Archive of Our Own ^beta

Dying wasn't something Robin expected to experience so soon.

Not at 13.

Definitely not like this.

Bleeding out slowly with wounds and cuts all over his body, along with a couple bites from what had to be the shittiest dog Robin's ever met. One bite on his calve, the other on his side. He didn't really feel it much, not after the blood continued to leave his body, the smell of the metallic tasting liquid, the raw feeling in this throat from holding back from crying too much, the pain in his limbs.

It all reduced to this almost numb feeling as his vision faded to black.

—

Looking at his own dead body was a weirder, but still sickening experience.

It almost made Robin want to laugh.

He's never lost a fight before, but in his defense he was tired, hungry, and weakened by a large amount. Lucky he managed to get any punches in at all, Robin supposed. He watched as the hijo de puta carried his body up the stairs, a small trail of blood following for a while, along with the dog that followed all the way.

Robin didn't hate dogs, but he definitely hates that one.

Robin sighed, feeling so unbearably disappointed with himself as he looked down at his shoes and soaking in the cold, empty feeling despite the wounds that covered parts of his body, before a hand gripped his shoulder, turned him around and held him in place by gripping both shoulders now.

Intense blue eyes that held a frown met Robin's surprised ones.

The guy was slightly taller, with skin that was almost as pale as a cloud, blood dripped down his nose and smeared across his mouth. He looked unharmed for the most part, except for two bleeding gashes on his stomach that stranded his shirt, and a cut on his left leg.

Despite the anger etched onto his face, he clearly looked tired.

Robin was too, very tired.

They stared at each other, before the blond huffed, "You know who you are?" he asked, voice gruff and intimidating.

Robin squared up in his hold, but he felt so fucking confused.

Why the hell does that matter?

"Robin Arellano, second strongest kid in town, before moving up to first because…" his eyes widened, analyzing the face again, "Vance Hopper went missing and died. You…went missing and died." Robin nodded slowly, looking down at the cuts on the guy's- Vance Hopper's torso again.

Vance stared at him, before letting his hands fall and fold over his chest, "Yeah, what of it?"

"Nothing." Robin responded quickly, looking down at his hands that were bloody at the cuts and surprisingly pale as well, "Why is that important?"

"It's the first thing you lose."

Robin turned around to see another boy leaning a against the wall, next to the door where his body got dragged up the stairs. The boy looked the same height as Vance, with skin as pale as Robin's and black hair that was a mess, and he looked like he was from…China, or maybe Japan?

Whatever, that's not really the big concern.

He had a cut going from his forehead, through his right eye and down his face, along with cuts on his arms. He also had a stab wound on his stomach and another on his throat like Robin, but the Asian boy's one looked a bit more clean. Said boy looked at him with a sad smile.

Robin tilted his head in confusion, taking a few steps closer.

"The hell do you mean by that?" he asked, voice quiet.

The boy simply shrugged, "We've learned the hard way that you'll lose yourself, most of yourself at least, and the knowledge of who you are when you're down here."

Robin scoffed, "That's fucking impossible, you're wrong."

Vance scoffed in turn, "Yeah, no we aren't. You'll find out yourself the hard way too."

"But it's easy!" Robin turned to face Vance, "You're Vance Hopper, and you were the strongest kid in town with anger issues that loved playing pinball at the Grab N' Go, you practically lived there!" he waved his hands gesturing at the other boy, who's eye twitched. Robin ignored it, turning to the other, "And you're Bruce! Bruce Yamada."

Bruce's eyes lit up, looking down before a tiny look of recognition etched onto his face, "Bruce, yeah Bruce! That's my name." he nodded, saying the name as if it was his first time being called that.

Robin wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him, because this is fucking insane, but simply nodded, placing one open hand in the other that squeezed it, "Yes, Bruce. You remember, you love baseball, you're incredible at it. You're the sweet, smart, popular guy all around that everyone loves! You know?" Robin shrugged at the end, finishing the whole thing off lamely.

He didn't know much about the two boys, but they should.

The thought of them just forgetting who the fuck they are is mind-blowing.

Bruce nodded, "Yeah, I remember a bit now. We won that last game, almost didn't though cause of a blond on the other team. He had curly hair, kinda pale skin and almost black eyes. He was scrawny, but his arm was mint! Wonder where he is now." he put a hand on his chin in thought.

Robin paused when Bruce listed the features.

Only one, absolutely beautiful boy made it's way into Robin's mind.

"Do you mean…Finney Blake?"

The boy put a hand on his chin thoughtfully, "Yeah, I think that's him! You know him?"

Robin nodded, sadness crushing him so suddenly that it was almost uncomforting.

"Yeah, he was my best friend."

Robin folded his arms, glancing at the two. Bruce was looking at him pitifully while Vance was still in thought, accessing Robin. He hated it, didn't want to break down or do anything that made him look stupid, and definitely not weak, so he clapped, "Right! Well, nice meeting you two, but I'm just gonna go."

He started to head to the stairs, relieved at the thought of finally getting out of this shitty basement, even though he was fucking dead, but Bruce stepped in front of the door before he had a chance, "Sorry bud, can't do that."

Robin blinked, before frowning, "Why not?"

