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His muscles burn. His eyes sting with desperate tears. He's in pain. Too much.
It hurts too much.
He can’t stop now. He’s almost there.
He can already perceive the odor of the charred flesh. It unpleasantly itches his nose. It leaves an awful mix of chalk and salt in his mouth.
Not a sound from any of them.
No.
No.
He can still reach them. Reach them in spite of the blazing inferno that’s upon them. Time. There’s still time… please.
His foot catches on something. He can’t stop himself, his own kinetic energy continues to propel him forward. Down to the cold, hard ground.
Pain flares throughout his body. He’s sure he feels something break inside. He no longer has the strength to pick himself up.
NO!
In a blink. That’s all it takes. A deafening roar blasts his ears. A sheet of white floods his vision as a wave of deadly heat washes over him. He can’t feel himself anymore, there’s nothing left. Floating. Not even a ghost.
Dan wakes with a wheezing breath, swallowing deeply and holds it. He doesn’t move, the darkness of the room too still for his liking. He’s right where he should be. But… it feels empty. Uncontrollable shudders course through him, all the way down to his very core. He’s not usually this shaky.
He immediately stops his train of thought. Not tonight. Likewise, he’s already having a hard time sleeping. Even though he sinks into the comfort of the bedsheets. It’s a warm summer night, with some light rain pattering outside. Best of all, you hug him from behind in your sleep.
He still can’t relax. Dan grips the sheet tightly, squeezing the nonexistent life out of it. A tight, sickly sensation boils in his gut. He shivers violently again. Dan tenses as he inexplicably becomes cold, cold biting all the way down to his ‘bones’. Faintly glowing eyes slowly close to ease the feeling. For a moment or two, he’s calm. The coldness quickly fades away and leaves nothing but a mild numbness. Without warning, a boiling hot suddenly jumps to the back of his throat. Acidic and scratchy, Dan abruptly sits up with a hand to his throat.
Panting heavily and uncomfortably swallows the burning sensation back down. It’s persistent, always coming right back up as soon as it goes down. Beads of sweat form and drip down his face, an equally uncomfortably hot flash floods his face. Dan does a full body shudder; his core pulsates with rapidly increasing speed.
“Fuck…” Dan mumbles out, his throat burns like he’s going to be sick.
Oblivious to him, his abrupt awakening also shakes you awake. The sheets ruffle quietly behind Dan as you sit up to gain your bearings.
Unwilling to make a potential mess on the bed, Dan turns to the side. The frame creaks as he throws his legs over the edge. He bends over with his head in his hands, fingers curl deeply into his hair for a sense of control. Dan’s body quivers with held back breaths.
Right behind him, you stare blearily at him, confused as to why he’s up so late. The bed shifts unevenly, you don’t hear anything else.
Suppressing a yawn, you rub your eyes. Once you take your hands away, you see Dan’s silhouette on the bed. Right on the very edge, his posture stiff. Though, you feel small tremors vibrate through the bed.
You realize Dan didn’t get up with the intention to leave the bed. It’s too quiet. He’s not the type to dawdle around, either. Your hands lightly fist into the sheets, your mouth moves with a soft, shaky breath. You remain silent, unsure of how to approach him if he’s in that state. He’s never been good at accepting help. Or even comfort from others.
A heaviness settles in your chest with realization. You hold a hand up, it hangs hesitantly in the air. Dan must’ve… had that nightmare again. It’s been so long since you met him, even from the first meeting it's obvious how it bothers him. Fidgety no matter how much calmness and control he exhibits. Turning away, hiding from others. How his usually sharp red eyes lose their lustrous glow.
Finally, a soft breath to calm yourself, you lean forward and place one hand on his tense shoulder.
“Dan?”
Your voice is soft with worry.
No response. Dan doesn’t move at the sound of your voice. All you can make out are very small sounds, barely comprehensible. You bite your lip, your body shudders in uncertainty. Slowly, you sit up as to not disturb him and place your other hand on his other shoulder. You tilt your body forward and gently lean into him.
You feel Dan’s tension melt away almost immediately. His body grows loose, he’s vaguely aware you’re awake now. His body rises up and down with every heavy breath. Dan’s ghost core hums softly in spite of his mood, the hum reaches you and your chest thrums in return.
Taking it as a sign that Dan will let you get closer, you sit up higher on your knees. Carefully, you loop your arms around his neck and intertwine your hands at his chest. You bury your face into the crook of Dan’s neck, the familiar firmness of his muscular physique and a distinct scent that smells of fire and burnt cinnamon.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” Dan says thickly. He’s been holding back.
“Funny you say that, when you shook me awake because of a nightmare,” you say lightly. You want to try to broach the subject early on before Dan can internalize it.
Dan tenses under you, you hear him do a sharp intake. You can imagine his hands clenching the blanket in a powerful grip, easily squeezing it with ease.
