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...

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[just_aces]

He moved closer as Edwin went to hang the charm, but didn't touch just yet when he returned, remembering how easily his system had just poured energy into Edwin before. Which was probably because he'd still been in the other shape and had wanted to help.

Granted, he still wanted to now, because he knew he could and because he hated seeing Edwin looking even a little peaky.

He nodded at the question, "I did, I could tell that..." A little head-shake because he didn't really have words for it, "Whatever it is that's got all the energy, was trying to reach out, I guess? Best way to explain it, but I could keep it from doing so." Another little gnaw at the inside of his cheek, making a considering noise, "But don't know if it's something I'd be able to keep hold of, like if you were using more power or even just keeping at a low level but for a long time?" A little head-shake, "And definitely wouldn't be able to do it in the other shape, but I think we already knew that one."

[uptightboy]

Edwin's attention was on Charles, intense and seeking. He wanted to see if Charles was downplaying what he'd felt or not.

"I see," he nodded, his gaze dropping on Charles's collar, not because he was distracted, but more like as he was thinking. "I did feel it being harder to wield but nothing I cannot manage. I suppose we must work up to stronger spells at this rate." A pause. "Until we aren't confident in using magic, I shall not use spells while you are in your true form."

[just_aces]

He nodded, "Probably for the best." His nose wrinkled a moment later, "Hate taking out your two best defenses at once, though." Apparently Charles already considered the Hound-form a better defense than himself, which was probably true, at least in some areas, but wasn't going to be a be-all/end-all for every situation.

He shrugged, dropping to perch on the desk again as he usually did, the urgency of the power trying to bridge the gap between them had subsided, at least for the time being, "But practice is probably our best chance for now, yeah. get you back up to what you're used to, be like working out a muscle after an injury, yeah? Have to bring it back up to regular strength."

[uptightboy]

"Hmm?" Edwin frowned, looking up at Charles again. But after the initial remark, he continued with something else related. Edwin pursed his lips as he listened, nodding. "Yes," he said a little preoccupied.

Then, Edwin slowly turned away from the window to face Charles properly.

"Charles," he started in his lecture voice. "For the past thirty years I had you, and you alone, and I have never felt safer," he assured, stepping closer. "It shall be alright as long as you and your cricket bat are there for us in dangerous situations. Magic has always been an afterthought after all."

[just_aces]

Oh that response was enough to have the warmth in his chest from having gotten two things right already, and in quick succession, just grow further, he wasn't blushing, not that he could tell, but felt like he should be.

Mostly it was because that simple statement 'I have never felt safer', in Edwin's usual matter-of-fact tone, that assuaged a fear he didn't realize he'd still been holding onto and he almost didn't hear the rest of what Edwin said over the rushing in his ears, barely managing not to surge forward off the edge of the desk, mostly thanks to the fact that he'd only just sat down again.

What he managed, trying for playful and sort-of managing it except that the earnestness was there as well, not about to be pushed down completely, "Pretty sure that's the nicest thing you've ever said about me."

[uptightboy]

"Goodness me, I must be losing my wits. Do not tell anyone," Edwin remarked with a playful raise of his eyebrow. The earnestness wasn't lost on him, however. He sent a small smile at Charles before hesitantly continuing. "That said, Charles, if you feel bad about my initial fear about the hound... Please cease it. It has nothing to do with you. It is... different."

During all this misery, while they were figuring Charles out, Edwin had never lost faith in him. His fears were not about if Charles was able to or willing to protect him. It was more about being in close proximity to something from Hell. Those fears were apparently still all deeply rooted in Edwin's very being to shake them off too easily.

[just_aces]

His smile tilted at that, recognizing the tease for what it was, "Yeah, well, nobody's going to hear it from me, got to protect you after all."

He did let the rest sink in, or at least did his best to, nodding even as he reached over to nudge his fingers against Edwin's elbow, not drawing him close just yet, partly to make sure his energy wasn't going to surge in to refill Edwin's just via the contact, but also to make sure Edwin actually wanted to move closer, "Nah, s'alright."