"’Cause for whatever fucking reason, we're stuck in this shithole." Vance explained, frustration seeping through his tone, "No fucking idea why, but the furthest we can go is across the street and to the fuckers second basement where our bodies are buried."

"What second basement?" Robin asked.

"He has two of them. One where he deals with us while we're alive, which is this one, and one where he buries our bodies, just across the street. He's probably sneaking yours there now too." Vance explained, before moving to Bruce, "Let's go, we may as well show him."

Bruce shrugged, stepping away from the door for Vance to go up the stairs. Robin followed before Bruce himself followed at the rear of the little group.

They reached upstairs and passed through the kitchen, then through the living room before Vance walked through the front door. Robin paused, startled, before looking back at Bruce, who gave him an encouraging smile, "Just think about what you wanna do, which right now is go through the door." he explained easily.

Robin's frown got deeper, before he looked back at the door, thought about it, and hesitantly followed Vance out himself. Robin was surprised when he went through like a hologram in one of Finney's science films, and when Bruce followed suit Robin looked at him with a confused frown.

Bruce just shrugged again, "It's a ghost thing."

"Oi!" Vance called, standing at the end of the yard on the cement path.

Robin walked up to him, and Vance lifted his hand and punched the air with a grunt, only for it to stop at some sort of invisible barrier. That, or Vance was miming, but Robin knew Vance enough to know that he wouldn't do something that stupid unless he wanted to scare someone.

Robin lifted his own hand, held it out…only for it to stop at a surface he felt, yet couldn't see.

"We're somehow prevented from leaving from here till that house," Bruce pointed at the house across them, "The other two are there as well, probably paying respects to your corpse joining all of ours…or something like that."

Robin paused, before realizing that Bruce was talking about the two boys before them. Billy Showalter and Griffin Stagg were the names on the posters he saw, if he remembered that correctly. He knew Billy since the boy was the paperboy with that dog of his, which was probably more sweeter than the grabber's, and he's also noticed Billy in his English and Art classes. Though, he wasn't so sure about Griffin.

Robin huffed, "So we're just…stuck here?"

"I have a theory. Maybe if the grabber dies, our souls will be free, since currently we're all…imprisoned in someway by him. If he dies too, the limits to our freedom will be endless. So we just need to try and figure out a way to do that." Bruce explained as the three headed back to the house.

Robin folded his arms, skeptical as he sat on the steps leading up to the door of the house, "No offense, but how the fuck are we supposed to do that? We're literally dead."

"We are, but the next kid that he takes won't be."

Robin leaned against the pillar attached to the corner of the step, frown growing deeper as he analyzed Bruce while trying to ignore Vance's gaze on Robin, "…So we're just gonna gamble on another boy and hope he's strong enough to kill a fully grown man with more weapons and a shitty dog? And the boy has to do it on his own?"

"We've been trying to help with the phone." Vance stated simply, and Robin turned to finally meet the guy who was leaning against the pillar on the opposite side of the step Robin was sitting on, arms folded and staring Robin down with a unreadable expression.

"The black wall phone down there? The one that rang a few times but all I heard was static?"

"That was us trying to call you. No one could hear anything but static though, not just you." Bruce explained as he plopped down onto the concrete of the pavement next to Robin.

The boy stared at the two of them, "This is still gambling on a kid. You know this, right?"

Vance rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but what other goddamn choice do we have? Better than doing nothing."

Robin stared, before looking down at his hands, bunching them into fists on top of his thighs, legs hunched up.

"Fine, I guess."

Vance hummed, "Good, not like you have much of a choice."

"I could always say no and not help."

"We both know I could just drag you by the hair-"

"Vance, please don't do this. You should know better than this by now." Bruce cut him off, leaning his head against the pillar.

"Fine." Vance rolled his eyes, closing them before finally sitting down and hunching up his own legs like Robin did so that the outsoles of his shoes only touched the latino's at the tips.

Bruce smiled, leaning closer to Robin and cupping a hand over his mouth before whispering, "That's a clear sign he likes you already. No way he would've stopped that easily otherwise."

"The fuck are you gossiping about now smartass?" Vance grumbled.

"Nothing!" Bruce chirped, before sending a wink Robin's way.

Robin gave a hesitant smile, before it fell when he looked up, a dark scowl crossing his face. Vance and Bruce noticed and looked over, for their expressions to become the same as Robin's.

The grabber was walking out, locking the door of the second house and crossing the street. Robin instinctively backed away as the grabber climbed the steps and into his house, even though the damage was already done to him, Bruce looked away and closed his eyes, while Vance growled, standing up to follow the man, but Robin grabbed his wrist.

"Don't." Robin said when Vance turned to him with a sharp glare, "There's nothing you can do. Just wait here for now and cool down." he released Vance's wrist, rubbing at his nose before leaning back and staring the older teen down.

It was quiet for a few moments, just sounds of crickets that were nearby and Robin internally cringed. He hoped Vance doesn't say anything like he was just going down to rest, which would be weird trying to rest where you died, but if he does that would just make the crickets more relevant and Robin's embarrassment take over.

Eventually Vance sat down again with a frown, "The next kid better fucking slaughter him."

Robin silently hoped so too with a nod.

—

He was just pacing in the basement now.

