Chapter Text
On a sunny day in London. Somewhere in an old office, two dead boys, along with a psychic curly haired girl, are waiting for something. The whirring of the fan and the shuffling of books are all that was heard in the room. With nothing to do, the lot decided to wait while doing something else.
They're still expecting someone to knock or walk through with a case to behold. All looking bored, the clock ticks by in the corner, soon they each find themselves something to occupy their hands and minds. Edwin with his books. Crystal with her phone, at which they argued for a while whether it can also be considered a book in the modern century– just with more features. Just another Friday in the office.
Edwin refused to be bested and included so many logical reasons on why a phone is not a book, and Crystal just continuing arguing with him for the fuck of it. She's bored and she picked the right target to pick an argument with, knowing that Edwin will take it seriously.
While Charles is entertained by their senseless debate his mind is racing with something else. Something that needed clearing his head and fresh air, as opposed to the stuffy cluttered room their office is forever in. His legs, though dead and no longer have a nervous system, his mind begs to differ as he feels it twitching from needing to get out and just walk.
Seems like whatever’s running in his mind seems to transfer to his own legs. As he thought about it longer, he started to move and get away from where he was propped up on, beside Edwin's chair, stubborn on refusing to sit and just be close to him. Well he's mind is absolutely not letting him think when in close proximity to the very subject of his conundrum.
“As much as I love watching you chaps talking yourselves into oblivion, I think we have a slow one today. I don't think anyone's coming in, so I'm gonna head out for a bit.” Charles announces to the room.
From that, the two stopped talking altogether and looked at him. Edwin was the first to move and he started to gather his blazer. “I'd come with you.”
“No, it's fine.” Charles says a bit too quickly.
At that, Edwin raises his brows a bit, a tad suspicious. After all they always take walks together, chatting about anything and everything under the sun.
“I'd just like to be alone with my thoughts for a bit, mate. That's all.” Charles shrugged his shoulders, trying to play it cool.
Edwin's eyes caught that, that subtle avoidance of Charles’ eyes as he shrugged. And damn him if he didn't know the man so well. He knew that something's bothering him, but Charles being his stubborn self not wanting to be a burden decidedly not tell him anything. Maybe because the root of his troubled mind was none other than Edwin himself.
It's most definitely pertaining to his love confession in Hell. He worries that maybe because of that, their relationship will change, not suddenly (thank someone for that, because at the very least he still has time to be a best mate to him, until Charles slowly changes the way he looks at him and his heart would break a little by the gradual changes). Actually, maybe it's better for it to be sudden, at least then he'll know for sure.
Charles says it himself, that he'll sort it, so Edwin will wait for him, no matter how long that may be. For now, maybe it's better to let him be.
“Oh, of course.” says Edwin as he sets down his blazer on his chair once again. Hopes that the action hides his disappointed face.
Though his voice never lies.
“Don't worry, be back soon.” Charles assures him with a smile, then to Crystal, and then he's off.
The room is left with a whiff of the swing of the door that sent the pages of Edwin's book turning. Deafening silence followed.
Charles' presence was already greatly missed by a certain someone. A certain ghost, that's for certain.
“Well! There's so many unsaid words there, I barely had to mind-read the two of you as you overthink yourselves into a frenzy.” Crystal sarcastically noted.
—Somewhere in London—
The streets of London were the same, stayed almost the same for the last thirty years he's been here. The increased infrastructure, leaning more into an industrialized urban setting. Still there's benches to sit on so that's nice.
It was nice to walk alone from time to time, especially when contemplating something that won't stop bugging him. Like on the accounts of what exactly he feels towards Edwin.
In all honesty, he doesn't know how to approach the subject without winding down on a path where he just came to the conclusion of: ‘I like Edwin as a best bud. I love having him around.’ Then settle on just that. But that would be unfair to Edwin, he knows that. Even though he said that ‘they literally have forever to figure it out’ he's gonna hate himself for making Edwin wait that long for him. No way in hell he's gonna hurt his best friend like that.
With his back to the world, head bowed and hands in his pockets there's nothing running on his mind except Edwin.
He kicks small stones that's on his way, passersby can just blame it on the wind blowing.
Then he hears a voice exclaiming in surprise. Whoops he probably kicked it a bit hard into someone.
