Work Text:
The aftermath of Mystery’s possession and subsequent fight to break him out of it is a messy one. They made a conscious choice to try to keep the Kingsmen Mechanic Shop away from the brunt of the destruction but they’ll definitely need to replace some windows, fix up the pavement, and redo the entrance.
Arthur is covered in soot, having had to repurpose some of his projects into weapons on the fly, most of them breaking down on him even if they were a tremendous help. His metal prosthetic will need to be replaced, all but shredded and the wiring poking out. As for Arthur himself? He’s been worse. Earned a scar or two but nothing life threatening.
Really, Lewis thinks he needs a nap more than anything.
Vivi on the other hand, is covered in bandages and will most certainly earn some bruises. There’s a patch bandaid on her cheek as well as bandages all over her arms and torso. How she had that much stamina after being thrown around like she was? Lewis isn’t clear. Determination, stubbornness, and spite most likely; Vivi seems to thrive on those.
She’s done most of the medical work. Arthur and Lewis might know the basics but she knows her way around a first aid kit better than both of them combined. She’s tending to Arthur’s wounds at that moment, having already wrapped up Mystery and herself.
Mystery is the worst of them. Alive but down to four tails and exhausted. His consciousness was brief once they freed him from the demon’s grasp, expressing his gratitude and love before passing out. Vivi covered him in bandages, using most of them up on him. He’ll live, she says, but he’ll need lots of bed rest.
He slumbers now, sprawled and lying against one of the intact walls of the Kingsmen’s shop. Lewis suspects he won’t be awake for a while.
As for Lewis himself, there’s plenty of damage to his Heart, cracks that need to heal over on their own despite both Vivi and Arthur’s best effort to help. Nothing Vivi can wrap up, which she isn’t happy about. She did confine him to resting however, which he does now.
Lewis sits on the curb, bouncing his leg as the rush dies down. He keeps Vivi and Arthur within eyeshot but tries not to stare. He’s caught both of them sneaking glances at him when they think he isn’t looking. Guilt brews in his chest and Lewis lets it fester.
Logically, he knows what ghosts are like. Their feelings are stronger than that of a human— they’re made of emotions. Him thinking his best friend killed him allowed him to manifest in the first place, so of course revenge consumed him. It was his drive, his purpose, and he couldn’t give it up.
Then Arthur gave him that look and said his name like that and…
Well. Here they were.
Arthur is okay. Vivi is okay. Mystery is okay.
Lewis didn’t kill any of them. He fought beside them to return their friend— that should matter. He knows this.
It’s just a little tough to look them in the eye right now. To do anything but drift along the edges, close enough to rush to their aid if need be but far enough so they aren’t suffocated by him. So they don’t feel uncomfortable around him— because he knows what he’s like. He’s a ghost— a poltergeist or a wraith, neither of which means good things. He gives people the chills and god knows they don’t need that right now.
Not to mention Vivi’s memories of him are spotty while Arthur’s are likely ruined. The only reason he doesn’t retreat to his Heart to speed up his recovery is because it’s difficult to stop that process before he’s finished healing. Despite his best efforts, Lewis can’t shake the feeling that danger is just around the corner. That they’ll be in trouble and Lewis won’t be able to help and they’ll get hurt and die and he’ll be alone without a purpose and—
A hand clasps his shoulder. Lewis jerks away, swiveling around to get a good look at the unknown variable— possible threat—
Then he stops. And stares, because he really doesn’t know what else to do.
Lance raises an eyebrow at him. Lewis searches for anger, resentment, or wariness in his scrutinizing gaze but finds none. There’s only concern and questions behind his eyes. “Why are you so jumpy, boy?”
“Sorry.” Lewis says without thinking twice about why. He ducks his head, shrinking in place.
Lance gives him a long look, then without asking, plops himself down next to him. He stretches his legs out, exhaling slowly, and cracks his neck. Lewis winces at the sound, promptly barking a laugh from him.
“Still the same as ever, huh, Pepper?” Lance grins easily, not the slightest bit strained. If he’s affected by Lewis’ aura, he doesn’t show it, and he’s never been the type to beat around the bush.