The grabber just left in his van to get another boy, and Robin felt sick at the idea of another kid suffering the same shitty things that they all did. Bruce and Vance were leaning against the wall, both talking but Vance's gaze on the pacing latino. Griffin and Billy were sitting on the worn-out mattress, and Griffin watched as Robin paced as well, before speaking, "Robin?"

Robin turned his head, "Yeah?" he asked.

"Do you suspect anyone that could be next?"

Oh, Robin did.

He did not want to be right though.

"A couple." Robin shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, sitting down on the floor in front of the two, "What about you guys?"

"Not sure, we didn't have any friends except for each other." Billy mumbled, wrapping an arm around Griffin. Billy's next question caused a small lump to grow in Robin's throat.

"Do you think this next one will survive?"

Robin looked down at his hands, covered in dirt and dried up blood, closing one of his fists to desperately feel something as his blunt fingernails dug into the pale skin of his palm.

No feeling at all.

As usual.

Robin sighed, "No idea buddy, not a fortune teller. We just have to try to help whoever it is and have to hope…that it all works out."

The door opened behind him, and Robin pushed himself up to stand, bracing himself for what he saw, turning around and slinging a lock of his hair behind him from the tuft's original place over his shoulder, damn he wished he had a hair tie.

His heart dropped at what he saw.

Finney Blake, coming out from unconsciousness, was being carried bridal style by that cabrón.

"That's him," Bruce realized, stepping away from the wall, "that's the boy I was up against." before looking at Robin.

Robin didn't say anything, just watched as horror and rage filled his expression while his already pale skin somehow paled more.

"My fucking arm." the cabrón rasped, and the three at the mattress moved to the side, "I should snap your neck for what you did to my arm." he dropped Finney on the bed, and Robin immediately moving to sit next to the mattress, giving the man such a dirty glare that Vance assumed it could have killed the man.

Finney lifted his head slowly, turning to the open door, but just let out a huff as he sat up, exhaustion evident in his posture.

The grabber slowly sat down in front of the mattress where Robin was sitting mere seconds ago, and lifted his arm to reveal a scratch with some blood pouring out. Robin's eyes widened, before a proud smile etched onto his face.

Finney did that didn't he?

The man gingerly touched the spot, looking at Finney again, "Jesus." he stared at Finney, voice dropping to a whisper, "It's covered in blood. It's like I killed someone. You see that?"

Finney just stared, head pounding and his free hand suddenly feeling cold.

Little did Finney know it was Robin's hand on top of his, stroking the skin as he glared at the cabrón.

"Not like you can see shit." the grabber waved his hand in front of Finney's face.

Bruce and Vance moved closer, Bruce sitting next to Finney while Vance walked behind him and sat next to Robin.

"I know you're scared, but I'm not gonna hurt you anymore." he exhales, shaking his head, "What I said about snapping your neck…I was angry, that's all. And you did a number," he chuckled as he spoke, "on my arm."

"But I'm not gonna hold it against you, hmm ?" he scooted closer, and Robin did too, "I guess," he reached and stroked Finney's bangs, "now we're even."

"Don't touch him." Robin gritted, but Vance grabbed his wrist before he could try anything.

Robin turned while the grabber continued to speak the fucked up words he did to all of them, but Vance just shook his head, his eyes seemingly speaking for him.

Nothing you can do.

Robin opened his mouth to speak, but just steeled himself and settled for glaring at the cabrón again.

He was now talking about soda, one hand on Finney's shoulder, but cut himself off, looking behind him. He turned back, "Is that the phone? You hear a phone ringing?" he looked around, before turning back to Finney again, "I'm gonna go see who it is, then I'll get you a soda. Then I'll come back, and explain everything! Hmm?" he patted Finney's cheek, and damn Robin wanted to strangle him. But the man got up and walked to the door, watching Finney as he slowly closed it and locked it up.

Now they were alone.

Finney moved to get up, revealing his rocket pen, with the tip of the pen and the bottom of Finney's thumb covered in blood. Robin smiled again, so he did do it.

Finney walked to the door, tried pulling it open, but it was obviously locked so it's a lost cause. He turned to his right upon seeing the hallway, and walked along it to see nothing but darkness. Finney felt something hit his face in said darkness, and he pulled on it to turn on a light bulb that lit up the area to reveal an old toilet, a toilet paper roll propped up on it which was half way to being empty, and next to the seat were some rolled up mats.

Finney walked back and the other's watched as he moved to the phone, putting it to his ear and playing with the dials, before noticing that the cord was cut, meaning it was useless. Robin watched with a sad expression as Finney deflated, moving down to lay on the mattress. Finney took a few deep breaths before closing his eyes and accepting the situation for now.

It's odd.

Robin couldn't accept it for even a moment.

—

Finney has tried multiple points of escape, and to everyone's immense surprise, he could talk with them on the fucking phone!

The first time it didn't work, but the second time when Bruce tried, it did. Sure Finney freaked out and slammed the phone back on, scrambling to the opposite side of the room, an appropriate response that was honestly expected by the way, but Bruce quickly called again and it mostly worked out.

Finney tried the advice that everyone gave, starting with digging a hole in the floor like Bruce suggested, which honestly made Robin want to laugh again, because really. He gets it could be a desperate approach of escaping, but it just seems impossible.