Charles looked up and saw a boy sitting on the bench.
“Hey!”
Charles can't quite distinguish whether or not he's talking to him, as there's another guy behind in the same general direction as him that also turned.
He tried moving out of the way to try and pin the kicking on the guy behind him.
But the strange thing is: he's looking directly at Charles.
Probably a ghost too. Or he almost died from something.
Seriously, the overpopulation of ghosts and people nearly dying is increasingly alarming. What has the world come to.
The man followed his movements as Charles stepped to the side. Bewildered, he looks at him in the eyes and says “Guy with curly hair, wearing a jacket with pins on it.”
Well that's absolutely uncalled for.
“No need to be so specific mate. Sorry about that, wasn't sure you could see me.” Charles raises his hands in surrender with an apologetic smile.
So he's still alive then.
“Oi! Who are you talking to, boy?” the stranger behind Charles interrupted.
Charles realized that maybe this is the first time this dude has ever seen a ghost. Must be a recent near death experience then.
“Oh! You didn't know you could see ghosts!” Charles happily exclaimed.
“What?” The guy turns so confused and a bit distressed by what he said.
“Oi! I said who’re you talking to?” The man behind yelled, growing irritated.
“Why, can't you see him?” The guy pointed to what most people could see was air.
“What are you pointing at exactly?” Some people are now looking at them (well, to the guy, since they can't see Charles).
The poor lad is turning a bit red by embarrassment, so Charles took pity on him and stepped in.
“Mate, I'm afraid you're looking a bit cuckoo in the head to other people now. Come on, let's get out of here!” Charles offered his hand to the stranger, waiting for him to take it, he needn't have tried so hard to look trustworthy (many are caught by his charms), but he still offered him a smile.
“O-okay..?” He hesitantly accepted Charles' hand and was quickly pulled to run away from the situation they caught themselves in.
—An Escape Later—
“Okay, I think we're far enough!” Charles let go of the man's hands and placed them on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Well, his walk has turned into a run around the neighborhood instead. Fun.
“Wait so you're really serious? You're a ghost?! I mean, that guy couldn't see you! So there's only one explanation for that! I'm dead!” The man is shouting a bit too loudly than can be considered to be alleyway appropriate if they don't want to find this guy here absolutely losing his shit all by himself.
“Oh my God, how did I die? Without me even realizing it—
Charles grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him lightly.
“Okay, snap out of it! You're not dead okay? You almost died, but you didn't. Anyone who encountered a supernatural near death experience can see ghosts now. Calm down.” He tried to explain while still catching his breath. For someone dead with no working lungs and all that, he delights in taking big breaths, it makes him feel a little bit alive.
“O-okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.” The man starts to calm down and the word ‘okay’ starts to not sound like a word.
Charles stood on his full height and tried to meet the lad’s eyes that immediately skirts to the side, avoiding Charles' eyes.
"Okay uhm.. so what now..?" He asks awkwardly, his stance looking a bit timid.
Charles just shrugged. “You know, I have another ghost friend. And a fellow living human that can also see ghosts. Want me to take you to them?”
With not much else to do he might as well invite him.
Charles reckons that the unnamed guy— wait.
“What's your name by the way?”
“Jess. I'm Jess.”
Charles reckons that Jess can be cool with them if he manages to calm down. Jess might just be the answer that he needs! What better way to truly know your feelings for your best mate than making friends with another guy and consulting them on what they think he should do. Besides, he always has a knack for taking in wayward souls, even for just a short while. Edwin's probably used to him by now.
“Brills, I'm Charles.” They shook hands and Jess double checked his own hand to see if they actually physically touched (probably expected it to go through his).
“Now, you're new to this stuff innit? I know just the person to introduce you.” Charles said with a big grin on his face.
—
This was a bad idea.
Charles watched as Jess and Edwin got along like a house on fire.
At first Edwin scolded Charles again by taking in another poor person as if they're strays, and they didn't even have a case for them so what use is he to them other than to bother the man?
But then they got to talking, and Jess mentioned that he's a senior in college, and a weird melancholy look in Edwin's face passed by as he mentioned that, then he started to engage more with conversation, straying away from being professional for once as there's no mystery to crack.
He probably missed being a student and just do normal student stuff, Charles thought.
