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]

Crystal hadn't yelled at him, not really, but mostly because he'd dropped back to hound shape almost as soon as Edwin was gone, flopping down in front of the mirror with his chin on his folded paws and Crystal's only response to that was, "Oh, you're real tired." And had promptly dropped to sit next to him, cautiously running a hand over his head and down the back of his neck, mostly just to make sure she wouldn't get an accidental read off of him the way she sometimes did with animals, relieved when she didn't.

She'd even smiled when he shifted over onto his side to press his shoulders into her hip, feet sticking straight out instead before relaxing into a doze. Which was still where they were when Edwin returned, Charles snoring softly with his head on Crystal's knee, where she was rubbing one of his ears idly between finger and thumb. She arched a brow at Edwin's return, "You two are going to fill me in once you figure all this out, right? We're not doing this again."

Charles stirred at the voices, though due to the doze he hadn't actually processed what had been said, grumbling softly and rolling to his feet, sitting upright and practically vibrating with his full attention on Edwin, waiting for the all-clear that had already been given, he just hadn't heard.

[uptightboy]

Edwin stopped still as he was looking at the pair. He was glad Charles stayed, only just realizing that he was slightly afraid he won't find him when he returned.

"Indeed, we shall," Edwin assured Crystal quietly, with a clear of his throat. "Thank you for taking care of him," he added as Charles sat up. "I apologize for worrying you."

Edwin wringed his hand still with remaining worry as he turned his attention to Charles. He knew the ward was gone and that he was able to travel now. Yet, he was still nervous.

"Come on, Charles, let's get you home now," Edwin called, holding out a hand to usher him. "You go ahead, I will be right behind you."

[just_aces]

There was a soft whine at that suggestion, because while he knew Edwin would have taken off the ward, and that the portal back to the office was already in place, no navigation on his part required, he was still running on the past few days of panic and adrenaline -though both were well and truly depleted at that point.

There was also the fact that if Edwin was behind him, he wouldn't be able to get lost because Edwin would catch him if he did, redirect him, but he was still cautious as he stepped forward into the mirror, tumbling through into the office as himself again as if he'd tripped over some unseen, ankle-high barrier, though that was more due to his own state than any actual problem.

He managed to get to his feet again, dusting himself off and taking a deep, unnecessary but still steadying breath, brow creasing just a little at the state of the office, Edwin really had been looking for him the whole time, and he wasn't sure what to make of that, it was just one too many things and he caught Edwin's wrist as soon as he was through the mirror as well, tugging him to the couch, "C'mon, we're going to sleep for at least an hour, then we'll get all this" a vague gesture at the office, "sorted. Then we'll figure out the rest."

[uptightboy]

Charles's hesitation broke more of Edwin's heart. Was it possible that the trust they had was broken? He half thought about just feeling the bonds between them, to know that they are still there. But he decided against it. It did not help seeing a pair of familiar eyes flash at him for a split second in the mirror in glee.

So Edwin did not expect to be grabbed the moment he stepped through the mirror. He was still expecting a miserable little hound going to the couch to sleep.

"Charles," Edwin started but he had no idea what to say. That ghosts didn't sleep? That Charles needed to rest more? That he didn't feel like he deserved to just sit and relax with him? So Edwin just tensed his mouth and said nothing. He let himself be dragged to the couch. But as soon as they sat, and Charles was close it felt like all his tension, all his nerves got the best of him, and against all his self restraint he pulled Charles tight to him, tighter than in the attic. Because he needed it. It was all he wanted for the past five days...

[just_aces]

It was the way Edwin clung to him, like he might -like they both might- slip away otherwise that did in the last of Charles' resolve and he just buried his face against Edwin's shoulder, muffling a sob.

He was exhausted, he didn't have words, all he could do was just press himself that much closer in turn, disentangling one arm to move it up where they could both see the stack of bangles still very much in place, duller than they'd been that first day after eating the imp, but still hale and intact and Charles was pretty sure they both needed that reminder, but he couldn't actually put voice to anything at the moment, shuddering once and curling even more closely against Edwin's side, just letting the fresh wash of emotion run its course and all but passing out against his partner once it had.

