Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ok let’s get one thing straight. Scratch had kissed before. He had to have. He knew he was old- felt around 50- and that’s a comically long time for a human to go without kissing. So he must have. (He hopes. Otherwise that would just be sad).

He imagines when he was human he was probably a real studmuffin. Whatever the gay version of a ladies man is. Fellas man? Yeah, that was him. He probably couldn’t move for guys fawning all over him.

So yeah, he’d kissed. Many times, be bets. He just…can’t remember any of them.

“Come on Scratch. Scraaaatch. I’m not gonna finish painting your nails until you answeeeeer! It’s truth or dare, you have to.” He shoots Molly an annoyed look.

“You know I don’t even have fingernails, right? Look-“ He wipes the nail polish on his thumb (and only his thumb because it didn’t have a design Molly had spent ages on yet) and it slides right off his ectoplasm. Her eyes widen at the sight, before she groans.

“Ugh! Doesnt matter! I’ll just- uh….” She looks around, like some magic ghost nail-polish adhesive is gonna appear right beside her. Scratch feels kind of bad then. He was gonna have to tell her at some point, but she was so excited! It had been getting annoying keeping his hands stiff so her hard work wasnt smudged though. “Wait a second…” Molly pauses and turns back to him, annoyed. “Was that a distraction?”

“Whaaaat? Nooooo.” Scratch says, in a totally serious voice.

“It was!” She points at him, accusatorially. “Come on, Scratch, why don’t you wanna tell me about your first kiss? I told you about mine!” She wines. He has to hold back from telling her that giving your swim-partner training CPR is not kissing. She hadn’t listened the first time, too caught up in her ‘scandalous encounter’, and he knew she wouldn’t listen now.

“Because: it’s private.” He turns his nose up, annoyed. Molly takes a picture of her hard work on his fingertips, before reaching for a tissue to wipe it off. “Is it really embarrassing? Because I told you about how I had to stop to cough after swallowing all that pool water, so I only think it’s fair that you share too!” He turns his head away. “Or…” Molly’s eyes widen and she leans in, furtively. Her eyes look side to side comically as she whispers out of the side of her mouth. “Was it spicy?”

“WHAT? NO-!” Scratch pushes her off with a blush, immediately feeling weird. He does NOT want to know the specifics of what she means by that. Molly is still firmly in the ‘child’ category in his head- and that’s where she’s staying until she’s at least 60.

She laughs as his hand extends to push her right to the end of the bed. “Well come on, was it? I don’t need the details, just the gist!” He lets her go and she flops onto her stomach, kicking her legs. “Come on, yes or no, at least. You picked truuuuth~”

“Absolutely not. Also I hate this conversation and want it to end.”

“Oh come on, I’m just messin’ around.” She pulls him into a hug so his cheek squishes against hers. “We’re besties, my dude! We share secrets! So I promise, even if it’s really embarrassing or lame, I’m not gonna judge you. I Molly McGee guarantee it.”

“Kid, your nails arent completely dry yet, we can’t do the thing.”

“Aw, what?“ Disappointed, Molly breaks out of their hug and starts blowing on her  nails frantically. There’s not much point in bothering, in his eyes, given how badly he’d applied it and how little time she’d given it to dry before flailing her arms around. She seems awfully determined to save his sloppy paint job though, so he morphs his hand into a paper fan and helps her out.

After about a minute of this, they get to do their handshake. It’s so fun he completely forgets what he’s locking himself into with it. It’s only after their little snap, when Molly leans back and goes “So: gimme the deets.” with that manic expression, that it hits him.

“Oh no- wait nono I-I want a redo!” He scrambles back on the pillow frantically until his ponytail (it had been a plait but his ectoplasm globed it all together) hits the shelves.

“Ooohh no, bestie .” She laughs with a smug glint in her eye. “You took the oath! Now tell me.”

Knowing she’s right, Scratch lets out a long, loud groan and melts into a puddle before dripping onto the floor.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” Molly rolls her eyes as she picks him up by the nose and tugs on him until he snaps back to shape. “It’ll be fine! Come on.” She pats her knees quickly in excitement and Scratch feels sweat on his brow.

“O-ok, uh…but you gotta promise not to laugh.”

