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If there was one thing Charles hated, it was waiting. It made him fidgety and sent his mind racing a mile a minute, which wasn’t a very enjoyable state to be in. It also made him doubt much easier.
You see, it had been exactly 378 days since he and Crystal had parted ways once and for all. The decision to break it off had been more or less mutual, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. After eight years together, Crystal had realized that it was starting to feel really weird to be with someone who didn’t age.
And Charles got it, he really did, but he had still gotten angry. Mostly at himself and this stupid ghost thing. Of course Crystal couldn’t date a teenager, even he had to admit that their perceived age difference had gotten too obvious over time, despite the fact that he had technically spent much longer on earth than her.
If he was being honest, it was surprising that they had stayed together for that long, since even something as simple as touching each other was difficult when one of them didn’t have a mortal body to begin with.
But Crystal had been his everything for eight years, and a part of him would always love her. She was one of the few people who had come and gone during the last forty years, but who had never left his heart.
Which brought him back to the one constant in his life: Edwin.
His best mate, who had gone out of his way to comfort Charles after the breakup even though their relationship must have pained him every day. He would never forget the night Edwin had confessed his feelings to him. He still felt horrible for rejecting him, but he had never been sorry for loving Crystal.
It had just been insanely bad timing. Funny how that worked, considering how long they had already been friends at that point.
The thing is, 378 days are a long time to think about what you want. Which is why he was currently pacing around in their office, waiting for Edwin to come back from a midnight stroll around London.
The room hadn’t changed too much in the last years, a familiar refuge from all the troubles the world decided to throw at them. There were the books, the noticeboard with all their cases and of course, the mirror in the corner. After a few more excruciatingly long minutes, a figure finally emerged from within it.
Charles spun around and tried not to let his nerves get to him. As Edwin stepped into the office, he stopped and gave his friend a sceptical look. “You’re nervous. Did something happen while I was gone?” Curse the fact that he could read him like a book, that’s just what forty years of friendship did to you.
“Nah, everything’s fine.” He put on a smile, but Edwin had learned his lesson a long time ago and simply cocked an eyebrow.
After a moment, Charles sighed in defeat and admitted, “Look, can we just sit down please? I want to talk about something.” Instead of answering, Edwin walked over to the old couch and lightly patted the space to his left. Charles let himself fall down next to him, much closer than he had initially planned, so that their legs were now touching. It was different when it was two ghosts instead of a ghost and a human, he had to notice once again.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Edwin asked, completely oblivious towards the tornado of emotions Charles was about to unleash onto him. Had he ever been this nervous in his life? Possibly not. Anyway, it was now or never.
“So, I’ve had a lot of time to think lately. I guess you remember the night you confessed to me?” His friend visibly tensed, and he immediately felt sorry for reminding him of a conversation they’d both rather forget.
“Right, stupid question. Obviously you do… I want you to know that I don’t regret being with Crystal” he stated as Edwin was already opening his mouth to no doubt ensure him that he was aware of that. “Please let me finish, or I’ll never get it out. I don’t regret being with Crystal, but I do regret missing my chance with you. I’ve said a thousand times that you’re my best mate, but the truth is that you’re so much more than that.”
Now came the hard part. Charles was aware that Edwin had gotten out more in the last years, that he had definitely met other ghosts, even if he hadn’t been in any relationships. So, he couldn’t actually be a hundred percent sure that Edwin still felt the same way. People got over unrequited feelings all the time, he had done so himself after accepting his crush on Edwin.
At least he had thought so. In reality, he was sitting on this couch because that was very much not the case.
“Are you trying to say what I think you are trying to say?” Edwin asked in response to the pause on his end and was clearly trying to seem nonchalant, but he was looking at Charles with so much hope in his eyes it was almost killing him. He could read his friend just as well, after all.
“What I’m trying to say is, it’s always been you, Edwin. All I know is that I wouldn’t want to spend eternity with anyone else. I just hope I’m not too late after all.”
“Charles…”
Hearing Edwin whisper his name hit him right in the chest, it sounded raw and beautiful and so very alive.
“It couldn’t possibly be too late,” he assured him with a small smile that he so rarely got to see. Charles grabbed his hands with trembling fingers and held them in his own, trying to convey all the emotions he couldn’t put into words.
He could spot the exact moment the extent of this dawned on Edwin, as his eyes lit up and he had to fight the huge grin that was threatening to form on his face.
Talented, stubborn, passionate Edwin who had waited almost ten years for him and was realistically way too good for him. But he had still chosen Charles, and the amount of love visible on his face didn’t allow for any kind of doubt. He was sure he looked just as dopey right now.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, and Edwin couldn’t nod fast enough before he already leaned in and pressed their lips together.
It was nothing like any other kiss he’d had. It sparked a fire in Charles, lit him up from the inside in a way that he had thought impossible since becoming a ghost. Edwin’s hands came to lay on his chest as Charles grabbed his waist and cheek to pull them even closer. Every point of contact sent electric shocks through his body, and he couldn’t get enough.
When they parted again, Charles immediately slung his arms around Edwin and squeezed him as tight as possible.
“I’m so happy I get to love you,” he mumbled against his hair, but he was certain he had been understood anyway.
Edwin buried his head in his shoulder the same way he had done so all these years ago, the same way he always did, really, despite claiming not to like touch all that much.
“This was worth the wait”, he replied and was clearly smiling from the tone of his voice. Charles couldn’t help but smile with him.
“Yeah, I think so too.”