Chapter Text
The next evening, Edwin and Charles arrived at Thomas Blackwell’s apartment building. It was one of those restored pre-war buildings, complete with ornate ironwork and grandiose stone archways that loomed over them as they approached. The air was chilly, and Charles glanced at Edwin, a pensive look on his face.
“You ready for this?” Charles asked as they reached the front door, his voice calm but with a slight edge of tension.
Edwin nodded, though he couldn’t help feeling a little on edge himself. Not because of the haunting, but because of the awkwardness lingering between him and Charles since their conversation with Niko. He kept his focus strictly on the case, reminding himself that this wasn’t about his personal life—it was about solving Thomas’s problem.
Thomas was waiting for them inside, his apartment warmly lit with soft, amber lights. He opened the door with a smile, his eyes lighting up the moment they fell on Edwin.
“Edwin,” Thomas said smoothly, “right on time. And you brought your friend.” He gave Charles a quick glance, but it was clear his attention was focused on Edwin. “Come in, come in.”
“Thank you,” Edwin replied, stepping inside, Charles close behind. “We’ll need to take a look around, get a feel for the place.”
“Of course,” Thomas said, stepping aside but lingering near Edwin as he closed the door. “Anything.”
Charles, already on edge from the moment they walked in, didn’t miss the overly familiar tone in Thomas’s voice. He crossed his arms and took in the apartment, trying to focus on the job. But as Thomas led them into the living room, his attention once again fixed on Edwin, Charles couldn’t help but feel a knot of irritation tightening in his chest.
“So, Edwin,” Thomas began, standing closer to him than necessary, “I’ve been doing a bit of research myself. Trying to figure out if there’s anything in the building’s history that could explain the voices.” He flashed a playful grin. “Turns out, there’s a lot of mystery around here.”
Edwin blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Really?”
Thomas chuckled softly, leaning in just a touch. “Yes, turns out this was a hospital during the Spanish influenza.” He shot a glance at Charles, then turned back to Edwin, his voice dropping into a more playful tone. “I'm not just a pretty face, you know.”
Charles cleared his throat loudly, stepping between them as if inspecting the nearby fireplace. “We’re here to solve your haunting, Mr. Blackwell,” he said, his voice tight.
Thomas raised an eyebrow but didn’t back down. “Of course, what else?”
Edwin, entirely oblivious to the rising tension between the two men, shook his head. “I appreciate that, but we do need to stay focused. The voices—are they still mostly at night?”
Thomas leaned against the wall, his crystalline eyes never leaving Edwin. “Yes, but I’ve noticed them a bit earlier in the evenings lately. Usually when I’m sitting right here.” He gestured toward the fireplace, a smirk playing on his lips. “Maybe it’s the spirits trying to keep me company. Or maybe they’re jealous I have such interesting guests.”
Charles shot Thomas a sidelong glare, barely hiding his growing frustration. “Let’s take a closer look at the fireplace,” he suggested, his voice slightly more clipped than usual.
Edwin, nodding, crouched down in front of the fireplace, running his gloved fingers along the stone edges. “Do the voices come from this direction?”
Thomas, watching Edwin closely, tilted his head. “Sometimes, yeah. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where they’re coming from, but this part of the room feels… heavy, I guess.”
Charles moved next to Edwin, his shoulder brushing lightly against Edwin’s as they inspected the fireplace together. “If the voices are coming from here, it could be a residual haunting tied to the structure itself,” Charles mused, but his tone was distant, distracted by the way Thomas was still looking at Edwin.
Thomas, apparently unfazed by Charles’s presence, leaned a little closer to Edwin. “I have to say, it’s comforting knowing someone as talented as you is handling this. You’ve got a certain… presence.”
Edwin glanced up, confused. “Presence?”
“Oh, definitely,” Thomas continued, his voice lilting with amusement. “It’s rare to meet someone who’s so dedicated to their profession and, well, charming at the same time. I can see why you’re so good at what you do.”
Charles stood up abruptly, brushing the soot from his hands and narrowing his eyes. “Edwin’s not here to be charming, Mr. Blackwell. We’re professionals.”
Thomas held up his hands in mock surrender, a teasing smile on his lips. “Of course, of course. I’m just stating the obvious.”