It was alright, now that they'd settled things a little better, "Like, look, we spent all this time avoiding anything to do with Hell, when we could, and then all of a sudden there's a real big piece of it right in the office. Fact of it being so close was more important than fact of it being me, yeah?" It wasn't self-deprecation, for once, it was his skill at reading Edwin leaving him to make an educated guess.

[uptightboy]

"Precisely," Edwin nodded, looking away for a moment. Being read so easily by Charles sometimes was a blessing but other times it was slightly unnerving. He knew there was nothing shameful in his fears, he was just embarrassed because it involved Charles in such a cruel way. He did step closer, to seek comfort but did not reach out to touch just yet. "I truly did not expect to have such intense emotions about it. I am... I'm glad you understand."

There will be other things in their future to get used to with practice, apparently. But it was fine. As long as they were together doing it. The thought made Edwin smile a little and brush his fingers against Charles in reassurance. This boy protected him in many ways, and Edwin was sure he would continue to do so. Until eternity.

[just_aces]

His hand curled more closely against Edwin's elbow, almost cradling it as Edwin closed the space between them himself, and he could still feel the prickle of his own energy wanting to reach out to replenish what felt like a deficit in Edwin's, but it was something he could still hold back on, more easily now than the first time, which he was just going to chalk up to Edwin's energy rebuilding on its own.

He nodded at the explanation, because it did make sense, and would have made sense before if he'd taken even a minute to think about it, it was just that he'd been too wrapped up in his own bruised feelings about it to do so before, "Glad we got it sorted, though." He would have persevered, for Edwin's sake, but it wouldn't have been easy.

[uptightboy]

After a few seconds, Edwin tentatively reached for Charles's arm, the one that was reaching for him. It was reassuring they could still talk about things, that they could also touch, despite the fact that Edwin was still learning that way of connection. It was also amazing how they could still encounter and learn new things after thirty years of being together.

"Yes," Edwin smiled again, in a way he only did with Charles. "I'm glad too."

[just_aces]

Things had settled, they had their twice-monthly meetings with the Coven to make sure Charles was still under control and Edwin wasn't doing anything he shouldn't, but also giving Edwin a chance to learn better control of his magic, or uses for simple spells that neither he nor Charles would have originally thought of.

But, perhaps most importantly, they were permitted to resume their regular business, along with the cases from the Lost and Found department, of which there were a steady number, but nothing overwhelming. In fact, more than Charles -as the Hound- followed a difficult case back to the office to keep them calm until their pickup could be arranged.

He still wasn't sure why kids, especially the younger ones, decided that the overlarge black beast with the glowing-ember eyes was a friend even if they hadn't met Charles as himself first. But he also wasn't going to argue it, either, not if it helped get things finished without trouble.

The current case was one of their own, and it was one that had been fairly straightforward: determine what had taken up residence in a family mausoleum and get rid of it if they were able.
Unfortunately they hadn't been able to figure out what it was before it got violent, only multiple instances of what it wasn't. It wasn't a banshee or any kind of imp, it wasn't a grim or to their knowledge any other kind of ghost or even a poltergeist.

It was probably some kind of guardian spirit, but if it was one for the family in question it had gotten twisted somehow, but it might have been seeking vengeance on behalf of another family and they didn't have that information and nor did their client who had only recently married into the family in question.

Regardless, Edwin had been trying for the past half hour to either contain or return it to wherever it had come from, but it had lunged all teeth and claws and with a snap of: "Hurry up Edwin!" Charles had done what he always did, he'd thrown himself between Edwin and danger, shifting smoothly into the hound shape he preferred, roughly the size of a Great Dane, leanly muscled, fur short and sleek so as better to emphasize Edwin's bonds -not that that last one was a conscious decision- and had pounced the thing mid-leap, sending it sprawling, but it had drawn the thing's attention to him instead, which was the intention.

