Work Text:
Under the soft glow of the aquarium lights, William and John strolled side by side, the tranquil beauty of marine life surrounding them. The distant hum of water filters and the occasional laughter of children created a soothing ambiance as they entered the room.
William turns to John, “Uh… Where are we going next?”
For William, this aquarium date had been a peculiar suggestion from John. He couldn't fathom why the enigmatic Jigsaw killer, a man known for his intricate and deadly games, would propose such an unconventional outing. Would John have done this when he was alive? William didn’t know. Nevertheless, the invitation was extended, and William reluctantly agreed, intrigued by the mystery that seemed to surround the older man.
Approaching the first exhibit where it showcased vibrant schools of tropical fish darting through the crystal-clear water, William couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. The surrealism of the situation, combined with his lingering apprehension about John's motives, gnawed at him. He still feels conflicted on how John had treated him since the last time he was placed in one of his games. Now that the man’s dead, William is still seeing the last of him. He didn’t mind it, though. At the very least, he had some company.
John, however, appeared serene and captivated by the marine life. He gestured towards the elegant dance of the fish, their colours blending in a harmonious display. "Nature's way of testing survival," he mused, a glint of fascination in his eyes.
William mustered a polite smile, though his nerves continued to nag at him. "It's… impressive."
He instinctively turns around to look behind him, hoping that no one saw him talking to himself. The last thing he would want is to be accused of being mentally insane by conversing with some imaginary figure out of thin air. Luckily, there were only a few kids playing catch with one another, completely oblivious to their surroundings, including the fishes that were startled by their loud noises.
“You’re afraid.” John remarks, his gaze lingering on him.
William chuckles nervously, shrugging, “Well, it’s not everyday you get to see a random stranger speaking to no one.”
John nods in silence.
The two continued their journey through the aquarium, John sharing tidbits of information about marine biology, ecosystems, and the delicate balance that kept underwater life flourishing. Despite his initial discomfort, William found himself drawn into the narrative as he listened to John’s soothing voice that gradually put him at ease, discovering a side of John that he hadn’t seen before. He had no idea John was this interested in fishes, let alone a wonderful narrator. John could easily be hired for voicework in one of those National Geographic nature documentaries if he had wanted to.
As they approached the shark tank, William involuntarily shivered. The imposing creatures glided through the water with an air of authority, their eyes locked onto the spectators outside the tank. The intensity of their gaze sent a chill down William's spine, triggering a hidden childhood memory. He recalled travelling with Senior to the seas in search of more fishes to capture, which almost ended up horribly when he came face-to-face with a massive shark staring right at him as it nearly knocked their boat. Thankfully, Senior hit it with his paddle real hard on its nose, hard enough that it scared the shark away. But that was another one of his many stories that he had yet to tell anyone. When Pamela knew of this, she wouldn’t stop teasing poor William about it, playfully attacking him with I-told-you-so(s) and laughing at him.
John noticed William's unease and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, comforting the insurance agent, "Fear can be a powerful motivator, William. It's what drives us to confront our own limitations, to reassess our choices."
William shot a sidelong glance at John, surprised by John’s touch. He should’ve known that he could feel him after that one time when they had- (Nevermind that)
William shakes his head as he tries to forget the memory, his face starting to flush.
In front of the jellyfish exhibit, John's eyes twinkled with childlike wonder as he watched the ethereal creatures pulse and glow. "Remarkable, aren't they? So fragile, yet so resilient."
William found himself nodding in agreement, the barriers he had erected giving way bit by bit. The constant pressure he felt in his old corporate life seemed distant, replaced by the mesmerising beauty of the sea creatures, alongside John’s presence. Though John was only a spectre of his former self, William found solace in their moment together as he gazed into the glass tank.
Finally, they reached the grand finale of the aquarium tour, a massive tank housing majestic sea turtles and graceful rays. William could’ve sworn one of the turtles shared a subtle resemblance to John’s wrinkles. He attempts to stifle a badly-concealed giggle, almost choking himself.
“What seems to be so amusing, Will?” John asks, peering into him.
William smiles, “Nothing.”