Edwin, blissfully unaware of the growing tension between Charles and Thomas, stood and brushed the soot from his own hands. “It’s possible there’s something in the chimney or the flue,” he said, getting back to the case. “Old buildings like this often have more going on than meets the eye.”
Charles, eager to shift the focus away from Thomas’s obvious flirting, stepped toward the hearth. “Let’s take a look inside.” He grabbed a flashlight from his jacket and shined it up into the chimney. After a moment, he frowned. “I think I see something.”
Edwin crouched down next to him again, squinting up into the narrow space. “What is it?”
Charles tilted his head, trying to get a better look. “It’s… small. Moving. Looks like—”
“Soot sprites,” Edwin finished, his eyes widening in recognition. “They’re harmless, but they can cause disturbances if they get agitated.”
“Soot sprites?” Thomas asked, sounding genuinely curious. “What are those?”
“They’re little spirits that live in chimneys,” Edwin explained, standing up. “They’re attracted to warmth and can cause whispers and movement if there’s too much energy building up in a space like this.”
Thomas blinked, then let out a light laugh. “Well, that’s unexpected. So the voices I’ve been hearing are just these little guys?”
“Most likely,” Edwin said, offering a small smile. “They’re not dangerous, but if they’ve been disturbed, they might be a little restless. We can help relocate them.”
Charles nodded, already pulling out some equipment. “Yeah, we’ve dealt with soot sprites before. It shouldn’t take long to clear them out.”
As they started setting up, Thomas stepped closer to Edwin, his voice dropping into a softer, more teasing tone. “I have to say, I’ve had all sorts of people come through this apartment, but you two are by far the most interesting. Especially you, Edwin.”
Charles, overhearing, shot a glare at Thomas, but Edwin, still blissfully unaware of the flirtation, simply gave a polite nod. “Thank you. We do our best.”
Thomas smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Well, if you ever need a break from all this ghost hunting, you’re welcome to come by anytime. Maybe I can make dinner. Just the two of us.”
Charles dropped his flashlight with a loud clatter. “Oops.”
Edwin looked between them, his confusion deepening. “Dinner? I—uh—”
“Ghosts don't eat,” Charles interrupted quickly, stepping between them. “Let’s focus on getting these soot sprites out of here.”
Thomas chuckled, clearly amused by Charles’s reaction. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to distract anyone.”
As Charles and Edwin continued working, Charles couldn’t help but keep a close eye on Thomas, his jealousy simmering beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Edwin remained focused on the task at hand, blissfully unaware of the battle of wills unfolding right next to him.
After all, solving a haunting was straightforward. Human emotions? That was a whole other mystery.
*******
After finishing up at Thomas’s apartment and relocating the soot sprites, Edwin and Charles stepped out into the cool evening air. The sun had long since set, and the streetlights bathed the city in a soft, amber glow. They could’ve easily used the mirrors to hop back to the office in a matter of seconds, but Edwin suggested they walk.
“We can take the long way tonight,” Edwin said, adjusting his coat. “It’s nice out, and I could use the fresh air.”
Charles nodded, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Yeah, sure.”
They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly along the sidewalk. The night was peaceful, but there was an undercurrent of tension between them, one that had lingered since they had stepped into David’s apartment.
Eventually, Charles couldn’t hold it in any longer. “So… David.”
Edwin glanced at him, a bit perplexed. “What about him?”
Charles scowled, staring straight ahead as they walked. “You really didn’t pick up on the fact that he was flirting with you?”
Edwin blinked, stopping for a moment in the middle of the sidewalk. “Wait, what?”
Charles stopped too, turning to face him with an incredulous look. “Come on, Edwin. The guy was practically throwing himself at you. He offered to make you dinner. Just the two of you.”
Edwin furrowed his brow. “He was just being polite. You know, thankful that we helped him with the haunting.”
Charles let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Thankful? No, Edwin, that was not being polite. He was flirting. The way he kept complimenting you, standing way too close… It was obvious.”
Edwin stared at him, processing the information. After a moment, he let out a small, almost nervous laugh. “I honestly didn’t notice.” That was a shameless lie and he knew it. Of course he had. But there was simply nothing to be done about it.
“Of course you didn’t,” Charles muttered under his breath, his jealousy flaring again.
Edwin frowned, sensing the frustration in Charles’s tone. “Why does it bother you so much?” he asked, genuinely curious. “We get clients like that all the time. People who act… a bit strange around us.”
