Hellhound AU

[just_aces]

Sometime round about 1900, a witch summoned a hellhound as a familiar.

He didn't mind it, hellhounds are loyal after all, and if some of her spells left him tired and drained, well, that was what he was there for, to keep her from using too much of her own energy for things. That and to eat the souls of her victims, sometimes.

But then, in the early 1970s, she ran afoul of a much stronger coven.

She was quite quickly banished to hell, but the hellhound couldn't be allowed to go with her, because, well, hellhounds are loyal and she was powerful and would have been able to use him to escape.

So the hellhound was made human, figuring that sixty, seventy, even eighty years if he was lucky would be enough time for the witch to have been consumed, so that even when the human-that-had-been-a-hellhound died, and Death herself realized that he was definitely not where, or what, he was supposed to be, she'd send him back.

But then one Charles Rowland kind of fucked up that whole plan by dying young and immediately running away from Death herself.

So the ghost-who-was-the-boy-who-was-the-hellhound has no idea what he was, or still is, under it all.

But, after a trip through hell to save his best friend (Hellhounds are loyal, after all) and time spent in a familiar position -though not a familiar kitchen- after that has been enough to knock a few things loose...

Comments

[uptightboy]

And they did research indeed. Extensive. And pleasurable. It was a kind of research Edwin didn't have to convince Charles too much to participate in. The bond became intense and something they could use like their everyday tools. And it was great. It was... aces.

Edwin could not have been happier. With Charles being so close to him, bonded to him. With their feelings finally settled. With Charles' nature being an asset to the agency rather than a painful mystery. And the way the coven was handling them ever since that evening? Oh, Edwin loved it if he was honest. They were handled with caution, and with a bit of disgust, but with some newly found respect too.

So Edwin had no idea why... why would he think about horrible scenarios from time to time. He would be in the middle of writing notes or interrogating a witness or a new client, and he would think in the back of his mind about what if Charles got hurt, or worse, taken? What if his magic backfired again? What if he lost him in a mirror maze again...? Edwin was used to these kinds of thoughts even before this and he was trying to ignore them. But with his intense feelings for Charles the thoughts of losing him, however unfounded they may have been, were also more intense. They usually got worse when he was exhausted.

It was a particularly heavy case, involving a demon and a sacrifice. It took them days to solve it. It was one of those examples when a man lied and killed the one he was supposed to love for eternity. Sometimes power got too tempting it ruled everything out in people. And it was always, always ugly. It was... bad. And getting rid of a demon was worse, even with Edwin's powerful magic and with the help of the coven.

By the time they got back to the office, Edwin felt himself being so faint his image was almost see-through.

"Now, Charles, can you get me the..." Edwin said as he stepped out of the mirror, and turned back to close the portal. Only to see something in it as he looked at the reflective surface again. When he realized he was staring at Despair of the Endless, he froze. When his thoughts got bad, he did spot her in some mirrors, in the window, looking at him. This time, however, it felt different. She was there looking at him as if she wanted him to...Yes, yes this was the same as in Hell... But before Edwin could yell, step back, or do anything, his body moved, ducking back into the mirror, and arriving in the room full of mirrors. And the friend he'd involuntarily made.

"I missed you, Payne," she smiled.

[just_aces]

Things between them were so much better than they'd ever been, so much better than Charles had ever thought they could be. It wasn't just the newly added physical aspects, though that did definitely play a part, but the fact that Charles rarely had to worry about accidentally over-charging Edwin's spell-casting, and Edwin rarely had to worry about accidentally taking too much energy.

They both still did worry about those things, on occasion, because that was just in their nature, but as their bond had deepened, so too had their control grown, a sort of innate sense of one another, where they were, even how they were feeling. Charles had even made the effort to get better at navigating mirror travel for himself instead of relying on Edwin, determined never to get lost in that mirror-maze again, even by accident. Of course, familiar places were always easier for him to find, but more than that, he was almost always able to focus on Edwin, likely thanks to the new depths of their bond, and was able to find him even if he was somewhere new.

Things were good.

Until this case came along and fucked everything up.