“Couldn’t’ve included that before we did the Molly McGee guarantee?“ He shoots her an annoyed look and she laughs, holding up her hands. “Kidding! I’m kidding.” Her voice turns soft. “Of course I won’t laugh at you, Scratch. You’re my best friend.”

Scratch smiles as she scoots up next to him and wraps an arm around his shoulder. He rubs at his own shyly as he leans in. “Thanks, Moll. …Uh, ok, so.” Releasing a breath to try and compose himself, he tries to spit the words out. “You see it’s…actually a funny story, heh…I…I’ve never had one.”

There’s silence.

“Really, Scratch?” Molly says flatly.

“Wha- what do you mean ‘ really ?’” He snaps, offended. When he leans back to look at her, her arms are crossed and she’s shooting him the most dry look he’s ever seen.

“Come on ,” She rolls her eyes in that annoying teenage way. Maybe she wasnt such a child… “You expect me to believe that? At your age?”

“Hey! You don’t know how old I am.” He pouts, crossing his arms as well and turning his nose up. True, neither did he, but…

“Well, whatever it is,” There’s that eye roll again. “You’re old . You have to have kissed someone . It doesn’t have to be, you know, meaningful but- but…” Molly scrambles, before trailing off.

His nose is high in the air and his body language one of great indignance. But he must not be as good an actor as he thought. …No, he knows he’s not a good actor. Molly always saw right through him (in more ways than one). She must have seen the way his mouth was stretched thin and wobbling or the way he clutched his arms tightly. It was…hard to hide the hurt.

“You…really haven’t kissed anyone…?” Her voice is quiet with disbelief. He wants to snap at her, be sarcastic, be as rude as she had been, but he’s too humiliated to have the energy. He just nods.

“Oh…”

Scratch furrows his brow until his eyes are screwed painfully shut. There’s a fuzzy, static charge dancing around his cheeks and probably making her whole room glow purple. Molly already knew he wasn’t liked in the Ghost World, why did she have to-

“I’m sorry, Scratch.” Her voice is low and quiet as she twiddles her thumbs. “I was being a jerk. I shouldn’t have…”

-Ugh! No that’s not it! I-i-it’s not like no one ever wanted to kiss him! …Right? And it definitely isn’t because he’s scared of rejection. He could swing any guy he wanted! He just- he- he’s just too good for them all to bother! Yeah…

“Scratch, it’s ok t-“ He cuts her off with a sharp, way too loud laugh.

“AHAHAHAHAHA. FUNNY. THAT YOU FELL FOR THAT. HAH…”

“Scratch.” She frowns and looks at him with an expression that says everything he needs to know that she is Not buying his act. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple, but he’s not about to give in now and let her and her dumb mocking- or worse, pity - win.

“As- as if I’ve never kissed! Pfsh! Ridiculous! I mean, you know me Moll, I- I’m Mr. Popular over there.” He’d never technically told her, y’know, word-for-word, that he lied about that so he can still get away with saying it, right? “Ghosts love me! They can’t get enough of his.” He runs his hands down his ectoplasm. Molly looks guilty and is biting her lip.

“Scratch, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad- I-I’m really sorry. You know you don’t have to pretend, right? If that isn’t something you’re interested in, that’s fine!-“ Ugh, she’s being so genuine that he flinches. Even when she’s being nice she still cuts deep. Because yeah- that would make more sense. What 50-ish year old hasn’t kissed unless they don’t want to? That would be an excuse. The reality- that he does often see guys he wouldn’t mind smooching and dating and maybe a little more- is so much more pathetic. It’s not a choice then. It’s just that he’s a sadsack no one wants.

He laughs harder than ever before, so loud he hurts his throat.

“Oh man you are SO gullible.” It’s impossibly strained. Molly lets out a tired sigh, growing annoyed.

“Come on, Scratch. I’m not stupid, you don’t have to lie to me.”

Those words strike a harsh cord.

She’d said that before. Back when he pretended he knew Lincoln. She’d assumed he couldn’t ever be popular or cool enough to know him. She assumes he can’t be handsome or desirable enough to’ve ever been kissed. It makes white hot anger flare up in his ectoplasm, causing it to rumble with the beginnings of bubbles deep in his core. ‘That stings, McGee. That really does.’ His throat burns.

