Chapter Text
*Zach's POV*
It was a pleasant evening, the sun glowing brightly up in the clouds yet it wasn't all too hot. I cleaned most of the house while awaiting Master Aaron's arrival. Looking at the time, it was still early, with nothing much to do I decided to try cooking something for him, he's been eating a lot of unhealthy food these days... Goodness he can't go a day without worrying me...
While getting ingredients, I heard this agitating voice, I knew it all too well and I'm saddened that I cannot beat him up.
"What are you doing?" He asked and I had to bite my lips to not get snarky with him, "I'm cooking, isn't it obvious?" I told him while not leaving my eyes off the preparation I'm currently making. "Watcha making?" He continued to bother me, "It's not like you can eat it, why do you need to know" I told him firmly before finally turning to face the ghost leaning curiously beside me. "Chill, did someone piss in your cereal today?" He questioned while floating unbearably close to my face, "Please know personal space and I am not angry, I just feel irritated when you come around" I responded before starting to make soup, some rabbit stew... Should be healthy for master Aaron... "Is that rabbit stew? My mom used to make me some, it was some great times... Wait where did you get the meat from" I coughed audibly and avoided his questioning gaze, "From no where, could you leave me alone now Finlay?" I told him impatiently, "IS THAT FLUFFY...???"
"I'm back!" A cheerful yet tired lingering voice spoke, "Welcome back master Aaron" I told him from the dinner table, "What is that smell... Did you cook something?? For me?" Aaron asked, his eyes lighting up at the thought, "Well who else here can eat...?" I said while giving a side glance to Finlay curling up in the corner. Following my gaze, Aaron's eyes landed on Fin and he couldn't help but ask "What happened here?" Hearing Aaron's voice, Finlay turned around to make sure it was really him before relief washed over him, "You are finally back!!! Your butler is crazy, he tried to attack me!!" He said, eyes pleading Aaron to get him away from me, I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "... What did Zach do...?" He asked cautiously, afraid to anger me and get put in the naughty corner like Finlay. Finlay started to whine to Aaron about me and I ignored all of that, I went and got closer to Aaron to get his coat off of him and he instinctively let me before making his way to the dinning table, "I mean... Knowing you I wouldn't blame Zach for throwing a pan at you" he told Fin. "Both of you are so rude..."
I watched Aaron eat and Finlay floating around the food, trying to get a bite. "Mine! Zayzay specially cooked for me!" Aaron told Finlay firmly yet not meanly, "Meanies..." He said sadly before going back to his corner, Aaron's heart softened, with a sigh he said to Fin "Fine..." I swear Fin's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas Eve... I watched both of them enjoying my cooking and couldn't help but chuckle when they started to fight for the last chicken nugget. "Hm..." Aaron let out a satisfied sigh before continuing with, "How did you make this soup? It's quite tasty!" Aaron asked. "HMM ABOUT THAT..." Finlay said in a manner to get my attention, I coughed awkwardly while not meeting their eyes, seizing the chance, Fin leaned over to Aaron and whispered something in his ear, "WHAT?!"
Aaron scolded me that night but it wasn't too harsh since he still likes the taste... Not to mention that bunny has been waltzing in and out of the manor these past few days like it owned the place just because the place was not far from the forest. I'm pretty sure Brenton is on the other side of the forest too, which is kind of why Fluffy has been coming here, all just because Olivia and Kian can't keep an eye out for it. Aaron was still lecturing me until he started to hold his head, he was having a headache, nothing too serious. "You should go take a bath before going to bed, you've been quite busy these past few days, master" I said simply and unsurprisingly he refused, "I'm fine" He responded dryly, not liking the fact that suddenly the attention is on him. I rolled my eyes to his dismissive tone before making my way upstairs to get the bath ready, he is taking a bath then going to bed whether he liked it or not. He started whining and saying something along the lines of "I have work!" Or other sort of stuff but my mind was set. I opened the focet, tested the temperature making sure it wasn't too hot nor too cold, then dropped a bath bomb and added a red evil looking rubber ducky, why? Because that literally represents his job as a ghostbuster and I find it funny.
Now for the annoying part, Aaron hides around the place, anything to continue working, anything to not take a bath... "Finlay, you go look outside, I'll look around inside" I said to the wall, I know Finlay could hear me, he better listen or I will beat him up again, "On it boss" He responded, with that I started with his room, he usually would stay there either under the cover or behind the curtain, sometimes even on top of the closet, just everything to get away. Looking around, he didn't seem to be on top nor inside of the closet, not on the bed or the curtains. He wasn't here, so I continued down the hall, checking each room one by one, behind objects, on top or under, until Finlay told me he found Aaron hiding behind a tomb and is trying to run. I looked outside from the front door and saw Aaron's figure running, I knew where he wanted to go, to miss Iris's and I was not having it, "COME BACK" I screamed at him while he cried, I soon caught him with Fin laughing hysterically from how stupid the situation is, "Shut up Fin before I come after you too" I told him coldly, I was not amused, "You can't even touch me" He said smugly before being hit by my slipper. I walked down the road while carrying these two dumbasses like sacks of potatoes back home.
