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 grabbed his polo shirt on his chest, as if he could grab his heart and feel it beat. Right, it wasn't guaranteed to work but Edwin was amazing so Charles believed their success more than anything. He was ready! And now he apparently got a little more time... He couldn't help his huffed laugh, barely noting what Edwin was saying.

"Right, yeah, yes, back to the office," he cleared his throat so he wouldn't laugh out loud from relief. God, he hated himself for a moment there. Edwin must feel awful, he thought, finally turning his attention to him again.

He turned his head just in time to see Edwin roll up his sleeve. And spotting the lack of bruises. Charles gasped, reaching out to hold Edwin's arm, as he barely believed his eyes.

"What? Wait- wait, are you? You're not hurtin' anymore?"

[technicallyhellbound]

His brow creased a little at the question, just rolling his shoulder a little, almost experimental, testing how much range of motion he had and surprised to find there was no pain there, either, from the relocation or from the gouge that also seemed to have healed, "No I'm... I'm not."

His brow creased, turning to survey the concentric circles on the floor once again, as if the answer was there somewhere, "It doesn't make sense for something like that to have happened." He shook his head again, talking aloud as a way to work things out as best he could, but still coming up with no answers, "It was meant to return us to our natural state." He blinked then, "Our prior state, not natural state. This is, it's a step in the right direction, actually. It's been twice translated, of course there's going to be some variance in the language."

[convincingsmile]

Oh. It wasn't just Edwin not hurting anymore, he was healed, Charles thought as he watched him rotate his shoulder.

His eyes widened at the realization, nodding along as Edwin was talking to work through it. But once again, Charles felt that all too familiar sensation of him wanting to do something reckless.

"Natural state, yeah, yeah," he nodded along. But how could he not act upon it? They were still alive, and Edwin didn't hurt, and Charles could just...

So with a low murmur of 'Edwin' Charles reached for the boy's cheek to pull him into a kiss. It wasn't as gentle as he wanted it to be; more like it was a kiss of someone who missed the other a lot. Despite Edwin was never away.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin had only half-realized that he was already getting swept away by research-mode when he heard Charles' addressing him to get his attention, turning back to his partner only to be caught off-guard by the kiss.

Surprise wasn't going to keep him from returning it, however, now that he could do so without his breath catching painfully in his chest, could actually catch hold of Charles' shirt to tug him closer without his fingers and really the rest of his arm protesting the movement.

He did finally have to break away from the kiss to catch his breath, speaking in a rush as he did, "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I'd find a way for us to be intimate while still, you know, as we are." An actual smile followed, the hand not still curled in Charles' shirt like a lifeline snaking up against the back of the other boy's neck, head tilting forward to rest his brow against Charles', "But I'm not complaining."

[convincingsmile]

Charles wasn't sure what he was expecting but Edwin kissing back with such a force apparently wasn't. But he welcomed it, tilting his head to take more, moving closer as Edwin pulled him in.

And oh, the way he was breathless when Edwin pulled away made his heart rush even more. Feeling Edwin's touch on his neck even more intense.

"Sorry, 's just, sorry I know you're annoyed it didn't work, and I know we're gonna solve it, but..." he trailed off in a chuckle, knowing that Edwin wasn't angry at him for the sudden kiss. "I'm not complaining either," he said sliding his arms around Edwin's waist, pulling him close. "Just, had to hold back for a long time, didn't I?"

[technicallyhellbound]

"You did, yes, and you did so admirably." He knew from experience just how much Charles liked kissing, mostly because Edwin had found that he liked it as well, but his injuries had made things complicated the past few days, even Charles' usual casual, reassuring touches had been more cautious, and Edwin hadn't fully realized how much he'd missed them until just then.

He scratched delicately at Charles' nape, smoothing his fingertips across the same path once he'd done so, "We should probably take this to the office as well, the couch is far more comfortable than standing here in an empty storage room." A flicker of a smile, "And less chance of scuffing the circle if we're somewhere else."

[convincingsmile]

"Right, yes, not there," Charles chuckled, nodding along trying to concentrate as he felt Edwin's fingers doing things on his nape. His own hands grabbed onto the boy's shirt in a helpless manner, as he was trying to keep himself from basically carrying Edwin out of this room. "Office, couch, good call," Charles said and took Edwin's hand to pull him there.