Finney was going to go upstairs and fall for the grabber's trap, and Robin moved to get the phone.

Billy was quicker.

He warned Finney not to, telling him about the consequences that no one else liked recalling. Finney put the phone away after that, started to go upstairs, and fucking hell did they panic at his stupidity, but practically deflated from relief when he stopped at the top and slowly snuck back down, opting to just eat the eggs and drink the grabber left him.

He tried climbing out the window then, using the phone cord that Billy told him to get and also a rolled up mat from the bathroom to get the cord to reach the window and go through the bars of it. Robin smiled fondly at the small display of Finney's cleverness.

So Finney tried to climb, and it worked in his second attempt…and then the metal frame of the window fell off, causing Finney to fall with it. The ghost's winced, and Robin rushed to check if Finney was okay because that fall did not look pretty.

Luckily he was fine, just stared up at the window with desperation.

Robin felt that to a very personal level.

—

Finney used his rocket pen about a day later.

He was laying in bed, and was just…bored. Not a feeling he really expected to feel in this situation. He looked to the phone, no calls. Finney sat up, shining the light at random spots, before trailing along the crack in the wall with blood, to the floor…and then saw Griffin doing a back bend in the air creepily.

Finney's breath hitched, causing Robin to look at him, and he followed his gaze to see the light shining on Griffin, the ghost's blood dripping on the floor.

Robin looked at Finney again, then back to Griffin, before frowning, "Do you have to do that? You're scaring him."

Griffin didn't say anything, just winked at Robin when Finney was transfixed on the blood on the ground. He pointed at the phone when Finney looked at him again, and when Finney slowly moved to it, Griffin giggled, "Come on Robin, it's not that bad. I mean, I could do worse." he chirped.

Right, Robin was his name.

Wait…oh fuck.

Robin shoved the thoughts back and just deadpanned, "Please don't." before turning to Finney.

The call went as Robin mostly expected. Griffin used a slightly creepy voice, vanished from Finney's sight when he turned back to flash the light where Griffin was, and Griffin provided help, telling Finney about the fact that the grabber was asleep and to find numbers on the wall. Griffin told him they were a combination for the bike lock on the back door and if Finney used the right combination he would be free.

This caused the ghosts to perk up.

One issue though.

Finney didn't know what the exact combination was since there were no dashes between the numbers or anything else to indicate what numbers to slot in and just to their luck…Griffin didn't remember the proper goddamn combination either.

"How do you not know?" Robin hissed, but Griffin was more focused on the small pressure from Finney.

"Names are the first thing you lose, but like I said, you'll eventually lose most of yourself, and majority of the knowledge of who you are when you're down here. You can remember key things like your family, things you love, but other things, like in Griffin's case, the combination of the bike lock is not amongst that list of important stuff." Bruce explained, shrugging towards Griffin again when Finney hung up the phone and slowly started to go upstairs.

Robin just took a long deep breath, exhaled, and followed Finney up.

And fuck, Finney was close.

He really, really was.

Finney got the code after a few tries, but unfortunately the snap of the lock opening, the door being opened, and that shitty dog woke up the cabrón, who went to get his van. Finney ran as fast as he could and the ghost's yelled at him to hurry, even though Robin knew that Finney was going as fast as he could.

The van came into view, lights turned on from neighbours houses due to Finney's screams for help, yet before Finney could make it off the yards to cross the street, the van came in front of him and he crashed into the passenger door. Finney made a sharp turn though, going through more yards where he vanished from the ghost's sight.

Robin hoped like hell that Finney got away as the cabrón scrambled out of the van.

His breath hitched when Finney's screams stopped.

They held their breath, and Robin's hope dimmed like the lights of the neighbor's houses upon seeing an almost knocked-out Finney being carried back to the house. The ghosts watched with bitter disappointment and more anger at the grabber as they went back in the house once more.

The grabber beat him, more quickly but still as aggressively as the rest of their experiences, and Billy and Griffin rushed down quickly as they didn't want to see. The other three were just rooted to the spot, unable to take their eyes away from the sight of the child getting beaten despite their efforts.

"He's stronger than I thought…" Vance mumbled as he noted that Finney had only shedded a couple tears after it was over and the boy was out cold.

Robin felt a bit proud at that, despite all of the negative emotions flooding through his head.

"He's…been through it." Robin settled on before starting to go downstairs.

"Meaning?" Bruce asked as the two followed.

"Can't say much."

"Great." Vance drawled, "You know you're somehow being more cryptic than Bruce here, and that's saying something."

Bruce simply hummed, the three of them huddling in a corner of the room next to the mattress and phone before Finney was brought down, dropped onto the mattress again, and the door locked up this time as the grabber left.

"So…what now?" Bruce asked.

"I have one idea." Vance said, leaning against the wall with Robin.

It was silence for a few seconds, before Robin asked, "Do you care to elaborate with the class Mr. Hopper?"

Bruce couldn't help the startled laugh that escaped him, but backtracked quickly when Vance gave him the stink eye, "Sorry, sorry. Just…Mr. Hopper seems more appropriate for a bunny."

Robin could've sworn he saw a faint shade of color creep onto Vance's pale cheeks.

