Chapter Text
Moving in with Todd and Neil was an impromptu decision.
There wasn't a huge discussion, nor a solid plan, hell, Sal didn't even know if he wanted to go to college, or what his future would hold outside of investigating the Addison Apartments. But Todd and Neil seemed to have it all figured out, so maybe being around them would be a change for the better? Maybe he could find some peace away from the ghosts of his past and the actual ghosts lurking in Addison Apartments.
Todd had extended the offer for Sal to move in with him and his boyfriend in an offhanded comment, as if it would just be normal. But Sal was left wondering, did Todd really mean it? Todd isn't the type of person to say things he doesn't mean, and Sal wanted to have faith in his friend, but self-doubt littered his mind.
Would he just be third-wheeling the whole time? Would it be awkward? Would he become a stranger in his own home?
Todd and Neil moved out the summer before Neil would start med school in a city not too far from Nockfell. They wanted to stay close to town, though, so Neil could keep up with his shifts at the local cafe, and so Todd could continue his investigations on the paranormal activity that seemed to involve nearly the entire town.
The shift to moving in with the two of them was gradual. It started with a rough night, nightmares again, and whispered phone calls to someone he knew — not intimately, but close enough that he felt comfortable discussing his past with. Neil.
He knew Neil was level-headed, wouldn't judge him, or become overly worried. Sal was worried that if he told one of his other friends that the nightmares were back, they would go full crisis mode.
But talking to Neil was... easy. Simple. He wasn't personally involved in the shit that was going on, and an outsider's perspective was helpful.
It became a routine of sorts. Sal would have a nightmare, wake up in a panicked sweat, and call Neil. Neil always picked up. He was reliable, safe, and comforting.
All of this came to a head on a sweltering August night, the autumn breeze not having reached Nockfell yet.
The AC for the whole fourth floor of the apartments was broken, so falling asleep already proved to be challenging. And when he did drift away into slumber..
The nightmares approached swiftly.
He didn't remember much of the dream, just the emotions, the fear, the pain, the screaming.
He woke up, drenched in sweat, and gasping for air. He reached across the bed to the nightstand, flicking on the lamp, afraid of what could be lurking in the shadows of his room.
He stumbled out of bed, dizzy, mind meddled with anxiety and disorientation.
He went out to the kitchen. Bumbling through the cabinets, searching for a glass, before redirecting his attention to the sink, filling it up with cold tap water.
He gulped down the water, spilling a bit on himself, struggling to get his limbs to cooperate, before wiping the sweat from his forehead and flopping down onto the cool linoleum floor.
‘Breathe.’ He told himself, reassuring his anxious mind that he was safe, here in his apartment.
But his thoughts began spiraling. Was he really safe?
After all the shit they've uncovered about this building? Is it truly separate from potential danger?
His breathing began to quicken again as he struggled to get a hold of his thoughts.
His mind raced as he struggled to get off the floor and back to his room, legs shaking. He opened his dresser drawer, grabbing the pill bottle holding his anxiety medication, and after struggling to get it open for a bit, he managed to pop one pill into his mouth, swallowing it dry.
He laid back down, taking deep breaths. He tried to go back to sleep, he really did, but it was too hot, too uncomfortable, his mind was too loud. He looked across the room to the digital clock on his wall, which read ‘3:26am’ in bright neon green lettering.
Fuck. Yeah, he's not getting any more sleep tonight, not at this rate.
He let out a loud sigh, sitting up from where he was lying on his bed, eyes drifting over to his nightstand and landing on his phone.
He could call. He probably shouldn't; it's late, and he'd probably be waking Neil up.
Against his better judgment, Sal picks up the phone, flipping it open and scrolling down his contacts until he reaches Neil's.
And he clicks the call button.
The phone rings, and before his anxiety has the chance to get the better of him, the telltale sound of someone picking up comes through the speaker.
“Hello? Sal? It's like.. the middle of the night, shit, yeah, it's 3 am. You alright?”
Before Sal gets the chance to stammer out a response, another familiar voice fills the line, “Neil, babe, who's on the phone?”
Shit. He didn't even think about waking Todd. He's definitely intruding.
“Fuck um, sorry dude, I just, I wasn't thinking I'm sorry- you can go back to sleep.” Sal scrambled for an explanation for why he called, but his mind went blank.
“Hey, no- you called for a reason, did you have another nightmare? Are you alright?” The shuffling of blankets could be heard through the phone, and Sal assumes it's Neil getting out of bed.
“I'm up now,” Neil confirms, “so like, you can tell me what's going on. It's no bother.” Neil reassures him.
“I.. I had another nightmare and- I'm really sorry for calling. I just didn't know what to do. I tried going back to sleep, but the AC is ou,t and I just feel like garbage mentally and physically. I can't seem to get my brain to stop and be quiet long enough to fall back asleep.. I just.. haven't had a dream that vivid in a long time. I'm really fucking dizzy and I just want to go back to bed, but it's like, 80 degrees in here…” Sal rambled.
“You know, I can come pick you up. We have a functioning AC. Maybe the change of scenery would help? You can crash on the sofa.”
Did Sal really hear that offer correctly? That sounds... really good actually.. company would be nice, but wait, fuck, he can't just intrude like that, can he?
And as if Neil could hear his thoughts, “It's no bother, really, I'm sure Todd won't mind.”
Fuck it. If he's offering.. “Yeah, yeah, that'd be great, thank you so much, dude.”
“No problem, I'll be there in 15. You can just come down in your PJs.”
“Thank you again, I really, really appreciate this, man.”
“Of course. I care about you. I'll see you soon.”
“Yeah, see you, drive safe.”
“Alright, I love you, man. Just take it easy until I get there, okay?”
“Love you too, see you in a bit.” Wait, what?
And before he could process what he just said — what Neil just said — the click of the phone being hung up echoed through his room.
What the fuck?