He’s not going to hurt her. He loves Molly too much. But she can be a little brat sometimes. And he knows this won’t work out because they went through this exact same thing before but- well he did admit  he’d learnt nothing.

“Oh you think I’m a liar, huh?” He spits, tilting his head at her sassily. “Well I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you.” He’s already drawing up a circle as he speaks and makes a point to shout loudly over Molly (and his own common sense) as she tries to protest. “You think no one wants to kiss me?! Well I’ll show you! I’m gonna go get the kissiest kiss to have ever kissed- then you’ll see! Then you’ll be sorry!” Blowing a childish raspberry at her, he storms into his portal with a huff.

He collapses on Geoff’s couch and groans.

Chapter Text

“Ugh- and- and THEN she says that I’m LYING? That I’m a LIAR? What like I can’t have kissed someone? Old Scratch is too nasty and gross for anyone to want to make out with? Jerk.”

“Sooo…” Geoff looks confused and tilts his head. “You… have kissed before?”

“Huh? Of course not. Haven’t you been paying attention? Geez.” With a roll of his eyes, Scratch leans back against the armrest and takes another sip of his coffee. Like it’s complicated. “I just don’t want her thinking I couldn’t .”

The confused expression doesn’t leave his friend’s face. His head is tilted at an almost 90 degree angle and he looks more dog-like than the rag of fur curled up by the fire. “…Right.” He says, in that tone that means he got absolutely nothing from what was just said. Scratch groans and runs his hands down his face, dragging his eye sockets with them.

“It’s like-“ He gestures vaguely as he stumbles to explain himself. “I mean, no, technically I haven’t but- that’s- y’know??? Embarrassing?” He squeaks. “I don’t want her knowing that! And she wasn’t even nice about it either- well ok, I guess she was a little…” He mumbles quickly under his breath. “-but it’s like…UGH!” He throws his head back until it hits the armrest and groans as he looks at Geoff’s ugly popcorn ceiling.

There’s silence for a few seconds. Then the sound of Geoff tapping his fingers against his mug in thought. “…I don’t think it’s embarrassing.” He says, after a pause. His tone is warm and lilting slightly in his usual, friendly way. “You shouldn’t have to if it never felt right. It’s-“ He averts his eyes. “It’s never a good thing if someone tries to make you do things. …But I’m sorry you’re feeling bad about it.”

A hand rests on his shoulder and the warmth makes Scratch’s tired eyes open. He hadn’t expected it- his brain was accustomed to everything and everyone in the Ghost World feeling like ice. It must have been from holding his tea. Scratch can’t help but melt into the comforting touch a little.

“I mean…I guess.” He mumbles, petulantly. It’s always annoying when Geoff has to go and be, like. Smart . Scratch needs to be the smart one dammit, how else is he supposed to keep convincing himself he’s the one settling in this friendship?

No, but seriously…it’s…annoying, how much sense Geoff is making. Something is missing though.

“You say that like I had all these opportunities and never took ‘em.” It comes out as far meaner than intended, complete with a bitter scoff. “Like- ‘Oh yeah! What a player old Scratch is! Everyone’s lining up down the block for a piece of him!’” He drops his sarcastic jazz hands and shoots Geoff a tired look. “I probably would have done it by now on my own if people liked me.”

The cute puppy-face falls. “Was it like that when you were alive, too?” He asks quietly, after a pause. Scratch tenses.

“Uh.” Eye contact is really hard all of a sudden. “Yeah.” He says, to be simple. Please no questions, please no questions…

“Oh.” Oh wow- now the big guy looks like a puppy. All shiny eyed and sniffly nosed. He puts his mug on the coffee table and Scratch straightens up, preparing himself for what he knows is coming. “I’m sorry.” His despair about this revelation somehow exceeds Scratch’s, who rolls his eyes fondly and leans into the offered hug without complaint.

“Yeah yeah…poor me.”

“Poor you.” He repeats, solemnly, not seeming to pick up his joking tone. A still-warm hand rubs his back as Geoff curls himself over him. Scratch would never say it, but…hugging Geoff is kind of comfy. Now that it was a choice and he’d communicated that he didn’t like being squished, being pressed up against his buddy’s chest and able to cuddle his squishy ectoplasm is…nice. He’s like a big, oversized plush toy. One that hugs back in a way that makes you feel impossibly safe and cared for, and that smells of lemongrass…

“Heh…” He mumbles, as he shifts slightly against Geoff’s tummy folds until he can lie flush to him and still talk. “Especially poor me now. I did the Lincoln thing again…” His voice trails off, embarrassed now that he’d been sobered up on the topic a little.