It was nearly three hours before he so much as stirred other than steady -if shallow- breathing. He wasn't back to a hundred percent just yet, but he definitely looked better than he had in the attic or even sprawled out on Crystal's floor. The shadows around his eyes were still there, but not as deep, and the rest of him seemed less sallow, definitely more vibrant than before he'd had a chance to actually rest.

[uptightboy]

With Charles's name on his lips, Edwin pulled him close. He caught the sight of the faded bonds from the corner of his eyes. One more proof that he messed up. He let Charles down, he missed something crucial, because he was good with books but the rest? Edwin didn't know everything...

With a weak whimper he held Charles through as he cried, crying himself. He had no words, only apologies for some reason. But he said nothing, he just couldn't. He held Charles until he calmed, until he fell asleep. And Edwin was ready to hold him, or more like cling to him, as he rested.

Ghosts didn't sleep but Edwin caught himself waking up, holding Charles as he moved. He was disoriented for a moment, but his hold on Charles tightened for a second. As if to assure that he was still there. The office was still a mess. Edwin himself was still a mess. But Charles was back. Edwin stuttered a breath, as his eyes watered again.

"Charles, I'm... I am so relieved you are back," Edwin whispered.

[just_aces]

Charles definitely didn't feel as worn through and burned down as he had when Edwin had first found him, he wasn't entirely sure what he did feel, except a little bit of everything finally making itself known again, which was why all he could do was nod, his own voice just barely audible as he replied, "It's... I'm glad to be home."

He kept his shoulder pressed to Edwin's as he stretched, thumb running against his wrist under the bangles in the way that had become a sort of self-soothing not-quite-nervous movement, though his head dipped, gaze falling to them even as he did, not sure how to even start explaining, finally just asking, "How long was I gone?"

Crystal had given him an earful, but hadn't mentioned that much, and he'd lost track of time sometime during the second or third day when he'd started actually breaking mirrors.

[uptightboy]

Edwin watched Charles stretch, sniffing. His gaze was on the bangles. He caught himself thinking he wanted to kiss every last one of them. Along with Charles's wrist. Somehow the thought made his throat tight, so he just closed his eyes, listening to Charles's voice.

"You were gone for five days, Charles," Edwin whispered weakly. "I have searched everywhere..." he added, his voice merely a whimper as he remembered the past few days. "I went to the coven, the market, places that we know... Charles..." he sniffed. "Charles, I thought I was going to..." he sniffed, raising a hand to rub his eyes.

[just_aces]

Charles' focus was on the tangle of fingers in his lap, that answer causing an unpleasant rushing in his ears, the tone as much as the words themselves had him feeling dangerously incorporeal for the first time in a long time.

He just gave a little shake of his head, explanation sounding weak even to his own ears, "When... when I couldn't get back through I just..." He shook his head, sniffing once and swiping the back of his hand quickly across his nose, "Just thought that was you cutting me loose, that I finally went too far or got to be too much." He swallowed hard, fingers knotting together again, not unlike the way Edwin pressed his knuckles together when he was stressed, Charles mostly doing it to resist the urge to pick at the edges of his nails until they bled, "Obviously after everything with Astra I knew you wouldn't just turn me over to the Coven, and just..."

Another head shake, something like shame tightening his throat, making the collar -loose-linked and lightweight as it was- feel too heavy, guilt settling in because he'd made a stupid assumption and Edwin was hurt because of it, Charles' voice quieter as he continued, "Thought that was your way of giving me a head start. I was too much for you but you weren't going to let them have me easily neither."

[uptightboy]

"Bloody hell," Edwin swore, shaking his head. "Charles Rowland you are so utterly stupid," he yelled and stood up to stand in front of his friend. He didn't wipe his tears this time because he was so angry. "Is that why you ran? You seriously thought that I- that I threw you away?"

Even saying those words out loud made Edwin almost gag. To think that Charles seriously thought that Edwin had enough of him? And pushing him away? So much that he almost burned everything up as he ran?