Case and point, not five seconds later does he say, “So you’re dead then?”
“…Yes.” Lewis responds haltingly when Lance continues to wait for an answer. It feels rude to try and escape the conversation, especially considering he hasn’t spoken to the man in probably around a year now.
They never had a bad relationship— Lance might’ve been his opposite in many ways and rarely referred to him by his first name but whenever he asked Arthur, he was assured that Lance actually adored him. Thought of him as a second son, and as Lewis got to know him more, he knew for sure Arthur wasn’t just lying to make him feel better.
It was Lance who reached out and told him that he could come to him for advice or if he ever needed to talk. Lance who was one of the few people who wasn’t his family or in the Mystery Skulls who congratulated him when he came out. Lance who always praised any dish he tried of Lewis’ and told him he was proud of how far he’d come.
They were friendly, once. Then Lewis died, nearly killed Arthur, and Lance shot him to defend his nephew. So just like all of his relationships, Lewis wasn’t sure where he stood with him now.
“Explains a lot.” Lance breaks him out of his thoughts, turning his attention back to him. “You disappeared on us, y’know. No note, no phone, no nothin’. Your family was real worried, kept saying it wasn’t like you, and I couldn’t help but agree. You’re not the type to vanish like that willingly.” Then after giving Lewis some time to soak that in, adds, “Arthur never stopped looking for you.”
“He was looking for me?” Lewis snaps his head towards Lance in surprise.
“Of course. You mean everything to my boy, and he’s the loyal type. Even after all that time without a trail to go off of, he didn’t stop. Didn’t give up hope. He was insistent on bringing you home.”
Guilt floods his system and Lewis averts his eyes in shame.
He looked for you. All he could think about was trying to find you and you hurt him. You could’ve killed him.
You don’t deserve his loyalty.
“Sorry ‘bout shooting you.” Lance says.
“It’s fine.” Lewis replies dismissively, not meeting his gaze. “No harm done.”
“Your heart thing says otherwise. It cracked because of my first shot, didn’t it?”
“I knocked you out for that— any damage you did doesn’t compare. Not to mention… You saved Arthur’s life by doing that.”
There’s a long stretch of silence. Lewis can feel dread creep into his chest and wreak havoc on his mental state.
“What happened, boy?” Lance asks in a shockingly gentle tone. “Why’d you go after one of the people you love?”
“I thought—” his voice cracks and he’s quick to clear his throat and start over. It still comes out strained. “I thought he killed me.”
“Arthur? You thought Arthur of all people killed you?”
“It looked like—” Lewis cuts himself off, unable to finish the sentence. Shame burns in his chest. “I was wrong. And I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing to me?”
“Because I owe you one as much as I do to everyone else.”
Lance lets out a long sigh. One arm snakes around Lewis’ shoulders causing his chest to hitch. It’s firm— grounding. His eyes dart to finally look at him, and where he expects to find disappointment and anger, he instead sees sympathy and sadness.
“I can’t sit here and pretend like I know what you’re going through.” Lance tells him. “You died, you came back— I haven’t the slightest what that’s like! And I sure as hell can’t judge you for it. But I’ll tell you what I do know: You’re a good kid. And dead and ghostly or not, you’re still that good kid, I can tell.”
“How?” Lewis croaks.
“Because I know you— I got all three of you kids down to a T. You’re not the malicious type. You’re soft, you cry over those cheesy romcom movies— you love my boy. I know you do.”
“I don’t deserve him. Or Vivi. Or Mystery or—”
Lance cuts him off with a snort. “Pepper, if you really didn’t deserve us, do you think any of us would be sticking around? Do you think we would waste our time on a soul-sucker? Because I don’t know about you, but Vivi and Mystery wouldn’t stand you for two seconds, and my boy would not have spent all that time looking for you. But you know what? They care about you. Even after everythin’ got messy.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I saw Mystery weep at the sight of you being safe. I saw how Vivi tried to fuss over your undead form despite barely remembering who you are because it’s written in her DNA to love you. And I saw how my boy fought by your side without hesitation because he knew you would have his back just as he would have yours.”