“The…Lincoln thing?” Geoff’s voice is confused again. This time, Scratch can hear it rumbling in his chest as he quickly says “Oh yeah! That…thing.” with all the confidence of a hamster in traffic.

“I told her I was gonna get a kiss.” He clarifies without needing to be asked. Geoff doesn’t respond verbally, but pressed so close he can feel him untense.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Scratch replies, voice flat as paper. “So I think we just established how that’s gonna be a problem.” With a sigh, he pulls away and sits back on his hands, face one of concentration. “I mean- like, I knew it was a dumb thing to say. I don’t know WHY I never learn my lesson. Now I gotta find someone willing to kiss-“ With a grossed out look, he runs his hands down himself. “- this , and then some way to prove it to her-“

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Geoff is frowning again. He’s worried. Scratch meets his eye for a second before sighing, his gaze dropping elsewhere.

“It’s not just that, Geoff. It’s…” Another sigh. He’s stating to sound like he breaths at this rate. “…It’s…something I wouldn’t mind doing.” Embarrassed, he hunches over a little and twiddles his thumbs. Electrons run back and forth over his cheeks like tiny annoying children playing. It tickles. “I mean- not with anyone specific! Just-“ The warm, tingly feeling gets worse. “I do like people…guys.” It takes him a second to remember that Geoff also likes men. “I’d maybe, I don’t know, like to kiss? Now or, some other time… Just to like: know how it feels, ya know? But…I guess I never…felt.” He bites his lip, hard. If there were any skin there he probably would have broken it. “I feel like no one would want me.” He huffs out in one breath.

There’s silence. Scratch sits there with his cheeks alight and shoulders where his ears would be.

This is so embarrassing. He doesn’t know why he even let Geoff get close enough to spill his guts to him like this. Sure, maybe he isn’t actually that bad and is kind of funny and can be really sweet and fun and maybe it feels kind of good to be able to talk about things that bothered him like this…

But is that really worth the mortifying ordeal of someone else knowing all his embarrassing junk?

Geoff doesn’t interrupt his spiralling thoughts this time with gentle words or touches. The anxiety begins to eat Scratch alive more than the shame, and he braces himself to look at him.

His friend looks shocked. Stiff and worried for him and- and something else . Something he can’t place. It annoys him to no end. He hates having something weird nagging at him all day.

“What is it?” It’s rather blunt. Maybe his lingering embarrassment contributed a little. Geoff blinks as though fading back to reality.

“Huh? Oh, heh, nothing.” He rubs the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, before trailing off. Scratch looks at him suspiciously, but a hand on his shoulder and Geoff suddenly moving very close interrupts any interrogation brewing in the back of his mind.

“…I wish more people liked you.” It’s so solemn and sincere so suddenly that Scratch has to swallow a large gulp quick so that his body doesn’t start getting any ideas about crying.

“Thanks.” He squeaks, voice breaking a little. A small cough. “AHEM- uh, I mean, thank you. …Really.”

Geoff smiles. The sight is warm and soft and reminds Scratch of how his hugs feel. Like an embrace for the eyes. Geoff’s eyes look away and he bites his lip, that smile growing a touch wobbly. Scratch raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment on it, not wanting him to stop. It’s kind of cute… Are his cheeks glowing?

“Hah…uh…this might sound silly, but…” Geoff’s eyes are scanning everywhere in the room but him. It wasn’t uncommon for him to not make eye contact, but usually he at least looked like he was trying to fake it. He’d stare at Scratch’s nose or outer eye sockets because he didn’t seem to realise others could see him going cross and fish-eyed. This is different from that.

“Not gonna be anything new coming from you.” Scratch teases softly, with a chuckle and his friend joins in, before leaning back. He’s fiddling with his hands again, and begins to tap his fingers, nervously. Geoff is almost never nervous. “-You don’t have to, obviously!” He blurts out, worried. “But, if you want…and you said you’d like to…maybe… we could kiss?” Geoff glances up at him and makes hopeful eye contact one last time before quickly looking back at his hands.