Charles had been leading the way back to the office, not how things usually went, but with Edwin in the state he was in Charles wasn't going to take any chances. He was also already moving to get the green glass console bowl with the scalloped edge that Edwin preferred when he was reduced to his ghostlight orb, since Charles was pretty sure that was the only way this was going with Edwin as drained as he was.

It was why when that request trailed off in the middle he was expecting to see a globe of dimly pulsing light in place of his partner when he turned around, only to be met with nothing. His brow creased as he set the dish on the desk, worried that perhaps Edwin had drifted behind the mirror when his energy had given out, "Edwin?"

There weren't even dust bunnies behind the mirror, nor under the side table or on the lowest shelf of the bookcase nearby, all reasonable places that an orange-sized Edwin might have ended up, "Edwin, mate, where'd you go?"

[uptightboy]

Not her, not now... Edwin thought. He looked down at his hands, they were more solid but he still felt faint. He also noted he was wearing his nightclothes from the day he died. Ah... his true form then. His throat tightened as he looked back up at the Endless. He hoped they would never meet again, not like this.

"What is the meaning of this?" Edwin asked, his voice was weaker than he expected. As if it was too weak from all the begging... He took a trembling breath even if he never needed it. "Why am I here again?"

Despair smiled still but she looked almost bashful. She looked around the hall, reaching for the closest mirror to her, and brushing it with her fingers. It reminded Edwin of a younger girl, too shy to state what they wanted. It didn't make him feel any better.

"I need to go back to Charles, he is going to be worried for me," Edwin tried.

"You're prettier when you aren't with him. You're with him a lot. A lot. Now be with me. I'm lonely," she said, pouting as she walked to another mirror, looking into it.

"You cannot just whisk me away like this, I-"

"I can do whatever I want!" she snapped, her shy demeanor dropping for a second. Edwin closed his eyes grabbing at his arm to try and shield himself.

"Please tell me how long do I have to stay?"

"Until I'm done with you," she sighed, looking around. "How long does a ghost last?" she asked, as if just out of curiosity. Edwin could not answer her. But he suddenly heard Charles' voice, faintly, so faintly that Edwin wasn't even sure he did and not just imagined it. So he turned to the nearest mirror, only to find Charles looking back at him. But not seeing him.

"Charles!" Edwin yelled, and without even thinking about it, he reached for their bond too.

[just_aces]

Charles was worried, but mostly confused, because he could still feel Edwin, almost within arm's reach, but he just wasn't there, and Charles was doing his best to keep calm even as he checked in, under, and behind all the furniture nearest the mirror, and then expanded his search to any furniture within a couple paces of the mirror, because he didn't expect Edwin had managed to get that far in the state he was in.

He even went so far as to duck back into the mirror, careful to keep ahold of the frame in the office so that he could focus on the labyrinth on the other side, not trying to go anywhere in particular but to make sure Edwin hadn't fallen back in instead of getting all the way through into the office, and while Charles could still feel his presence the same as he could outside, he still couldn't see him anywhere.

It was moments after he'd emerged again, doing another quick visual sweep of the office that his head snapped up, sure he'd heard Edwin calling his name, felt that tug at his core as if Edwin was trying to summon him with their bond alone, which hadn't happened often, but often enough that he recognized the sensation, "Edwin? C'mon, where are you?"

[uptightboy]

Edwin watched in helpless anger as Charles was looking for him. He could see his mouth move but he couldn't hear what he was saying. Edwin fisted his hands and turned to the Endless again. The last thing he wanted was to stay here, to deal with whatever this entity, one of the pillars of existence, he reminded himself, wanted to do with him. As if she was bored and found a shiny bug to torture. Edwin just wanted to go back to Charles, spend some time in his console bowl with the scalloped edge to regain his strength, and just hold onto Charles until he was ready to face the world and their cases again.

"You must let me go back to him! I cannot stay here," Edwin yelled. He could have taken on any other challenge. Any witch, or creature or spell, anything. But not an Endless. Not something that was a part of reality itself. How could he fight something like that?

