it had been popped out of -and then back into- place, but there was no swelling, and no heat to his skin that would indicate infection anywhere.

He just shook his head, "I'm already exhausted."

[convincingsmile]

Even if Edwin didn't understand, Charles was still content. He knew what he wanted, and what he should do for Edwin after all, and nothing else mattered. He tried not to be too overbearing, and letting Edwin take off his clothes in his pace and only helping when he'd seen it entirely necessary. He didn't want to make Edwin feel incompetent or anything of the such, even if Charles truly just tried to help. So while Edwin was taking a breather, he went to start the water to let it warm up by the time they got under it, and got rid of his own clothes, only noting for a moment how... light and vulnerable he felt without all those layers.

When the clothes were off, however, Charles had to control his breathing. The ugly, vivid marks on Edwin's body were... reminding him of so many things. If he could he would have taken those bruises because the sight of them on the most important person in his afterlife just made him want to rage. Before Charles even registered what he was doing he gently brushed his fingers down on Edwin's naked, injured shoulder and followed it up with his lips.

"Will you be able to stand while I wash you?" Charles asked, his hand dropping to hold Edwin's.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin swayed into that touch, only to straighten a moment later when he realized he'd done so, nodding at the question, "I'll be alright. Promise." He gave Charles' hand a gentle squeeze, rolling to his feet with the same sort of effort it had taken to unfold from his chair, still thankful for the help, feeling a bit like he should be embarrassed by it, but he wasn't, not even a little.

He gestured to the gauze still taped to his shoulder, "Best to get this out of the way before we get in, let it get cleaned out a bit as well." He doubted there was any remaining debris in the wound but letting clean water run over it before re-dressing it would only be a good thing as far as he was concerned.

[convincingsmile]

"Good," Charles smiled and helped Edwin get on his feet. He held his hand through it as he guided him to the shower. "I'll take it off once it's a bit soaked, it may be easier to get it off then," he offered as he tested the water's temperature. Then he slowly guided Edwin further under the shower just to let the warm water run down his shoulders and back, over the bandages. Only then Charles reached for it. "This may sting," he warned as he slowly, as gently as he could took it off to see how it looked. Well, it looked better than he thought but still a nasty wound. Thankfully it was not infected.

"I'll start with the wound, and then I'll get to the rest, yeah?" he told Edwin as he got the shower gel and a washcloth in hand. "I'll be careful but if it hurts tell me, alright?" he asked in a small smile and laid a kiss on the back of Edwin's neck, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

[technicallyhellbound]

"I will." He replied with a nod, letting his head roll forward a little, just basking in the sensation of the water, the warmth of Charles behind him.

Of course, given Edwin's pain tolerance, the sting of soap probably wouldn't even register as something he should object to, especially when he was all too comfortable otherwise. He'd been worried that the feeling of water in his hair would be too reminiscent of blood seeping from an unseen head injury, something that had happened altogether too often in his escape attempts, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was an entirely different sensation.

It was similar, in a way, but not enough to be a problem, and certainly not with Charles right there at his side, a grounding presence and a reminder of where -and when- he was.

[convincingsmile]

Charles cleaned the wound as much as he could, finding it only bleeding just a little. He hoped it wouldn't color the water enough for Edwin to get jumpy about it, but there was barely any blood. So when the wound was fairly clean, Charles continued with Edwin's back, gently and delicate, running his palms over the parts he found precious to try and commit them to memory. To always remember how they felt under his touch while alive. The shape of his shoulder blades, the line down the middle of his spine... Charles always made sure to work slowly and signal to Edwin where he would touch him, taken he stood behind him.

When Charles was ready he stepped around Edwin, his hand sliding around his waist with the excuse to steady him, but it was more like he could not stop touching him. It was getting worse the more they spent under warm rays of water, naked.

"Other side," Charles grinned. "Want me to wash your hair?" 

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin hadn't been dozing, not really, but he'd still slipped into a similar state of luxuriating in the touch and the water, even the smell of the soap Charles was using, unfamiliar, but not unpleasant at all.