Scratch blinks at him. Once. Twice.

Kiss…Geoff?

Him and his buddy? Pressed up together…kissing?

…

He bursts into peals of laughter.

Wide, puppy-dog eyes snap up and meet his for a moment. His expression is blank, mouth open and shocked. The sight of him so gormless makes Scratch laugh harder. Full on wheezing and clutching his stomach as he falls backwards off the side of the couch.

“AHAHAHAHA! THAT WAS- US- AND THEN YOU-? HAHAHAHAHHAHA!” Scratch’s fist pounds against the floor, the sound muffled by the ugly, dog-goop encrusted carpet. “Awww man you are- you are a riot, Geoff!” He wipes at his eyes so hard they make a full 360 spin in his head as his arm goes by. Getting to his knees, Scratch leans over the armrest, still holding back bursts of giggles “Woo! I mean, I needed that I’ll give ya, b-“ The words, and the snicker they contained, die on his lips.

Geoff looks devastated.

His eyes are wide and hurt, blinking rapidly. In front of him, his hands wring together fast, almost painful looking; like he’s trying to rip his fingers off. Scratch can see how he clutches them together and they shake when he notices him looking.

“Yup.” Geoff’s voice is shaky and forced, and brings his line of sight back up to his face. There’s the most painful, strained smile he’s ever seen wobbling across his lips. It’s not so cute this time. “That’s- that’s me. Your best buddy. Always. A-always gonna cheer you up, Scratch.”

He sniffles as quietly as he can and looks away, over at his dog sleeping by the hearth. His hands twitch in his lap like he wants to pet her for comfort. Scratch can see the reflection of the fire in tears forming at his eyes.

His core feels like it’s made of lead.

He made his best friend cry. He made Geoff cry . Geoff was too sweet to cry! He- oh God, did he just break his heart?!

That doesn’t make sense obviously because- because, well it’s HIM. Scratch can’t break anybody’s heart because nobody likes him! He’s the one who gets his heart broken- or at least would if he ever chanced putting himself out there.

…There’s…no way that’s what Geoff was doing just then…

…Right?

Another muffled sniffle. Geoff’s hands find his mug and he takes a shaky sip, before noticing Scratch’s gaze and smiling at him like everything is normal. Or at least trying to. He wants to say something. He has to- but his throat has closed up.

“I’m glad I could cheer you up, Scratch.” Geoff says, a little calmer than before. The hurt is still there in his eyes. But it’s draining it’s way out of his voice with each sip. “You wanna watch TV for a while?”

He feels sick.

Nobody likes him- but that isn’t true is it? Geoff always had. He’d hugged him and fawned over him and called him his bestie and stuck to him like glue right from the beginning.

And now Geoff wants to kiss him.

There’s no way, but it’s also the only way. Someone actually likes him and wanted to kiss him and he laughed in their face.

Not just anyone’s face- Geoff’s .

The lead drops and the force of it nearly takes Scratch to the floor with it. He feels wobbly; he needs to sit down. The guilt is eroding his ectoplasm from the inside.

How long had…? He glances over and studies Geoff’s face as best he can side-on. It’s still sad, obviously. Comparing him to a puppy feels like sugarcoating it at this point. The only dog that could possibly resemble this level of gooey, pathetic misery is 4 feet away, snorting like a hog in her sleep.

It’s impossible to tell how long this has been going on, looking back. He’d never once noticed Geoff’s behaviour change…it was about the same level of overenthusiastic friendliness since day one. Scratch certainly couldn’t say he could’ve ever won him over with his kindness and charm. Did he always feel this way, then? Was that why…?

That thought leads him down a bitter, angry path that he quickly shakes his head to steer himself off of. No, Geoff is too sweet for that. Maybe he did have a crush on him all this time- it would certainly make a lot of things make sense- but he wouldn’t have done all that nice stuff just to butter him up. And he did only mention kissing because Scratch brought it up…

God, feelings are hard. He’s only just dipped a toe in this whole ‘romance’ thing and already it’s far too much. Maybe he’d dodged a bullet before.