"No. But you can call out to him all you like," she smiled. "Go on. Call him," she taunted. Edwin knew it was because she thought it was meaningless. And it did make him hesitate. She liked this. She liked to see him squirm like this...

Edwin angrily wiped his tears from his eyes and looked at the mirror again.

"Charles!" he screamed as if the volume of his voice would make any difference. He reached for their bond too, feeling it but the end of it felt like it was disappearing into something that is grey and endless.

[just_aces]

Charles crossed to the desk, scrawling a quick note for Crystal or the Night Nurse, whoever came looking first, and then shouldered his backpack once more, eying the mirror intently before muttering a quiet: "Right, let's hope you're easier to find than I was. I'm coming for you, Edwin." That said, he opened a portal, following that tug in his chest, weaker than it was before, but not as if he were going the wrong direction, but as if Edwin was losing traction in being able to pull, and that was concerning for other reasons.

What followed was a string of very disappointing mirror portals, random locations that he didn't recognize, or at best half-recognized, but never feeling as if it was somewhere he'd been before, only somewhere he'd been told about, or had seen pictures of. They were disappointing only because Edwin wasn't in any of them, despite the fact that Charles could still feel him at the other end of their bond, as if he was just out of sight, like he'd turned the corner or left the room just before Charles arrived.

If Edwin was actually paying attention, all of those locations Charles ended up in were other mirrors around Despair's domain, as if Charles was somehow circling the place, closing in on it. At least until he ended up back in the office, which just caused that frustration to boil over into actual anger, however briefly, just enough to have him throwing his backpack across the room with an audible snarl.

He let himself rage, just for a few moments, but reined himself in afterward, taking a deep breath to steady himself, wrenching his train of thought around to 'what would Edwin do?' Which was when realization hit, even if Edwin couldn't summon him via the bond the way they had toyed with the edges of so far, Edwin had mentioned that it was designed so that they'd be able to find each other, even across planes of existence, a failsafe in the event of another trip to hell. Charles had to believe that Edwin wasn't there of all places.

All the same he took a moment to center himself again, to feel his side of that bond, the invisible tether that had Edwin on the other end of it, and he poured all of that connection, that certainty that Edwin would be there on the other side before he opened another mirror portal, even as he opened it he could tell that it was different, somehow, even just from the way that the bond flared to life in his chest sending hellfire dancing in his eyes even as he tumbled forward through that portal, falling as if he'd been pulled suddenly, ending up in an undignified heap on the floor of... well he wasn't really sure where, nowhere he recognized, and strangely hazy, the way things got when he was too cold, though it had been decades since he'd last felt cold.

If he'd taken a moment to pay attention or take notice, he would have realized that he was wearing what he'd died in, but all he was paying attention to was the fact that Edwin was there, and it didn't matter that his body didn't seem to want to cooperate -too cold to move properly- because he had another one he could use.

Which was to say that Charles fell out of a mirror onto the floor of Despair's realm and almost immediately shifted to the Hound shape, surging forward to press his head against Edwin's chest, whining softly.

[uptightboy]

"Charles..." Edwin saw the boy say something once again but he couldn't make out what. And when he ducked into the mirror, he disappeared for a moment. Edwin could feel him through their bond but he was nowhere. Until Edwin turned his head to look at another mirror, as if only by chance, and spotted Charles there. "Charles!" he shouted, taking a step toward that mirror, only to lose Charles again.

Despair chuckled and the sound felt like an emptiness blooming in Edwin's chest. He grabbed at his undershirt as he kept looking around the Hall of Mirrors. And as he suspected he could see which mirror would show Charles to him, as if he could follow him but couldn't contact him. Charles was circling them. He knew, he felt it! He was on the right track and Edwin felt dread in his stomach. Because how could someone reach the realm of the Endless? Charles could learn more about mirror travel but not even Edwin could visit outside of reality... that was insane! And yet Edwin kept calling, kept yanking at their bond even if it felt like trying to pull a dog through iron bars... impossible and torturous. But he couldn't stop. Because if he stopped, it would mean...