Lance pauses. His eyes flicker elsewhere and a smirk forms on his face.
“The kicker is probably the fact that those two are watchin’ us right now.”
Lewis feels his pupils dilate and his attention swivels over to where Vivi and Arthur sit. He just barely catches their gaze before they both look away, cheeks burning red as if they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Lewis looks away too, unsure of what to think.
“You love them.” It’s not a question.
If Lewis were human again, his throat might’ve gotten dry. “I do.”
“And they love you.”
“…Debatable.”
Lance rolls his eyes. “You wanna debate with them about it? Go ask ‘em. See for yourself.” Lewis goes stiff and a huff escapes Lance. “Nah, right, ‘course you won’t go to them. Guess I gotta cut out the middleman.”
“What are you—” Lewis tries, already nervous about what he means, and misses his shot to stop him when Lance’s gaze shifts behind him and he sucks in a deep breath.
“Hey!” He barks, and everyone awake to hear it goes ramrod straight with attention. “I know you’ve been tryin’ to listen in and I know Vivi finished wrappin’ a few minutes ago so why don’t you two cut the shit and talk to your ghost boyfriend already?” Lance shakes his head, muttering damn kids with a shocking amount of fondness before he gets up and leaves.
Lewis watches him go, stunned, then his eyes shift to where Vivi and Arthur are. Both of their faces are red and there’s a solid minute where all three of them just stare at each other, waiting for someone to make the first move.
Unsurprisingly, it’s Vivi, who tosses the bandage roll she’s no longer using away, grabs Arthur by his good arm, and drags both of them over to Lewis. Arthur sputters but doesn’t resist.
Lewis thinks very briefly of running or escaping into his Heart. In the end, he does neither and struggles with how much eye contact he should give as Vivi plops Arthur down on one side of him before sitting down on the other. Her arms cross, eyeing Lewis almost curiously.
“Lewis, right?” Vivi asks and Lewis feels himself flicker in surprise. “See, it’s the one name I’m struggling to focus on so I know it’s right! Gonna be honest, I remember very little about you but I know you’re important. And seeing as how Uncle Lance just called you our boyfriend, I’m definitely right about that!”
Both Lewis and Arthur sputter. “Vivi— it’s not like that!” Arthur beats him to it, rubbing the back of his neck. “You a-and Lewis were the couple, not me.”
Vivi blinks. “We’re not all in love?” She squints, at Arthur first, then moving onto Lewis. “Yeah, I don’t believe that. We just heard Lance talking with him about it— he said he loved us!”
“Probably not like that— right?” Arthur glances at him.
Lewis struggles to say something coherent. After some fumbling ‘Well—’ and ‘It’s uh…’ he elects to just shut his mouth. Meanwhile, Arthur’s gaze gets wider and Vivi grins triumphantly.
“So it is like that!” Vivi says and Lewis makes a strangled sound, but it’s not a ‘No’ by any means and they all know it. “Okay so if Ghost Boy is in love with us, and I know I’m feeling some strong feelings for my favorite mechanic and this hot ghost— pun intended— and I know at the very least Arthur cares about Ghosty because he spent all that time looking for him—”
“Vivi!” Arthur manages at last, somewhere between embarrassed and euphoric. “Slow down, I— you’re in love with me?”
“Pretty sure both of you but yeah, if that’s okay? I’m sorry if I’m going fast— I don’t think the adrenaline has worn off yet and everything is just moving so slow and I can’t stand it and—” Vivi stops to take a big breath. “It just— seemed like as good of a time as any.”
“Oh.” Arthur says in a soft tone, mouth hanging open for a long moment. “I— fuck, we’re doing this now?”
“You don’t have to do anything, sorry, I just—”
“It’s okay.” Arthur sucks in a breath, carefully meeting their gazes. “I— uh— really care about you two. A lot. Might be in love but— if you two aren’t interested then it’s okay—”
“Artie.” Vivi sighs but gives him a fond look. “Did you hear a word I said?”
