does he feel the same? (shyan) (COMPLETE)

Chapter 21 - reaching

Ryan's POV

My feet pound the sidewalk rhythmically, my lungs burning in the cold morning air. Even out of breath while jogging, I can't stop smiling.

I feel like me and Shane have become impossible closer now, after coming out to the world together. It was so nice to exist in each other's company without feeling like we were hiding something.

I head towards the park, panting. Running has always been a way for me to ground myself - to quieten my thoughts for a bit - and today is no different. It's a lovely morning, crisp and cloudless, with a slight breeze ruffling my hair. I asked Shane if he wanted to run with me, but he threw a pillow at my head and went back to sleep. It's nice knowing he will be home when I get back.

As I make my way through the park, the sky starts to darken, and I feel a single drop of rain. Suddenly, the heavens open and I am immediately soaking wet. The torrent of rain pelts me as I sprint for cover. I am laughing, giddy on endorphins and adrenaline, and I decide to just keep running, letting the water cool me down and soak my skin. 

I sprint home, rain dripping into my eyes, and finally make it to the apartment. Shane is up, mixing something in a bowl, and he raises his eyebrows as I come in.

'Seriously? You're dripping all over the floor!'

In response I shake my head like a dog, splashing him and his shirt. He shrieks and leaps across the room away from me, but I chase him down and push him onto the sofa. He is laughing and shouting, smacking my head with a pillow, but all the fight goes out of him when I pin his wrists down and kiss him deeply.

'Good morning.' I say, lips still close to his.

He smiles. 'What was that for?'

'I'm a simple man. I see the love of my life beneath me, I kiss him.' I press my lips to his again before pulling away. 'I'm gonna take a shower.'

'Ok, be quick - I'm making breakfast!'

The smell of pancakes pulls me out the shower quicker than usual, and Shane is plating us both up when I return.

'Heart shaped pancakes? You're so adorable.'

He shrugs. 'I love you, I had to do it! And - you immediately ruin it by pouring maple syrup all over. Nice.'

'Is it even a good breakfast if I haven't used up half the jar?' I screw the cap back on and lick my syrupy fingers, grinning. Shane rolls his eyes as we both pull out chairs.

'Can you believe this weather? I'm sorry your run got cut short.'

'It's fine. I got enough... exercise last night.'

Thunder rumbles as a blush stains Shane's cheeks. 

'You know storms are when the boundary between the spirit realm and the real world is weakest,' I say matter-of-factly.

'You don't seriously believe that do you? I mean, ghosts is one thing, but the spirit realm?'

I chuckle. 'Of course not. I was just giving you a chance to offer to protect me.'

He meets my eyes with mock-intensity. 'Ryan, I would drop-kick the entirety of Satan's hordes for you.'

I roll my eyes. 'That's very sweet, thank you.'

It's too stormy to go outside now - wind blowing, lightning flashing, rain beating against the windows. I pull on one of Shane's jumpers, a warm green sweater, and when he comes to sit next to me on the sofa he's wearing brown-rimmed glasses. 

'I didn't know you had glasses!'

'I usually wear contacts, but there's no point if we're staying inside all day. I don't usually like people seeing me in them.'

'Well, I'm happy you're finally accepting who you are. Plus, you look hella cute.'

'Speak for yourself. Stealing my clothes is the way to my heart.'

He wraps his arm around my shoulder and I lean into his chest. 'You wanna watch a movie?'

We choose some trashy action film, but I don't really pay much attention to the story. It's enough to just be snuggled into Shane, his long fingers gently stroking my hair. Thunder rumbles regularly, getting louder as the storm moves closer to us, and I feel safe and cosy.

Lightning screams across the sky, and suddenly the TV flashes black and white in loud static.

'Shit! Did the antenna just get hit?'

I look up at him, confused. 'Shane, this TV doesn't have an antenna - we were streaming.' I'm having to raise my voice over the noise. 'I didn't think static was a thing anymore?'

'What the fuck?' He tries to turn the TV off, but the remote doesn't seem to be working.

As I stare at the screen, the static seems to darken in some places, creating the faint silhouette of a man. But... not a man.

What kind of man has twisting horns?

'Shane? Are you seeing this?' My voice is shaking slightly.

Before Shane can reply, the silhouette starts to laugh. A horrible cackling echoes from the TV, becoming louder and louder until I am forced to block my ears with my hands.

'Shane!' I shout. 'If this is some sort of prank, stop it right fucking now!'

Shane has also got his ears covered, brow creased, and when I meet his eyes I realise that he too has no idea what the hell is happening. The laughter is tearing at my eardrums, filling every crevice in my mind with a grating pain. Shane staggers upright, reaching to pull the power out from the TV, and when he wrenches it free the screen immediately blackens.

I don't know if I am imagining it, but the cruel laughter continues for a second afterwards.

Finally, silence lays heavy on the room, soothing my ringing ears. Shane's chest is heaving, and he backs away from the TV to sit down next to me again.

'What the fuck was that.' I whisper. The wind howls, battering relentlessly at the windows.

He shrugs. 'Some freak storm accident, I guess.' He is putting on an air of nonchalance, but I feel his hand trembling slightly before he rests it on mine.

I take a steadying breath, and grin weakly. 'I guess watching a film is off the table then.'

Suddenly, the door bangs open, wind whistling into the apartment. I shout, running to the door to close it, but the wind is so strong I can't get across the room. Picture frames fly off the walls and rain stings my eyes - 

Wait a minute. I live in an apartment building. How is this even happening?

'Ryan!' Shane yells, hair whipping in the impossible wind. I can barely hear him over the storm.

'What's going on?' The wind snatches my voice away.

I blink, and when I look again there is a dark figure standing in the centre of the room. An immaculate suit, perfect hair, and somehow standing completely motionless, despite the ferocity of the storm. The figure stands between me and Shane, laughing, and with a bolt of fear I realise it's the same laugh that I just heard in the static.

Shane is fighting through the wind, eyes wide with fear and confusion as he battles his way towards me. Lightning flashes and thunder rumbles and we reach towards each other, but the storm is too powerful.

'Ryan! I- ' He shouts, but I don't catch the rest. I can see how frightened he is - how frightened we both are - and I double my efforts to reach him.

Our arms are reaching towards each other, both of us yelling over the roaring wind and the maniacal laughter. I meet his eyes, and our hands stretch closer and -

Just before our fingertips touch, everything goes black.