Work Text:
☆₊⊹✮
Hao knew how to deal with it, at this point he was so used to it yet he was also aware that more times than he’d like to, it made him seem weird. The first time he saw what people would call a ghost he was just 15 years old, he was with his granny at the hospital, walking back to her room after being in the chapel, but as soon as they got there he realized the person beside him was just a part of her, despite that, after explaining to him how this ability was a gift from heaven, his grandmother promised him to stay a little longer just to teach him how to use his talent to help lost souls find their way to the afterlife. So, after 12 years from that day there he was; on a random Friday morning at a graduation ceremony in a school he hasn’t even heard of before, looking for a guy named Mark so has to tell him that his best friend, Laura, who passed away some days ago, has always been in love with him.
After delivering the message he came back to his family teahouse/bookshop where he worked and spent time whenever he could. It was a peaceful place when there wasn’t any random spirit asking for help, so he enjoyed being there relaxing among books and the sweet aroma of tea leaves. As the morning was left behind and clients went in and out, Hao went upstairs to restock some new books. On the second floor he spotted a customer seated on one of the armchairs, looking absentmindedly outside the window. He hadn’t realized someone had entered the store, left alone went upstairs, but it was not the first time Hao had been so immersed in a book while on the counter that he didn’t notice a client.
“Hello” he approached the young man “May I help you with something, Sir?” The man looked at him with big rounded eyes and parted surprised lips. Hao was just as quite astonished with how cute the man was, he looked around his same age, pale skin, black hair, insanely long eyelashes and pink lips, Hao had to stop himself from staring further down his jawline and neck so as to not be rude, when the boy lifted a hand to grab Hao’s arm.
“You can see me,” he said in a whisper.
“What-” Hao began to say but was quickly interrupted.
“You can see me” he said again as he stood up “I thought … thank God… finally… I need your help” he continued as he started to laugh “I always wanted to do that prank but I couldn't have guessed it turned into reality”.
“Hold on” Hao tried to collect himself but damn the boy looked even prettier this close “are you…?” He didn't know if it was okay for him to say the next word because not everyone was aware of their situation.
“Dead, yes” the pretty man said while scratching the back of his neck “or at least that’s what my expertise on walking through walls and appearing wherever I want says”.
At least this time I'm not the one telling bad news , Hao thought “So …what do you need?” he asked as if it was the most normal thing.
The man blushed at the question “it's embarrassing” he said as he sat down again “I died, and we'll that's okay I guess but … I didn't get my first kiss before it happened”
Hao fell on the closest chair, he has had plenty of different requests and all kinds of messages to deliver, but this? How was he supposed to solve this ‘first kiss’ issue?
“I think it’s unfair, I didn't mind my chronic illness, or losing classes regularly and having just a couple of friends because of my condition, but don’t you think that at least they should have given me more time to have my first kiss? and fell in love? and have a proper confession?” the man continued ranting, letting out all his frustration, “it’s not like I am disgusting or ugly, right?” the ghost locked eyes with Hao, his eyes shifting into something deeper for a second making Hao’s guts twist “My name is Hanbin by the way” he said with a shy smile, soft eyes back as if the previous gaze never happened, displaying the cutests whisker dimples Hao has ever seen making him blush too, he wouldn’t have minded giving him the first kiss if they had met before it was too late.
“I’m afraid I can’t help you with that…” he finally said after a long silence “I can’t touch you, I mean I can but I can’t feel anything, see?” he said as he placed a hand over Hanbin’s “and that’s the same for every person, so even if we find the girl you like yo-”
“But I do” Hanbin said with a smirk “I do feel you, and I never said anything about a girl” his eyes turning again into something darker.
“What?” Hao blinked a couple of times fearing the ghost had read his mind.
“Would you mind if I…” the spirit hesitated before continuing, “kiss you, Hao?”
“Wait, how do you.-?”
“I don’t have much time, would you help me?” Hanbin was now in front of him and getting dangerously close after every word “It shouldn't be any problem if you can’t feel it, right?”
“Yeah, but…” Hao felt his pulse quicken at the proximity.
“Just close your eyes”, the man lifted a hand to cup Hao’s face, “Your lips are so pretty, gege ”.
“Wait!” Hao shouted as a tingle of the bells from the front door woke him up. He was on the counter and had fallen asleep while reading, again. As he looked at the door instinctively after the sound, he found an oddly familiar face looking at him startled “Ha-Hanbin?” was the only thing that came out from Hao’s mouth.
☆₊⊹✮