He blinked slowly as Charles moved, giving a small smile in response to the question, "I think I can manage." It wouldn't be well with only one hand, likely using the other to support himself against the shower wall, but he wanted to at least be somewhat self-sufficient here, especially as Charles still needed to wash as well.

There was also the fact that despite the lingering ache, his body was rapidly catching up to the fact that he and Charles were both naked and touching, and an ill-advised hard-on wasn't something he particularly wanted to deal with at the moment, hoping that a few moments without contact would be enough to will it away again.

[convincingsmile]

"Right, yeah," Charles nodded swallowing. His body was already half-ready for anything at that point and he gave up controlling it. Partly because it all felt different than in his spectral body. The heat of Edwin was still lingering on his palm, under his fingertips and he stuttered a barely there breath as he turned to get his own washing done. "But if you need help, I'm here. I can... continue if you want."

Though he winced because how did that sound? Did it sound as weird as he thought, or was it just his imagination?

[technicallyhellbound]

"I appreciate that, Charles. I appreciate you." He did manage to set to washing his hair well enough, though he did, indeed, have to use the bad arm for balance, which wasn't so terrible just as long as he didn't lift it above shoulder-height, "It's only that here simply isn't the best place for anything more. That's all."

Which was easier said than done, considering that even with Charles' hands no longer lingering on his skin, he was still half-hard and rising just thanks to the proximity, the easy heat seeping off of Charles and even just the water. Edwin had always had poor circulation, he'd always been cold, and he was pleasantly warm at the moment and wanted to enjoy that for as long as he could.

[convincingsmile]

"Yes, right, I..." Charles shook his head. Then chuckled a little nervously. It wasn't like he wanted to make Edwin do anything that would tire him out more, or hurt him. "I wouldn't think of doing anything more, mate, just... if you need help I'm here, for real, I'll behave I swear." And he couldn't help reaching out to brush the tip of his fingers against Edwin's side.

Charles was so focused on Edwin that he barely noted the warm water on his skin, and in his hair. Only after he quickly washed himself, and went to wash his hair as quickly as possible his brain finally caught up with him. Oh. Oh yes. He was wet. And his hair was wet too. And his eyeliner must have been a mess... He stopped for a moment though, feeling the weight of he shower's droplets slide down his shoulders. And he thought that he was going to miss this; he was going to miss this again.

[technicallyhellbound]

He nodded at the answer, his own hand moving to caress Charles' wrist gently before resuming scrubbing the shampoo through his hair, "I know. And don't think I've forgotten my promise to sort out how we can be... intimate, like this, without exacerbating injuries."

It was entirely possible that the solution would simply be to have each other just before whatever spell was needed to return them to their spectral forms, so that even if it did aggravate what already hurt, it wouldn't bother him for long. But he was hoping it wouldn't come to that, because he wanted to be able to fully enjoy himself, and allow Charles to do the same without worrying about him.

Watching Charles sag under the spray just had him smiling in something like sympathy, because he was sure he'd looked the same only moments before, it was a pleasant sensation in a sea of unpleasant ones, and he realized he was probably going to miss it, at least a little, and could understand that it would be worse for Charles who clearly enjoyed being alive and everything that came with it.

[convincingsmile]

Charles knew that Edwin was probably going to find a way to have their intimate time. And Charles was fully ready to refuse him if it was something reckless. Even if he had to give up touching Edwin like that while they were alive, he still didn't want to hurt him. Not now or ever.

To distract himself from the shower and the memories, Charles tried to turn his attention to Edwin again. It was painful to look at him, though. All that bruising, and he way he held his arm up still reminded Charles that he was not alright, and he may not be unless they were ghosts again.

When they were done, Charles got the towels, and insisted on drying Edwin off, before bundling him into a set of towels.

"We got a few sets of clothes for us with Crystal. Some cozy, some more for going outside. So you can choose what you prefer," Charles explained.