He wasn't sure what spell Edwin finally managed, all he knew was that it had been enough to blast the thing to smoking tatters, and at the same time enough to yank energy out of Charles in a way he had only experienced a handful of times while still bound to the Duchess. It was enough to not just leave his ears ringing as if he'd just been near ground zero of an explosion -though he kind of had- but enough to have him collapsing, feeling like everything in him had been pulled through a keyhole to fill a void that wasn't quite the right shape to contain it.

It was sudden enough that he didn't fully realize he was flickering between shapes where he was sprawled on the floor, likewise barely aware that his whole left side was covered in a low-level burn, like a sunburn, or that his face and head had prickled over with blisters or pinprick bites -where they would have been from the nails in the Duchess' muzzle- or even that a thick band of remembered iron-burn had bloomed into place around his neck, wrists and even ankles.

When he did finally settle from the flickering, it was in the hound shape, the smaller one that he favored for running errands, sides heaving as he tried to stabilize himself again, so he could at least try to figure out what had just happened.

[uptightboy]

Change was never something Edwin liked or easily welcomed. He truly had to be dragged through this screaming and grumbling. The only reason it was maybe slightly easier on him was, with the coven keeping them on a short leash, that he also had access to all their resources. Though, Edwin did apply to turn their meetings into on-demand because truly, he knew if they did anything wrong the coven would find them, and the other way around too. He also hated some of the witches they had to share these meetings with.

Dealing with Charles's new nature was more on his mind. His fear was still present, especially when Charles shifted during difficult chases or when he deemed it a better way to deal with a violent spirit. But it was getting better. It also helped that many children, if not all, were drawn to Charles like a moth to a flame. Edwin did understand because the boy was pretty charismatic and apparently that also transferred when he was an actual puppy. Kids also loved dogs, even ones from Hell. So when Edwin watched Charles distract those kids, even making them stop crying, he could barely believe that he belonged to Hell. No, he belonged to him.

They tried to work through spells and magic with Charles. And it was difficult, yes, but Edwin did feel he was getting better at it. So, when they were going into the family mausoleum case, he stocked up on spells. Even if he truly did not expect it to turn so violent.

Spirits that were bound to places where a family was laid to rest, especially mausoleums, were strong. The emotion that made them stick around, either revenge, love, hate, or all, always worked their spirit so intensely that even its shape twisted, leaving one to wonder if it ever belonged to a person. Edwin failed to identify it thus, none of the banishing spells worked, or even the ones that were supposed to bind a damn spirit. Edwin started to suspect there was some item or creature around that contaminated it and made it immune to everything he tried... But it was getting angrier. Edwin stumbled back when the spirit launched at him, thankfully being stopped by Charles.

Edwin barely noted that this time it was the hound that was fighting with the thing, as he was going through spells in his head, trying to see what this thing cannot dodge. Well, there was always banishing magic, not entirely unlike sacrificial magic. Edwin barely let himself think it through because something told him that yes, yes he could pull it off. He can put this spirit to rest, wherever it may be. He started saying the words before he even went through them, and felt the pull of power. The magic he called upon was thick and angry and hungry and Edwin had everything it wanted. And oh, it was thrilling. It was a powerful spell, a spell only a living could have used. But this time, Edwin could too. Only when he said the last words of the spell did he realize it wasn't about banishing but to destroy. To take and not give back. As if time slowed down, Edwin watched as the magic shot out from his hand, and only then he also felt from where all that power was coming from. He watched the spirit being destroyed as the spell worked, but soon his attention was on something else.

"Charles!" Edwin gasped, watching the hound collapse and flicker. Was he caught up in the spell? Was it too wild? Edwin moved but as he did his body collapsed as if he was just a puppet. It took him a few seconds to get back on his trembling feet, just like the times he was running from monsters, and hurried to Charles's side, horrified at the sight. "Charles, what-" he started but as he put his hand on him he immediately knew what happened. Because it was still happening. Edwin was empty and he took from Charles, he took a lot, and he was still taking. "No, no, wait, I can stop it, I will stop it," Edwin swore, pulling his hands back, even if it was the last thing he wanted to do. "Hang on, Charles, I can stop it..."