John eyes him suspiciously for a moment before letting it go, motioning for him to follow. “Come.”
Without hesitation, William follows him, wondering what they were going to do next. The two settled on a bench, the gentle ebb and flow of the water creating a calming background melody where they sat in silence. Feeling slightly awkward, he decides to fill up the empty space between them, turning to John with a newfound openness in his eyes. "I must admit, John, this is not what I expected when you suggested an aquarium date. Especially not when you’re-” He pauses for a moment, testing the waters.“-Not when you’re a… ghost.”
John chuckled softly. "Life is full of surprises, William. It's up to us to embrace them."
Silence settled between them, comfortable and reassuring. William couldn't ignore the magnetic pull he felt toward John, a connection that surpassed the confines of their past encounters; Past the time when they had first met at Jill’s party, John’s multiple trips to his office, and their back-and-forth email exchanges.
As the aquarium lights dimmed, casting a soft glow over their surroundings, John turned to William. "Thank you for joining me today, William. I hope you've enjoyed your time here."
A genuine smile formed on William's face. "It did, John. I never thought I'd enjoy our time together... We should’ve started this back then."
Their eyes locked, a shared understanding passing between them.
As they stood up to leave, the aquarium's exit illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight, John hesitated. The moment lingered, charged with unspoken sentiments. Without a word, he leaned in to William, and their lips met in a tentative yet sincere kiss. William slightly jolts at the sudden kiss before letting himself go limp in John’s arms, their tongues eloping with each other. He wasn’t even sure how it worked, but it was happening again. For a moment, the world outside the aquarium faded away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet embrace of the night.
When William finally lifted his head, his expression was stark, honest and intense. His colour high.
“So… What now?” He asks meekly.
Plainly, just like that.
John gawked at him mockingly, repeating his words.
“What- What now? Will?”
William rolls his eyes, sighing.
“I mean… What are we supposed to make of this… thing?”
John pursed his lips before gesturing for William to follow him once again.
Walking out into the night the echoes of the underwater world still resonated within them. The night air outside the aquarium was crisp, carrying the scent of saltwater and adventure. The two men walked in companionable silence, the city lights casting a warm glow on the streets.
Strolling through the city, John spoke, breaking the silence, "William, life is a series of tests. Some are self-imposed, while others are thrust upon us. What matters is how we face them and the choices we make. And that choice lies on you. What do you want to make of this ‘thing’ between us?"
Upon hearing John’s answer, William nodded with uncertainty, trying to absorb the wisdom in John's words. He still wasn’t sure. A relationship with John Kramer? The Jigsaw killer who’s now dead and gone? What would people make of this? (Not that it really mattered if they didn't know) William was just unsure on how he could live like this, with John’s ghost being tied to him for the rest of his life. He figured he sort of liked John, but doubt was eating away at him. What if John just disappeared out of the blue like the last time? Would he ever see him again? Ghosts don’t have any contacts that he could dial at his convenience. They would just… Cease to exist at any given moment in time.
He sees John reading him out of the corner of his eye. John looked like he was waiting for him to continue.
"I never expected you to uh… Kiss me again," William admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
"Life has a way of surprising us," John replied, his gaze thoughtful. "Sometimes, it takes stepping out of our comfort zones to discover new bonds."
William raised an eyebrow. “And that… New bond is with-” He points to himself, “-Me?”
“Yes.”
William blushes, not quite believing what he had just heard. So this was real. He pinches his hand in search for confirmation, feeling a sharp twinge of pain from the sudden squeeze. Oh , this was definitely happening. Even so, he wasn’t sure on how they would work. John’s dead, and he’s- well, alive and kicking.
As if John had read his mind, his worries were pushed aside as his ghost comforted him. “I’ll be here for you, if you need me. I’m not going anywhere, Will.”
William makes a few shifty glances at John, contemplative in his words. “...I’m glad to hear that, John.”
"Then I suppose we'll see each other tomorrow, won't we?"
"Ah. Yes. Sure."
Before William could bat a single eyelid to take one last long look at him, John had disappeared without a trace. He sighs, smiling as he stood in the middle of the night as he starts to process his day.
He couldn't wait to see John again.