[technicallyhellbound]

The towels were an unexpected luxury soft and fluffy in a way he hadn't been expecting, and enough to get him dry easily without scrubbing and it was the unexpectedness of it that allowed Charles to get him bundled without complaint.

His brow creased a little at the subject of clothes, only just then realizing that there was really no use putting his uniform back on, especially when there was a hole torn in the shoulder of it, "Something soft, I suppose? As we aren't planning on going anywhere until tomorrow, and we aren't expecting visitors." The tone was distraction and puzzlement rather than any kind of trepidation or disagreement, not wholly sure what Charles and Crystal would have picked, but surprised to find that he trusted the pair of them not to have gotten anything he'd be wildly uncomfortable in.

[convincingsmile]

"Sure thing, we got a few set of joggers and jumpers too," Charles grinned, drying his hair. "You check which one you like, yeah?" he added.

Charles packed up some of their stuff, wondering if they would ever use it again, and then helped Edwin to go back upstairs. He figured a quick trip up the stairs in towels wouldn't be too much, as the house was abandoned. He barely took his hands off of Edwin, though, still under the spell of being able to touch him in the shower, under warm rays of water. Charles already missed it.

It also brought back some memories of how other people's bodies felt. Mostly girls. A few boys. But with Edwin under his fingertips, he once again realized that yes, yes he missed kissing. And everything coming with it.

[technicallyhellbound]

He probably should have argued tromping through the building in naught but towels, but they were massive and covered anything that should have been covered, and they were good about keeping the place tidy so it wasn't as if they were risking stepping on anything on the way back.

I was only once he was wearing something comfortable, if unfamiliar, that he went about setting aside an outfit for their outing the next day, a little surprised at the number of options, but figuring it was so they wouldn't have to do much -if any- laundry before he got the issue sorted out, and he wasn't going to say anything on that, either, not until he was actually somewhere close to solving it.

Clothes for the next day set aside he eyed the desk and the careful stack of paperwork he'd set aside so they could eat, "I should consolidate my notes from today, but I think after that I'll be ready to turn in. I know I'll be useless for doing any further research this evening."

[convincingsmile]

This was like camping, Charles wondered as they were going through the pile of clothes. A bit weird camping but still he got the idea of it. It was fun to pick clothes for their 'date' and to slip into something that actually felt different against his skin. His skin! It was only a jogger and a shirt but completely different than what he was usually 'wearing'. He turned to Edwin to comment on taking a break but his throat suddenly tightened.

As Edwin's hair got drier it also got... fluffier. It had no product in it anymore. And Charles realized that he was seeing an Edwin that was not in school but not in Hell either. An Edwin who was... home. With him. Charles took a long, calming breath.

"Right, yeah, rest," he nodded. But then he put down whatever that was in his hand and stepped to Edwin. He let out a soft chuckle, mostly at himself because man, was he down badly for his best friend or what? Did he only want good things to happen to him? Did he want to make sure Edwin can be home with him? With him who had never knew how safety and a proper home looked like before he died? "Lemme just, come here," Charles smiled and reached for Edwin, gently gathering him in his arms. He tightened his hold on him as much as he dared, hugging him.

[technicallyhellbound]

He'd been puzzled by the request, brow creasing a little, but he did move closer to Charles instead of returning to the desk, not questioning what it was Charles wanted, especially when it soon became obvious and all Edwin could really do was relax into Charles' hold, head tilting forward until his brow rested against the slope of Charles' shoulder, a soft sigh escaping him.

He hesitated only briefly before his arms curled around Charles' waist in turn, keeping him close, the warmth of that embrace far outweighed any lingering ache from the weight of it, and the fact that Charles was being careful about it, cautious instead of his usual half-reckless exuberance only warmed Edwin further, just murmuring a quiet: "Thank you." Against Charles' shoulder, though not yet making any more to actually disengage. It was as if Charles was intent on showing him just what was worth missing about being alive, as it was clearly not the kind of thing Edwin had experienced the first time.