But…his thoughts keep going back to Geoff… He’s not bad looking. Warm smile, lovely eyes…his face fuzzes a little with heat. He hadn’t allowed himself to think it in, like, actual words before now, but Geoff’s eyes are very pretty up close... They’re the colour of hot fudge, so vivid his mouth almost waters just thinking about it, and the way they catch the light…

His voice is deep and handsome too and he really likes how nice and squishy he is. Maybe a few times he’d enjoyed Geoff’s hugs a little too much. He bites his cheek. It- it hadn’t felt like it at the time! They’re just friends! Friends enjoy each others hugs, right?! How was he supposed to know how much was normal?!

His chest feels funny. Tingly, like the static clinging to the insides of his cheeks. The ectoplasm there is swirling so intensely he can make out a clear spiral when he looks down. Oh boy…

Scratch glances over at his friend, hesitant. Would he…like to kiss Geoff? A jolt in his chest, like his body forgot he had no heart, answers that question. Yes. It’s not like he knows what it would feel like, but the idea of being that close to him alone is enough to get him excited.

O-ok. He…he’s really doing this… Scratch releases a shaky sigh.

“You…were serious?” He asks, quietly. Geoff jumps a mile and sweat forms on his brow.

“No? I-I mean,” His eyes scan Scratch’s face, anxiously. “Yes? I mean- wh-whichever’s the right answer.” Shaking, he throws his hands over his eyes, like he’s expecting to be laughed or yelled at.

It’s hard not to wince and collapse in on himself with guilt, but Scratch makes himself power through and leans forward. His hands gently land atop Geoff’s and remove them so he can look him in the eye. Like usual when he was uncomfortable, his friend keeps his gaze away, and Scratch doesn’t make him change it.

“I just want to know. There’s no ‘right answer’ or whatever.” He’s not too good at being comforting. Every time he tries, it always comes out too blunt or too casual or too something - never what he intended. He hopes he didn’t mess up too bad this time.

“I…” Geoff bites his lip hard, before looking away with a sad sigh. “Yes. …I’m sorry…” His hands rise up to his chest and he begins to twiddle with his fingers again. “I didn’t mean to make it weird or make you mad…I just- since you said you’d like to kiss someone…I figured if you needed someone who likes you…well, gosh, I like you plenty!” His cheeks are darkening more and more by the second and Scratch watches, with a look of fascination, as the green ectoplasm dyes itself blue. Were the circumstances different, he might have taken pause to appreciate what a pretty colour it is.

He hadn’t meant to say anything, but his body nonetheless vocalises a whispered “You do?” Geoff blinks at him in surprise, particularly at the vulnerable tone.

“Wh- of course I do!” His eyes soften in a look of pure affection that makes Scratch feel like he swallowed a swarm of butterflies. “I like you a lot.” Those sugary brown eyes shine as Geoff tilts his head at him, resting his cheek on one of Scratch’s palms he’d left hovering there. He can feel how warm his cheek is up close. It’s almost as hot as the tea made him.

Scratch gulps. A reciprocation is just on his lips, but he struggles to get it out. His tongue fumbles with it like a football in rain, before accidentally scoring a home goal down his throat. Scratch gulps it down and what comes out instead is “So… hypothetically , if we did kiss…” Geoff’s face flushes somehow even more, and those pretty eyes widen to catch the light better. He gulps again at the sight, trying hard not to focus on how much his own face is burning. “How would…do you know how to do that, or…?” He trails off, shyly. His shoulders bump his burning cheeks.

“Ugh-! Nevermind, of course you know!” Quickly, he pulls away and lands square on his butt, blushing for a different reason now. “Obviously!” He says more to himself than anyone else. Dammit. Only liked someone for a few minutes and he already made a fool of himself. “Come on, Scratch, he’s how old?! Ugh…”

Geoff’s face softens in fond amusement as he yells at himself.

“Do you want me to teach you?”

Scratch freezes. “Wh-what?” A surge of, somehow, even more heat floods his face. He must look like a purple nightlight by now. Geoff… teach him? What like…he sits in his lap and Geoff demonstrates all the techniques one by one…?

He squeaks and covers his face. No- no, ok, that’s not- no. “Whaaaaat? Psh- haha of course n- don’t be- no!!!” He blurts out, flustered and embarrassed as the reality of his inexperience really hits him. Oh God, he really doesn’t have a plan if Geoff expects him to go first. “I just thought that- I mean- M-. Maybeyoucouldjuststartitoff..?’”