"See? We are already having fun," Despair smiled, and she seemed genuinely happy. Edwin felt like choking. The only thing that saved him from a panic attack was that he felt the bond being yanked back, from Charles' side. He immediately turned to the mirror he arrived from, seeing Charles there. The next moment a portal opened, right into the Hall.

Watching Charles stumble out of the mirror was almost unbelievable. Edwin could barely believe that it was truly happening. But the moment he saw him, in the state when he found him all those years ago and the sudden shift told him that yes, this was Charles. Truly, int was him.
"Charles," Edwin gasped, hugging the hound's neck to hold him close. "Good boy, you are... you did it..." he panted, realizing that his magic was in chaos.

"No!" Despair screamed. And Edwin could finally feel what it was about. He could feel their bond still doing overtime, still burning just to keep Charles here. To keep them together. "I don't need him!"

"But I do," Edwin said before he could stop himself. The Endless screamed in frustration again and that was when Edwin felt it. The snap. The breaking of the bond. Edwin had felt something similar before, in Hell. It sounded, and felt, exactly like losing a limb. It left him breathless, and cold and... at the edge of panic again. He felt around Charles' neck hoping he just imagined it but he could not find the collar.

"Then go! You ruined our game," Despair yelled. "I call you when you're not so mean anymore!" Which sounded horrifying but not as horrible as the fact that Edwin could not feel Charles' bond anymore. He was only half aware of how they were both shoved into one of the mirrors, all he could focus on was to hold onto Charles as tight as he could otherwise would lose him.

[just_aces]

Charles whined as he felt that snap himself, the sudden sharp flare of a burn, a pop like a lightbulb burning out, but somewhere in the back of his head, and if he'd been paying attention he would have realized that the woman who was speaking -whose he'd only registered and then ignored- had the same air about her that Death did, in the instances that he had been close enough to feel it. The sensation left in the air after a church bell had been rung, or in this case more like an alarm klaxon finally ceasing wailing.

But things were simpler as the Hound, he'd found what he was looking for and that meant that Edwin was the only thing on his radar, as it were, and it was only when he realized that they were falling back through the mirror, that he'd also shifted back to himself, but that was better, because that meant he could lock both arms around Edwin even as he twisted, half-rolling to take the brunt of the tumble when they hit the floor back at the office, the mirror splitting behind them, a jagged, diagonal crack down the length of it.

He buried his face in the crook of Edwin's neck, arms still curled tight around him, realizing that he could only feel his partner with his usual set of senses, that ever-present sensation, almost a weight at the back of his mind and deep in his chest that he'd gotten used to so easily was gone, and after a deep, shaky breath to stabilize himself a little, he turned his head, still keeping himself tucked close, not caring that he was flat on his back on the floor with Edwin on top of him, all that mattered was that Edwin was there, "Y'alright?"

It bothered him that he couldn't tell, one hand already patting gently along Edwin's side as if to check for damage he couldn't feel the echo of, making sure that Edwin was hale and whole the only way he could at the moment.

[uptightboy]

Edwin had his eyes closed. All he knew was that he felt Charles in his arms, and he felt the boy also hug him. But other than that... there was nothing. And it was heavy. It was so heavy that Edwin didn't want to open his eyes, or let Charles go. His clothes shifted back to his usual school uniform but his image wasn't as face as when he was taken. Not, it was more... a bit distorted at the edges.

"Charles?" he asked and at the same time he had heard the other's voice. "Yes..." Edwin stuttered. But these exchange of words. The fact that they were talking meant that what he felt wasn't just because of Despair. It truly happened. He forces one of his hands to go up to Charles' neck to check again. And the collar wasn't there. Not that Edwin couldn't feel the absence of it... The realization hit him hard. His eyes filled with tears as he pulled away and looked at Charles to see, to truly see that they weren't bonded anymore.

Edwin felt panic, rage, and fear all at the same time.

"No, no, no," he started as he got more and more alarmed. "Do not- no..." he breathed, even if he didn't need any air. The last time he felt like this was when the spider found him just when he found the exit and he couldn't escape that time. Almost free but taken away at the last minute. It ruined him for years. "Charles..." Edwin said his name without even realizing it. He was already thinking of a plan. A plan. He knew what to do, yes, oh yes he knew...