[convincingsmile]

"S nothing," Charles murmured in a smile as his hand slid up the back of Edwin's neck. His fingers played with a few loose strands of hair. He turned his head to press his nose against Edwin, breathing him in. Breathing! He let out a soft noise, his eyes fluttering shut. The scent of soap was nostalgic to his senses, and there was also something that was most definitely Edwin's own scent. Charles nuzzled into it, laying a kiss on the shell of Edwin's ear. His heart was so full, he wondered how it didn't burst yet.

And yes, Charles was maybe a little intent on showing Edwin what he was missing. But not on purpose... So without thinking about it, Charles gently guided Edwin's head up, just enough so he could meet him halfway in a soft kiss on his lips. And it felt very different than the one they exchanged when Charles was still worried for Edwin's life. It hurt Charles's heart more.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin had made a soft noise of his own at the tease of Charles' fingers against his nape, eyes dipping fully closed, not exactly sagging forward against his partner, but still leaning more fully against him all the same.

The kiss to the crest of his ear was enough to have his breath hitching briefly, a little hiccup of a sound that was halfway to being a sob, though it wasn't out of pain or upset, it was just too much to process at the moment, and then Charles was kissing him, properly, and it took him a moment to catch up to that, returning the kiss with another soft sound, one arm curling more securely around Charles' waist to tug him just a little closer.

He did, finally, draw away from the kiss, trying to catch his breath, having to catch his breath in away he never had to before.

[convincingsmile]

Charles loved the quiet, soft noises coming from Edwin. It was a rare treat. He watched as Edwin was trying to catch his breath with a soft smile on his lips, pressing closer as he was being held tighter.

"It's okay," Charles assured quietly. "I got you, yeah?" he smiled. "You looked real cute there for a tick, had to take my chance," he added in a chuckle. He was going to let Edwin nap, truly. But not yet, not when he was so soft, and cozy, and safe. As long as Edwin was in his arms, he was safe.

[technicallyhellbound]

There was a soft laugh at that, he couldn't help it, shaking his head even as he rested his brow against Charles' temple, "Yes, well, if you hadn't done I certainly would have." Once he'd organized his notes and could let himself actually pay attention to how Charles looked.

He took another slow breath to steady himself again, careful not to aggravate the cracked ribs. He pressed another kiss to the arch of Charles' cheek, because it was there and he could, "I really should organize my notes, but after that we can make the best of the couch?"

[convincingsmile]

Charles smiled wider, his cheeks heating up at the small kiss on his cheek. He could do this all night. All day. Forever.

"Nah, mate, you take the couch, I'll be fine," Charles said. He maybe consider getting on the couch with Edwin if he wasn't hurt. But knowing that only a little pressure could make his pain worse made Charles reconsider. "Need to lookout for nightmares, eh?"

[technicallyhellbound]

He considered that for a moment, reluctant to let Charles go just yet, but doing so if only because he knew drawing out the process would only make it more arduous, "Alright, but do take one of the cushions this time, please? And don't fret if you fall asleep, I'm quite sure you're attentive enough to notice if I've slipped into a nightmare even if you're asleep."

Making sure his notes were in working order for the next day didn't take long, clipping three separate bundles together before stacking them just to make sure nothing would get lost. Then, running both hands along the edge of the desk in consideration he added, "I think I've enough energy for a game of Cluedo, if you're amenable. But if you just need to turn in for the night, that's fine as well." He knew Charles hadn't gotten as much sleep as he had, and had been out running errands, which definitely used more energy than the researching did.

[convincingsmile]

"Right, cushion, good idea," Charles said a little sheepishly. He forgot how hard the floor could be for a living after all. But being reminded also delighted him somehow. Then he chuckled softly. He had been stifling a few yawns here and there after their shower after all. But he didn't want to sleep, he wanted to have as much time alive and conscious as possible.

"You know I'm always up for some Cluedo. One day, I'm also gonna beat you," he chuckled, already heading for the closet. "Maybe today!"