“This is very surreal, okay?”
“It’s okay.” Vivi assures him. “It’s just— if we’re all interested— doesn’t have to be right now, I mean— fuck, a lot happened!— but… It could be something to try out in the future?”
Vivi has a hopeful look on her face, Arthur looks wishful at the very idea, and Lewis thinks he’s in shock.
“I…” Lewis says and both heads turn to him. “I just— are you sure it’s a good idea? With me being a ghost and all?”
Vivi raises an eyebrow at him. “If you know me so well, why would you think you being a ghost would be a problem at all?”
Lewis thinks about all the monster romance movies they watched together— a combination of some of their two favorite things— and backtracks. “Well— it’s different. I have an aura, don’t I?”
“You did but— not right now. I mean, you’re pretty warm if that counts.” Vivi snuggles a little closer with a smile. “But no, the spooky aura is gone now. Right, Arthur?”
Lewis’ gaze turns to Arthur, who nods in agreement. He’s more at ease than Lewis thought he would be and he meets his gaze steadily. “It’s gone.” He confirms. “And if the ghost is you, I don’t have any qualms with dating a ghost.”
The last part is said in a softer tone that makes Lewis’ hair burn a little brighter. He struggles to speak but gets the words out in the end. “I’m sorry. For trying to hurt you.”
Arthur quickly shakes his head. “You didn’t know, it’s okay.”
“It’s not.”
“I was used to kill you!” Arthur counters. “That wasn’t okay either!”
“That’s enough out of both of you!” Vivi cuts both of them off with a glare. “Nothing that happened was okay but it wasn’t really any of our faults either. Arthur was possessed and we all know how ghosts work, so Lewis being hurt and consumed by revenge was just a byproduct of that. So can’t we just make sure it never happens again? Be happy with one another this time around?”
She makes it sound so easy, as if forgiveness is something Lewis is deserving of. But, forgiveness is also not his to decide. If Vivi and Arthur both decide they want to move past it, Lewis can’t stop them. Trying would be more cruel, even if his intentions don’t mean to be.
Lance made it sound easy too. If it could be as simple as, you love them and they love you, so what’s the hold up?
“You’re sure about this?” Lewis has to ask again. Vivi nods confidently. Arthur rubs the back of his neck but with a little smile, he does the same.
“We can start over,” Vivi suggests, “That way everyone is on the same page as me. And maybe if we spend enough time with each other, I’ll remember everything. Or at least some things. Like what you look like. Arthur might’ve shown me pictures before but I keep forgetting.”
At this, Lewis pauses. “I might have something that’ll help.”
Vivi perks up. Even Arthur looks intrigued. Lewis carefully takes the damaged but still functional Heart off of his chest and opens it. The picture inside is the same as it was when it changed earlier— the four of them, together.
Lewis hands it over. Vivi holds it reverently, understanding how important it is without needing to be told. Even if he saw it before, Arthur leans over to look at it as Vivi gazes upon it for the first time. Her breath hitches a little, whole body jolting.
“Oh…” She whispers, a sad little smile forming on her face. “We looked good together.”
They did. They do.
Wiping any tears away before they fall, Vivi hands his Heart back to him. “Well that settles it: we have to be together now.”
“Because we looked good together?” Lewis rumbles a laugh.
“Because I feel really good when I see us all together.” Vivi corrects, eyes sliding over to Arthur, who seems flustered by the attention. “But yeah, that too.”
When Lewis looks upon Arthur again, he remembers how long vengeance drove him. How it brought him back from the dead and had him chase Arthur down, all for a taste of it. Now that feeling is gone, and yet, something else anchors him here. Something that’ll last far longer than vengeance.
For the first time in around a year now, when Vivi leans up to press a kiss to his boney cheek, Lewis feels his flames grow higher.
For the first time ever, when Arthur, spurred on by Vivi and possibly whatever bravery he’s gained from fighting a demon kitsune today, leans up to do the same, Lewis all but implodes from the heat that pulses throughout his entire body.