"WHAT ARE YOU EVEN doing here?" the Reaper said," you were in the hospital -" He stopped himself in time, trying to cover it up with a cough. "I mean, it's late."
"So you were actively avoiding me in the hospital," she remarked.
His words were stiff when he replied, obviously not that good at making excuses. "I would never be that unprofessional."
She chuckled and he continued, voice dropping lower this time as he dipped his head to look her in the eye.
"Besides," he murmured," it seems I can't escape you even in my dreams, Delilah."
"I am sorry about the dream," she said," I have no idea how I got there."
He stared at her for a moment, like he was trying to decipher her intentions from her eyes, before finally nodding.
"I'll take your word for it," he said," because you looked just as surprised as me."
"Helio," she said suddenly," is that your name?"
She knew she had said the wrong thing when he froze, taking a step back as the mist around him thickened, until she almost couldn't see her surroundings anymore.
"Don't call me that," he said, voice tinged with ice," only she can call me that."
She would have apologized, but she didn't want to keep saying sorry when she didn't even know what for - not because her pride didn't permit her to do so, but because he deserved more than an empty excuse. Instead she tilted her head to the right, his contour visible through the fog, like she was watching him in a crystal ball.
"What do you want me to call you?" she said, stepping forward to see him better," I can't know if you don't tell me."
His eyes glowed silver in the mist, focused on her as if she was something holy. It felt like he wasn't seeing her for a moment, but someone else entirely, though when he blinked it was gone, back to his usual closed off look.
"It doesn't matter what you call me," he said," I do not intend to see you again. You -" He breathed out, shaking his head like he was dispersing the confusion in his own mind. "You make me act like someone I can't be anymore."
When she parted her lips, she could feel a solemn feeling in her heart as she made her own decision, nodding at him.
"I understand," she said," I won't keep looking for you then. It seems I am just bothering you."
It did sadden her, because she had been so excited to get to know him. And besides the fact that he was her idol, it had felt soothing almost, to have someone who understood her for the first time. She wasn't the only one who saw the ghosts anymore, the only one who felt so chaotic in her own mind at times, like she could never be alone.
Still, it was clear that whatever want she had for the contact, he didn't share the same sentiment.
He seemed surprised at her response, staring at her as she smiled, before turning around to walk away. She was just about to check up on Jonathan when he grasped her wrist, pulling her closer. With surprised eyes she fell in his embrace, her back against his chest as his cloak fluttered in the wind around, her reflection catching in his scythe. When she looked closer though she was startled to see there was no face, just a blank canvas of brown, which was washed away by the wind.
"Fuck," he breathed out, the mist whirling around them like they were in the eye of a tornado.
"Didn't you say you didn't want to see me anymore?" she said, glancing up at him.
"I don't know," he said quietly," I mean I can't, I truly can't, but why is it that when you walked away I couldn't help but feel like I had to have you closer again?"
She wasn't innocent enough to believe he liked her, not after they had only met a couple of times. No, this was something different, something he had shown even in his sleep, when he had refused to let her go. Abandonment issues, perhaps? With a shake of her head she let the thoughts go away, not wanting to linger on her habit of analyzing people too much again. Someone shouted at her through all the many thoughts she had, an accusing tone to the voice, and suddenly she was a child again, feeling like a monster as ghosts tried to pull at her.
He placed his hand on her forehead and suddenly everything felt cool again, like waves were splashing against her feverish skin, pulling her back to reality.
"Everything is fine," he said, his voice curling around her like the wind, tingling against her skin," I am here now."
She wondered how many times he had said it before while calming wayward souls, but still couldn't help but lean in, closing her eyes against his touch. When she breathed out, she was back to her usual self again, turning around so she could look him in the eye.
"Thank you," she smiled," I hope I didn't worry you, it seems I got a bit caught up about nothing at all."
His hand remained on her forehead, body heat enveloping her as she stood in the embrace of his arms, and for a second she was suddenly very aware of how close they were. She placed her hand on his heart and his gaze followed her, not looking taken aback by her sudden movements anymore.
"I don't have one," he said, taking her hand in his and placing it against the side of her neck, his fingers grazing against her skin right above her own," that's what separates us."
He let her go then, instead tilting, the mist settling down and blowing his hair out of his face. It seemed like he wanted to say more, but he didn't, the unspoken words between them only growing louder. A part of her wanted to whisper when she spoke again, like the silence between them had become too thick to break, a tangible thing almost.
"What use is a heart?" she said," what use is a soul? I don't care for separations made by fickle things like that, we are here now in this moment, so what do other things matter?"
For a moment he reached out, hand beside her cheek before he pulled it back again, almost as if afraid she would burn underneath his touch.
"You remind me of summer," he said softly.
He turned around to leave and she spoke up, stopping him in place.
"I have a favor to ask," she said," can you let the ghost you captured at the party say his last words? I have his best friend here."
She was ready to hear him say no, but instead he nodded, something undecipherable in his expression.
He waved a hand, only unfreezing time for Jonathan then. After a moment Jonathan shot up, a loud scream leaving his lips, becoming higher once he locked eyes with Nate, before realizing the serial killer wasn't even blinking. After a look around his gaze settled on her and he got shakily to his feet, walking over, but before he could say anything the Reaper had let Logan come out, materializing him for Jonathan with a whisper.
Jonathan froze in place, face paling completely as he watched his friend. A stream of words left his lips, but none were coherent and he stopped trying after a second, instead swallowing them all.
"Jonathan," Logan said, a smile on his lips which was so gentle it tasted like heartbreak," I don't have much time, but I just wanted to tell you one thing before I could depart."
He let his feet land on the floor, even though there was no need to stand anymore, transparent hand resting above Jonathan's shoulder, never quite touching.
"I am proud of you," he said," you're doing everything you can at this moment. And don't you ever, ever blame yourself for my death, okay?"
"Logan," Jonathan breathed, a single tear quietly glittering on his cheek.
"I'm sorry, John," Logan said.
He was gone then, the Reaper glancing at his scythe absentmindedly for a second.
"Suicide," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
She mouthed a silent thank you at him before he left and he nodded, disappearing then, leaving only her and the person Jonathan used to be behind.