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Staring at the edge of the hill, where the sun met it’s end and stretched its last remnant of light along the red waistband of the sky, Eric Slingby, caught in his inability to leave his old looks behind with the same wavy, his now brunette locks that fell gracelessly over his face, sat upon the nameless stone cross that remained standing strong over a freshly dug patch of soil, with fresh bouquets of flowers neatly leant up against it.
It truly did dishearten the man, how events led by his own hand caused him to be caught up in a moment like this. Alone and staring at the bright sunset drifting behind the treeline below, out of sight from such a sinful creature.
He couldn’t believe himself. He was a true mockery of nature. Blinding him to sin, and increasing his final amount for soul collection to an irresistible hunger. Even with the temptation that came with his… ghoulish partner, being a physical embodiment of his wandering soul and all, Eric was more determined to help him find peace, than devour what remained of him. An eternal rest away from the pain of reality, a limbo of sort, where he could finally be happy.
“Hey…! You didn’t tell me the sun was setting-!” A small voice came from beside the demon, forcing his eyes to tear away from the disappearing light to look at the small ghost, rising from the ground slowly, being careful not to move anything or accidentally knock over flowers and make a mess. Once out of the casket below the soil, the ghost settled beside Eric, leaning against him and resting his head on his shoulder, allowing Eric to smile and take a careful hold of the ghost’s hand, while there wasn’t anything to touch, it was a strange comfort for the demon.
“Sorry about that, Al… I was gonna ring your bell but I just… got a little lost.” There was a small bell hanging on one of the arms of the cross, while originally used by the person occupying the casket to signal that they were still alive, Alan often let Eric use it to show when he was around. To hear it made Alan happy.
“A little lost?” The ghost queried, looking up at the other “you found your way here safely, didn’t you?” This phrase caused eric to chuckle, leaving Alan confused, but smiling as well. He hasn’t heard him chuckle for a while. “Not like that, Love. Lost in thought. I was just thinking is all.”
Alan Gasped with realisation “Oh! What were you thinking about?” He set his free hand over Erics and snuggled closer to him “If my own voice stopped overlapping itself, I’d definitely think about being able cuddle you more…”
“Has it gotten worse?” A hint of worry flashed across Eric’s face, almost tearing up just at the thought of Alan going through pain again. “I don’t… think so? Last I checked it’s still my own voice.” Alan chuckled, keeping Eric’s hand in his, “When are we going to do the thing?”
“thing?”
“you know! Like… you ask me questions and I have to see if I did better than last time!”
“ah, that thing.” Eric smiled nervously. The last few times they had done this proved futile as Alan only seemed to forget more information with each passing hour. Eric must need to start doubling this activity each day. He wished he could anyway, but people really seem to be into summoning rituals nowadays. It was almost as if the universe was just trying to keep Eric away from Alan. Though, to Eric’s luck, Alan only really forgets names. He still remembers who Eric is just by looking at him. “We’ll start off simple then.” He hesitated a moment, knowing what the answer will be.
“Who are you?”
“I’m! … uhm… a ghost!” Alan smiled brightly at his answer, and Eric rolled his eye playfully, “No, dumb dumb, your name.”
“Ooohh!! Okay!” Alan then simply sat there and thought.
For a while, much to Eric’s displeasure. The distant chirping of Owls and sleepy pigeons slowly began to flood his thoughts. “Alan?”
A small, awkward chuckle came from the other, “I can’t remember- I’m sorry-!” Eric sighed, but giggled at the thought “I just said your name!”
“Alan?”
“Yes, you idiot!” Eric laughed, leaving Alan confused once more, before laughing with him “I was close!”
“Far from it, love.” Eric smirked at Alan’s pout “Alright I’ll give you the next one. Who are your parents?”
Alan offered Eric two small stones, both wrapped in flowers and leaves that he found on the ground, most of them decayed and withered by now. “Jamie and Matilda.” The demon blinked, looking between Alan and the rocks in front of him, “Are you serious?”