He just frowned deeper, banged his head against the wall and very lightly punched Robin, "This is your fault."

"He's less aggressive with you too." Bruce mumbled for only Robin to hear.

"Hey, at least it's a good code name when…we forget."

They looked at Robin, and after a while Bruce asked, "So you have at one point…"

"Forgotten?" Robin finished, before slumping against the wall, one leg pointedly sprawled out on top of Vance's, who glared at him but made no move to put his leg away or even on top of Robin's as an act of retaliation. Robin pretended not to notice, "Yeah, couple times. I remember my name 'cause you guys keep saying it and Finney a couple times. And I also remember I love fighting…" Robin trailed off.

"Anything else?" Bruce prompted.

"I like playing the guitar…" Robin shrugged, opening his mouth again to continue.

"Same." Vance replied before Robin got another word in.

Robin looked at him with wide doe eyes, "You do?"

Vance nodded, "Started at 8. One of the few things I was actually interested in learning." he shrugged, before accessing Robin, "Guess we have more in common than I thought." before looking down at his lap, "Anything else?"

Robin looked at Bruce, who had a pleased smirk directed at Vance, before looking at Robin with an encouraging smile, 'Bonding.' he mouthed.

Robin frowned, "I have an addiction to horror movies, and now I'm living in one so that's great. I have a huge sweet tooth, I like ice skating, or just skating in general too."

"I can agree on the skating, on the ice not so much." Vance admitted quietly.

"Why? Is it harder balancing on ice?" Robin asked, not unkindly.

Vance shook his head, "Nah, just hate the cold. You get so fucking cold in just like 10 minutes there. At least when you're skating normally it might be hot in the sun but you get wind to cool you down…most of the time." he put a hand on his chin in thought.

"Are you sure you don't fall?" Bruce asks with a teasing tone, "You seem like the type."

Robin couldn't help but laugh, quickly apologizing.

Vance didn't pay any mind to him though, glaring at Bruce so hard that Robin was surprised the other looked calm, "You are such a bitch Yamada!" Vance hissed.

"You know you love us Vance." Bruce teased playfully.

Robin smiled at the squawk that slipped past Vance, "Do not!"

"Yeah you do, especially Robin."

Robin froze, 'Oh, don't drag me into this!' he thought.

"He is an exception, and that's only because he isn't an annoying piece of shit like you people. He's cool, and nice." Vance patted Robin's head, an action Robin closed his eyes at, "While you, especially you, are the opposite." he pointed at Bruce.

Bruce put a hand on his chin, "The opposite of nice, I respectfully decline. Though the opposite of cool is hot, so sure, I can live with that." Bruce finished with a shrug and a smile that seemed far to innocent to be true.

Vance made an incoherent sound, unconsciously putting his head on Robin's shoulder as he screamed.

Robin just sat there, confused as hell.

He awkwardly patted Vance's head, and turned his gaze from Vance's curly hair to see an unconscious Finney stirring very lightly before settling again.

Robin frowned, shit, he really missed being with Finney.

It was just unbearable, not seeing Finney's beautiful face that held that lovely smile, hearing his gentle voice as he explained things to Robin during their math sessions, or that bright laugh that caused a weird feeling on Robin's stomach.

He missed listening to Finney ramble about space, the gentle touch of his hands whenever he helped patch Robin up on the bathroom floor after Robin's fights, the movies that they'd watch together at the drive in every time a movie that is suitable for the both of them caught Robin's eye, with sodas and popcorn as they either laughed or cried. Well, Finney cried, but Robin never minded comforting him.

Robin also missed just laying on his bed with Finney after the tutor sessions, bodies pressed close together since Robin's bed was a bit small, as they looked up at the hanging space lights Robin had, hands always intertwined as they talked about random shit.

Robin folded up his legs with a huff, buried his head in them as he folded his arms in front of his head.

He really hated when a melancholy mood took over him.

Bruce's hand landed on his shoulder.

"You miss him, don't you?"

Robin must've been staring at Finney for a fucking long time for Bruce to actually notice the dulling mood.

"It's pretty obvious." he muttered, not looking up and just staring at the darkness created on his lap by the shadows from his arms. He closed his fists again to feel something again as his fingernails dug into the skin for what felt like the millionth time.

No feeling at all.

"Don't suppose any of you have a hair tie, by any chance?" Robin asked, sitting back up but keeping his legs hunched and nails dug into his palms, trying to change the mood back to that happy atmosphere.

Robin didn't feel happy, doubt he ever truly would without Finney by his side. But these boys seem to have a chance, have hope, especially Bruce with his carefree, bright mood still mostly intact despite the tension-filled days that are passing by in a bit of a blur, really. Robin didn't wanna ruin this for them.

Not more than it already was at least.

Bruce shook his head. So did Vance.

Robin huffed, causing a tuft of hair that covered his left eye to go up before flopping down again. He lost his bandana, one of the only things he had of his papá, to that idiota, and he didn't want Finney to suffer death like he did.

With the chances of Finney simply escaping narrowing down…

Robin knew there was only one true option.

One he'd tried doing, but failed.

Finney was strong though, and hopefully with Robin's help (that would eventually happen at one point right?) he would be able to send that hijo de puta down.

Robin just needed to help and hope.