"Charles, I..." Edwin grabbed one of Charles's wrists, along with the cuffs, holding it tight. "Charles, I love you," he said, his voice breaking. "I could never get enough of you, I never want to leave you. And I will not let you feel like you were discarded because I could never..." he took a breath, even if he never needed one anymore. But it felt like this chest was too tight, and that his spectral heart was going to explode. He cried, wanting to ask that why did Charles run but he just shook his head. After he exhausted Charles not long ago, after he could barely protect him from the witches, then making him think that Edwin was too weak to control his magic around him... of course, he would run. Of course, he would think Edwin wanted to push him away. "I'm so sorry..."

[just_aces]

He winced at the shout, shrinking back into the couch as Edwin moved, because even though Edwin had never actually lashed out at him the way his father had, emotions were still running high and that had those old ingrained instincts bobbing to the surface again just as they'd done after the imp incident that had set all of this off in the first place.

Even though he flinched initially when Edwin took his wrist he almost immediately clasped at Edwin's arm in turn, not about to let Edwin think that Charles was actually afraid of him, because that wasn't the case, he didn't think that could ever be the case, there was nothing Edwin could do that would make Charles fear him and he wasn't about to trigger another misunderstanding, "I panicked, it was stupid. Never meant to hurt you." He shook his head, swallowing hard, fingers curling more tightly against Edwin's arm, trying to tug him closer once more, "I wouldn't do that, couldn't, not on purpose. You're still the most important person to me, in this world, in any world."

He shook his head, swiping his free hand across his nose again, "That's why I started breaking the mirrors, I was angry, and I was hurt, and I couldn't make anything make sense and I just knew it was safer if you couldn't follow me." Another, firmer head shake, clinging to Edwin's arm like some kind of anchor, starting to feel dangerously unstable again, "It's what I thought, but I was wrong."

[uptightboy]

Edwin did not miss the way Charles winced as he yelled. And his heart broke more. Making Charles scared was the last thing he wanted.

As Charles tugged him closer, he went.

"I never meant to hurt you," Edwin cried. They were both so stupid and it was just pure luck they have found each other again. And that was scary. Ever since Charles had found his nature, Edwin felt it. Everything changed, and everything was scary, and it still was and he couldn't do anything to stop it. They promised the world to each other and yet they almost got separated. "Charles," Edwin had no idea what he could say. All he knew that he loved this boy with his whole heart.

So Edwin stepped closer, sliding his arms around Charles's shoulders to pull him to his chest. As he did, he felt the bonds too; not entirely yanking them, but feeling them. Reassuring them, filling them up. He closed his eyes, pulling Charles close as he took a few sobbing breaths.

"Please... please never do that again, I won't be able to bear it." Edwin was aware what he was asking was selfish. But now that he had Charles back, now that he could look back on those few days without him, he could see how terribly scary and lonely it was. And how easy it would be to turn into a vengeful spirit.

[just_aces]

Charles just pressed his brow to Edwin's sternum as he was drawn in, muffling a sound there that was either a broken laugh or a muffled sob and maybe he didn't fully know the difference himself just at the moment, arms snaking around Edwin's waist to keep him close, not about to let him get away again easily.

He shook his head, a movement that just left him rubbing his forehead against Edwin's chest at least until he lifted it to look up at Edwin again, managing a smile, if a thin one, watery at the edges in a way it wasn't usually, "Nah, you're stuck with me. Meant it when I said it the first time, not going back on that now, this just proves it, yeah?" They weren't meant to be apart, they might have managed it, at the beginning, but definitely not now, Charles wasn't going to let Edwin go unless he absolutely had to. The past few days apart were just proof that they couldn't actually function alone, and more than that, there was no reason for them to.

He did lever himself away, just enough to actually focus on Edwin's face, hands still framing his waist, not about to give up on touch now that he'd gotten it back, he had days worth of lack of it to make up for, now, "Still love you too, you know. Just so we're clear."

[uptightboy]

Being held by Charles felt like Edwin finally, finally found home. As if he was caught after a long, long fall and finally he could breathe, despite being a ghost. He looked at Charles's smile and his own lips moved to return it, however pathetic he may looked. Edwin was aware he was a mess but he cared little at the moment. Because no matter what, Charles's smile was always so beautiful, no matter how thin.