Aware that he, too, also misses being a teen sometimes. Both of them are robbed of their youth and now watch the other person in the room complain about their mundane subjects and major.
And when you got to know Edwin outside of his civility and posh attitude, he's really competitive and a lovable pedant who claims to know better on things. Such was the case when they reached the boring learning part about school and all its wonders or whatever. Charles never really liked studying.
He tried to butt in a few times but when it's obvious that the other is more intune with Edwin he lets them (which was a mistake on his part). They enthusiastically change banters like two highschool rivals who want to one up each other in a debate, but with a small smile on their faces, both liking that they're ideas are being challenged.
And now Charles sulks further into the corner of the room, like a dog not getting the attention he wants. It's even worse that Crystal isn't here so he looks like a pathetic loner in their own space!
Well he expected them to somewhat get along, knowing Edwin he's usually civil to most when he wants to be. But there's nothing “civil” about any of this! At most he's even friendly! Cordial even!
If he knew this would happen he wouldn't have introduced Jess to him. He didn't know the twat was an “academic” that's very “knowledgeable” about space, and supernovas, and black holes and stuff like that.
Pssh, nerd.
Charles narrows his eyes at the two to no avail as they continue to chatter on about stars and—
Hold on..?
This all seems very familiar.
Charles recalls the very first time they met Monty and how very similar this interaction is, not to mention the topic they're talking about now too! Except Edwin probably has a change of heart towards Astrology as he now picks up a pen and draws something to demonstrate his stance further for Jess to see. Clearly not the blubbering mess he was when they first got to talk with breezy Monty.
Though it seems paranoid of him to suspect the man who's currently stealing his best mate's attention away from him. He's willing to give him the benefit of a doubt.
At the very least he's not overtly trying to get on Edwin’s side to woo him or something. Quite the opposite of that actually.
Charles stood up as the two started to get in each other's faces while speaking loudly as if it drove their point further and Charles just wanted to break up the fight before it got out of hand.
Truth be told, he just doesn't want anyone getting to Edwin's face that close, even when the intention isn't remotely romantic. But that's not the point!
“Okay, okay, you lot, no need to get so tetchy about who's scientist invented the best telescope to see the bumhole of a star now. You know what? They're all great! So why don't we uhm–” Charles casually pushed Jess away by the shoulder as if to break up a fight while he just lightly clapped Edwin's shoulder as he replaced Jess' position earlier, successfully getting in between them.
It's very clear that Charles was not at all listening to them as shown by their reaction to whatever topic he pulled out of his ass made him sputter a laugh. “Look at your faces! You're all very into this you know that? I wasn't really listening to you geeks geeking about space and stuff. Why don't you two take a time out and let's grab lunch hmm?” Edwin just looks at him weirdly because admittedly he's being a little suspicious right now, and also, A. Ghosts don't eat. (Though Charles craves sinking his teeth into something tasty sometimes when he gets the urge, man he sounded like a zombie suddenly) B. Charles is just acting weird. Weirder than normal, at the very least.
“You're probably hungry Jess, right?” Seeing Charles’ forced smile and his eyebrows on sky high, they immediately agree, getting on the bad side of a ghost isn't a brilliant idea, Jess thinks.
—
So he may or may not have been wrong about his assumption earlier about Jess' and Edwin's chemistry with each other as he overthink too much by himself.
Charles isn't giving them any more time with each other by leaving them alone so he lets Edwin get Crystal instead to eat with them in a nearby Diner. After all it would be awkward if they just stare at Jess while he chows down food (though that's what he and Edwin mostly do with Crystal).
Charles looks at the clock behind the counter, they're running a little late.
Which is good, so he can investigate further if Jess’ a spy from another one of their enemies or not.
“Sooo, where were you headed a while ago? You know, when I bumped into you?”
“Well you didn't exactly bumped into me, I got hit by one of your stones.” They said, irritated a bit.
Immediately, Charles gently bumped his shoulder with them good-naturedly and said “Yeahh, sorry about that.”
Jess squinted his eyes at him and then shrugs his shoulders. “Hmm, apology accepted. I was just going out for a walk actually. People in my flat are a bit loud. We all had the same breaks and I thought that was cool for a time." They trailed off, looking slightly to the left of Charles' face.