[just_aces]

What Charles sorely wanted to do was to change back to the Hound once more, now that they were somewhere familiar and safe, and to lay Edwin flat and stretch out across him, to press that worry and anxiety out of him like the starch press at the old-fashioned laundry, but while that might help, it wasn't the kind of help Edwin actually needed at the moment, so he just caught Edwin's hands, folding them easily between his own, "Edwin. Nice deep breath for me, yeah?"

He even took one himself as an indicator, the way he usually did, and just waited until Edwin had done so, giving him another few moments to settle afterward before he continued, "You've still got the binding spell written down somewhere I know you do." He knew because that wasn't the kind of thing Edwin would trust to memory, or to not being able to find again if he needed it, "Worst case we'll just have to wait a week or two to recover and collect supplies and wait for the right phase of the moon." He didn't think that last one was important to the spell in question, but it bore mentioning anyway.

He mustered a smile, giving Edwin's hands a squeeze, "Look, we went thirty-some-odd years without it, we just got used to it in the past few months is all. We'll survive until we can put it back, right?"

[uptightboy]

Edwin's breath was heavy and stuttering even if no air was involved. And yet he felt like he was going to choke. He shook his head, his attention didn't leave Charles' neck. It was bare. Without a collar, and without his crest.

He opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't. Edwin knew the binding spell by heart at this point, and he had multiple copies of it too. Not that he had ever expected it to break, not like this. But it calmed him when he was nervous to recite it under his breath and go through the steps of it. All the supplies it needed were their own magic.

"She will... She will come back if we don't hurry..." Edwin said, shaking his head. They needed to hurry. Because of Despair, right? Yes. That was it. That was why Edwin could not bear the thought of getting up from here and going on without feeling those bonds. There was no way he could go on without them. Not for a week. Not for a day. "I can- I can make it again, Charles, I shall..." Tears were flowing down his cheek as he tried to remember the spell, and tapping into his barely empty supply of strength to gather his magic. And he could feel it; that there was no Charles to help. Edwin gave a frustrated sound.

[just_aces]

"Mirror's broken, Edwin, she can't follow us through a broken mirror." He didn't know that for sure, but it seemed logical enough, and what he needed most at the moment was to pull Edwin back from the edge of panic he was still teetering on, which was why he kept his hold of Edwin's hands, pressing the palms to his own chest, his own hands flat against them, just trapping Edwin's hands right there, able to feel the warmth of Charles' skin from both sides.

"Edwin, love, look at me, I'm right here. I'm right here. I need for you to take a deep breath, nice and slow. You can do that for me, yeah?" Charles didn't know much about magic, but he knew enough not to let Edwin try casting anything, and especially something as important as that binding spell, in the state he was in and doubly so when he was already depleted from the earlier fight.

[uptightboy]

Despair didn't need mirrors. She needed something shiny, reflective, anything. Because that was where Edwin could see her when things got tense. And if she came and took him... Charles wouldn't be able to find him without the bond.

Edwin shook his head, not entirely sure why. If he wanted to deny Charles, if he wanted to get rid of the ugly thoughts in his head, he wasn't sure. The breath he took was ragged, and heavy, despite no air being involved. He grabbed Charles' hands when he felt like he was going to lose it more. But he knew that tone of Charles, he knew that he needed to calm down. But with the case, and then Despair, and the sensation of the bond snapping... it was too much.

"It was my fault, I should have been more prepared," Edwin cried. Finally his body wasn't as tense, he finally had the strength to cry instead of that panicked gagging.

[just_aces]

"Hey, no, none of that." It was as easy as anything to snake one hand free to slide it through Edwin's hair, cradling the back of his head, sliding down to the nape of his neck to give a full-handed squeeze, finally just gathering Edwin close against his chest, that arm curled tight and close across his shoulders, not minding how it pinned the other hand -the one Edwin was still holding onto- between them, because that was good too.