He doesn’t deserve someone this patient with him. Geoff’s grin widens and he replies “Of course.” Scratch gives a wonky smile.

They just sit there, awkwardly, for a few seconds, as he adjusts himself. He isn’t sure if he’s supposed to sit closer to Geoff or if he’ll just come to him, or…or…

A hand cupping his cheek makes his brain crash it’s train of thought right there. His breath catches in his throat. They’re so close now. Their eyes meet and Geoff smiles at him with them before they slip shut

This is…woah. Ok, this is really happening. He’s going to kiss.

Smooth, gentle lips slide against his own and Scratch’s own eyes flutter closed. There was a lot of hype behind this. Everyone was always talking about fireworks going off and sparks flying. Scratch wasn’t sure what that was all meant to be about, and for a few seconds he’s sure it’s all a story. Then Geoff pulls him closer and their lips press together just that little bit firmer and Oh.

There it is.

His gut is swirling like The Flow and his heart has resurrected itself just to hammer in his chest and his face is hot and his waist burns where Geoff’s arm is holding him close and everything is so much and so good and so magical and so right .

Geoff tastes like sweet lemon candy.

He melts. It’s hard to tell how noticeable it is- he doesn’t want to open his eyes and ruin the moment. But the feeling of Geoff holding him so lovingly as he kneads their lips together makes him weak and wobbly in knees he doesn’t have. His arm drips off the couch a little and it’s hard to pull himself together when it’s all over.

They break apart after about 10 seconds. Scratch wonders, in a dizzy haze, that since they’re ghosts, surely they could kiss for as long as they want next time. Next time. He wants there to be a next time.

“Wow.” Geoff mutters, voice shaky and bouncy with joy. He looks almost giddy as he lifts a hand to his lips, and his eyes are sparkling like they’re lined with gold. He shouldn’t be- he was the one doing all the damn work- but if anything that just makes the butterflies in Scratch’s stomach go crazier. Getting to kiss him at all made Geoff this happy…

“Oh!” He snaps to attention, as though just remembering something. “Scratch! Are you ok?”

Is he ok ? What kind of question is that?! He’s way better than ok! That was amazing!

“Uh, yeah.” He coughs out, instead of any of that gushy junk. It was intended to be playful and sarcastic but his breath is evidently still caught. “Yeah I’m ok.” He mumbles out after a quick clear of his throat. “That was…” His eyes meet Geoff’s and he swears he feels them sparkle as he breaths the word “Good.”

In response to his lame reply, Geoff squeals and brings his hands to his mouth. He does that a lot, Scratch notices. It’s cute watching the big guy fall over and kick his tail in the air for joy. He looks so squishy down there, Scratch kind of wants to lay down on top of him so he can hug and sink into his ectoplasm.

Geoff swings himself back into a sitting position with an energy that rivals Molly. The excitement must be masking everything else because Scratch knows at their age that’s gotta pull something. “You mean it? You really liked it?”

“I mean-“ It’s embarrassing having to repeat it, and Scratch glances away and rubs at the back of his neck with a blush. “Yeah. It was…nice. I mean I don’t really got a frame’a reference, but…” Geoff gives him a wide, wobbly, sappy grin that makes his throat close up.

He can’t tell if he’s supposed to kiss him again here. That’s what boyfriends did right? Is that what they are now? Geoff kissed him. That has to mean something. Is he even ready for a boyfriend? Probably not- but if anyone was gonna make it less scary it would be Geoff. He takes a deep breath and turns back to give him his ‘thank you’ smooch.

Geoff isn’t there. Scratch wobbles and falls over, hitting the couch cushions pursed-lips first. In his annoyance, he looks up and-

And Geoff is watching tv like normal.

Like- like that didn’t mean anything. Did that not mean anything?! Here he was getting all sappy and emotional over Geoff and he- didn’t- he doesn’t-

“Scratch? Are you ok?” Geoff catches his eye and asks, fairly casually.

“Wh- you just kissed me?!” Is all he can blurt out, voice and face dumbstruck. No way he’s this dense. Geoff makes a stupid, dreamy smile at the reminder.