"What is it?" Charles probed.
"But then… they turn out to be not what I expected.”
So they're mean then. Charles assumed.
Charles can see that they tried to go on about it casually, trying to salvage the conversation by not revealing too much. “Uhm yeah they just coupled up with each other and left me– you know what? Why don't we talk about you now?”
They're probably pretty lonely right now.
Now he feels guilty for ever doubting this kid. But no! Maybe it's a cover story, trying to get him to sympathise with him.
Charles thought as he stares at them fidgeting their hands.
“Well I needed to get out, that's all.” Charles simply said. It is the truth after all.
“Oh!” They nodded and waited for more talking. Jess' hands are tangled with each other, twiddling thumbs, their eyes awkwardly look around, it's a bit distracting.
Haha this kid. They don't know how to handle conversation well huh?
“Fine. I was doing some soul searching—
“You've lost your soul??” Jess exclaims, causing many people to look at him weirdly as he quietly shrinks back to his seat.
“Oi! Calm down, I meant that metaphorically.”
“Okay wait, lemme just–
Jess rummages through their bag and takes a hold of their ear phones. He took out his phone, plugged it there and placed it on the table. Charles was about to chastise him by rudely interrupting his story by playing music when Jess looked at him in the eyes again.
Ohh he took out his ear phones so it looks like he's on a call. Though he still looks like he's talking to someone invisible when he's directly looking at me like that.
Kid has some sense at the very least.
“Thought for a second there that I may need to prepare myself for losing my soul when I die. Wait, can that happen? Is that something I should be worried about?”
But also pretty dumb.
He's not about to recount how they're currently on the run from Death herself, thus not really properly registered on whatever system they have in the afterlife, that doesn't technically mean they're soulless right now right? For obvious reasons he's also not going to get into how his best friend's soul is condemned to hell by such a clerical mistake it's laughable if it's not so damn cruel and unfair.
“Don't worry about it. That's very rare. There's probably an 88% chance it wouldn't happen to you.” He lied through his teeth, just to scare them a little by the statistics of it actually happening.
“So there's still a 22% chance of it still happening to me! Oh my god what am I gonna do?? Will you guys still be around by then and help me—
Which actually worked, damn this kid is gullible.
“Wait, does 88 plus 22 equals 100?? pretty sure it isn't.” narrowing his eyes Charles was actually proud of himself for being the one catching that.
“Well if you look at it, it looks like it can be equal to 100.” From what he gathered from their chat with Edwin earlier he's fairly good at other subjects, math however...
“Yeah it looks like it but I'm pretty sure it isn't though.” Charles argued, doing the math in his head.
“Nah, you're wrong.” And to prove him wrong Jess grabbed a napkin on the table to do the math, his phone looking at him disappointingly at the side for not using its calculator app instead and be done with this embarrassment.
“See?” Jess showed the napkin to Charles and there they wrote:
88
+22
=100
Charles just looked at him deadpan and said, “Are you dyslexic?”
Jess was caught off guard and tried to say something. To no avail no words are coming out but the onslaught of a confused stutter.
Finally realizing he had his phone, he silently calculated the damn numbers.
And then he burst out laughing. The numbers 110 shown on the screen.
Charles, who was watching their whole ordeal while holding off his laughter finally lets out a full on cackle.
“O-oh my god I'm so sorry.” He still can't hold his laughter, so he just lets it all out. By the time their laughter simmers, they feel the whole diner looking at them– well at Jess, because of the noise. Charles thinks they're probably going to be kicked out soon if they don't start behaving themselves. Damn it's like a library here of how much people mind their noise so much.
They both looked at each other and hold their laughter, not quite done yet.
As minutes pass by Charles finds himself grinning as Jess recounts another story involving him sucking at math.
“The shopkeeper insisted I pay the price that was on the tag but I was pretty confident that it was the exact amount. I counted my money several times before I handed it to him. I was convinced he was trying to swindle me. In the end though he lets me have the jacket, but I can see the disappointment on his face! But I'm not giving up the jacket so I quickly ran out of there.”