[just_aces]

Having Edwin close was better, sort of, it was enough to have Charles' edges solidifying once more, though those old injuries were still very much in evidence, and Charles tried to roll to his feet at Edwin's obvious distress, because they'd gotten rid of the spirit or ghoul or whatever it was, and that meant it was over, and that meant they could go home and he could collapse somewhere comfortable.

Though he just managed to kick his feet ineffectually, finally managing to heave himself over onto his belly instead of sprawled on his side, but even that had his breathing going unsteady again, whining faintly and pressing his head up under Edwin's outstretched hands, and while he felt the tingle of energy passing between them, it didn't feel like it was being pulled away from him anymore, it was just there like a closed circuit. There was a blown fuse somewhere -metaphorically speaking- but Charles couldn't pinpoint just where, or that it was his own.

He did finally seem to realize that his eyes were closed, blinking slowly up at Edwin, ears swiveling forward finally, full attention on his partner, waiting for a command.

[uptightboy]

Watching Charles trying to stand and failing was horrifying. He put his hand on his head and when he felt that there was nothing left to take Edwin tried not to panic. Especially when Charles didn't open his eyes at first.

"Charles," Edwin stuttered, feeling the emptiness at the end of his bond, and the need for a command. He opened his mouth and then closed it, shaking his head. Charles's injuries didn't look anything like the ones that spirit would have caused. Edwin only deducted they may have been older injuries by the scars a muzzle must have left. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry," Edwin whispered, petting Charles's head as he was trying to think. There was silence around them, which was a good sign. It meant that his spell worked, or at least they could stop the spirit. But Edwin figured they needed to come back to assess the depth of the situation. Now they needed to leave, immediately.

"We are going, Charles, back to the office," Edwin said. Thankfully they set up a mirror nearby when they realized this case might be a tough one. "Can you stand?" Edwin asked, fully ready to carry Charles if he wasn't able to.

[just_aces]

He seemed to relax considerably at the statement that they were leaving, that order filling in the empty space where energy usually came from and he took a moment actually levering himself up to his feet, the faint jingling of Edwin's bonds still around his forelegs also seemed to relax him a little as well, and though he leaned against Edwin's hip, he did still move to the mirror under his own power.

He stayed close, mostly because he knew he needed to be in contact with Edwin to get through the mirror in this shape, and he relaxed again almost instantly once they were back in the familiar surroundings of the office, but didn't trundle off to the couch to collapse just yet, blinking expectantly up at Edwin, only finally starting to feel the individual aches of those remembered injuries, head turning to lick at an actual burned spot on his shoulder, probably where the foot of the stove had been, not that he fully remembered as much at the moment.

[uptightboy]

Something about the bonds jingling as they walked hit deep within Edwin. As if every little jingle had torn a piece out of his spectral heart. He kept his light touch on Charles's shoulder as they hopped through the mirror, not entirely because of the travel but to soothe him and himself in the process.

When they arrived it was so silent and calm that Edwin was almost alarmed. It took him a few seconds to realize that Charles still hadn't gone to rest. Because Edwin too was just standing there in shock, still feeling hollow and tired. At the small movement of Charles's head, as he went to lick at his wound, Edwin looked at him too. He had seen many grievous injuries in his afterlife; violence, blood and so couldn't phase Edwin, but seeing those burns, signs of abuse on Charles's body was something else. It wasn't him who inflicted them but it was him who drained Charles so much that he had to experience them all over again. Just like a record, a trigger. To think that Edwin had used Charles in the exact way the Duchess had made him feel sick.

"Charles, no," Edwin said in a hollow voice when he felt Charles was still waiting for an order, even in this state. When he was reduced to nothing. Edwin reached to gently pet his head. "Do rest now, rest."

[just_aces]

The sound of the bonds, was -as always- a calming one for Charles, knowing that as long as those were still there, Edwin hadn't given up on him and still wanted him safe, something that distress in his tone also attested to.