“Yeah~ …Oh no. Were you lying before?!” His face quickly changes into one of intense worry, making Scratch go from angry to confused in an instant. “Was that a bad first kiss for you?” He hits his forehead. “Stupid- stupid Geoff! With a G. How could I be so selfish?! I’m sorry Scratch, I didn’t mean to steal it from you! Do you regret it now? Uhhh- h-here I’ll give it back!!” Frantic, Geoff wipes at his lips with his hand and shoves it against Scratch’s own, muffling his surprised yelp.

“There! All- all better now…” Even Geoff doesn’t sound like he believes himself. He looks about to cry with anxiety. “I’m sorry.” He whispers after a few seconds, voice squeaky. “P-please don’t hate me.”

“What are you talking about?” It takes a second to recover from whatever that was, but, when he does, Scratch has confusion and annoyance dripping off his voice. “What do you mean- Geoff!! You kissed me!”

“I know!” He wails, distraught. Scratch watches him bury his face in his hands. “I’m sorry! I- you said you wanted it so- but I was being so selfish-!”

Frustration coming to a head, Scratch takes his cheeks in his hands firmly and leans in close. “Geoff! Do. You. Like. Me. …Romantically.” He clarifies after a moment, knowing what he’s like. The other ghost whimpers and nods. “Do you want to date me?” Another nod. Geoff’s eyes are shining like a kicked puppy’s. Scratch’s voice and eyes soften in relief. “Then let me do this.”

He still has no idea what he’s doing, but he can confidently say he ~technically~ has experience now. Using said experience, Scratch holds Geoff’s cheeks softly in his hands, purses his lips, and presses a soft, short kiss to his mouth…

That was definitely wrong- it felt different. Whatever, he’d (hopefully) work out the kinks later. What matters right now, is the look of slack jawed disbelief on Geoff’s face.

“See?” He whispers, voice gentle but exasperated. Sappiness doesn’t come naturally to him but right now it feels right to lean their foreheads together so he does. “I liked it.”

“I- you just kissed me.” Geoff utters, dumbly.

“Oh, so it’s alright when you say it?”

His gentle, teasing seems to go unregistered and Geoff just blinks at him like he’s not really there.

“You’re…” His eyes focus just enough to meet Scratch’s. “Not mad at me?”

“Only for moving away before I could give you one back.”

“One what? Oh-“ Scratch snickers and pet’s Geoff’s hair a little. Cute. How come he’d never noticed before what a cutie the big guy is? The more he thinks about it, the more he thinks that maybe he did. He was just…too afraid, to let himself realise it before.

“I thought we were, you know,” Feelings his cheeks begin to burn in embarrassment, Scratch glances away. “A thing now, or whatever. But you just moved on.”

“ I thought you just wanted a kiss.” Geoff’s eyes are wide. “You really want to date me?”

Any positive response feels too sappy in this particular context, so Scratch just nods. The glow his face has given off tonight alone could light all of Brighton for a month.

“Woah…” Geoff whispers, eyes going foggy with disbelief. Scratch can’t help but let out a slightly breathy chuckle, himself.

“Yeah…” His eyes drift down to Geoff’s chest. There’s a little ectoplasmic swirl going round and round right where his heart should be. It feels good to know he’s not the only one flustered. ..And maybe it makes him a little smug to have that effect on someone.

Letting it go to his head, Scratch trails a finger up Geoff’s chest like they do in the movies. “You know…you can’t really expect me to be any good at kissing without any practise~”

Geoff looks confused for a second- or maybe just distracted. His cheeks are dusting blue again as he watches his hand and Scratch takes the moment of calm to truly drink in what a lovely colour it is. Muted and earthy in a way that feels like home…nothing like his own violent, neon cyan. This shade reminds him of the last dregs of blue when the sky gets dark, or the cosy safety of Molly’s denim jacket…

Plus, he looks adorable all blushy like this.

Smirking, Scratch wraps his arms around his shoulders. He’s acting confident, but he still doesn’t really know how to initiate this and hopes Geoff will snap under the weight of his flirting and do it for him. He shoots him his best teasing look, and asks “You wanna help me?”

Geoff may not be great with social cues, but he knows an invitation when he hears one. And for that, Scratch is glad.