All of his negative comments about them have gone out of the window as soon as Jess cracks one of their stories, seemingly neverending. He watched as he rambled on and Charles for all the time he stared at the guy, he just now got a close look at him. He’s the type of guy that almost always looks stressed, constantly anxious about something based on his rough get up. His hair is pointed in different directions as if he’s been personally attacked by a comb that morning. (Or maybe it’s because of their run earlier.) He’s got brown eyes that had been slightly covered by his disheveled hair. His got one of those toothy grin and a tooth gap. Overall, he has a nice looking face.
He could totally see Edwin falling for this guy.
God what an awful thought.
He snapped out of his reverie and focused on what Jess was actually saying.
“Though thinking about it now, I probably miscalculated it again. I probably unintentionally haggled with many a people trying to pay for my stuff and they probably didn't say anything aaahhhh.” red colored their face as they put their hands on their head.
“Geez, for the times Edwin complained about me miscalculating a lot of things, I thought my math was bad. But hearing that story I feel so much better. Thanks man.” Charles playfully teased them as he consoled them by tapping their shoulder.
“Ehem.”
A rather loud not at all convincing cough from someone from their side made them turn their heads and was greeted by Edwin, his annoyance well-hidden. But not to Charles.
Huh he's probably in one of those moods.
He can feel his smile tugging upwards as he invited him to the booth next to him because no way is he sitting next to Jess.
They ended up sitting across from each other instead. Ugh!
“What's up ghosts.” Greeted Jenny as she sat next to Jess. That's why they took a while.
Crystal’s already scooting next to Edwin and smiles cheekily as she presses the ghosts at the very corner.
“And new guy.” Jenny nods at Jess by her side and offers a hand to shake.
They eagerly take it, his voice cheerful “Hi! I'm Jess, I almost died today apparently.”
“Congrats on not dying then. Good on you.” Jenny says a little awkwardly while she shakes his hand. What do you even say to that.
“Thanks! Though I can't really pinpoint when that happened.”
“Your near death experience? How can you not know that?” Crystal interrupted, placing her hands on the table, leaning over to look at Jess intensely.
“Ah well–” Jess scratches his nape, looking embarrassed.
Silence fills the booth as they wait for their answer.
Seeing as they're all so curious, he can't help but be even more embarrassed. “I might've been zoning out for the past couple of minutes when it happened so I can't really say for sure…” He doesn't know what happens half the time when he's at his room or walking outside so it's possible it probably happens in that timeframe.
Though judging by the silence in the booth he can't help but add, “I mean I almost got hit by a car on the way to my dorm so that's probably that!” He said when he saw the unsatisfied faces of his new friends. (Are they friends? Too early to say).
Crystal looks at him unbelievably, couldn't believe how he's still alive when the guy's just going around his life so thoughtlessly.
“Probably? Okay space cadet, you should really reel in once in a while for your own sake then, yeah? Jesus, imagine not knowing you almost fucking died until a ghost shows up on your face.” Crystal said a tone in her voice that can be interpreted as concern or irritation. She reach over, extending her balled fist to Jess to fist bump. “I'm Crystal.”
“Haha yeah, it happens one too many times I'm afraid.” Unfortunately, true.
He shyly bumps their fist and Crystal nods at him.
“Well certainly not any better than mine though.” Jenny said, as if to make Jess feel better by telling her own trauma of how she almost also died.
Died sounds pretty tame, almost got murdered is much more accurate.
And so she tells the story of her date with her stalker. With a few concealed details of course.
The recalling of their own adventures and stories got passed around the booth until the sun lowered and the sky tinged orange. They spent their afternoon like that, long past caring about the weird stares people shoot at them.
Well, except Charles and Edwin's personal stories.
They got to hear more of the unfortunate ways Jess gets on with their life starting with their studies (though everyone can tell he's smart, he's also very insecure and reckless), their financial decisions (including another story where he unintentionally ripped off someone), and the many questionable ways he's played with death a lot of times. Bafflement and curiosity filled the gang as to why he's only just now seeing ghosts, and also why he's still sitting in front of them, alive and breathing because of all the shit he's been through would've instantly landed him a place in whatever's up there.
Honestly, Charles didn't expect the unassuming nature of Jess would get along so well with their little group. And for all the decrypting he's trying to dig more from Jess' stories, all of them seem normal (well except for the parts where he keeps getting himself almost killed). Charles finds himself less and less wary of them. But more and more concern for the inevitable change of Edwin's attitude and feelings towards Jess as they hang out more.