Even with the order to rest he hesitated, circling the desk cautiously once. Edwin wasn't sitting, which meant he couldn't flop down next to the chair to keep an eye on him, but also Edwin seemed to be a little bit in shock, which meant maybe he forgot where the chair was? But also meant that he needed time to recover, too, because even with help, big magic like that was wearing.

So he did the only logical thing, he caught Edwin's sleeve gently with his teeth to lead him to the couch, just tugging and leaning and nudging until Edwin sat, which was when Charles climbed up carefully as well -despite the couch being barely big enough for one of them to stretch out- and just heaving the world's deepest sigh before resting his head on Edwin's knee, eyes finally drifting closed, his breathing still a little rapid, but not heaving as he had been at first.

[uptightboy]

Edwin barely realized he was standing still, barely moving. Only when Charles took his sleeve pulling him.

"Charles..." Edwin was about to say no but as he saw the weak hound just insist he went with him, he couldn't deny him. He sat on the couch and watched as Charles ever so weakly found his place on top of him. With so up close his injuries are even more visible, and the weight he has on Edwin is barely there and the heaviest he had ever felt. Edwin is stiff and motionless for a few moments just staring at the angry burn on Charles's shoulder, and the scars the muzzle had left. Not his bonds. But then once again he put a gentle hand on Charles's head, only realizing his eyes were full of tears when he looked down and they overflowed.

With careful movements, as if his bare touch would still hurt Charles, Edwin slid his arms carefully around him and buried his face in his neck. The scent of Hell was terribly overwhelming this way but he didn't mind, somehow he felt it was accurate to be reminded of Hell after what he had done.

[just_aces]

Charles had already been starting to doze under the gentle hand on his head, and was stirred by the embrace, confused at first, but relaxing into that as well with another heavy sigh, shifting slowly over so that he was laying on his good side so that the one with the proximity burn -as well as the couple small contact burns- was up and not having pressure put on it, and shifted his shoulders up and back, leaning more fully into Edwin as he was held close because that was definitely nice, he could get used to that.

He stretched his legs out straight in front of him, shaking briefly from the extension and the tension before relaxing again, tail waving just once, and then a second time a little more lazily, still leaning heavily into Edwin, getting comfortable since it seemed Edwin didn't plan on actually going anywhere for a minute, either.

Chances were good, with that level of energy drain, Charles would be passed out cold for a good twelve hours at least, and that was just to recoup enough to function properly, not even doing anything more strenuous than 'being solid' and 'maybe paying attention to conversations', and he would need more time if he wanted to be able to change forms again.

[uptightboy]

Edwin felt the soft movements of Charles and he was glad he did because it meant that he was still alive. Well, obviously he couldn't entirely die. But... but there still wasn't much known about Hellhounds. Edwin wanted to know how he was but with Charles in hound form, their communication was a bit limited. All Edwin could gather was barely there impulses on Charles's mood on most days but this time he felt nothing, other than the empty energies circulating between them. And their bond. Their bond was there.

When Charles seemed to calm down, or more like, fall into some kind of sleep, only then did Edwin dare to move. Ever so slowly and carefully he lifted Charles off his lap and back on the couch. Because he just couldn't sit there and do nothing. He had to do something, anything. He had to see if he could help Charles recharge faster, or- or if he could help with those injuries. How does one heal a Hellhound? Most of the healing spells were only working on creatures from this plane and not on creatures from the land of the damned.

The only reason Edwin didn't throw half of their books in the middle of the office in a fit of frantic search and helpless anger was because he didn't want to disturb Charles. In the first few hours, he let him sleep while searching for something that would help with magical burn wounds and found a concoction to ease the pain and maybe help with recovery but Edwin couldn't have been sure if it was working on Hellhounds. Yet, he still made it because it was better than just sitting around doing nothing. He gently applied it to some of the burns he deemed severe. Then fetched a blanket to cover Charles with because yes, right he could maybe get cold too...