Edwin's hand came up to cup Charles's face, rubbing his cheek with his thumb fondly. Edwin nodded, sniffing, as the last of his tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Yes... alright," he said in a weak voice, then leaned in to press a kiss on Charles's forehead. He knew it may be awkward later but he wanted to have this small thing for himself now. "We are perfectly clear."

[just_aces]

He relaxed into Edwin's hands on his face, eyes dipping partway closed at the kiss, just basking in the contact for a long moment before actually responding again, "Good. And I'm not letting you out of my sight for at least the next three days."

Though that was right about when something Edwin had said earlier actually registered and he straightened, brow furrowing, "Wait, did you say you went to the Coven?" There were none of them in the office right then, so he had to trust that nothing had happened, but concern was riding along his shoulders again, "They're not just waiting to take us both into custody, are they?"

[uptightboy]

"Fair enough," Edwin smiled. As if he could let Charles go anymore. It may be more than three days, for sure.

"I..." Edwin cleared his throat. "I was desperate, Charles. I- I had Daphne help me, I did not talk to any other witch." But even he wasn't as naive to think that nobody else noticed that he was there without Charles. "It shall be alright, Charles. If they try to... do anything I will not let them."

No, Edwin knew now that there was no way he was going to let anyone separate them. The heat of that resolution should have scared him but instead it just poured all into the bonds between them.

"You are mine, Charles, no matter what," Edwin said, as if a vow, tilting his head to look into Charles's eyes.

[just_aces]

He could feel that surge in the bonds, not necessarily an additional weight -though something like it- or a tightening -though something like that as well- but definitely noticeable, which was why he shook his head, "Oi, hey, ease up." He uncurled his fingers from Edwin's hip, lifting that hand to cradle Edwin's cheek in turn, giving another small smile as he swept his thumb along the line of Edwin's cheekbone as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Easy, I know you don't have that much energy to spare."

He lifted his arm, giving it a little jostle so that Edwin could see that the bangles were very much still in place, "M'right here, all still intact. Nobody but nobody's taking me anywhere, yeah?" If he'd still had any doubts about Edwin wanting to keep him close, that was more than enough to obliterate them, "I'm yours, Edwin."

[uptightboy]

Even if Charles had his hands on him the whole time, the touch on his cheek startled Edwin. It was so warm and so reassuring, his chest almost burst. With trembling lips he nuzzled into Charles's palm, letting his shoulders relax. He did look bashful, he is not used to show such fierce emotions but the memory of the absence of Charles still hurt like an open wound.

His gaze dropped to the bangles, now charged with his magic. Then he reached for them, running his trembling fingers over them to feel them. He missed Charles so much. He loved him so much... And Charles telling him he was his was everything he could wish for.

"I just missed you," Edwin whispered. He did feel the effects of that surge of magic but it was still better than the emptiness he'd felt the past few days. "Charles, I missed you."

[just_aces]

He settled a little closer, straightening where he was sitting, gently catching Edwin's wrist to place that hand at the base of his throat where Edwin could touch the collar instead, likewise more fully charged at the moment, "Missed you too, even when..." A little shake of his head, "Even when I thought the worst. Still missed you." He was pretty sure he'd missed Edwin even more acutely when he'd started making sure Edwin couldn't follow him easily.

"But you found me." Whether by accident or if he'd been following the pull of their bonds without fully realizing it, "You found me and you came for me and you brought me home." He pressed his hand flat against Edwin's, trapping Edwin's hand between his palm and his throat, expression earnest and determined, his whole focus on Edwin at the moment, "And we're not getting separated again, yeah?"

[uptightboy]

Edwin's thumb stroked over the collar, brushing Charles's skin with it too. It felt a little forbidden, for some reason, even with the boy holding his hand there. What does it say about him that even in his lowest he could still be distracted by that bloody collar? With his crest on it. The clearest symbol of who owned Charles. Something Edwin felt more possessive about than he realized.

"No. Never again," Edwin agreed. There was no other option for them anymore. He raised his eyes to look into Charles's face, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "Rest now, or... if you need to feed, tell me."