Charles hesitated, unsure how to respond without giving away too much. His mind raced, torn between wanting to tell Edwin exactly why it bothered him and knowing it wasn’t the right time—or maybe ever the right time. Instead, he settled for a half-truth.
“It’s not that,” Charles said, his voice a bit more controlled. “It’s just… you don’t even realise when people are interested in you. Monty, The Cat King... I mean, the guy practically put out a neon sign saying, ‘I like you,’ and you were oblivious.”
Edwin gave him a puzzled look. “I don’t see why it matters. He’s just a client. Honestly, Charles, what is your malady?” He lightened his tone, attempting to find levity in the situation. "Besides," he said archly, "Members of our organisation do not exactly have the best track record with beings named David, do they?"
“That’s not the point!” Charles snapped, then immediately winced at how sharp his words had come out. He took a deep breath, trying to rein in his frustration. “Look, Edwin, you’re a great guy. Smart, dependable… You don’t even realise the effect you have on people sometimes. It’s just… frustrating.”
Edwin tilted his head, still not quite understanding. “Frustrating? You’re acting like this is a big hulabaloo.”
Charles turned away, biting the inside of his cheek. “It’s just… never mind.”
Edwin narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to him. “No, what is it? You’ve been off ever since we left David’s flat.”
Charles sighed heavily, staring down at the pavement. He was torn between his usual banter and something much deeper that he’d been bottling up for far too long. Edwin’s obliviousness to David’s flirting had only heightened his own frustration—and jealousy—that had been simmering for months.
“It’s hard watching someone flirt with you,” Charles finally admitted, his voice lower than usual. “Especially when you don’t notice… because you’re too busy ignoring the obvious.”
Edwin’s expression softened in confusion. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t ignoring anything.”
Charles clenched his fists inside his pockets, trying to stay composed. “Exactly. You didn’t see it. You never do.”
Edwin looked at him, the pieces starting to click in his mind. He took a slow, measured breath. “Are you… jealous?”
Charles hesitated, his chest tightening as Edwin said the word out loud. It felt too real, too vulnerable. But there was no point denying it anymore. Not with Edwin standing there, asking him directly.
“Yeah,” Charles said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “I guess I am.”
Edwin blinked, completely caught off guard. “But why? We’ve dealt with clients like David before. You’ve never reacted like this.”
Charles let out a bitter laugh, finally turning to face Edwin, his blue eyes locking with Edwin’s confused gaze. “Because this time, it wasn’t just some random client. It was different. He wasn’t just interested in some ghost. He was interested in you.”
Edwin’s breath hitched slightly as the realisation started to sink in. He opened his mouth to say something, but Charles cut him off.
“You’re always so focused on the job, on being the responsible one, the logical one,” Charles continued, his voice rising just a little. “And that’s great, but sometimes… it’s like you don’t see what’s right in front of you.”
Edwin took a step back, the weight of Charles’s words settling over him. “I—I don’t…”
Charles shook his head, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Look, forget it. We’ve got more cases to work on. Let’s just focus on that.”
Edwin stared at him, his mind racing. For the first time, he realized there was more to Charles’s frustration than just annoyance. There was something deeper—something he had been blind to all along.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words felt heavy and tangled, and he didn’t know where to start. Instead, they continued walking in silence, the city buzzing quietly around them, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
As they approached the office, Edwin finally spoke, his voice softer than before. “Charles… I didn’t know.”
Charles glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, well. Now you do.”
*******
The following morning, the group found themselves back at the supernatural nightclub. Despite the previous night's crowds, the place was eerily quiet now, with the neon lights dimmed, casting long, fractured shadows across the floor. The once-vibrant dance floor felt hollow without the throngs of otherworldly patrons. It was the perfect place to discuss the disappearances — discreet, hidden in the daylight.
Crystal leaned against the bar, her arms crossed, watching as Edwin and Charles stood on opposite ends of the room. The tension between them was thick enough to cut through, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. Niko sat nearby, drumming her fingers on the table, her sharp eyes darting between the two of them.
"Alright," Crystal began, breaking the silence, "so we’ve got missing people — supernatural and human alike — and now we know they’re not just vanishing into thin air. Last night’s investigation confirmed that there’s something big happening. We just need to figure out how it all connects."