“I wouldn’t call it a nightmare,” Dan counters, something very faintly rumbles in his throat, “it… wasn’t a nightmare…”
His sentence falters, his breath shakes with emotion. A flash of heat rises up in his body so suddenly that you flinch in discomfort. Then you huff loudly when it spills over to you, a painfully tight, piercing stings your arms. You shudder as you take breaths to calm the feverish fervor.
“I’ve been with you a long time, known you even longer,” you start, “I know when you have nightmares. It’s pretty obvious when you try to hide it.”
“Doesn’t matter. I should be over it by now,” Dan’s voice grows hard, “it happened a long time ago.”
Your hands tighten in frustration. He could be so stubborn when it comes to feelings, having suppressed them to the point it physically hurts him. You lift your head slightly and speak in Dan’s ear.
“You are clearly not ‘over it’.”
It sounds cruel, you feel you have to say it. Make Dan hear the fact that this is bothering him more than he’d like to admit. From someone he trusts and… loves.
A soft growl of warning breaks the silence. Dan’s frame rumbles under you.
“You are being persistently annoying about it,” Dan growls out, fangs visible. “It’s not…”
He stops, he inhales deeply and harshly. It sounds too close to a dry sniffle. Emotions, as dull as they may be, well up in him. A constant reminder of what he used to be. Thank fuck it wasn’t light right now, or his scars would be visible as well. Dan duly wishes the darkness could actually swallow him up whole.
You push yourself off of him and sit back down. You aren’t done yet, but it’d be easier if you’re face-to-face with Dan. Several seconds pass without a word, you don’t make an attempt to nudge him to turn to face you. The silence stretches to an eerie chorus before Dan finally turns his head to look at you, eyes glowing a bit brighter.
You reach for Dan’s hand. “Come here.”
Rough, firm fingers intertwine with yours as Dan settles himself back onto the bed. The mattress yet again shifts with the familiar weight, you feel yourself relax slightly. Your breaths quieter and the burning tension fades from your muscles. Both of your hands tingle with past affections and the need to display those affections again. Running and tracing your fingers over each other’s bodies, whispering stories of marks and scars alike. Hush tones to soak at the moment. The warmth from Dan’s fire ghost core that basks you both in a soft, comforting glow.
Moving closer to him, you loop your arms around his neck again. You lightly pull him with you as you lay down on the bed, your head thumps on the pillow. Dan does similarly, eyes flicker in patience, his body still with quiet contemplation.
Cautiously, Dan wraps his arm around you. Under your arm and down around your back, his hand grasps around the other side of your body. His sharp nails lightly trickle along you, ticklish but not uncomfortable, he’s careful to not dig them into you. You smile lightly, a finger caresses Dan’s face, running along the sharp cheekbone.
“I’d rather have woken up like this,” Dan says first, he pulls you closer to his chest. “You’re quite the sight to see in the mornings.”
“I could say the same about you,” you reply, your eyes avert their gaze, “the sun catches your body in a way that’s irresistible.”
“What can I do? No one can ever keep their eyes off of me.” Dan smirks.
He looks down at you to catch your eyes. Your expression as you melt in bliss under his intense gaze.
Instead, he notices that you intentionally look away. Your brows crease with thought, your lips taut.
A low groan emits from his throat. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You don’t have to,” you say softly, “it’s your story to tell.”
A pause passes.
“You know you can’t bottle it up forever, Dan.” You reach up and gently touch his face. He leans into it without protest.
Dan shrugs at that. Ghosts and emotions are a volatile mix. Some of them fixed on the moment they died, that moment permanently etching into their being, growing into an obsession. Others exist harmoniously without an obsession dangerously driving them. At most, their powers amplify their emotions.
“I’m… glad you woke up.” Dan relents, he shifts his weight around to get more cozy. “I usually deal with it alone, but…”
“Me being here made it easier?” A jolt of excitement shoots through you.
“Mm…” Dan nods, his eyes lock with yours at last. Piercing red sends a pleasurable tingle down your spine. You become very aware of his fingers digging deeper into you, your body quivers. He grins widely, his sharp canines dangerously stick out from his lips. “Comfy?”
“Considering that I’m pinned under you, quite,” you reply with a mischievous undertone.
Dan’s form trembles with quiet chuckles. You remove your arms from his neck to let him move about freely. You unconsciously fold them up against his body, paying more attention to the sound of his voice. It’s soothing to your ears, your mind even. Deep and smooth.
“Your voice,” Dan says suddenly.
“My voice?” You repeat. Did he read your mind, somehow?
“I want to listen to it,” Dan continues, his ears tilt down. “It lulls me to sleep.”
“A story, you mean?” You huff softly in amusement. “I’d need to get a book then.”
“You’re not getting out of bed.” Dan rolls you over on to your back, he lays himself on top of you. A warm tension forms now that your bodies are together, much closer so. You stare in exasperation, your mind already blanking. A full, blissful sensation fills your chest.
“I’m sure you can think of something…” Dan inches his face close to yours, pulling you into a kiss before your mind can comprehend another thought.