Chapter Text
“Where have you been?” Taako asks as he holds Lup out at arm's length to look at her, “I- we- we looked everywhere for you!”
“I know,” Lup says, glancing over to Barry as well, “I know you did.”
“It’s great to have you both back,“ Barry says, smiling softly, again an expression almost unrecognizable in his lich form, and floats up to a somewhat standing position. He looks up from the twins to look at the other three. Magnus, Merle, and- oh yeah that’s a fucking reaper.
A visible sudden chill runs down Barry in the form of small glitches running down his body when he realizes that the grim reaper is there. Kravitz was watching the scene play out with confusion and suspicion on his face and his scythe held close to him just in case. Now he’s looking at Barry in whatever passes as his eyes in his lich form, still trying to determine what to do.
Taako and Lup look over to see the two staring at each other with uncertainty and tension, Barry and Kravitz both waiting for the other to drop the ball. Kravitz catches Taako’s face at the corner of his eye and how Taako’s expression quickly goes grim, worried about this interaction.
Kravitz but help but feel his heart sink into his stomach when he sees Taako look so distressed at him. He sighs and brings his scythe down, letting his muscles relax and nervously smiles at the lich.
“S-sorry,” Kravitz apologizes, “I’m just… a little on edge I guess.” He looks over at Taako and his nervous smile turns a little more genuine before looking back at Barry. “But, if Taako trusts you, then I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”
“Y-yeah, today’s been a little hectic I guess, and sorry to say this but it’s only going to get worse tomorrow,” Barry says as he extends a skeletal hand, “the name’s Barry.”
“Bluejeans, right? I think I recognize the name,” Kravitz says, his smile deteriorating back to nervous as he accepts the handshake, “I’m Kravitz.”
“Ch-Charmed.”
“Excuse me?” Magnus says, hoping to get the undead’s attention, “where exactly is Taako right now?”
“Oh,” Lup says, hovering up to a standing position and gesture to where Taako is now standing next to her, “he’s right here, babe.”
“O-okay, uh,” Magnus says as he turns to the seemingly empty space, “Taa-”
Magnus is interrupted by his dwarven companion, who doesn't hesitate to run up to where Taako presumably is, wrapping his arms around the empty air.
“We thought you were gone,” Merle cries, “wh-what the hell were you thinking!”
Taako can’t help but chuckle slightly, patting his transparent hand on Merle’s head, whose arms are slightly off so one goes right through Taako’s spectral leg.
“Lup, can you tell him that I, uh… that I wasn’t thinking at all, I guess?” Taako requests, still awkwardly patting Merle’s head and trying not to let his hand phase right through it.
“Okay--” Lup nods as she turns to look at Merle “--Taako says, and I quote word-for-word, I’m an idiot who wasn’t thinking properly.”
“HEY!” Taako exclaims, dramatically swatting his hand at her, “that is not word-for-word!”
“Okay, okay,” Lup chuckles, batting Taako’s hands away from her, “I may have done some improvision.”
“Mhm, for sure,” Taako agrees, turning to look at Kravitz. “Hey, babe! Think you can do the translating for me?”
“Oh, of course!” Kravitz accepts as he walks over to be next to Taako.
“Wait…” Barry says, taking a second to think about what he just witnessed. “You… hm… y… yoU’RE DATING THE GRIM REAPER?!”
Lup bursts out laughing at Barry’s surprise, doubling over with laughter. Taako is also chuckling at Barry’s outburst before seeing how embarrassed Kravitz is, which only gets him giggling even louder. Magnus and Merle also chuckle a bit, despite only seeing three-quarters of the exchange that just happened.
“Alright,” Kravitz says, trying to shake away his blush, “what do you need me to say?”
“Just, tell them that’s it’s good to be back,” Taako says as he takes Kravitz’ hand as a way to help relax Kravitz.
“Okay--” Kravitz turns to Magnus and Merle “--Taako says it’s good to be back.”
“Knew I could trust you,” Taako says as he gives Kravitz a peck on the cheek before glaring daggers at Lup, “unlike some people.”
Lup just smiles and shrugs innocently.
Magnus steps forward as his eyes start welling up
“T-Taako,” Magnus chokes out, wiping away tears and pretending they weren’t there, “I'm so, so fucking sorry. You shouldn’t have died, you didn’t have to sacrifice your life like that! I was the one who got bad luck, not you!”
Taako sighs, leaning his weight onto Kravitz for comfort and squeezing his hand.
“Tell Magnus, it’s not his fault. It was my decision and that there’s nothing he could’ve done to change that.”
Kravitz repeats Taako’s words exactly, sounding uncertain considering this is his first look at how Taako had died this time. Taakojust averts his gaze away from Kravitz.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Taako says grimly, resting his head on Kravitz’ shoulder.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Kravitz’ whispers to him, “take your time.”
“Look, I know I can’t really, make contact with you,” Magnus says, “but at our earliest convenience I am going to give you the biggest fucking hug, Taako.”
“Tell Maggie I look forward to it.”
“Taako can’t wait for it.”
“Okay,” Taako says, ”I guess that works too.”
“Oh!” Lup exclaims with faux shock, “so he’s allowed to make improvisions!”
“Last time I checked he didn’t throw in an insult,” Taako says, jokingly sticking his tongue out to his sister.
“I was simply tossing in a known fact, Koko,” Lup insists.
“Ouch, Lulu, you wound me,” Taako says sarcastically, holding his chest with fake pain.
“Oh! Oh!” Merle exclaims as he remembers something, “we’ve got your body in the pocket spa, maybe you can jump back in there!”
Taako lights up at the idea of getting his body back but he looks over to the two Red Robes and that light in his eye slowly fades away.
“I’d love to but… maybe later. I’m not done with these memories yet.”
“He says not yet, he just wants some more time with his memories,” Kravitz explains.
“Taako, you have no idea how much I want to talk but you can’t stay dead forever, we’re going to need you in your body sooner or later,” Barry explains.
“I-I know that, but we still have until tomorrow right?”
“Yeah, okay, tomorrow morning we can push you back into your body,” Barry explains,” but until then we have a lot of catching up to do.”