When we finally arrived in front of the familiar shaped arch, Aaron couldn't help but protest, trying everything to get out of my grip but we all knew that wouldn't make much difference, "Stop squirming before I call miss Iris and tell her that you can't go to work tomorrow" I threatened him which made him go silent. Aaron reluctantly went inside of the bathroom, "So much for a servant, aren't you supposed to listen to me?" He said with a huff, I only gave a light sigh, "Who will take care of you if I'm gone, you need to take care of yourself, I promised to take care of you" I replied without going too far, I promised his parents on their death beds to take care of him till the day either of us dies, to my mother and them, I didn't expect him to be this inexperienced... He was a nepobaby after all, he had servants to do things for him so he didn't have to do it himself... At least I'm glad he has a job that he likes and that makes him work for himself.
I heard the sound of splashing water and took it as my cue to enter. Going in I usually help him wash his hair, he doesn't wash them properly and each time I find more dust inside of his hair than the whole manor itself, he's usually curl up inside the tub splaying with the water, watching the waves hit the rubber ducky before everything goes silent. I sighed at the sight, he still had the curiosity of a kid and I feel bad that his parents had to limit some of what he can do but I feel like it was the best for him, these past days I feared for his safety... I mean, his whole back is covered in past scars all over, I remember those days when I came back to my phone ringing, miss Iris telling me that Aaron was at the hospital, I dropped everything to get there as fast as I could alongside Finlay that heard the news from my phone. When getting there I saw Aaron shirtless, being bandaged, it was horrible, blood was coming from every side of his torso and I had to escort Iris out before she threw up. "What happened...?" I asked calmly and Iris explained everything while sobbing, they were doing their job when the ghost came up to Iris looking to kill her but Aaron saved her in time, the ghost tried to eat him since a ghost and a mere mortal were not on the same level but...
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... Aaron "𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙" a ghost... (aka Finlay)...
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Iris has no idea of that and I was not about to tell her my experienced with them, because of such an abnormal bond... Aaron was just a bit above a mere mortal... Thinking of this, I turned to Finlay that day and I wasn't sure if I should've been grateful or furious that Finlay did THAT to my master. I put everything aside and was consoling Iris before the doctor discharged Aaron. It was some cut, some deep ones so the doctor told me to stay with him, change the bandage frequently and make sure he rest these next few days. He was obviously not happy but I did not care about what he thought, I told Iris to tell their boss that Aaron will be absent these days and if the boss had anything to say, I'll personally have a talk with them... Iris picked on my tone and hurriedly left after hitting Aaron for sacrificing himself for her, looking at his face, he didn't seem to regret one bit... Lord he was too selfless...
I did as the doctor instructed, the days that passed I was more careful with him, cooked stuff for him to eat, disinfected and bandaged him up until it turned into scars than deep wounds. He kept on whining, he wanted to go back to work and I was not having it, I told Finlay to watch him all day for if he ever tries to escape again. Every other day is just Aaron with his chest bare, with me being his maid, taking off the old bandage, cleaning the wounds and bandaging it tightly again. He was a big mess and I had to take care of him, every now and then miss Iris would visit, cry about Aaron then I'll have to stop her from hitting master Aaron... When she leaves, I'll have to comfort Aaron because he is hurt that Iris might be mad, it was a whole circus and a mess.
I thought about some stuff on the side to get rid of these memories, humming to some tune while getting these tangled hair to untangle, he kept on groaning each time I brush it, "You are acting like I put those nuts in your hair" I told him while internally rolling my eyes each time he cried, he tried to escape my grasp to no avail and so he accepted his fate.
After I've done what I needed, I left the room to get his pajamas, I've always wondered... Why does he have multiple hello kitty pajamas... Whatever, I'll take one of them and give it to Aaron.
It took him about 30 minutes to get out of the bathroom, I was playing cards with Fin when I heard the sound of the lock, "Seems like he's done, I'll talk to you later" I said before making my way upstairs and handing his clothes, another 10 minutes then I went in to dry his hair. "OUCH, ZAYZAY THAT BURNS" He yelped out while moving away from me, "Stay bloody still, I didn't even touch your scalp" I told him.
After his whole dramatic display, I tugged him in, "Zay... Could you stay with me tonight...?" He asked hesitantly with those big eyes, "Why, did one of the ghosts curse you again?" I said, chuckling at the thought, "Yeah..." He muttered out while giving me those kicked puppy eyes. I thought about it for a second before sighing, "Fine" I said, he giggled like a big ol kid, "Thanks!" He said before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
I made sure he was asleep before taking a call, "Will you make it?" Asked a voice, "Yes, I'll be there in about 20 minutes" I said matter of fact-ly, "I'll meet you there then, you better not be late" I had to stop myself from groaning, I didn't enjoy talking to them at all, "I'm not a child, I won't be late, I'll see you there, good bye" I ended the call, looking back to Aaron's room to make sure he wasn't awake. I checked for the third time before going out, "Goodnight Aaron, I'll be back" I whispered before leaving through the back door.