He pressed a kiss to the top of Edwin's head, "Can't prepare for something you have no way of knowing about. Not even you, the most prepared person in the universe." It was an attempt at levity, but at the same time he meant it, in a way. Edwin was prepared for situations Charles wouldn't even dream of, and it was preparation that had come in useful on more than one occasion, "And look at it this way, now we know the bond works as a failsafe like we thought it would." Not what it was designed for, which was likely what had overloaded it to the point of breaking, but it worked and that was what mattered.

"So here's what we're going to do. We're going to stay here, right here, as long as we need to do until we've both settled." Something that Edwin definitely needed and Charles would need before long, once the situation caught up with him, "And then we're going to rest, recoup some energy, and then we can put the bond back in place."

[uptightboy]

Edwin closed his eyes when he felt Charles's hand in his nape, then the hug. He started to calm down slowly. But he was glad for the hold because he truly felt like he was going to fall apart.

And yes, the bond... it did its job spectacularly.

"Charles, it was you," Edwin whispered, his voice hoarse. But his form was no longer distorted. "You did it, calling back from the other end of it," he said.

Edwin was also glad that Charles wasn't in a hurry to get up. He probably couldn't get his legs moving for a while anyway.

"Thank you," Edwin added gently, settling against Charles.

[just_aces]

"There we go." It was a warm murmur as Edwin finally started to relax against him, pressing another kiss to the top of his head, sliding his hand down Edwin's spine in one slow, steady sweep, as if he might be able to just press that nervous tension out of him, though it returned to an easy loop around Edwin's waist as soon as he'd done so.

Mostly he was glad that Edwin didn't seem to be shifting out of focus as he had been before, "Do you think you need to orb out for a bit? I got out that dish you like, and I can set up something comfortable-like to do the spell again when you're done." A thoughtful hum, hand curling tighter against Edwin's fingers and arm curling tighter around his waist, keeping him pressed close, "Or we can just stay here like this until you're up to it."

[uptightboy]

"I wish to stay like this for a bit longer," Edwin whispered with closed eyes. He could feel Charles under him and it felt good. A stray, embarrassing thought also told him that if he had the strength he'd make love to Charles then and there. But all he could do was lay on top of him and hope to keep his sanity. "And then, I doubt I'll have much strength for a while." So yes, orb time. And he did like the dish, it felt safe. Something he needed to feel right now.

"And then, when I do have strength, I shall take you..." he muttered. "Bind you. Keep you..."

[just_aces]

He just nodded at the plan, and couldn't help but smile at that dozy follow-up, fingers stroking gently along Edwin's side again where that arm was still curled around him, keeping his own voice low, "Better rest up then, because you know I'll let you." Another gentle kiss to the top of Edwin's head, "Right here. And on the couch." Another kiss, amusement sneaking into his voice even as he kept it gentle and quiet, "On the desk."

He just punctuated each location with another gentle kiss to Edwin's temple or crown, "That nice corner of the wall beside the tallest bookcase. Across the top of the lowest bookcase. Against the window if we need to cool down." It was hard to say for sure if it was a list of places he'd already considered, especially since a couple of them were places they'd already had each other, or if he was making the list up as he went along.

[uptightboy]

Edwin's chuckle was weak and soft. He remembers the fun they had at some of those spots. And it was amusing to listen to Charles list them.

"Indeed, right in that order," Edwin said then finally lifted his head. He flashed a tired smile at Charles then leaned in to kiss him. "I love you, Charles. I love you so much." He didn't want to leave him but he felt his body getting weaker now that he was calmer. He knew it didn't take long to recharge for him in his orb form and still, Edwin didn't want to leave Charles 'alone'. So he tried to fight it, to get just a few more minutes with Charles before they had to 'part' for a while.

[just_aces]

"I'll make notes if I think of any others while you're out." He murmured, fully amused at that point, arm still curled securely around Edwin's waist, fingers stroking gentle figure-eights against his side, shifting his other hand to lace his fingers with Edwin's, something to make it harder for anyone or anything to pull them apart, "I could always just tell you, but I know things don't always get through during a long rest." One of many things he called the instances of orbing out.