Gah! What is he saying? Why's he always assuming the worst?
Besides he's always glued to Edwin's side no matter what, they're a package deal! They couldn't get any more alone moments when Charles is around.
He watches Edwin brows scrunched in a bundle as he try to explain one of the many things Jess might've missed from another interaction where they might've meant something else instead of what Jess actually thought. Both of them fighting on who's right.
“Well, based on what you said, the man clearly wanted something more with you and you just turned them down! Now you're complaining how you get “no bitches” when there's a clear suitor willing to court you!”
The girls and Charles laughed at Edwin for putting air quotes on the slang words and it's even funnier because it's not everyday he can hear Edwin say that.
“No, you're twisting it! You weren't there! When he said that to me his face was like, like he's really nervous but I guess, trying to be nice..? And his tone is very playful and doesn't look like he's seriously suggesting something like courting me or whatever the hell you're saying”
Charles encouragingly nodding at every single one of the responses stacked against Jess who's gears are finally turning in their head because he suddenly puts his hands on his head with a mortified look on his face.
God this kid is a mess.
"He literally said, "Hey, I really like you, you know?" And then you said: "Aww, I really like you too!" And then you continue on rambling about bees having two stomachs and the way they process honey for the rest of the time you guys are in his room, until he had to leave to take a phone call, while– this is from your own words, "looks like he's just gotten the news of his mum dying of cancer or some shit because he looks so devastated."" Laughter erupted from the booth as Edwin vehemently and passionately explains how mind boggling it is how Jess took it any other way than someone confessing their love to you and being rejected.
"God, you're impossible! You had your chance and you threw it away!" Edwin exclaimed just a bit louder, a bit more forceful than necessary.
Just like that the atmosphere seems less warmer than before, there's a sinking feeling to Charles' stomach as he refuse to look Edwin in the eye about what he could possibly mean by that.
Suddenly, it isn't so funny anymore.
The dying laughter turns to awkward coughs, then all at once, stopped. Without looking up, Charles can sense the group sharing a knowing look with each other. Even their space cadet. As if they too also know what's happening.
Guilty of being the cause of Edwin's outburst, Jess immediately came to his rescue, his hands primly on his side not touching Edwin. "Hey, come on, it's okay. Um. Don't worry, I'll uh, I'll text him after this to clear it up, yeah? So, ah, don't– don't you worry your clever head about it." Awkwardly, he pats Edwin on his shoulder, head tilting to meet his eyes, reassuring and comforting him as best as they can.
Charles' felt the bitterness on his tongue, the pit in his stomach growing as he watches the scene, still pointedly not looking at his face. Though he can't seem to find the urge to say something anything, to soothe his own best friend.
Don't worry someone's already got him, you're not needed anymore.
He wants to swat away Jess' hand off his shoulder and hug Edwin right then and there and make him feel all the things he's feeling for him and more, so much more.
But for all his brute and fight for other things, he's not sure why he's hesitating now. He can't bear to look at Edwin's face as he bares his heart again to him for the second time, only for Charles to turn away at the sight of... something written all over his face.
Crystal watching all of this unfold before her stood up, tired of being treated as a bystander, she met Charles' eyes fiercely as she says "Yeah, I agree with Edwin. You've missed your chance.”
They have a long stand off and Charles so badly want to prove that no, he didn't missed his chance, there's still time, that he can do this.
Ultimately, he found himself staring at the mess of the table, finding faults and words he couldn't utter when it matters most.
"H-hey, do you wanna um, go take a walk o-or—
Edwin stormed off.
He half hears the clutter of things being shoved into a bag, a mutter of "I'll go after him, don't worry" and the ringing of the bell a second time.
The two girls stared at each other. Shooting glances from opposite booths.
Crystal rolls her eyes at their absurdity, but Jenny looks at her with a knowing look that held up her tongue on whatever she's about to say.
Whatever lecture they're going to give Charles wasn't given a chance to be heard. He doesn't need it. Or their pity, or their advice. He wanted to be left alone.
Left with nothing but the harrowing shame and regret clawing at his insides, Charles legs moved on their own and he can feel his body passing through one of the mirrors from the Diner.