—

Finney woke up after a while, and when Vance called, it wasn't a reaction they had expected, but probably should have. Finney refused to pick up the phone, telling it to fuck off and swearing at it, and seemed pretty pissed.

Vance huffed, dropping the phone against the wall since he didn't need it for Finney to hear him, sitting on the opposite to Finney and getting impatient before Finney finally picked up with one last swear.

"What?" Finney snapped, sitting on the mattress again, and upon hearing nothing he grew more frustrated, "You gonna say something? Do you even know who you are?"

"What kind of shit question is that?" Vance snapped back, causing Finney to pause, "Do you even know who you are?"

"I'm Finney Blake." he replied after a while, clearly not expecting the rough attitude after the other ghosts more, mostly calm behavior.

"Yeah well nice to fucking meet you Finney Blake." Vance snarled, "Right here. This is it."

"This is what?" Finney asked, confused.

"The horrifying nightmare end of your pathetic little life." Vance explained, rather calmly.

Robin hit Vance's shoulder and glared, but the blond simply flipped him off.

"Holy shit." Finney realized, tone more scared and eyes more wide, "You're Vance Hopper. I remember you, you used to scare me."

Vance turned his head halfway to glance at Finney, "Trust me Finney Blake." he turned back to the wall, "If you knew what you had coming you'd be fucking terrified. Today's the day motherfucker!" with that, he sat up and kicked the wall.

Robin winced, looking at Bruce, but the other just shook his head with a smile.

Vance explained to Finney what he had to do after a small setback on his temper, and he walked around the room as he explained.

"And then out to the storage room." Finney concluded when Vance finished, "Thank you."

"For what?" Vance gritted out.

"For helping me." Finney stated the obvious.

"Helping you?" Vance asked, incredulous, "This isn't about you." he gritted, voice rising as he stomped up till he was behind Finney, "Fuck. Him!" he screamed, before Robin decided that was enough.

He pulled Vance back, and the phone slipped out of Finney's grip as the boy dropped the phone to cover his ears and lean against the wall, sinking to his knees as the two bottles the grabber brought down with food shook and launched up, missing Finney and shattering against the wall on both of the boy's sides, Finney let out a yell and whimpered when it happened.

Robin rushed over to Finney as the boy caught his breath, cupping his cheeks before letting go, because that's just stupid. Talking to the dead is one thing, but it isn't like Finney could see him anyways.

Finney moved to work, and Robin and Vance followed, Bruce stayed back, while Griffin and Billy went upstairs to take a breather.

Finney took the lid of the toilet and working for a couple hours to get a hole in the wall. He eventually got water from the toilet and had to take a tiny break, but neither Vance or Robin judged. Finney got back to work, and finally got the surface of the wall off, much to Vance and Robin's pleasure.

He tried getting the screw undone with his rocket pen, but that didn't work, so he took apart the parts of the toilet till he found a part. Honestly, this boy was incredible, Robin thought as Finney managed to undo the screws. He got the two panels off, and found raw meat in the freezer. He took those out, and Robin and Vance watched with anticipation as Finney crawled in and started using his weight to get out.

After about a minute passed, Finney stopped, leaning against the doors as he let out tired breaths, before realizing that this just wouldn't work. With a shuddery breath, he crawled out of the freezer.

Robin watched with a defeated expression as Finney leaned against the wall, absolutely defeated as he finally cried.

Tears were finally pouring down the face that once held so much laughter and joy.

Instead of laughs, there were now sobs.

Instead of that bright smile, it was now a broken frown.

What used to be hope, just…seemed to have nothing left.

Robin glanced behind him as Vance patted his shoulder with a tired huff, "Your turn, Arellano. If you want privacy, I'll just get Bruce and go upstairs. We'll give you…an hour or two since you look like you need the time."

Robin frowned as he heard the sounds of the footsteps leaving, Vance calling Bruce, and the sounds of the two of them going upstairs before it faded.

Now it was just them.

Alone.

Robin stared at Finney, before rushing to the phone, picking it up and waiting as the sounds of ringing echoed throughout the room with Finney's sobs.

Eventually the sobbing stopped as Robin moved to the middle of the room, dropping the phone against the wall as he realized he didn't really need to be with it for Finney to hear him as the other's didn't really hold it either, before Finney came out and moved to the phone, picking it up and resting his head on the phone box, "What?" he asked, voice quiet.

"Hey Finn." Robin spoke, voice gentle, "What's happening?"

Shit, he hasn't called Finney that in a while.

Speaking of, the blond visibly perked up, turning to face the mattress with surprise on his face "Robin?"

Robin smiled softly, "Hey buddy, don't cry."

Finney scoffed, wiping his eyes, "I'm not."

"Yes you are." Robin replied, keeping his voice neutral, "I can see you."

Robin winced, okay. Maybe 'I can see you' isn't the best place to start. It sounds kinda creepy.

"You can?" Finney asked.

"I'm with you." Robin spoke immediately, choosing the words better this time, "I've been with you this whole time."

"You have?" Finney's voice sounded shaky.