"I'll listen to everything you wanna say, I swear I will listen," Charles said, once again out of breath as he pushed Edwin onto the couch, sitting by him too. "Just gotta make up for lost time, yeah?"

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin couldn't help but laugh softly as Charles all but dragged him back to their office, collapsing easily onto the couch, nodding in agreement to the stipulations, "Yes, yes exactly."

He hesitated only briefly before shifting over, settling himself easily astride Charles' thighs, knees braced snugly against his hips, cradling Charles' face between his hands briefly before leaning in for another kiss, gentler than the one before, but no less intense for that.

[convincingsmile]

Charles whispered a low curse as Edwin climbed into his lap. He thought he could take this easy, with stride, with more dignity, but the moment he felt Edwin's warmth and his weight on him, he realized it wasn't going to happen. His lap was full of Edwin, his lips were so soft and hot, and there was no way Charles wasn't going to keep his hands off of him.

He grabbed at Edwin's thighs, his hips bucking up just slightly to ease some of the flaring please sweeping him. However, finding fabric under his touch frustrated him. So with a moan into their kiss, Charles reached to pull Edwin's shirt out of his trousers so he could slide his hand up his back.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin made a quiet noise at the move, half-surprise, half-indignation, but not going to argue it either way, because the warmth of Charles' hand on his skin was a godsend and he just groaned into the kiss, all but melting against Charles in the process.

He did, however, remember a moment later that he still needed to breathe as they were still solid, but only drew away from the kiss reluctantly, keeping close, still holding Charles' face gently between his hands, brow resting against his partner's, smile spreading at the contact, "Still good?" Not that he doubted it, he just wanted to see if he could tell how far gone Charles already was by the tone of his voice.

[convincingsmile]

Charles whined when Edwin pulled away, even if only a little bit. But when his lips weren't occupied anymore, he also realized he needed to breathe. He was alive but his survival instinct apparently was still a secondary one next to the need to touch and kiss and take Edwin... Everything felt more intense, hotter, and heavier in a way.

"Uh huh," Charles nodded, his eyes half-lidded as he was trying to focus on Edwin, his lips parted. He rubbed circles into Edwin's back before dropping lower. Charles pulled Edwin to him, pressing their hips together as he asked: "You?"

[technicallyhellbound]

The garbled noise Edwin made in lieu of an actual answer as Charles pressed them that much closer together was probably answer enough, but he did manage to follow it with a nod and a breathless little, "Oh yes."

His hips gave a little forward roll in turn before managing to collect himself enough for further words, "Please do continue." He was probably going to have to be more specific about just what he wanted Charles to continue, but the real answer to that was 'everything'

[convincingsmile]

"Good, good..." Charles nodded, his hands grabbing at the back of Edwin's trousers. He gasped when Edwin rolled his hips, his own moving too, barely getting enough. His skin was hot, and his heart was beating so fast that Charles was sure that Edwin could feel it too. If he pressed close, he could feel Edwin's heartbeat too. Or was it his?

He barely let the other finish his sentence as he ducked back to kiss him again. This was the kissing he missed. Not that kissing ghosts wasn't good, but this... this was a living kiss.

With a sound, Charles grabbed Edwin's hips and rolled them over on the couch so he was on top of Edwin, pinning him with his hips.

"Wanna suck you first, yeah?" Charles's words were breathless and slurred a little. He thought this was going to be different, that he would take time making sure he explored all of Edwin's living body with his hands and mouth... But they have time for that. Now he just wanted to have him.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin made another garbled sound at how easily Charles swapped their positions, mostly surprised to find that he didn't mind being pinned under Charles' comfortable, solid, weight the same way he didn't mind it when it was their usual near-weightless forms even though he would have if it were anyone else.

That was something that didn't bear thinking about, not at the moment, instead he just looped an arm up across Charles' shoulder to toy his fingers through the hair at Charles' nape, making a quiet sound of agreement at that plan of action, one that he managed to turn into a breathless: "Yes, please." A moment later. As much as he enjoyed being able to overwhelm Charles with sensation in their usual forms, it seemed the tables had been turned now that they were solid, he'd nearly forgotten -or perhaps hadn't fully known- how pleasant touch could be and he was eager to find out how it compared.