[just_aces]

"I should, yeah, but let's tidy up in here first. That way we can just take it easy when we get back like." Putting things back to rights in the office so that coming back with his energy back up would feel more like a homecoming for them both, then they could both settle in to research on how to ward the office without Charles being bounced off of them as he had been before.

Though, as he'd helped with the one that covered the window side of the office, he could, probably, get through that one, and if it really was just a matter of having his magic woven into the wards themselves so they recognized him, that was a simple enough fix. Time-consuming, certainly, but still simple.

"But that also means I've got to let you up." Not that he was necessarily holding Edwin down, just keeping Edwin's hand pressed to his throat, the other hand still resting at Edwin's hip, certainly easy enough to pull away from if he wanted to, and Charles was thankful that it seemed Edwin didn't want to move any more than Charles wanted to let him go even if it was for the purpose of straightening up the office.

[uptightboy]

"Ah, yes..." Edwin muttered, blinking at Charles. Usually he was the one advocating for the tidiness of the office but right now he couldn't really give a damn about it. "Quite," he cleared his throat. Suddenly all the places they were touching burned his skin in the sweetest way.

"Just a tick," he said, trying to collect himself. His fingertips were pressed against Charles's collar and throat, making Edwin want to cry for a different reason than before. It would be so easy to just lean in and press a kiss on Charles's lips. But that would definitely violate something between them, Edwin thought. Charles was his but his heart was someone else's. "We should also let Crystal know what happened," Edwin said, partly for himself to sober up. He needed to stop acting like those girls on romance novel covers. "She is worried."

And with a last tap on Charles's collar, Edwin attempted to step back, getting out of that hold.

[just_aces]

"She did give me a proper lecture already, then I fell asleep on her rug, and then you came to get me and didn't immediately come back looking for me again, so I think she's smart enough to figure out that it worked."

He shrugged, though he did let Edwin step away when what he really wanted to do was snake a hand up against the back of his neck to pull him into a kiss and he was going to have to puzzle out where that instinct came from later, "But should probably let her know for sure, yeah, and if we're going up to the university so I can get something to eat, it'd only be polite if we bought her lunch for the trouble, you know?"

He was pretty sure they owed her a lot more than that, if she'd been the one thing mostly keeping Edwin on the rails for the past few days, but something to eat was a good start.

He rolled to his own feet as Edwin stepped back, keeping his hold of Edwin's hand for as long as he could, just letting his own touch trail away as he so often did, "Right. You take care of the desk, I'll get the books sorted and we can work out next steps from there?"

[uptightboy]

"She was worried about you too," Edwin insisted quietly. He nodded at the idea of buying Crystal lunch. She could afford her own, though, but probably the thought that counted more here. That they were together again and could go out. Everything was as it should be.

His fingers trembled as Charles let his hand go, still wanting to hold on. His ears were ringing, and his thoughts were racing. Yes, cleaning. That always helped to calm him. He told Charles he missed him, he held him for hours. He got Charles back and yet it all still seemed like a dream. Despite the fact that ghosts had never slept... Edwin once again checked on the bonds, feeling them as if he hadn't just done that a few minutes before. Why did none of that feel enough? Edwin licked his lips, looking up at Charles wondering if there was anything he could say or do to finally make his body move. To the desk. He needed to tidy the desk.

Was he this afraid? That he was now unable to do anything? Was he panicking again?

"Right, small steps," Edwin sighed, looking away.

[just_aces]

Charles nodded, though he hadn't yet moved away either, and was pretty sure he could feel Edwin's reluctance to do so almost as if it were his own. Which was why instead of actually stepping back to go set about collecting the scattered books to put them away he did just lift a hand to Edwin's cheek, not even hesitating before dipping in to press a quick kiss to Edwin's mouth.

Sure, he was probably going to get another dressing-down for impetuous behavior, but he couldn't not do it right then, it hadn't just been an impulse but an actual imperative. He let out a shaky breath, brow still resting against Edwin's, hand still cradling his cheek, voice tentative and unsure when he asked: "Alright then?" He was bracing himself for a recoil and a reprimand at the very least, but not about to back away himself, or even regret having done it.