Most of the time Edwin sat on the floor by the couch, with his face by Charles's nose to spot any sign of distress of him in time. He sometimes checked if he was still breathing, if he was still... present. The dead postman came and went, remarking about a steady recovery, and honestly, it made Edwin feel even worse. He went through all their medical books about supernatural creatures and tried to come up with a spell or a ritual, or a medicine, anything! But in the end, all the science told him to wait and be consumed by his thoughts and guilt.

[just_aces]

Once Charles was actually out, he was out sleeping deeply enough that he didn't even dream, likely, if he'd been fully and actually a ghost, he would have retreated to orb form, it was anyone's guess as to whether he still could as he tended to revert to the Hound, and usually the smaller version, when he was tired.

While he didn't even move position at the application of salve or blanket, the stuff did seem to be working, the two deeper burns at shoulder and hip healed over to glossy scabbing, and even some of heat of the proximity burn along his side calmed apparently just because his whole system was calming again.

He did, finally stir some hours later, blinking slowly, eyes actually live-ember bright again and it took him a moment to actually bring Edwin into focus just because of how close he was, but he took the chance and leaned forward to press warm, damp nose against his ear before actually taking stock of himself, brow creasing at the blanket but tugging it close as he shifted back to himself, flickering just briefly at the edges before solidifying again with a quiet: "Ow."

Most of the damage did seem to not be as bad on the human shape, though the faint marks from the iron nails still ran tidy lines across his face like some kind of decorative tribal scarring, and the burned side was still tender, but didn't actually hurt, "What happened?" He sounded groggy more than actually confused, as if still sorting out what had actually happened and what had just been a dream.

[uptightboy]

Edwin turned his head the moment he felt Charles's nose against it, ready to fire a healing spell, or bring more of the concoction, anything. But as he watched Charles shift back to his ghost form he felt relief but only for a moment. The marks of the nuzzle were still visible, along with some of the angrier burns. And somehow, with Charles looking more... Charles, they hit more.

'I did that,' Edwin thought, as all he could do was stare at Charles for a few long seconds. Then he put his book down and reached for Charles's face, cupping his face gently.

"Are you in pain, Charles?" Edwin asked instead of answering the question. He was still working up the courage to explain what actually happened. And the last thing he wanted was Charles in pain for it.

[just_aces]

His brow furrowed slightly at the touch, though he wasn't about to shake it off, either, because it was nice, soothed an ache that he hadn't quite realized was there.

Though he did give a little shake of his head at the question, movement barely there, "No? Not really? Just tired is all." A quiet, half-thoughtful noise, "Going to have to work on the dampener, I guess." It was the first time it had failed, it kind of made sense that it had done so spectacularly in that case. More than that, they hadn't even been sure that it would work in the first place, which was also part of the problem, that much magic putting pressure on an untested buffer was probably a recipe for disaster in the first place.

[uptightboy]

"Good," Edwin sighed, reaching to gently pet Charles's hair. He winced at the mention of the dampener. It wasn't like it didn't work, it had no chance. Edwin was convinced that this would still happen with every safety protocol in place. Because of the spell. Because he wasn't thinking. Because he was greedy.

"It... No, Charles, I apologize," Edwin continued, shaking his head. "It was my fault, you had no chance and I- I was not thinking clearly. In fact, I doubt I was thinking a single thought," he said, his voice breaking on the last word. If he wanted to humor Charles he would have said he did it in pure Charles fashion but Edwin wasn't in a joking mood. "I am no different than her."

[just_aces]

There had been a twitch of a smile at the mention that Edwin doubted he'd been fully thinking things through, and Charles had been about to comment that Edwin was acting like he usually did, but the rest had that expression dissolving.

One hand darted up to catch at Edwin's wrist, curling tight there to give Edwin an anchor and a touchstone even as he shook his head, one tight, sharp movement, "No. Edwin, you aren't her. You aren't like her, not even a little. Don't even think it." He leaned forward into Edwin's touch a little more firmly, free hand pressing lightly against Edwin's chest, "We knew this was a possibility, yeah? Can only take so many precautions without preventing ourselves from doing things, right?"