[convincingsmile]

That was the thing. That Edwin wasn't kissed when he was alive, or not properly, or ever. He didn't know kissing could be good. And Charles loved to show him it was good, but they were already dead by then. But they were alive now. And Edwin was being kissed for the first time in this life. Being touched for the first time in this life, and that was thrilling. To know that it was going to be Charles who claimed him in such a way was... brills.

At Edwin's answer, he gave a breathless chuckle, laying a kiss on his lips. Charles reached between them, opening Edwin's pants with ease, reaching inside. His lips found Edwin's neck, kissing as low as he could get with his shirt still intact, but he had more important things to do. Charles didn't waste time, he found Edwin's hardness, curling his fingers around him and freeing him from his underwear.

Edwin was so hot and hard under his hand, and so alive and Charles felt a moan bubble from his chest. Better that than crying from happiness, he thought as he slowly gave Edwin a few experimental strokes.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin shuddered just at the warmth of Charles' mouth at his throat, head lolling back over the arm of the couch, eyes still closed for the moment, because the press of Charles' lips along the pulse thudding away at his throat was far more ticklish than it was as ghosts, but not in a way that bothered him so much as just stoked that desire higher, and he was unable to hold back the moan as Charles' fingers closed around his cock.

It was enough that he didn't hear the arrival of their new minder, not until she cut in with a sharp: "Well, this is hardly what I expected to walk in on. Though, two teenaged boys, recently turned human again, I suppose I should have done."
Edwin went stock still, startled more than embarrassed or ashamed, because she wasn't wrong in any case.

The Night Nurse just continued as if she hadn't walked in on what she'd just walked in on, "I've news of your poltergeist, but I'll come back in an hour, then, shall I?" Edwin didn't think he could blush quite as hard as he was, fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose even with his head still rolled back off the arm of the couch, voice tight, "Yes, please. Thank you." It was only once he knew she was actually gone that he lifted his head, blinking up at Charles, blush only starting to fade, and considering, however briefly, just calling a halt for the moment, but instead he found himself saying: "Suppose it's time to see what we can get up to in an hour, then."

[convincingsmile]

Charles was about to move lower to have a taste of Edwin in a different way. Just in time to hear the Night Nurse scold them. 

"Bollocks!" Charles gasped, feeling the strangest, most nostalgic panic stir in the pit of his stomach. He whipped his head toward her, paling as she was still there and talking. Charles was struggling to listen to her, or more like understand her words, as he was also trying to shield Edwin somehow, trying to protect his modesty.

And he was glad it was Edwin who did the talking because if it were him... He probably would have snapped. It mustn't have been very sexy. So he was glad when she was gone, though he wasn't too happy with the time limit.

"An hour then," Charles repeated, his breath still coming short. "Bloody hell," he huffed, closing his eyes for a moment. "You okay?"

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin wheezed a laugh at the question, blush still present, but fading, "I am, actually." He shook his head, another, slightly more solid laugh simmering free, "Mortified, yes, but even that is... well, it's not so terrible as all that, is it?" It would have been worse if she'd insisted on staying and relaying the news right then, but she hadn't, and all Edwin could think of was just how warm Charles still was against him.

He scratched his fingers gently through Charles' hair, drawing him up to where Edwin could kiss him again, more solidly, "But if we've only got an hour, we really ought to make the most of it." He wasn't sure what sort of news would come from the Department in regards to their not-quite case, but he was doing his best to stay positive.

[convincingsmile]

Edwin was laughing, and Charles could hear and feel it through his body... He wasn't religious, but he was sure this experience matched something holy.

"Guess not," Charles joined in with his chuckle, shaking his head. "Right, imagine that," he sighed. Fuck, he would have definitely snapped if the Nurse started to get into the details. Charles looked over Edwin once again.

"Gotta make sure to use the hour properly, yeah? Not gonna let you go until the last minute is done," he purred. Not with Edwin looking so delicious. His blush was fading, right, but Charles could put it back on him. Maybe see where else he would blush more.

"Where were we..." he muttered in a smirk, moving back down again.