Edwin, standing near one of the shadowed corners, nodded absentmindedly, his mind clearly elsewhere. He was usually the first to jump in with observations or theories, but today he was quieter, more withdrawn. Charles, on the other hand, was unusually silent too, leaning against the bar and fiddling with his jacket zipper, lost in his own thoughts.
Niko caught Crystal's eye, giving a small nod of concern. Crystal tilted her head toward the two, signaling that she had noticed the shift in their usual dynamic. This wasn’t normal — at least, not for them.
Niko cleared her throat. "Hey, Edwin. You’ve been looking into the disappearances, right? Any new leads?"
Edwin blinked, snapping back to the present. "Oh, yes. A few… nothing concrete yet, though." His tone was distant, though, and his gaze flicked briefly toward Charles before darting away.
Crystal raised an eyebrow, sensing the undercurrent between them. "Okay, but there’s got to be something. The whole vibe here last night was off. And with that secretary of Hell making an appearance, I don’t think we can afford to be half-in on this."
"Right," Charles muttered, his voice tight. He crossed his arms, his focus seemingly fixed on a far-off point in the club, avoiding Edwin’s eyes. "We need to be on the ball."
Niko furrowed her brow, leaning forward. "You guys are both acting super weird today. Did something happen last night that you’re not telling us?"
Edwin and Charles both stiffened, and Crystal watched as neither of them dared to make eye contact with the other. Edwin shifted awkwardly, looking down at the floor, while Charles tensed, his jaw clenching as if he was biting back words he didn’t want to say.
Crystal narrowed her eyes, sensing something unspoken hanging in the air. "Come on, you two," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You’re not exactly subtle when something’s bothering you. Spill."
There was a long pause before Edwin finally spoke, though he didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. "It’s nothing… just—things on my mind. It won’t interfere with the case."
Charles let out a short, humorless laugh. "Yeah, same here. Everything’s fine."
"Really?" Niko said, incredulously. "Because from where I’m sitting, you both look like you’ve just walked through a wall of awkward tension. Did I miss something?"
Crystal sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Look, if something’s up, now’s the time to deal with it. We can’t have either of you distracted, especially not with Hell breathing down our necks."
Edwin finally looked up, his eyes flicking over to Charles. There was something fragile in his expression — a vulnerability he rarely showed. "It’s nothing, really. Let’s just focus on the case." And, with that, he swept away through a door labelled 'STAFF ONLY', phasing through in a haze of blue.
Charles glanced at Edwin, his usual cool demeanor cracked by an undercurrent of frustration. He opened his mouth to say something, but then snapped it shut, clearly not wanting to delve into whatever had been brewing between them since the night before. "Yeah. Like Edwin said. Let’s just focus." He moved over to the DJ booth, gesturing to the vampire cleaning her deck up on the stage.
Crystal and Niko exchanged a look of deep concern. It wasn’t like either of them to hold back when something was bothering them. Edwin was usually calm and rational, and Charles had a way of keeping things light, even in stressful situations. But today, they were like strangers, both skirting around the real issue. Something had shifted between them — and it wasn’t just about the case.
"Alright," Niko said slowly, her voice careful, "that was weird, right? What was that?"
Crystal huffed a sigh and ran a hand down her face. "They need to get their heads out of their asses and talk, that's what that was."
Neither of them answered, and as they prepared to leave the nightclub, the tension still lingered between them, heavier than ever. Crystal and Niko exchanged one last worried glance, knowing that whatever was going on between Edwin and Charles wasn’t going to stay buried for long.
*******
The backrooms of the nightclub were a stark contrast to the main floor. Gone were the flashing neon lights and the thumping bass that made the club feel alive. Here, the air was thick with silence, the dim lighting casting long shadows against the walls. Edwin walked cautiously through the narrow hallways, his senses sharp, every creak of the floor beneath his feet sounding louder in the stillness.
His thoughts still buzzed with the unspoken tension between him and Charles. He knew they needed to talk, but each time he tried to bring it up, the words got tangled, stuck in his throat. It was easier to focus on the investigation. Safer. Especially now, with so much hanging over their heads. The soot sprites had been a distraction, but the real danger still loomed — the disappearances, the shadow of Hell’s interest in his soul.