He knew it was only a matter of time before Edwin did so, and was fully prepared to keep him close for a while once he had before settling him in the console bowl on the desk while he did exactly what he'd said he was going to in shifting things around a little to make a comfortable space to cast the binding spell again.

[uptightboy]

Before Edwin could once again remark how silly it was of Charles to call being an orb a roleplaying term he was gone. Giving out a soft, pale light on Charles' chest as a small, glowing spirit orb.

He spent a couple of hours in such a state, enjoying the bowl as always. At the beginning it was a slightly stressful experience, as Edwin felt quite vulnerable in this state. But Charles' presence and finding a fitting place solved that issue for him.

When he was ready to possess his spectral form again, he floated out with the intention to find Charles again; a barely conscious decision on his part but ever since they had become closer it happened every time. Because he wanted to be close when he popped back to his spectral existence.

[just_aces]

Charles had stayed there on the floor for a while, with Edwin cradled into the hollow of his shoulder, but once he had the energy to move himself he'd settled Edwin gently in the bowl and went about doing exactly what he'd said he was going to in tidying up the office so they had somewhere comfortable to perform the binding spell.

The broken mirror had been removed, shuffled off to the storage room so it could be properly disposed of later, and while he hadn't yet replaced it with the spare from his bag -wanting to make sure he and Edwin were bound again, just in case- he was ready to, and had even added 'new spare mirror' to the list for the next time they went to the Floating Market.

He'd even made sure they had clear floor space in front of the couch. Not that they needed it for the spell itself, but just in case they wanted it for extracurriculars after the spell was finished.

By the time Edwin was rousing himself from the dish, Charles had dropped himself into Edwin's usual seat at the desk, just canted forward across the top, head cushioned on a half-folded arm, fingers resting against the edge of Edwin's bowl. He wasn't asleep, at least not fully, but he was dozing. The fight hadn't been as exhausting for him as it had been for Edwin, but the trek to find him afterwards had been more tiring than he'd let himself feel, and without the bond still there he'd wanted to keep close for his own peace of mind.

[uptightboy]

Edwin popped back into his body in a soundless flash, standing by Charles as he was half lying on the desk. Something warm bloomed in Edwin's chest as he was just regarding him for a bit. Then he reached to put a hand in Charles' shoulder to warn him of his presence then leaned in to kiss his ear.

Edwin noted the tidiness of the office, and the space Charles created for them. The lack of mirror was a good touch.

"Thank you, Charles," Edwin whispered into his ear. "For taking care of us," he said, his hand involuntarily sliding to the boy's nape. Edwin did feel a moment of alarm at the lack of collar again but it helped that he had the strength and the wits to start creating it again. "Let me know when you are ready and I shall get started," he said, leaning to kiss Charles' ear again. "I love you."

[just_aces]

The weight of Edwin's presence beside him had been enough to stir him, but he couldn't help but smile at the warmth of the hand on his shoulder, smile all but melting into place at the initial whisper, just humming an acknowledgement.

The slide of Edwin's fingers against his nape sent warmth skittering down his spine in the best way, shifting himself up into the touch just a little, the same way he had a tendency to press his head up under Edwin's hand when he was in hound form.

He drew the arm he'd been cushioning himself on in so that he could press himself upright, just a little, just far enough to turn his head and catch an actual kiss before Edwin could fully move away, voice a warm murmur when he replied: "Love you, too." Another contented hum, rolling his shoulders as he levered himself fully upright in the chair, stretching, "And I'm ready whenever you are."

[uptightboy]

Edwin smiled, burying his fingers in Charles' hair for a moment before brushing down his face. What would he do without him, he wondered? Probably wouldn't fight if Hell had taken him again. Then he took Charles' hand and pulled him up from the chair to lead him to the space for them.

"Do follow me then," he smiled. He was still eager to redo the bond. For them, for the rush it gave him and for lessening the curiosity of any witches who would come sniffing around.

Edwin was still feeling soft but not lacking magic. If they are careful, they can do this right. He also didn't want to wait any longer to have Charles. It felt almost more urging than the bonding.

"I apologize for how I behaved, Charles. I do admit it was not my best moment," Edwin said softly as he stopped in front of Charles.