“Jamie and Matilda are great moms! They defend the home really well! Especially from mean children and adults who keep trying to trash it with their junk.”
“Alan, they’re… rocks-“
“They're weapons if you throw them hard enough!”
Eric broke out into quiet giggles and snickers, having to cover his mouth to quiet himself, “You can’t be throwing rocks at people, Alan!” the ghost huffed at this, hugging the flowered rocks close and tearing up “people keep kicking over my stone and stealing the teddy bears, what else am I supposed to do?” The demon immediately stopped laughing and cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck “Hey- I know, you don’t like them. I’ve helped clean up the mess and got the toys back, but, Alan, these stones are… tiny, they won’t do anything. I’ll get you some bigger stones.”
Alan paused, sniffling “what?”
“And don’t cushion them with flowers,” Eric smiled “It’ll hurt less if you do that, got it?” Alan seemed to light up a little bit, though seemingly disappointed. "Will they keep people away from me-?"
"Hundred percent. Just try not to kill anyone, okay?" The demon chuckled, but felt a little disheartened when Alan didn't laugh with him. "Alan-"
"I have a question for you now..."
"...me?"
The ghost nodded, looking down and away from Eric's eye contact, "what was I to you... when I was alive?"
Eric's eyes widened as he look down at his hands quietly, wanted to hold Alan's hand tighter, yet, still being unable to. He felt so close, yet still out of reach. "Ah... you were everything to me, of course. You still are." He watched as Alan turned to him, a little teary eyes but paying attention. "You were my light, what kept me going, even if it led me down a path of sin. All I did... I just wanted to make you happy again. It was so hard to get a genuine smile out of you sometimes, and I missed it... so much." Eric quietly rested his head on his knees, wrapping his free arm underneath his legs "more so, I miss you Alan. Even though you're next to me now, I miss the real you. The you that would get grumpy when I had to wake you up super early for work, and the you who always fell asleep at his desk whenever Grell tried to talk to him..."
"Eric-"
"Sorry, sorry-" The blonde quickly sat up and looked away from the ghost, sniffling and rubbing his his eyes with the sleeves of his sweater. "Hey, it's okay! Don't cry," Alan leaned over, catching Eric in a big bear hug, despite the former doing his best to not fall through. "It's gonna be alright, y'hear? I may not be who I was... but I don't think that makes me any less of me, you know?" Alan did his best to lean against Eric, partially having to float, all while watching the distant spring like finally fade into a gentle, and oddly comforting blanket of stars "Sure I can't touch or remember many things..."
"You won't even remember either of our names tomorrow."
"I think that makes me more excited to meet you all over again tomorrow." The two sat in silence for a while after, Alan enjoying the light of the stars, following the slight spring breeze that just flew through him, oddly creating a sudden vigorous thrum in his chest and causing him to shiver, as if he could feel the temperature begin to drop in the dark.
"I think you should go back in your grave, Alan. I don't want to leave you out here on your own, knowing what scares you." The demon chuckled to himself, making the flower arrangement against the cross look a little more pleading before getting too his feet, dusting off his arse and legs before stretching put some tension. "Besides, you know midnight is the summoning hour for us... and I don't want to accidentally drag you into it and risk you getting almost eaten again."
"Will I see you tomorrow? I want to try and watch the sunset with you this time..."
"Same time as always Alan." Eric gave a curt wink to the ghost, flapping out his jacket to rid of dirt before taking to the pathway to get out of Alan's sight. "Ah- Wait, Eric!"
He quickly turned, barely able to see him over the abundance of rose bushes either side of the pathway. "I love you, please be careful!"
This made Eric chuckle, and for once he smiled sincerely, not used to hide some of the more sullen thoughts in his head, just because of Alan. It's always Alan.
"I love you too, my dear."
______
The same time, every day.
It's what he promised.
But, what was surprising to him was Alan's inability to keep with their plan.
He had rung that bell 4 or 5 times by now, and the sun was just beginning to set once again.
But no ghost responded.
Just that same echoing breeze of spring, almost fuelling those worried and anxious thoughts again.
"Alan?"