He pressed on, pushing those worries aside, as he approached the end of a long, narrow corridor. The walls here seemed older, worn down with time, as if they belonged to a different building altogether. The atmosphere was oppressive, and the chill in the air felt unnatural, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Something wasn’t right.
As Edwin turned a corner, his heart skipped a beat. Standing at the far end of the hall, half shrouded in darkness was a tall figure. He was leaning against the wall, his sharp, suit-clad form blending into the shadows. His hollow eyes locked onto Edwin the moment he appeared, and a slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
“Well, well,” He purred, his voice smooth and cold as ice. “Fancy seeing you here again, Mr. Payne.”
Edwin froze for a moment, his stomach dropping. "Mr. Graves."
The Secretary of Hell pushed himself off the wall, his movements deliberate, as though every step he took carried the weight of centuries. His presence seemed to sap the warmth from the room, making the air even colder than before.
“I had a feeling you’d wander back here,” Graves said, his smile widening just slightly. "You always seem to find trouble, don’t you?"
Edwin’s jaw clenched, his mind racing. "I'm just doing my job."
Graves chuckled softly, his laugh sending an unnatural echo through the empty hallway. "Oh, I'm aware. But you see, Edwin, everything is connected, whether you realize it or not. These disappearances. The unrest. Hell’s continued interest in you... it’s all part of the same puzzle."
Edwin’s eyes narrowed. "You’re saying the disappearances are tied to Hell?"
Graves’s smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He walked slowly toward Edwin, his footsteps almost eerily silent. "Not directly. But there are forces at play here that thrive on chaos, on the instability between realms. The disappearances are just a symptom, a crack in the foundation. And, unfortunately for you, Hell still believes you’re part of the problem."
Edwin felt a surge of frustration. "I no longer am under Hell's jurisdiction," he insisted. "The Night Nurse promised—"
Graves waved a hand dismissively. "The Night Nurse did make her promise, yes. But promises in our world are fragile things. Easily manipulated, bent to fit the needs of the higher powers."
Edwin took a step back, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He could feel his pulse quickening. “I didn’t ask to be part of this,” he said quietly. “I’m just trying to help people.”
Graves tilted his head, his gaze piercing. “Oh, Edwin, you’ve always been too selfless for your own good. That’s part of what makes you so… tempting.” He paused. "Or, actually, selfless is perhaps the wrong word. What was it again? You're building your case for leniency?"
Edwin’s fists clenched at his sides. How did he know about that? “What do you want from me?”
A slow, calculated smile crept back onto Graves’s face. "Nothing yet. Hell is patient. But it's watching. The strings of your fate are already being pulled, and unless you find a way to sever them, your unfinished business will catch up with you. Sooner than you think."
Edwin swallowed hard, his mind racing. "What unfinished business?"
Graves's smile deepened, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, Edwin. Surely you don’t think you can outrun your past forever? Your soul is tethered to things long unresolved. Personal matters. Emotional matters."
Edwin felt his throat tighten, the unspoken implication hitting harder than he wanted to admit. His thoughts immediately flickered to Charles — the tension that had built since his confession in Port Townsend.
Graves stepped closer, his voice lowering to a near-whisper. "Sooner or later, you’ll have to face it. But until then…" He reached out and tapped a gloved finger lightly on Edwin’s chest, right over his heart. "Hell will wait. And watch."
Edwin shivered at the touch, instinctively taking another step back. “I’m not going back. Not like that.”
Graves straightened, smoothing down his suit jacket. "I suppose that’s up to you. But know this — whatever happens next, it will test you. Your resolve, your heart." He paused, his eyes glinting. "And we both know where your heart truly lies."
Edwin’s breath hitched, the weight of Graves’s words settling deep in his chest. His thoughts were jumbled, conflicted. Was Graves truly hinting at the feelings he had for Charles? He didn’t know, and it terrified him.
Before Edwin could respond, Graves tilted his head slightly, listening as though hearing something distant. “Ah. Time for me to take my leave, I’m afraid.” He gave Edwin a final, lingering look. “I do enjoy our little chats, Mr. Payne. I’ll see you again… very soon.”
And with that, Graves turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind an eerie stillness in the hallway. Edwin stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind reeling from the encounter.
"Edwin."
He spun round to see Niko silhouetted in the doorway. "Charles has found something."