[technicallyhellbound]

It only took him a moment, mostly thanks to Charles simply picking up where he'd left off, that the question of where they'd been in the proceedings was a rhetorical one, likewise he couldn't hold back the moan that curled free from his chest, head rolling back over the arm of the couch again.

He was definitely still flushed in places, the tips of his ears, the hollow of his throat, spreading in uneven blotches down his chest. His breath trembled a little on the inhale, finding all of this far more overwhelming than he'd expected it to be.

It was familiar, yes, hardly the first time they'd done something like this, but at the same time it was so much more visceral now, needing to breathe, feeling the way his pulse raced, and the throb of desire that coursed through him as Charles moved. Even the comforting warmth of Charles was somehow more pronounced now than it was in their usual state, so while it was all familiar, or nearly so, it was also new in so many ways, and was enough to leave him feeling a little dizzy.

[convincingsmile]

The couch creaked just a bit as Charles moved lower on Edwin's body, reminding him that they have a body and a weight. He almost coughed when he had to swallow all that saliva from his mouth. But he knew better than to say something about eating Edwin this time. Instead, he stroked him a few more times, just watching, feeling his hands hot and sure around the boy's cock. A sound resembling half-sob, half-choke left him as he realized he was going to take Edwin in his mouth and taste him.

But right, no time...

So Charles licked his lips and leaned in, taking the tip of Edwin's cock in his mouth. He took a hard, deliberate lick at hit his slit, before sucking. Then, with a moan, he took him deeper, tasting, experimenting. It's hotter than he expected. Bigger, too. But maybe it was just the excitement. Either way, Charles moaned when the taste finally registered, sending a thrill down his spine.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin's breathing had fallen short just at the movement of Charles' hand on him, having to swallow reflexively himself as if that might make him better able to process what he was feeling, and he was feeling quite a bit.

The solid, near-purposeful swipe of Charles' tongue against the sensitive tip was enough to make his breath catch, escaping again as a thready, garbled noise that might have been words at one point but didn't quite make it there, fingers sliding through Charles' hair, delighting in the way the curls seemed to cling to his fingers, as if every part of Charles wanted to be as close as possible, which was a ridiculous thought, but he was already too far gone to care.

[convincingsmile]

Charles actually chuckled when he felt Edwin's fingers in his hair. They felt so real. Warm! Alive! With a sound, he took Edwin further into his mouth, lapping at the underside of his hardness. And he moaned. He expected a taste but not so... soon? Or so... wet, and warm. It was discovering it all over again, or maybe for the first time. It made him so excited that he had to pop Edwin out of his mouth for a moment to breathe. He looked up at him, with wet lips, checking if everything was alright.

Charles cleared his throat, licking his lips before going back. He grabbed Edwin again, while his other hand pinned him down on the couch, and took him inside again, this time expecting the taste, the hardness and the excitement that came with all those sensations. He was sloppy, however, letting himself get lost in Edwin's taste and the fact that it was Edwin... alive... If they had time, Charles would have kissed him everywhere, just so he could remember how Edwin's skin tasted. They may have time for it later, maybe not.

Only after Charles felt like he wanted more, he settled on a rhythm to pleasure Edwin, to let him know what he wanted.

[technicallyhellbound]

Edwin was already well on his way to being overwhelmed, but in a way he was entirely in favor of, which was new for him, but not really a surprise considering that Charles was the cause of it. His head had rolled back against the arm of the couch, though it lifted as Charles drew off of him, blinking slowly, trying to bring the other boy into focus, which he'd only just managed when Charles set right back to work.

The renewal of that sensation, hot and slick and wholly, vibrantly alive, was enough to make him whimper, fingers tightening their hold in Charles' hair just briefly, managing to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth to reassure Charles that the noise hadn't been an upset or an objection, though all he could actually pull together was: "So good."

[convincingsmile]

Charles always loved it when Edwin was vocal with him, when he told him he was good, that he felt good because of Charles. But hearing it in his pleasure-filled voice was something else. A sharp spark of pleasure rolled down Charles's spine at it. His knees surely would have buckled if they were standing.

"Cannot hear ya, love," Charles managed to say around Edwin's cock. "Say it louder."