'Shit don't cry again, what if I cry next?', Robin panicked lightly, but pushed through, "A man never leaves a friend behind. My dad didn't leave his buddies behind when he went to Nam. That's why he didn't come home." Robin explained it simply, but the story really wasn't that simple. Whatever though, now is not the time, "And I'm not coming home either…and I'm not going to leave you behind." his voice started off small, before the confidence and determination kicked in, because he wasn't going to leave Finney behind even in death he would never.

"We'll be together again soon." Finney replied.

What hurts was honestly how much hope his voice had, to see Robin again. Don't get him wrong, Robin wanted to be with Finney too, to wrap his arms around the other boy and just tell him how much he truly cherished him, to actually feel him, feel normal…but that isn't how this is going to go.

He'd make sure of that.

Robin frowned, "Fuck that, you ain't gonna go like I did."

"I've tried everything nothing's worked." Finney insisted.

"Yet." Robin pressed on.

"Robin-" Finney pressed back.

Robin cut him off, he was not having this shit, "You remember what I told you?"

He was met with silence, before Finney spoke, "That I needed to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre?"

His voice sounded so quiet yet sincere that light laughter slipped into Robin's voice, "Before that."

"That someday I have to stand up for myself." Finney replied after another moment of silence, turning fully to face Robin yet not seeing him as he took a step forwards.

"Someday is today Finn." Robin began, "Today is the day you stop taking shit from anybody."

"I'm not a fighter like you Robin, you couldn't even take him."

Robin frowned, 'Okay, see now that's just harsh! Here I thought we were best friends! Where's the love and support?!' he thought.

Robin just settled for rolling his eyes, "You've always been a fighter Finn. That's what we have in common. Why we were friends. You were always afraid to throw a punch but you always knew how to take one. And you always got back up. Every. Time."

"I'm not strong enough." Finney spoke, his throat dry.

"You have to be. You're getting out here, if you can't do it for you, do it for me."

"What does it matter?" Finney asked taking a few steps forward, sounding tired and exasperated on why Robin has this much faith in him.

If only Finney just knew.

"Because I don't wanna die for nothing!" Robin insisted, desperation seeping into his voice, "I wanna at least have died for a friend. And because I cant kill that hijo de puta you're gonna have to do it for me."

Robin stared at Finney, watching him with such intensity as he prepared for the other to fire another argument.

It never came.

"How?" Finney asked.

"You're gonna use a weapon." Robin explained, happy that at least he was ready to try.

"What weapon?"

"The one in your hand."

"…the phone?"

"Fill the receiver with dirt. Pack it in tight. Give it some heft."

"Then what?" Finney asked, determination lacing his voice as he took a few steps closer passed Robin while the latino moved to stand next to the worn-out mattress.

"Then you practice. Over and over." Robin faced Finney, "You raise the phone," Robin lifted his fist, "Take a fast step back, step forward, step back, and swing." he did the movements as he spoke, keeping his gaze on Finney, "Try it."

"Now?" Finney asked.

And Robin really just wanted to scoff, because seriously?

"Yes."

They repeated the movements four more times, and Robin saw Finney slowly catch one, fitting into the movements like a natural.

Robin swung the last punch, and watched with satisfaction as Finney successfully did the same with enough force this time.

Robin nodded when Finney put the phone to his ear questioningly, "You've got it."

And honestly, the weight of everything started to sink in.

This was the last time he would ever be able to speak with Finney, Robin realized, as he turned around with a defeated posture, "Now fill the phone with dirt like I told you." he muttered, walking to the dark corner of the room and leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

He watched with sad eyes as Finney slowly walked towards the phone box, "Will I still be able to talk with you?"

The hope in Finney's voice fucking killed Robin all over again.

Robin closed his eyes, before opening them, "This was the last call Finn. It's all you from here on out." he muttered.

Finney stopped in front of the phone box, "I miss you Robin."

I miss you too.

I really need you back with me.

I love you.

None of those words could leave Robin's lips.

He looked down, closed one fist again, his fingernails dug into the skin for what felt like the millionth time.

No feeling at all.

"Then get out for me." he got out, just barely keeping his voice neutral as the lump he dreaded started to form in his throat, "Use what we gave you."

"I will." Finney spoke, voice still quiet but determined as ever.

Fuck, why couldn't this shit just be easy for once?

Robin opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again.

"Bye Finn."

Couple seconds pass…

"Bye Robin."

Five more seconds…

Finney hangs the phone back up, Robin lowers his head, eyes slipping closed.

There it is.

Finney began to work, stretching out the cord of the phone, setting up a trap, everything.

While he did that, Robin sunk to the ground, legs bent up and back against the wall, and finally screamed till his throat felt like it would break, and cried until he couldn't feel his face, like he's just been needing to ever since he died. He let it all out in dark shadows that were cast over him as the rain started to pour outside.

Why the fuck did he expect this shit to be easy?

—

The dead boys cheered and rooted for Finney with triumphant grins on their faces as they stood around the scene, watching as Finney strangled the idiota with the black phone's cord.

Billy had the idea to grab the phone, and see if maybe, just maybe they could call one last time. The phone rang on Finney's end, and the ghosts watched with anticipation as the boy held it to the grabber's ear.

"It's for you." Finney gritted out.

"Welcome to the nightmare end of your pathetic little life." Vance started off as Billy rushed back.

They all watched with more satisfaction as the grabber evidently paled from both the voice he heard and the pressure of the cord around his neck.

Griffin giggled in that scary way, "You. Don't. Have. Much. Time."

"Today's the day motherfucker!" Vance added.

Robin chose to speak next, "I can't kill you, you hijo de puta, so Finn is gonna do it for me!"

Bruce sent out the last message, one of the few things he remembered, "Finn's arm is mint!"

Finney pulled the grabber's head down, and Robin never thought he would feel so satisfied about the sound of bones cracking. Finney immediately scrambled away, watching as the hijo de puta's dead body sunk into the hole in the ground, as it should. Hearing the sounds of the dog starting to bark, Finney quickly scrambled along the hallway past the hole and grabbed a piece of the raw meat, throwing it to the dog and watching as it immediately directed it's attention away from Finney to the piece of meat on the ground.

The ghost's cheered, even Vance cracked a wide grin, while Robin watched with a proud smile as Finney climbed the steps of the basement. Robin followed him out of the back door with the bike lock, that he unlocked using the tip from Griffin.

Though, Robin held back at the front steps of the house, watching with a relaxed smile as Finney saw Gwen sitting on the pavement across the street amongst the police cars, Gwen saw Finney, and the girl scrambled up and over to him, launching herself into Finney's arms and crying in his chest.

This caused a chain of police officers and detectives to rush past the siblings to go in the house, and Robin just closed his eyes as they walked through his ghostly form.

No feeling at all.

Robin sat down on the middle of the steps as Finney was escorted to an ambulance with his sister, but the boy looked as empty as Robin felt. It was bittersweet really, knowing the fact that he could never experience everything he ever wanted to with his curly haired best friend, who could have possibly been more, yet at least Finney was safe, and had his sister.

Maybe it was best that everything was like this now.

"So…" a voice behind him asked, before Vance and Bruce sat down at both sides of the latino, "What now?"

Robin frowned, confused, "You guys go back to see your families? The barrier is broken." Robin pointed to Griffin and Billy, who were both jumping around outside where the invisible barrier used to be keeping them in their cage, even in death.

Now they were free.

Vance rolled his eyes, "Yeah, no shit, but after that…then what?" he asked.

"You could go play pinball," Robin suggested to Vance, before glancing at Bruce, "and you baseball."

Vance slapped a hand on his forehead with a groan, while Bruce just chuckled. Robin looked at both of them, confused, "What? I'm sorry, but I just-"

"Number one," Vance interrupted, "Stop apologizing dumbass. I just realized this isn't very obvious. Number two, we're trying…to ask you something."

Robin tilted his head, "Which is…?"

"We were wondering if you'd like to be friends." Bruce asked, hopeful.

'Oh…oh. Oh!' Robin realized, and his facial expressions must've revealed a lot when Bruce chuckled again.

"We've realized that we don't really…prefer to be alone after, well, everything that's happened," Bruce admitted, "and we've also realized that along with them," he gestured to Billy and Griffin, "we love your company!"

Robin's eyes widened by a fraction, because no one's ever really told him that before. Normally people would find his bold, enthusiastic attitude annoying, except for his tío, mamá, his hermana, Finney and Gwen. People he's managed to keep in majority of his, admittedly, short life.

"So, we've decided that we may as well be friends." Bruce announced with such a dramatic flourish that Robin had to laugh while Vance just rolled his eyes with a scoff, before he spoke a line that felt…surprisingly powerful, if Robin were to be honest.

"Besides, us nobodies may as well stick together."

This just…made Robin look at Vance, really look at him. The blond kept his gaze ahead, clearly avoiding looking at them, but also genuinely taking in the scene in front of them, processing it if you will. He looked…tired, more mature, and a bit more wise. The gentle tone of Vance's voice and the line itself helped with that last part, and hey, Robin never thought he'd be calling Vance wise, but here he is, dead and doing just that.

A hand landed on his knee, and Robin turned his head to see Bruce looking a bit nervous, "So, you up for it, or do you have other plans?"

Robin…let himself laugh at that.

He turned to look down at his dirty shoes, "A nobody like me doesn't have plans, not anymore at least."

So Robin may have snuck a quick glance at Vance when he said it, to see the blond turn to him with an expression that looked…okay, soft was the only word Robin could really associate the look with. Another word he never thought he'd describe Vance with.

"Yeah," Robin nodded, closing his eyes as a stretcher with the grabber's dead brother in the body bag passed through them, and looked up to see Finney huddled with Gwen in blankets, looking directly where they were sitting. Finney was obviously looking at the stretcher, but Robin couldn't help the weird feeling. He shook his head, "yeah, I'm up for it. Definitely." he put his hand on top of Bruce's, squeezing it to show he did mean it, before leaning against Vance's meaty arm. The blond flinched ever so slightly, but just stared at Robin for a few seconds before resting his own head on the latino's and wrapping an arm around Robin's slim frame. A reaction Robin didn't expect, but welcomed, "Thank you." he whispered to them.

He didn't specify for what exactly, and no, he wasn't just thanking them for the offer, it was more. Robin wasn't so sure if they understood what he meant, but judging by Vance's arm tightening around him and Bruce slotting their hands to fit together…

Robin could tell elaboration was far from needed.